Cruising with kids

[disneylovinmom3]

What is really the youngest age you should take children on a cruise? We are considereing doing a split stay next October. Our children would be 9, a few days from turning 4 and a few days from turning 3, is this just too early for a cruise or do you think it woud be okay? TIA

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Excellent time to cruise, no issues, they will love it.

Seen a lot younger, - thry have a nursery !

 

[lanejudy]

I'd say it depends on what you want to get out of the cruise, what type of experience(s) for each family member. If your youngest will not yet be 3, that child will be with you much of the time. You can pay for nursery time, but he/she is too young for drop-off at the kids club even with older siblings there. If you want the little one to go to the Club/Lab with siblings, I'd wait until after the 3rd birthday. I'm not knocking the Nursery onboard -- most reports say the little ones love it, they do special projects and even have character visits. But some people would prefer for their kids to be together in the Club and allow parents more time for adult activities.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[AndreAggie]

We took our son when he was 3, almost 4. I felt he was a little young, but he still managed to have a decent time. We recently went when was 5 (2 weeks from being 6) and it was a wonderful experience. He enjoyed the club/lab so much more. We didn't have to encourage him to go to the camps...he was begging to go. It gave my husband and I some time to enjoy the adult areas, do a mixology class, etc. Everyone truly enjoyed the vacation. Me personally, I'd say at least 3, so they can try the club/labs. Under 3 and you're paying extra for the nursery. Everyone's opinion is different, but I look at it as the kid's vacation too. We want adult time and if he wants to play in the lab/club, I let him play. My husband and I both work full-time jobs and we enjoy a nice vacation too.

 

[disneylovinmom3]

If you really a want a family vacation together is it a good idea or is a cruise more like you split up and then see you at dinner kind of thing? I like the idea of kids having time apart but I want to make sure there are enough family things to do together.

 

[AndreAggie]

We eat all our meals together. It's my understanding in the club they serve lunch/dinner, but they don't force the kids to sit down and eat. I believe there's an announcement, but if the kid is "occupied," they likely will ignore the announce and continue on playing. My child is 6 though. I'm sure as he gets older, this might change and he'll eat on his own some. I know several families with older kids and they have a strict rule to eat dinner together, but that's it.

We also prefer the dining rooms for meals. I feel like if I'm paying for the service, I'm going to enjoy it and let someone bring me food.

 

[1983disneykid]

Like pp said, it depends on the experience you want to have. We took my oldest when she was 18 months for the first (and again at 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and she'll be gold after we get back in two weeks at 6.5). My youngest first went at 4 months. What I have learned planning this trip (western Caribbean with a 3 and 6 year old) is that there aren't a lot of excursions I could take them both on. But whenever we've done 4 and 5 night cruises, they both had a blast. At 2.5 and fully potty-trained, the nursery is hard. She had fun, but wanted more preschooler and less toddler stimulation. But they took her over to the kids club to play when the child-staff ratio was low.

The only thing I would recommend with your youngest, is ensuring potty-trained. Children still in diapers are not allowed in the pools (only Nemo's reef) and at that age, it's really tempting to want to be able to go in the pool.

 

[LSUfan4444]

What is really the youngest age you should take children on a cruise? We are considereing doing a split stay next October. Our children would be 9, a few days from turning 4 and a few days from turning 3, is this just too early for a cruise or do you think it woud be okay? TIA

Each kid is different but our daughters first cruise was at the age of 3.

 

[arlopop]

We took our first with kids at 6 (almost 7), 4 (turned 5 on cruise), and 3 (bday was 2 days before we left). It was ideal. They loved it. Have taken more since but that first was pretty magical and I think their ages had a lot to do with it.

 

[Jess_S]

I think that the answer to this should take into account whether your DCL cruise is a "once in a lifetime" trip. If you're going to cruise once, I would take into consideration whether you are going to feel like you are missing out on things due to the likely need to end days early and miss certain activities due to having a very young child. Otherwise, I don't think there's a minimum age for cruising. My son had a great time aboard the Wonder at 22 months. Though he could not be checked into the kids club, he enjoyed the open houses. With all of the extra attention he got from the crew and all of the extra stimulation, my son often passed out for long naps allowing my husband and I adult time (albeit one at a time). We did miss out on some activities either because they were not young child appropriate or because my son was just not into them. But our DCL trip was still my favorite family vacation thus far. (We have also done the Grand Canyon, Nova Scotia and Florida incl. WDW and all were way less relaxing for us).

