How old does an infant have to be to cruise

[cruzin Phillis]

It depends on the cruise line you choose to go with. Carnival (since you posted to carnival thread) allows them at 6 months for non international cruises. There are no clubs dedicated to watching babies at a young age.

 

Disney and RCI allows them (not on international cruises) at the age of 6 weeks. Disney and RCI both have dedicated programs for babies where you are not required to stay. They both have splash pads that allow swim diapers for the one that are not potty trained. RCI also have in-cabin babysitting but your little one will have to be at-least a year. Hope this helps.

 

P.S. Do not let anyone deter you from vacationing with your child. I allowed this and felt like i missed out. You know your child and the important thing it to have fun and enjoy the experience.

[MsSoloTravel]

I have heard babies crying in hotel rooms from next door, as well as on planes. A cruise isnt any different. Babies cry. As a mom, you would know that sometimes they are inconsolable. That doesnt mean they are being left to "cry themselves to sleep." What do you expect people to do? Stop vacationing until the kids are old? Any place which has a "kids club" will have small children on it, especially a cruiseline which targets themselves as a family cruiseline. When we want to go somewhere away from kids, we go to an adults only resort.

 

Small children and babies are not the same, especially when we're talking about crying through the night. Carnival may market themselves as a family cruise line but they are not targeting the under 2 demographic...no diapers in splash areas and limited access to camp ocean.

 

I can't speak for the person you posed the question to, but I would answer yes. I would not want to spend a week next door to a crying baby. A flight is temporary. It's possible to change hotel rooms. On a ship you're stuck. To be fair though, you could very well get stuck next to loud adults who party all night.

 

Saying this as a mom of a 2 year old...I can't imagine a cruise being any fun at all with a 6 month old. I want to relax on deck with a Pina colada in my hand and a good book and go to comedy shows at night, not change diapers all day! Lol Waiting til mine is 3 to cruise so we can all have fun! I guess everyone vacations differently!

[AguaMala]

It depends on the cruise line you choose to go with. Carnival (since you posted to carnival thread) allows them at 6 months for non international cruises. There are no clubs dedicated to watching babies at a young age.

 

Disney and RCI allows them (not on international cruises) at the age of 6 weeks. Disney and RCI both have dedicated programs for babies where you are not required to stay. They both have splash pads that allow swim diapers for the one that are not potty trained. RCI also have in-cabin babysitting but your little one will have to be at-least a year. Hope this helps.

 

P.S. Do not let anyone deter you from vacationing with your child. I allowed this and felt like i missed out. You know your child and the important thing it to have fun and enjoy the experience.

 

I remember having a discussion and someone informing me I should leave my child home, as they wouldn't remember anything.

 

I said EXCUSE ME. It will be ME that has the memories of cruising with my child.

 

And she's been with us for 16 of them since.

[cruzin Phillis]

I got that conversation from people a lot. Then I started replying...there is always pictures!!

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[LMaxwell]

Took our 10 month old. Had a blast. Used kids club for open play time. Took him to stage shows at night which he slept right through. first time we tried to put him down for a nap in cabin was tough so put him stroller with blanket, went to outdoor lower deck under lifeboats; sounds of waves and the breeze conked him right out. No crying, no fussing, our kid is not particularly messy.

 

Had a WONDERFUL first family vacation. The crew treated him so nicely. Yes, there ARE photos as memories. I would never tell anyone to leave their kids home, especially on Carnival which has

 

Kids Club

Night Owls babysitting (we did not use).

Dr. Seuss parade and Dr. Seuss story time

Some ships have Dr. Seuss Bookville

Dr. Seuss Breakfast with themed food and characters

Towel Animal Pool deck invasion

Towel Animal Puppet theater

 

This is a FAMILY cruise line. If you don't like kids or don't want crowds you may want to re-evaluate your spending decisions, or at least stick to the adult areas like Serenity, Casino, 18+ comedy shows, Night Club, etc.

 

Lots of helpful hints on the Family Board and on social media page Cruising Carnival with Kids.

