Question: Need advice for dealing with 11-month-old on Magic ...

[sarahste928]

Hi Everyone!

I am going on the Aug. 7 Magic Eastern cruise with my DH, DD (5), and DS (almost 1). We also have 12 other people (friends of my DD and their families) coming too.

I would appreciate any suggestion anyone may have on ways to make things easier with a baby/almost toddler aboard. I have a few specific questions below, but would appreciate ANY ideas, comments, or help you might have, particularly from other parents who took very little ones on the ship.

My specific questions are:

(1) How hard is it to get reservations at Flounder's Reef? We are arriving and getting on board as soon as we can. Is there a limit to the number of times you can reserve and/or use Flounder's Reef?

(2) How loud are the shows? I have found in the past that other cruise line shows were too loud. I can get my daughter to wear earplugs, but not DS. I'm assuming that either me or my husband will just have to miss the show to watch DS.

(3) Are there any shore excursions that are baby-friendly that you would recommend? (We're going to San Juan, St. Thomas, and CC.)

(4) I'm assuming that any shore excursion would not have car seats or booster seats for kids, correct? Call me crazy, but I really don't want my baby in a taxi in a foreign place without the appropriate restraints. Are we doomed to stay on the ship the entire week?

(5) What's the best way to deal with CC? Should I bring my large blanket for DS to hang out on or will there be such things on site?

Any other information or ideas would be most welcome -- whether for my DS or my DD. Thanks!!!

-- Sarah S. (sarahste0928)

 

[minniemouse1]

Hi Sarah
I have cruised twice with infants. Our first cruise we had one child and she was 10 months old. A blanket on CC would be a great idea. I used my sarong for her.

Bring snacks that are baby friendly. They do have cheerios I believe on board but we brought boxes of gerber grads snacks that she liked.

Bring juice if she drinks it. You can get juice for her at dinner and sometimes there is apple juice avail. at Topsiders for lunch but we brought our own just in case. You can buy apple juice by the pitcher from room service but I am unsure of the cost.

They have strollers on board you can borrow for the whole cruise if you are cramped for space while packing. We used them on our second cruise.

We used Flounders and you can reserve times the first day but I think you are limited to 3 reservations. You can call and add more times later or check for availability. We did not have a problem with this. They always had room but our cruise was not full. You can use Flounders as much as you want as long as they have a spot open.

The shows are loud. I am not sure how loud is too loud for you. You will probably just have to go and judge it for yourself. The shows are on 2 times a night so you maybe able to catch one that you really want to see by eating dinner somewhere other than your usual dinner rotation.

I have not been on an Eastern cruise yet so I cannot help you with that but while we cruise with our infant we just went to shore and shopped with her in the stroller. She loved to stroll so it was enjoyable for us. You also have the option to leave her at Flounders while you are off the ship if there is something specific you want to do. CC is wonderful for infants. There is alot of umbrellas so there is shade and the beach is whilte sand. My DD loved to sit in the water and splash.

From what I have read the taxis/buses do not have seatbelts to even restrain a carseat so they are not used while off the ship. We have never used a taxi/bus on our cruises.

Bring a blanket for the port a crib in your room. DCL supplies a sheet but no blanket.

Can't think of anything else but I hope this helps.