Transatlantic & traveling with kids

[kb02]

My husband and I are looking into doing the western transatlantic next year with our 2 & 3 year olds (they'll be 3 and 4 for the cruise). I'm finding the logistics of getting to and from the airport/hotel/port etc. to be tricky.

For those that have done an overseas cruise with a little one - how did you do it? did you bring car seats? Do they have them available in taxis or are busses and shuttles a popular method of transportation? Looks like we'll be flying into Barcelona if that makes a difference.

 

[MunFam]

We did not do a transatlantic cruise, but we have traveled extensively internationally with our DD since she was just under a year old.

We use public transportation as much as possible...trains, subways, etc are our preferred method. If it is not an option, we have used a car service (with carseat provided), used a shuttle transfer (no carseat needed) and on two occasions, did as the locals and just strapped DD in to the regular car seatbelt in the taxi.

When we rent a car, which is rare, we rent a carseat from the rental agency.

Our fancy stroller is left home and we take a cheap umbrella stroller.

 

[Snyders22000]

We did the DCL Iceland/Norway with our 7,5,3 year olds last summer. We mostly used public transportation in Copenhagen and London (trains, bus, etc.) For one excursion in Iceland and for our transportation between Dover/London and London to Heathrow airport, we booked private transportation and arranged to have a car seat provided. Try to pack as light as possible and plan to wash clothes onboard the ship. You don't want to be lugging a bunch of suitcases plus keeping up with the kids on public transportation- trust me, we learned this lesson, lol. Less is definitely better!

 

[lspst8]

Look at the Ride Safe Travel Vest. It is approved for kids 3+ and is so much easier than hauling a car seat around. We have one, and it is great for traveling.

 

[cruiser21]

My husband and I are looking into doing the western transatlantic next year with our 2 & 3 year olds (they'll be 3 and 4 for the cruise). I'm finding the logistics of getting to and from the airport/hotel/port etc. to be tricky.

For those that have done an overseas cruise with a little one - how did you do it? did you bring car seats? Do they have them available in taxis or are busses and shuttles a popular method of transportation? Looks like we'll be flying into Barcelona if that makes a difference.

Are you sure it's going to be leaving from Barcelona. It may depart out of Dover next year.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Didn't need car seats, just booster the first time we did the WBTA as my youngest was 4. Upon arrival in Barcelona the night before the cruise, I stayed at a hotel near the airport, took a hotel shuttle and just did without. Day of cruise we used Barcelona Day Tours to give us both a half day (morning) tour of Barcelona and simultaneous transport to the port. IIRC they provided a booster (and a car seat for the young child of our fellow tourists).

What I can't recall is how we got home from PC. I think we may have used WDW bus to MCO and then flew home. Not sure what I did though, which is driving me crazy!

 

[Sarah O.]

My husband and I are looking into doing the western transatlantic next year with our 2 & 3 year olds (they'll be 3 and 4 for the cruise). I'm finding the logistics of getting to and from the airport/hotel/port etc. to be tricky.

For those that have done an overseas cruise with a little one - how did you do it? did you bring car seats? Do they have them available in taxis or are busses and shuttles a popular method of transportation? Looks like we'll be flying into Barcelona if that makes a difference.

We are booked on this year's WBTA with a 2 and 4 year old and have done overseas trips with them before (will be first overseas cruise). There's no need for carseats for us. We don't feel the need for carseats on planes, and use public transport for the rest (assuming it will be a taxi just from our hotel to port, and no carseat is required). We find public transport with the kiddos to be easy and fun - they LOVE the subways and trams in bigger cities!

 

[darnheather]

European car seat standards are different from those in the states. If you plan to rent a car you should be able to rent seats as well. As others have mentioned public transportation and hotel shuttles do not require car seats.