Question about Babies on Board?

[sablecheyenne]

Yes, that is what makes threads like this so painfully annoying on an otherwise helpful and informative board.

 

FWIW, My 4 year old is going on her fifth cruise next moth and my 1 year old on his second. We've had some great experiences cruising with them and one not so great. I don't offer an opinion one way or another on what OP should do except have a good time whatever the decision.

 

Yep. Have a good time.

 

But I have been giving this topic some thought and I was remembering those excruciating old time "family fun" vacations my parents would take with us.

 

Five kids and two adults trapped in a station wagon for hours and hours on end with nothing to do except get on each other's nerves.

 

I distinctly recall my dad not even turning around from driving and swatting at us. He didn't care who he connected with.

 

So I have decided that taking small, medium or large children on a cruise ship where there is always something for everyone to see and do and eat, is far more desirable than our week in a car driving forever and seemingly getting nowhere any of us wanted to be.

 

Bon voyage!

 

sable

[HurricaneSally]

My "blanket" statement, said "I", not "you should". I would not bring a baby on a cruise. I just got home from a cruise where some idiot father tried to put an eight month old baby in the hot tub. Thankfully, he was stopped before he was able to dump the child in the drink. It was a "very" hot tub. It would have probably boiled the child alive.

[Happy ks]

The debate will always live on and no one will ever agree, it just depends on what you believe in.

 

My kids are now 16 and 13, my husband and I have been married 20 years, together for 4 years before that. We did not take a vacation away from the kids until they were 10 and 13 and, with the exception of a couple of weekends or single nights away over the years, that was it. We always took the kids with us.

 

Hindsight, we should have taken more time for ourselves, I wish we could have found a way. We had no capable surviving grandparents and all aunts and uncles had their own lives, everyone was too busy.

 

Our marriage is strong and we are both committed to raising our kids the right way and they are real good kids. But, you cannot get time back, there is no re-wind in life and the day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month grind of raising a family, you need an occasional break from it. I see nothing wrong with a couple spending time as such, it might even prevent a few divorces from happening. A happily married couple is the root of the family, allowing it to grow.

 

People who take a break from their kids are not selfish, nor immature, quite the contrary. If you have loving care for your children, only good things will come of it. The grandparents and the kids also deserve time together, away from the rules of the parents. This provides an atmosphere of bonding for them, something that only time together can produce.

 

To the OP, you have to do what works best for your family. If you want to take your child (or have to, like us), do it and enjoy it. It will be a lot of work, so prepare yourself for taking care of a baby away from home, big difference from taking care of a baby at home. The staff and crew, plus most of the other pax will love seeing your child.

[forevercruising1]

Anything younger than that is just a waste of your money.

 

HS -- After your "I" comment, you clearly state "Anything younger than that is just a waste of your money", hence, the responding comments.

[beachchick]

My only comment, or I guess question, is that I believe children must be a minimum of 1 year old to have the in-cabin babysitting. Younger than 1 year, the baby will be with mom and dad (or whatever adults are travelling) at all times. Some parents wait until their child is at least 1 (or travel with other family) so that they can do some of the adult activities where it is inappropriate or where you are not allowed to bring children (e.g., casino). I believe the Aqua Babies, etc. is a 45-minute session with toys and such. A parent must stay with the child during the session.

 

beachchick

[ducklite]

Check to see if the baby has to pay the tips.

 

Of course you should tip for the baby! They are setting up a high chair, taking out bags of diapers, cleaning tons of crumbs off the table and floor, etc.

 

IMHO, as a mother, I think younger kids are a lot more work than older ones.

 

And BTW--to the OP, I'd suggest that you get a non-connecting cabin, as noise seems to travel more through connecting cabins.

 

Anne

[lv2bcruzin]

NOW I remember why I haven't visited this site since October 2004.

 

For all of you ***holes, in the future if I feel I can offer helpful information, I will email the original poster privately(if their address is listed). If not, I'll leave the reponses to you and your little group here (where outsiders are clearly not welcome) who think you know more than everyone else.

 

Fortunately, there are other cruise boards with decent people who don't enjoy taking jabs at others. And for the record, I said that the other poster was "trying" an intimidation tactic, not that she succeeded.

 

I sincerely hope you all have a wonderful life; you deserve each other.

 

LOL This person is outta control. One I am a HE not a SHE. Two, I don't even know anybody on this board, so I too could be considered an outsider. And three, that just shows the kind of donkey you are. dfgf and I do not know each other and I do not know anyone on here actually, but still think based off of what you have said that you need some alone time with your spouse, if you actually have one and he can stand you for more than 5 minutes alone, to get some lovin and relax....LOL LOL LOL :rolleyes:

 

Funny too that you said you had helpful information. I had no idea telling me not to have kids if I'm not going to travel with them was helpful information for the OP.

[dfgf]

For the record, I'm also a he. Lv2bcruzin, I think she is suggesting that we know each other?

 

So glad you posted that with a reply, as the post has been deleted.

 

Also for the record - I don't know anyone on this board either. Although my wife and I made some great CC friends on one of our cruises!

[maurick]

Nothingwrong taking a infant or child on a cruise. As long as the parents do their job. Main problem I have seen is children running all over the ship and not on very good behavior. Our children were 6 for first cruise and love cruising. We would never take a infant and all their stuff. We just think thats insane. To each his own. There is no right answer or wrong answer

[ducklite]

Maurick is spot on about the older kids running around like banshees.

