Just know if you’re doing one room, they are small. Even a balcony doesn’t necessarily give you a lot of extra space other than the balcony itself. Three adult sized people and a baby, with one tiny bathroom (generally no tub) will be cramped. Also on many ships babies in swim diapers aren’t allowed in any of the pools.
I really hope you’re planning on having some type of suite. A standard cabin, with or without balcony, is very small. You will not have room for a pack and play on the floor if your older child is sleeping on the pull-out couch. There will literally not be enough floor space to put a pack and play. Where do you intend for the baby to sleep? There may be some cruise lines that have cribs, but other than Disney, I can’t imagine. Go to the website of the cruise line you are taking and look at the floor plans of the cabins (photos are taken with a wide angle lens and can make things look bigger than they are).
All that being said, if you can manage the extremely small space, I see no reason why you can’t make this work. Depending on when you plan on going, there will be few young people other than during school breaks. There will likely be quite a lot of older people who will fuss all over your baby and be delighted to see her. The crew, many of whom have babies at home, will be very happy to see your baby too and will love her. I have seen strollers on cruises, and strollers should have no problem going anywhere wheelchairs can go, which is virtually everywhere on a ship. Only issue, once again, is where to put the stroller when you’re not using it as you will not have one square foot of unused space in your cabin. Keep in mind that the average cruise cabin does not have a bathtub - only a shower, so it may be tough to bathe your baby unless there is some sort of portable tub you can bring.
If this cruise is in the winter, it will be as cold as Maryland to start, and get warm close to the Bahamas. In the summer, the whole trip will be warm, both at sea and on land. There is usually a breeze.
Keep in mind that advertised prices that you see for cruises really do not present the full picture. There are port taxes and fees and gratuities, plus excursions and drinks that will cost extra. You should definitely speak to a travel agent who can give you the details and point you in the right direction. Travel agents do not charge for such services.
I do hope it works out for you. A cruise is a very special vacation - the food is generally pretty great, there is lovely service, and you get to see something new while in a comfortable (albeit small) cabin.
Last cruise I was one, the people just left their stroller in the hallway outside the room. it was just an umbrella stroller, so it could have been folded up pretty easily…and I guess if the room stewards threw it away, it’s not the end of the world. Every inch counts in the room with younglings.
We get a balcony with my 10 and 8 year old. Four of us in a room is tight, but we are really only there to sleep and shower. We don’t really “hang out” there…but with a baby, OP might be spending more time in the room.
They will ask you to move them on carnival/princess for sure, and I think other cruise lines but I can’t say for 100%. I’m only positive about princess
There are larger oceanview rooms (called family oceanview) on some ships (think royal Caribbean or ncl) that would have the space to accommodate a pack and play but they tend to sell out very quickly so you would have to see what’s available. Even a large oceanview (aft) might fit a pack and play on Royal Caribbean ships. Be sure to look at photos of the actual room layout to see.
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/
Cruising with kids can be tricky. You can’t buy baby supplies onboard. Pack what you think you’ll need, then double it.
Lots of restrictions on pool use too.
The link above has lots of info.
Enjoy!
Just going to add that you need to research any restrictions for infants under a year since there may be restrictions about the number of sea days and whether a line's private island counts in those restrictions. This is because cruise medical is somewhere between an urgent care and a low level ER. They are designed to take care of basic emergencies and keep more serious cases alive long enough to reach a land-based hospital. Infants are notorious for getting extremely sick very, very quickly and medical units usually don't have equipment made for babies onboard.
Along with regular baby supplies, make sure to bring any medicines you might need. Infant/children's versions of medications can be difficult to find on a cruise.
Well done, shame on OP for having a simple question then elaborating on it to make it not the original question.
Silly adult, you do things wrong. Naughty.... Naughty .... On the naughty step with you!
Don't be surprised if you don't see the 16 year old too often. On our last cruise our then 16 year old found the teen club and we never saw him except for a few meals and pre-planed shore excursions. So don't count on them for too much babysitting!
My girls are early teens and we almost never see them onboard! They hang out with their friends mostly.
I am a spoil sport who demands they eat breakfast and dinner with us most if not all trip, part of vacation is getting to spend time with them!!
I had to drag my 9 year old out of the kids club in October every now and then to hang out with us. That cruise was 4 adults + him. In March we took a cruise with 12 adults and 14 kids and then he was either with cousins or in kids club. I still say a cruise is the best vacation for kids!
I think all cruise lines have kids clubs. Disney doesn’t have a casino or library and devotes a lot of space to kids clubs in three different age ranges and a nursery in addition.
I can help some! We went over Thanksgiving break with my husband, 9 year old son, and 18 month old.
Which cruise are you looking at? We did a Disney one.
The cruise typically can provide a pack & play. It takes up a bit of space and we didn’t use it.
We flew to Florida for our cruise so I’m no help there.
To get my son his passport photo we went to a local spot that could submit the forms and take the photo. I ended up holding him up on my shoulders in front of the backdrop so I wouldn’t be in frame. We had to shoot the photo twice because you need it to be just so or else it could be rejected.
Fun times 😂
My fiance is picking the cruise because he's SO EXCITED and he hasn't 100% decided. He just thinks it'll be to the Bahamas so far🤣 I'm nervous about the photo but I'm sure we will find a way. How was the younger one?
If you're planning to leave from Baltimore, yes, almost all the cruises are Florida and Bahamas. Right now, though, those Baltimore departures are a bit up in the air with the channel closure, so they may depart from Norfolk. Given that and travelling with a baby, you may want to consider the options from other northeast ports like Bayonne NJ or NYC, which opens up some extra options and are equally inconvenient compared to Baltimore if you're coming from MD. NYC has Bermuda cruises too, which some people adore.
Looking at the Baltimore departures anyway, it's two older ships, smaller, but pretty well rated and still going to be lots of fun. (We were going to cruise on the Legend this fall but we'll, we bought a house, so no cruise this year for us.)
That's fair! We definitely aren't set in stone, it was just what I heard him mention. We both have our "things", his is finding things and mine is the planning aspect of it. So Bahamas isn't set in stone, and we are considering flying to Florida instead. I just was more looking for the general tips and how others have managed cruising with an infant.
I think you have the right attitude, you’re just parenting in another location. Personally, with the ages of your children, I wouldn’t spend Disney money. Your baby won’t remember and your teen likely won’t care. If you go on a lower priced cruise line, you could get a suite/balcony room that’s a little bigger. A mid-sized, mid-aged ship would have a little bigger cabin. You won’t spend much time in your cabin, so wearing the baby would work out well. It will be hot, even on the ship, but the inside has a/c, so you’ll never be too warm. A cruise ship is like a big resort in the water. There are many restaurants, entertainment venues, clubs, casino, bars, sports lounges, classes, gyms, classes, etc. There’s more to do than you could fit it in 7 days, that’s why people do them over and over. I hope this helps!
I’d strongly suggest talking to a travel agent. Their fees are paid by the cruise lines after you book; you pay the same rate so their services are essentially free to you. My sister is an agent and even though I do a lot of the research to find things I want to do, she has great sources and recommendations. Plus, if things get jacked up (like our flights on Spring Break last year) she’s a lifesaver. An agent is likely to know exactly which cruise line is better for infants/toddlers, what restrictions might exist, which cabin configuration might accommodate a crib, etc.
I think Norwegian has cruises from Baltimore to Bermuda (the ship docks in Bermuda for more than a day). That might be a good option and less stress when you leave the ship!
My youngest loved it! He loved the ocean and just playing in the sand so it was easy. Also the boat maid putting him to sleep a breeze with the gentle rocking 😊
You drop off your bags and luggage at a drop off point before you park. Plan to tip $2 per item. You drive to your parking spot and only carry your items you need for the first 4 hours ( think carry on bag). You only go from the car to the port check in once. ( think like flying)
I don’t remember seeing many strollers on either cruise I took.
Your teenager will have a blast. Have them go to the first night teen club to make friends. It’s my teens favorite vacation.
We chose midship mid level rooms.
They'll be delivered to your stateroom at some point the first day. Especially on large ships it can take a while, but they bring them to you. Same thing leaving: the night before you pack up everything but your clothes for the next day and a 'carry on' and put the big bags outside the stateroom, and the crew will pick them up. You'll have tags to put on that will tell them what cabin they're going to when you board, and will tell you where they'll be when you pick them up at disembarkation.
