Cruise - w/family including 2 year old

[dzmattie]

Has anyone taken a cruise with a group? We would have 7 adults and 1 baby (2 years old at the time of trip - our baby). We need to go either around Christmas time or February school break. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? We are trying to find a trip that isn't too expensive but don't want to cruise on Carnival b/c one of our family members has had two bad experiences.

So - basically any advice on traveling with a group and a baby would be helpful! Thanks!

[southhavenjen]

I would recommend the website cruisecritic.com. They have message boards with tons of great information. You can find out about the individual cruise lines, the different ports, and even about cruising with a child. I have been on two cruises and they are great fun.

I don't know if I'd want to take a two year old, though. You'd have to be so vigilant all the time it seems like it would not be like being on vacation! There are railings on all the decks, but there are spaces where a child could wiggle through. I'd just be terrified the entire time that my kid was going to fall overboard! Another thing to keep in mind is that a 2 year old would be too young for the children's programs, which would give you some time to do adult activities with the rest of your group. On most lines, the kids must be 3 years old and potty trained to participate. They have babysitting at an additional cost for children under 3 that you could utilize, though. It is usually in your cabin. We are going on Celebrity next winter and I think they charge $8 per hour.

[filmgirl7]

We just came back from a cruise on Sunday, and we were commenting that there is no way we would bring a child under the age of 4 or 5 (at least). The previous poster made the best point...a child that young can't go with the day care group. Most of the activities/entertainment would not be appropriate for a baby, and unless you were going to hire a babysitter every day, you might find that you can't enjoy what's available on the ship (or the shore, for that matter.) That's just my opinion....good luck with your plans!!

[Secret_Squirrel]

If you are concerned about safety, the Disney Cruise line railings are made of plexi-glass, so kids can't squeeze through. Many ship railings are like little ladders that children could climb up, however. It would scare me.

A Disney Cruise also has good children's programs, as well as adult sections of the boat. But their all-day programs start at age 3. There is a day care center for younger kids, but you have to pay for it.

Safety concerns aside, Norweigan's "Freestyle" cruise program might be a good match for your family. It's much better than Carnival, not as stuffy as some other lines.

[nylons73]

THere is a woman on here whose name I *think* is SuzyWoozly (check the member list and it will jump out I am sure.) Anyhow she, took her honeymoon on the Disney Cruise (just recently) and she had so many good things to say about it! We ended up pming about it and she gave me so much good info. You might want to drop her a private message and ask her about the Disney Cruise! :D That's about the only cruise line I would take a young child on. They are equipped to handle (and entertain) children of all ages. :)

[southhavenjen]

THere is a woman on here whose name I *think* is SuzyWoozly (check the member list and it will jump out I am sure.) Anyhow she, took her honeymoon on the Disney Cruise (just recently) and she had so many good things to say about it! We ended up pming about it and she gave me so much good info. You might want to drop her a private message and ask her about the Disney Cruise! :D That's about the only cruise line I would take a young child on. They are equipped to handle (and entertain) children of all ages. :)

One of the two cruises I went on was a Disney cruise, and while they have the plexiglass railings (much safer for little ones), their kids program still does not accept children under the age of 3. So the OP would be stuck with her little one all the time unless she chooses to pay for babysitting in the cabin, which can be pricey. True, it is a Disney cruise, and you think it would be geared totally toward children, but really, there are aspects that are not. Dinners in the dining room would be a nightmare with a 2-year-old. The meals are several courses and the time involved with that would not mix well with a toddler (or any young child- that's why the parents often choose for the kids to stay in the kids center during dinner; they get fed there). The shows, while Disney themed, are geared toward an older audience. They are more like a Broadway show than pure kid entertainment.

I am not trying to be a downer, I would just hate to see the OP spend good money on a vacation that she couldn't enjoy. Why not wait a year or two when the child is old enough to participate in the kids program?