Cruise With 18 Month Old

[Peewee1414]

Hi Everyone, new here and just booked our first cruise.

 

We are going on the Independecne of the seas on the 9th May,

 

I have done extensive searching of the forums before posting this, so please dont think I have put no effort in before asking, its just that maost answers dont cover it all, and the ones that do are from 2006 usually

 

I booked the cruise wrongly assuming that our 18 month old daughter could use the kids club on her own, but alas she can't according to what I have read.

 

What options do we have for child minding both day and night?

 

I have read about the babysitting, is this day and night, I read something about group session? so the questions are

 

1. IS paying for a baby sitter our only option?

2. is it available day and night?

3. I know you can't pre book, but do what do you think availability will be like? we go 9th may so i dont think its school holiday time

4. are the sitters checked in anyway or qualified? and will they change nappies?

 

And any other experiences you want to share

 

thanks for any help

 

Pete

[Essiesmom]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There is a forum here for Family Cruises, under Special Interest Cruising. Folks there will have lots of information about sailing on Royal. I believe Indy is one of the ships that was refurbed and Royal Tots nursery added, so there is group sitting as well as possibly in-cabin sitting...for a fee. But hop on over to the Family Cruises section and ask. EM

[SuiteTraveler]

Pete,

Royal Tots nursery is $8 per hour and they have trained professionals minding the babies.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_kids_teens_and_families&tab=3