To stroller or not?

[jne7043]

We are taking our first family cruise in September, just 4 nights. Our youngest will be 4 in November. I have no idea if we should bring a stroller. At WDW she definitely uses a stroller, but at Target or family walks she usually does not. At Nassau we will be taking a taxi to Atlantis and would not be using it. We've stayed with our kids at Atlantis several times and the water park area has lots of steps to get to and minimal if any ramps/elevators. We would not use it at Castaway Cay either. So, really my question is would there be any reason to bring one to get around the ship?

 

[anricat]

In my opinion, no, you don't need it. We had a stroller with us our first cruise, primarily because we were doing WDW after, but we never used it on the cruise.

Also, if you find you need something at CC, there are strollers and wagons there that you can use if little feet end up getting tired.

 

[Quellman]

You won't really use it on the cruise for a 4 year old, we didn't with a 2.5 year old. There are free jogging strollers and wagons for use at two tram stops on the island. The ones near scuttles cove and pelican point. The serenity bay doesn't have any for obvious reasons and none are found at the tram stop by the ship.

 

[ladypiph]

On our first cruise my DS just turned 3 and we brought along an umbrella stroller (fits under bed perfectly) and used it mainly for naps, so that we wouldn't be stuck in the room or stuck carrying him around, as well as during dinner we had second seating and he would always fall asleep. At CC we just grabbed one of the complimentary, first come, first served strollers as well. Just around the ship he did not need it, I left the stroller on the ship while at Atlantis and wish I brought it, because there is a lot of walking involved. Hope this helps.

 

[Imedley200]

It might be helpful for embark/debark. Other than that you'll probably end up just storing it under the bed.

 

[hamm1207]

My daughter will be turning one on our cruise....should I bring a stroller or just a carrier?

 

[Mandlz]

My daughter will be turning one on our cruise....should I bring a stroller or just a carrier?

I'd bring a stroller for one that young. We've brought one every time we've gone, and my daughter is 3 now. I'd rather have it and not use it than not have it and need it. The umbrella strollers fit just fine under the bed, and are actually useful when carrying things like duffels if your little ones want to walk.

 

[Quellman]

My daughter will be turning one on our cruise....should I bring a stroller or just a carrier?

The earliest we cruised was when our tot was 14 months and he had almost 2 months of walking. We used a carrier to deliver Fish Extender gifts and any other time. Otherwise we would either walk slowly of just trade off carrying.

 

[hmwinter85]

We brought an umbrella stroller for DS 23 months on our cruise in Jan. Our main reason for bringing it is that DS uses it kind of like a security blanket when in new places. It was nice to have that first day while he was getting use to the ship. Once the rooms opened he had settled in and we were able to leave it in the room. We did use once or twice throughout the cruise to help DS nap when he was just so over stimulated and in full on melt down mode. If we were using it purely as a mode of transportation and not to help DS cope with a new environmental I'm not sure I would have brought it.

 

[Jess_S]

If it's just for the ship, my vote is no. We use the stroller for naps while walking around in port, which isn't a concern for you. My son won't fall asleep in his stroller while out and about on the ship. There's too much kid-friendly stuff to look at, so we have no choice but to put him down for bed and naps in the room. (The only possible use I can see on the ship is if your daughter falls asleep in the room and you want to transfer her to the stroller so that the rest of the family can be out and about).

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Are you flying in? If you are, I would bring an umbrella stroller and store it in your stateroom during the cruise. It really comes in handy in the airport in my opinion!

 

[Raptor83]

We took a small umbrella stroller for our 22 month old (at the time) in October. It was nice in the airports there/back, for embarkation/debarkation, and when we went shopping in the ports. We didn't use it at all on the ship, but it was easily stored.

 

[Jsoenning]

We used ours last fall for our 2 year 4 month old and was mainly for embark / disembark.

 

[c todd]

Took my 3 year old in March. Debated whether to take it or not and then decided against. The only place we could have used it is at the airport - we stayed at the MCO Hyatt and the walk from baggage claim to hotel was far and then the walk to the bus in the morning was further. There was never a time other than that I wished I had brought it. We would have never used it on the ship or any of the ports. If I was doing it again, I would still not bring it even with the airport walk.

 

[hnthomps]

We were on a 7 day in March with a 2 and 4 year old. Did not bring a stroller. Only wished we'd had one for the 2 year old walking from our hotel at MCO to the bus...just like the poster right above. Never even considered it for the 4 year old, and it certainly wasn't even close to necessary for him at any point -- airport/boat/excursions/whatever.

 

[Captainkate]

I did bring a stroller when our daughter was 4. It was so useful for carrying her and the bags! It stored easily under the bed.

 

[FindMeAFishingSpot]

Brought an umbrella stroller when DS was 4. It was handy at the airport and at ports of call. I was very glad we had it and it stored easily under the bed.

 

[hamm1207]

thanks for the thoughts! We still have a few months to go, so we'll play it by ear and see once we get closer. Right now she loves the carrier, so we may end up just using that and the wagons at CC.

 

[jne7043]

Thanks everyone, very helpful! We are driving and we could get some extra space in the car by not bringing the stroller.

 

[schmass]

We just got off the Fantasy and have a 3 year old and 9 month old. Other than Castaway Cay, we didn't use the stroller at all on the ship, only for embarking/disembarking. I was actually surprised at how many strollers I saw up at Cabanas, etc. It was much more convenient for us to carry or have the baby in the Ergo and let the 3 year old walk.