Do you pack this? Do you pack that?

[moore523]

First Time Cruiser here and we're just a couple months away!

We're just doing a 3 day Bahamian Cruise out of Port Canaveral--and I'm trying to figure out some of the "extras" to pack.

First, do you pack beach toys? Buckets, shovels, etc? Seems as though it would take up a lot of space--but my kiddos love those things on the beach!

Strollers... Do you pack a umbrella stroller? My littlest one is 2 years old--so I wonder if we'll want it when we port at Nassau. We just want to take a quick stroll to the market and then get back on ship. I've heard it is walkable--but I'm guessing my 2 year old will want to ride in his stroller.

Swim Vest... Again, my 2 year old LOVES the pool (he is potty trained). Is it okay for me to pack his swim vest--or are there things available for use on the ship.

Just trying to figure out how in the world we are going to pack all of this stuff, especially just for a 3 day cruise--and where in the world we're going to keep it all!


Thanks!!!

[bats]

I would pack cheap buckets and spades then leave them in the bin at CC as it can work out quite expensive buying them in port or on CC.

They don't provide swim aids either so you'll need to bring your own.

[Yvet]

How do you travel to the port?

If it is by car or towncar service then you could do a grocery stop an get your beach stuff at a WalMart...

That saves luggage at the plane and it's cheap enough to throw it away after the cruise...

[Fivepin]

When my kids were young I did bring the light umbrella stroller. It made it easier. At castaway we would just grab one of the wagons and pull them.

If your child likes the beach toys, I would bring it. It's quite expensive at the island. Usually I go to a Dollar tree and pick one up and then just leave it there. I have to bring 3 since i have the 3 boys. The buckets were not big and I stacked them together and fit the molds inside as well.

[Mizzcoreta]

I'm purchasing collapsible sand buckets, you can find them on ebay or amazon for about $6.99 or so. I figured this would save a lot of room instead of having to pack the bulky buckets. We're taking our double umbrella stroller, we have a 2 year old and a 3 year old so it'll be nice to have when we want to get somewhere fast, plus I'll be about 20 weeks pregnant so there's no way I'm carrying them around when they get tired. I've heard that they have wagons available at Castaway Cay.

[bats]

For the op, here is an old thread about the wagons and strollers

Wagons and Strollers

[kcashner]

Buckets and sand toys--buy the dollar store variety and leave them. They used to allow you to borrow some that had been left by previous cruisers if you asked at Scuttle's Cove. We never figured out why as they sell the bucket sets for like $18 in the gift shops...so if they loan them to you they essentially lose a sale. Unless someone can confirm whether they still let you borrow some, I'd bring the cheapies and not bring them home, While they are big, you can pack stuff inside them, so it isn't wasted suitcase space and they are light weight.

If you will use the umbrella stroller ON THE SHIP, bring it. If you are only wanting it for in port, you can borrow a bigger, more sturdy one from Guest Services (they have hundreds). On Castaway Cay, most families just borrow one of the wagons to haul kids and stuff all in one.

Swim vest--DCL's policy says no floatation devices in the pools, but I've never seen them restrict "water wings." The Mickey pool is only 18 inches deep, so kids can't really swim. If you want them to have a swim vest, you'll have to bring it. But don't be surprised if they tell you it can't be used in the pool.

[RedxPanda]

Originally Posted by moore523

First Time Cruiser here and we're just a couple months away!

We're just doing a 3 day Bahamian Cruise out of Port Canaveral--and I'm trying to figure out some of the "extras" to pack.

First, do you pack beach toys? Buckets, shovels, etc? Seems as though it would take up a lot of space--but my kiddos love those things on the beach!

Strollers... Do you pack a umbrella stroller? My littlest one is 2 years old--so I wonder if we'll want it when we port at Nassau. We just want to take a quick stroll to the market and then get back on ship. I've heard it is walkable--but I'm guessing my 2 year old will want to ride in his stroller.

Swim Vest... Again, my 2 year old LOVES the pool (he is potty trained). Is it okay for me to pack his swim vest--or are there things available for use on the ship.

Just trying to figure out how in the world we are going to pack all of this stuff, especially just for a 3 day cruise--and where in the world we're going to keep it all!


Thanks!!!

We leave next week and DD is just about 2.

We will bring the umbrella stroller. We mainly use it in port. Both the home port of the cruise and foreign ports. It's nice to be able to strap her in while we check-in, manage luggage, etc.

We are doing a beach day, so my current plan is to pack the beach toys that are the flattest. Not the big sand pails. I have also heard a lot of people just buy a 'cheap' set when they get to FL or when they reach the beach area they are visiting.

[Woodmnky]

I brought this set: http://www.amazon.com/McToy-Educatio...ords=sand+toys

But I left the water can at home. I filled the bucket with some socks so it was not wasted space. DS also love to play with these in the bath so they did double duty.

[moore523]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your help!

I didn't realize they had strollers on board--that is a big space saver!

Again, I appreciate it!

[k3chantal]

Originally Posted by moore523

First Time Cruiser here and we're just a couple months away!

We're just doing a 3 day Bahamian Cruise out of Port Canaveral--and I'm trying to figure out some of the "extras" to pack.

First, do you pack beach toys? Buckets, shovels, etc? Seems as though it would take up a lot of space--but my kiddos love those things on the beach!

Strollers... Do you pack a umbrella stroller? My littlest one is 2 years old--so I wonder if we'll want it when we port at Nassau. We just want to take a quick stroll to the market and then get back on ship. I've heard it is walkable--but I'm guessing my 2 year old will want to ride in his stroller.

Swim Vest... Again, my 2 year old LOVES the pool (he is potty trained). Is it okay for me to pack his swim vest--or are there things available for use on the ship.

Just trying to figure out how in the world we are going to pack all of this stuff, especially just for a 3 day cruise--and where in the world we're going to keep it all!


Thanks!!!

Definitely bring your umbrella stroller. It will most likely fit nicely in the closet when not in use. We used ours for two reasons; port excursions with our 18 month old and to carry the wine we were bringing on board in the carry on bag they were in so we didn't have to carry what our server would later on call our own private wine cellar.

I would bring your smaller beach toys, (Shovels, etc....and perhaps you can creatively put the bucket in the suitcase.

The rooms have ample storage under the queen sized beds. We just put our smaller suitcases in the larger one and slid it under.

[ohanaMAMA]

we are planning to bring a whole extra suitcase for MISC stuff. like Fish extenders, souvinears, shoes, and sand toys for the littles in our party. We are driving to florida, so space is less of an issue. Sand toys arent in stores here yet, so I will pick some up in Cocoa Beach. and then will just plan to leave them at CC.. wish there was a way to pay them forward to someone.

[Yvet]

Originally Posted by ohanaMAMA

wish there was a way to pay them forward to someone.

This brings up an idea:

At WDW there is a refrigerator swap.

Why not do a sand/beach toy swap.....
This means that when you bring this onboard with already in mind not taking them home you just foreard them to somebody else.
It's not allowed to ask money for it (board rule).

It would work as follow: you bring sand/beach toys and then go into the meet thread of the cruise after yours and ask if somebody wants to have the toys.
If there is somebody then you ask that person to give you their last name and stateroom number.
You bring the last day or sexond last day a closed bag with the toys to guest services and write the last name and stateroom number on the bag.
Guest services will hold that bag so the people that wants the toys can pick it up the first day of their cruise.
This person can go into the meet thread of the cruise following theirs and that way the toys will be well used!!!!!

Just an idea.......