should a cruise with a 1 yo?

[dnj1]

My dh and I have cruised twice before. The first time we left our 2 y.o. behind. The second time we left our 6 yo (previous 2 y.o.) and 10 mo behind ( I think those ages are right) Anyway. Our girls our now 7 and 1 yo. We vowed on our last cruise never to cruise without the girls, becuase we missed them so much. We are now planning to cruise Aug. 2008. By that time my 1 y.o. will be 2 and old enough for camp carnival. The Problem??? CC that's right, Cruise Critic. I am stuck on this board and I am getting soooo excited I can't wait until then. :mad: I am thinking about going this summer instead. However, 1 will be Camp Carnival age and 1 will not. Is it worth it? Could we actually enjoy ourself having the 1 yo with us the entire time. This cruise is not only for the girls but for me and DH too. We need a break. NO, we don't have the kind of money to cruise this summer and next summer. What do I do? She actually turns 2 in Dec. 2007, but I don't want to take my 7 yo out of school, and I know there will be more kids there for her if we waited until the summer, Aug. 2008. AUGGGG!!!! I am on this site everyday. I have over a year to wait. It is killing me. Honestly I love CC, thanks, I am living my life through you all right now. ADVISE???

[Minnesota Lady]

My dh and I have cruised twice before. The first time we left our 2 y.o. behind. The second time we left our 6 yo (previous 2 y.o.) and 10 mo behind ( I think those ages are right) Anyway. Our girls our now 7 and 1 yo. We vowed on our last cruise never to cruise without the girls, becuase we missed them so much. We are now planning to cruise Aug. 2008. By that time my 1 y.o. will be 2 and old enough for camp carnival. The Problem??? CC that's right, Cruise Critic. I am stuck on this board and I am getting soooo excited I can't wait until then. :mad: I am thinking about going this summer instead. However, 1 will be Camp Carnival age and 1 will not. Is it worth it? Could we actually enjoy ourself having the 1 yo with us the entire time. This cruise is not only for the girls but for me and DH too. We need a break. NO, we don't have the kind of money to cruise this summer and next summer. What do I do? She actually turns 2 in Dec. 2007, but I don't want to take my 7 yo out of school, and I know there will be more kids there for her if we waited until the summer, Aug. 2008. AUGGGG!!!! I am on this site everyday. I have over a year to wait. It is killing me. Honestly I love CC, thanks, I am living my life through you all right now. ADVISE???

For evening can't you put your youngest child in Camp Carnival for babysitting services, think so. If so, evenings would be a break. You would be suprised how many children are in Camp Carnival during off peak times. Our daughter gets a week from school, with a week full of learning and has allot of other children to share it with. Just our thoughts.

[Kerry's Girls]

After a certain time in the evening (I can't remember when, but someone will know) Camp Carnival has babysitting available for all ages. You bring the kids in pajamas and it's a big slumber party. Some people bring their little ones already asleep in their strollers. So you get the best of both worlds - you play with your kids all day and then have some time in the evening with your husband.

 

Have a great time!

 

Best,

Mia

[As You Wish]

Here's the babysitting info from Carnival's website:

 

Is Camp Carnival Available for Children Under 2?Camp Carnival is unable to accept children Under 2 years during activity times but we do offer babysitting services for you within Camp Carnival. Babysitting services for Under 2's are available each evening from 10pm-3am as well as our Family Play Times on Sea Days and during freeplay times on port days. All babysitting services for Under 2's are charged at babysitting price ($6.00 an hour). During Family Play Times on Sea Days parents with Under 2's are welcome to stay with their under 2's at no charge.

[crusinmama06]

OK, I for one would go with the 1 year old but I am also a mom who will leave the hubby at home before I leave the children at home. lol :D And we also cruise up to 3x a year. So it's not a big deal for us.

 

If this is your one and only cruise, then wait till the child is 2 and possibly potty trained. Then you can enjoy more of the cruise together.

 

If this is one cruise before you book your next one next year...lol....then take the 1 year old.

[Florida_cruisers]

we are leaving in a few weeks on a cruise with our 1yr old, I would not consider going without him. Yes, he goes to bed at 7:00pm so I will go to bed early with him.... strange babysitters are not an option for me. I will rest when he rests, it is not ideal but I figure I can use the extra sleep.

[dnj1]

Thanks for the responses. Babysitting would be an option, but if the earlier site was correct; hours starting at 10pm - 3 am, well, I will be ready for bed myself by 10p.m. (lol:) ) I go to bed early.

 

-crusinmama- I read a lot of your post by the way. You have a good idea to just wait and go out with a BANG. I just wish I was fortunate enough to cruise as frequent as you. In that case, I would leave hubby home once, and leave the kids home once. :)

 

-as you wish- thanks for that info. (really helpful. I knew about babysitting but had not checked on the hours yet)

 

-Floridacrusiers- I agree. Your point makes a lot of sense too. Knowing me...I will be ready for a nap, every time she is.

 

Maybe I will talk to DH again.....more than likely I will have to continue chatting, and cruise for myself in 2008, but I just needed to talk to someone becuase I am soooo excited.

 

Thanks All

[Julienatul]

Take your One Year Old!!!!!

 

We did in October and had a great time!!!

 

We didnt use the babysitting service because she gets up at 7am so by 10p were ready for bed too. We still had a great time though. She did fabulous. She loved just strolling all over the ship and watching all the people. Also they have kids play area/playground at the back of the ship near camp carnival. She loved the slide. I would put her up on it and help her slide down. We brought a blow-up pool for her to play in. At dinner we sat with another family with a one-year-old too.

 

Go,you wont regret it. You will have great memories of this family vacation.