 

And BTW--If you were on the 10/9 Mariner sailing and your 12ish year old son "lost" his sandals...

 

He was one of half a dozen little twerps screwing around on the elevators and generally running amok. When he threw his sandals into the midship elevator almost hitting me in the process, then ran towards the stairs to fetch them on the next level, as he was running away, he didn't notice me holding the door, then as he tore up the stairs, he didn't notice me leave the elevator and deposit the shoes behind the planter or garbage, can't recall which and it's not important. This was on the second formal night, around the time dessert was being served in the main dining room. As I got off the elevator on the next floor he almost mowed me down trying to get on to get his sandals, then practically accosted me asking where they were. No, I didn't tell him, and you're quite lucky I didn't take him by the ears and march him to visit security. Consider yourself lucky that a pair of cheap sandals was your only loss, IMHO he and his entire party should have been put off the ship.

 

Anne

[wrp96]

Ducklite, I think you were very restrained. If it had been me, he would've been dragged by the ear to the purser's desk. When I see kids do something like that, I always wonder what if it had been somebody else, like an elderly or disabled person, that was hit.

[ElvisandTracey]

This comment is not pointed at any one person specifically-

 

HOWEVER-

 

The people who cannot or will not handle their baby on board the ship are the same ones who cannot or will not handle them at home-some parents can go with the flow, others can't.

 

The ship itself has nothing to do with it-either you are the type of parent who can do it (vaction or elsewhere) or you arn't.

 

My 9 year old DS has been on 4 cruises, his fifth will be in June on the FOS, and he can't contain himself over all the new features of the ship.

 

My 1 year old DS will also be on that cruise, at which point he will be 20 months old-he has already been on a hawaiian vacation at the age of 11 months-he got a sore throat & fever the first day of the trip, I took him to the resort dr., got him meds, it went away, he still went to the pool (out of the sun due to the meds.)

 

The trip was not even affected by his throat, just 1 hr. of my time to the Dr. and pharmacy-the same would have been available on a ship. Some parents (grandparents, uncles, cousins..) would have freaked out over the throat and fever, and may have let them ruin the trip. We just dealt with it and moved on.

 

Kids are what you make of them, as are cruises-I have been all over the world with my kids, sometimes they get sick, I fix them and move on-adults get sick on trips too, no biggie!!!

 

Nobody out there should listen to those who say you will not enjoy cruises or travel with babies or kids-not true. I am not saying that you should not travel sometimes without your kids (I cruise once per year with just DH, the rest with kids) It's fine to leave the kids at home sometimes for some adult fun, but it's wonderful when the whole family can make memories together too!! You can do both.

 

But don't be bullied into thinking that cruising with a baby will be too much work and no fun, and don't think that everyone on the ship will hate you for bringing your kid-neither are true, and I am speaking from several instances of first-hand experience.

 

Congrats on the baby, have a great cruise with him/her.

[LittleBit]

I know that RCCL has an aquababies (6-18m) and aquatots (18m-3y/o) program on board - but it's basically a mommy and baby group (as far as I understand). Also, non-potty trained babies are not allowed into the pools

 

ok -

I'm puzzled - what 6 - 18 month old would be potty trained? How can they offer a water program for children who would not be potty trained when they don't allow diapered babies in the pool?

 

or are aquababies and aquatots non pool groups and just a cutesy name?

[wrp96]

AquaBabies and AquaTots don't have anything to do with the pool. They are play times in the Adventure Ocean area.

[flexiblefine]

AquaBabies and AquaTots don't have anything to do with the pool. They are play times in the Adventure Ocean area.

 

On my cruise last month, the Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots programs were in one of the lounges (Moonlight Bay on Rhapsody), not in Adventure Ocean.

[FIRELT5]

On my cruise last month, the Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots programs were in one of the lounges (Moonlight Bay on Rhapsody), not in Adventure Ocean.

 

Just arrived off the GOS this past Sunday. The Aqua tots play session was in the Singing in the rain Lounge which lasted from 10-11 Am. Counslers used Fisher Price toys ie, (learning Through music). Child has to be over 3 and potty trained to be admitted into Adventure Ocean !!!!

[FIRELT5]

Hello All,

My wife and I are expecting our first child in February. We are already discussing possibly taking a cruise in 2007. What is the youngest a child can be to cruise with RCCL? Is there usually a discounted rate for a child under the age of 2? Just trying to gather information so we can get back into cruising.

 

NCL has no fare for passangers under 2 yrs of age. You just pay port charges and taxes. Our son is 2 and just completed his 5th cruise. We have 3 more booked for 2006. Unfortunately X & RCCL charge the 3rd person rate

which vary from cruise date and Cat. X does supply baby food. Son has been on the Zenith twice to Bermuda

[mruhaak]

Congratulations! I am expecting a child in June as well.

 

You may want to consider a Disney cruise. Normally they are considerably more expensive...BUT you do not pay for a child under 2. So it may even out or come close. Also they have bath tubs in the bathrooms which is kid friendly.

 

They are the only line that has a nursery, "Flounder's Reef". There is a charge - $6 hour. Might be a nice way for you to have a nice dinner or a few hours alone together. Other lines offer in-room babysitting, but personally I would be more comfortable with my child being watched in a group setting, that way care providers police each other.