What is the youngest age to take a child?

[Tigger1]

Wondering at what at to take children on a cruise. Is their a care center for toddlers?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wondering at what at to take children on a cruise. Is their a care center for toddlers?

Depending on the itinerary, on DCL, the minimum age for most cruises is 6 months.

For Hawaii, Transatlantic, South Pacific and Panama Canal minimum age is 1 year.

The nursery is for up through age 3.

 

[Girl of the South]

And there IS a charge. I Googled and it said $4.50 per 1/2 hour but I'm not sure how accurate that is - depending on when you plan to sail.

 

[Cfabar1]

And there IS a charge. I Googled and it said $4.50 per 1/2 hour but I'm not sure how accurate that is - depending on when you plan to sail.

I think it is a little higher than that, but still reasonable. Maybe $6 per half hour? Can't remember.

 

[Mommb]

Disney Cruise Line ships have a nursery area for kids through 3 years old: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/its-a-small-world-childrens-nursery/

Spots need to be reserved in advance (though walk-ins may be available if there's space) and there is a fee. The latest reports I've seen say $9 per hour for the first child and $8 per hour for the second child, but I'm not sure if that's the current rate.

Once kids are 3 years old and toilet trained, they can go to the Oceaneer Club with no reservations needed and no additional cost.

There aren't a lot of onboard activities explicitly designed for very young children, but there are some. Most cruises have a "diaper dash" race for crawling babies. In the past I've seen Toddler Play Time in some lounges. Toddlers are welcome at character meets and shows in dining rooms, in theaters, and on the upper deck.

 

[SnowWhite2]

There are very few supplies on board so you will have to bring your own diapers, wipes, formula, etc. You can get a bottle warmer from your room steward along with a diaper genie and pack n play. Also bring any OTC medicine you may need.

Also, kids not potty trained cannot swim in the pools, even with a swim diaper. It is a maritime law. There is a splash pad for the diapered kids to use.

 

[Dug720]

And swim diapers are NOT allowed in the pool so until the tyke is toilet trained, no pools. Not sure about the splash pad area - maybe someone who has kids can answer that. But I know the no swim diapers is hard and fast.

 

[bakofarmgirl]

6 months on most, ive taken my 1 yr old and he had the best time

 

[Cfabar1]

we've done it several times and it always went great!

 

[dreamer17555]

And swim diapers are NOT allowed in the pool so until the tyke is toilet trained, no pools. Not sure about the splash pad area - maybe someone who has kids can answer that. But I know the no swim diapers is hard and fast.

Splashpad allows swim diapers. Pools are no swim diapers and they are supposed to be 3+ years old.

 

[tvguy]

Just depends what you are looking for in a cruise. We took our kids on four cruises, one on Disney.
Our cruises became our time to be around our kids 24 hours a day for a week. We checked the "mom and dad" hats at the gangway and were their friends for a week. So kids clubs and child care were never a consideration. Our kids were 11 and 15 on their first cruise, and that was about the right age. In our case, up until then, all our vacations were trips across the country to visit Great-Grandparents, Grandparents and other family. Our jobs never gave more than four weeks a year off, and we just didn't have enough vacation time available to consider other vacations. Only after the Great-Grandparents passed away did we have an extra week available for vacations.

 

[CamColt]

Our kids were 8 months and 3 1/2 yo on our first Disney cruise. It was just a 3 night (land/sea package) and we did not use the nursery. We did however have extended family with us, and left the kids with them for an hour 1 day while we did a spa treatment. It went well, and honestly, the 8 month old was easier than the 3 YO.

 

[Cfabar1]

Our kids were 8 months and 3 1/2 yo on our first Disney cruise. It was just a 3 night (land/sea package) and we did not use the nursery. We did however have extended family with us, and left the kids with them for an hour 1 day while we did a spa treatment. It went well, and honestly, the 8 month old was easier than the 3 YO.

I have no doubt that the 8 month old was easier given the way cruise activities go....

 

[radev104]

6 months or a year depending on the cruise. We are taking our 9-month-old in May 2026 for his first cruise. We already agreed to use Small World Nursery if we all want to do an adult only activity. I don't know how much its going to be but for us its worth it. And we'll have both sets of grandparents on board if mom and dad want to get away for a little (they will be more than happy to watch him since he will be the first grandchild). He'll be able to enjoy characters, meals and the splashpad. This will be the first cruise we go on with a child so we are looking forward to all the new things that includes. We added a travel stroller and a travel pack and play to take with us (we'll be doing other travel with it as well) on our registry and will be requesting a diaper genie when we get on board. I'm hoping I can get him to crawl before the cruise to do the Diaper Dash. He's not even born yet and the grandparents have already planned pirates night and many other activities.

 

[Girl of the South]

Is my math screwed up or is the 9th month old not even born yet?

 

[lanejudy]

Is my math screwed up or is the 9th month old not even born yet?

Probably an Aug 2025 due date.

 

[Girl of the South]

Oh, I see that now at the end of the post. Great that he has his first year all planned out! Meanwhile I am just working on getting through today. . .