soccer5042 Posted August 9, 2019 #1 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Hi Everyone! Looking for any and all tips and recommendations for cruising with an infant. This will be our first cruise with our 10 month old daughter. We are experienced cruisers, however this will be our first with a baby and any helpful tips anyone is willing to share will be most appreciated. I just learned today that both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean will provide 44 jars of organic baby food free of charge if ordered 40 days prior to sailing. I am wondering if there are any other things that may be included that we are not aware of. We will be taking a 7 day Bermuda Cruise on Celebrity Summit and a 9 day New England cruise on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas. We are Elite Status on Celebrity and Diamond Status on Royal Caribbean in case that helps with any perks that may be offered for a baby. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser_1977 Posted August 9, 2019 #2 Share Posted August 9, 2019 You may find the Family forum helpful....https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leen50 Posted August 9, 2019 #3 Share Posted August 9, 2019 If there is no tub in your cabin, you can buy an inflatable one. Put it in the shower to fill & empty. Also there are cabin hacks where magnets are placed on the ceiling & a flat bed sheet can be hung. They usually suggest a shower curtain, but I would not use plastic near a baby. Your steward can give you a sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted August 10, 2019 #4 Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) Not sure what perks you would think would be offered for a baby with your loyalty status, but there are none. You can ask in advance for a crib to be placed in your stateroom, which will be essentially a pack and play type, and they will also provide a high chair at dinner. Edited August 10, 2019 by leaveitallbehind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra Kim Posted August 10, 2019 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2019 We have done five cruises with our daughter and be boarding her sixth next month. She's 19 months and we did her first cruise when she was 3.5 months old. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I don't know of any perks for the baby (MSC did give us priority boarding, Royal and Celebrity didn't). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckiestmanonearth Posted August 10, 2019 #6 Share Posted August 10, 2019 May I ask what would possess people to want to cruise with an infant ? They definitely won’t remember the experience and the parents need to be tending to the baby constantly so that can’t be very much fun. Maybe I just don’t get it. Can someone explain it to me 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted August 10, 2019 #7 Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) 59 minutes ago, Extra Kim said: ....She's 19 months and we did her first cruise when she was 3.5 months old.... Interesting as with RCI, as example, the minimum sailing age for an infant is that they must be at least 6 months old as of the date of sailing. And if an itinerary has 3 or more consecutive sea days they must be 12 months old. Edited August 10, 2019 by leaveitallbehind 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra Kim Posted August 10, 2019 #8 Share Posted August 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Luckiestmanonearth said: May I ask what would possess people to want to cruise with an infant ? They definitely won’t remember the experience and the parents need to be tending to the baby constantly so that can’t be very much fun. Maybe I just don’t get it. Can someone explain it to me What possess people to cruise in the first place? We have enjoyed every cruise we have done with our daughter, sure it's different and we have not been able to do everything that we used to do on cruises, but still it's better then being at home. It's not like we would be tending less at home. 1 hour ago, leaveitallbehind said: Interesting as with RCI, as example, the minimum sailing age for an infant is that they must be at least 6 months old as of the date of sailing. And if an itinerary has 3 or more consecutive sea days they must be 12 months old. It's possible to cruise with a baby that's younger then 6 months, just takes some homework to figure out with which line that makes it possible. But since I posted the lines we have cruised on, you don't need to be a rocket science to figure it out 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccer5042 Posted August 10, 2019 Author #9 Share Posted August 10, 2019 18 hours ago, JennyB1977 said: You may find the Family forum helpful....https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/ Thank you so much. I did not know there was a specific family forum and it is full of great information and tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinsoncruiseso Posted August 10, 2019 #10 Share Posted August 10, 2019 5 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said: May I ask what would possess people to want to cruise with an infant ? They definitely won’t remember the experience and the parents need to be tending to the baby constantly so that can’t be very much fun. Maybe I just don’t get it. Can someone explain it to me We are taking our 13 month granddaughter, and her parents, on a cruise. Parents get to play and we get days to visit with our granddaughter. Staying on the ship in non-stroller friendly ports while her parents enjoy exploring port. Grandparents dream cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 10, 2019 #11 Share Posted August 10, 2019 6 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said: May I ask what would possess people to want to cruise with an infant ? They definitely won’t remember the experience and the parents need to be tending to the baby constantly so that can’t be very much fun. Maybe I just don’t get it. Can someone explain it to me I suppose the same thing that would "possess" people to take a baby on any type of vacation. Maybe they want the family time. Maybe there's no other choice. Maybe they like their baby. We traveled with our, then, 2 year old and 6 month old on a road trip from southern California to North Dakota and back. Certainly not much more "tending" than if we had stayed at home during that time. And kids start to learn from an early age, how to travel well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted August 10, 2019 #12 Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) Quote It's possible to cruise with a baby that's younger then 6 months, just takes some homework to figure out with which line that makes it possible. But since I posted the lines we have cruised on, you don't need to be a rocket science to figure it out 😉 Well that would leave MSC, as RCI (as mentioned) and Celebrity would not have allowed your 3.5 month old on board. And regarding priority boarding as you previously mentioned, RCI would give that to the OP based on their loyalty status, but not as a result of having an infant. Edited August 10, 2019 by leaveitallbehind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra Kim Posted August 10, 2019 #13 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Bingo! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted August 10, 2019 #14 Share Posted August 10, 2019 22 minutes ago, Extra Kim said: Bingo! She is a doll and I'm sure you have great memories cruising with her. I remember on one of my Crystal cruises, a gentleman would walk around the late seating holding his daughter, about the age of yours, she would be dressed head to toe in the most increadible outfits. You knew when she was coming, because the applause would follow her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 10, 2019 #15 Share Posted August 10, 2019 9 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said: May I ask what would possess people to want to cruise with an infant ? They definitely won’t remember the experience and the parents need to be tending to the baby constantly so that can’t be very much fun. Maybe I just don’t get it. Can someone explain it to me Because when you have children, you start traveling as a FAMILY! That's why! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccer5042 Posted August 11, 2019 Author #16 Share Posted August 11, 2019 22 hours ago, Robinsoncruiseso said: We are taking our 13 month granddaughter, and her parents, on a cruise. Parents get to play and we get days to visit with our granddaughter. Staying on the ship in non-stroller friendly ports while her parents enjoy exploring port. Grandparents dream cruise. Both sets of grandparents will be joining us for the Celebrity cruise and are so excited to spend a week creating new family memories with their first grandchild. I wish you and your family a fantastic cruise ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccer5042 Posted August 11, 2019 Author #17 Share Posted August 11, 2019 19 hours ago, Extra Kim said: Bingo! Beautiful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Itchy&Scratchy Posted August 11, 2019 #18 Share Posted August 11, 2019 22 hours ago, Robinsoncruiseso said: We are taking our 13 month granddaughter, and her parents, on a cruise. Parents get to play and we get days to visit with our granddaughter. Staying on the ship in non-stroller friendly ports while her parents enjoy exploring port. Grandparents dream cruise. we simply left our then 9 month old at home with the grandparents. As a breastfeeding mom who was working full time and not getting any sleep since my kid ate every hour at night all I wanted was a vacation that I could sleep on. So, we went on a cruise sans the baby. It worked out great - my parents got their dream, and I finally got my sleep. A whole week of it. :) When DS was 2, we once again went on a cruise without him. We had a ton of fun, but I didn't need my sleep any more, and we missed DS very much. We looked at all the families with similarly aged kiddos, and from then on cruised with the kiddo. I still don't regret leaving him home when he was under a year old. He would have been a full time job for me on my vacation - we've had land vacations with him to teach me that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra Kim Posted August 11, 2019 #19 Share Posted August 11, 2019 For us, the older she have got, the more "work" it has been to travel with her. But still, a week or two on a cruise ship is better then being at work 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MixerDave Posted August 11, 2019 #20 Share Posted August 11, 2019 On 8/9/2019 at 10:27 PM, leaveitallbehind said: Not sure what perks you would think would be offered for a baby with your loyalty status, but there are none. You can ask in advance for a crib to be placed in your stateroom, which will be essentially a pack and play type, and they will also provide a high chair at dinner. I like your Avatar - GO BIRDS!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted August 11, 2019 #21 Share Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, MixerDave said: I like your Avatar - GO BIRDS!!!! LIkewise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clo Posted August 11, 2019 #22 Share Posted August 11, 2019 On 8/10/2019 at 12:52 PM, leaveitallbehind said: Well that would leave MSC, as RCI (as mentioned) and Celebrity would not have allowed your 3.5 month old on board. I'm totally guessing on this one but wondering if it has to do with the fact that little babies can't be fully vaccinated. ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 11, 2019 #23 Share Posted August 11, 2019 29 minutes ago, clo said: I'm totally guessing on this one but wondering if it has to do with the fact that little babies can't be fully vaccinated. ??? Could be party that. Also, onboard medical facilities aren't generally set up for infant emergencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted August 11, 2019 #24 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) 32 minutes ago, clo said: I'm totally guessing on this one but wondering if it has to do with the fact that little babies can't be fully vaccinated. ??? Not sure, but I do know it has to do with regulations imposed by the cruise line's insurers. I would think - just as with pregnancy restrictions with cruising - the primary concern centers around the ability to handle medical emergencies that may arise and administering medical care with that young of an infant. Edited to add: My apologies Shmoo here, was finishing typing as you posted. Edited August 11, 2019 by leaveitallbehind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 11, 2019 #25 Share Posted August 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said: My apologies Shmoo here, was finishing typing as you posted. No apologies necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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