How young is too young?

[soonerfan2008]

Personally, I think it depends on you and your children. We cruised with our oldest daughter when she was almost 6 months old (used to be minimum of 4 months), and it was an awesome vacation- we had plenty of entertainment, lots to see and do, lots of food, and our room was a quick walk away if we needed anything. I was nursing, so we only needed to bring extra diapers, a stroller, and a couple of toys. Honestly, I can pack my 2 girls AND myself in one suitcase for a week- most of the junk that people travel with is overkill.

 

However, we travel a lot with our kids- now a 3 year old and a 1 year old. We've been to Mexico, NYC, DC, Disneyland, Disney World, San Diego, Boston, Houston, San Antonio, VA Beach, Williamsburg and more with our kids. We do museums on every trip, we eat at nice restaurants, and we never just do the kids' activities. We know our kids- they are laid back, well-mannered and polite. We keep them neat and quiet, if the destination calls for that. And we leave, if we need to.

 

I love cruising, and unless something were dangerous, I would not put off a trip due to age. I love my kids, I love to spend time with them and teach them things, and I love to travel- we aren't stopping anytime soon!

[plk40atmc]

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

 

Wow, I was just thinking the same thing. Now that I have been to Vegas, I don't think I would ever take a vacation there with a child. I haven't been on a Carnival cruise yet, but on RC it really did not seem child friendly. You can put them in the kid's club, but that's just like leaving them in day care at home.

[trock]

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.

 

 

I am so sorry to hear about Hamilton! I heard they want to bring the cruise ships back.. I dont know why they did what they did..

Horseshoe Bay is glorious!!

Were you on the Dawn??

[trock]

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:

 

 

 

 

We have cruised 7 times on Disney, a lot of kids and I have never been waken up during the night by crying. We were however worken up in September on the Glory by someone barfing in the hallway out side our cabin door, maybe they were sea sick.

 

Maybe it wasnt a baby crying in the next cabin.. maybe it was a drunk:p

[Kurbanfan]

I am so sorry to hear about Hamilton! I heard they want to bring the cruise ships back.. I dont know why they did what they did..

Horseshoe Bay is glorious!!

Were you on the Dawn??

 

Her count down clock shows Majesty:p

[trock]

Her count down clock shows Majesty:p

 

 

Oh well I missed that !LOL

[Kurbanfan]

Wow, I was just thinking the same thing. Now that I have been to Vegas, I don't think I would ever take a vacation there with a child. I haven't been on a Carnival cruise yet, but on RC it really did not seem child friendly. You can put them in the kid's club, but that's just like leaving them in day care at home.

 

We travel to Vegas about 4 times a year.......it is no place for kids IMO.......

We would not feel comfortable or be able to relax on a cruise ship with young children......I am way overprotective and I would not leave my children or grandchildren with strangers in a camp on a ship. Our family loves to spend time in the casino, and lay out by the pool on sea days, and party in the bars at night (sorta like Vegas).......with a child that would be pretty much impossible......

Once we are lucky enough to have grandchildren we will just be switching our vacation and travel more to Hawaii and other kid friendly land resorts.....just like we did with our own child......or I can stay home and watch the grandkids while the kids sail.......

[chelle74]

Once we are lucky enough to have grandchildren we will just be switching our vacation and travel more to Hawaii and other kid friendly land resorts.....just like we did with our own child......or I can stay home and watch the grandkids while the kids sail.......

 

Awww! You will be a wonderful grandparent, I can tell! :)

[Kurbanfan]

Awww! You will be a wonderful grandparent, I can tell! :)

 

That's my mission:D

And I am going to teach them how to be picky eaters:p:D:)

[bazarr2]

Are they still in diapers:confused:

Whooooo??? The daughters boyfriend???

[chelle74]

That's my mission:D

And I am going to teach them how to be picky eaters:p:D:)

 

I just KNEW it!!!! ;)

[trock]

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

http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d87f3330030014&sectionId=65

[goldenfarm]

as long as your kids meet the age minimum for the cruise, why not?

 

we're taking our son, who will be 21 months old at the time, on a cruise in September and we're looking very forward to our trip. we couldn't imagine going on vacation without him. sounds like you really love your kids and I think it's great that you want to spend time with them on a cruise.

[ryoku]

 

I think that only adults between the ages of 29 and 37 with last names beginning with letters M - V that were born on a rainy day in August should be able to cruise.

 

You people are ridiculous. Well, not all of you... you know who you are.

 

Yah!!!! I can go. I'm sooooo happy :p

 

In my opinion, its really depends on the child. You know if your child is fussy in crowded places or not. You know best how your child reacts and if he/she will disturb everyone else or not. The walls are thin but I would rather hear a baby than my neighbors going at it. :eek:

 

I have no kids yet but my best friend has 2 that I would NOT take on a cruise. Let's hope mine are better because I really like cruising.

[matj2000]

We didn't bring our kids till they were almost 3. They ship is not really designed to be baby friendly. Everything is smaller and tighter. Doors, elevators, hallways, ect. All the cabins have lip you have to step over. It is a big hassle with strollers. Most of the public areas are crowded. You will be confined to a small cabin much of the time. Plus you really get no help from the staff. The people I know that brought babies hated the whole trip.

