Returned when they were 8 and 10. Husband and I went on 2 but didn’t bring the kid/kids.
Just depends what works for you. Not sure I’d bring my child under 1 though. I think pumping and storing milk would be a pain on the ship.
Oh gosh we couldn’t wait til 8 years old!! Haha. Hubby and I would consider just us two going but little one would also need to be old enough to happily stay with family. Thanks!
Doesn’t help I was a SAHM and we were broke when they were little. lol.
Really it’s whatever age you think you can handle it at. Two is a lot different than one.
My sis and I went on our first cruise with our parents when she was about five and I was about nine. My grandma came too and we stayed in the cabin with her while my parents had their own cabin. Maybe bringing a family member is an option for you too so you have an extra set of eyes and hands for the baby.
I don’t understand this comment - needs to be old enough to be left with family, but you’ll bring them on a cruise and leave them with strangers? Or, alternative isn’t much better, bring them with you to all activities and meals?
I mean all the power to you, but I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less than cart a baby around with me on a cruise ship. And I doubt the baby will be thrilled either. Youngest I’d do is 6, and even then I would be looking at DCL to keep them entertained.
Why would you need to leave the kid with strangers? I live in the city, and frequent a local regular bar, and people bring their babies all the time. What are you doing on a cruise ship you couldn't bring your baby to?
Adults only dinner? Hot tub? Beach? Bar? These are all places I would not want to go with a baby. If you’re taking a baby to a bar you need to reassess your priorities in life
You're being way too judgmental and parochial, and quite frankly, most of the world does not share those values. It is super common in big cities, in Europe, etc., to bring babies along wherever the parents are going, and yes that includes nights out at dinner and bars.
Most babies aren't screeching constantly. If they are, then yeah, probably not suitable for that environment. But you seem to have a very biased take on what babies are like.
Remember that you too were once a baby, and you might easily not exist if society had been structured to be as anti-baby back when your parents would have you as some people (including possibly yourself) would like to make it now. "Parents just can't ever go anywhere to do anything" is absolutely not an acceptable status quo to have.
There’s a time and place. I.e. family restaurants,
Not a 21 and over bar or a fancy restaurant. People go to specific places to avoid kids. There are plenty of kid centric places. People deserve to avoid kids at some adult venues.
And I never said they’re screeching constantly. But all it takes is one moment to ruin the mood for everyone else.
Not a personal experience, but good friends of mine took their 9 month old twins on a weeklong cruise a couple years ago and they HATED it. They are experienced cruisers (two or three per year), and when they came back, they basically just said "never again." Wrangling all the gear was a pain, the babies struggled to settle into a new space even when they tried to keep them on a schedule, and they had a hard time sleeping with the strange noises that come with a ship. They also dealt with a high number of people who wanted to touch the babies, which they weren't comfortable with, because of the increased risk of sickness that can travel through a cruise ship. They ended up waiting until their kids were about three before trying again, and I think they travelled with grandparents for the first one. They've since gone just the four of them, and it's gone alright, but it's certainly a very different experience than just going on their own. A balcony is apparently super helpful - you can put the kiddo down to sleep and then step outside with a drink and relax while they fall asleep without disruption.
I've seen so many people cruising with infants over the years & one main thing sticks out with all of them....they all look dead ass exhausted. The amount of equipment they have to lug around all week & trying to keep baby happy in unusual conditions with so many people & so little space for so many days while also trying to enjoy the vacation themselves just wears on them & doesn't look fun.
It especially doesn't sound fun being crammed into a stateroom with all baby's large items, toys, extra food, etc. etc. And where are they washing bottles & warming food & such? I don't know but it just sounds like a lot of complicated moving parts that are not conducive to cruising. I'm sure there are work-arounds to any issues or needs but a cruise ship just seems especially more difficult given the sheer number of people & space restrictions.
We didn’t cruise with our youngest until he was two and we brought our moms with us. But he was fine. He was too young for the kids club by himself but we brought him to the kids programming accompanied by us. I would pick a cruise that a has a splash pad that allows swim diapers because they can’t go in the pool if they aren’t potty trained. But if there’s a splash pad they’ll be perfectly happy. I brought a lightweight easily foldable stroller.
I exclusively breast fed so I never had an issue or needed any equipment. Most parents go wayy to far with the crap they haul around. Seriously peoples your room is 100 feet away.
At 6 mo many kiddos are staring to eat really simple foods which the boat has, which is why I always recommend parents get a balcony in a very nice location like lido deck so they have access to the buffet STAT! :)
We waited until 3 years because we didn’t have to take baby stuff. No diapers, no special food, no toys, no naps! Just quiet time. He loved the kids club and we did beach excursions mostly until he was old enough to participate in other excursions.
We live in a state that is very close to the beaches and the mountains so those first years we took local vacations we could drive to and stayed at resorts or mountain cabins. We still felt like we had a vacation.
Since then we cruised every year and he is now an adult who loves cruising.
Omg we took the kids when our youngest was two. Packed double the diapers we thought we’d need and almost ran out. They had run out at the shop and suggested we ask at the kids club. Nope. Thankfully didn’t run out but were hitting the Walgreens as soon as we got off the ship. I think we had two left. Never had to decide if we’d do that again because that cruise was Thanksgiving 2019……..
My son didn’t get on a cruise boat till he was six. We waited to do any kind of real vacation until he was four. (Beaches, family resort in Turks and Caicos) I felt at that point he would be old enough to be part of the kid group offered and I would feel OK leaving him with strangers.
Check with your cruise line. Each has its own age requirement. Also, some count a baby as a passenger when charging you. We ran into this issue with Princess I believe when planning a large family cruise.
Why should it suck? They take every bit of the same amount of cruise resources in terms of cleaning, staffing, laundry, and everything else, if not more frankly.
One thing I have to say is, you will hear a lot of people here telling you leave your kids at home. It's really your choice, is this vacation for you to take a break or for you to build some family memory to remember in the future. If it's for you to relax and enjoy adult time, then yea, please leave the baby at home. They will destroy your vacation.
But if you want to take the baby to build up family bonding time and memories here are me experience:
1. we didn't take ours until he's 2.5 year old. because we didn't want to deal with diapers.
2. He start to eat like us, regular food, no need to pack special food, or formula anymore
3. You can't do anything in water with diaper for all cruise lines
4. most cruise lines kids club min age is 3, except Carnival, Carnival camp ocean takes 2 year old, but good luck with that. Ours did not want to stay there without us. I think he stayed 45 min at longest stretch lol. But when he went back at age of 4 he loved it.
5. Pack a lot of positive energy. Remember who is this trip is for, it's for the family. you will spend 90% of the time with the young kids. To us, that's what we wanted to do, but I can see why people bashing the idea of taking young kids to cruise. For example, kids age 2-5 is actually very easy to be entertained. They can just push big shuffle board pieces on lido deck for hours on end. To them, it's amazing fun, for you, you will just have to stay there with them until they are done. for 5-7 year old (can't speak for anyone older than 7, since our oldest is 7) they have a lot more energy, almost like ADHD they will want to run around try everything, best bet is take them to kids club, at least mine loves it.
6. Again, just stay positive, have the right mindset, at the end of the day its family bonding time and you don't have to clean and cook for 7 days.
All babies are different, I would wait until you have an idea of how easy your child will be to travel with. If you have a colicky baby, your entire trip would be miserable—and you’d definitely make others around you not enjoy themselves.
If you luck out with an easy baby, you may be cruising by 6 months :) My kiddo was the latter and I wish we could’ve afforded some cruises! But my sister, everyone of her babies had colic and she spent the first year of their lives; rocking, walking, patting, driving and shushing.
This is a good thought. It’s so easy to just book a last minute cruise if you are anywhere near a port and they can be sooo much cheaper. I live on vacations to gos 90 day ticker
Thankyou! And realistically we will wait til we know baby well and like you said how easy or difficult they may be to bring with us, but very curious what others have done!
I took my 8m old on a cruise in 2019. It was great. She was a great baby (my second) and we were introducing solids to her in addition to breastfeeding.
The only things we really had to consider was the plan with giving her solid food. To us, we just waiting 7 days longer for any new foods until when we got back to avoid any reactions while on the ship. She was breastfed , so it was easy to bring her and just give her fruit or basic food we knew she could handle.
Additionally she napped on the go, and we had a stroller. So consider how much room that will take up in the cabin.
Finally, get a balcony. When your kids are sleeping, you and your partner can sit on the deck and enjoy some drinks while they have quiet.
Since you’re a first time parent- I would wait until you’ve got the hang of things before booking. I’m not sure I’d be so easy going about it with my first child. Every experience in the first year is unpredictable. You’ll know when you’re ready!
This this this! Cruiser since both my kids were around the same age. This is absolutely the way to go. Specifically balcony on Lido to be close to buffet.
For cruising in Australia, the age limit is generally 6 months for short cruises, and 1 year for longer cruises/cruises with 2 or more sea days in a row.
We took our little one on a Disney cruise when they were about 2. I called and spoke to someone and they were able to have a diaper genie, portable crib, and bottle warmer in the room when we arrived and offered a sterilizer if we were interested too.
Their rooms have small tubs which were perfect as well.
Overall it was a great experience and we would do it again in a minute.
They also had a nursery for $7 an hour that provided care, we put the little one in for a few hours every day at midday so we could have some quiet time by the pool, grab a drink, and have lunch. They go to daycare so they were right at home and it was a nice change of pace.
Overall I’m not sure how it would have gone on a different cruise line, so my recommendation is to do your research and make sure you’re picking a family friendly cruise that knows how to handle babies.
Correction: those things are available on DISNEY.
Disney cruises are crazy expensive, and are specifically geared to kids and families. You're not going to find anywhere near that level of equipment or service on ANY other cruise line.
That’s a great point, I’ve done several cruises pre kids but only one with a kid. I did look into nursery options for one Norwegian cruise we were thinking about but there are basically no activities at all on NCL for children under 3 or in diapers.
Yes, there are mainstream cruise lines, premium cruise lines, and luxury cruise lines.
Disney is a premium cruise line, and is the only one geared towards kids. You're going to pay a boatload of money, but you're going to have an experience with unbeatable service and everything you need for a kid friendly holiday.
Every other premium cruise line is going to be geared towards adults, and most of the luxury cruise lines don't even permit kids on board.
Disney occupies a completely unique space in the Cruising market. Do not think you're going to get the same experience on any other cruise line, even if you pay the same amount of money.
