Help! I need advise for cruising with a toddler

[cruisegirl2006]

We are sailing on the Liberty Jan 21st. This will be our first cruise with our 19 month old. I know he is too young for camp carnival but will we be able to get a sitter while we go to dinner? Any other advice will be appreciated!!!:eek:

[GoinCruisin]

We are sailing on the Liberty Jan 21st. This will be our first cruise with our 19 month old. I know he is too young for camp carnival but will we be able to get a sitter while we go to dinner? Any other advice will be appreciated!!!:eek:

 

Here is the info from Carnival... babysitting starts at 10PM

 

Is there babysitting on board?Babysitting is available every evening from 10:00pm to 3:00am in the children's playroom for children 4 months of age to 11 years of age.

Babysitting is not available during Camp Carnival's scheduled activities, which run from approximately 9:00am to 10:00pm daily.

In addition to the evening babysitting, for infants under the age of 2, babysitting is available on port day mornings from 8:00am to 12:00 noon; if the ship arrives later in the day, babysitting is available in the afternoon until 6:00pm.

Babysitting is done on an advance sign-up basis with the Youth Staff. This is done to ensure that enough staff are scheduled to provide this service.

All babysitting is done in the children's playroom, with a "slumber party" type atmosphere. Movies and cartoons are shown. Pillows, blankets, and cribs are provided.

It is against company policy to provide babysitting in the guest's stateroom.

Babysitting is provided for children 11 years of age and younger. It is not mandatory for infants or toddlers to be potty-trained in order to avail themselves of the babysitting services. Parents must provide the youth counselors with diapers and toiletries to be used for their child.

Babysitting fees are due upon pick-up and paid directly to the Youth Staff on duty. Payment must be made with the Sail and Sign Card; cash is not an acceptable form of payment.

$6.00 per hour for the first child in the family

$4.00 per hour for each additional child in the same immediate family

[serene56]

Nope--canrival does not have sitters onboard..guess you will have to take your baby to dinner with you. (Didnt your agent explain that when you booked?) Did you book early dining?

 

You can use camp after 10pm for a fee of 6 bucks an hour.

 

Please pack everything you will need for your toddler coz you might not find it onboard. Make sure your agent requested a crib /pack and paly for your cabin

[b8tzm]

Nope--canrival does not have sitters onboard..guess you will have to take your baby to dinner with you. (Didnt your agent explain that when you booked?) Did you book early dining?

 

You can use camp after 10pm for a fee of 6 bucks an hour.

 

Please pack everything you will need for your toddler coz you might not find it onboard. Make sure your agent requested a crib /pack and paly for your cabin

 

We've had people with toddlers/young children next to us what a nightmare, but then again some drunk adults have been just as bad

[rosie55]

best advice for cruising with a toddler "don't"

[serene56]

We are crusing with a 9 month old... teething maybe--hopefully she wont be walking yet. a umbrella stroller will be necessary. the alls are narrow and whenthe stewards are out with their carts they are not easy to manuveur.

 

Since we are sailing with MANY family members--taking the baby will be easy since we all will babysit at one point or another.

 

A balcony cabin should be had....whenthe toddler needs a nap its important to take him/her to the cabin for that much needed nap. a balcony at least lets you get outside while he sleeps.

 

Taking naps in a stroller all week will make any body crazy. keep him on his own schedule to make it easier on your and your spouse. If its only the two of you going... you might consider putting toddler in for early sleep then cart him off to the camp at 10pm for alone time--even if its only the one hour. (you will get a beeper incase of a problem.))

 

Curious question-- would you really leave you baby with a stranger while you dine?

[Stevie17]

Without question, this is tough age to cruise with. You won't be able to find a baby sitter during dinner hours, but you will be able to utilize a few hours of babysitting on port day mornings (I think it's four hours in the morning) and then again after 10pm. We have a 15 month old, and she will be staying with her wonderful (and gracious!) aunt while we take our 3.5 year old with us in early March. For us, this is the right choice, but I can also understand families who want to bring their toddlers with them.

[tef43]

will we be able to get a sitter while we go to dinner?

No.