[jamesr3939]

RCCL has the 6 - 12 month policy based on more than two sea days. The infant can sail at six months if two or less sea days. Must be 12m if three or more sea days. We had to cancel a family cruise in 2014 because a new addition was only ten weeks. We ended up doing Club Med Ixtapa, which was awesome.

 

Carnival is the only lines I know that has "non-parent participation" programs for under three years of age. We are taking our two year old GD on the Allure in October and the only option is the for fee baby sitting if we want to take the kids for a quite dinner.

[jamesr3939]

BTW: I just booked the Allure with a separate cabin for the 4 & 2 year old. I am paying full price for them. On two prior Carnival cruises where we took little ones I paid the 3&4th price for them and I recall paying gratuities. However, after seeing what their cabin looked like it was money well spent.

 

For those who don't think little ones should cruise, I say "no bad" I look back now at the photographs of our 20 month old GS (now nine) sitting at the dinner table with his great-grandfather (now deceased) and I am so glad we did what we did.

[cruzin Phillis]

RCCL has the 6 - 12 month policy based on more than two sea days. The infant can sail at six months if two or less sea days. Must be 12m if three or more sea days. We had to cancel a family cruise in 2014 because a new addition was only ten weeks. We ended up doing Club Med Ixtapa, which was awesome.

 

Carnival is the only lines I know that has "non-parent participation" programs for under three years of age. We are taking our two year old GD on the Allure in October and the only option is the for fee baby sitting if we want to take the kids for a quite dinner.

That's totally incorrect information. RCCL has royal babies and tots program where they will watch your baby for a fee. It's only 12 months for international cruise

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[cruzin Phillis]

BTW: I just booked the Allure with a separate cabin for the 4 & 2 year old. I am paying full price for them. On two prior Carnival cruises where we took little ones I paid the 3&4th price for them and I recall paying gratuities. However, after seeing what their cabin looked like it was money well spent.

 

For those who don't think little ones should cruise, I say "no bad" I look back now at the photographs of our 20 month old GS (now nine) sitting at the dinner table with his great-grandfather (now deceased) and I am so glad we did what we did.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[MMLEsq]

It depends on the cruise line you choose to go with. Carnival (since you posted to carnival thread) allows them at 6 months for non international cruises. There are no clubs dedicated to watching babies at a young age.

 

Disney and RCI allows them (not on international cruises) at the age of 6 weeks. Disney and RCI both have dedicated programs for babies where you are not required to stay. They both have splash pads that allow swim diapers for the one that are not potty trained. RCI also have in-cabin babysitting but your little one will have to be at-least a year. Hope this helps.

 

P.S. Do not let anyone deter you from vacationing with your child. I allowed this and felt like i missed out. You know your child and the important thing it to have fun and enjoy the experience.

 

Our daughter was about 15 weeks or so on her first cruise (Disney). We wouldn't have necessarily planned to take her on one so young, but it had been planned for a while (my parents' 40th wedding anniversary with all children and grandchildren along to see them renew their vows on the ship).

 

Does she remember any of it? Of course not. Did she enjoy it? Definitely! Being so little, everything was actually really easy because I could carry her around in a Baby Bjorn and she slept so much. Once she got a little older, it was a little more of an adjustment -- I remember one cruise (just after her first birthday) and ALL she wanted to do was walk up and down the staircases in the lobby area. That gets tiring really quick (although not for her apparently).

 

In any event, she just turned 12 on the Splendor on March 23rd and it was her 30th or 31st cruise (I've lost track). We've never had a bad experience taking her, whether it be as a baby, toddler, young kid, or now "tween." I agree wholeheartedly with cruzin Phillis...don't let anyone deter you from taking your child on vacation, if that's what you want to do.

 

Best of luck to you, OP, whatever you decide!

[cruzin Phillis]

Our daughter was about 15 weeks or so on her first cruise (Disney). We wouldn't have necessarily planned to take her on one so young, but it had been planned for a while (my parents' 40th wedding anniversary with all children and grandchildren along to see them renew their vows on the ship).

