Any luck with car seats for limos?

[DIScruisers4]

My family and two other families are cruising in January. We have decided to arrange our own transportation from the airport to the port. I just spoke to someone at Tiffany Towncar who said that they do not provide car seats for stretch limos, but that they do provide 1 car seat and 1 booster seat for their vans (no infant car seats though). When I spoke to someone else from Tiffany last week, I was told that they would provide up to 2 car seats and a booster seat for the van, and 1 car seat and 1 booster seat for the limo. When we cruised last September, we used Happy Limo. I had confirmed two car seats for our limo. Unfortunately, the driver showed up without them, so we all just buckled up and hoped for the best. I decided to try Tiffany this time, but now I am wondering if most (or all) of these companies just promise car seats, but show up without them. I know that the safest thing to do is to bring all of our car seats, but I am trying to find out if there are easier alternatives.

Any info from fellow cruisers regarding their experiences with car seats and limo companies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[aprilgail2]

The airplanes don't provide car seats and they should be in them on the airplane so won't you have them with you anyway to use for the limo?? I watched a progam on televeison once about what happens to kids on planes that are not in car seats and the plane hits turbulance ( not crashes, just turbulance) and I swore I would never let my child be on one unsecured...it was worse with infants whose parents thought they could save a few bucks and not buy them a seat for the car seat to be secured in....if you are not going to take their car seats on the plane please reconsider...you would never take them in a car without securing them in, a plane should be no different!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

you would never take them in a car without securing them in, a plane should be no different!

I had confirmed two car seats for our limo. Unfortunately, the driver showed up without them, so we all just buckled up and hoped for the best.

Oops...

 

[grlzmom]

We used ******** and they did provide car seats for the limo. We didnt request them as we had already brought our own on the airplane. They knew the childrens ages from our ressie and were thinking ahead.

You end up with ALOT less room in the limo once the car seats are buckled in. Keep this in mind if you are trying to squeeze ten people in there, if you have several car seats, its not gonna be too comfortable.

 

[Kimberle]

We've used Payless Transportation 2x. Car seats both times, not extra charge. No problem.

 

[DIScruisers4]

Thanks everyone.

One point of clarification. We only have one infant, and his parents will bring an infant car seat for him (including on the plane). Most of the other children, ages 5-9, need booster seats because they are under 80 pounds. Although this is not legally required, it is a bit safer to have them in such seats. Booster seats raise them up so that they sit higher in the seat and the shoulder belt fits them appropriately. There is no harness system to keep them strapped down within the seat like there is for infant and toddler car seats. Booster seats are generally useless on airplanes, and could actually make the child less secure if the lap belt does not fit appropriately because of the raised seat. That is why we do not intend to bring booster seats on the plane with us and are trying to find out whether there are limo companies that can provide them, and what the seat belt arrangements are in such limos.

I'll let you know what I find out since I am sure there are many other cruisers who have this same issue.

 

[Kimberle]

Yes, we had a booster for our 4.5 yo in Sept.

I do believe boosters are required by FL law. I believe children need to be "seated" till they are about 7 yrs old.

 

[justcruisin]

I pack DS4 booster seat in a duffle bag and send it as baggage on the plane. This has worked great the past few time we've flown, I feel better knowing a good (and clean) booster will be available for him.

For an older child, there are backless booster seats for about $20 that are very small and would be very easy to travel with and store in your cabin on DCL. (I believe the weight is 35-40 lbs on the low end to "qualify" for one of these seats).

diana

 

[Kevenswife2]

I've been wondering what to do with my daughter's booster seat. I'm planning on bringing the $20 one as it is smaller. I have never flown and was wondering if I could stow it above my airplane seat or under it. I also considered a dufflebag and then checking it, but I don't have one large enough. Would they let me take it as a 'carryon' and stow it?

I know my hubby is going to think I'm nuts when he hears I'm taking it (DD is 5). I would NEVER drive at home without her in it...so what's different about vacation time? Accidents DO NOT take a vacation!

 

[justcruisin]

I don't think it will fit under the seat, but the dimensions are usually less than that of a carry-on, so it should fit in the overhead compartment. You can check the website for your airline to determine the dimension requirements or give them a call.

Some airlines will provide a box ... not usually the cheaper airlines though ...

I've also seen car seats/strollers/pack n plays travel as baggage, without any bag .... You can put it in a garbage bag (clear?) and tape it up to send it as baggage.

diana

 

[Kevenswife2]

Thanks Diana. As long as I take the seat pad off, it could go through as 'checked luggage' without being bagged. How would they tag it?

Suppose I could buy a duffle and use the extra room for some of the goodies I buy...shirts and other unbreakables.

 

[NotUrsula]

I just bought the Graco Turbo belt-positioning booster (seat-only, $20) for DS to use while traveling (he's 6). We carried it onto a SWA flight, and it fit under the center seat with no problem, w/ room to spare for my handbag. If you have this one, just be sure to lower the armrests first, otherwise it will be too tall to fit under there. It's so great to be able to skip the carousels again!

The armrests on the Turbo are easy to adjust, but very difficult to remove, and I found that I could not get it into a duffel without removing at least one armrest. I got some ripstop nylon and made a drawstring bag for it, with a webbing strap that I can put across my shoulder. (I sewed the webbing up the side seams of the bag, with the ends of the webbing at the bottom.) Due to the shape of the booster, it rides easily against my hip as long as I sling it with the seat surface facing against me. Such a bag could be used to carry 2 of them if you faced them toward one another.

 

[justcruisin]

I use a HUGH duffle from LL Bean, even the Britax Roundabout fit in the bag for 1 trip. Good tip on the Graco fitting under the seat! I just bought that one for our daycare provider, I hadn't thought of getting it back for our trip ! Thanks.