Cruising with an infant -- tips/hints?

[labdogs42]

Not for me, but for my friend, she's leaving Sunday for a cruise with her six month old. This is a last minute trip (her dad is paying and invited them along today!). I was wondering if anyone here had any advice for cruising with an infant? What should she take/not take, etc. Ideas? (FYI -- baby is nursing, so she won't have to worry about making formula or dealing with bottles or any thing like that!)

PS this isn't a Disney cruise, so that's why I posted it here!!

 

[Laura]

I don't have any tips, but if you haven't posted this question on cruisecritic.com (they have boards for specific cruise lines and destinations), you might want to do that to get even more answers.

 

[Mom21]

I did it with a 7 month old. Keep in mind that this is a child that had slept through the night since 5 weeks, rarely cried, etc. She was a very good baby (don't ask what happened since then...LOL). Anyway, NEVER AGAIN! She cried the entire night. I just took her stroller and pushed her on deck all night so my husband, 4yo stepson, and cabin neighbors could get some sleep. I would often fall asleep on deck and just push her stroller next to me when she finally slept. The deckhands would wake me at 5am so they could wash the deck.

I think something about the motion of the ship upset her sleep. During the day she was fine. She loved strolling on deck with the wind blowing in her hair. She also had night terrors on the ship for the first time.

I just hope your friend's cruise goes better than mine. Tell her to have lots of diapers and I would recommend the stroller. If the child is eating any solid food, even Cheerios, tell her to pack that so the child will have something s/he is used to. My dd was eating baby food and used a bottle and sippy cup by 7 months so not sure if her child is. Boy brings back memories of all I had to pack.......Never again

I will say my dd has turned into a well seasoned traveler

 

[james'mommy]

My son was 5 months old when he went on his first cruise. He's been on 5 or 6 total and he's only 4. I would tell her to take tons of diapers and wipes and formula (it she uses it). She needs to take way more than she thinks she will need because if she runs out it will cost a fortune to buy the stuff on board or in port. She definately needs a stroller. My son slept in his stroller through every dinner on his first cruise. We took our own pack and play for the room because I didn't want to depend on the quality of the cruise lines crib. She needs to be okay with just about everybody touching her child. The staff really like seeing young children and babies on board. It reminds them of the children they are missing back home. And all the grandmas on board love to fawn over the babies.

 

[DMickey28]

I second cruisecritic.com. Do a search on cruising with infant. I have read up a lot on it since we are expecting our first child and LOVE cruises!!

The one thing that seems consistant regardless of what the baby is like is to bring extra diapers, wipes and food. Often times if you run out not only is it expensive but they may not have the brands you are used to.

A stroller is a must as well.

Does your friend have to fly to the port? I would then buy extra diapers and everything once you get to the port. I can't imagine trying to transport all that from home with a flight involved. We are very lucky now b/c our next cruise will be from the town we live in so that we can bring as much JUNK as we need and not be restricted by the airlines.

I think it comes down to the type of baby the child is.

 

[Mom2Angels]

I agree with the other posters, cruise critic is soooo helpful, I went on my first cruise back in October and got lots of tips, granted it was a seven day trip of cruising in cricles, since there was a hurricane supposed to hit, so instead of going to Cabo, Puerta Vallarta and Mazatlan, we went to San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, talk about disappointing after waiting for that cruise for a year. We cruised in circles and figure eights .

Anyway good luck on finding out some information!

Debbie