What can we do with our 2yo on the Explorer of the Seas?

[magsnden]

I'm hoping you veteran cruisers will be able to give me some reassurance!

 

 

we're leaving for our big family cruise on Saturday with our 4 and 2yo children. i realize that my son will NOT be allowed in the pool with a swim diaper and i'm beginning to panic about what type of things we can do with him while his 4yo sister enjoys the pool or is in the kids club. He is definitely not the type to be happy to sit in the stroller all day! (are any?)

 

i've been on 1 cruise many years ago, and so it's all a bit foggy for me - can anyone give us any advice about what to expect while at sea?

 

TIA!!

[cb at sea]

They do have "playtime" (I can't remember what they actually call it) where a parent can participate with their toddler. One of you could do that, while the older child is in the pool.

Very young kids don't have alot of options on most cruise ships, unfortunately!

[magsnden]

i did look into those "playtimes" - they're only 45min, which is something he could do. i think they're only open in the mornings.

 

have you cruised with your own little ones recently? what kind of things did you do together?

 

thanks again!

[AllieInMD]

There is a family cruising board here - go there and I'm sure they will have a wealth of info for you :) Don't think Explorer has the baby splash zone (swim diapers ok) - but they suggestions about blowup pools you can put on deck.

 

 

I'm hoping you veteran cruisers will be able to give me some reassurance!

 

 

we're leaving for our big family cruise on Saturday with our 4 and 2yo children. i realize that my son will NOT be allowed in the pool with a swim diaper and i'm beginning to panic about what type of things we can do with him while his 4yo sister enjoys the pool or is in the kids club. He is definitely not the type to be happy to sit in the stroller all day! (are any?)

 

i've been on 1 cruise many years ago, and so it's all a bit foggy for me - can anyone give us any advice about what to expect while at sea?

 

TIA!!

[wingnutphl]

There is a family cruising board here - go there and I'm sure they will have a wealth of info for you :) Don't think Explorer has the baby splash zone (swim diapers ok) - but they suggestions about blowup pools you can put on deck.

 

I don't think blow up pool would be allowed on deck. The area is already crowded with people and chairs. You could bring it for you balcony but please don't put it up on deck.

[PattyWinters503]

My DD (now 13) loved going to eat at the restruants..they allowed her to taste whatever she wanted...We told her that she could taste it and if she didnt like it she could spit it into our hands...We thought she would hate most of it..and we would be wasting somuch food, but we didnt.... to our surprise, she loved most of the different things available to her. Her favorite was shrimp cocktail! The waitors thought this was adorable and had shrimp cocktail available to her every night! She ate and tried just about everything on that cruise! It was a good thing as she rarely ate the kid famous chicken fingers/mac and cheese meals after that!

 

She also loved the shows...especially shirley temples with cherries and umbrellas..We did everything we were gonna do on the cruise with her and basiclly she loved it all...

[FL_Cruiser64]

I don't think blow up pool would be allowed on deck. The area is already crowded with people and chairs. You could bring it for you balcony but please don't put it up on deck.

 

What would you do with the pee filled water though?

:eek:

 

I personally would not cruise with a 2 -year old. When my son was that young I realized that as a parent I have to make sacrifices. Of course I butted heads with my ex-wife (mother of my son) because she wanted to drag him at the tender age of 6 months to Disney World.

 

:mad:

[AllieInMD]

I've seen several posters talk about it - they put the blowup pool on the deck. My kids are grown - don't have to ask me not to do it :)

 

 

I don't think blow up pool would be allowed on deck. The area is already crowded with people and chairs. You could bring it for you balcony but please don't put it up on deck.

[AllieInMD]

those family cruiser folks pretty much have every aspect covered :) They have several areas that the pool water can be dumped.

 

btw - if you think for a second nobody is peein in the regular pool - I got a bridge for ya - too many potty trained kids in there to think it's pristine.

 

What would you do with the pee filled water though?

:eek:

[TampaMom2Girls]

What would you do with the pee filled water though?