3 years old was perfect for us. They were excited to go, we're able to to kids club and we're willing to try new foods. I don't think I'd want to take a younger kid
We're hoping to cruise next year with 3-year-olds who hopefully will be toilet trained so they can go in the pool. However, I've cruised to the Med, Asia and the Caribbean and seen people with younger children. The youngest we met, on the Asian cruise, was 10 months old.
6 months and 5 days old. So easy to travel with at that age. She sat under our table at the lounges and played with spoons or other small toys I brought. She napped in her stroller while we were out and about. Highly recommend that age if you're looking to get back to cruising.
Now, once they're a bit older and running around it can get more rough. We've not done a cruise since she's been walking, but our other big trips definitely need some planned free time for her to run around and play instead of being in the stroller or carried all the time.
ETA: we brought our own travel pack and play (guava lotus), but the cruise line had one we could use as well. we also ordered some baby food to be delivered to the room so we could make sure we had extra. for diapers and wipes we stopped in a local grocery store to pick up the brand we wanted.
Also, at first we were charged for the baby as a full price passenger. We called the cruise line and they said since she was under 2 she would be free, so we got a refund. Worth calling the cruise line once you book to make sure they're counting the baby correctly.
Another also: if you're going to be cutting it close on birth date wait to book. We wanted to do the cruise previous to the one we did, but she was 2 days too young. They will let you change the birth date of the baby once you have them though, so that's nice.
Thankyou!! Appreciate this. Realistically we won’t book until we’ve gotten to know babies personality and got a better idea of how they’ll cope but appreciate hearing your experience!
My wife and I cruised at least twice per year up until we had a family. Between covid and young children, we haven't been on a cruise since 2018, and finally booked one for next year. Our kids will be 7 and 5 when we cruise next year. We chose to wait until they were potty trained, for multiple reasons. No diapers to haul around, able to use the pools and waterpark areas, less reliant on naps, more independent for food choices.
For our first we waited till she was potty trained, so 2, but then Covid hit and we didn’t end up going until our next was also potty trained, 20 months, our third we got the hang of this baby thing and it was easy peasy to take a 6m old. I actually thought it was a great age bc he napped a lot in the carrier and still was almost exclusively breastfed with just taking some tastes of our food.
But how well your baby does is very personality dependent and I would be hesitant to take a baby as a first time parent before you know what type of baby you’re gonna get. My first and third were fine temperament wise, my second I couldn’t drive more than 5 mins without having a mental breakdown from her screaming. Cruising would have been hard
So after reading some of the other replies I will add, as a 3rd time parent I packed light for the baby. Didn’t even bring a stroller. Just the baby carrier, a few crinkle book toys, paci, diapers. I co sleep and felt confident doing that there also so no pack n play. Being a first time parent you don’t quite know yet what you’ll need or be comfortable with. I can see the packing list getting long depending on if you need formula, baby food, mini crib, stroller, etc.
so basically what I’m saying is get the hang of the baby first, get to know him/her a few months before you book anything. That’s my advice anyway
Thankyou for both your responses! Realistically we won’t book until we know baby (and our) ability to do it, but the consensus here seems to be wait til they are much older than I was thinking; which, is why I asked here. Thanks again!
I don’t have experience YET but before our son was even born (he’s 3 weeks now) we booked a Disney cruise with him this January for my husbands bday. Now, I’ll note that we are not going alone: we have my parents, my MIL, and grandfather going with us so we won’t be navigating the 5 day trip with a 7 month old all alone. I think that’ll make the trip a lot less exhausting tbh, if that’s an option, maybe invite some family. Cruising is also our favorite holiday and we couldn’t wait to bring him along because I did 3 cruises while pregnant with him!
I’ve done one cruise pregnant (Thankyou buffet for always having a plain piece of toast while I was so nauseous lol) but how awesome for you. We would also be able to bring at least one set of grandparents, if not a few more friends and family. All the best with it!!
Not sure about infants but I took my daughter on a cruise when she was 18 months old. I’m not a huge fan of cruises myself but I thought it was a great travel method with young kids as you can easily go back to your room for naps, feeding, diaper changes, etc. The port days were a little more challenging but I just took a good jogging stroller that she could easily nap in and it worked out pretty well. If you’re nervous about it, just stay close to port on those days so you can easily return to the ship early if needed. I would also recommend the balcony so you can still enjoy your evening once your child is down for the night. Happy traveling!
We were avid cruisers pre-children and went on our first after baby #1 when she was 9mos. but did not take her. We first brought the kids when they were 5 and 7. This was a good age, they were able to appreciate it, enjoy it and most of all behave and have respect for others. Nothing worse than being at the pool and here comes people with strollers and pack and plays etc etc like they are specially back home at the beach. Imo cruise ships just weren't intended to be the family vacays they have now become. There are cramped spaces and long lines sometimes and no past wants to be cramped like that getting hit with baby paraphernalia or hearing screaming kids.
This is just based on my personal experience, and I don't want anyone to think that I look on those who choose differently badly. This is just my thought process.
I would never consider an ocean cruise with an infant under 3 years of age. Little ones are just learning to live in this world and this includes them never having been exposed to a lot of illnesses.
Something that is a very mild ailment for adults can easily become life threatening for an infant or tot. While I am certain ships do their best, they simply don't have a full range of infant-sized equipment such as you'd have readily available on land. The one time I have ever seen someone air lifted by helicopter off a ship it was a child of 2 and it was because they did not have adequate equipment sized to children that small to deal with the health issue the kid had developed.
Even if it is just garden variety baby is sick with a cold, which is certainly the most likely situation, it will absolutely suck for you. Probably your neighbors on all sides and above and below you as well. And what if they experience sea sickness? Many of the most commonly helpful remedies are not safe for infants and toddlers.
I'd hate to spend all that money for a cruise just to spend the entire thing exhausted dealing with a seasick infant. I also couldn't imagine disrespecting others who have spent their hard earned money to be there, either, by doing anything other than taking the child somewhere people weren't trying to sleep any time it cried during the night. That would of course mean I wasn't getting to sleep. Maybe if I could afford one of the largest suites since then I might be able to ensure baby crying wouldn't be a problem for the neighbors.
This comment needs to be higher.
All these parents are raving about how easy their kids were and how fabulous their cruises were when their kids were tiny tots, never had anything go WRONG.
All you need are a few sea days with a teething infant, a colicky infant, or an infant that has caught a bug, to make you dive off the boat and swim to shore with that baby on your back.
My son’s first cruise was when he was 6 months old. My daughter was almost 1 with her first cruise. We used the nursery on the Disney cruise multiple times. It was great. Would definitely take a baby on a Disney cruise.
Yep Disney/ Carnival and RC (in that order) are definitely the three lines you want to look for in young (and older) family cruise vacations. After my kids first Disney they told me I was not allowed to go on another cruise line, well jokes on them the next was a 17d Hawaii on Princess. I’m usually booked 5-6 cruises out! I’m booked through 2026 at this point :x
My youngest was around 18 mos and we used the nursery on Royal. It was 10 years ago so I can’t remember specifics, but it was great and they were wonderful with him.
Facebook has a great Royal Caribbean moms at sea page that has so much info and tips!!! You don’t even have to be sailing Royal Caribbean to read some helpful info. I sailed when my LO was 8 months and again at 11 months.
Our child did their first cruise at 8 months old. They turn 3 in a few months and have been on 5 cruises. My child's overall demeanor is chill so they didn't mind sitting through dinners and shows. We made sure to take advantage of the baby/toddler play room.
Brought my child on her first cruise at age 3 because this was the min age she had to be to play in kids zone which she loved! Babies and young children will slow you down during shore excursions. If your baby cries in the middle of the night, those in neighboring cabins will also be woken. Also, do you trust leaving your baby with a stranger to babysit if you want to do something on your own? Diapers, formula, various baby necessities can be a lot to lug around. Been on 26 cruises - would recommend checking with Cunard as they have nannies onboard if you do decide to cruise. Good luck! 🍀
Mom of two 12m/14f I started with mine at 6 months old. It was soo weird walking around Lido deck with a stroller and a sleeping baby. My kiddos love cruising (my first was at age 2). Just get a good location on the ship (a balcony is a great idea) and enjoy your vacation! Be willing to stay in even though you want to go out.
One really weird fun thing is my kids are almost plat status on carnival/princess
I have not taken my son on a cruise yet, but I will when he’s potty trained.
There’s a sweet spot when traveling with babies. It’s when they’re good sleepers, with just a wake up or two at night, alert enough to people watch, but not old enough to protest sleeping in a stroller or baby carrier. I would say that sweet spot is between 4-10 months. But it totally depends on the kid’s temperament.
My baby was super portable, usually easy going as long as I didn’t leave his sight, and could eat and sleep on the go in the carrier. As a toddler, he’s a chaos gremlin that I wouldn’t foist upon a shipload of people. He’s adorable but loud, messy, and a terrible sleeper.
If you bed share, baby wear, and breastfeed, I would say cruising with a baby wouldn’t be a huge deal. Portable cribs take up a lot of room and I can’t imagine my jumbo stroller in a stateroom. Showering with babies is interesting but doable.
But wait until you see what kind of baby you have. Their temperament will impact everything. And see what kind of parents you end up being. You may surprise yourself on a number of fronts.
Congrats on the impending arrival! Best wishes on a safe delivery!
I’ve cruised with babies before. It does affect some of the things you can do, but for me the memories are worth more than the inconvenience it causes. Most require them to be 6months, although I think MSC will allow younger.
Maybe unpopular opinion, we just got back from a 13 day Scandinavian cruise on the celebrity silhouette with my 2.5 year old nephew and thought it was great. We were in a group of 9 and he came to dinner at the Main dining room all 13 nights. Some nights were obviously a little challenging and we would take turns getting him out to walk around. But the waitstaff were incredible with him.
We didn’t have an issue with any of the port days. Most days we did walking tours and he was included on those, all the tour guides had kids of their own and pointed out playgrounds and other activities. In Germany when we all took a 2 hour bus to Berlin, my mom (his grandma) stayed back and took him to a local park and out for ice cream.
He had no idea he was on a boat and loved riding the elevator and running outside. He got to go to the kids club during designated hours and the adults only pool was available for kids from 5-7 as it was too cold to use the outside pool.
My sister said the hardest part the flight to Europe but the cruise was easy. As for naps he would nap in his stroller during the day. And on sea days nap in his room.
I think it depends o the temperaments of you and your kid(s). We went back to cruising as soon as it was an option, and it’s always been a positive experience.
It’s a little more challenging with formal meals and whatnot, especially once they start walking, but it’s all manageable.
We took our son on his first cruise at 2.5-3. My parents were with us, and it was a Celebrity cruise. He had fun, and we did, too, but I also remember trying to find a place on the ship where he could RUN. And I remember temper tantrums from not enough sleep.