Any other advice will be appreciated!!!

Leave the little one at home with a trusted, willing relative.

[Loves_Dogs]

best advice for cruising with a toddler "don't"

 

I hate to say this...and I am NOT a child hater (have 2 kids of my own) but I have to agree with rosie55....I can't even imagine bringing a toddler on a cruise. It's hard standing in all those lines plus a toddler is all over the floors, putting things in their mouths and as clean as they may get the cabins, I just would NOT let my toddler crawl around in them.

 

The only way I would attempt this is in the case of serene56 where you have a group of family members going to help. This way, you could switch off at dinner, port days and shows and take turns staying 'home' with the baby.

[jckvpa0]

We are sailing on the Liberty Jan 21st. This will be our first cruise with our 19 month old. I know he is too young for camp carnival but will we be able to get a sitter while we go to dinner? Any other advice will be appreciated!!!:eek:

 

 

Are you traveling alone or with family members or friends be with you?

 

I really vote for leaving them with grandma & grandpa & enjoying some well deserved alone time!

[Cuizer2]

I think if someone wants to bring a toddler with them on a cruise that is great. Yes, it means more work for the parents, but what is wrong with taking a family vacation? I was on a two week cruise with two toddlers (one my 15 month old nephew and the other a little girl we met on board). The kids had a great time. I have been on cruises where people who I did not know had toddlers with them, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves. I recall an article in Cruise Travel about traveling with toddlers.

 

As long as the parents realize it will be more work for them, then I see no problem with bringing toddlers on a cruise.

[GoinCruisin]

I think one of the hardest things would be the toddlers getting upset about not being able to do the things they would want. My nephew could never cruise right now... anything he sees, he wants!! If we went by the casino, he would want to go in... just for the lights and sounds, when he saw the pools, he would want to go in and throw a fit if he couldn't. He certainly wouldn't sit at dinner, he'd want to walk around and entertain. He would be all over that ship and would make it alot of work... my sister has emphatically said no, they will not take him on a cruise with us until he is older and can participate in Camp Carnival activities. He is at the "why" stage and doesn't quite understand that he can't go anywhere he wants and do anything he wants (unless he is with his Aunt Chrissy, then he can do what he wants :D)

 

So I guess it depends on your child...

[serene56]

As long as the parents realize it will be more work for them, then I see no problem with bringing toddlers on a cruise.

 

and this is the biggie here. Some people think its gonna be a nice vacation but in reality its gonna be a lot more work.

The OP thought she was gonna be able to use the camps or ship personal for babysitting while the parents dine.

 

I dont see how a couple cruising alone with their child can get quality time alone together with a baby. Its just not gonna happen.

[aholley1061]

Best advice for cruising with a toddler is "DON'T". We cruised with my then 2 1/2 year old daughter. She was miserable and made everyone else that way. The entire family cruised including grandparents but she still was not happy.

[CAPTAIN TEW]

Years ago I took my son with me cruising. He was 4 at the time. This was a very difficult trip. Thank god it was only 4 day cruise. And by no means was he a problem child. Maybe if I didn't care about other cruisers I could have just let him be and cry in the dinning room. He was at an age where Camp Carnival was not real exiting for him. I think we spent more time in our cabin then out having fun. I would have done it diferently agian.

[tunafish]

just came back with a 3yo - had a blast. One is on the way and I hope to take him before he is 6mo. We traveled with my daughter since she was 8mo. Long car drives, small hikes, beach. if you are not into yourself on your vacation and want a family vacation - you'll love it. Toddler won't remember anything later - but that's another story. I personally feel bad for leaving my kid in the daycare, so does my wife - so I just can't imagine leaving her with relatives and go cruising alone. I would be a good vacation - the only problem that you can't go on some tours - like rafting or tubing and so on.

[campdaan]

if you are not into yourself on your vacation and want a family vacation - you'll love it.

 

 

Just curious....Did the other couple of thousand people on the ship have a good time ?

[TobysFriend]

I have 3 children ages 15 years, 12 years, and a 3 year old - so I have plenty of practice at toddlerdome. The best advice I can give you is to just be accepting of your Toddler's needs. Most toddlers just can't sit through long formal dinners. So that means that you may just be eating off the buffet or enjoying room service.