:eek:

 

Please don't start that up again, that's not what this thread is about.

 

Let's get back on track and answer the OP's inquiry.

[FL_Cruiser64]

those family cruiser folks pretty much have every aspect covered :) They have several areas that the pool water can be dumped.

 

btw - if you think for a second nobody is peein in the regular pool - I got a bridge for ya - too many potty trained kids in there to think it's pristine.

 

Thats why I don't go into the pool.

:D:D:D

 

Please don't start that up again, that's not what this thread is about.

 

Let's get back on track and answer the OP's inquiry.

 

Again? Did I miss something? Sorry but it just came to mind when I saw 'blow up pool on deck". Was rather a general question - out of curiousity.

[HollandA]

IIRC, people have stated that they have been able to dump the pool water in a janitor's closet that's on deck.

 

(Personally, I wouldn't take a 2 year old on a cruise, but that's just me. I'm the mom of 9 month old twins, and we have friends who are trying to plan a DCL cruise in a couple of years shortly after the girls will be 2. We're passing because we'd love to relax on a cruise, and you can't really do that with young children in tow.)

[AllieInMD]

My kids tried all sort of new things on our 9 day - only once did son opt to order off the right side of the menu - the standards that were offered every day - and only because the great majority of the night's choice were seafood (shellfish allergy). Neither ever ate off the kids menu.

 

My DD (now 13) loved going to eat at the restruants..they allowed her to taste whatever she wanted...We told her that she could taste it and if she didnt like it she could spit it into our hands...We thought she would hate most of it..and we would be wasting somuch food, but we didnt.... to our surprise, she loved most of the different things available to her. Her favorite was shrimp cocktail! The waitors thought this was adorable and had shrimp cocktail available to her every night! She ate and tried just about everything on that cruise! It was a good thing as she rarely ate the kid famous chicken fingers/mac and cheese meals after that!

 

She also loved the shows...especially shirley temples with cherries and umbrellas..We did everything we were gonna do on the cruise with her and basiclly she loved it all...

[PattyWinters503]

My whole family went the following year. My daughter was 3 and my niece was 2. We were caught in a hurricane (Late august...3 in one week actually to bermuda on the zenith). One of my daughters favorite memories of that cruise was of her and her cousin rolling on the floor back and forth to the swaying of the ship in one of the lounges...lol Needless to say there werent many people out of their cabins...but we were! The kids had a blast!n And heck even with the rocking and rolling of the ship/...we even had a good time...None of us got sea sick at all...

[magsnden]

What would you do with the pee filled water though?

:eek:

 

I personally would not cruise with a 2 -year old. When my son was that young I realized that as a parent I have to make sacrifices. Of course I butted heads with my ex-wife (mother of my son) because she wanted to drag him at the tender age of 6 months to Disney World.

 

:mad:

 

I, too, realize that as a parent I have to make sacrifices. As a stay-at-home mom, I could start a list of the endless sacrifices I have and continue to make, I hardly view not taking my children on vacation with DH and I anywhere near a sacrifice.

 

it's a moot point anyway - we are taking both of our children! :)

 

I don't think blow up pool would be allowed on deck. The area is already crowded with people and chairs. You could bring it for you balcony but please don't put it up on deck.

 

this seems to be common practice and I have not read even one post of someone getting a hard time for using a blow up pool. in fact, most people talk of how helpful and friendly the crew has been in helping them fill the pool with water.

 

and yes, there are drains to pour the "pee-filled" water down afterwards.

but i know that's really not what the issue is here.

 

 

Please don't start that up again, that's not what this thread is about.

 

Let's get back on track and answer the OP's inquiry.

 

thanks tampamom! ;)

 

 

i truly appreciate all the friendly comments and suggestions so far -

 

please keep 'em coming! we're really excited to get to spend this vacation with our immediate and extended family, and i know that there are a ton of resourceful and creative people on these boards!

 

Thanks again, and please continue to post!