 

 

Julie

[katmandoo]

As I always tell my DH - we could all be dead next year, he gets so mad when I say that! (my way of planning frequent vacations :D )

 

But its true, you should go now if you can afford it. My then 2 year old cried and didnt want to be left at Camp Carnival on last summers AK cruise, so, we didnt leave her (did leave the 2 boys, they loved it). We still had a GREAT cruise, and my 2yr old got lots of attention. (must bring an umbrella stroller for ports)

 

We took turns at night going to the casino (Even came home winning $1500!)

 

So, if you wait till next year and your child goes thru a stage of separation anxiety (like mine did-I think she's over it!--I hope!)

she may not stay in the kids club anyway!

 

Good luck!

[crusinmama06]

 

-crusinmama- I read a lot of your post by the way. You have a good idea to just wait and go out with a BANG. I just wish I was fortunate enough to cruise as frequent as you. In that case, I would leave hubby home once, and leave the kids home once. :)

 

If you have the time, then there are ALWAYS ways to cruise (money wise) more than once.

 

The 4 day Carnival Bahama cruises are running $345 (TOTAL for 1st and 2nd person) then $245 TOTAL for 3rd and 4th in months like August-November. There are some REALLY cheap weeks out of the year, like the week AFTER Thanksgiving. ALL rates, including airfare take a drop.

 

That's how I am able to do some without the hubby. ;)

 

I obsessivly watch the prices...so I just have learned when to time them. ;) I am NOT independently wealthy...lol.

[Kerry's Girls]

As I always tell my DH - we could all be dead next year, he gets so mad when I say that! (my way of planning frequent vacations :D )

 

But its true, you should go now if you can afford it. My then 2 year old cried and didnt want to be left at Camp Carnival on last summers AK cruise, so, we didnt leave her (did leave the 2 boys, they loved it). We still had a GREAT cruise, and my 2yr old got lots of attention. (must bring an umbrella stroller for ports)

 

 

Not to be morose, but it's true. It happened to me, and I'm so glad my husband and I spent all of our extra money on trips through the years rather than things. It's a nice thing to have no regrets of "I wish we had taken that trip...". Now I do the same with our daughters, because vacation time together is priceless and more important than stuff.

 

Go and have a great time!

 

Best,

Mia

[dnj1]

As I always tell my DH - we could all be dead next year, he gets so mad when I say that! (my way of planning frequent vacations :D )

 

You sneaky girl you. LIKE!!!! You are so right though. You never know.

 

I have thought about my 2yo not wanting to stay with the camp carnival next year. With the way she acts now.....anything could happen. She is not very friendly.

 

Like I said earlier I have only cruised twice, BUT I love it. It is hard for me to describe to people what we "do" on a cruise. I normally just say "whatever", "anything", "hangout". They don't get it. :) I wish everyone would cruise, the experince is awesome. Then again....if more cruised, maybe we would not get such good rates. ;)

[rebeccalouise]

I think only you can answer this question. I took a 13 month old on a cruise and decided to give cruising a rest until he was almost 4. My six year old will be taking his 12 cruise this Sunday! All have been great- with the exception of when he was 13 months. He did not have an separation anxiety and went willingly with the sitters at night (on Celebrity) but by day I felt limited. No so with an older child that can enjoy the youth program and give me some time to myself. Now that's a real vacation!

[dnj1]

Do they have any babysitting hours available during the day? Any at all? If I go this summer it will be on the Ectasy. Do they have that play area that someone mention in the back area on that ship? Where do you put the blow up pool? Someone told me that they open the "campers area" at some point during the day, when the camp hours are closed, to the babies. ( a place where they can just go and play, with parents supervision) Is this true? I have lots of questions I know, but I want to make sure I make the right choice.

[quagmire0]

DW and I are rolling the dice as well. Baby is due any day now and will be joining us on a cruise in September (she'll be 5 months). Carnival is probably the best bet because they do the babysitting between 10pm and 3am and they also do some babysitting early while in port.

[As You Wish]

Do they have any babysitting hours available during the day? Any at all? If I go this summer it will be on the Ectasy. Do they have that play area that someone mention in the back area on that ship? Where do you put the blow up pool? Someone told me that they open the "campers area" at some point during the day, when the camp hours are closed, to the babies. ( a place where they can just go and play, with parents supervision) Is this true? I have lots of questions I know, but I want to make sure I make the right choice.

 

Below is the info from Carnival's website. I'm sorry I don't have any firsthand experience to share with you.

 

Children aged 4 months-23 months will be offered babysitting services from 12pm-2pm on sea days (Babysitting fees apply). During this time parents can leave their child with the Camp Carnival staff or they are welcome to stay with their child free of charge. Infants under 24 months (2 years) may not participate in any scheduled activities taking place in Camp Carnival. THERE ARE NO AGE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

Children aged 4 months-23 months will be offered babysitting services on sea days during the supervised freeplay times (Babysitting fees apply). On port day mornings, infant care begins 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled ship tour to 12:00 noon, or port day afternoons during the scheduled freeplay times (for specific times check with your Youth Staff when arriving on board).

[ata1976]

We took out 7 month old in February and he did fine. He liked to be wheeled around in his stroller on the ship and in the room he did great. He was no problem at dinner because I brought his dinner with us to the dining room. We cruised with family so there was no one to bother in the dining room. We only went to Cozumel and the inlaws watched him and shopped with him at the pier while me and DH went to the beach. We took him to one of the dance shows and he fell asleep when the lights went out and slept thru it.

 

We cruise again in October and he will be 15 months so I am glad to see others enjoyed their cruises with their 1 year olds. I didn't know they would babysit while you were in port. But I probably wouldn't use that just because I don't trust anyone with him except family. Maybe when he can talk and tell me if anyone treated him bad, ya know?