How young is too young?

[Kurbanfan]

But is that really fair to the grandparents?

 

No it isn't.........my kids already know that our rule is no youngins on cruises regardless who's kids they are:D And you know what? They agree!!!

[ladyt]

I would never cruise or go on a vacation with a chlld that isn't at least 5 years. They are too young to remember the trip, they get very moody. Why not wait a few years until the trip could be enjoyable for all. We took our youngest son on our first cruise and he was 7. I think that is the perfect age. Everyone is able to have a good time. Camp Carnival is a life saver!! He is now 12 and we will be planning our fourth cruise in May 2010

[gtalum]

But is that really fair to the grandparents?

 

If they want to do it, then sure it's fair.

[gtalum]

I would never cruise or go on a vacation with a chlld that isn't at least 5 years.

 

Whether or not the child remembers, we remember. And ours has very much enjoyed the two cruises she's been on since she turned 2 last September. :)

 

It has been well worth it for us to cruise with her since she turned 2. We wouldn't have taken her before that, though.

 

I guess it all depends on the kids. Some kids I wouldn't take on a cruise at 16, much less 2. :D

[sprockie]

I would say 18 months, then go. A year and a half ago, we went to an all inclusive in Cuba with our 18 month old and 6 year old.

It was a lot of planning, but we did it and we all had a WONDERFUL time. Our son was not potty trained and still had plenty of bottles, but we packed for it all, not being sure of what was available there.

I brought sand pails and shovels (which were likely the most valuable things I packed because he played with them all week and attracted other little ones over and had a wonderful time poolside). I packed a bottle warmer and diapers, some baby food, clothesline etc. Everything I brought as far as baby gear, clothes etc. I left there for the workers kids - so it was lighter coming back.

It was really great. People kept saying how brave I was, but I wanted a vacation, and preferred it with my children and that's what we did and don't regret it one bit. It was a different vacation from a "grown up" vacation - no snoozing in the lounge chair and up to all hours, but it was a different kind of fun.

A stroller is essential because I took him for a nice walk in the afternoon and he snoozed in the stroller for 2-3 hours every day by the pool in the shade. Our 6 year old lived in the pool and was at the bar for "virgin" pina coladas and chocolate monkeys all week.

[loveJake]

But is that really fair to the grandparents?

 

Yes, if the grandparents know from the start that they will be helping out and spending 1 on 1 time with the grandkids and they are alright with that. Now about the original question, no I would not cruise with 2 kids that small and I don't care how much help I would have, too much stuff to lug along and would be worried if the child became ill, or crying and bothering the other passengers.

[chelle74]

If they want to do it, then sure it's fair.

 

I agree. My MIL booked and paid for our upcoming cruise JUST to spend time with the kids. And we plan to take full advantage!! :D

[chelle74]

Is he a picky eater?

 

LOLOLOL :p

[brwnzfan32]

My wife and I will be taking our 11 month old on a cruise later this month. I enjoy every minute I can with him and look forward to our week of vacation. Our lone responsibility of the week will be our son, and if that is all of our worries for one week, than that is a vacation. No cooking, no cleaning, no work. That certainly sounds like a vacation to us!!

[momsbusy]

On our last cruise, there was a very young couple with a baby across the hall from us. The grandparents were in a cabin on another floor. THey had a blast, and I never did notice the baby crying or unhappy. If you want to have fun, you must bring Grandma & Grandpa, in my opinion. The youngest we took our kids cruising was 6 1/2 and it was Disney, and it was wonderful. We did have one incident where one of them got lost and we found her crying on the deck. Now we are in the teens years, and they love cruising and I'm sure always will.

[Rowan555]

I would never cruise or go on a vacation with a chlld that isn't at least 5 years. They are too young to remember the trip, they get very moody. Why not wait a few years until the trip could be enjoyable for all. We took our youngest son on our first cruise and he was 7. I think that is the perfect age. Everyone is able to have a good time. Camp Carnival is a life saver!! He is now 12 and we will be planning our fourth cruise in May 2010

 

Our kids went on 2 or 3 cruises before age 5, and they DO remember things from those cruises, and they enjoy looking at the photos and talking about those cruises. More importantly, WE remember those cruises and will look back fondly on those experiences forever. It is necessary to take 3 or 4 year olds on a cruise? Of course not! But I don't regret doing it, we had a blast, it gave us our first bit of free time away from the kids since they were born, and it was a rewarding experience for us all.

[momsbusy]

"Is he a picky eater?" Gotta LOVE Nunu for that comment!

[Lena B]

Please do keep in mind that the medical facilities on most ships are not pediatric facilities and may not have the proper equipment to deal with a small child or baby that gets sick on the cruise. That would be my biggest concern.

[LHP]

I don't know why taking a cruise with two small children would be any harder than LIFE with two small children. If you're breastfeeding the only extras you have to take are diapers and wipes. Babies don't need special blankets. Our youngest was 18 months when we took our last cruise and we had no issues whatsoever... other than about a zillion old ladies stopping us everywhere we went to tell us how cute he was.

 

Granted, my MIL was on the ship with us, but she only took him at one port while we went on a snorkeling excusion. The rest of the time, he was with us. It's parenting. Sometimes you parent babies and toddlers. No biggie.

 

I say, as soon as your youngest is 6 months, go for it!

 

The biggest difference is that there is not a pediatrician onboard should your 6 month old have an issue...and unfortunately something as simple as Noro virus on a ship can become an "issue" for an infant.

 

We traveled with our children when they were 6 months old...but it was always land vacations here in the US here medical help was available if needed.

 

No way would I take an infant on a cruise ship.