 

Does she remember any of it? Of course not. Did she enjoy it? Definitely! Being so little, everything was actually really easy because I could carry her around in a Baby Bjorn and she slept so much. Once she got a little older, it was a little more of an adjustment -- I remember one cruise (just after her first birthday) and ALL she wanted to do was walk up and down the staircases in the lobby area. That gets tiring really quick (although not for her apparently).

 

In any event, she just turned 12 on the Splendor on March 23rd and it was her 30th or 31st cruise (I've lost track). We've never had a bad experience taking her, whether it be as a baby, toddler, young kid, or now "tween." I agree wholeheartedly with cruzin Phillis...don't let anyone deter you from taking your child on vacation, if that's what you want to do.

 

Best of luck to you, OP, whatever you decide!

How lucky was she. Reaching diamond/platinum before drinking age!! Lol.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Savlamara]

I remember having a discussion and someone informing me I should leave my child home, as they wouldn't remember anything.

 

I said EXCUSE ME. It will be ME that has the memories of cruising with my child.

 

And she's been with us for 16 of them since.

 

EXACTLY. My little one's first cruise was at 7 months and he barely cried. He was a nurser and as long as he was near me he was happy as a pig in slop. Our cabin neighbors never heard a peep from him. He's on his 3rd cruise and isnt even potty trained yet so I honestly dont care who has a problem with it, especially since he is paying his fare like everyone else! I've had people with some unruly teenager near me and I just roll with the punches. I dont cruise to stay in the cabin anyway, but it was annoying with all the running. yelling and roughhousing in the hallways at all hours of the day and night. Some of the teens didnt go to their beds until 3-4am in the morning!

 

One thing I really didnt like on the cruise where he was 7 months, his fare was higher then us 2 adults in the room. Carnival said its because we got one of the last 3 person rooms on the ship. Imagine paying $100 MORE for an infant that cant even walk yet. :rolleyes: But we all had a ball and I wouldnt change it for the world!

[jamesr3939]

That's totally incorrect information. RCCL has royal babies and tots program where they will watch your baby for a fee. It's only 12 months for international cruise

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

I don't disagree with your comment on Royal Babies and Tots, I guess I was unclear when I called it baby sitting. There is both in cabin baby sitting (sitters at sea) and group sitting in a nursery (royal tots) all for a fee.

 

However, you are incorrect on the 12 month rule for only international cruises. It applies to any cruise with three or more consecutive days at sea. "For the purposes of this policy, any cruise that has 3 or more days consecutive at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour."

[cruzin Phillis]

I don't disagree with your comment on Royal Babies and Tots, I guess I was unclear when I called it baby sitting. There is both in cabin baby sitting (sitters at sea) and group sitting in a nursery (royal tots) all for a fee.

 

However, you are incorrect on the 12 month rule for only international cruises. It applies to any cruise with three or more consecutive days at sea. "For the purposes of this policy, any cruise that has 3 or more days consecutive at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour."

I didn't fully read your comment and I apologize for that.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[RiotAct]

It took 38 replies to say "Six months"?

[luvsviola]

One thing I learned taking a kiddo who was still using baby wipes and pull ups----take plastic bags. The trash cans do not have bags in them. So we ended up having to put icky wipes and pullups in the trash with no bag. I felt awful for the room steward and started sitting them on a towel. Having to do it over, I would have brought a bunch of plastic bags with me to put the wipes in.

[LMaxwell]

One thing I learned taking a kiddo who was still using baby wipes and pull ups----take plastic bags. The trash cans do not have bags in them. So we ended up having to put icky wipes and pullups in the trash with no bag. I felt awful for the room steward and started sitting them on a towel. Having to do it over, I would have brought a bunch of plastic bags with me to put the wipes in.

 

Most dollar stores sell a package of plastic bags that are scented and also lock in smells.

[cruzin Phillis]

It took 38 replies to say "Six months"?

This forum is for cruise lovers to ask questions and post thoughts. It's called an opinion and if don't like reading our responses then you are free to troll some where else.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[cruizinisthebest]

Sorry, but if I'm in my cabin, that's the place I'm supposed to be if my baby was crying. I was fortunate I didn't have a cryer, so I could take my child almost anywhere.

