will it be fun or complicated with 3y/o

[diselderm]

I just started considering a cruise today and have been reading through lots of threads here. My dd will be a young 3 and I don't know if she'll want to be left with the kids' club activities. Do you have to drop them off all day or can you pick and choose activities for them from the navigators?

Also, it's sounding a little intimidating having to rush to the right location to get seating at Palo or a reservation for a spa treatment. Where else will a young child not be able to join us (other than most of the excursions)?

I usually like to plan my trips, but could we just show up and not reserve anything and still do OK? If my dd won't leave our sides (and I don't really want to be apart for too much time) will we still enjoy what there is to offer?

I just read that non-potty trained children can only be in one ear of the mickey pool (how big is that?). I feel sure that dd will be fine for that by cruise time, but what other little restrictions are there for young children?

 

[CM_Mom]

You will love the cruise, just set your expectations appropriately. Once you register your child in the club ( included in the cost of your cruise) they give you a pager and you can check them in and out as you wish. If your child gets upset and they can't distract them, they will page you.

I believe that kcashner, another poster, recommends that you require your child to choose ONE activity to participate in each day. The child gets to choose the activity after looking at the Navigators and more is fine but they must do ONE. That sound very sensible to me. If you're going out to dinner at home, you don't change your plans because your little one doesn't want to stay with a sitter.

Besides the activities in the Clubs are really fun. They also have kid sized toilets and kid sized sinks with "auto on" faucets that the kids love.

There are adult only activities and areas of the ship but the Navigator clearly shows what's what and there are lots of family activities.

Check out www.dcltribute.com/navigators

 

[tammyh]

We will be leaving tomorrow for the 9/11 7 day cruise with our 2 year 11 month b/g twins from California.
- Non potty trained
- Attend day care 5 days/week since 10 months

I could fill you in after. Just PM if you'd like to keep in touch.
Tracy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You and your DH could split up a bit - to make the ressies and at other times on the cruise. Your DD most likely will want to be in the Mickey Pool most of the time. One person can stay with her while the other takes advantage of onboard activities such as spa treatments, wine tasting or just napping in your stateroom. You might consider a verandah room even though they're pricey because you could sit out there while she sleeps/naps. If she does go in the club you can enjoy some time in the adult areas. We have regretted booking excursions anyway. There is so much to do on the ship and running around makes it stressful. Don't worry, you won't be bored! You'll be booking another to try to do some of the things you didn't have time to do like the rest of us!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

My DD's were 3 and 5 on our last cruise and we had no intention of leaving them in the kids club our first evening but they begged us to take them there!

They loved it there. There is so much for them to do, you may be surprised.

I almost didn't know what to do with myself without them!

 

[mickeyboat]

I think the Mickey ear will not be a lot of fun for a non-potty-trained 3 year old. It is pretty small and geared toward smaller kids. It will be hard to explain to your dd that she can't go into the big pool.

Also keep in mind that to use the club your child must also be potty-trained.

My three and 1/2 year old did fairly well in the club. She and her 4 year old sister did not want to be left alone there at first. So we spent a lot of time in there watching them. We made them stay alone while we were at Palo, and when we came back, they didn't want to leave.

Our children were with us a lot while we were on our cruise. And we enjoyed it. Some things we encountered:

Our three year old was still in need of an afternoon nap. One of us would stay with her while she slept. She fought the nap every step of the way so we sometimes had to fool her into going to sleep - going back to the cabin for a "little rest" because Daddy was tired. You may want to consider a verandah so you can relax outside while your little one sleeps.

We also took them to a couple of matinee shows, where they promptly fell asleep.

We weren't able to enjoy the night life at all because it was a struggle to keep them up past 9:00. They were exhausted after busy days.

Both kid were afraid of the characters at first. But they soon got the hang of it and didn't mind waiting in line for appearances.

Have a great time and good luck!