[Name Of The Game]

You sure would have your hands full! What can you do in port with two babies beside cover them with sunblock and push/carry them around? That doesn't sound like very much fun. The baby is likely to cry at night or very early to be fed and wake up passengers in the next cabin and the one year old will probably make a fuss at the dinner table. Can't you leave them home with grandparents? If not, what's wrong with waiting til they're older?

[RatherBFishin]

We have a rule in our family........no youngins on cruises or Vegas:D

 

Agree 100%

 

The worst vacation I ever had was taking the kids to WDW when they were too young (1 & 3). It wasn't my idea, but I went along with it... and regretted it greatly.

 

I do understand how some parents (ie Moms) can't enjoy themselves being separated from their kids. But that honestly wasn't the case for us. We had gone on several other vacations without them already, including a great one to St Thomas. No ... in this case it was entirely a matter of trying to force the experience to happen way before it was advisable.

 

Not to mention that neither of the kids remembers even going at that age. The sad part was the only fun the kids had was watching cable tv (which we didn't have at home yet) and the pool at the hotel (off-site). I half-joked that we could have saved $3000 and just rented a room at the local Holiday Inn down the street.

 

Anyway... My vote is 4+ at a minimum.

[chelle74]

You sure would have your hands full! What can you do in port with two babies beside cover them with sunblock and push/carry them around? That doesn't sound like very much fun. The baby is likely to cry at night or very early to be fed and wake up passengers in the next cabin and the one year old will probably make a fuss at the dinner table. Can't you leave them home with grandparents? If not, what's wrong with waiting til they're older?

 

Oh, good GRIEF, people! Seriously? SERIOUSLY?????

 

Some people think it's fun to feed money into a machine with flashing lights and mechanical bell noises for hours upon hours. Some people think it's fun to try to knock a ball into a little hole with a stick. Some people think it's fun to spend time with their kids. For shame! What do you care if they want to take their kids?? The baby is no more likely to wake you at 3am than your drunk-@ss neighbors stumbling down the hallway!

 

To the OP - You know what you enjoy, what your children enjoy, and their temperments. Your kids are no more likely to get deathly ill on a cruise ship than they are at a local restaurant. The only thing hindering you is Carnival's age restrictions. If you want to go, by all means, DO SO!!

[Name Of The Game]

Yeah, SERIOUSLY. :rolleyes:

 

I wouldn't be as upset hearing drunks on vacation as a baby who doesn't need to be there.

[JenKate]

When we cruised last Christmas we had my 9 month old niece with us. She was a DREAM. Next year when we go we'll have even more kids! My boys will be 8 and 10 (WOW), said niece will be almost 3, we'll also have a 4 year old and almost 2 year old. (And maybe one more, if someone in the family is expecting and hasn't told us yet! The cruise IS 18 months away!)

 

Granted, we DO travel as a family, so there are lots of adults also. But we've traveled often with our children, even when they were small, and it's not that difficult. Different than just as adults, but not hard or difficult! It's time with no laundry, no dishes, no cooking... it's fabulous!!

 

The niece that was with us for Christmas 2008 travels everywhere with her parents, and they like it!

[trock]

We have a rule in our family........no youngins on cruises or Vegas:D

 

 

I have a rule too.. no youngins unless they are feline:D

[trock]

Oh, good GRIEF, people! Seriously? SERIOUSLY?????

 

Some people think it's fun to feed money into a machine with flashing lights and mechanical bell noises for hours upon hours. Some people think it's fun to try to knock a ball into a little hole with a stick. Some people think it's fun to spend time with their kids. For shame! What do you care if they want to take their kids?? The baby is no more likely to wake you at 3am than your drunk-@ss neighbors stumbling down the hallway!

 

To the OP - You know what you enjoy, what your children enjoy, and their temperments. Your kids are no more likely to get deathly ill on a cruise ship than they are at a local restaurant. The only thing hindering you is Carnival's age restrictions. If you want to go, by all means, DO SO!!

 

I have never been awakened by a drunk on a cruise..... and if they are passing in the hall they do until they get to their cabin and pass out.. However on one cruise.. in the next cabin was a baby/infant that just cried... all night.:mad:

 

Is it full price for kids over 6months? Or is there a kiddie price?

 

 

NCL and MSC has some cruise specials where the kids go free.. Carnival is full price..:)

[LemurCat]

Yeah, SERIOUSLY. :rolleyes:

 

I wouldn't be as upset hearing drunks on vacation as a baby who doesn't need to be there.

 

I didn't realize you were the Arbitor of Those That Need To Be There ...

[chelle74]

Yeah, SERIOUSLY. :rolleyes:

 

I wouldn't be as upset hearing drunks on vacation as a baby who doesn't need to be there.

 

Some (like myself) might argue that YOU don't need to be there. If Carnival allows babies, which they do, it really doesn't matter if you believe they "need" to be there or not.

 

Unfortunately, they also allow you, regardless of what *I* think.

[trock]

I didn't realize you were the Arbitor of Those That Need To Be There ...

 

 

HOW Was your cruise!

[LemurCat]

HOW Was your cruise!

 

Awesome. We had a fantastic time. And no one in my family threatened anyone -- not even another family member -- once!

 

The NCL ship that shall remain nameless sucked, the food was fair-to-terrifying (especially with me being a picky eater), and it rained the entire way out and about half the time there. I got cleaned out at the casino. But Bermuda was fantabulous! You were right about Hamilton though, lots of empty storefronts and it's starting to take on a Nassua feel. Nothing has changed in St. George's, which was nice and annoying at the same time. Horseshoe Bay was absolutely breathtaking though. We even saw baby turtles in one of the coves. We spent a lot of time just cruising around, checking out the scenery and the architecture. It was so nice and green and bright.

 

We could have used a cat in our cabin though. We were debating if packing Scourge would have landed us in the Naughty Room or if we could have stuck her in a carry-on ala Paris Hilton.