My husband is not big on evening stuff, so he'd stay in the room, usually on the balcony, and read or something and I go out and roam the ship with my mother. Real party animals here. :)
It can be a good trip, but it's very different.
NCL allowed 3 month olds. So I did one in December of 2000 when my son just turned 3 months. It was great but I was with 10 family members- who were more than happy to help out. I went again with him at 6 months on Celebrity with the extended family and a sitter (friend of mine) and it was great! I'd say- if it's a family trip and you have some time to yourself it can be fun. We did our next one when he was about 13 months and he was running around. It was a lot more difficult and I took a breather for a couple years. Didn't cruise again until he was almost 4 and could go to the kids club. That baby has cruised at least 25 times (3mo- 18 years old).
Worst age to cruise is when they start crawling/walking/running 9 months- 2 years. Once they are three and potty trained- so much more enjoyable.
We did an Alaska cruise with my first baby when he was just under a year old. The gear and supplies were not an issue as we were departing from our home port. However, what I didn't realize was how much more time we would be spending in our cabin with a baby. I don't know what type of cabins you normally book but I would do at least a balcony, ideally a suite if you can afford it.
We always book a balcony and generally do spend a bit of time on the balcony/resting in our cabin so “having” to spend a bit of time wouldn’t bother us. But, great to know and consider, Thankyou!
We took our 2.5 year old on a cruise. It was our first cruise. So we had no idea about anything. We have older kids too so we booked during January school holidays (Australian). What happened was the shop was so full that we were only given 6 hours of daycare access when we first arrived. We could use those 6 hours all in one hit or we could break it up. But as the cruise went on we checked in every night to see what hours weren’t taken the next day and could book in more.
We wouldn’t necessarily use the kids club/babysitting but would be nice to have the option to. Did you find overall it was a good trip at 2.5 or more effort than it was worth?
It was exhausting. But that’s life with little ones. I have older kids too so it was a constant shuffle between meeting my toddlers needs and my older children’s needs. The hours we got for baby sitting were crucial and amazing. But a holiday with a baby/toddler is the same anywhere. A cruise is no different (and maybe even better because of the built in babysitting). It’s tiring as it’s not your home. Eating in the restaurants or bistro is exhausting as it’s constant shuffling of who watches the youngest while the other one eats. You can’t enjoy the pool or spa as anyone under 3 is not allowed in. You look like a weirdo hanging out in a dark bar at midday having a drink with a baby on the hip. They crawl/walk everywhere and want to climb everything. Will they sleep the whole time in the baby carrier while you watch the evening show or is one of you pacing the top deck trying to put them down? Then you go for day trips and what food are you packing? How do you access that food and what will be ok for the whole day while out on tour. Do you take a car seat for the taxi at Vanuatu to visit the blue lagoon? Or just risk it. Are you ready to line up at 6am to get your boat transfer time so you can leave the boat at a reasonable time and not midday?
Yes okay, there’s definitely a whole heap of factors that are just made harder by travelling with little ones, especially multiples! Appreciate the insight and the time you took to reply again.
We've done a few cruises with kids... the toughest window for us was about 15months (or when they want to be walking everywhere and aren't just content hanging out in the stroller-3. We just got back with out almost 3 year old and it was tough because she was (developmentally) too big for the baby/toddler room but not old enough for the regular Adventure Ocean, too big for the toddler pool but not technically potty trained enough for the regular pool even though she loves swimming.
She did better, and it was more relaxing for us, when she was younger and more content people watching and napping in the stroller and not trying to make a break for it every time I looked away. One thing that REALLY helped us was splurging for a balcony so that during nap time or even just earlier bed time we weren't just sitting g silently in a dark room. We were able to sit out and talk, read, have a drink, etc. which made it more enjoyable for us
We waited till he was one and he took his first steps on the boat lol.
Just had to pick excursions he could do too but it was pretty easy. More prep than usual and he’s really good at meals. We had grandma along too but like, we didn’t even use royal tots on our last cruise where he was almost 2.25.
Took our daughter on a 7 night cruise at 11 months. We had a great time but we also had my parents who never leave the ship in an adjoining cabin, so we had eager babysitters for the evenings and for us to explore the ports baby free.
I was on a cruise with a baby next door. Like clockwork that baby would cry every two hours. All night. Every night. I'm not saying the baby cried for a long time, just a minute, but it woke my light sleeping husband every time and he himself turned into a cranky baby. We didn't complain because its a freaking baby, but it was a bummer and I haven't gone on a cruise since.
Im a light sleeper and always, always travel with ear plugs. I’ve fortunately never had a crying baby keep me up when traveling but I have had really noisy neighbors, and in hotels where people stomp around in their high heels in the room above at 2am. Helps on flights too.
I started cruising with my baby when she was 9 months old. She’s now done 7 cruises at 2.5 years old. She loves them. We got in the car at the weekend to go buy some plants and she announced ‘I go cruise ship’ so clearly these holidays been a big hit.
I’ve always taken my own travel cot so it’s familiar to her. The lines I used mostly don’t charge for kids under 2 but that’s the UK market which is different.
We did BLW so just asked for steamed veggies, some form of potato and fish, chicken or steak made with no salt for her dinners in the MDR. We went to the buffet for other meals and I tried to pick as low salt options as possible so things like steamed veg, fruits but obviously some things do have salt like the roasted meats.
The lines we’ve been on didn’t permit you to leave under 2s in the kids club so we switched between mum and dad staying and the other getting a bit of a break. Often both of us would be there. We have more fun now that she can be left but we still had a good time when we had to stay and play.
Thankyou! This is kind of what I imagined being an option and the approach, however of course we need to get to know our babes personality too. I’m so glad your little one loves it, how wonderful!
Wait until they're (1) toilet trained without fail; (2) eating adult food; (3) well behaved; (4) obey your instructions; and (5) have stopped crying and screaming to get attention or their own way. When your youngest reaches that age, add a year, *then* resume cruising. Prior to that, maybe grandparents will take them for a week or two.
(5), yes. Above all,(5). Remember, regardless how big they are, cruise ships are still relatively small spaces.
On land, your kid throws a fit in a store, a restaurant, etc., you can take them outside, take them to the parking lot, take them home, whatever.
On a cruise ship, you take them outside, you're just taking them into another area with passengers that are going to be disturbed by their screaming and crying.
If you do, please select a kid friendly line. Carnival would be a good choice. Or just look for boats with water slides as a key indicator.
This is only friendly advice from a parent of several kids. Going on lines like Celebrity and above with a baby is not what the fellow cruise folks really want. So it’s uncomfortable getting states and feeling guilty.
Instead, we’ve been in much freer environments, when children or babies are expected
As someone who has always booked celebrity and princess to have lower kids on board, I relate to this! We would choose RC (I don’t like carnival haha).
Some Parents like to bring kids because they’re of the ways cruises are advertised to them - as a vacation that includes “free daycare in the kids club.” Less cruising with your kids and more ditching your kids with a babysitter while you go do your own thing.
The kids club is ironically often staffed by mothers from Third World countries who had to leave their own children at home so they could go make money off the Americans, but that’s a whole other chapter.
Without any further justification why babies don’t like cruises, I would respectfully disagree.
We have been on 9 cruises with our kids including a 14 day Panama Canal cruise when we only had one kid and she was in diapers. She loved the cruise and we love rewatching the video of the cruise.
We cruised when our 4th kid was 7 months old. He hung with us, just like at home and we have great family memories. It comes down to each family and what their expectations will be. Our kids love the kids club and activities. We love the little break it gives.
thank you, I absolutely despise the generalizers. I did a lot of cool stuff as a small child because Daddy was a renegade, and it all gave me reasons to live in my darkest hours when I felt like I had none <3
Really? The people in adjacent staterooms will need therapy after the cruise to recover from sleep-deprivation and PTSD. Those in the dining areas might want to stay in a single spot for an hour or two.
OK? Good for you.
Glad you have never been trapped in a hotel room or a cruise cabin next to a crying baby, or have never had the misfortune of being seated next to one in a restaurant when the parents are too clueless to take them outside.
Clearly, however, despite the fact that you have never experienced it personally, it is not an unusual experience for others.
Do you really think it never happens just because you haven't experienced it? How weird.
Sure, I’ve been at restaurants with crying babies. It doesn’t really bother me, usually the parents leave pretty quickly. I’ve been on 15 cruises and travel a fair amount and never have had a crying baby keep me up . It’s ridiculous to expect people with babies to stay at home and not travel. Bring ear plugs and that a crying baby will never be an issue that keeps you awake.
Again, just because it's never happened to YOU, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Most of us grow out of that worldview after toddlerhood. And it happens fairly regularly, given the stories on this thread and peoples attitudes towards kids in public places. The attitudes don't come from nowhere.
It’s just wild to me how intolerant people are. Like crying babies are ruining everyone’s vacations? Really? I think it’s just really popular in Reddit to hate kids/babies.
We are going on a cruise and our child will be 1.5 years old just about by the time we cruise. I think that’s a good starting point. They can be in the kids club, they’re close to getting into a routine. I know it’s all up to preference of course.
We didn't take our kids until they were 7/8 years old I think... somewhere around 2014. I can't imagine bringing babies or toddlers on cruises. I get annoyed enough with 3 teenagers.
Your first baby, you’re gonna be exhausted until you start getting the hang of the routine…
no need to be rude, many of us know by being parents already, my kids are now 30 and 28 respectively…
i know personally I wouldn’t because of the diapers, the feeding routine and I wouldn’t want to upset her/his schedule until at least 1.5yrs and even that, I would prefer somewhere closer to home for a start.
And secondly I wouldn’t subject my neighbours to the crying for my “pleasure” and by that I mean, this definitely won’t be a relaxing vacation for neither of you…
The wise concept would be to wait until you know how baby does.
Good luck with the birth
Taking infants and young children anywhere is a nightmare for you and everyone around you, especially on the flights. On behalf of everyone, please don't.
Oh you don't know how to drive? That's crazy. Don't subject people to your children. It's the same as someone subjecting you to an uncontrolled barking dog.
Screaming children easily pierce noise canceling headphones and ear plugs. They actually cause permanent damage to innocent bystanders and it should be illegal to bring a goblin on a plane that can physically harm people around it.
We took our daughter on Royal Caribbean when she was 15 months and it was amazing. We chose that line/ship specifically because they have an infant splash area that allows swim diapers. They also had a baby nursery who could watch her for 2 hours at a time for a very small fee. She had a blast and we really enjoyed it.