 

[CamColt]

We cruised when our DSs were 8 months and 3 1/2 years old. With the exception of 1 major meltdown, we all enjoyed the experience.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have said, it really depends on what type of vacation you are looking for and your own children. We took our first cruise when DS was 3 1/2 and it was definitely not as relaxing as I had hoped. DS would not go into the kids' club alone and he had a lot of meltdowns. He also had trouble sleeping. We were lucky that another adult was with us and gave me a break. One of my favorite memories is of simply falling asleep on CC. I finally got some sleep!

I did another cruise with DS when he was 6 and he did much better - still didn't like the kids' club, but we enjoyed the activities together.

When he was 7 1/2, we did a Magic Norway cruise and that for us was the magic age. He went into the kids club the first day and I could barely get him out. We all had so much fun, we ended up booking the very last stateroom on the next cruise and stayed on the ship!

With the ages of your children, if you are willing to go knowing things may not go according to plan and willing to be flexible, it will probably be fun!

 

[disneylovinmom3]

Thank you so much everyone for answering so quickly, I think that I still have some more research to do. I think however that we are leaning towards doing a split stay at WDW right before the girls turn 3 & 4 and then have the first day of the cruise be our DS's Bday so she will be 3 on the cruise. I think that since I really want as much time together as possible it will work out. I figure if they like the kid's club then that's great and if not it's okay me and my hubby will do what a pp did and take turns at night going out and seeing things.

 

[disboardlover]

Thank you so much everyone for answering so quickly, I think that I still have some more research to do. I think however that we are leaning towards doing a split stay at WDW right before the girls turn 3 & 4 and then have the first day of the cruise be our DS's Bday so she will be 3 on the cruise. I think that since I really want as much time together as possible it will work out. I figure if they like the kid's club then that's great and if not it's okay me and my hubby will do what a pp did and take turns at night going out and seeing things.

That sounds like a neat idea, to celebrate a 3rd birthday on the cruise. Plus, if your child is mostly potty trained, they may be able to join her older sister in the club for short periods of time, like when they have characters visiting. Also good idea to do theme park before cruise, as a cruise is usually more relaxing than spending time in a theme park...even the Magic Kingdom.

 

[lanejudy]

Plus, if your child is mostly potty trained, they may be able to join her older sister in the club for short periods of time,

FYI... potty-trained is no longer a requirement for the Club/Lab. The child must be 3 yrs old, DCL is very strict on that not a day prior, but if still in pull-ups the family will simply be asked to return periodically to check on things and help with toileting needs.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[bbel]

FYI... potty-trained is no longer a requirement for the Club/Lab. The child must be 3 yrs old, DCL is very strict on that not a day prior, but if still in pull-ups the family will simply be asked to return periodically to check on things and help with toileting needs.

Enjoy your cruise!

FYI... They have to be three and potty trained. Children are not allowed in in pull-ups unless its for open house or for medical reasons.

 

[lanejudy]

FYI... They have to be three and potty trained. Children are not allowed in in pull-ups unless its for open house or for medical reasons.

Did DCL change their rules AGAIN?! The "must be potty-trained" rule was relaxed within the past year or so -- as long as the child has passed the third birthday, he/she could go the Oceaneers Club/Lab. If not fully potty-trained, the family would be required to return periodically to check and assist as needed.

 

[bbel]

Did DCL change their rules AGAIN?! The "must be potty-trained" rule was relaxed within the past year or so -- as long as the child has passed the third birthday, he/she could go the Oceaneers Club/Lab. If not fully potty-trained, the family would be required to return periodically to check and assist as needed.

Ive always been told no pull-ups/diapers. They can come in without and the parents can come and check and help with going to the bathroom if needed, but if they have an accident then parents will be called. On the registration form you have to sign to say that your child is potty trained...

 

[NS8VN]

Also good idea to do theme park before cruise, as a cruise is usually more relaxing than spending time in a theme park...even the Magic Kingdom.

I agree 100%, do WDW before a cruise. After a few days at WDW, a cruise is the perfect way to relax. And don't worry about not having enough family or alone things to do, DCL has a constant flow of activities and places for both family time and alone time.

 

[MSPeeler]

I will be waiting until my almost 2 year old is atleast 3 and potty trained so that I can drop him off with his older siblings (age 7 & 10) in the kids clubs and not have a hefty bill from nursery at the end of the week. I got NO time with my husband, my child hated the nursery... If your kids are pretty chill and you don't mind the $9/hr. go for it.

You will make it work and have a wonderful time regardless!