Is this itinerary baby-friendly?

[blackwing]

We will be travelling with a 6 month old baby. I'm considering the August 29 Carnival Valor. The price really can't be beat. It's the Eastern itinerary, so it stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. I don't see us leaving him on the ship while we go out and play, and I'm kind of worried that these ports aren't all that baby-friendly.

 

I think he'd be much better off if we stopped in places like Grand Turk and Half Moon Bay, where he could sit on the beach with us for a little bit.

 

But the price and time are right for us. I've been to Nassau, which I recall as kind of a pit, so I suppose we could just stroll him around town for a little bit. I remember the locals being fairly aggressive.

 

It's been a long time since I've been to St. Thomas and St. Maarten. What can we do without having to take taxis? In St. Thomas I know there is that tram near the dock, but I'm not sure if we want to do that. I remember there is the "downtown area" but I remember walking there and it was a hike.

[crusinmama06]

Book beach and tour excursions with Carnival and avoid the Taxis. My youngest was 8 months old when we went on that itinerary. We've been on this one at least 4 times. We did the "Under Two Flags Tour"...we did Orient Beach in St.Martin....Coral World in St Thomas and in the Bahamas there is a SIMPLE way to get around taxis. Walk off the port and there is a building where the Carnival ships dock...in THAT building buy a ticket for a water taxi...the cost is $3 pp each way. The water taxi runs to Paradise Island. A short walk down the block is an open public beach.

 

I hate to say it but now that we are back from the Western Carib I can NOW say that the Eastern is MUCH more baby/toddler friendly. The locals are much more friendly. They aren't as pushy. OMG in Jamaica I wanted to die at how pushy they were. :eek:

 

I can pretty much tell you that we have decided to STAY with the ships doing the Eastern route after this past week in the Western. So you made a great choice. :D

 

This was my beach baby at Orient Beach :) (she's 3 years old now)

 

[quagmire0]

We will be travelling with a 6 month old baby. I'm considering the August 29 Carnival Valor. The price really can't be beat. It's the Eastern itinerary, so it stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. I don't see us leaving him on the ship while we go out and play, and I'm kind of worried that these ports aren't all that baby-friendly.

 

It's a great itinerary based on the fact that all those ports are docked and not tendered. St. Maarten is nice because you can just stroll through town without much a problem. I would avoid that weird flea market though. St. Thomas I would go ahead and book one of the tours recommended on the message boards. Nassau - definitely get an excursion. Downtown Nassau is a boring dump.

[Karysa]

When I read the question I immediately thought that Eastern on the Valor would be perfect for a baby and then I saw that you picked that exact ship and route. Great suggestions the only thing I could add would be a horse and buggy ride through Nassau might be something you all would enjoy.

[JCSM-Mom]

We haven't been to st maarten, but we've been to the others. Unfortunately we've been to Nassau several times....(not my favorite port) however, the one time we did have a pretty good time we took the kids over to paradise island and through the aquarium and the dig (although it was a bit over priced). In St. Thomas we went to Coral World (I think that was the name of it....wasn't that impressed), but it did have a nice little beach next to it. On that trip we took sit and strolls...which are also car seats....so we didn't have to worry about how to get anywhere.:)

 

Have a great time.