It was a good age for us because our daughter was fully transitioned to solid foods, she was able to walk and she only took one nap a day. She also was in daycare at the time so she was able to sleep in the ship nursery with no issues the two times we dropped her off there. We were able to eat dinner and watch an evening comedy show without her one night.
She went on two beach day excursions with us and napped under an umbrella both times. I think maybe the key is your child's temperament, travel is going to be easier with a kid who loves new environments and can nap anywhere. Unsolicited advice: don't make your nursery black-out dark for naps! We always let a little daylight in during day sleep and I think it really helps.
We cruised in a large family group when my grandson was 7 months. Everyone took turns with him so mom and dad could have some free time and romantic dinners. It was fun and the crew loved him.
Our daughter turned 2 midway through a cruise. The second half was much more fun than the first half, because we could bring her to camp and have an evening out for the rest of the cruise.
Cruising presents unique challenges for babies and very young children. Babies and toddlers often require you to be extremely flexible and may have unanticipated needs that require you to turn on a dime. Cruise vacations just don't have that level of flexibility.
The first problem is that the cabin space, unless you spend a boatload of money for a suite, is really limited. It's hard to fit a stroller, crib, pack and play, or whatever else you might need in the space available.
The second problem is that if you have an issue with the baby on board, you can't get off the ship. You're stuck. Baby starts teething, gets seasick, or comes down with something on board, and you haven't thought to pack one of 50 meds they might need? You're stuck. There is no 24 hour Walgreens in the middle of the ocean, and ship medical is expensive. Baby's formula or food suddenly doesn't agree with them? You're screwed, because you've got no choices except the 10 cans of whatever you have you've already brought with you. You misjudged the amount of diapers you needed? Oof.
The third problem is that ships have the reputation for being floating petri dishes for good reason. It's a lot of people in a forced enclosed space, and let's face it – people are disgusting. The chance of baby catching something and spending the next week miserable is pretty good.
If you're looking for a cruise – like experience, consider an all inclusive until baby gets older.
Wait until you have the baby to figure it out. This is your first meaning you have no idea how it will be. I had grand plans for my maternity leave. None of which happened because i was a zombie trying to remember my name and a win was showering. Realistically no fun vacation will happen before 2-3.
Recently took a cruise and there weren’t many children or babies. However I will say that the stateroom walls are paper thin and you can hear every noise your neighbor makes. We had a family in the room above us and we did call and complain more than once because the parents would leave their children unattended in the room and the kids were essentially running across our ceiling nonstop for hours, jumping off the bed, slamming doors, etc. It was absolutely obnoxious. We always travel with earplugs and white noise as it is, and we are extremely forgiving and tolerant… but there comes a point where enough is enough. We are on vacation as well and would like to relax without excessive noise and lack of consideration.
If you have a baby who will be up in the middle of the night crying loudly, I hope you would consider that everyone near you will also have to endure the noise. As a parent myself, it doesn’t sound like fun at all.
The amount of people who hate kids on this sub is wild. Don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t have kids and who hasn’t cruised with them when they’re little. If your baby/toddler has an easy going personality you’ll be absolutely fine. Will it be relaxing? No. But nothing is when your kids are young. Will it be fun? Absolutely. I’ve had a worse time with my grumpy teenager than I did with my 2 year old.
Thankyou for this! I totally get the frustration with kids when you’re trying to relax on a holiday - I’ve been this person too. But I’m also not appreciating the many comments suggesting that we shouldn’t leave the house ever because of our child - people suck! Haha.
I've taken 2 cruises with kids so far: 1) turned 1 on the cruise and 2) almost 5 and just over 1. We have a cruise in a week with a 5 year old and will turn 2 on the cruise.
It all depends on what vacation means for you. Is the alternative doing something kid focused such as an amusement park? If yes, a cruise is as good a choice as any. As a reminder a vacation with young kids means regulating then in a unfamiliar setting. For example, one of you may need to stay in the room for 2-3 hours hanging out while they nap. Is it as good as a vacation without kids in terms of relaxing? I do not think it is. Is it great to get away, eat good food and have a bit of fun? Absolutely.
If your parents or in laws are helpful bring them along. This will allow you to actually have alone time. Get a balcony if your kid is still napping, gives you somewhere to sit that isn't a dark room while they nap.
I intend to continue to cruise with my kids. Food is handled and cruise lines are accommodating to kids. There is entertainment for kids once they are more than babies/young toddlers. If you can get your kid to go to the kids club (my almost 5 year old refused on cruise #2) you will get some alone time. We cruise out of ports we can drive to so that we can pack all the baby stuff and not have to fly.
A vacation with kids is better than staying home and doing nothing. Enjoy yourself. Set appropriate expectations.
Edit: different cruise lines have different size cabin doors. I recommend an umbrella stroller at opposed to a full size.
Thankyou so much! This comment is super helpful. We would likely bring grandparents and always book a balcony anyway. And we would definitely adjust our expectations - we just love cruising as our favourite kind of holiday and hope to be able to just include baby so they love it too!
We just took our 18 month old on a cruise to Alaska. We all had such a wonderful time. It was so convenient having access to food at all times from the buffet. We didn't do any specific kids activities for her since the Discovery Princess didn't offer anything for her age range, but she had a great time just walking around the ship and exploring. She also loved spending time out on the balcony. We just had to be mindful of how to fit everything into our luggages as a week+ worth of diapers take up a lot of space.
We took our first trip with our daughter (not a cruise, but a cross-country road trip to see family) when she was about 8 weeks. First cruise was maybe 10 months (I can't remember for sure, but I don't feel like she was a year old yet). The kid basically grew up on the road until she reached school age when we had to settle down a bit.
We still travel with her in school, we were just limited on time. She's 16 now and has been to something like 35 countries and on dozens of cruises.
We took our six month old on a cruise. It was the best. The hotel room was a five minute walk away from us at all times. We had a stroller that folded flat so kiddo would just nap wherever. Kiddo got to try a lot of different foods (no new allergy food introductions, just different preparations). We had a balcony room so my wife could pump and not be trapped in a dark interior room. We also thought if kiddo wouldn’t nap out and about, we could sit on the balcony and read during nap time. Since kiddo was still so young, we didn’t have to worry about a “this is bedtime”. I have videos of kiddo dancing at shows and karaoke. We really had a great time. Kiddo is 7 now and we still talk about how awesome that cruise was
I should also mention it was on a smaller boat and I think it was carnival. I’m not sure we would have had the same experience on a larger boat. We did our first LARGE boat last year and it just kinda seemed overly crowded with lines everywhere (royal oasis class). We’re also fans of the piano bar and trivia so we’re pretty low key.
Pool is out of the question with a baby.
I have an almost 9 month old and we are thinking about doing a last minute cruise in the next few months. Husband and I both have 12 weeks of bonus leave starting soon and we have several land-based trips planned…it is way more of a headache to do those than to book a cruise.
It's a lot less headache to BOOK a cruise, but it's a lot more headache to BE ON a cruise if something goes wrong with a nine month old.
And a LOT can go wrong with a nine month old to make your life miserable on a cruise ship with limited facilities that you can't get off of.
We are avid cruisers and have our first post-baby cruise this August! She will be a little over 10 months. We are going with two sets of her grandparents (she has 3, my parents are divorced) as well as some other family and friends.
We wanted to do one before she understands not being able to get in the pool (since diapers aren’t allowed) but while she’s old enough to (typically) sleep through the night. Obviously haven’t gone yet but love the idea of our room always being nearby and having a balcony for some enjoyment while she naps.
I took my 7 month old baby to an Alaskan cruise last month on Princess. Everything went so well and she got so much love from passengers and staff. We do baby led weaning and only took formula with us. She ate whatever we ate. The worst thing was washing her bottles every morning. We really didn’t get to do much tough, which we knew going in. Also tipped waiters, buffet staff, and our steward beyond the auto-gratuity.
I took my 9mo on a MSC cruise and they loved her. All the stuff was cooing over her and it was an okay time. I made the mistake of flying from Alaska to Orlando the day of without giving her time to adjust, so she was miserable the first few days of the cruise. MSC had a kids area that we were allowed to go play in, but I couldn’t leave her.
Some cruise lines have night time babysitting that you can pay extra to drop your baby off at. If MSC would have had that, we would have done it.
Having a balcony room is a must. The baby can end your day pretty early, so my mom, sister and I would take turns sitting on the balcony relaxing while Cove slept.
The hub and I are bringing our 4yo, now 2yo and 11mo on a carnival cruise, and I’m prepared for the worst. The 4yo and 2yo can do the camp ocean stuff, so that’s amazing. The 11mo will have to tg along with the family, but we are going with people that haven’t seen us in years so they will probably steal him.
Returned when they were 8 and 10. Husband and I went on 2 but didn’t bring the kid/kids. Just depends what works for you. Not sure I’d bring my child under 1 though. I think pumping and storing milk would be a pain on the ship.
Oh gosh we couldn’t wait til 8 years old!! Haha. Hubby and I would consider just us two going but little one would also need to be old enough to happily stay with family. Thanks!
Doesn’t help I was a SAHM and we were broke when they were little. lol. Really it’s whatever age you think you can handle it at. Two is a lot different than one.
My sis and I went on our first cruise with our parents when she was about five and I was about nine. My grandma came too and we stayed in the cabin with her while my parents had their own cabin. Maybe bringing a family member is an option for you too so you have an extra set of eyes and hands for the baby.
I don’t understand this comment - needs to be old enough to be left with family, but you’ll bring them on a cruise and leave them with strangers? Or, alternative isn’t much better, bring them with you to all activities and meals? I mean all the power to you, but I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less than cart a baby around with me on a cruise ship. And I doubt the baby will be thrilled either. Youngest I’d do is 6, and even then I would be looking at DCL to keep them entertained.
Why would you need to leave the kid with strangers? I live in the city, and frequent a local regular bar, and people bring their babies all the time. What are you doing on a cruise ship you couldn't bring your baby to?
Adults only dinner? Hot tub? Beach? Bar? These are all places I would not want to go with a baby. If you’re taking a baby to a bar you need to reassess your priorities in life
You're being way too judgmental and parochial, and quite frankly, most of the world does not share those values. It is super common in big cities, in Europe, etc., to bring babies along wherever the parents are going, and yes that includes nights out at dinner and bars.
Ugh that is the worst. No one wants to hear your screeching baby during their night out at a nice restaurant or bar.
Most babies aren't screeching constantly. If they are, then yeah, probably not suitable for that environment. But you seem to have a very biased take on what babies are like. Remember that you too were once a baby, and you might easily not exist if society had been structured to be as anti-baby back when your parents would have you as some people (including possibly yourself) would like to make it now. "Parents just can't ever go anywhere to do anything" is absolutely not an acceptable status quo to have.