Denae

 

[lbgraves]

We cruised for the first time with a 3 & 5 yo. I knew that my 5 yo DS would love the club but didn't expect my just PTd 3 yo DD to stay very much. She had the big attachment thing going on then. We went on the cruise expecting to NOT be able to go to Palo or the adult pool or any excursions. That was going to be fine with us and if we did manage to do anything it would be a bonus. The kids napped in the cabin or the movie theater every day. I did manage to get time alone at the adult pool one day and at a wine & cheese with the lady DISers on our cruise. The ladies even met for high tea at Palo one day!!! DD went to the club one morning with DS & me and then went that evening. She didn't want to leave when I took her during dinner, had a great time, but never wanted to go back. DH & I had the most relaxing vacation EVER!!! DD enjoyed all the extra attention while DS was in the club and they both talk about Mickey's boat every day.

As long as you go with no expectations and go with the flow, letting your 3 yo decide what she is comfortable with, you will have a FANTASTIC cruise.

 

[diselderm]

Thanks for all your advice. We went to WDW this summer with, I think, appropriately low expectations with a 2 year old, and we had a great time. So it sounds like the cruise could be good as well.

Would you think a room with the navigator's verandah would be more safe than a regular verandah. I'm sure the ship is made where people/children can't fall or climb off very easily, but I've never been on one before and am paranoid with a headstrong small child.

Thanks again!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We sailed last week with two *very active* 6 yr olds. The only danger was them climbing on chairs toward the railing. One on one supervision essential at all times. Won't matter whether it's a NV or regular verandah other than perhaps she can't see over metal wall with NV (but neither can you).

 

[diselderm]

That's good to know about the navigator's verandah. Makes me a little nervous to think they could climb on a chair and have the potential to get over the rail, but obviously lots of children go and I'm sure that's never happened before.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by diselderm
I just read that non-potty trained children can only be in one ear of the mickey pool (how big is that?). I feel sure that dd will be fine for that by cruise time, but what other little restrictions are there for young children?

Just so you know, if she is not potty trained, she can't stay at the Oceaneer's Club by herself -- she'll have to go to Flounder's.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

We did a 4 day with our then 2.5 year old, and we all had a blast. We only left her at Flounder's for 2 hours one day, and did things together the rest of the time.

 

[CACruiser2004]

Since this thread is full of toddler parents...

I am cruising on the 18th for the first time. Our DD is 2 years old. She do not like walking long distances. Do you bring strollers with you? I know that I will want something for shore excursions/shopping and airport transportation. Like most 2 year olds, she thinks that it is a fun game to run away from me at warp speed.
I have an umbrella stroller that is nice because it folds up for small staterooms, but is the ship stroller friendly?
I also have a Kelty Kid back carrier for hiking and I am wondering if that would be better.

We leave in less than a week!:thewave:

 

[lbgraves]

We had a cat 8 and IMO it was perfect for the kids! They were both able to sit in the porthole & they loved playing with their cars letting them go a little high up & watching them roll back & forth on their own. LOL! DD also liked to climb up in the porthole with her teddy bear when we were getting ready for dinner or changing during the day. It kept her occupied but we didn't need to worry about safety.

We used an umbrella stroller & it was easy enough for us to use it on the ship the few times we did. We just walked around the port for an hour at most with the kids & DD definantly needed it.

 

[diselderm]

I didn't realize the portholes were so big--I think I would like that better and feel safer than with a verandah. Really like the cute photo of your children, lbgraves!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

We took our twins on DCL for their 3rd birthdays. DD is outgoing and did stay in the kids clubs for a few activities, but DS is shyer and refused to stay-I'm a stay at home mom and our kids had only been with us or their grandparents up til then.

I think you have to consider your childs personality. If she's not used to being left with strangers, then you may have a problem with her staying in the club. Also, the club CM aren't allowed to help the children with clothing or using the bathroom in any way.

With that being said we still had a great time and ended up doing 3 cruises in 16 months. After my kids started preschool, we didn't have any problems with them wanting to stay in the clubs, they would cry when we could come to get them!

 

[lbgraves]

Originally posted by diselderm
I didn't realize the portholes were so big--I think I would like that better and feel safer than with a verandah. Really like the cute photo of your children, lbgraves!

Thanks. I got the idea from someone else who has pictures of their children in their sig line. Leave the flash off so that you get the siloette effect.

That is actually a porthole outside of Parrot Cay on Deck 3 I think it is. The porthole in the room wasn't quite that big but I will try to post a picture of them in our room to show you.