Is there such a thing as onboard storage?

[epjenk]

We just got back from the 3 day wonder and it was great. We are booked on the 2 week reposition, and I just realized that in addition to having to bring a stroller, diapers and baby food for two weeks for my baby that will be 8 months, I will also have three carseats to deal with since we will have to fly to the two ports. We will be in adjoining category 9's with our 5 and 3 year olds, MIL and baby. Those carseats will be a major space eater in the cabins. I was just wondering if there was such a thing as storage space for something that you can't leave at port but don't need on the ship?

 

[mmouse37]

There is no designated storage space for guests, but if you ask your room steward early enough he may be able to accomodate you...maybe....I am sure on that repo cruise there will be many families in the same "boat" so to speak!!!

MJ

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I recommend leaving those carseats in your car at home.


We traveled to Europe in March with a 3yo and 17 month old.

We left the car seats at home--dd3 had much more room to spread out on the flight (in fact--I asked the airline the deal with seats on planes--and basically other than take off and landing--they do not do much in way of an accident. Also--since there are no shoulder harnesses to contend with the child is safe with the lap belt just as the adult is). When we rented a car--we rented the car seats to go with it. So if you were renting a car at either destination--you could look into renting car seats--they have to be requested far in advance and they will actually confirm with you ahead of time if they have them or not--so you will get to know if you need to make other plans. If you planned on transfers--check into doing a rental car instead. Also--I struggled with this in Europe--taxi laws might be different from passenger car laws--but you will have to check for Fla and CA specifically. In other words--baby can sit on the lap and child occupies a seat with seatbelt. But I know you must be shrieking at reading this. So I understand.

One step-ahead sells a harness contraption (it is approved for flight safety--but might not on take off and landing)....and they also sell these instant car seats that would be perfect for your 2 older children. They collapse and pack virtually flat in a suit case and are approved for car use (again, not sure on the FAA thing).

I have flown both ways--so it is up to you. If your baby will be a lap baby--then the harness would be perfect. If your baby will be ticketed--then baby requires a car seat. Also--since baby will be 8 months at the time--I would highly suggest investing in the car seat stroller combo--it is a car seat that converts to a stroller when not installed in the vehicle. (I saw them alot in Europe--and they sell them in One Step ahead as well as some of the inflight catalogues of various airlines).

 

[jin diesel]

I could see you bringing the car seats if you were taking a 14-day "land" vacation which would involve lots of driving. But since you're going to be on a ship for 14-days, you might want to consider other alternatives.

As someone suggested, check with the different retnal agencies or the company you are going to use to shuttle you to dock. I am sure they can accomodate you.

When my daughter was little, I brought her car seat on the plane with us only ONCE. It's was so oversized and cumbersome. I realized after sitting down we didn't need it anymore and I was lucky enough to be able to check it in! My thinking is: in the end, if the plane's going down - a car seat isn't going to make a difference!!

 

[epjenk]

Part of the issue for me is not knowing anything about the excursions. Having traveled in quite a few foreign countries, I would not be at all comfortable traveling on those roads without the kids in carseats. I am a bit overcautious when it comes to the carseats so I would not be willing to go without from airport to the ship unless we were on the big transfer buses where you can't use them anyway. I don't see how we could do a rental car because we couldn't leave the car at port Canaveral - we won't be coming back there. I don't think we can pick one up directly at the port in CA either, so I just can't see how logistically that would happen. I did some research on the Safety First thing for another trip, and all of the pediatric physician associations and other child safety things are really down on them, they say they just are not a safe alternative to a carseat. My older two will be big enough that they can use a fairly small booster seat, but the baby there really is no other option. I just know how overwhelming the amount of stuff we had seemed on this trip, so 14 days is a little daunting! I may just have to look at our room config and if we have one with the pull down bunk that may have to be carseat central and just keep it down for storage the whole trip.

Does anyone know if any of the limo transfer companies have carseats available like the rental car companies do? I know DCL transfers are a little pricey since you pay per person and we have a group of six.

 

[jin diesel]

Emily, what category room do you have?I'm wondering if maybe you can stack them out on the verandah if necessary...

 

[b&bdiscruisers]

Just my 2 cents worth: Don't know about veranda, it can get damp out there, & sometimes wet, depending on weather & humidity!

 

[kellib36]

She said Cat 9....but unless it was a Navigator's veranda, I wouldn't want to do that, anyway. You'd have to put everything in large bags, since the salt water gets everywhere. Our deck 7 veranda grossed my niece out last week, coz the railing was always "dirty". Just the mist and all, but she thought it was "dirty".