There’s a time and place. I.e. family restaurants, Not a 21 and over bar or a fancy restaurant. People go to specific places to avoid kids. There are plenty of kid centric places. People deserve to avoid kids at some adult venues. And I never said they’re screeching constantly. But all it takes is one moment to ruin the mood for everyone else.
Not a personal experience, but good friends of mine took their 9 month old twins on a weeklong cruise a couple years ago and they HATED it. They are experienced cruisers (two or three per year), and when they came back, they basically just said "never again." Wrangling all the gear was a pain, the babies struggled to settle into a new space even when they tried to keep them on a schedule, and they had a hard time sleeping with the strange noises that come with a ship. They also dealt with a high number of people who wanted to touch the babies, which they weren't comfortable with, because of the increased risk of sickness that can travel through a cruise ship. They ended up waiting until their kids were about three before trying again, and I think they travelled with grandparents for the first one. They've since gone just the four of them, and it's gone alright, but it's certainly a very different experience than just going on their own. A balcony is apparently super helpful - you can put the kiddo down to sleep and then step outside with a drink and relax while they fall asleep without disruption.
Thankyou for this! Appreciate the insight!
I've seen so many people cruising with infants over the years & one main thing sticks out with all of them....they all look dead ass exhausted. The amount of equipment they have to lug around all week & trying to keep baby happy in unusual conditions with so many people & so little space for so many days while also trying to enjoy the vacation themselves just wears on them & doesn't look fun. It especially doesn't sound fun being crammed into a stateroom with all baby's large items, toys, extra food, etc. etc. And where are they washing bottles & warming food & such? I don't know but it just sounds like a lot of complicated moving parts that are not conducive to cruising. I'm sure there are work-arounds to any issues or needs but a cruise ship just seems especially more difficult given the sheer number of people & space restrictions.
We didn’t cruise with our youngest until he was two and we brought our moms with us. But he was fine. He was too young for the kids club by himself but we brought him to the kids programming accompanied by us. I would pick a cruise that a has a splash pad that allows swim diapers because they can’t go in the pool if they aren’t potty trained. But if there’s a splash pad they’ll be perfectly happy. I brought a lightweight easily foldable stroller.
On one of the cruises I was on, I witnessed a woman putting her baby (in a diaper) in the HOT TUB. I felt so bad for that baby!
I exclusively breast fed so I never had an issue or needed any equipment. Most parents go wayy to far with the crap they haul around. Seriously peoples your room is 100 feet away. At 6 mo many kiddos are staring to eat really simple foods which the boat has, which is why I always recommend parents get a balcony in a very nice location like lido deck so they have access to the buffet STAT! :)
People with infants look dead ass tired whether they are on a cruise or not.
We waited until 3 years because we didn’t have to take baby stuff. No diapers, no special food, no toys, no naps! Just quiet time. He loved the kids club and we did beach excursions mostly until he was old enough to participate in other excursions. We live in a state that is very close to the beaches and the mountains so those first years we took local vacations we could drive to and stayed at resorts or mountain cabins. We still felt like we had a vacation. Since then we cruised every year and he is now an adult who loves cruising.
Omg we took the kids when our youngest was two. Packed double the diapers we thought we’d need and almost ran out. They had run out at the shop and suggested we ask at the kids club. Nope. Thankfully didn’t run out but were hitting the Walgreens as soon as we got off the ship. I think we had two left. Never had to decide if we’d do that again because that cruise was Thanksgiving 2019……..
This is what we’ve done, no complaints.
Thankyou! Good insight!!
My son didn’t get on a cruise boat till he was six. We waited to do any kind of real vacation until he was four. (Beaches, family resort in Turks and Caicos) I felt at that point he would be old enough to be part of the kid group offered and I would feel OK leaving him with strangers.
Check with your cruise line. Each has its own age requirement. Also, some count a baby as a passenger when charging you. We ran into this issue with Princess I believe when planning a large family cruise.
Thankyou! That’s not really what I’m asking but appreciate your response.
They sure do count as passengers. It sucks.
They are passengers and they’re hard on everyone else. The only way a baby works on cruise is at the good grace of the other passengers.
What? I’ve never seen a baby be an issue out of 15 cruises.
Me neither (but then I cruise on HAL, partly to stay far, far away from them).
Toddlers I absolutely agree. Babies? Not so much.
Toddlers are awful, but at least they’re half cute. Babies are loved primarily by their mothers.
Why should it suck? They take every bit of the same amount of cruise resources in terms of cleaning, staffing, laundry, and everything else, if not more frankly.
One thing I have to say is, you will hear a lot of people here telling you leave your kids at home. It's really your choice, is this vacation for you to take a break or for you to build some family memory to remember in the future. If it's for you to relax and enjoy adult time, then yea, please leave the baby at home. They will destroy your vacation. But if you want to take the baby to build up family bonding time and memories here are me experience: 1. we didn't take ours until he's 2.5 year old. because we didn't want to deal with diapers. 2. He start to eat like us, regular food, no need to pack special food, or formula anymore 3. You can't do anything in water with diaper for all cruise lines 4. most cruise lines kids club min age is 3, except Carnival, Carnival camp ocean takes 2 year old, but good luck with that. Ours did not want to stay there without us. I think he stayed 45 min at longest stretch lol. But when he went back at age of 4 he loved it. 5. Pack a lot of positive energy. Remember who is this trip is for, it's for the family. you will spend 90% of the time with the young kids. To us, that's what we wanted to do, but I can see why people bashing the idea of taking young kids to cruise. For example, kids age 2-5 is actually very easy to be entertained. They can just push big shuffle board pieces on lido deck for hours on end. To them, it's amazing fun, for you, you will just have to stay there with them until they are done. for 5-7 year old (can't speak for anyone older than 7, since our oldest is 7) they have a lot more energy, almost like ADHD they will want to run around try everything, best bet is take them to kids club, at least mine loves it. 6. Again, just stay positive, have the right mindset, at the end of the day its family bonding time and you don't have to clean and cook for 7 days.
Thankyou! Appreciate the answer and you make some good points about diapers and food etc
All babies are different, I would wait until you have an idea of how easy your child will be to travel with. If you have a colicky baby, your entire trip would be miserable—and you’d definitely make others around you not enjoy themselves. If you luck out with an easy baby, you may be cruising by 6 months :) My kiddo was the latter and I wish we could’ve afforded some cruises! But my sister, everyone of her babies had colic and she spent the first year of their lives; rocking, walking, patting, driving and shushing.
This is a good thought. It’s so easy to just book a last minute cruise if you are anywhere near a port and they can be sooo much cheaper. I live on vacations to gos 90 day ticker
Thankyou! And realistically we will wait til we know baby well and like you said how easy or difficult they may be to bring with us, but very curious what others have done!
I took my 8m old on a cruise in 2019. It was great. She was a great baby (my second) and we were introducing solids to her in addition to breastfeeding. The only things we really had to consider was the plan with giving her solid food. To us, we just waiting 7 days longer for any new foods until when we got back to avoid any reactions while on the ship. She was breastfed , so it was easy to bring her and just give her fruit or basic food we knew she could handle. Additionally she napped on the go, and we had a stroller. So consider how much room that will take up in the cabin. Finally, get a balcony. When your kids are sleeping, you and your partner can sit on the deck and enjoy some drinks while they have quiet. Since you’re a first time parent- I would wait until you’ve got the hang of things before booking. I’m not sure I’d be so easy going about it with my first child. Every experience in the first year is unpredictable. You’ll know when you’re ready!
This this this! Cruiser since both my kids were around the same age. This is absolutely the way to go. Specifically balcony on Lido to be close to buffet.
Thankyou this is a considerate and insightful answer. Really appreciate it 😊
I started cruising with my kid when they were 3 years old. It was amazing. My kid loved the kids club and I could actually enjoy a vacation.
Thankyou!
For cruising in Australia, the age limit is generally 6 months for short cruises, and 1 year for longer cruises/cruises with 2 or more sea days in a row.
Thankyou! That’s not quite what I’m asking but appreciate the response.
Started when my youngest was 5. It's not worth it taking them before they are potty trained.
Good point, thankyou
We took our little one on a Disney cruise when they were about 2. I called and spoke to someone and they were able to have a diaper genie, portable crib, and bottle warmer in the room when we arrived and offered a sterilizer if we were interested too. Their rooms have small tubs which were perfect as well. Overall it was a great experience and we would do it again in a minute. They also had a nursery for $7 an hour that provided care, we put the little one in for a few hours every day at midday so we could have some quiet time by the pool, grab a drink, and have lunch. They go to daycare so they were right at home and it was a nice change of pace. Overall I’m not sure how it would have gone on a different cruise line, so my recommendation is to do your research and make sure you’re picking a family friendly cruise that knows how to handle babies.
Thankyou! Very good to know these things may be available on certain lines!
Correction: those things are available on DISNEY. Disney cruises are crazy expensive, and are specifically geared to kids and families. You're not going to find anywhere near that level of equipment or service on ANY other cruise line.
That’s a great point, I’ve done several cruises pre kids but only one with a kid. I did look into nursery options for one Norwegian cruise we were thinking about but there are basically no activities at all on NCL for children under 3 or in diapers.
Yes, there are mainstream cruise lines, premium cruise lines, and luxury cruise lines. Disney is a premium cruise line, and is the only one geared towards kids. You're going to pay a boatload of money, but you're going to have an experience with unbeatable service and everything you need for a kid friendly holiday. Every other premium cruise line is going to be geared towards adults, and most of the luxury cruise lines don't even permit kids on board. Disney occupies a completely unique space in the Cruising market. Do not think you're going to get the same experience on any other cruise line, even if you pay the same amount of money.
3 years old was perfect for us. They were excited to go, we're able to to kids club and we're willing to try new foods. I don't think I'd want to take a younger kid
Maybe go on a cruise where it’s child friendly. I feel like a lot of people going on cruises to get away from kids.
Right just take Disney/ carnival/rc it’s packed and I mean packed with kids. Totally child friendly!
This seems very obvious but yes we would probably book RC (hate carnival and wouldn’t pay for Disney)
We're hoping to cruise next year with 3-year-olds who hopefully will be toilet trained so they can go in the pool. However, I've cruised to the Med, Asia and the Caribbean and seen people with younger children. The youngest we met, on the Asian cruise, was 10 months old.