 

ITA! Wow I mean babies cry. That's what they do. So what are you supposed to do if they start crying? Leave your own cabin and walk the halls? Makes no sense. I don't know any parent that wouldn't give anything to stop a child from crying if it goes on for more than a few seconds.

[Aldeya]

I have a question that bothers me a lot.

 

To parents with infants : do you worry about being on the ship with limited medical personal and equipment? What if your little one (G-d forbid) gets really sick? High fever, stop breathing, etc.

 

I know for sure that medical offices on the ships are not equipped to deal with pediatric emergencies. What if something happens in the middle of the ocean with no real ER nearby?

 

Is it worth the risk?

Edited April 1, 2016 by Aldeya

[LMaxwell]

I have a question that bothers me a lot.

 

To parents with infants : do you worry about being on the ship with limited medical personal and equipment? What if your little one (G-d forbid) gets really sick? High fever, stop breathing, etc.

 

I know for sure that medical offices on the ships are not equipped to deal with pediatric emergencies. What if something happens in the middle of the ocean with no real ER nearby?

 

Is it worth the risk?

 

1. We always take travel insurance; if we need medical care somewhere we can disembark.

2. We go to a doctors visit for a check up before we go.

3. We bring any medications we think we may need with us.

 

your concerns are valid, but you can take steps to protect your little ones. You can't plan for every contingency. We have not done a long cruise with our kids; max 1 sea day between ports.

[bplazo]

ITA! Wow I mean babies cry. That's what they do. So what are you supposed to do if they start crying? Leave your own cabin and walk the halls? Makes no sense. I don't know any parent that wouldn't give anything to stop a child from crying if it goes on for more than a few seconds.

 

Do you think that the person in the next cabin wants to hear a crying child or wild and out of control adults? I would probably call guest services if this happened a lot on a cruise

[cruizinisthebest]

Do you think that the person in the next cabin wants to hear a crying child or wild and out of control adults? I would probably call guest services if this happened a lot on a cruise

I'm sure they don't. I sure wouldn't. It just sucks to be the one stuck next door. But first this isn't about adults. I know you're not going to compare adults to a crying baby! Second, where else is a parent supposed to take a crying baby on a ship? Go ahead and call guest services. Maybe they would move you but I doubt it. My point is that I see no point in someone asking a parent to "be considerate" of your neighbors if your child is crying in their cabin. As if they are doing it on purpose or allowing them to just cry. No parent is ok with a wailing baby! In a public space, yes you should remove them from the environment but where should they go if the kid is crying in their cabin?

 

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

[Sunkissed Mommy]

That's totally incorrect information. RCCL has royal babies and tots program where they will watch your baby for a fee. It's only 12 months for international cruise

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

Royal Babies and Tots costs $6 an our in the day and $8 an hour for evenings. It's definitely not free, but it is a wonderful program.

 

My son has been sailing since he was 9 months old, he just turned three and is about to go on his 8th cruise!

 

I have a lot of experience in kids/toddlers/babies cruising, feel free to check out any of my reviews from 2013 onward, lots of tips in my reviews :)

[cruzin Phillis]

I have a question that bothers me a lot.

 

To parents with infants : do you worry about being on the ship with limited medical personal and equipment? What if your little one (G-d forbid) gets really sick? High fever, stop breathing, etc.

 

I know for sure that medical offices on the ships are not equipped to deal with pediatric emergencies. What if something happens in the middle of the ocean with no real ER nearby?

 

Is it worth the risk?

I don't. There is medical staff on board. Like another poster said of something happens then there is travel insurance. Also you should know if you infant is in any condition to travel. I would find it disturbing for a parent to take thier baby when they know he/she gets sick easily or are having medical issues.

 

That is one of the reasons I could travel with my son when he was a infant. He constantly had chest congestion issues.

 

If your pediatrician gives a clean bill of health then you should be good to go. I always ask at my son appointment if he is travel fit and let her know my travel plans.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk