toddlers in alaska

[mprucha]

We're traveling on the spirit May 27, 2009 and our 19 month old grandson will be traveling with us. Any thoughts from those of you that have traveled with small ones about the ship or alaska, the thoughts on excursions that are small child interesting.

 

We've traveled on the Miracle twice so we're well acquainted with the Spirits layout, cabins, rules, etc and I'm a huge planner so I already have lists of baby packing plans & needs.

 

I'm more interested in hearing from parents or grandparents that have taken this trip with little ones about their actual experiences and also about anything they've learned to do differently after making the trip.

 

Thanks in advance! Anne

[karatemom2]

This is a recent thread that might have some helpful information for you:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=772470&highlight=toddler

[mprucha]

Thanks for the thread! It's already helped with ideas from experienced parents!

[aaklang]

We just came back from Alaska with our almost-one-year old and our friends had a baby who is almost two. There were 16 other toddlers on board our ship so Alaska is definitely something you can do with a toddler.

 

A couple of quick trips - don't plan too many big/long excursions. We planned one big excursions (floatplane trip) and played the rest of the vacation by ear. We were still able to see major sites, but we weren't tied down to coming and going at any certain times.

 

Don't bring too many toys because kids can entertain themselves with almost anything. Our ship (Infinity) even let us check out a huge box of toys from the Fun Factory that we got to keep all week.

 

Try to keep your kids close to their normal schedule for eating and sleeping. If they can nap in their strollers on the go, you'll be set. We managed to get our son to take two naps almost every day without feeling like we were missing out.

 

Plan time for them to play and run around. No toddler is happy when they spend the entire day cooped up in their stroller. Our son definitely needed a break from being strapped down all the time.

 

Have fun!