 

The pools are restricted to toddlers. Know that sitting in a stroller and looking at a pool you aren't allowed to go into is torture to them. If you take them around the pool, they will be unhappy.

 

Bring bubbles and other small fun type toys. Plan your shore excursions to those that you can set your own schedule coming and going -- beaches are great for that. If your ship has a glass elevator, that is like Space Mountain to them. Be prepared to ride it alot. Be prepared to take things slow and just accept that you are going to miss a few things. If there are two or more adults along, take turns watching the baby and going off to have fun.

 

Be considerate of others.

[Loves_Dogs]

Just curious....Did the other couple of thousand people on the ship have a good time ?

 

Geesh....I have to agree with this also. There was a couple with a toddler on our Inspiration cruise, they signed up for the Belize City and Zoo tour. That child screamed throughout the entire city tour on the bus. The tour guide tried her best to 'talk over' the screaming toddler, but you can only talk so loud. Needless to say, we heard very little of what seemed to be an interesting tour. I heard many 'under their breath' comments from people sitting around me so I know there were a LOT of unhappy people thanks to this screaming toddler.

 

We saw this couple and their screaming toddler a few other times while on ship. Luckily, they did not have the same dinner time as us.

[alphakitty]

best advice for cruising with a toddler "don't"

 

Exactly!....don't. Not to be mean, but how much of a vacation can it be to take a 19 mo old what with all the care that goes into a toddler of that age? It sure wouldn't work for me, but to each their own. :eek:

[tunafish]

Just curious....Did the other couple of thousand people on the ship have a good time ?

Ask them - how would I know?

I do not know how you bring your kids - but I believe in rules in life, therefore i wouldn't let my kid to do something weird. Let's say we were having breakfasts in a dining room and I had email addresses and digits from all people we shared a table with.

In the dining room we had a kid next to us - she was a doll and a family with a 5 yo and an infant. No problem. another table was occupied by 18-22 yolds and one dude was wearing frigging baseball cap all the time. Did he ask whether I had a good time dining? Did drunk youngsters sitting next to me playing black jack and swearing like sailors ask me whether I was enjoing myself. or a 300+ pound lady getting into hot tub... should I continue for "kid lovers"?

[campdaan]

I do not know how you bring your kids

 

I don't...period. As for the for the loud cursing drunks I usually smile and kindly ask them to lower it a little. it works.

 

But try to reason with parents of a kid in diapers and I'm a jerk....

[jerseygirl3]

I can't believe that a cruiseline as family-friendly as Carnival doesn't have babysitting for parents of toddlers who would like to have dinner without their child a couple of nights during the cruise.

[zqvol]

We are sailing on the Liberty Jan 21st. This will be our first cruise with our 19 month old. I know he is too young for camp carnival but will we be able to get a sitter while we go to dinner? Any other advice will be appreciated!!!:eek:

Tough question that probably should have been asked prior to booking instead of two weeks before leaving.

 

The problem with toddlers on the ship is what to do with them. One of two things is going to happen, either you are not going to enjoy yourself because your time is spent taking care of the little one, or if you are inconsiderate then someone else is going to have a bad time because the little one is cranky and acting like a toddler (it is expected, most of us have them or have in the past).

 

What to do? Don't really know. I do suggest getting off the ship and to a beach at every port. Forget shopping - too crowded. Forget ships tours - too many people, too busy, too long, too confining. In other words this is one of those times where you are going to be confined and left to your own devices.

[littledylansmom]

Our sons first cruise was in Feb. '05 he was 2 at the time. He loved everything about the cruise and still talks about it to this day. He is now 3 and going on his 2nd cruise next month and he can't wait! We dined everynight in the dining room with him and had no problem at all...He ate everything off the adult menu, sat thru dinner and acted better and looked better than most of the adults. We have been taking him everywhere with us since he was 1 week old...and wouldn't have it any other way. The only advice I can give to you is to enjoy your little ones...they are only little for a short time. :)