[mgmigs]

my sister did this with her 2 year old and it did not turn out good at all. she was stuck back from doing dinner, shore tours etc...because of the baby crying while everyone else she traveled with had a great time. there are no activities catered to or available for a 2 year old on rci so it is really up to you but i can't imagine you'd get a lot of "reassurance" that it is a great idea to bring a 2 year old on a cruise, sorry. maybe disney or another cruise line would be a better choice?

[magsnden]

my sister did this with her 2 year old and it did not turn out good at all. she was stuck back from doing dinner, shore tours etc...because of the baby crying while everyone else she traveled with had a great time. there are no activities catered to or available for a 2 year old on rci so it is really up to you but i can't imagine you'd get a lot of "reassurance" that it is a great idea to bring a 2 year old on a cruise, sorry. maybe disney or another cruise line would be a better choice?

 

 

thanks for your opinion. we're leaving on saturday, it's too late for a disney cruise.

 

 

please, any parents out there have any suggestions??!!

[Bakincakes]

thanks for your opinion. we're leaving on saturday, it's too late for a disney cruise.

 

 

please, any parents out there have any suggestions??!!

 

 

What do you do with your 2 yr old at home?

 

Bring some puzzles,crayons and coloring books.

 

There is a family board here, maybe they have some suggestions for you?

 

If there is no organized activities for a 2 year old , it will fall to you to entertain them.

[magsnden]

What do you do with your 2 yr old at home?

 

Bring some puzzles,crayons and coloring books.

 

There is a family board here, maybe they have some suggestions for you?

 

If there is no organized activities for a 2 year old , it will fall to you to entertain them.

 

 

i was planning to bring some of the portable kind of things we do here at home for him, but i guess what i was concerned about is just that - that we won't be at home, so i don't have the same things available to me.

 

and yes, i think i'll just go to the family board. i really kind of figured that i should look for people who knew about our specific ship, and that there were bound to be some parents around here somewhere.

thanks anyway!

[Bakincakes]

i was planning to bring some of the portable kind of things we do here at home for him, but i guess what i was concerned about is just that - that we won't be at home, so i don't have the same things available to me.

 

and yes, i think i'll just go to the family board. i really kind of figured that i should look for people who knew about our specific ship, and that there were bound to be some parents around here somewhere.

thanks anyway!

 

 

The family board has much more info than this main board does. I think most of the ships are alike when it comes to planned activities for kids.

[cmmomx3]

We went on Enchantment in '06 with our whole family. My m-i-l wanted to treat all 19 of us. Our youngest was just 15 months. I was so against everything, until we actually got there. We did go into the splash pool area for a short time 2x. Even thought they say no swim diapers, I think huggies and pampers type are better at "containment " than the plastic wash out swim diapers. And yes, I do know many people pee in the pools. We decided to take him in only after seeing the the 20+ small children already in the water, some in nothing but a swim diaper. We also planned to swim at the beaches during our excursions.

We took a small fold up stroller with a sun shade and basket on back. It easily folded up in our room and on the tender boats and transport. I am really going to miss it to carry everythin this time because he is 3 now and does not sit still long enough in it.

He was allowed almost everywhere with us except the casino/bars. We tried to see a show but he had more fun hiding under the seats so we left quickly.

He was a hit at dinner. The first night he fell asleep on the way there so I carried him in and they made him a bed out of chairs complete with linen shhets and pillow. We were able to order anything he wanted.

Someone told us most of the staff is so friendly with the children because many of them have left young ones at home, and love to interact with them.

We took our own pack n play and it was set up for us every night.

Sorry so long, hope this helps. We are looking forward to our trip in August so all 3 can go to kids club and we can have some free time.

[Cheryl H]

I'm hoping you veteran cruisers will be able to give me some reassurance!

 

 

we're leaving for our big family cruise on Saturday with our 4 and 2yo children. i realize that my son will NOT be allowed in the pool with a swim diaper and i'm beginning to panic about what type of things we can do with him while his 4yo sister enjoys the pool or is in the kids club. He is definitely not the type to be happy to sit in the stroller all day! (are any?)

