taking a 1 year old on a 7 day cruise?

[lvmymcky]

Hello, need some opinions here, I just found out that I'll be expecting and my due date is August of this year. DH and I booked a cruise for Dec '06. My ? is our baby will be about a year and 4 months by the time the cruise rolls around. I can't imagine not taking our baby with us and I do know that they have babysitting on board. For those that brought their tiny tots with them, how was your experience? I was lurking on a different DCL msg boards and one person almost had the same ? as mine and she got flamed for even thinking of bringing her 2 year old on a 7 day cruise. Would it be wise for us to cancel/postpone our trip until our baby is much older or age isn't really a factor? TIA

 

[Stimpy]

No flames here! We're bringing our DD with us on the 7 day in April. She'll turn 1 yr old 2 days before the cruise. I'm also interested to see any advice. TIA

 

[Scott5150]

We did it and had no problems. Great pictures of our son in the water at Castaway Cay, and covered with chocolate pudding at Lumieres.

Disney will seat you with other families with kids your age. Also, they generally put families with young kids in the same roatation.

Flounders reef provides very good child care. It costs about $6 per hour. We did not use it too much, just for an Adult night at Palos and when we wend off shore into St Thomas.

The staff is trained to handle children very well, so don't feel like you will be out of place, this is Disney!

Scott

 

[piglet33]

We brought our DD when she was 11 months old and 23 months old. No problems here. We got so many pictures of her with the characters and on Castaway Cay. I say go ahead and bring your baby. You'll have a blast and won't regret it.

 

[jweiss]

I cruised last August when my baby was 6 months, and we're going on the 14 day in August, when she will be 18 months old. I must admit, I am a bit nervous, but we are going, no matter what!!! Being a single parent, I am really hoping that Flounders is going to work out.....I'll need breaks big time. At this point (11 months) Emilie is not into strangers AT ALL. I'm hoping that changes by August. ~Jennifer

Piglet33....How old will Haley be next August?? Will she still be in Flounders?

 

[lvmymcky]

Thanks for the responses guys! It will actually be our two year anniversary during that time and I just can not imagine not taking our baby along with us. And you're right it is Disney and Disney are for kids and the kids at heart

 

[smwf71]

Take the baby! We tooj our 6 month old and others came up to me saying, how is she doing - I left my baby at home, etc. They all seemed to miss their little ones. Anyway, dinner was stressful and it was way less relaxing than when we went with our 3 YO only. But - it was well worth it, so take your baby!

 

[HookedonMagic]

First, Congratulations! A new baby is so exciting.

Second, I have two children. My son, who is just two, has cruised twice (we took him on DCL at 5 months and on RCCL at 15 months.) As others have said, it certainly can be done. And the photo's and memories are really precious. And the staff at Flounders do a terrific job. It all just takes some extra planning and altered expectations on your part.

Finally, and here is where I'll probably get flamed, I just want to expand on that expectation thing and warn you...the trip will not be as relaxing as it would be without the baby. If you want the cruise to be a romantic, slow paced week, you are surely headed for disappointment. I read about people making so many plans for Palo and the Spa and excursions and then, when things don't go as planned (they never do with kids!), they are so upset. My advise to other parents travelling anywhere with children is always the same...if you keep your expectations low, you will not be disappointed. I'm certainly not saying don't go, I just want you to be aware that the trip will be a lot of work (as compared to a cruise for two adults alone!) You'll be amazed at how much stuff one tiny adorable person requires for a simple excursion to the beach! There will be many moments when you feel it is all worth it, and others where you'll think "why am I doing this?" or "I must be nuts!"

Anyway, enough said. Again, congrats! And whatever you ultimately decide, Happy Sailing!

 

[RickW]

I was lurking on a different DCL msg boards and one person almost had the same ? as mine and she got flamed for even thinking of bringing her 2 year old on a 7 day cruise.

