Cruising with 1 year old

[hamm1207]

Okay...next question about cruising with a one year old. Sorry for all of the separate posts (one regarding car seats and one regarding what to pack), but I keep thinking of other questions.

Diaper question:
On all of my past cruises, I've never paid attention to bathroom set ups in the way of diaper changing. For those who've cruised with kiddos in diapers, how is changing diapers in the bathrooms throughout the ship? Can I dispose of the diaper there or should I put it in a personal hygiene trash in a stall?

Nursery questions:
I know we have to provide diapers and what not. Do I need to run up to the buffet and grab food and milk to leave in the nursery for her?
What's your nursery experience been?

Dinner:
What should I expect from servers and in general (we have late dining)?

Any other tips or comments are much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[FamilyHolidayPlanner]

Some info on diaper changing facilities on the magic. We only used nursery once and she didn't eat there, but they do provide some limited snacks like crackers (I think). They ask whether you want them to nap, or to be kept awake if possible. Kids seemed to be playing happily in nursery when I was there.

Dinner- it was a bit too long for our 1 yr old (and we had early). However our servers were fantastic- offering to bring other things if they noted she wasn't eating, making birds etc with the menu, napkin folding, and generally just being kind and attentive.

Overall our 1 yr old had a fantastic cruise. She loved all the character meet and greets, open house at oceanears club, wake up with Disney Jr., toddler time in the promenade lounge, the character dance party, the splash pool.

 

[FamilyHolidayPlanner]

There was also some "family friendly" movie showings in the theatre- some lights left on, volume down, audience free to move around and talk etc. I really wanted to go to one of these, but there was just too many other things!

 

[bbel]

Food provided in the nursery is crackers, bananas and yogurts. If your child is there at lunch or dinner they will be offered food if you want them too. Lunch is usually turkey and cheese sandwiches, cheese sticks and fruit (and crackers, bananas, yogurt) dinner is simple kid friendly food but changes daily.
The nursery have milk and water available too.

Any specific questions, just pop into the nursery when you get onboard and they'll be able to advise you the best.

 

[Imedley200]

We always went back to the room for diaper changes. I always carried 1 diaper for emergencies but thankfully never used it. It's not that much of a hassle to go back, just think extra steps for earning another ice cream cone.

We didn't use the nursery during food hours but they'll ask if he/she can have snacks or juice each time you check in. We always took our son's cup with water.

The dining staff (or at least the ones we've had) have been great with kids. They'll purée any food you want and will pretty much accommodate anything you ask for. The staff are entertainers so they make things or spend that extra time to make the little ones happy. Last cruise our server sat down with our 16 month old for dessert so we could finish our meal.

 

[dhardawa]

I always went back to the room for diaper changes. I put dirty diapers in the trash near the elevators (all sealed up) simply because those were emptied very regularly and I wasn't sure where else to put them.

 

[Imedley200]

Ask for a diaper genie for your stateroom along with a pack n play

 

[hamm1207]

Thank you everyone! Keep the info coming!

 

[LilyFlor]

I'll be cruising with my 1 year old in just over a month (her birthday is just 2 weeks before we set sail). Great tips and info here. Would love to hear more!

 

[hamm1207]

I'll be cruising with my 1 year old in just over a month (her birthday is just 2 weeks before we set sail). Great tips and info here. Would love to hear more!

Please be sure to let us know how it goes! Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Lilylogan]

We are sailing with our 15 month old in Nov and I'm a little nervous. We've sailed on DCL a lot but never with kids!

Are you all bringing a stroller?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Food provided in the nursery is crackers, bananas and yogurts. If your child is there at lunch or dinner they will be offered food if you want them too. Lunch is usually turkey and cheese sandwiches, cheese sticks and fruit (and crackers, bananas, yogurt) dinner is simple kid friendly food but changes daily.
The nursery have milk and water available too.

Any specific questions, just pop into the nursery when you get onboard and they'll be able to advise you the best.

Thanks for this information. I was under the impression that, while Oceaneer's had lunch and dinner available, the nursery you had supply whatever food you wanted your child to eat.

 

[LilyFlor]

We are sailing with our 15 month old in Nov and I'm a little nervous. We've sailed on DCL a lot but never with kids!

Are you all bringing a stroller?

We're definitely bringing a stroller. Just haven't decided if we're bringing our City Mini or if we're going to just get a lightweight cheap stroller. She can nap like a champ in her stroller but I'm concerned it might to bulky and big for us on the ship. Got a month to decide luckily!

 

[bbel]

Thanks for this information. I was under the impression that, while Oceaneer's had lunch and dinner available, the nursery you had supply whatever food you wanted your child to eat.

The food gets bought over from the club/lab, so it's whatever is being served there and at the same navigated times.

 

[Imedley200]

We've cruised when our little guy was 10 months and 16 months. First time we took our City Mini and second time a Chicco Liteway. I love my City Mini and we didn't have any problems with it fitting anywhere except the stateroom door. It fit but was very tight so it was easier to collapse before entering room. Truly it was overall easier to carry our little guy in my Ergo than deal with the stroller on board. Now the stroller was great for embark/debark! We're cruising again in September and we're going to take our City Mini because little guy is most comfy in it and we have a lot of traveling.
If your babies are still crawling, enter them in Jack Jack Diaper Dash! It's one of the most entertaining things on board =)

 

[hamm1207]

We are sailing with our 15 month old in Nov and I'm a little nervous. We've sailed on DCL a lot but never with kids!

Are you all bringing a stroller?

Right now our plan is to grab one of the complimentary ones from guest services as soon as we get on board.

 

[Lilylogan]

I was thinking of bringing our cheap umbrella stroller and tossing it out at the end of the cruise.

 

[lunarsongbird]

I just got back from Alaska with our 15 month old and am in the process of writing a trip report. We loved the nursery. We would also order room service every morning for breakfast. You can write in other things you want on the hanger... cheese plate, uncrustables, fruit plate, yogurt. We would keep all these things in the fridge for William to snack on throughout the days.

I brought a small bottle of dish soap to clean his bottles and sippy cups with in the bathroom.

The tub is great for little ones.

We asked for a couple extra blankets the first night, because the pack and play only comes with a sheet. The stationary in the desk works great for asking your room steward for more/different items. I left them on the bed in the morning and they were always fulfilled by the evening. He even helped me vacuum seal a robe I brought.

I downloaded a white noise app on my phone.

 

[lunarsongbird]

Does your baby love a particular food? Ask for it at the beginning of the cruise. Seriously. For days William ate raspberries and smoked salmon.

Toddler time on the boat was nice. They have counselors there, so we kicked back a bit while they interacted with William.

If we had the late seating, I would try to switch it. Lol. But if not, I would wear William in a carrier, probably.

 

[MinnieMouse64]

Dinner:
What should I expect from servers and in general (we have late dining)?

We have always had early dining. When my grandson was a 1 1/2 old he would be so hungry and it seemed to always take awhile to get our food. The first night he was so fussy and crying the staff would do everything they could to entertain him, but it only helped for a few seconds. One thing we did after that night was we would take toddler food just to keep him occupied and to help with being so hungry. We packed things like yogurt melts and those wagon wheel things. We didn't give him much but just enough to help take the hunger pains away and to keep him entertained, until the real food came.