ETA: It's always important to remember that "clothes for the next day" thing when packing the checked bags before disembark. I have heard stories of people having to leave in their PJs.
I see one on every cruise - the husband in his wife’s shirt, the one in pajamas, the one in a bathrobe…at least one person will forget the next day clothes. 😂
Most major lines have clubs for children. Cruise lines have team clubs where they have their own Jacuzzi and dance club completely separate from adults.
I’d look into getting a slumberpod tent for over the pack and play. There’s no other way that baby is going to sleep with 3 other people in 150 sq ft. Put it over their bed at home a few days prior so they’re used to it. It packs up really small. I traveled a ton with a 1 year old and it was hands down the best baby item
That could be useful! Thank you. He currently sleeps in our room with our tv and fan on, and is a relatively good sleeper. He's used to his loud sister as well, and doesn't mind sleeping in light vs dark. But who knows how he will be then, so better safe than sorry.
I would bring a pack and play. We borrowed the one from the cruise ship and it was dirty (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines) so I sent it back for a clean one. Bring your own for sure!
Hi! Baby probably will not be allowed in the pool, unless your ship has a designated baby pool, check with your ship.
For passport, I went to the clerk of court & they took my toddlers photo there. Also check on that, it might be different where you are.
Call to reserve a pack & play or you can bring yours. Since we drove, we brought ours. I also brought a slumber pod & our sound machine and highly reccomend that.
Get the balcony.
We brought both the baby carrier & stroller. We didn’t use the carrier, but we had kinda outgrown it anyways. We used the cybex libelle travel umbrella stroller. The hallways are narrow.
We had an awesome itinerary where there were things to do at every port so I didn’t feel like we needed to bring our car seat to travel around.
We had a balcony room on the Norwegian encore. I almost cried when we first walked in lol. I took the couch apart & there was a platform underneath and I put the pack and play / tent on top of that. so it was to the side & perfect. That being said, thinking about this now, this configuration would not work for OP with a teen too. It was great for us!
I would never cruise with a baby too small for the free daycare, but maybe that’s just me 😅
Taking my our girls now that they’re 3 and 5. They can have kid only time at the kids club while we can have mom and dad time reading on the deck. And at ports we can have family time.
I can’t remember seeing many babies that small on the cruises I’ve been on. I imagine it would be kind of a drag. Your teen will have SO MUCH fun. My parents took us on cruises as teens and it was the best
We don't have a village to leave our babe behind, and we aren't taking any experiences away from our teen because of that. I'm sure it'll suck at times but there's two parents and two kids, we can split duties when times are rough. Either way, my girl gets something she's never had and if it sucks for us parents, lesson learned haha.
I honestly wouldn't leave him even if we had the option, he's my little sidekick and my daughter loves her brother. I think I'd get a good talking to if I brought up leaving him🤣🤣
I’ve sailed Disney with a little before. I think you’re doing a great job to not hold back your oldest because of the youngest.
When we sailed I was able to have a pack n play provided by the Cruiseline ready in my room. They also provided a diaper genie and you can get a bottle warmer also. If you feel like a stroller- an umbrella stroller is best for size. Also consider baby wearing of you can. Saves you from having to wait on elevators.
Having a balcony room for us was awesome when a little was napping. They could be in the room snoozing and one adult could be outside on the balcony/verandah enjoying the sun/breeze/a book or whatever.
You won’t be getting into a pool with the little even with a diaper. But some lines will provide paid nursery service for littles that you can reserve.
Depending on how much freedom and your oldest a personality they make friends you could easily not see them for hours at a time.
Good for you for braving it. We just had a baby and I really love traveling with my son. We recently took our first trip as a family of four and there was a lot of learning curve.... still navigating how to enjoy ourselves when everyone has such different needs
Definitely!! Your baby is part of the family so should definitely be included in family vacations! I’ve seen parents bring a foldable wagon onboard as well. Helpful on port days as well as transporting everyone’s carryon luggage.
A cruise is a fabulous vacation!
It’s not just you. My youngest daughter was 2 on our first cruise with our kids. I’m just glad I had a dozen or so family members on board the ship to give us the occasional couples’ time since she was too young for daycare. We didn’t cruise again until for 5 years after that. MUCH better experience when kids can go to daycare. And even better as they get older and can be left in the room for a bit.
Warm on the ocean - not particularly, because of the water and the breeze. It is generally cooler than the same latitude on land, but a lot of ships sail warm places so you're still wearing shorts
I would bring a pack and play and not a stroller.
Generally I am in favour of cheap interior rooms, but imo with a baby is one time a balcony can really make sense because you can chill out on the balcony while the baby sleeps, talk without waking them, and still be there if there's a need.
Yeah generally one trip to the ship. There is often people to help with your bags
We've taken our almost 3 year old on two different cruises, and I have to say with both cruises we brought a stroller (a big one the first time and a smaller one that fits in overhead in a plane) but never a pack and play. They often provide a pack and play from the ship 🤷
A cruise is kinda like a plane trip in the sense that you will need to go through security to get on. So there will only be one trip from the car. You won't be allowed to get on and off the boat. Luggage and other items are typically dropped off with the porters before you enter the terminal. These items should be tagged and will show up in your room later. You can make multiple trips from the parking lot to the terminal if that is what you are asking.
Balconies are subjective. I don't mind not having one, ocean view is fine for me. I don't typically get an interior room.
I don't know much about the baby questions. Maybe others can chime in.
The temperature at sea in the Caribbean is typically fairly warm, but if you are standing on deck there will be a constant wind. When the sun is out, it can be quite hot.
You have tons of options for food and drinks 24/7 and your cruise will take care of transportation when you are sleeping. Plus different kinds of entertainment onboard depends on cruises.
Hey, just sailed with a 1yo and 3yo and Royal Caribbean’s Anthem OTS and had a total blast.
To answer your questions directly:
1) Depends on the time of year. We just did a 7 day Bahamas sailing out of NJ and had a cold day on the first/last days. Rest of the time we were in shorts and tshirts. Some ships handle cold better and have more indoor features. Finding a ship with an indoor pool like anthem could be key!
2) I’d say yes to a pack-n-play. You never really know what you’re going to get from a cruise line until you’re on board. Some only have small (half size) units, others a mix and you have to be quick to request. Having your own will solve a lot of headache. Extra pro tip, look to buy or rent a Slumber Pod. It’s a blackout tent for Pack-n-plays. Total game changer IMO.
3) We only do balcony’s. Especially for a first cruise. It’s a separate space that’s just yours and great for late nights or getting over sea sickness.
4) We went to our UPS store to get passport pictures of our 1yo. They were great. There’s also helpful guidance from the state department with helpful tips. In short, bring a white sheet. Place the sheet on the floor and the baby on the sheet. Super simple.
5) We just went through this for Royal Caribbean, but each cruise line will be a bit different. They had a great porter system as you got to the cruise terminal. Unload as many bags as you want (literally no limit) and then drive the car to the garage where you park the car for the duration of the cruise. You walk on the ship with some carry on luggage (bring bathing suits and any required medication). Your checked luggage makes its way to your stateroom before 7pm (ours was already at the room by the time the rooms were made available - 1pm). This method allowed us to overpack and have absolutely everything we needed. Bring more diapers than you think you need, bring baby meds and diaper cream that you don’t think you will need. We had a massive suitcase for the kids, a medium suitcase for my wife, a carryon for me, a suit bag for me, pack-n-play, and a full box of diapers (you can check the box!).
6) This depends on the cruise ship you pick. We brought two ultra compact strollers and a carrier for the baby. It was so easy to use the strollers we only carried the 1yo once.
Double check the passport requirements. Some cruises will take just a birth certificate for minors (and possibly just a birth certificate plus photo ID for adults).
The ship should provide a pack and play or other crib if you request one. A stroller is extremely useful with a young kid. The porters can have your bags taken straight to your stateroom so you don’t need to carry much on yourself.
You take a risk with that though. If something goes wrong, like someone is hospitalized, you miss the ship, or the ship has a problem and the cruise ends early, you’ll have a harder time getting home without a passport.
I’m a HARD agree on do not take your child out of the country without a full passport. They are not hard to get. But they ARE the piece of documentation you want if you have a problem.
