GeorgiaMomof4 Posted February 5, 2018 #1 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Hey everyone! Although we have cruised many times with children this is our first cruise with ones this little. Our oldest children were 9 and 7 (now 23 and 21) when they went on their first cruise and our newly adopted boys are taking their first cruise at 3 and 4. I already know I'm going to have my hands full at the Lido buffet trying to get plates and drinks for everyone (my DH just had knee surgery so he isn't going to be as much help as usual either) so I'm wondering what kind of cups you guys take for your kids drinks for the buffet area (and maybe even MDR). The ones Carnival have on Lido are plastic but they are kind of large for small hands and needless to say do not have lids. I've got some of the Take and Toss ones that you can purchase at Walmart, but was wondering if something with a hook or some way to strap it on them (or me) would be better. Looking for any tips that you may have that have worked for you all. Thanks in advance - don't know what I would do without these boards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 5, 2018 #2 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Go to the dining room for meals, when possible...that way, you all are SERVED! No juggling plates, and cups, or waiting in line or searching for butter, etc...!!! Otherwise, you will be spending the majority of YOUR eating time serving your family...not much of a vacation for you! Kids are VERY welcome in the MDR!!! And, breakfast and dinner are so much nicer in there than in the buffet. If you're at the pool during the day, you can grab a sandwich from the buffet and bring it out to the pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry's Girls Posted February 5, 2018 #3 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Take n' toss are your best bet since the covers protect from spills and it's not a tragedy when they get lost/left behind. That said - the main dining room is your friend! We go for every meal it's open because it's wonderful to sit and enjoy meals with my family while we're being served. I've been taking my twins since they were babies and we love the time together and the waiters cater to their wants. (On our first cruise we were in the buffet and a dining room manager insisted that moms most of all should be eating in the dining room so they could relax). Have a great time and congratulations on your wonderful family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaMomof4 Posted February 5, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Go to the dining room for meals, when possible...that way, you all are SERVED! No juggling plates, and cups, or waiting in line or searching for butter, etc...!!! Otherwise, you will be spending the majority of YOUR eating time serving your family...not much of a vacation for you!Kids are VERY welcome in the MDR!!! And, breakfast and dinner are so much nicer in there than in the buffet. If you're at the pool during the day, you can grab a sandwich from the buffet and bring it out to the pool. Trust me - we will definitely be using the dining room for dinner every night. I was just thinking about breakfast and lunch on lido and wondering how I was going to juggle all that stuff. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaMomof4 Posted February 5, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Take n' toss are your best bet since the covers protect from spills and it's not a tragedy when they get lost/left behind. That said - the main dining room is your friend! We go for every meal it's open because it's wonderful to sit and enjoy meals with my family while we're being served. I've been taking my twins since they were babies and we love the time together and the waiters cater to their wants. (On our first cruise we were in the buffet and a dining room manager insisted that moms most of all should be eating in the dining room so they could relax). Have a great time and congratulations on your wonderful family! Thanks so much - sounds like I may already have what I need then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gymbomb Posted February 6, 2018 #6 Share Posted February 6, 2018 When my son was 2 we took a spill proof straw cup. He is pretty good with smaller open cups at home now, but will probably still take a spill proof straw cup with us when we cruise this summer (he is 4 now). We find it useful both at meals and to throw in the backpack for excursions. He is able to drink from a water bottle but tends to spit a lot of food bits back into it, and a cup is much easier to clean! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A&Jfamily Posted February 6, 2018 #7 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Don't just do dinner in the MDR - do breakfast there as well...SOOOO much easier with kids. My youngest was 2 when he started cruising and I took along 2 regular plastic sippy cups from home and washed them in the sink. Easy to do and pretty much had one with us 24/7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rala Posted February 6, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 6, 2018 If you do eat at the buffet and are having trouble "juggling" , just ask a crew member to help you. They are happy to help. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2oneXY Posted February 12, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Don't just do dinner in the MDR - do breakfast there as well...SOOOO much easier with kids. My youngest was 2 when he started cruising and I took along 2 regular plastic sippy cups from home and washed them in the sink. Easy to do and pretty much had one with us 24/7. Breakfast in the MDR is so much better quality than the lido, too. Also you could always do room service for breakfast. My 6 year old is not a get up and go kid. He likes to watch his morning cartoons and eat breakfast. He'd get cereal, yogurt, and OJ every morning and I'd get my coffee and bagel. It's a great way to start the day! But at their ages, I'd just do the take and toss cups. I also just read a tip about cutting up dollar store sponges and putting dishsoap on them then storing them in a zip lock baggie. Easy way to wash cups in the sink without having to pack dish soap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry's Girls Posted February 12, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 12, 2018 I totally agree about breakfast - such a luxury to sit and enjoy breakfast with my family. I would usually order a little something from room service for the kids to eat a little while we're getting ready so they're not starving/in good behavior in the dining room. My girls loved having a little hot chocolate every morning in the dining room with their breakfast - they always also preferred the dining room to the buffet. I always requested a table of our own rather than being seated at a large table. All the best, Mia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryCS62 Posted March 4, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 4, 2018 My DD is 28 years old, but disabled, & because of spine curvature not completely corrected by surgery, tends to "list" to one side, making drinking from a regular cup difficult, especially if it is glass (heavy for her). We just invest in the plastic straw cups (a few dollars each) & take 2 or 3 along with them when we travel or even when we just go out to eat. Just pour her drink into her cup, & then she's fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amuth1130 Posted March 5, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 5, 2018 We went with our 3 year old and 1 year old. I brought each of them a sippy straw water bottle (and a small bottle of dish soap). These were a life saver! Also- we ordered continental breakfast every night - my kids both want milk and something to eat really soon upon waking so this worked out. We would have that delivered about 630a and then they would have stuff to hold them over until we were all up and ready for breakfast in the main dining room or in buffet. Worked great! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymom914 Posted April 7, 2018 #13 Share Posted April 7, 2018 My grandkids (3 and 5) travel with cups where the straw seals down. Check Amazon for kids autoseal travel cups. It fits into a pocket on their (or Mom's) backpack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caszos Posted April 8, 2018 #14 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Last summer Walmart had some cheap kids water bottles that had a hook on them. I may look for them again to fill up with water before heading out on the decks. They could hook on a backpack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lebreos Posted April 8, 2018 #15 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Yes use MDR or other eateries that may be open for breakfast,as much as possible as the staff love the kids and you get served.... For breakfast we usually asked for my sons (he was very young) first (as soon as we sat down) so we had a chance to feed him before our breakfast came. This time he will be 3 so much more manageable to eat himself but far easier to have the waiter service and not have to 1. find seats - then find food - do the shuttle runs then finally sit and eat yourself.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimA75 Posted April 9, 2018 #16 Share Posted April 9, 2018 If you do eat at the buffet and are having trouble "juggling" , just ask a crew member to help you. They are happy to help. :D Yes, they are more than happy to help. Also, you can get sippy cup holders to attach them to things. Check out https://www.amazon.com/PBnJ-Baby-SippyPal-Holder-Tether/dp/B0047RJE7M?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0047RJE7M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Itchy&Scratchy Posted May 10, 2018 #17 Share Posted May 10, 2018 we got disposable coffee cups with lids with a hole in them at the café on RCCL and Princess. Didn't have to bring anything from home, and they are more or less spill proof, sort of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLadyK Posted May 11, 2018 #18 Share Posted May 11, 2018 I picked up a small sports bottle with a sealing flip up spout that hangs on a carabiner for my 3 year old. Its mostly for water while running around the boat/beach though, seated at a table she's pretty confident with open top cups. If by "confident" you hear "refuses to drink out of a baby cup and only forgets and knocks the cup over twice a week". Ah, three. You can't tell them anything, they will tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinWithMySweetie Posted June 19, 2018 #19 Share Posted June 19, 2018 We use “Siliskin Straw Lids” which work wonderfully on the glasses in MDR and plastic buffet cups as well. Just used disposable straws provided or I had a bag of bendy straws I brought with. Best part no washing cups, just wipe down. Can’t tell you how many parents approached me asking what they were and where we got them! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinWithMySweetie Posted July 10, 2018 #20 Share Posted July 10, 2018 My girls loved having a little hot chocolate every morning in the dining room with their breakfast What a great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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