6 months and 5 days old. So easy to travel with at that age. She sat under our table at the lounges and played with spoons or other small toys I brought. She napped in her stroller while we were out and about. Highly recommend that age if you're looking to get back to cruising. Now, once they're a bit older and running around it can get more rough. We've not done a cruise since she's been walking, but our other big trips definitely need some planned free time for her to run around and play instead of being in the stroller or carried all the time. ETA: we brought our own travel pack and play (guava lotus), but the cruise line had one we could use as well. we also ordered some baby food to be delivered to the room so we could make sure we had extra. for diapers and wipes we stopped in a local grocery store to pick up the brand we wanted. Also, at first we were charged for the baby as a full price passenger. We called the cruise line and they said since she was under 2 she would be free, so we got a refund. Worth calling the cruise line once you book to make sure they're counting the baby correctly. Another also: if you're going to be cutting it close on birth date wait to book. We wanted to do the cruise previous to the one we did, but she was 2 days too young. They will let you change the birth date of the baby once you have them though, so that's nice.
Thankyou!! Appreciate this. Realistically we won’t book until we’ve gotten to know babies personality and got a better idea of how they’ll cope but appreciate hearing your experience!
My wife and I cruised at least twice per year up until we had a family. Between covid and young children, we haven't been on a cruise since 2018, and finally booked one for next year. Our kids will be 7 and 5 when we cruise next year. We chose to wait until they were potty trained, for multiple reasons. No diapers to haul around, able to use the pools and waterpark areas, less reliant on naps, more independent for food choices.
This feels like us! Thankyou for the reply and the insight!
For our first we waited till she was potty trained, so 2, but then Covid hit and we didn’t end up going until our next was also potty trained, 20 months, our third we got the hang of this baby thing and it was easy peasy to take a 6m old. I actually thought it was a great age bc he napped a lot in the carrier and still was almost exclusively breastfed with just taking some tastes of our food. But how well your baby does is very personality dependent and I would be hesitant to take a baby as a first time parent before you know what type of baby you’re gonna get. My first and third were fine temperament wise, my second I couldn’t drive more than 5 mins without having a mental breakdown from her screaming. Cruising would have been hard
So after reading some of the other replies I will add, as a 3rd time parent I packed light for the baby. Didn’t even bring a stroller. Just the baby carrier, a few crinkle book toys, paci, diapers. I co sleep and felt confident doing that there also so no pack n play. Being a first time parent you don’t quite know yet what you’ll need or be comfortable with. I can see the packing list getting long depending on if you need formula, baby food, mini crib, stroller, etc. so basically what I’m saying is get the hang of the baby first, get to know him/her a few months before you book anything. That’s my advice anyway
Thankyou for both your responses! Realistically we won’t book until we know baby (and our) ability to do it, but the consensus here seems to be wait til they are much older than I was thinking; which, is why I asked here. Thanks again!
I don’t have experience YET but before our son was even born (he’s 3 weeks now) we booked a Disney cruise with him this January for my husbands bday. Now, I’ll note that we are not going alone: we have my parents, my MIL, and grandfather going with us so we won’t be navigating the 5 day trip with a 7 month old all alone. I think that’ll make the trip a lot less exhausting tbh, if that’s an option, maybe invite some family. Cruising is also our favorite holiday and we couldn’t wait to bring him along because I did 3 cruises while pregnant with him!
I’ve done one cruise pregnant (Thankyou buffet for always having a plain piece of toast while I was so nauseous lol) but how awesome for you. We would also be able to bring at least one set of grandparents, if not a few more friends and family. All the best with it!!
Not sure about infants but I took my daughter on a cruise when she was 18 months old. I’m not a huge fan of cruises myself but I thought it was a great travel method with young kids as you can easily go back to your room for naps, feeding, diaper changes, etc. The port days were a little more challenging but I just took a good jogging stroller that she could easily nap in and it worked out pretty well. If you’re nervous about it, just stay close to port on those days so you can easily return to the ship early if needed. I would also recommend the balcony so you can still enjoy your evening once your child is down for the night. Happy traveling!
Thankyou for your comment! Great insight 😊
We were avid cruisers pre-children and went on our first after baby #1 when she was 9mos. but did not take her. We first brought the kids when they were 5 and 7. This was a good age, they were able to appreciate it, enjoy it and most of all behave and have respect for others. Nothing worse than being at the pool and here comes people with strollers and pack and plays etc etc like they are specially back home at the beach. Imo cruise ships just weren't intended to be the family vacays they have now become. There are cramped spaces and long lines sometimes and no past wants to be cramped like that getting hit with baby paraphernalia or hearing screaming kids.
This is just based on my personal experience, and I don't want anyone to think that I look on those who choose differently badly. This is just my thought process. I would never consider an ocean cruise with an infant under 3 years of age. Little ones are just learning to live in this world and this includes them never having been exposed to a lot of illnesses. Something that is a very mild ailment for adults can easily become life threatening for an infant or tot. While I am certain ships do their best, they simply don't have a full range of infant-sized equipment such as you'd have readily available on land. The one time I have ever seen someone air lifted by helicopter off a ship it was a child of 2 and it was because they did not have adequate equipment sized to children that small to deal with the health issue the kid had developed. Even if it is just garden variety baby is sick with a cold, which is certainly the most likely situation, it will absolutely suck for you. Probably your neighbors on all sides and above and below you as well. And what if they experience sea sickness? Many of the most commonly helpful remedies are not safe for infants and toddlers. I'd hate to spend all that money for a cruise just to spend the entire thing exhausted dealing with a seasick infant. I also couldn't imagine disrespecting others who have spent their hard earned money to be there, either, by doing anything other than taking the child somewhere people weren't trying to sleep any time it cried during the night. That would of course mean I wasn't getting to sleep. Maybe if I could afford one of the largest suites since then I might be able to ensure baby crying wouldn't be a problem for the neighbors.
This comment needs to be higher. All these parents are raving about how easy their kids were and how fabulous their cruises were when their kids were tiny tots, never had anything go WRONG. All you need are a few sea days with a teething infant, a colicky infant, or an infant that has caught a bug, to make you dive off the boat and swim to shore with that baby on your back.
My son’s first cruise was when he was 6 months old. My daughter was almost 1 with her first cruise. We used the nursery on the Disney cruise multiple times. It was great. Would definitely take a baby on a Disney cruise.
Why is this downvoted?
Yep Disney/ Carnival and RC (in that order) are definitely the three lines you want to look for in young (and older) family cruise vacations. After my kids first Disney they told me I was not allowed to go on another cruise line, well jokes on them the next was a 17d Hawaii on Princess. I’m usually booked 5-6 cruises out! I’m booked through 2026 at this point :x
My youngest was around 18 mos and we used the nursery on Royal. It was 10 years ago so I can’t remember specifics, but it was great and they were wonderful with him.
Facebook has a great Royal Caribbean moms at sea page that has so much info and tips!!! You don’t even have to be sailing Royal Caribbean to read some helpful info. I sailed when my LO was 8 months and again at 11 months.
Our child did their first cruise at 8 months old. They turn 3 in a few months and have been on 5 cruises. My child's overall demeanor is chill so they didn't mind sitting through dinners and shows. We made sure to take advantage of the baby/toddler play room.
Brought my child on her first cruise at age 3 because this was the min age she had to be to play in kids zone which she loved! Babies and young children will slow you down during shore excursions. If your baby cries in the middle of the night, those in neighboring cabins will also be woken. Also, do you trust leaving your baby with a stranger to babysit if you want to do something on your own? Diapers, formula, various baby necessities can be a lot to lug around. Been on 26 cruises - would recommend checking with Cunard as they have nannies onboard if you do decide to cruise. Good luck! 🍀
Thankyou! We will of course wait to see babies temperament before booking anything. Appreciate your comment.
Mom of two 12m/14f I started with mine at 6 months old. It was soo weird walking around Lido deck with a stroller and a sleeping baby. My kiddos love cruising (my first was at age 2). Just get a good location on the ship (a balcony is a great idea) and enjoy your vacation! Be willing to stay in even though you want to go out. One really weird fun thing is my kids are almost plat status on carnival/princess
I have platinum status with princess thanks to cruising with my parents haha. It’s a gift I’m hoping to pass onto my little one too hehe. Thankyou!
I have not taken my son on a cruise yet, but I will when he’s potty trained. There’s a sweet spot when traveling with babies. It’s when they’re good sleepers, with just a wake up or two at night, alert enough to people watch, but not old enough to protest sleeping in a stroller or baby carrier. I would say that sweet spot is between 4-10 months. But it totally depends on the kid’s temperament. My baby was super portable, usually easy going as long as I didn’t leave his sight, and could eat and sleep on the go in the carrier. As a toddler, he’s a chaos gremlin that I wouldn’t foist upon a shipload of people. He’s adorable but loud, messy, and a terrible sleeper. If you bed share, baby wear, and breastfeed, I would say cruising with a baby wouldn’t be a huge deal. Portable cribs take up a lot of room and I can’t imagine my jumbo stroller in a stateroom. Showering with babies is interesting but doable. But wait until you see what kind of baby you have. Their temperament will impact everything. And see what kind of parents you end up being. You may surprise yourself on a number of fronts. Congrats on the impending arrival! Best wishes on a safe delivery!
Thankyou for your insightful and kind comment! I really appreciate it.
I’ve cruised with babies before. It does affect some of the things you can do, but for me the memories are worth more than the inconvenience it causes. Most require them to be 6months, although I think MSC will allow younger.
Maybe unpopular opinion, we just got back from a 13 day Scandinavian cruise on the celebrity silhouette with my 2.5 year old nephew and thought it was great. We were in a group of 9 and he came to dinner at the Main dining room all 13 nights. Some nights were obviously a little challenging and we would take turns getting him out to walk around. But the waitstaff were incredible with him. We didn’t have an issue with any of the port days. Most days we did walking tours and he was included on those, all the tour guides had kids of their own and pointed out playgrounds and other activities. In Germany when we all took a 2 hour bus to Berlin, my mom (his grandma) stayed back and took him to a local park and out for ice cream. He had no idea he was on a boat and loved riding the elevator and running outside. He got to go to the kids club during designated hours and the adults only pool was available for kids from 5-7 as it was too cold to use the outside pool. My sister said the hardest part the flight to Europe but the cruise was easy. As for naps he would nap in his stroller during the day. And on sea days nap in his room.
Thankyou!
I think it depends o the temperaments of you and your kid(s). We went back to cruising as soon as it was an option, and it’s always been a positive experience. It’s a little more challenging with formal meals and whatnot, especially once they start walking, but it’s all manageable.