[bubblysexycool]

Took my then 16 month old son on a cruise a few years ago and we had a blast!

 

He was too young for kids club (which I knew) but we had fun just people watching, going to the beach and lounging by the pool (he couldn't get in - wasnt potty trained) and even now he's 7 he loves looking at our cruise pictures and hearing about how he met the captain at the gala dinner and being amazed at all the people onboard when he looks at the sailway photos.

 

Remembering the fun we had - and still have when we look at the pictures made it worth it to me.

[Yankeegirl]

I agree with some of the other posters that it's all about knowing your child and how they act, or react, to crowds, new places, being out of their element....etc. Have you traveled at all with your children so far? Even if it's been a land trip, you will have an idea how they adapt to a change in their surroundings.

 

Our son has traveled quite a bit in his 16 months, but he'll be going on his first cruise in Feb. We normally take 7-day cruises, but we thought it would be best to go for a 5-day for his first cruise. We chose one with ports we have already been to so we'll be familiar with our surroundings. IMO, I thought this would be helpful.

 

Bottom line is, you know your kids and whether it will work for your family.

If you think it will, go and have a great time!:)

[Nemspy]

Yeah, SERIOUSLY. :rolleyes:

 

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

 

Yeah, I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and I'm sure open myself up to all sorts of attack and ask us to look at the other side of the coin.

 

If you are tossing up whether or not you can enjoy a cruise with babies in tow - perhaps consider what babies on board will do for the enjoyment of other passengers. Almost all of the (very few things) that sucked about our recent cruise on Splendor was a result of OPK - "other people's kids". Be it small children running or babies crying in the dining room, or kids going crazy on the adjoining balcony while you're trying to enjoy the relaxing night air - or teens who are mystifyingly on the serenity deck raining mini jawbreakers down on you while begging you to "buy them beer" - If a child, as the previous poster said, "doesn't need to be there" then I think the enjoyment of others should also be factored in to the "can I enjoy a cruise if I take my baby" ponderings.

 

I'd have to agree with the person who said that about 8-10 years old is the minimum I'd want to take, and certainly the minimum I want to see :).

[davewilliamt]

as long as your kids meet the age minimum for the cruise, why not?

 

we're taking our son, who will be 21 months old at the time, on a cruise in September and we're looking very forward to our trip. we couldn't imagine going on vacation without him. sounds like you really love your kids and I think it's great that you want to spend time with them on a cruise.

 

Could not imagine them not being there

[davewilliamt]

Yeah, I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and I'm sure open myself up to all sorts of attack and ask us to look at the other side of the coin.

 

If you are tossing up whether or not you can enjoy a cruise with babies in tow - perhaps consider what babies on board will do for the enjoyment of other passengers. Almost all of the (very few things) that sucked about our recent cruise on Splendor was a result of OPK - "other people's kids". Be it small children running or babies crying in the dining room, or kids going crazy on the adjoining balcony while you're trying to enjoy the relaxing night air - or teens who are mystifyingly on the serenity deck raining mini jawbreakers down on you while begging you to "buy them beer" - If a child, as the previous poster said, "doesn't need to be there" then I think the enjoyment of others should also be factored in to the "can I enjoy a cruise if I take my baby" ponderings.

 

I'd have to agree with the person who said that about 8-10 years old is the minimum I'd want to take, and certainly the minimum I want to see :).

 

 

As a rule of thumb, I am not really concerned about other people's opinions of me when I am on vacation. I know how to behave, and I know when to remove my kids from a situation when it becomes too much for them to handle.

As my wife is a teacher we can only cruise during school break periods, where there are a ton of other kids on board. If you don't like kids on board I suggest you cruise when school is in session.

[Islandbear]

Traveling with kids is more about the maturity of the parents, then the age of the children.

 

Have a great family cruise! :)

[trock]

traveling with kids is more about the maturity of the parents, then the age of the children.

 

Have a great family cruise! :)

 

 

ding ding ding

winner!

[Nemspy]

As a rule of thumb, I am not really concerned about other people's opinions of me when I am on vacation. I know how to behave, and I know when to remove my kids from a situation when it becomes too much for them to handle.

As my wife is a teacher we can only cruise during school break periods, where there are a ton of other kids on board. If you don't like kids on board I suggest you cruise when school is in session.

 

Lol, my wife and I are both teachers - so even less of an option. I don't have a problem with kids on board in general, I know full well that Carnival is known for being fairly "kid friendly" and to be honest Carnival does a pretty good job of keeping kids out of the way of adults with their Camp Carnival etc.

 

I just don't see the reason to take infants on a cruise.

[gtalum]

I just don't see the reason to take infants on a cruise.

 

Ultimately, it's a free country. Carnival says infants are allowed at 6 months or older. If you really can't bear to be on a ship with infants, you should find a line that doesn't allow them.

 

Personally I wouldn't bring a child less than 2 years old on a cruise, but if others want to do it they're perfectly entitled to do so.

[Kurbanfan]

I just don't see the reason to take infants on a cruise.

 

 

I agree! I would just worry that if something were to happen they would not get the medical care they need..........and I couldn't live with that......