The rental car companies in FL, at least, have a shuttle, so you could drop off the ar and get a ride to the port, but it really sounds like I'm WAY underqualified to give an opinion......I only have to worry about my mil's wheelchair that has to get from WI to FL to CA back to WI.....

Good luck! Kelli

 

[jel0511]

One step-ahead sells a harness contraption (it is approved for flight safety--but might not on take off and landing)....and they also sell these instant car seats that would be perfect for your 2 older children. They collapse and pack virtually flat in a suit case and are approved for car use (again, not sure on the FAA thing).

The harness isn't approved for takeoff, landings and anytimes the seat belt sign is illuminated, basically rendering it useless. The instant car seats also aren't FAA approved, and as stated by the OP, not very safe either. I can understand not wanting to bring all the car seats, but two of your children are older. You could buy the Graco Booster Seat (bottom only) for both of them. As you know, those are VERY small, and do have a seat belt positioner attached. They wouldn't be able to be used in the plane, but would be great for getting to/from the ship and for use during excursions. The car seat would be big, but if you bought a car seat bag (I got mine at Babies R Us) you could store it in there, and the other boosters would fit in there as well. That way, you're only using space that would occupy one car seat, and it would also be MUCH easier to transport and carry off the ship if necessary. The bags have straps that can be used as a backpack and with being able to fit all three seats in, it would be a GREAT investment. Here is a picture of each of the items I've mentioned.

 

[CM_Mom]

Most of the rental companies in FL have one way rentals WITHOUT a drop off fee so you could definitely rent a car and request a car seat from MCO to Port. We considered doing the one way rental before we decided on transfers because of the time we were arriving (12:30 am which actually turned into 3:30 am). I will hazard a guess that you could do the same in CA but you should check with the rental car companies about the one way.

That doesn't answer the issue about the carseat on excursions though. If I remember the size of booster seats correctly, they should either fit on the shelf in the closet or under the bed. We put the life jackets under the bed so we had more space on the shelf in the closet.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The car seat that converts to a stroller is a legitimate legal perfectly safe car seat. It is not a car seat substitute--it is a true, real, and authentic car seat. In fact--people purchase them as their only car seat and stroller. The only thing you would have to check on is if it can be installed rear facing--that is the only thing I am unsure on. As far as those compact fold up ones--I am there with you and understand. My friend wanted to loan me one for our trip--and I just couldn't do it..I didn't trust it enough.

Also--from what I have seen from other posts--there are direct car agencies right at the Port in Port Canaveral..not sure of the port in California.

I can relate on that no carseat thing. We thought long and hard and opted to not bring them to Europe. That is why I suggest the rental car option as I am not sure if shuttles have car seats available. You would probably have to call shuttles personally to inquire.

There is also another crazy idea--does anybody know if you can
"ship" your car seats from the Port in California to Port Canaveral. Perhaps that would be an ideal suggestion for Disney to offer a shipping service just for that purpose Of course you could trust me Ship them to my house and I could meet you at the port--hmmmm....wonder how much money I could make off of Lisa's car seat delivery service. Just kidding of course.

Kelli--if your MIL needs a wheelchair--wouldn't she be using that on the cruise If it is motorized--good luck. We have a friend who is confined to a pretty good sized motorized wheelchair. They mentioned for them to fly by air--that the wheelchair would have to be shipped in Cargo or something and then they would have to use a regular chair to get him to the gate and onto the plain. Good luck!

 

[kellib36]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh
Kelli--if your MIL needs a wheelchair--wouldn't she be using that on the cruise If it is motorized--good luck. We have a friend who is confined to a pretty good sized motorized wheelchair. They mentioned for them to fly by air--that the wheelchair would have to be shipped in Cargo or something and then they would have to use a regular chair to get him to the gate and onto the plain. Good luck!

My problem is that, as of right now, she doesn't use/need/own a wheelchair at home. Of course, that could all change in a year. She just can't do stairs very fast, or walk for more than about 100 feet at a time. Last Sept when she and I took the Pink Ribbon Cruise on the Magic, I rented one from Brevard Medical, and they delivered it right to the port. We just left it at the port when we got back and they picked it up again. No trouble for us at all, but since we aren't coming back to FL......

I figure the only place she'll be twice, beginning and end, is at home! We'd have to rent from WI, and gate check the wheelchair like they do strollers. Compared to Emily's situation, I think I've got it made!!! ;-)

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by epjenk

Does anyone know if any of the limo transfer companies have carseats available like the rental car companies do? I know DCL transfers are a little pricey since you pay per person and we have a group of six.