Well, we're taking a 23 month old on a 14 day cruise in about 4 months. Just remember the following:
- At that age, home is where your parents are.
- You can't put your entire life on hold for the first 3-5 years of your child's life.
- Sure, the cruise wouldn't be as relaxing as it would be if it was just the two of you, but a cruise would still be more relaxing than staying home. On the cruise, you have someone else taking care of all of your meals, cleaning your room, providing entertainment, etc. In other words, don't compare "Cruise with no children" to "Cruise with children", instead, compare "Home with children" to "Cruise with children"

 

[sheelysmom]

don't compare "Cruise with no children" to "Cruise with children", instead, compare "Home with children" to "Cruise with children"

RickW - WELL WELL said. We are taking DD 4 and DS barely 2 next week on our first cruise. I am mostly looking forward to no cooking and cleaning!! I am also excited to be able to spend some time just focusing on the kids - seems like I am always able to be so preoccupied at home - this seems like the perfect chance to spend time with my little boy, especially since DD will be at the clubs. We are going to try to, at some point, have possibly one meal with just DH and I. Otherwise, it's family time. Someday when the kids are older we'll do a cruise for just DH and I.

 

[lvmymcky]

Again thanks for all the inputs. This will actually be our 2nd time cruising with DCL the first one was Dec '04 and that was our honeymoon . So I'm not expecting much of a relaxation per se but more of a FIRST family vacation. I'm just glad to read that alot of you guys have taken their tiny tots along and that you didn't regret it.

 

[NEM]

We did it once before - different baby about 10 months - it was fine. In fact she was about to start walking and showing all the signs. We kept pushing the first one back down because we did not want her to walk before the cruise - Terrible, I know, but she is 4 now and walks and runs fine, but she was much easier not mobile - This time we will also have a new walker - not yet as of right now, but soon she will be off and running...so we will just have to keep up.

The nursery was great. No complaints. We even had to see the ship doctor for her for a ear infection and he was great! All was well. We just go with the flow and dont try to plan too much and enjoy!!

We will definitely be using Flounders for some adult only time away and for meals and such.

Good luck, go and enjoy yourself and your time there.

Best,
Michelle

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am all for taking your kids with you on vacation, and don't belive you need to stay home until they are old enough to remember it. Parents need vacations too. It is much better for the baby not to be apart from mom and dad then to take a trip with them.

I am really looking forward to taking our 1st Disney Cruise. However I am waiting until our baby gets older. Maybe because we haven't been before and I dont know what to exepct but a few things do make me thing that if I wait they will get more out of it. We go to WDW often with kids and babies, but haven't done the cruise yet, so it is kind of a "one time" or not your every year vacation for us.

One is the childcare, included for potty trained, not for babies. Maybe I am just cheap! It also seems the child care for potty trained kids is FUN! I think my now almost 4 year old DD would LOVE it. However she has a 5 month old baby sister.

The big one is the pools. I hear (correct me if I am wrong) that no swimm dipears allowed in any pool on the ship. That means baby can't go in the pool at all. Too bring the baby and not allow him/ her to swim seems unfair.

However, we go to WDW often with our young ones, and nothing bothers me more then people who say "Why would you take them, they can't remember it?" So for us we are waiting until they are both potty trained, and in 2007 or 2008, we are there!!! Until then we just go to WDW and Vero Beach as a family.

Don't take my word for it, I haven't been and therefore don't really know, but that is why I am waiting. I am interested in all the responses from families have cruised with babies.

I think if you are going, bring the baby. Be sure to go back when they are Potty trained so they can enjoy it then too.

Congradulations again! I hope all goes well.

 

[RickW]

One is the childcare, included for potty trained, not for babies. Maybe I am just cheap!

I have posted this before, but it gives you something to consider when thinking about the "extra charge" for Flounders:

According to the DCL brochure that I have (which may be a bit out-of-date, but should be close), the cost to take a child under 3 on the 7 day cruise is $139.
The cost to take a 3 year old is $399-$1399 (I assume that the difference is based on stateroom category and season).

Let's assume that you are in a Cat 12 duing low season, and you paid $399 for your 3 year old. That is $260 more than the 2 year old. This means that, in essence, you are paying $260 for the "free" use of the kids club. At $6 an hour for Flounders, your 2 year old could spend over 40 hours in Flounders during the cruise and you still wouldn't pay as much as you would for a 3 year old who can use the club for "free".