 

i've been on 1 cruise many years ago, and so it's all a bit foggy for me - can anyone give us any advice about what to expect while at sea?

 

TIA!!

 

 

I think I read there are free cookies at a little restauant in the promenade area. Maybe each afternoon you could take a daily walk down to there to select a cookie. Maybe come back to your room each afternoon for a book, a DVD, and a nap. Do you have a portable dvd player? Our son really liked Elmo and Veggie Tales at age 2.

 

Sometimes going up and down stairs is fun for a tot. There will be plenty of stair cases to climb.

 

Sign up for some shore excursions. We took our 18 month old to Disney. He loved it. But he thought more of climbing on park benches and flapping the flap on trash cans, than the actual real attractions! Ha!

 

Then the following year when he was two he went with us to Niagara Falls. He generally just enjoyed going whereever we went. The only real problem we had a Niagara Falls was one evening we were going to walk down to the falls just one more time. He had had enough and wasn't in the mood. So we went back up to our room.

 

We do usually let him pick out a small toy during each trip. If you don't run across any toy stores, I think the ship gift shops have a few child toys in them. Once our son got a turtle lapboard that had a zippered compartment to keep crayons in it. That was a RCCL giftshop toy that his aunt and uncle brought back for him.

 

Also you might take some ziplock baggies with you and maybe a collapsable cooler bag. If you know you'll be on a long excursion, you could order room service and pack some food in the little cooler for your little ones.

 

We our taking our 3 year old on his first cruise this fall. We picked a 5 night New England one. We are flying into Boston 2 nights early. I tried to select excursions that are not too long. Picked a hop on hop off bus in Halifax. Picked the Kennebunkport tour in Portland. It stops at a lighthouse. Then in Bar Harbor we're taking the bus up to see Acadia Nat'l Park. He loves buses.

 

Have a good time! You'll have to come back to this thread afterwards and tell us how it went. Maybe you'll have some suggestions for me for our upcoming trip.

 

In regards to general cruising advice, ignore the boarding time on your tickets. You can get there before lunch and get on board and eat in the Windjammer.

 

Another hint would be to hold off buying any pictures until towards the end of your trip...then you can decide which ones are the very best.

 

Cheryl

[magsnden]

just wanted to say a quick thank you to cmmomx3 and cheryl!

 

i have to tell you, i was starting to think that all i would ever encounter on these boards were, well let's just call them ... non-kid-likers.

 

thank you sooo much!!! i truly appreciate your suggestions and it's so nice to hear that some people actually had a nice time with their kids on the ship!

[rccruiser06]

We took our 2yo twins (boy and girl!) in October on a 9 day cruise. I thought we were in for a bad time, but it turned out great. In fact, we are going again in Feb for a 12 day cruise. I didn't want to pack too many toys and things so we only brought the kids favorite stuffed animal to sleep with. It's always a good idea to bring some familar things. I ordered the crayola wonder package (2 of them) which was great! It has those markers that only color on the paper. We also went to the play groups in the mornings and they let the kids borrow toys from the play group to take back to the cabin. We returned them the last day.

We didn't take them in the pool since they were not potty trained yet and they didn't miss it. I would let them dangle their feet, but that was it. We took them to the beach in Labadee and they had a blast!!

My favorite part of each day was after dinner. We would go out on the pool deck and the kids would dance around on the dance floor in front of the pool bar. We had a crowd one night (all the RCL workers were varnishing the railings and stopped to cheer the kids on!! LOL) Then we would go up to the top deck and the kids could run around on the jogging track. They had fun and it totally wore them out! LOL They got better each night and by the end of the cruise I think we made almost 4 laps! It was very quiet on the pool deck after dinner, we didn't bother anyone and we had so much fun just playing around. You can't put a price on that kind of quality time with your family. Heavens knows we don't get a lot of quality time at home with our busy schedules! Have a great time on your cruise and enjoy the time with your family!! :)