PNW 4 night cruise with 3 year-old?

[Luxuriate]

I think we are going to do it! DS has never been on a cruise. Hubby and I have not cruised together since before DS (I took a girls only cruise in May 2006). Hubby, surprisingly, is kind of excited about this short cruise.

 

We live in the Seattle area already so there is no real travel to the port. My mother declined to babysit for the week (she has a lot of other stuff going on at that time) so we are seriously thinking of doing the cruise as a family of three.

 

Hubby is being so sweet. He says he will watch DS the whole time so that I can have a break...that is if I give him the later evenings off for the casino. :)

 

What I am concerned about is the short length of the cruise with a "just-turned" 3 year-old. Also, the colder weather on the cruise and the lack of swimming available for the little guy.

 

I must tell you, the potty training is not quite at the optimum yet and doesn't look like it will be in a month either. So the playroom worries me.

 

Do you think there will be other kids on the 4 day cruise? Do you think they might allow him in the playroom even if he is in a diaper...if we have our cell phone at all time? He regularly goes to daycare and is often in play rooms at my gym, the grocery store, etc...

 

I think we are still going to do it but it sure would be nice if the playroom was open for him for at least an hour or so a day. Know what I mean? I'm seriously thinking of asking about in-room babysitting too.

 

Don't flame me, just asking for honest opinions. We are older parents. We understand that others don't want kids around them all the time. We will be very considerate. Just wondering what your thoughts are?

 

Cheryl

[Cruisin' Chick]

I couldn't figure out which cruiseline you're talking about. That would be pretty important as some cruiselines handle the small kids differently. Carnival, for example, will take in kids over two years old who are still in potty training.

 

Our girl, on her second cruise, was in Camp Carnival at age 3, and was in pull ups. My only complaint is that they didn't page me when she needed a change. Not sure how often they encouraged her to try the toilet (most of the time she was excited about trying different toilets...she had her first plane ride then and we were in different hotels pre- and post-cruise while we were traveling about Florida so she had plenty of training chances).

 

If you're on a cruise during the summer, late December, or around Easter, you should be on a cruise with plenty of kids (esp. if a 4-day one). that's because school is out (even in those under 5 could miss pre-school easily, any older siblings can't).

[Luxuriate]

I couldn't figure out which cruiseline you're talking about. That would be pretty important as some cruiselines handle the small kids differently. Carnival' date=' for example, will take in kids over two years old who are still in potty training.

 

Our girl, on her second cruise, was in Camp Carnival at age 3, and was in pull ups. My only complaint is that they didn't page me when she needed a change. Not sure how often they encouraged her to try the toilet (most of the time she was excited about trying different toilets...she had her first plane ride then and we were in different hotels pre- and post-cruise while we were traveling about Florida so she had plenty of training chances).

 

If you're on a cruise during the summer, late December, or around Easter, you should be on a cruise with plenty of kids (esp. if a 4-day one). that's because school is out (even in those under 5 could miss pre-school easily, any older siblings can't).[/quote']

 

 

We will be on a Celebrity cruise and my understanding is that the child has to be 100% potty-trained.

[jlbl4902]

I am doing the 3 night PNW cruise out of Seattle with my 3 year old...(this will be his 5 cruise) Not to sure how it will be but the price was right and I really wanted to try another cruise line. I have a feeling there wont be too many other kids on board but I guess we will see.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Have never sailed on a Celebrity ship so I really don't know. (was on a tour of one last year and saw what the kids' area looked like...but that won't mean anything if your child can't participate if not potty trained)