If you are in something other than a Cat 12 during low season, the difference is even more dramatic.

Now, of course, this ignores the issue of Flounders' limited space, but I don't think that I will consider the cost to be a determining factor for the amount of time our 2 year old will spend there during our cruise.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have posted this before, but it gives you something to consider when thinking about the "extra charge" for Flounders:

According to the DCL brochure that I have (which may be a bit out-of-date, but should be close), the cost to take a child under 3 on the 7 day cruise is $139.
The cost to take a 3 year old is $399-$1399 (I assume that the difference is based on stateroom category and season).

Let's assume that you are in a Cat 12 duing low season, and you paid $399 for your 3 year old. That is $260 more than the 2 year old. This means that, in essence, you are paying $260 for the "free" use of the kids club. At $6 an hour for Flounders, your 2 year old could spend over 40 hours in Flounders during the cruise and you still wouldn't pay as much as you would for a 3 year old who can use the club for "free".

If you are in something other than a Cat 12 during low season, the difference is even more dramatic.

Now, of course, this ignores the issue of Flounders' limited space, but I don't think that I will consider the cost to be a determining factor for the amount of time our 2 year old will spend there during our cruise.

That is a good point, thanks for posting that. Ok, so really my biggest reason not to take a baby is the can't bring them in the pool. Anyone with thoughts on this? Did this cause a problem for anyone? Did you feel bad not letting non potty kids not use the pools? Did you just put the child in Flounders while the rest of the family swimmed? I guess there isn't a problem with cast away Cay so that is good.

You are making me rethink this whole thing. DH won't be happy, now I am going to start bugging him about going BEFORE 2007, and he thought he was safe!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Just one more cruiser here who wants to commend you and DH for wanting to take your baby with you.

 

[jweiss]

RickW....I will be looking forward to any ideas/pointers you can offer after your 14 day cruise......maybe extra things we should bring that we wouldn't have needed for the 7 day, etc.

I agree with the lowering the expectations thing. Last year cruising with a 6 month old was very different than the year before......BUT, even just hanging out on the Magic (watching the toddlers toddle around) is far better than just hanging out at home!!!!!!

And, BTW, I think swim diapers are allowed in the Mickey ear of the Mickey pool.....aren't they????

~Jennifer

 

[icartjetta]

Having a DD 16 a DS 9 and a DD1 I have to say that the only one who won't be complaining of anything will be the 1 year old. The older kids are staying home because of school and to be quite honest, I'm looking forward to just having the little one. She doesn't say much, just goes with the flow.

 

[HookedonMagic]

Yes, toddlers can "swim" in one ear of the Mickey Pool with a swim diaper (Of course there is always one parent who doesn't think the rules apply to them...they put their toddlers in with no diaper...yuck...it seems like that ear is closed for cleaning at least once a day due to "accidents." Yikes!)

 

[disneyboard]

I am taking my DS on a 7 day cruise in March; he will turn 2 during the cruise. I have been on several cruises, but this will be DS first cruise.

DS has taken several week-long resort vacations with us, and other shorter and longer international trips. We have always had a good time. The key is to go with DS's flow. We do try to keep his routine (naps,meals) as consistent as possible, but we are very, very flexible. We pretty much work around his schedule. We are much more relaxed when DS is in a good mood.

So, DH and I have setup realistic expectations for our cruise. The ship will be a new environment for DS so we expect that he might act a bit out of character during the first couple of days. We are planning to sign him up at Flounders for a few hours, but if he doesn't want to stay, we will not be upset. We might not be able to stay to watch all the shows, so we will take turns at keeping an eye on DS while the shows are going on. We will nap while he naps, or one of us will nap while the other is outside. You get the picture. These are all things that we parents do all the time, even at home. But, as others have pointed out, at least in a cruise we are not cooking, cleaning, driving around, on the phone, etc., so we are much more relaxed.

I will take cruising with my DS over staying at home any time. So, take your children on the cruise, just be realistic, flexible, and relax!!