Cruisers with small children - advice needed

[marley]

I have a cruised booked for October just after my children turn 3 and 6.

I am starting to have second thoughts since my 3 year old will still be napping and they both go to bed by 8:30 p.m. Will I feel like I am trapped in SUCH a small room?

Whenever I travel with them, I always have to have a separate room or I get a horrible nights sleep. I have just realized I will be sharing a very small space with them for 3 nights on the Wonder and maybe that isn't the best vacation choice for us after all.

People always say on vacation that the room doesn't matter because you don't spend much time in it, but with a 3 year old, you actually do.

Any advice or opinions from those that have cruised with small kids and how it worked out?

thanks! Marley

 

[vicnmickey]

You can use the room divider, while the 3 year old naps. You could watch a movie or read a book. Take turns with your spouse on using that time also to wander the ship alone.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

My DH and I switch off staying in the room with the kids, while the other gets "roaming time" as vic suggested. I also try to bring along a selection of small books, games, etc. for the kids to have in the room, since they spend more time in them than adults would choose to. If your room has a divider (you didn't say what Cat.) that will definitely help. At WDW, I've spent plenty of time reading in the bathroom while getting the kids to sleep! Now I have a small reading light. However, if you're really thinking this isn't the best use of your vacation time/money, there's no law that says you have to go this year. Ths ships will be there in a year or two!

 

[AgentMommy]

We cruised in August when our kids were 3 1/2 and 17 months. Plenty of people thought we were crazy but we had a great time. You can get a stroller on the ship (if you decide not to bring your own). It is a Graco jogger type stroller and roomy enough for a 3 year old. With all the excitement on the ship combined with the heat, we found the kids fell asleep in the stroller. We would just park them next to us at the pool or on the beach and relax. You can walk around the deck as well. They have some nice wood lounge chairs which are away from the pool and its very quiet down there (I forget the deck). Who needs the room to nap? I think its better to let them enjoy the fresh air while they sleep.

 

[tinkerbell4two]

AgentMommy,

Thanks for the great advice. I, too, have a 3 1/2 year old and a 17month old. My three year old sleeps more than my 17 month old, but I doubt that either will get many naps... TOO MUCH FUN TO BE HAD! On our normal weekdays, she usually falls asleep when she is finally exhasted at 1pm these days. So, I'll just make sure that she is in a comfortable spot either inside or out.

How does one work the excursions and the nursery? Is it easy to get off the boat for a morning excursion and then come back to pick up the kids to take to an afternoon excursion? We REALLY want to go snorkeling, but I'm nervous that we may not get the exact times that I want at the nursery. Should I book the excursions ahead of time.. before I know that I can schedule baby-sitting for the 17mo old? Maybe I'm thinking too far in advance. I just like to be prepared.

 

[AgentMommy]

Tinkerbell4two-

We did not do any excursions. I will warn you though that your 3 1/2 yr old may not like the kids club. Mine hated it. I think it was because he was by himself, since his brother was at Flounders, and did not know anyone there. The CMs make no effort to introduce the kids to each other. I met some other moms whose kids were about the same age, and they felt the same way. I would hold off on booking the excursions unless you can get your $$ back.

We had no problem getting the times we wanted at Flounders. Once we boarded we went to eat. Then when it was time to make ressies, I stayed with the kids and DH went to Flounders, Palo's, & the spa (I just wanted a massage so bad!).

Also my 17 months DS ate SO much on the cruise. I was so happy I brought extra diapers! There is a Kmart walking distance of the ship in St. Thomas if you run out of anything, or need to replenish your supplies!

Definately do the Palo's brunch...it is far superior to their dinner!

Any other questions, just ask!

 

[tinkerbell4two]

Wow, I never thought of a brunch at Palo's. What a great idea. We are traveling with 14 people, 6 of them from the ages of 5 to 1 1/2. So, I don't think I'll have any issues with the oceaneer's club for my social DD.
I am very surprised to hear that they don't get the group warmed up to each other. That is the basis of any playgroup. I'll have to talk to the CMs about that each day since there will be different groups of kids every day. Do they use any type of name tags?
Wow, I feel more relaxed about getting the ressies for everything. I will still get their early, but try to keep everything in perspective.
How was the mickey pool? Did your kids get turned off due to the older kids?
If you didn't do excursions, did you get off the ship and just walk around with the kids on the islands? How was it to get on and off the ship with them? We are planning to take out "Sit n' stand" stroller so we can do lots of site seeing. Also, we will be on Deck 2 which I hope will be easy to go on and off the ship.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[DANDD]

We just returned from the 4/27 Magic with our 3 year old ds. He did not really want to stay at the kids club either - I think because of his age and the fact that it was a little overwhelming for him. What we decided to do instead was go to the kids club as a "family" during the time the kids were either at lunch or at dinner. This way, as long as a parent is there, my ds could play on the treehouse fort and play on the slide. We decided to book the "French Beach Rendezvous" excusion in St. Martin and he loved it! He loved playing in the little waves on Orient Beach. In St. Thomas, we decided not to do an excursion because I did not want to get him up at 6:30 a.m. Since we did not do an excursion that day - we had to go present ourselved to immigration between 7 - 9:00 a.m. and that worked out great! In St. Thomas, we took a cab into town and shopped a little bit in the morning. Then back to the ship for lunch and off to the Mickey pool! He loved that since it was not crowded at all. The Mickey pool does get a little overwhelming in the afternoon on sea days. On the next day (Thursday - which was a sea day) - we went to the Mickey pool around 9:30 a.m. and stayed until 1:00 p.m. or so... It is not that crowded in the morning - but by early afternoon - it was getting very crowded.

I highly recommend going to the pool early in the day....

He really enjoyed the cruise and it was one of the most relaxing vacations for me & my hubby! We got a room with a balcony and while he was "napping" in the afternoon - I could sit out on the balcony and read! I'm already thinking about booking a cruise next year!

 

[PiperG]

I agree with getting to the MM pool early. Our DS5 just loved it. We even cam back a bit early from Castaway Cay so that he could spend extra time in the pool (I know. . . .how could we leave CC????!!!!) Anyway, it was so quiet. A really magical time for us.

I was really pleased with the club but I am sure it can be overwhelming for some kids. I thought DS would cling to us a little but our experience was just like the video. . . .we had to drag him away with bribes about watching movies all night long. Of course, he fell asleep in his bed within 10 minutes so DH and I could relax on the verandah.