Whenever I have used a limo in the past (not sure about the ones in Fla though...) I have always requested a car seat for my daughter andwhen they came to pick us up it was already hooked up in the limo and ready for her. I would never travel on a plane with my duaghter without one and she is 4 now. We are going to Disny again in August and she will be sitting and strapped into that car seat the whole flight. It isn't a matter of the plane goign down safety wise it wouldn't matter with a car seat or not...it is a matter of hitting turbulance and having your child splattered across the ceiling of the plane as it suddenly dips in turbulance. I won't take that chance with my daughter. She knows not to even ask to be unstrapped from it, I won't let her in a car unbuckled in her car seat and I certainly won't on a plane...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The implication that a pre-school aged child will be splattered against the plane ceiling if not in a car seat--is not correct. The straps adjust to fit a pint-sized person--that is how they are designed. To suggest that without a car seat that your child is in imminent peril is simply not fair or accurate. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics website: Testing has shown that aircraft seat belts alone do not adequately protect a child younger than 3 years. http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/carseatsafety.cfm (click on restraint use in aircraft). (Meaning that for ages over 3--the seat belt provided is sufficient given their design and purpose). I do agree that something is needed for the under 3 crowd.

For the under two set, overseas flights have straps that you use to safety belt your unticketed infant to you and your seat belt. In the event of turburlance--they aren't going anywhere unless for some scary reason you do. Too bad they do not provide the same safety device on US Domestic flights. The aformentioned harness (my previous post) in the one step ahead catalogue, called a Baby B'Air, provides the same safety if not better--and is approved for inflight by the FAA--just not for taxi, takeoff or landing (as of 1996--FAA only approved car seats as safe restraining systems).
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/27179/323/117.html
It says it actually exceeds FAA standards--so check with the FAA and show it to your pediatrician if you are concerned. I looked on the AAP website and can only find commentary on travel vests for school busses and nothing on the Baby B'Air.
A review (the reviewer does recommend a separate seat--but you'll see why she is glad to have the vest anyway).
http://www.epinions.com/kifm-review-5C7E-13F777F-38C107F1-prod5

As far as the car seat that I suggested for your baby, it is called sit n' stroll car seat...it can be rear facing or forward facing, has 5 point harness, can be used on an airplane, and is L.A.T.C.H. compatible (if your car has this system).
http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.js...&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=55762&change=117
this website has reviews and lists free shipping...
http://www.elitecarseats.com/safeline-sit-n-stroll.shtml

Personally--if this was your primary car seat for your young one and you were to move it in and out of your car regularly--I would recommend a contraption called a "mighty tight"
http://www.enotalone.com/baby/B000056JHP.html though it is available at toys r us or babies r us. Makes it easy to make sure that the car seat is properly secure in the seat and will not move beyond the recommended distance. I can only install seats on my own when pregnant (need all that extra weight as I am a weakling)...but with the mighty tight--we have the seat installed in 2 or 3 minutes (after practice and remembering what goes where in terms of the locking clip and such) or about 5 minutes or so with LATCH.

Good luck--your baby's safety is your responsibility and only you can determine what you are doing is right for you and your child. Please do not think I am flippantly remarking to leave the car seats at home. I am simply offering suggestions that I have come across based on lots of travel and research that I have done with my children when you cannot travel with them. And not to dispute what your pediatrician may have told you--I have not found anything to support those facts that these items are not safe (even looked on AAP). I have always double checked our doc's info--b/c doc's, in general, can make mistakes (some people actually have legitimate malpractice claims against their docs).

As an example of where Ped's are wrong...my children do a particular swim program that for some reason is not approved by the AAP (it is not disapproved by them--it just isn't endorsed as they have a blanket opinion on swim lessons and young children)--but it has saved lives starting with children as young as 6 months of age. In my case--our particular doctor recommended it. But had I listened to the masses--I would be in constant fear of my children's water safety wondering what if. Now--though I NEVER EVER leave them near water alone--I know that my children will have a chance at survival instead of silently falling to the bottom of a pool not knowing what to do.

Same goes for other "safety items as well". If you have any websites to share that any safety items are not good to use--I would be very anxious to see them--feel free to PM me. Like I said--I could not find anything to suggest that the integrity of the items I have suggested are in in question.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And if I wasn't clear enough--the "harness" now renamed "Baby B'air" is safe and FAA approved for the entire duration of the in-flight (seat belt signs at all).

Not to be a meany--but instead of sharing opinions on the quality of safety--we should do our best to research. I tried to offer as correct as possible information.

I do agree on those "instant seats" though--thoughs look scary!

The other option I have--is since you have two cabins--what if one was the primary "hang out" and the other space used for "storage" of the items you need to store. Those car seat bags are awesome--you can even squeeze additional souvenirs in them (nothing that damages the seat of course!)

 

[jel0511]

And if I wasn't clear enough--the "harness" now renamed "Baby B'air" is safe and FAA approved for the entire duration of the in-flight (seat belt signs at all).

Two flight attendents have posted on previous car seat threads that these harnesses ARE NOT approved to be used during flight when the seat belt sign is on. I'd be interested to see where the FAA has stated that these are allowed, since I've always been told and two FA have said that they are not allowed to be used when the seat belt sign is on.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

DISCLAIMER--I do not work for the airlines or government--I just simply know how to research...here are the facts (paraphrased or directly quoted) as I have found them on the internet..

And to answer your question....So with due respect to the flight attendants--according to the FAA web-site they have been reporting incorrect information....

2380-A "During the cruise portion of the flight, however, there is no regulatory prohibition regarding the use of any type of child restraint, including those that are prohibited from use during ground movement, takeoff, and landing."

(The Baby B'Air according to all ads for it indicate it is FAA approved for inflight which goes a step above this statement--www.faa.org lists nothing specifically to indicate otherwise--and since truth in advertising is paramount--one can only draw the conclusion that the ads are accurate and correct).

Children under 2 can be lap babies--but it is recommended to use an FAA approved car seat (defined as well on this site). But for those who can't or choose not to...

According to 2379-F Harnesses are only not recommended for take-off, landing, and movement on the service (mentions nothing about seat belt signs in flight--which are only on when there is turbulence, or the possibility of turbulence (or captain has any other reason to illuminate it). The belly belts I described in my previous post that are used by foreign airlines are not recommended under the same conditions--and thus implied to be okay during in-flight (though British Airways requires them for take-off and landing--must be their gov requirements).

Children who can legally occupy a booster seat...can safely occupy an aircraft seat utilizing just the lap belt. (2379) (and since the boosters are backless, they are not approved for use on the aircraft anyway).

Also in further reading (it is a long document)...no one under the age of 18 can be refused to ride in a CSR as long as it is properly labeled , the child is of the appropriate weight limit and is properly secured (2379-K) [Note that this does not include backless boosters which are not permitted.]


Hopefully this clears up confusion...refer the faa web-site for additional info.
http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/faa/8400/8400_vol3/3_016_06.pdf



We are all entitled to our opinion--but must remember that their is information out there to support some opinions--such as safety and regulations. If you think something is unsafe--we all want to know about it, just let us know where you found out so that it is fact-based and not rumour-based.


BACK TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS...

the only thing I can think of is they mis-interpreted the next regulation in the document...

2380-B "There is also no regulatory requirement that an air carrier permit the use of 'non-approved' CRS [car seats] during the cruise portion of flight. If an air carrier decides to implement an operational policy that is not inconsistent with the regulations, they have the operational flexibility to do so." So as long as the car seat is FAA approved (as that lovely sit 'n stroll car seat...) then you are permitted to use it.

www.babybair.com has this to say in regards to refusal of use..

What if the flight attendant is not familiar with the Baby B’Air?

If any parent has a problem using the Baby B’Air during flight, they may return the vest directly to Baby B’air for a refund by providing the airline* and flight information (flight number, date, departure city and final destination). This enables us to follow up with the FAA and the airline.

So my guess is if the airline these flight attendants work for are not allowing passengers to use these devices--the passengers should have been able to contact BabyBair directly so that they can interact with the airline and get it resolved b/c it is supposed to be allowed.

Always check with the airlines about what you can and cannot use and do not hesitate to call it into question against the facts of what the FAA requires and doesn't require.

And for the record--we fly in July to Indiana--DD4 will be in her car seat (we will need it for the weekend) and DD21 months will have her's packed in it's case and checked (and I am now seriously looking at this harness--don't own it yet--just reporting the facts of research).

Safe travel everyone!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay--I was just banned..but evidently temporarily..I hope I did not offend anyone. I was just trying to be helpful...if you were offended by my "know-it-all-ness"--please don't be...I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything--that is why I like looking things up so much--I am the research queen!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Epjenk...
I sent you a PM

 

[epjenk]

Thank you all for the info, opinions and links. I guess I have plenty of time to research in the next year and a half! I thought about the sit and stroll option, but I am having a hard time remembering if the baby will be out of the infant carrier by then. My youngest is only 2 1/2, so you would think I would not have forgotten all this already! If not, I'll probably just bring the infant carseat/stroller combo. The carrier is not too big and is useful for carrying the baby around generally. To me the drawback of the sit and stroll is not having a cover or the ability to really lay the baby down. I'm thinking I may spring for one of those strollers with the little rear facing bench on back for when my other ones don't want to walk. Lord knows I don't want to even condsider bringing my behomoth of a twin stroller along.