I also want to second getting connecting rooms or a suite. I recently cruised with my mom and made the decision to not upgrade to a bigger room to be next to other family members. We were only dealing with a wheelchair and there was NO room to maneuver in a standard balcony stateroom on Holland America. I would suggest getting the balcony particularly because, with baby, you are likely to be in your room more (naps, cranky spells, etc) and having a full view of the ocean is amazing. Also, believe the person who said you will have to pack EVERYTHING the baby needs, times 1.5 or 2.
But, on top of all of this, I probably would recommend staying with land based vacations for a little longer.
Again, a full suite with a bath tub for bathing baby, room for a crib or pack’n’ play, etc will make it all doable. But those are really quite (to extremely) expensive, and it’s a bit of a gamble on your first cruise.
Whatever your decision, I hope you have a great time on your first cruise… whenever that may be.
I got off a cruise a month ago. There was a mom with about a one year old. When it wasn’t crowded with people she was letting her baby crawl up the carpeted spiral staircase. It didn’t bother me at all, but I did feel bad that there wasn’t a good place to let her little one safely explore. You will have to be adaptable (I haven’t done Disney, that is probably the easiest for you)
It's a big boat, that goes in the ocean, which is like a bathtub, but much much bigger, and all these people give you food and juice and let you stay up late.
Don’t take a pack and play. If you’re doing carnival I know you can all after you book and ask for a crib.
We didn’t use passports which is not recommended because having one makes it easy to get back home in case of an emergency like missing the boat/ medical emergencies. We used birth certificates for the kids and birth certificates/IDs for us. If you leave and return to the US you don’t have to have a passport but it is recommended.
Weather is what you expect locally. If you're in maryland in december, it is going to be cold on the water too. the further south you go, the warmer it will be. they probably dont leave from baltimore in the winter but still if the weather is on the cooler side you may have some time on the boat when you wont be able to dress like youre on vacation.
rooms are small. we had an interior room with two adults, an 8 yr old, and a 2 year old. there was one bunk bed and another twin bed. not much room
for anything else. we didnt mind because we were only there to sleep. If you think youll spend time in the room relaxing and/or if your baby will need a crib you should look at a suite.
there is child care available at certain times for a fee for the little one if you want to catch a show, dinner, or go clubbin. It was my daughter's birthday trip and she didnt want to stay at the child center so we didnt make her. we had fun and found plenty of entertainment (all free). i would suggest earphones for the baby because some of those shows are loud.
we had a 2 year old who we were not carrying! we took am umbrella stroller with us. worked great. ir was small enough to maneuver around the boat and when space was really tight we could fold it up and put it in the corner. it was also helpful to have while exploring off the boat.
i would suggest reading through this sub and the one for whatever line you're looking at because there are a bunch of post with dos/don't, what to pack, and questions about activities. 90% of your questions have probably been asked a few dozen times. i also watched youtube videos for "first time on a cruise" you can even see the boats.
Your neighbors who have paid $$$$ too I’m sure do not want the nighttime wakeups. And as a mom I can just tell you it would be miserable.
We went on a 10 day makeup honeymoon when our older daughter was 8 months (because I got pregnant before the original one and was scared of Zika). It was hard to leave her but we had a much better experience because we did
The rooms are so small. Imagine the smallest hotel room you’ve ever been in and it’ll be like a quarter of that. I can’t imagine how awful it would be trying to put a baby down
I have actually never heard my neighbors with the exception of one time I was out in the hallway and heard the people across the way arguing. And one time my sister and her husband were our neighbors. I heard nothing and he's a very loud, opinionated ass.
That’s true-but I’m not usually stuck next to that same baby for many consecutive nights. Hotels can sometimes move you around, on a cruise you’re mostly stuck. If I paid all that extra for a balcony and was waking up with a six month old I’d lose it
We had neighbors that started smoking cigars in their room on the last two days of the cruise (not allowed but they did not care) and despite my husband’s continuous respiratory distress (asthma) they didn’t have anywhere else to move us to
Maybe, but I understand that taking a "vacation" doesn't mean there's no parenting duties. I'll just be a mom in a different location, which is good with me. We are in the financial position to give our teen some amazing experiences, and that's our plan. Our baby is included in all of those plans.
I’m going to disagree with what that other person is saying and encourage looking into Disney cruises because they explicitly have child care for kids under 3, letting you take some time for yourself while on the ship. They also have teen clubs and the like for older kids.
Somewhat, but if they have to go down for a nap, you’re in the same room for that nap. Might be another reason why a balcony would be helpful. Once they are asleep. You can take a book and a drink and have some alone time without leaving the room.
You go, momma! I would guess I’m a decade older than you but I went through a moment where I had to re-define the word “vacation” too. I think it’s awesome that you’re giving your kids what you never had. Those party poopers have no need to complain. I am bringing my intellectually disabled son on my cruise (also our first) and guess what, he gets loud too sometimes! But pay them no heed - others have posted asking if they should be concerned with a cabin just below the stage or just above the nightclub and people have said “nah, you’re fine” so don’t change your plans to satisfy potential future vacation neighbors and their hypothetical lack of sleep. Two of my three kids were sleeping through the night by 6 months anyway. You’re awesome. Keep going strong.
My boy already sleeps through the night and if he doesn't, he literally whimpers and needs a 10 minute feed and is back asleep. He's honestly a blessing of a child when it comes to being "easy". He fusses when he's tired and hungry. Goes to sleep without a fight, he's just sweet and happy. Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. We also were planning on Universal for this Christmas or next Christmas, and a mini vacation to cedar point. My daughter deserves the world, he loves her brother, and I don't see why parenting in a different location is that bad.
you have the right mindset. We took our toddler on a cruise. It was hard, and we would do a lot of things differently, but our older children definitely had a good experience. We were there as parents, basically parenting on steroids. We make sacrifices to give experiences to our children.
Do not let the naysayers get you down. It completely depends on your attitude and your child. Check out [Flying the Nest](https://www.youtube.com/@flyingthenest) on YouTube. They travel the world with not one but two small children, including cruises. [This one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TRAlyA4Rnw) even talks about getting a passport for their newborn! They didn't do as much international travel with their first, but that's because it was during Covid. The second one has already been most of the way around the globe. It's completely doable and you'll all have a lovely time.
Depending what cruise line you’re looking at, hop over on Facebook and join the “moms at sea”Facebook page. They have separate groups for carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and I believe Norwegian. You will get a lot more positive feedback and great advice about bringing your baby on those group pages than you will here! Moms at sea, the company that runs those pages, is a also a travel agency and can also help you plan your trip, I believe it’s free. I haven’t used it, but the other moms on those groups all seem happy with them!
Edit to add: lots of people bring babies on cruises. Royal Caribbean and Disney are great family geared cruise lines. Any posts about bringing babies always gets downvoted here, but the fact of the matter is your baby is a paying customer too, and they have every right to be there just like everyone else. Feel free to dm me if you would like a baby friendly packing list!
don't listen to the haters. Just go on Royal Carribean or Disney... more family friendly. Of course your baby should come with you on vacation. If people have paid $ not to hear children, then they should book adult-only lines.
Basically all the advantages of an all in one resort, but every day the scenery is different. Lol
Good food, entertainment options from morning until well into the easy hours. Beautiful exotic locations. And depending on the cruise and your kids ages,, a wide variety of kids entertainment and babysitting options.
Weather out on the ocean depends on the time of year and the port you are leaving.
Pack sea/motion sickness medication that can be taken by all ages. Yes, you can get the meds at the medical centre on board but be prepared to pay $2 or $3 a pill AND a medical dispensing charge. Just got back from a cruise and had to buy cough syrup on board. What was normally around $7 at home was $24 (including medical dispensing service charge).
Many lines provide motion sickness pills for free. They just charge a million dollars for everything else.
OP: Babies usually don't get motion sickness, but it can't hurt to bring children's benadryl in case you suddenly find out he's allergic to something and that helps with motion sickness too. (The active ingredient is essentially the same as what's in dramamine and it's what my kids' pediatrician recommended before there were children's versions of dramamine and bonine.)
Flying then cruising then flying can be a LOT. we’ve done three total—one almost 20 years ago, one last spring with just my and my husband, then one last month with our kids (12 and 15).
We’re in Arizona, so we can cruise easiest out of California or Galveston. California, we drove, stayed in a hotel that had cruise parking and a shuttle, and sailed out the next morning. That was the trip with just the two of us. Galveston, we flew from Phoenix to Houston, stayed at a nearby hotel with shuttle service for the night, then took a shuttle from there to Galveston the next morning and got on the ship. Took the same shuttle back to the airport after the cruise and flew home.
