Taking a cruise with two small children?

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julie travelcaster

Yes, most major cruise lines have this kind of thing. Activities for children usually start at 2 or 3 (2 on Carnival, 3 on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian) and most ships have babysitting.

The ships have extensive facilities for kids. I've been most impressed with facilities for kids on Norwegian, but the Royal Caribbean and Carnival facilities are great, too. Our one Holland America trip seemed that it had a little less, though.

If you have the money for a splurge, though, you might consider Disney. While the ships seem almost designed for kids, there are really a lot of adults-only things to do, and definitely babysitting. Their real advantage though, is larger family cabins with the washroom and shower separate from the toilet - so that different members of the family can use the bathroom facilities without locking everyone else out. They are ideal for a family dealing with diapers.

For what it is worth - there is babysitting for the littlest one on both ships, people cruise with babies all the time, and passports for the little ones is not a problem - the US does definitely issue them, even for newborns.

Frankly I cannot imagine a better romantic vacation for a couple with small children than a cruise!

FLmom3

We celebrated our 10th anniversary by going on a Disney Cruise with our 3 children! It was definitely the BEST vacation we have ever taken! Our kids absolutely loved everything about the cruise and would even cry when we tried to get them from their kids clubs! There is so much to do that you will never be bored! And when you want special time alone, Disney Cruise has a special restaurant just for adults, a spa and an adults only pool, as well as lots of other things! If you go onto Disneycruise.com you can request a free DVD and it will show you just how magical the trip really is! We are already planning another trip!

Time travler

Princess cruises also has special things for children to do, like there own activity room just for them. They also have babysitters for the little one too. I have seen them just a few months old on princess cruise lines. Princess lines are quieter and more classy then carnival. Carnival is known as the party boat. Princess has wonderful food too. Look up their web sight Princess cruise lines.

nicolemcg

We took our kids on their first cruise when they were 2 and 4 (Holland America). Our only problem was that the younger one was too young for the day care (because she was still in diapers). All of the cruise lines have different rules for their child care.

I know for a fact that Disney has a nursery and will take kids as young as 6 weeks. Check the web site. Our kids loved the play room on the Disney Cruise. They give you a pager and contact you when the kids need you. They were terrific with our kids, who could not have had more fun.

Royal Caribbean will take the older child, but not, I think, your little one. Again, my kids really loved their kid's program.

You're going to have to do a little research. Check the cruise line's web site for their guidelines.

By the way, the Disney Cruise was fantastic. We really enjoyed it a lot, and the kids had an absolute blast. We didn't see them for most of the week. The room opens at 9 am, closes at 1 am, and they take them to meals.

On Royal Caribbean you have to pick them up and feed them, which is fine. The room's a lot smaller, though.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

The first though that comes to mind with a 4 year old is a Disney cruise. However, just about every line and ship has established FREE programs for kids. The cruise lines have professionally trained staff who develop and run programs for kids by age groups. These staff people supervise the kids in activities on ship all day and sometimes into the early evenings. The kids are grouped by age. Some ships have special areas where the kids go to participate in the activities. ALL OF THIS IS FREE !! Check out this link for Royal Caribbeans' kids programs: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/experiencetype/home.do;jsessionid=0000xZiDOh0o6fFsfmri2owthBU:12h3g0fq2?br=R&exTypeCode=8

In addition to the supervised programs, many ships have special areas just for kids including shallower pools, water slides and play areas. ALL OF THIS IS FREE.

Royal Caribbean cruise line has some of the best on board activities for kids including on various ships, ice skating or roller blading, mini-golf, table tennis, rock climbing wall, basketball court and on the new Freedom class ships, Liberty, Freedom and Independence of the Seas the flowrider where kids can body surf right on ship. These ships also have a special water park area just for kids called the H2O Zone which has a mini lazy river, a small pool, water cannons and lots of fun stuff just for kids.

You can read about the kids programs on each cruise line's web site; just click on the "On Board Activities" tab or link and look for kids and family stuff. The best cruise lines to go on for kids activities would be Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. My recommendation would be Royal Caribbean.

Noble Angel

My first Cruise was an anniversery cruise too and like you we took you 2 boys however they were older than you 2, they had a blast at Camp Carnival. I have also seen a good number of babies on the ship too so what ever you need to do, go for it and enjoy.

as for your youngest here is the Babysitting info:
What are the fees for Babysitting?

Besides the complimentary Camp Carnival activities that are available everyday, babysitting is also available every evening from 10pm to 3am. Infants - 8 year olds have their slumber party in the Playroom with movie time, snacks and drinks. 9-11 year olds have After Hours with video games, movies, board games, snacks and drink from 10pm to 12am.. They will join regular babysitting from 12am to 3am. The charge for babysitting is $6.00 per hour for the first child and $4.00 for each additional sibling and will be charged to your Sail & Sign card. We also work out the charge per 15 minute intervals, so we do not charge parents if their child does not stay a full hour and only part of it. Please sign up with the Youth Staff in advance.

Is Camp Carnival Available for Children Under 2?

Camp Carnival is unable to accept children Under 2 years during activity times but we do offer babysitting services for you within Camp Carnival. We do not offer in cabin babysitting. Babysitting services for Under 2's are available each evening from 10pm-3am as well as our Family Play Times on Sea Days and during freeplay times on port days. All babysitting services for Under 2's are charged at babysitting price ($6.00 an hour). During Family Play Times on Sea Days parents with Under 2's are welcome to stay with their under 2's at no charge. Check the on board Camp Carnival capers for specific times.

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/FAQLanding.aspx

sexydevil666969

disney cruises have activitites for the kids so you can be alone and have fun too.

stephanie s

most do allow the ages of your children but just a few insights for you
you will not be able to put ur baby in the kiddie pools even with swim diapers. i do believe that royal caribbean does now have a little splash area on their new ships that allow swim diapers. i dont know if your baby likes water but when my dd was that age she was a fish. also you might want to bring a small inflatable pool so you can bathe your baby (they have shower stalls in the cabins)
disney does have a nursery and they will change diapers
other then that the youngest youth program allows kids at age 2,and they must be potty trained. royal caribbean does have a fisher price play area that is 45 min a day and parent must be there
formula is really expensive at the ports, and so are diapers.
royal caribbean offers inside cabin babysitting at a rate per hour and you reserve at the persurs desk. there is no guarentee that you will have one though, it is usually staff who wants a few extra bucks. carnival offers night time babysitting through camp carnival with a fee as well and i do beleive princess does.
i honestly think your best bet would be dinsey if you could afford it. their sodas are free, they have stuff that is adult only, and all the staff that would watch your children is certified. they do offer great land and sea deals that you go to disney world for a few days with hotel stay at a diney resort and then a 4 day cruise to the bahamas. their private island is also very nice. these packages usually start at 800$ pp but they have infant rates and child rates.
i would also advise to check on the family board on cruisecritic. com there are alot of other moms there that will give good advise.

Luis C

Please...Please DO NOT TAKE THEM ON CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES!!!!! They hire (CHILD MOLESTERS) no background check ...My 12yr son was RAPED/MOLESTED by a CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE CREW EMPLOYEE!!!! FBI has already arrested this Pedophile

Ararodiel

7 months is a little young. Carnival has a whole program (Camp Carnival) for kids the age of your older child, but as far as someone less than 4, not likely. This would also create problems with having to get passports for all of you, and I am not sure if there are age limits on passports. Plus the issue of seasickness with an infant. I think it would be best if you wait.

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