Cruising with kids is a well-established and thriving subcategory of the larger cruising world. Changes over the past few years in the cruise industry, as incongruent as they might seem, are a testament to an embrace of a section of the market that had never been so specifically catered to before. In many industries, having a baby wouldn’t have been enough to make you a target demographic of choice; traveling would either be far too convenient or not an option at all. When you’re traveling with a baby or a toddler, safety, convenience, and features to cater to a family’s specific needs are very important. Fortunately, many cruise lines are happy to oblige, and this guide is here to help navigate the often surprisingly turbulent waters of cruising with babies and toddlers.
The truth is, travel and, in our case, cruising, have an incredibly important role to play in the upbringing of your child. You will never regret the time and money you spend to bond as a family and provide learning experiences and memories that shape who they are and who they will be. Best of all, the cruising world has made getting to some of these amazing destinations easier than ever. Amazing, often impossible, and even downright discomforting things will happen on family travel, but this comprehensive cruise guide will arm you with enough tools so that when it comes time for your cruise, the biggest decision you’ll need to make is between the pool and the buffet. After an overview of cruising as a whole, we’ll talk about our top choice and three runners-up for cruising with young children, traveling to more than 30 countries in the Americas.
Choosing the Right Cruise Line and Ship for Families with Babies and Toddlers
Choosing a cruise line and ship that cater to the needs of families with babies and toddlers is crucial to having a successful cruise experience. Many cruise lines offer specially designed facilities and activities for children, and some offer babysitting and other related services. Checking reviews or asking other traveling families for recommendations can be a great way to begin your research. Size, destination, and atmosphere are all important factors to consider when selecting a cruise. Because they do not need to be booked as far in advance as exotic or high-season cruises, shorter Caribbean itineraries are a great option for a test cruise with a baby. For convenience and peace of mind, make sure the ship has family-friendly safety features, like indoor kids’ play spaces, onboard medical facilities, and CPR-trained staff. Dining options are also important. Some cruise lines offer kids’ menus and earlier dinner seating, and some offer private in-room babysitting. Cruise lines offer separate baby and toddler areas in their kids’ clubs, and some offer newborn options so you can have some time alone onboard. Ships featuring amenities like kids’ water slides, pools, sports facilities, ice cream shops, and family-sized cabins can make your life easier and more comfortable onboard, but parents shouldn’t focus exclusively on kid-centric amenities. Having access to laundromats, kitchen facilities, and child-friendly room service can also be very convenient. Though cruise lines have different reputations for customer service, the happiness or crabbiness of the guests is often more ship-specific than line-specific. Lines also tend to be more standardized in their level of safety and onboard services. If you have a concern about rude or threatening behavior from fellow passengers, speak to the customer service staff immediately.
Packing Essentials for a Cruise with Babies and Toddlers
Cruises allow for easy and stress-free visits to multiple destinations with everything a family could possibly need in one place. Before you leave to embark on your cruise, though, you’re going to need to pack for more than just what you would take on a traditional vacation. Packing for a cruise with a baby or toddler requires careful thought as to what to bring, what to leave behind, and, most importantly, what you can get once you’re on the cruise. Below are helpful packing lists for cruising with babies and toddlers. Because of the hassle of dragging large, bulky items through the airport and onto a ship, many parents opt to borrow gear from the cruise line. Most ships have pack and plays, high chairs, bottle warmers, and even strollers that are available to borrow. You’ll want to limit how much gear you bring with you when flying, too, for the same reason. Babies and young kids can be messy, and sometimes illness can be a factor in traveling. To keep everyone as clean as possible, pack a bottle of hand sanitizer. A small bottle of sunscreen is a given if you’re traveling to a warm climate. Think about where you’re going as you prepare your bags. Consider packing an umbrella for Alaska, as well as food and water for long sightseeing tours for any destination. Bringing a travel baby monitor if your room isn’t babyproofed or if you feel better knowing you can hear your baby when he takes a nap is also a good idea. Regardless, be sure to check your cruise’s luggage policy. Most cruise lines have a policy regarding luggage that includes stipulations on how much you can bring aboard and what you can have in your bags. Each traveler has a specific luggage allowance for each cruise. In this case, a baby who will cruise for free is still held to the same luggage requirements as any other passenger. Carry-ons, which include any diaper bags, are also kept to a minimum. It is important to know your cruise line’s luggage policy to ensure that you are prepared, so there are no surprises or frustrations on travel day. Try to pack light, but also think about what you will need and where you are visiting. Research the climate in each destination you are visiting. What is their average temperature? Do they rain a lot? Always check the 10-day forecast the week before you leave and try to pack accordingly. Your child’s comfort is often more important than packing light, but where you’re going can help you plan a bit more. If you’re going to a warm climate, bring several items of light, breathable clothes. If it rains often there, bring a raincoat and waterproof shoes for your kiddo. Heading to a cold destination? Bring along several layers and a warm coat to keep them cozy.