We took our son on his first cruise at 2.5-3. My parents were with us, and it was a Celebrity cruise. He had fun, and we did, too, but I also remember trying to find a place on the ship where he could RUN. And I remember temper tantrums from not enough sleep. My husband is not big on evening stuff, so he'd stay in the room, usually on the balcony, and read or something and I go out and roam the ship with my mother. Real party animals here. :) It can be a good trip, but it's very different.
Thankyou!!
NCL allowed 3 month olds. So I did one in December of 2000 when my son just turned 3 months. It was great but I was with 10 family members- who were more than happy to help out. I went again with him at 6 months on Celebrity with the extended family and a sitter (friend of mine) and it was great! I'd say- if it's a family trip and you have some time to yourself it can be fun. We did our next one when he was about 13 months and he was running around. It was a lot more difficult and I took a breather for a couple years. Didn't cruise again until he was almost 4 and could go to the kids club. That baby has cruised at least 25 times (3mo- 18 years old). Worst age to cruise is when they start crawling/walking/running 9 months- 2 years. Once they are three and potty trained- so much more enjoyable.
Thankyou!!
We did an Alaska cruise with my first baby when he was just under a year old. The gear and supplies were not an issue as we were departing from our home port. However, what I didn't realize was how much more time we would be spending in our cabin with a baby. I don't know what type of cabins you normally book but I would do at least a balcony, ideally a suite if you can afford it.
We always book a balcony and generally do spend a bit of time on the balcony/resting in our cabin so “having” to spend a bit of time wouldn’t bother us. But, great to know and consider, Thankyou!
We took our 2.5 year old on a cruise. It was our first cruise. So we had no idea about anything. We have older kids too so we booked during January school holidays (Australian). What happened was the shop was so full that we were only given 6 hours of daycare access when we first arrived. We could use those 6 hours all in one hit or we could break it up. But as the cruise went on we checked in every night to see what hours weren’t taken the next day and could book in more.
We wouldn’t necessarily use the kids club/babysitting but would be nice to have the option to. Did you find overall it was a good trip at 2.5 or more effort than it was worth?
It was exhausting. But that’s life with little ones. I have older kids too so it was a constant shuffle between meeting my toddlers needs and my older children’s needs. The hours we got for baby sitting were crucial and amazing. But a holiday with a baby/toddler is the same anywhere. A cruise is no different (and maybe even better because of the built in babysitting). It’s tiring as it’s not your home. Eating in the restaurants or bistro is exhausting as it’s constant shuffling of who watches the youngest while the other one eats. You can’t enjoy the pool or spa as anyone under 3 is not allowed in. You look like a weirdo hanging out in a dark bar at midday having a drink with a baby on the hip. They crawl/walk everywhere and want to climb everything. Will they sleep the whole time in the baby carrier while you watch the evening show or is one of you pacing the top deck trying to put them down? Then you go for day trips and what food are you packing? How do you access that food and what will be ok for the whole day while out on tour. Do you take a car seat for the taxi at Vanuatu to visit the blue lagoon? Or just risk it. Are you ready to line up at 6am to get your boat transfer time so you can leave the boat at a reasonable time and not midday?
Yes okay, there’s definitely a whole heap of factors that are just made harder by travelling with little ones, especially multiples! Appreciate the insight and the time you took to reply again.
We've done a few cruises with kids... the toughest window for us was about 15months (or when they want to be walking everywhere and aren't just content hanging out in the stroller-3. We just got back with out almost 3 year old and it was tough because she was (developmentally) too big for the baby/toddler room but not old enough for the regular Adventure Ocean, too big for the toddler pool but not technically potty trained enough for the regular pool even though she loves swimming. She did better, and it was more relaxing for us, when she was younger and more content people watching and napping in the stroller and not trying to make a break for it every time I looked away. One thing that REALLY helped us was splurging for a balcony so that during nap time or even just earlier bed time we weren't just sitting g silently in a dark room. We were able to sit out and talk, read, have a drink, etc. which made it more enjoyable for us
We waited till he was one and he took his first steps on the boat lol. Just had to pick excursions he could do too but it was pretty easy. More prep than usual and he’s really good at meals. We had grandma along too but like, we didn’t even use royal tots on our last cruise where he was almost 2.25.
Took our daughter on a 7 night cruise at 11 months. We had a great time but we also had my parents who never leave the ship in an adjoining cabin, so we had eager babysitters for the evenings and for us to explore the ports baby free.
I was on a cruise with a baby next door. Like clockwork that baby would cry every two hours. All night. Every night. I'm not saying the baby cried for a long time, just a minute, but it woke my light sleeping husband every time and he himself turned into a cranky baby. We didn't complain because its a freaking baby, but it was a bummer and I haven't gone on a cruise since.
Im a light sleeper and always, always travel with ear plugs. I’ve fortunately never had a crying baby keep me up when traveling but I have had really noisy neighbors, and in hotels where people stomp around in their high heels in the room above at 2am. Helps on flights too.
I’m sorry that happened! I’ve had some crappy neighbours too over the years and it’s so frustrating. We would be very mindful of this.
I started cruising with my baby when she was 9 months old. She’s now done 7 cruises at 2.5 years old. She loves them. We got in the car at the weekend to go buy some plants and she announced ‘I go cruise ship’ so clearly these holidays been a big hit. I’ve always taken my own travel cot so it’s familiar to her. The lines I used mostly don’t charge for kids under 2 but that’s the UK market which is different. We did BLW so just asked for steamed veggies, some form of potato and fish, chicken or steak made with no salt for her dinners in the MDR. We went to the buffet for other meals and I tried to pick as low salt options as possible so things like steamed veg, fruits but obviously some things do have salt like the roasted meats. The lines we’ve been on didn’t permit you to leave under 2s in the kids club so we switched between mum and dad staying and the other getting a bit of a break. Often both of us would be there. We have more fun now that she can be left but we still had a good time when we had to stay and play.
Thankyou! This is kind of what I imagined being an option and the approach, however of course we need to get to know our babes personality too. I’m so glad your little one loves it, how wonderful!
Wait until they're (1) toilet trained without fail; (2) eating adult food; (3) well behaved; (4) obey your instructions; and (5) have stopped crying and screaming to get attention or their own way. When your youngest reaches that age, add a year, *then* resume cruising. Prior to that, maybe grandparents will take them for a week or two.
While this isn’t the answer I was hoping for, it makes sense haha. Thankyou.
(5), yes. Above all,(5). Remember, regardless how big they are, cruise ships are still relatively small spaces. On land, your kid throws a fit in a store, a restaurant, etc., you can take them outside, take them to the parking lot, take them home, whatever. On a cruise ship, you take them outside, you're just taking them into another area with passengers that are going to be disturbed by their screaming and crying.
If you do, please select a kid friendly line. Carnival would be a good choice. Or just look for boats with water slides as a key indicator. This is only friendly advice from a parent of several kids. Going on lines like Celebrity and above with a baby is not what the fellow cruise folks really want. So it’s uncomfortable getting states and feeling guilty. Instead, we’ve been in much freer environments, when children or babies are expected
As someone who has always booked celebrity and princess to have lower kids on board, I relate to this! We would choose RC (I don’t like carnival haha).
Babies don’t like cruises. Keep the baby home.
Some Parents like to bring kids because they’re of the ways cruises are advertised to them - as a vacation that includes “free daycare in the kids club.” Less cruising with your kids and more ditching your kids with a babysitter while you go do your own thing. The kids club is ironically often staffed by mothers from Third World countries who had to leave their own children at home so they could go make money off the Americans, but that’s a whole other chapter.
Off Americans? Like no other nationality takes cruises? 🙄
OP is in Australia but yes, let's talk smack about the *Americans* cruising with children. We really live rent-free in your heads.
Babies like their parents. Babies don’t care where they are.
Without any further justification why babies don’t like cruises, I would respectfully disagree. We have been on 9 cruises with our kids including a 14 day Panama Canal cruise when we only had one kid and she was in diapers. She loved the cruise and we love rewatching the video of the cruise. We cruised when our 4th kid was 7 months old. He hung with us, just like at home and we have great family memories. It comes down to each family and what their expectations will be. Our kids love the kids club and activities. We love the little break it gives.
thank you, I absolutely despise the generalizers. I did a lot of cool stuff as a small child because Daddy was a renegade, and it all gave me reasons to live in my darkest hours when I felt like I had none <3
Heh my first cruise I was 2 yrs old! I can’t believe some of these comments
You took your baby on a cruise and they hated it?
Please dont for the sake of the other passengers.
If a baby on a giant cruise ship bothers you then you need therapy. It’s not like an airplane where you’re trapped in a single spot for hours on end.
Really? The people in adjacent staterooms will need therapy after the cruise to recover from sleep-deprivation and PTSD. Those in the dining areas might want to stay in a single spot for an hour or two.
I’ve literally never had that happen with babies. I’ve had noisy/obnoxious adults near me in restaurants and next door PLENTY of times though.
OK? Good for you. Glad you have never been trapped in a hotel room or a cruise cabin next to a crying baby, or have never had the misfortune of being seated next to one in a restaurant when the parents are too clueless to take them outside. Clearly, however, despite the fact that you have never experienced it personally, it is not an unusual experience for others. Do you really think it never happens just because you haven't experienced it? How weird.
Sure, I’ve been at restaurants with crying babies. It doesn’t really bother me, usually the parents leave pretty quickly. I’ve been on 15 cruises and travel a fair amount and never have had a crying baby keep me up . It’s ridiculous to expect people with babies to stay at home and not travel. Bring ear plugs and that a crying baby will never be an issue that keeps you awake.
Again, just because it's never happened to YOU, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Most of us grow out of that worldview after toddlerhood. And it happens fairly regularly, given the stories on this thread and peoples attitudes towards kids in public places. The attitudes don't come from nowhere.
It’s just wild to me how intolerant people are. Like crying babies are ruining everyone’s vacations? Really? I think it’s just really popular in Reddit to hate kids/babies.
We are going on a cruise and our child will be 1.5 years old just about by the time we cruise. I think that’s a good starting point. They can be in the kids club, they’re close to getting into a routine. I know it’s all up to preference of course.
We didn't take our kids until they were 7/8 years old I think... somewhere around 2014. I can't imagine bringing babies or toddlers on cruises. I get annoyed enough with 3 teenagers.
Please don’t
I’m not seeking your permission
Your first baby, you’re gonna be exhausted until you start getting the hang of the routine… no need to be rude, many of us know by being parents already, my kids are now 30 and 28 respectively… i know personally I wouldn’t because of the diapers, the feeding routine and I wouldn’t want to upset her/his schedule until at least 1.5yrs and even that, I would prefer somewhere closer to home for a start. And secondly I wouldn’t subject my neighbours to the crying for my “pleasure” and by that I mean, this definitely won’t be a relaxing vacation for neither of you… The wise concept would be to wait until you know how baby does. Good luck with the birth
Taking infants and young children anywhere is a nightmare for you and everyone around you, especially on the flights. On behalf of everyone, please don't.
Cool I’ll just stay in my house for 6 years for your benefit, thanks.
Oh you don't know how to drive? That's crazy. Don't subject people to your children. It's the same as someone subjecting you to an uncontrolled barking dog.
This is insane. You can’t possibly expect parents to never travel because it might bother you. Bring some ear plugs.
Who said they can't travel? Just keep the goblins in the goblin cave and out of the bar or on flights. You can drive.
Screaming children easily pierce noise canceling headphones and ear plugs. They actually cause permanent damage to innocent bystanders and it should be illegal to bring a goblin on a plane that can physically harm people around it.
Exactly, feel sorry for the folks on either side listening to the crying
Absolutely not a way to earn points with other passengers though
We took our daughter on Royal Caribbean when she was 15 months and it was amazing. We chose that line/ship specifically because they have an infant splash area that allows swim diapers. They also had a baby nursery who could watch her for 2 hours at a time for a very small fee. She had a blast and we really enjoyed it. It was a good age for us because our daughter was fully transitioned to solid foods, she was able to walk and she only took one nap a day. She also was in daycare at the time so she was able to sleep in the ship nursery with no issues the two times we dropped her off there. We were able to eat dinner and watch an evening comedy show without her one night. She went on two beach day excursions with us and napped under an umbrella both times. I think maybe the key is your child's temperament, travel is going to be easier with a kid who loves new environments and can nap anywhere. Unsolicited advice: don't make your nursery black-out dark for naps! We always let a little daylight in during day sleep and I think it really helps.
Thankyou! Appreciate your comment and advice! We of course will wait and see about temperament and sleeping before booking.
We cruised in a large family group when my grandson was 7 months. Everyone took turns with him so mom and dad could have some free time and romantic dinners. It was fun and the crew loved him.
We would likely bring family or at least grandparents! Thankyou!
Fee
Our daughter turned 2 midway through a cruise. The second half was much more fun than the first half, because we could bring her to camp and have an evening out for the rest of the cruise.
Cruising presents unique challenges for babies and very young children. Babies and toddlers often require you to be extremely flexible and may have unanticipated needs that require you to turn on a dime. Cruise vacations just don't have that level of flexibility. The first problem is that the cabin space, unless you spend a boatload of money for a suite, is really limited. It's hard to fit a stroller, crib, pack and play, or whatever else you might need in the space available. The second problem is that if you have an issue with the baby on board, you can't get off the ship. You're stuck. Baby starts teething, gets seasick, or comes down with something on board, and you haven't thought to pack one of 50 meds they might need? You're stuck. There is no 24 hour Walgreens in the middle of the ocean, and ship medical is expensive. Baby's formula or food suddenly doesn't agree with them? You're screwed, because you've got no choices except the 10 cans of whatever you have you've already brought with you. You misjudged the amount of diapers you needed? Oof. The third problem is that ships have the reputation for being floating petri dishes for good reason. It's a lot of people in a forced enclosed space, and let's face it – people are disgusting. The chance of baby catching something and spending the next week miserable is pretty good. If you're looking for a cruise – like experience, consider an all inclusive until baby gets older.
Oh dear no way. I booked a VACATION. 😂
Wait until you have the baby to figure it out. This is your first meaning you have no idea how it will be. I had grand plans for my maternity leave. None of which happened because i was a zombie trying to remember my name and a win was showering. Realistically no fun vacation will happen before 2-3.
Thankyou! I absolutely won’t book until I feel confident it will be a successful trip.
We went on a Caribbean cruise with the family, including a 10 month old last October, and we had no problems
Recently took a cruise and there weren’t many children or babies. However I will say that the stateroom walls are paper thin and you can hear every noise your neighbor makes. We had a family in the room above us and we did call and complain more than once because the parents would leave their children unattended in the room and the kids were essentially running across our ceiling nonstop for hours, jumping off the bed, slamming doors, etc. It was absolutely obnoxious. We always travel with earplugs and white noise as it is, and we are extremely forgiving and tolerant… but there comes a point where enough is enough. We are on vacation as well and would like to relax without excessive noise and lack of consideration. If you have a baby who will be up in the middle of the night crying loudly, I hope you would consider that everyone near you will also have to endure the noise. As a parent myself, it doesn’t sound like fun at all.
The amount of people who hate kids on this sub is wild. Don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t have kids and who hasn’t cruised with them when they’re little. If your baby/toddler has an easy going personality you’ll be absolutely fine. Will it be relaxing? No. But nothing is when your kids are young. Will it be fun? Absolutely. I’ve had a worse time with my grumpy teenager than I did with my 2 year old.
Thankyou for this! I totally get the frustration with kids when you’re trying to relax on a holiday - I’ve been this person too. But I’m also not appreciating the many comments suggesting that we shouldn’t leave the house ever because of our child - people suck! Haha.
I've taken 2 cruises with kids so far: 1) turned 1 on the cruise and 2) almost 5 and just over 1. We have a cruise in a week with a 5 year old and will turn 2 on the cruise. It all depends on what vacation means for you. Is the alternative doing something kid focused such as an amusement park? If yes, a cruise is as good a choice as any. As a reminder a vacation with young kids means regulating then in a unfamiliar setting. For example, one of you may need to stay in the room for 2-3 hours hanging out while they nap. Is it as good as a vacation without kids in terms of relaxing? I do not think it is. Is it great to get away, eat good food and have a bit of fun? Absolutely. If your parents or in laws are helpful bring them along. This will allow you to actually have alone time. Get a balcony if your kid is still napping, gives you somewhere to sit that isn't a dark room while they nap. I intend to continue to cruise with my kids. Food is handled and cruise lines are accommodating to kids. There is entertainment for kids once they are more than babies/young toddlers. If you can get your kid to go to the kids club (my almost 5 year old refused on cruise #2) you will get some alone time. We cruise out of ports we can drive to so that we can pack all the baby stuff and not have to fly. A vacation with kids is better than staying home and doing nothing. Enjoy yourself. Set appropriate expectations. Edit: different cruise lines have different size cabin doors. I recommend an umbrella stroller at opposed to a full size.
Thankyou so much! This comment is super helpful. We would likely bring grandparents and always book a balcony anyway. And we would definitely adjust our expectations - we just love cruising as our favourite kind of holiday and hope to be able to just include baby so they love it too!
We just took our 18 month old on a cruise to Alaska. We all had such a wonderful time. It was so convenient having access to food at all times from the buffet. We didn't do any specific kids activities for her since the Discovery Princess didn't offer anything for her age range, but she had a great time just walking around the ship and exploring. She also loved spending time out on the balcony. We just had to be mindful of how to fit everything into our luggages as a week+ worth of diapers take up a lot of space.
Thankyou!! Appreciate this.
We took our first trip with our daughter (not a cruise, but a cross-country road trip to see family) when she was about 8 weeks. First cruise was maybe 10 months (I can't remember for sure, but I don't feel like she was a year old yet). The kid basically grew up on the road until she reached school age when we had to settle down a bit. We still travel with her in school, we were just limited on time. She's 16 now and has been to something like 35 countries and on dozens of cruises.
Amazing! Thankyou!
We took our six month old on a cruise. It was the best. The hotel room was a five minute walk away from us at all times. We had a stroller that folded flat so kiddo would just nap wherever. Kiddo got to try a lot of different foods (no new allergy food introductions, just different preparations). We had a balcony room so my wife could pump and not be trapped in a dark interior room. We also thought if kiddo wouldn’t nap out and about, we could sit on the balcony and read during nap time. Since kiddo was still so young, we didn’t have to worry about a “this is bedtime”. I have videos of kiddo dancing at shows and karaoke. We really had a great time. Kiddo is 7 now and we still talk about how awesome that cruise was
Thankyou! This is what I had pictured!
I should also mention it was on a smaller boat and I think it was carnival. I’m not sure we would have had the same experience on a larger boat. We did our first LARGE boat last year and it just kinda seemed overly crowded with lines everywhere (royal oasis class). We’re also fans of the piano bar and trivia so we’re pretty low key. Pool is out of the question with a baby.
I have an almost 9 month old and we are thinking about doing a last minute cruise in the next few months. Husband and I both have 12 weeks of bonus leave starting soon and we have several land-based trips planned…it is way more of a headache to do those than to book a cruise.
It's a lot less headache to BOOK a cruise, but it's a lot more headache to BE ON a cruise if something goes wrong with a nine month old. And a LOT can go wrong with a nine month old to make your life miserable on a cruise ship with limited facilities that you can't get off of.
We are avid cruisers and have our first post-baby cruise this August! She will be a little over 10 months. We are going with two sets of her grandparents (she has 3, my parents are divorced) as well as some other family and friends. We wanted to do one before she understands not being able to get in the pool (since diapers aren’t allowed) but while she’s old enough to (typically) sleep through the night. Obviously haven’t gone yet but love the idea of our room always being nearby and having a balcony for some enjoyment while she naps.
Love this and feels very relatable! All the best!
I took my 7 month old baby to an Alaskan cruise last month on Princess. Everything went so well and she got so much love from passengers and staff. We do baby led weaning and only took formula with us. She ate whatever we ate. The worst thing was washing her bottles every morning. We really didn’t get to do much tough, which we knew going in. Also tipped waiters, buffet staff, and our steward beyond the auto-gratuity.
I took my 9mo on a MSC cruise and they loved her. All the stuff was cooing over her and it was an okay time. I made the mistake of flying from Alaska to Orlando the day of without giving her time to adjust, so she was miserable the first few days of the cruise. MSC had a kids area that we were allowed to go play in, but I couldn’t leave her. Some cruise lines have night time babysitting that you can pay extra to drop your baby off at. If MSC would have had that, we would have done it. Having a balcony room is a must. The baby can end your day pretty early, so my mom, sister and I would take turns sitting on the balcony relaxing while Cove slept. The hub and I are bringing our 4yo, now 2yo and 11mo on a carnival cruise, and I’m prepared for the worst. The 4yo and 2yo can do the camp ocean stuff, so that’s amazing. The 11mo will have to tg along with the family, but we are going with people that haven’t seen us in years so they will probably steal him.
Thankyou! Appreciate this.
Generally there is a 12 month minimum and 24 months if going far from shore. This varies by line.
I've seen it's closer to 6 minimum.
This is not the questions I’ve asked, but Thankyou!
Sorry! My mistake.