We did it...cruised with 16 months old twin

[Mameow]

We just got back from a 7 days caribbean cruise on Regal Princess and would like to share it with you. This was not our first cruise but it was our first cruise with our boys. It was also their first time flying as well. We went on this cruise with no expectation, just go with the flow, we didn't booked any shore excursions and we realized that we probably won't be able to do much. When people ask me how was the trip, my reponse was "hard." But it was fun to see my boys seeing new things and the time I got to spend with them was priceless. I am a full time working mom, so this bonding time alone make it all worth it.

 

- The flights were just long day of travel to/from west coast, overall I think went well some crying but nothing like a whole flight of crying babies. Out of four flights only one time that we couldn't get that extra seat between us.

 

- We booked a mini suite for extra space and a tub, and we were so happy we did that...end up spending a lot ot time in the room (as we expected), the boys loved going to the balcony and looked at boats, ships, etc.

 

- Have a tub was so awesome, I can bath them together. The one night stay b4 cruise hotel has no tub and it was a nightmare as both of them hates the shower. I did bring an inflatable tub but didn't want didn't want to deal with it a 9pm after a long day of travel

 

- We choose Lido deck stateroom which was another best decision for us. We can just run down the hallway and grab a pizza or a hamburger/hot dog. And the buffet was just a walk across the pool.

 

- I requested baby food ahead of time with Princess and this part was the most disappointing. Although my boys can eat other food but they are picky eater, since they still love puree, so Gerber 2nd stage food were pefect, no worry about getting Noro, no diarrhea, no need to find something they will eventually eat. But baby food were not available as requested, feel like I had to beg the Room Service to bring them. One day she send up 2 pack and a jar of meat...OMG that's is not even enough for a day worth of food for one baby!!!

 

- We choosed traditional dinning at 5.45pm and surprisingly we made it everyday with no drama, eating together as a family (which never happen at home) was so nice. We feed the boys while we wait for our food, and I ordered either pasta or chicken tenders for them while we eat. We did let them watch the "Sound of Music" on our iPad so they were super behaved.

 

- We brought two Britax B Agile strollers, want a good shade when we walk around the port/ship. It was small enough to go everywhere but didn't fit stateroom door so we just collapsed them before enter.

 

- Twice a day we take the boys to the Pelican playroom, and they loved every moment of it. Most of the time we get the whole place to ourselves.

 

- Passengers and crews are generally nice and adored them, except those few. One time a drunk lady stumbled onto the stroller in the hallway unbeliveable. Another time, I was waiting in line to get an ice cream, an older gentlemen in front turn around and hit my stroller and give me this look and just walk away...OMG!! Belive me I didn't park it right behind his uptight a**, he was too busy stuffing those icre cream cone to see the stroller.

 

Well, we hope to enjoy many more cruises together in the future. My husband said next time we need to bring some nannies...ha ha ha.

[wampuscat7]

Thanks for the review and insight! Did you end up getting off the boat at any of the ports (and if so, what did you do)?

[Sooner-Cruisers]

Glad you had a good cruise!

[tropical82]

We just got back from a 7 days caribbean cruise on Regal Princess and would like to share it with you. This was not our first cruise but it was our first cruise with our boys. It was also their first time flying as well. We went on this cruise with no expectation, just go with the flow, we didn't booked any shore excursions and we realized that we probably won't be able to do much. When people ask me how was the trip, my reponse was "hard." But it was fun to see my boys seeing new things and the time I got to spend with them was priceless. I am a full time working mom, so this bonding time alone make it all worth it.

 

- The flights were just long day of travel to/from west coast, overall I think went well some crying but nothing like a whole flight of crying babies. Out of four flights only one time that we couldn't get that extra seat between us.

 

- We booked a mini suite for extra space and a tub, and we were so happy we did that...end up spending a lot ot time in the room (as we expected), the boys loved going to the balcony and looked at boats, ships, etc.

 

- Have a tub was so awesome, I can bath them together. The one night stay b4 cruise hotel has no tub and it was a nightmare as both of them hates the shower. I did bring an inflatable tub but didn't want didn't want to deal with it a 9pm after a long day of travel

 

- We choose Lido deck stateroom which was another best decision for us. We can just run down the hallway and grab a pizza or a hamburger/hot dog. And the buffet was just a walk across the pool.

 

- I requested baby food ahead of time with Princess and this part was the most disappointing. Although my boys can eat other food but they are picky eater, since they still love puree, so Gerber 2nd stage food were pefect, no worry about getting Noro, no diarrhea, no need to find something they will eventually eat. But baby food were not available as requested, feel like I had to beg the Room Service to bring them. One day she send up 2 pack and a jar of meat...OMG that's is not even enough for a day worth of food for one baby!!!

 

- We choosed traditional dinning at 5.45pm and surprisingly we made it everyday with no drama, eating together as a family (which never happen at home) was so nice. We feed the boys while we wait for our food, and I ordered either pasta or chicken tenders for them while we eat. We did let them watch the "Sound of Music" on our iPad so they were super behaved.

 

- We brought two Britax B Agile strollers, want a good shade when we walk around the port/ship. It was small enough to go everywhere but didn't fit stateroom door so we just collapsed them before enter.

 

- Twice a day we take the boys to the Pelican playroom, and they loved every moment of it. Most of the time we get the whole place to ourselves.

 

- Passengers and crews are generally nice and adored them, except those few. One time a drunk lady stumbled onto the stroller in the hallway unbeliveable. Another time, I was waiting in line to get an ice cream, an older gentlemen in front turn around and hit my stroller and give me this look and just walk away...OMG!! Belive me I didn't park it right behind his uptight a**, he was too busy stuffing those icre cream cone to see the stroller.

 

Well, we hope to enjoy many more cruises together in the future. My husband said next time we need to bring some nannies...ha ha ha.

 

Glad to hear it went well. We're going with an inside stateroom but my boys are accustomed to showers and do well with. I'll also bring an inflatible for pool side.

 

Love the idea of Lido deck to be close to food when needed. Did you order room service?

 

I'm so glad to hear dining in the main hall wasn't a major fail. I'll make sure to keep our tablet charged just for dinner time. I'm planning on sending them to daycare for dinner most nights but those nights I decide to take them with it will help a lot!

 

I expect I'll be spending lots of time in the playroom too.

 

How did you fare with naps?

[Mameow]

Thanks for the review and insight! Did you end up getting off the boat at any of the ports (and if so, what did you do)?

 

We didn't get off at Princess Cay because it was a ship's tender. To us it was too windy. We just walk around St.Thomas and St.Marten. I know we didn't do much. Maybe next time.

[Mameow]

Glad to hear it went well. We're going with an inside stateroom but my boys are accustomed to showers and do well with. I'll also bring an inflatible for pool side.

 

Love the idea of Lido deck to be close to food when needed. Did you order room service?

 

I'm so glad to hear dining in the main hall wasn't a major fail. I'll make sure to keep our tablet charged just for dinner time. I'm planning on sending them to daycare for dinner most nights but those nights I decide to take them with it will help a lot!

 

I expect I'll be spending lots of time in the playroom too.

 

How did you fare with naps?

 

Thank you. Besides the baby food, we never use room service. For some reason, we rather walk to the buffet or get pizza/hamberger from the pool area. We try to keep naps around the same time as when we were at home. While at St.Martin and St.Thomas they both napped in the stroller, so glad be brought our Britaxs awesome shade and they can lay flat and drink their bottles while we pushed them around.