Onboard Activities and Facilities for Babies and Toddlers
Onboard, many cruise ships now offer special areas dedicated to entertainment, discovery, and sensory play for infants, tots, and toddlers under the age of three. There are age-appropriate activities for babies and parents to do together, and if you fancy a break, some cruise lines have a nanny service, which means you can leave your tot in their capable hands for an hour or so. Over and above the nursery and kids’ club options for parents, you’ll often find an organized session held in the nursery, where parents bring their kids along for a group sing and story time with other little ones of the same age. Aim to keep an eye on your little one at all times when onboard. This includes not leaving your baby unattended in a cot or bouncer in your cabin, as well as ensuring all cabin and balcony doors and entrances to public places are closed. Some cruise lines do not allow babies under the age of one.
In general, children aged 6 months to 3 years can come and go with their parents from the ship nurseries during opening hours. Children under 6 months are not allowed access to the nurseries. The one exception is where infants and toddlers up to 2 years can stay in the nursery, but only within the opening hours. Some cruise lines also offer evening nursery sessions, allowing parents to enjoy a bit of alone time while their little one is safely tucked up in bed. Not all cruise lines and ships have the same rules, so make sure you check with your chosen cruise line and check the details for your chosen ship or resort. Restaurants use high chairs and often have a ‘children’s hour’ early sitting, including set menus designed especially for young taste buds. For parents who aren’t sure that their little ones will be happy with a meal time, in-cabin babysitting can be arranged. Many of the cruise lines also ask their junior cruisers what they might like to eat and provide a separate children’s menu in the dining room on some nights for variety. Some cruise lines offer reserved breakfast areas for families, including early opening times and meals made to order. Dining requests can be arranged by the maitre d’ on the ship. With a little bit of advance planning, this can be your meal time solution every day of your cruise. On some cruises, adult dining staff may also be available, giving parents of young children the opportunity to take a break and enjoy a relaxing, date night style meal together. For an added holiday treat, on some cruises parents can arrange with the cruise staff for their children to be looked after in the nursery with the other passengers’ children while they have a meal or take part in some other organized evening entertainment. Some travel companies have special children’s programs available to keep all the kids busy while their mums and dads can go to the spa or on an alternative excursion or just have a day out without them. Look out for those as an extra treat on your family holiday.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Cruise Experience with Babies and Toddlers
If the stars are aligning and you and your family are able to take off on a cruise with babies and toddlers, congratulations! There are few vacation options that offer the variety and endless activities that cruises provide. However, every family needs to go into cruising with kids knowing that this type of vacation will require a fair amount of planning and patience. We’ve included tips for making your trip easier! Many people are worried about travel and daily schedules. While it’s not necessary to sit and watch the clock, routines do help. It’s always nice to know when babies will be fussy, and schedules will help you figure out when to schedule sleep. Know that if your child is too tired, they might have a difficult time relaxing. And a tired child makes its own special brand of fun for everyone else. It will help you embrace your trip to stay in your normal routines and make it clearer when you can open up for those last-minute options. Young children, in general, can nap in public places. Get a baby carrier so you don’t have to wrangle all of your tiny humans to nap in the stroller. Also, don’t push your children too hard to see and do everything while on vacation. Putting them to bed as close as possible to the typical bedtime will make you more calm and safe—enjoy your kids or downtime, whether it’s just the adults or a family affair. Plan based on who you are and not on who you think you should be! Most large cruise lines are used to and happy to make cruises with toddlers and babies simpler for you. Make sure you ask! Staff is always keen to greet every diapered member onboard, and we’ve always appreciated having all the little extras that make moving around with kids simpler. Bigger is not always better. We’ve noticed that sometimes the simpler ports in slightly less developed countries often have enough infrastructure to keep our smallest kids entertained, and we’re more physically able to manage any issues that pop up. Our oldest toddler can now start keeping up and walking around 1 mile in an hour. If a toddler’s energy and abilities are a consideration—especially if this could change during the trip—then aim to have excursions lasting 1 to 1.5 hours with paid transport on each end. Near the end of a trip around the 5-day mark, if we’re moving a lot and doing a lot of activities that tire her out, we’re being a bit safer with our time. Schedule your day around their center. Partial excursions of 1.5 to 4 hours. For everyone’s sake, don’t push it. No one has a good time if you’re forced to carry or drag a wailing toddler.