Many random ?s -- first-timers with little ones

[wolfeaew]

Sorry, these questions have probably been asked millions of times, but search is disabled right now.

We are first time cruisers going on the Sept. 7th 7-day Eastern Magic, and starting to panic about planning! It will be myself, DH, DD(3), and DS(5 mo). Any tips on which beach to hit in St. Maarten? I am not a die-hard beachgoer, and am worried about DS being in the beating sun for too long (he is not very heat-tolerant). DH and DD love the water/sand though so we have to fit some beach time in! I would also like to do some shopping. Is this all readily accessible from the ship? Is it possible to go back to the ship for lunch and naptime, then head out again?

This question also applies to St. Thomas -- Magens Bay or Trunk Bay? DH needs to decide whether he wants to snorkel or not. Which beach is more family-friendly for the little ones? Does it make sense to pay for the Disney excursions for either of these or is it just as easy to get our own transportation? I am a little leary of piling the kids into a taxi with no restraints though.

Will we be able to put DS in Flounder's Reef and attend the Brunch at Palo? I vaguely remember reading here that Flounder's was not open during the Brunch hours, is that true? Also, will they take him if we don't leave any bottles, with instructions to page us if he cries? If DD likes the Club and participates will she be in the 'show' scheduled for the last night? Not sure if it includes the littlest kids.

We have early dinner seating, and I'm contemplating requesting a table for 4 because of the whole 'waiting for the tablemates' thing. What if DD can't sit through an entire dinner? And a 5 month old is just plain unpredictable, I wouldn't want to disturb another family. On the other hand, it would be nice to meet a few new people. If we skip the dining room one night will that keep our tablemates waiting until the server decides we're not coming?

I've been to the DCL website to price the 7-day Eastern Magic for Nov 2003 (I'm anticipating we are going to really like this cruise!!) but I'm not seeing how there is an early booking discount. For example, a cat 6 is around $3600 for the 4 of us, and that is also the quoted price for Nov 2002 if we booked now -- know what I mean? We booked the upcoming cruise using DVC points so I don't know whether the 2003 price is a 'deal' or not.

Wow, this is a long post -- I thank you if you have gotten this far! Any and all info is appreciated.

 

[prymsu]

for beach info, check out Dave's web site as he has pretty detailed info on the beaches...

www.dcltribute.com

 

[tombeaman]

You wrote about dinners and re-booking:


Don't worry about the dinner. Wait until you see your set-up. My family of four was automatically put at our own table, and the servers (who rely on tips) were very happy to arrange us any way we wanted. We joined up with another table, and after the first day they knew to just join our tables together. We had one child who ate with us regularly, and the other stayed in the Oceaneer's lab...again, I'd wait till you get there.

As for deals, again wait. You'll get flyers about Wednesday about booking your next cruise, including a $200 on board credit. There is a table just above the main entry atrium that is dedicated to booking.

Sorry I can't help on any other questions!

Have a GREAT time!

 

[myfairygodmother]

I can help with a few of the questions...

It is possible to go back to the ship for lunch and nap while you are in port--just make sure you have your ID with you. From all of my research it looks like it is much cheaper to do the islands on your own if you have small children. I will actually be on your same cruise with my god-daughters ages 3.5 & 8 years. We will be doing both islands on our own and renting a car in St. Maarten($30.00/day from Avis). Keep in mind that even if you choose to do a Disney excursion, there will not be carseats for the young children.

Don't worry about the dinner seating now--the servers are very accomodating and if your's doesn't work out they can seat you elsewhere. If you choose to skip the dining room one night, your tablemates will not end up waiting endlessly.

On my last cruise, the kid's show at the end included all of the club and lab kids--even the youngest ones.

If your DD likes water/sand toys(ie-beach balls, float rings, pail/shovel) --bring them with you. We hit the dollar store and stocked up--they take up very little room in the suitcase and since they were super cheap, we don't have to worry about bringing them back with us--we can give them to another child on the beach when we leave. These same items will cost you dearly if you buy them once you get there.

 

[MFan]

Hmmm, it's working for me. I know the search function for the entire site (top of the 1st page) has been disabled, but the one for each specific forum (bottom of each forum page) is still working fine. I just tested it.

In any case, if you're leary of taxis, you might want to avoid St. John. From what I gathered, you'll need to switch btw taxis (I believe both on St. Thomas and St. John) and ferry on each leg of the trip. Lugging little ones and associated gears can be tiring. I have heard Megan Bay is very pretty, but never made it there. We took the simple route both times we were in St. Thomas. We went to the Coki Beach and the next door Coral World.
Coral World

It was a short taxi ride from the boat and was quite fun for us and the little ones. Coki Beach (right outside of Coral World) is a small but clean beach. The water is calm and clear. Because of its orientation, small size and trees, you can easily find shades close to the water.

 

[mrsltg]

Hi Wolf....

Here is my BIG mom tip.... your DS is too young for sunscreen!!! It can be toxic to children, and it's advised that it not be used on infants ypunger than 6 months. Be SUPER careful with him ie... put him in a layette gown or a onesie with legs and sleeves. A hat is also a must and keep him super-hydrated. Fisher Price makes a fold-up bassinet that has mosquito netting and a hood (for about $30, I think). This would probably be the best for the baby. I think that whatever beach you choose, you should be sure to have a back-up plan that will get you back to the ship quickly.

Enjoy your baby's first cruise!

Erin

 

[Gillian]

Here's another (mom/pharmacist) opinion on the sunscreen thing - it's ok to use a little sunblock on a 5 month old, in addition to the shade & hydration. Personally, I would look for something with titanium dioxide that blocks/reflects the rays instead of something with a chemical sunblock that absorbs the rays. Mustela makes good products.

Here is what the American Academy of pediatrics says:
For Release: August 2, 1999, 5 p.m. (ET)
CHICAGO - A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the dangers of sun exposure says that it may be safe to use sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months of age when adequate clothing and shade are not available. Previously, the use of sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months old was not advised by the AAP. However, there is no evidence that using sunscreen on small areas of a baby's skin causes harm. Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts are still the top recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. In addition to possible sunburn, infants and children may be at increased risk for eye injury from the sun. The AAP says children, including infants, should wear hats with a brim and sunglasses designed to block at least 99 percent of the sun's rays. The new policy, published in the August issue of Pediatrics, also suggests pediatricians incorporate sun protection recommendations into well child visits and encourage schools to adopt sun safety practices and education.

 

[wolfeaew]

Thanks all for the info and tips! We do have chemical-free sunblock made by California Baby for the kids, who are very fair. I hope to keep DS in shady areas, but will use the sunblock as well.

Anyone else with advice?

 

[Boomerwon]

I have a couple of small ones, DD2 and DS5. Last year we walked directly off the tender at St Maarten and sat on the beach in town. Spent a couple of hours playing in the sand. Had a few drinks, then back on ship for nap time. Didn't feel like we missed anything and were very relaxed. The rest of our party came back from their shore excursions exhausted and tired.

PS-If you come back for lunch and an early nap, after everyone wakes up, it's a great time to hit Goofy's Pool without the crowds!

 

[luckymom]

I agree! Take the boat taxi to the beach next to the port in St. Martins and go back to the ship in the afternoon for lunch and a swim. There is nothing else in St. Martins that is worth a trip. We did the bus tour excursion in the am and we were very disappointed. The only thing worth while was the $5 bottle of French wine we picked up at Marigot - drank it last night with dinner and now we wish we had bought more!!