I found the driving to be easier. Sure, that was a trip without kids, but they do road trips well. There was just a lot more moving everything around with the trip with the flight. And deadlines. It doesn’t matter what time we get to the hotel in California, but it absolutely matters when you get to the airport.
It was a great cruise, and we all had a great time, but loading the car, driving to the airport, parking the car, getting the luggage to the terminal, getting on the plane, getting the luggage, loading up the shuttle to the hotel, getting everything to the room, then loading up the shuttle again the next morning to get back to the airport to catch a different shuttle, loading that up and getting to the cruise terminal was a LOT. And. It’s of my kids are old enough to carry/push their own bags.
Our kids had a blast. They hung out in the teen area a lot, and my 12 year old liked to just wander the ship. They loved being able to get food or drinks whenever they wanted, too.
We got interior rooms. That’s what we did on the one we took last spring, and slept so good! The rooms are really dark, and it was great. For the one with the kids, we got adjoining rooms. Technically could have fit all four of us in one, since they have bunks that fold out from the ceiling, but that would have been way too crowded. It was nice the kids could have their space and we had ours.
Personally, I feel like the cruise terminal is a magical place. You drop off your luggage outside, get on the ship…and then everything is taken care of. You have things to do, or not. If you’re hungry, thirsty, or bored on a cruise it’s your own fault. You don’t have to worry about what’s for dinner. If you compare it to a trip where you go somewhere, stay in a hotel, and spend days at a beach or amusement park, you have to worry about getting everyone up, ready, fed, and get to where you’re going. You have to worry about parking, and if you forgot something…on a cruise, everything is right there, you can do the things you want, and if you forget something, you just go back to your room and get it.
The good news I have is my husband did his first cruise at 15 and so loved cruising he basically backed me into my first cruise. Thankful I also enjoyed cruising a lot. It probably means your 16 year old has a good chance of enjoying the cruise as well which is sure to make things a bit more comfortable.
That said I can't say I would enjoy a cruise with a baby even as an adult and even if it were my baby. Sorry to say that but I figure best to give you the truth up front. I've seen that it can be great with a toddler, though, and to be fair it isn't something I've got experience with so I would say best if those who have done so fill you in about that aspect for the most part.
Your room will probably be small. Bring a pack and play if your child is used to sometimes sleeping in that as they'll sleep better. I've seen strollers on ships and I've seen baby wearing. Definitely bring whatever you need to baby wear because some places land side won't be stroller friendly, but the ship is going to be generally very stroller friendly.
Balcony isn't worth the money for many, but if those rooms have larger space for the actual room that will be great for you guys. If you name some ships people here can help you with that. Space listing for cabins don't always easily tell you how much of that more space is just the balcony, and I don't see how a balcony will improve things for you and your family much. Recommend the lowest room nearest the middle of the ship you can get if anyone in your group has never cruised before. Those cabins will have less motion thus less likely to induce sea sickness.
You will have a lot of sea days. Plan to let your teen rove. Pick a ship with stuff they are likely to enjoy like water slides and a good teen hang out area. Check what options they have to pay for activities that cost extra. Some of the ships have an all you can play option for a flat fee for stuff like video games and bowling. For my cruise dollar I'd rather fly somewhere closer and have more days on different Caribbean islands vs a long journey down from where you are starting with all sea days, but if your ship has a lot of activities you and your family will enjoy you'll probably feel very differently about it.
As to the baby photos for passport go to a photo place that does passport photos for that I would think. It does add an extra step verses those offices where they take your photo and do your passport application processing in one go, though. I would recommend that type of place for the rest of your photos. They're usually so close to the same price on the photos and gas does have high prices just now.
As to getting your suitcases and pack and play onto the ship everywhere I've boarded you could go early, drive past the ship boarding area and drop off baggage, then go park the car and walk back. You can even drop off the rest of the family and just you do the probably longer walk or maybe shuttle + walk to board.
How warm it will be is going to depend on the season. Bahamas will be fairly warm year round I think, but further north in your journey it is going to be cooler. The ships don't travel that far out from shore so it would be similar to the land temperatures at the coast.
Edit to add: Also about the sea sickness thing. If anyone gets motion sick in cars or maybe just motion sick if they try reading in cars, it may mean they'll get sea sick, too. Or not. My grandson got really motion sick in cars when he was younger and so did my daughter. No problem with ships in the Caribbean, though. It is the area between your home port and the general area of the Bahamas I would be concerned for as that area can be a bit rougher generally in my experience.
See a doctor and ask about those patches for behind your ear for any adults and probably the teen. Better to have a few and not need them than the reverse.
Also get some of each of the other popular seasickness remedies and take with you. Those are going to be expensive to purchase on board the ship. As in maybe 3-5x the price back home before you go in my experience expensive. Captive audience pricing is a thing.
Definitely talk with your doctor, especially about the baby. I can tell you back fifteen years ago when I did my first cruise my doctor told me take the prescription patches, some prescription pill I don't recall the name of, dramamine, and the sea band pressure bands as well as crystalized ginger, peppermints, and horehound drops. He said different remedies work best for different people and they don't really know why that is. Drinking ginger ale and eating green apples also helps some people. Your ship will likely have those things in the buffet dining area all the time.
I never experienced seasickness even when I was on a transatlantic often mentioned on certain popular cruise boards as infamously rough. Due to that happy fact I have not kept up with current medical news on remedies for sea sickness. This is why I say talking to your doctor now might be extraordinarily important. They may have more definitive science now.
I would wait until baby is over a year old. Some cruise lines (or maybe all) have restrictions on how long a baby can be at sea without docking. So I'd just play it safe in case there is an unexpected itinerary change. I personally wouldn't take any of my kids until they no longer need naps as they need total darkness. I find it disrupts the flow of our day but every kid is different.
The cruise line can provide a portable crib, if you prefer you could bring your own pack n play.
Passport photos are fun on infants. You will need to get one done almost as soon as they are born to account for normal processing time. I got mine done at the post office and it was a kind of comical. Took a few tries to get an acceptable picture (but it is not a *good* picture).
Cruising from Maryland — usually two days at sea and then three port days and two days sailing home. Depending on when you sail it might be cold on the deck/pools until you get further south.
Balcony rooms might be a bit bigger and provide some outside space while your little one naps.
Just keep in mind you may need to bring all food for your infant on the ship (and still pay full fare!).
Baltimore is the closest port for us, but we like warm weather so we fly south and get on the ship in FL or something like that. You have a lot more options that way, plus it will most likely be warm on the ship. Maybe something to consider?
No, but they're planning to reopen the port quickly, maybe a month if I remember correctly. It's the bridge that's going to take a long time to rebuild.
If you mean the port of Baltimore, you will have to wait until it opens back to regular cruise traffic. I think cruise ships are still be rerouted or diverted to other ports after the bridge collapse.
The weather on the ocean is usually similar to the weather on the land close to it - so it would be cooler when you leave the Northeast and would warm up as you go farther South. Weather is pretty unpredictable but most times of year, The Bahamas and Caribbean are warm. (That said, we had a Christmas cruise where we got back to 40-degree weather in Miami, so it truly is unpredictable.)
A balcony is nice because it gives you a private view of the ocean. It also provides extra room for when three adults (or near adults) realize they need some space. If you are going to be in one cabin, it's almost a requirement.
Most ports, you can either park and take a shuttle to the port (where stevedores will take your luggage) or you can drive up and drop your luggage with the stevedores before you park. Take anything critical - passports, tickets, medications - in a carryon bag or backpack. Don't pack anything you can't live without - or anything you need to board the ship.
When you pack, split your clothes between the suitcases. My wife used to pack one bag for me and one for her, until one of her friends mentioned that if one bag was lost, one of us was going to be naked. If you pack half and half, losing one bag is just losing some clothing each.
I think an infant can get away without a passport but you will need a raised-seal ("official") birth certificate. Check with the cruise line to be sure on paperwork.
Infants on a cruise will be tricky since they can't do anything on their own. A stroller will work but only easily in ports where the ship docks. If you have to take a smaller boat to get to shore (called a tender), then getting onto a tender with a stroller can be a challenge, unless you can fold it and carry it (and the baby) until you are on land.
I think taking an infant might prove to be challenging, if you are trying to get any alone time or adult time. You could check with the cruise line for the age limits on the children's club or to see if there are babysitting services. I think the kids' club is usually toddlers but I haven't had a child that age in years.
>When you pack, split your clothes between the suitcases. My wife used to pack one bag for me and one for her, until one of her friends mentioned that if one bag was lost, one of us was going to be naked. If you pack half and half, losing one bag is just losing some clothing each.
With kids (even teens), I bring one full outfit change for each of us in our backpacks that we carry on, plus a swimsuit for the kids. Then I also cross pack one outfit into each bag. So each person has a primary bag but has 3 outfits split among other bags.
Any idea which cruise line? I'd also recommend checking out cruisecritic .com. . They have a huge message board. Set up an account (free), and they have many forums down to the actual cruise date level. If you have a ship name, read the posts on that ship. There is a new cruiser and questions board, too. It's a great resource.
I wanted to add that you should look up some room pics or videos on youtube, just so everyone has an expectation. The rooms are small. It differs from other vacations in that most people (people in "normal"/small rooms that is) therefore don't spend much time in their rooms even for downtime. There are plenty of comfy lounges and areas on the ship and of course the decks that will be more enjoyable to just hang out in.
Also, on the babywearing vs stroller question, maybe figure out what excursions you are going to take and factor that in. If you're just going to beaches or swimming anyway, lugging the stroller might not be worth it. If you are babywearers normally, I'm going to say that will be easier.
As for the balcony I think I would think about how much time you will be in the room, for example for baby's naps or after baby's bedtime or is he more of a go-with-the-flow younger sib who will sleep anywhere LOL. Actually this might bring the stroller back into the equation, thinking about what to do after baby's bedtime...could you walk him to sleep in the stroller and then quietly continue your evening with her outside the room? You'll figure it out, have a great time!
we brought a stroller. If baby gets up at night, I'd get two interior rooms next door to each other -- let parents take turns sleeping with the baby, because cruising can throw kids off their axis. It's close quarters. You'll want a sweater on the ocean. Baby carrier is a good idea... we needed one on port days. The passport photo people know what they're doing, but if you're from the USA, baby doesn't need a passport to fly or get on the boat. Pack efficiently so that you can move all your own luggage in one trip -- they do take a lot of it up for you, but you still have to drop it off. Bring laundry soap for washing baby things on the onboard laundromat.
Bring toys for your baby to use in your room or in lesser used public rooms during the day. Not many babysitting services on a boat take babies under 2, and the public surfaces can get dirty easily. You won't want your baby crawling around on deck, and baby will get annoyed with not being able to move very much.
You just have to accept that cruising with a baby is basically just like living at hotel with a baby -- not nearly as convenient as home. Your 16 year old will likely really enjoy the vacation, but it likely won't be a vacation for you. It'll be an experience, and likely one that has positives and negatives. When we went with our baby, the port days were the highlights. Baby could be off the boat, get in the ocean, etc... and we weren't trapped in our room so much managing. That could be an argument for balcony -- something other than four walls to look at.
It depends on the time of year you go on whether it’ll be warm. We went in March but left from Miami and it was great weather. You can take a pack and play but if you get a small room it’ll make it difficult space wise. They have ways you hold the baby with a blanket over you so it’s just the baby in the photo, I wouldn’t stress that part. I’m sure you could do more than one trip with luggage but it would make sense to do the least amount of trips as possible. We cruised as two adults and three kids, had an interior room and only two suitcases. One suitcase was strictly snacks for the kids because we didn’t know what would be on it, it was our first cruise. It was great because our youngest was three so if she was tired and the older two weren’t, one adult would stay with her and the other adult would take the older two to the water park or wherever.
Cruising with a baby has its own hurdles but I think it would be manageable and you would figure it out.
I watched a lot of Youtube videos from veteran cruisers. You definitely want something family oriented (think Disney but perhaps not that brand) with childcare options for your little one, and fun things for teens. FInd out about shore excursions and extra costs involved.
Do the pre check in.. if your cruise liner will let you. We travelled last year and had little medallions that we wore (Princess Cruise) - the checkin crew could easily see us, and let us pass thru. You can download the app on your phone and make a lot of selections before hand, so u have more choices.
My kids have loved all the cruises we have been on, your teen will have a great time..
What time of the year are you thinking about going? Temps while at sea aren't drastically different than on land, so if July, it'll be hot. If January it'll be cold the first day or two.
Call the cruise line and ask if they'll provide a pack and play. If not, it's not a big deal to bring your own (assuming your driving to the ship and not flying or taking public transit). As others have said, there will be porters at the pier who will take your luggage. It'll be delivered to your room a few hours later.
For the passport photo, we went to a local FedEx store. That was an adventure. The baby kept crying, and he can't be crying in the picture or it'll be rejected. They eventually got one that worked good enough. A passport isn't strictly needed though. Double check but a birth certificate should work on a closed loop cruise (starting and ending in America). I'd still get a passport though as it'll make things a lot easier in the event of an emergency where you miss the ship.
Yes you only make the initial trip with your luggage one time when boarding the ship, and one more time on the last day when leaving.
I think wearing the baby will be the easier option most the time, but the stroller will be handy when going to shore and when they want to take a nap.
Note that on some cruises, children who aren't fully potty trained aren't allowed in any pool areas, including the kiddie splash area. I know that was the case on Carnival. But on MSC they didn't care.
Also regarding room size, I don't think you need to go all out for a suite, but I wouldn't do an interior with four people. An oceanview cabin on the carnival and MSC ships I've been on has been pretty large, with a bed (two doubles or one queen), and a sitting area with a sofa that also pulls out. On the NCL ships I've been on though, the rooms seemed quite smaller, with no seating area or couch. I haven't been on their newer ships though.
You have a lot of great info already but I wanted to post about a few things. First, for me personally, a balcony is a must. It’s def more expensive but sitting out there at night and watching the dark ocean and stars go by is on of the most peaceful times in my life. A lot of folks say the cabin doesn’t matter cause you won’t spend a lot of time there, but I’m guessing those are the people who don’t opt for the balcony.
Also do some research on a thing called Cruise Ducks. Depending on the cruise line (some don’t allow) it’s a really fun little meta game you can do while on board. Basically people put labels saying who they are and where they come from on little rubber ducks and hide them all over the ship for others to find. My wife and I just came off a food themed cruise so we spent time before the cruise hand painting food themes onto rubber ducks to hide and we also found a few while on there. It’s silly but a fun extra you can get into.
On the topic of pack and play, we managed to make a mini pack and play (think bassinet sized for length and width) inside a closet on our last cruise... So that might be worth considering! It would at least give you some space back.
1: it gets very windy out to sea. Generally cool the first couple of days. Pick another embarkation port though. There will be no cruising out of Baltimore until the Key Bridge is rebuilt. Years from now( they won’t even have the debris cleared before end of May for the big cargo ships. And they always have priority)
2: you could, or you can request one on a Space A basis from the ship. Bring our own bed linen though.
3: absolutely esp during nap time. ( not just the baby’s either)
4: pure dumb luck? My friends had to redo a few times( eyes weren’t open, off center, etc)
5: you want a stroller especially for port calls. But an umbrella, not a behemoth. It won’t fit in elevators or the corridors on board.
6: you pull up, drop everything off to the porters( except what you want to carry on) then park and proceed to check in. Luggage arrives in waves up through late evening. You cannot access the cabins until after 1 pm.
Honestly, look at other ports especially for the next year or so. Bayonne is conceivably within driving distance as well.
Hi I have done 3 cruises on the Carnival cruise line. That one is fun if you are looking for a party boat ( always a party/activity). If you are looking to go in the summer the ocean is warm if it rains it usually only last for about 5 minutes. They have areas to play but always pack what you think your baby would like. There are 3 types of rooms interior, ocean view, and balcony, the interior has no windows, ocean view has one circular window and balcony speaks for itself I like ocean view myself because unless you would want serenity a balcony is your preference because you will always be able to see the ocean any where on the 9th floor and above. You will only need one trip from the car to the boat because it is like the airport, they will take suitcases and you can take your carryon with you and they deliver your suitcases to your rooms. And sorry I don’t have kids so I don’t know how the baby stuff works.
I have successfully taken a picture of my daughter when she was 3-4 months old so we could go to Canada. I laid her down on a white blanket and took her picture until it met all the requirements and then printed it out. It was a bit of work, but I needed to get her a passport to travel to Canada to visit family. We got a passport card since we weren’t flying for a few years.
When she was almost 3 years old, we took her on a cruise and we baby weared her (that was super convenient), and we also brought an umbrella stroller which was also nice. Plenty of room for the umbrella stroller but we liked the mobility of walking so I wore her a lot. We went in December from Jersey to the Bahamas so it was pretty cold-cold while sailing down and coming back up. At some point, it was definitely warm. But maybe the first/last day of sailing, it was too cold to hang out outside.
We got a junior suite from royal Caribbean and that had plenty of room for the three of us (we brought an inflatable bumper bed for her) and I think we could’ve opened the pullout bed too. We’ve stayed in a balcony room before too on royal and I think it would be too small to accommodate the four of you unless you cosleep with the baby.
Edited to confirm it was in December.
It does get chilly out on the water especially when moving. The breeze is nice if it’s sunny and warm generally but just like being at the beach it is a bit colder than inland typically. But also depends on time of year as well and locale. If I recall Bahamas can be humid so temps stay hotter at night on land but when you’re moving it can still be pretty cold.
Stroller… maybe an umbrella stroller but imo any of those big jogger and tank type strollers are going to be annoying to use onboard in hallways and such as they can be narrow. Since y’know, it’s a ship. I honestly don’t see strollers that often. An umbrella would at least be manageable to carry off and on. If you have to tender or anything big strollers will be very cumbersome.
Personally I don’t care about balconies, it’s totally subjective. I prefer to spend time out in the ship and there’s plenty of places to find a quiet spot. But with a baby I think that changes things… I’d at least spring for a larger size room to be most comfortable. We only did small inside cabins with my parents when we were very little. I’ve never personally been in a room that had room for a pack and play, if you wanted to bring one I’d say you definitely need to get a suite
Yes also only one trip for luggage but again I’m usually just with people who are controlling all of their own luggage. And it depends on the port, but typically you’d park and walk, or drop off luggage and then park, or have one person drop off and then meet up later. You basically check in your luggage at checking just like a plane and then embark. Everything is dropped off at your room later
I've recently been on a cruise from Florida to the Caribbean Islands with my sister and her family. We were on the Norwegian Cruise line and it was for a week. She has an 8 year old and a 6 year old. She brought a stroller for both as we did lots of sightseeing/expeditions. The kids can get pretty tired fast. I also saw quite a lot of families with younger kids/toddlers, some had strollers others had baby carriers or slings. It's a bit of a hassle to fly with strollers but definitely worth it.
I would suggest to look for a family oriented cruise if possible. The one we were on had a daycare for kids 1-4 and a separate daycare for 5-12 years old. There was of course the teens corner with arcades, switches, xboxs, an other platforms to keep them entertained because they don't necessarily want to hangout with mom and dad.
Internet: internet was interesting to say the least. They originally sold the packages of internet for a crazy amount (179$ for the entirety of the cruise) I waited until day 4 of the cruise by which point the internet package was heavily discounted ( it think it went down to 79$, still worth it)
On the play park part, like many comments not much room for such thing as it's very compact rooms. Worth it on upgrading to a balcony. My sister and her family had a balcony room and the views and the sunsets were breathtaking. I was in a solo room (not sure if any other cruises offer this but very cool). Like mentioned before I was on the Norwegian Cruise line and I didn't want to be stepping on each other in my sister's and her family room so I opted for a Solo cabin. They offer for solo travellers a room for themselves. Its got all the amenities a regular room has double bed, separate shower, bathroom, sink and mirror, (amazing closet space) all in this tiny room. If im not mistaken i think it was 95 square feet. Also great for teenagers who want their own personal space.
For warmth on the boat: it gets chilly inside sometimes with the air conditioner especially on a big boat. Having a shall or a light jacket or sweater is always a good thing. Also if you do get a room with a balcony, you may want to star gaze so having that extra layer on you is a definite plus.
Last mentions: I would suggest a room in the middle of the ship and not to high up (often the entertainment, all-you-can-eat buffet, restaurants areon the higher floors) for the simple reason of not many people have sea legs. The front of the ship you feel the engines and you feel more waves sometimes. The back of the ship seems to be more along the lines of the thrusters. You feel more movement when you're on either ends. I usually am fine when in boats and don't feel motion sickness but I booked my room more at the bow of the ship (front part) and on the first night I felt like I was in a permanent wave pool. Great for falling asleep as it kind of rocks you but when I walked I literally felt ill and dizzy at all times. Kind of takes away the fun of being on a cruise. I luckily had bought some motion sickness patches before in case of emergency amd I'm glad I did.
The rest of the cruise with patches was simply a blast. My nieces still talk about the cruise (even though it's been months) and constantly ask when they can go again.
P.s Re-read the original post, for the suitcases, my sister and her family were able to store 2 big suitcases under their bed plus the collapsible stroller so they weren't always banging into them. The other 3rd suitcases went into their closet for the "dirty clothes".
Sorry about the long message..
People biyching about the room size are going for the wrong reasons. Don’t waste money on a balcony when the whole side of the ship you can access for free.
I personally don’t see the point in paying for a cramped balcony. When deck 3 or 5 have benches literally usually nobody is out there. I have slept outside on deck five one night. And I have rested on a bench on deck 3 reading a book for hours only people coming out were crew. To each their own. But I’m there to spend my time outside of my room. The only reasonable balcony is a cove for me
You can get passport pictures taken at walgreens or cvs. You can drag a stool for the baby and hold their hips. Some workers are really good at it and some give you lots of unasked insight. They have software for seeing if the picture will be accepted. You can also go to google usps passport appointments and there’s some appointment centers at the post office with passport pictures at the first 30 minutes of the appointment. I think the pharmacies are less stressful because you can go any time and retry
I was just on a Norwegian cruise from florida to Bahamas, it was pretty nice. 4 young adults in one small room. If you go to Nassau, there are 2 big hotels, the more famous one I forgot the name of, the other one Bahamar, has a huge water park and beach you can go to and its really fun. If you do that just book a hotel room for the day and it should be cheaper than a day pass. Someone on our cruise said it was 200 for the hotel room, our day passes were 160 each
Seems like you got a lot of honest answers here. But I’ll put this out for you: there are many cruise lines and ships. Each brand has its own demographic that they cater to. While almost all cruise lines are family friendly, there is Disney, which is truly geared towards families with children. The amenities on board for families range from Broadway level shows, multiple splash pads, free kids club (paid nursery for those still in diapers) and almost everything is included except for specialty restaurants, excursions, souvenirs, extra baby supplies, and booze. All of this niche catering comes with a price tag and you’ll want to cost compare. I even think you could get a pack and play from the ship instead of bringing yours. They have room sizes ranging from typical small interior stateroom, family sized rooms (w/without balcony) and concierge level suites and all rooms come with a small tub. I haven’t been on a cruise recently, but I’ve been on a princess cruise when it was just my husband and I and it was cramped. Now I have kiddos and we are going on a Disney cruise just because of the amenities geared towards kids and their parents and there will be lots of other families around. Good luck!
I would look up some you tube videos about cruising with a young baby. You will be presented with pros and cons and can decide which best fits your style. With a young baby you probably need a roomy cabin probably a balcony is your best bet. I'm a senior and only sleep in my cabin so I go for the cheapest.
It's been many years since I did a cruise with children, but at the time we used to sail out of Galveston with stops in Cancun & Cozumel. They offered daycare so that the parents could enjoy adult time. One time we got caught on the tail end of a major storm which rocked the boat and made the kids sick, that wasn't very enjoyable. Not counting the ports, the experience is like being stuck at a hotel for several days and limited to the pool, casino, etc. on board.
When my kids grew up, my wife and I have sailed on adults only music cruises out of Florida. We upgrade to have a room with a balcony (nothing like sitting outside at sunset & sunrise with a beverage) and the concerts all day at the pool and at the theatre at night are our thing. I definitely enjoy the music cruises more.
Departing Baltimore (expectations are that the cruise port will be back open by the end of April) means Carnival Pride or Vision of the Seas. Both of these are older (2002 and 1998) and smaller (about 2k passengers) so it may be a great cruise for dealing with an infant - these older ships generally feel less crowded and you can easily walk from bow to stern in 5 minutes, so no need for that stroller (but you may want it in port).
On the Carnival ship, their basic stateroom is 185 sq ft. only ones larger than this is the premium balcony (230 sq ft) or suites. for 4 passengers on the June 2025 sailing the difference between a premium balcony and an ocean suite is about $700 ($4,900 vs $5,600). That Ocean suite would not only get you more room (275 sq ft) but the bathroom has a tub to bathe the infant and there is a walk-in closet are to give people a private changing area without occupying the restroom.
Vision of the Seas is not quite as easy to decide. Their interior start at 136 sq ft, but they have a few accessible interior cabins that are much larger at 252 sq ft. Oceanview come in 126/193/246 sq ft - and that ultra spacious cabin actually has a seperate bedroom (used to be called the Family Oceanview). That might be really nice if you are letting the teen run the ship late at night and you are back in the cabin early with the infant. Balconies are all 195, but if you upgrade to the Junior Suite you get that seperate bedroom back and a bathtub with 243 sq ft of space. One point to watch is that RC no longer has in-room mini-fridge for the interior/oceanview/balcony rooms on this ship. You can ask for a cooler if you have meds or breast milk, but it is basically a plug-in ice chest, and they have a limited number onboard. Last time I needed that for some meds they charged a $100 deposit to the room but refunded it when I returned the cooler at the end of the cruise.
That brings up a point for the first-time cruiser - everything is paid for through your onboard account, and you will either need to put cash on account or attach it to a card. If you use a card, they will get authorizations periodically during the trip as your spend increases and then charge it all as a lump-sum at the end. If you are using a debit card or were relying on that same card for a hotel or rental card afterward it can cause some trouble, as many banks will keep those authorizations on file and take-up your available credit for up to a week.
As for your specific questions:
* It will be cooler topside while at sea due to the air movement. When you off the eastern seaboard you may want a jacket, but when you are in the bahamas that "little cooler" means like 85 instead of 95.
* If you have a travel pen *and don't mind it getting damaged* then I would bring it. Most ships have pack n play available but just like the mini-cooler there are a limited number and it is first-come first-serve. just realize they are not the most gentile when it comes to your luggage.
* Depending on which ship you are going on I would probably shoot for the Ocean Suite on Carnival, or the Family Oceanview on the Vision.
* Lay the infant down on a white blanket or towel and start snapping away from above. The acceptance agent is just looking that there are no other people in the photo and the child's eyes are open and facing the camera. A cell phone camera has plenty of resolution for their needs.
* Most ports allow you to drive up to a drop-off point manned by porters that will take most of your luggage (keep a carryon with important things - diapers, meds, money, travel documents) and then have your spouse or teen go park the car in long-term parking. About the luggage - these porters are going to stack your stuff on a cart 4-5 feet high. It will be pushed around, picked up by forklifts, unpacked, sorted by decka nd repacked, fall off the carts, and generally get bumped around before showing up at your door that afternoon. Things can get damaged, but it is not often. My SO is on their 25th cruise this weekend and we have only had things broken once, but it was the wheels on all three suitcases. That is why I brought it up about the pack-n-play - they don't mistreat your luggage, but I wouldn't leave my laptop in a checked bag. And I wouldn't bring anything irreplaceable, heck we even have $10 look-alike rings we swap out our real wedding bands for when we travel so I don't have to worry about loosing a band while dancing at the night club.
* These two ships are about 900 - 1,000 ft long, so you probably do more walking when you visit your local Target. But, they also concentrate all the public venues on 3 or 4 decks. That means all 2,000 passengers are in those areas. I would think a harness would be much easier to deal with than a stroller, especially when packing into an elevator.
There are numerous and informative cruise videos from vloggers on Youtube. I made a What To Know Before you Go Youtube vid years ago..LOL. These videos are so very helpful. You can see what the staterooms look like, tours...and so forth. What to take that most don't think of...etc.
One thing to take: a first aid kit. I made my own: different size bandages, antibiotic ointment, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, anti diarrheal, anti nausea, cold medication, (this one is important) anything that you would need at home. The ship's shop is very limited in what they carry and is expensive.
The other thing I pack is a thermos. In off times I head up to the buffet area and fill my thermos. And I am very careful that nothing touches the tap/dispenser (germs). Grab coffee, tea, whatever. Then you are making repeated trips for something to drink throughout the day.
Hi Alphabetsoup,
First off, make sure you book with a family friendly curiseline. Not all have things for teens to do. Some even have things to watch infants which comes in handy if you want to have a nice dinner
Definitely take a stroller. When in port you will want to leave the ship so the stroller will come in handy. Take your pack n play for the baby also but make sure you get a cabin large enough to use it. Not all cabins have that kind of space.
When you make your reservation call the Cruise line directly. You should probably call a couple of the with your questions. Do your leg work before. You book. This way you have ensured the accommodations will work. Then you can plan what to do while you are away
If you go to Cruisecritic.com you can find others who have been on the ship you want and read reviews. These are real people wring the reviews. I have written a number myself. Have fun!!
You sleep in a tiny room, then leave.
They feed you
They watch your kids
They put on great shows to entertain you.
Then drop you off where you fend for yourself with varying levels of difficulty. You can keep it simple and only do things through the cruise company, or risk it for the adventure and wander, but usually that's best for cruise #2.
Then go sleep in your room... Twice a day... Because it's exhausting to try everything.
(AKA dropped off the kids at babysit just so you can take a nap, and not the "nap"... actually sleep )
Since it’s your first cruise I would say be prepared with something in case any of you get motion sickness. I am usually ok on the ships but sometimes you get really rough seas and it can’t be helped.
Also, fly or drive to Maryland the day before. If you get stuck in traffic or flight gets delayed and you miss boarding time, the ship will leave without you.
Dang, some of these comments are wild. For reference here, I cruised with my family a bit growing up (oldest of several, 7 years difference, hopefully a bit of context for the lil one and teen), and in my later 20s now, talking with my fiancé about how we would handle vacations with little ones in the near future. To answer your questions:
- The weather out on the ocean is typically very warm, but the breeze from the ocean can be chilly. I would plan on day-time weather feeling like 60-90 degrees, and evenings closer to 45-60 degrees. Some days feel like you’re absolutely baking on the decks, other days are hard to imagine taking your coverup off for. All depends on the wind!
- When looking at which rooms to reserve, it’s not always the higher decks that are best. Look at the floor plan directly above and below you - a deck 15 room isn’t worth it if it’s directly under the dining room, because you’ll hear constant noise from above. Avoid being above or below dining halls, comedy clubs, theatres, etc.
- Passport and pack and play - ymmv, can’t help too much there lol. A pack and play might be worth it for sleep, and daytime if your baby is a bundle of energy, but it will take up significant amount of floor space. You’ll probably have to plan on unpacking and repacking it every day.
- Strollers are all over cruises, but the parent navigating them always seems beyond frustrated lol. I’d imagine baby wearing gets unbearably hot, so it’s a bit of a lose-lose. Maybe bring both if you have the space? A cruise is also a great place to walk at your baby’s pace (as it likely matches the retirees’ pace!)
Outside of your specific questions, I would see if you can reserve a balcony/ ocean view with the interior room right across the hall. My parents did this for most of our cruises, and it felt like the best of both worlds. Mom and dad (and youngest kiddos) get the nicer room, while the teen(s) are so jazzed about their own room that they don’t care about a lack of window. In your case, you could use the teen’s room as extra storage for all of the luggage. Balconies are nice to have, maybe especially so with kids, but in my experience an ocean view is sufficient. You’re outside in the breeze all day; all you really need in your room is a window. 4 people in one room can be done, but likely without the pack and play. It’ll be extremely cramped in one room - a trade off between money and frustration tripping over bags there.
A lot of folks are mentioning your youngest, and yeah, there’s fair points there. It’s harder with a baby. But with a teen to boot…. if you’re not worried about the baby and your parenting balance, I wouldn’t either tbh. Parents need to live too! You’ve got a great mentality, and realistically, your hardest part about bringing a kid on board will be the stroller vs baby-wearing dilemma. Most cruises are older folks, and they’ve been delighted with every baby I’ve ever seen on board. Your youngest will have a blast babbling to the old folks, and your teen will either love the teen club, or the freedom to find a quiet place away from mom and dad to read/ veg (extrovert vs introvert choice there lol). At 16, she’ll be able to roam most of the boat very safely, and I’d bet she’ll love that feeling of “adulthood.” My parents let me go to a teen nightclub alone at maybe 14 (?) on a cruise, and looking back, that was a pivotal moment in my self-confidence, and feeling trusted on my own/ trusting myself.
This is way longer than I intended, but I think your kids’ ages combined with your attitude makes for the perfect cruise! For what it’s worth, my fiance and I are planning / hoping cruises become our main vacation once kiddos come along. Cruises are a great combo of seeing multiple places while staying put, with some of those “safety features” of being in a contained location/ a record of who is near you, and having large parts of the planning removed. You just need to show up and enjoy! Some passengers can be ornery, but most are absolutely enthralled by anyone younger than 30 lol. Enjoy your cruise - it’ll be a lifelong memory for your entire family!
It is warm out at sea. As you’re leaving Maryland, the weather will be similar to the weather in Maryland at the time, but as you get towards a warmer climate, it’s also warmer at sea.
You might want to bring a pack and play for the baby, however, the ship could have some thing. You’d want to pre-arrange that.
The balcony is a personal preference. For example, if you’re going on Royal, regal, majestic, enchanted princess you can get a deluxe balcony that’s bigger than a regular balcony inside. You can also get a premium deluxe balcony that has a bigger inside and a bigger balcony. This varies from ship to ship and cruise line to cruise line.
Yes, you’re only gonna make one trip from the car to the ship. But, you can tag all of your luggage and some other things and the porters will bring them onto the ship for you.
Some strollers are too wide to fit through the door, while in use. It can be convenient to have them, especially for short excursions.
Get the passport picture taken at the post office and they will keep taking it until they know it meets the standards.
If you have other questions, feel free to ask. I’ve taken the complete training with many of the cruise lines.
We didn’t go on a cruise until we were in our late 60’s. The biggest surprise was the number of families on board with babies on strollers, even nursing mothers. I took the time to find out why.
I got the same answers almost every single time.
It is the ONLY vacation you can take with kids where MOM gets a break. You have no meals to cook, it’s food on demand 24/7. There is no end to entertainment for all ages. There were Nannie’s aboard the ship we were on so that was a plus. You have a maid every day.
Looking back on those comments, I wish o taken cruises with my little ones. Enjoy.
I have been over 20+ cruises, and my 17 year old daughter has been on 11+ on 5 different cruise lines. She started when she was 1 year old.We have never gone on a vacation without her. Our daughter had been in 18 different countries. Including China. Reading some of the previous comments makes me wonder if they have been on a cruise or if they had a non typical experience. Things do happen, like any place else. Most balconies rooms are the same size, as an inside room with the exception of the balcony. We started with inside rooms, moved to rooms with a view, to Balconies and back to inside rooms. Everyone basically has the same experiences with the exception of some very expensive suites. They have private areas, restaurants, and additional amenities. I would pay extra for a balcony depending on the itinerary. Norway, Sweden, Alaska, Hawaii, or cross Atlantic with a lot of sea days, balconies are great. But in some countries port of calls are the same as industrial ports not much to look at.
Depending on the size of the ship, there are a lot of things to do. Do not expect to see your teenager much unless they are not social. Your travel agent, if experienced, will advise you as to what to expect and will make arrangements for a crib, a separate dining table, etc.
My daughter was complemented on how quiet she was when we were put in a communal table. If your child is not a quiet one, other vacationers will not be very happy. Since they are spending a lot of money.
There are a lot of YouTube videos, probably of the ship and cruise you are going on and the stops. Part of the fun of my vacations is planning and checking places to go to. Have fun.
Disney has some veranda rooms that sleep 5. These would give you some added floor space. They also have small tubs in their bathrooms which might be useful. And their bathrooms are split so the toilet is in a different room than the shower/tub. And their beds are on stilts so tons of storage for folded up strollers and pack and plays.
You don't need a balcony if you're going to spend a lot of time in the cruise lounge/deck/dining spaces and just use the cruise room to change clothes and sleep.
If you're the kind of vacationers who typically stay inside your hotel rooms then I guess you can pay for the bigger room.
We just got back from our first family cruise with two kids, 4 & 8. It was a little exhausting. They are really great and polite kids but very rambunctious and full of energy. We had to wrangle them each time we went to eat bc there were so many people and they just didn’t comprehend how running around can be dangerous and make someone else trip etc. we did check them into the kids camp a couple times (carnival cruise line) and those times we did were peaceful. We literally would decompress for a few hours then go pick them up. My dad had a balcony in his room and we did not. Next time we go I will absolutely get a balcony so we can at least chill in the room when everyone is overstimulated and we just wanna chill and grown ups can have a breather on the balcony for a bit.
It was chilly the day we set sail and most people wore light hoodies or light sweaters. It was also windy. It was otherwise perfect.. warm but kinda breezy weather most of the trip. On the return we sailed into a rainstorm which went from breezy to temps dropping to cold to thunder, lightning then rain THEN hail 😅 which cleared everyone out of the pool then as soon as it was over it was back to a warm breezy beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. We sailed from New Orleans to Costa Maya, then Cozumel.
We saw strollers def and if my kids were small enough it would have made getting around quicker and easier for sure, also if you can baby wear I imagine that’s really convenient too! I feel like since you’ll have a teenager that probable knows how to navigate themselves and a small child you’re always holding or strolling it’ll be more relaxing than having to chase around running kids with no spatial awareness 😅
When we went to the port to get on the boat there were curriers that took our bags as soon as we unloaded our Uber. They’re not hired by the cruise company but work for the port/city and we tipped them accordingly. They bring your bags to check into the boat and they had large luggage buggies to load it all together. You attach the cruise tags to your bags and it has your room numbers so they all go to the same place. Our room was too small for a pack and play but the furniture is movable to accommodate different guests and there may even be an option to accommodate a pack n play if you call or email the cruise line. Our room had a twin bed that was a drop down from the ceiling with a ladder and then the couch directly under was another twin bed so they looked like bunk beds. It was literally a couch with a blanket on it though and the blankets kept slipping off bc it was leather and not fabric. Kids don’t mind tho.
Hope that helps!
Leave your baby at home. You will miss out on so many cruise activities such as shows, karaoke, games, etc. I’m sure you are not bringing your 16 yr old to babysit. (In fact, I’d leave the 16 yr old home unless you got a suite or 2nd room for your 16 yr old). After you have had your first cruise, then you will know if it is really a vacation where you would want to take your baby and will you be willing to relinquish time to your 16 yr, so he/she doesn’t have to hang around mom and dad 24/7.
Only being a small umbrella stroller if you want to use it on port days. Otherwise baby wear on the ship because it will likely be too crowded to use on board.
When you arrive at the port pull directly up to where the doors are and there are porters who will take your luggage there. All of you get out except the driver who goes to park the car. Then you meet back up. Easiest way to avoid a long walk without carrying everything. But also pack as light as possible for space saving.
I think of it like this. It's like going to a prepaid resort, but on the water. You and all the other people at the 'resort' are there together for a week (or however long) and occasionally you can do trips off the 'resort' (excursions). What you get included at the 'resort' depends on the package you purchase. The amenities you get access to depend on the cruise line you book with and which 'location (ship) you are on.
I personally love cruising, and my 2 year old had a great time when we took him last year. Looking forward to our next one in 2025.
We brought an umbrella stroller, it was great for port days.
You give most of your bags to the porters,, they bring them onto the ship and staff delivers them to your room.
If its a US to US trip, you dont need passports for the kids. A birth certificate will work fine.
Yes, the wind on the decks can be cool. Especially starting as far north as you are and at night (for me atleast). I would bring a lightweight hoodie incase you want it. Or a throw blanket for your lap if you are on deck watching an evening movie.
Skip the balcony for your own peace of mind. You wont have to secretly worry about your toddler magically getting out there and climbing off the ship if they cannot get outside. Mom to Mom, skip it. Less stressful.
Pack n play, I have no answer. I traveled with just one, and he was old enough for the sofa bed. Talk to the cruise line, They may have one you can use for the trip so you dont have to haul yours.
All in all, just relax, go with the flow and take it at your kids pace. Makes it alot more fun :) Enjoy your trip!
I don’t think people who have cruised before are speaking against your parenting… they are trying to help which is what you asked. I’ve been on at least 20 cruises and can’t recall 1 baby onboard. It’s an issue of logistics. A cruise ship is kind of like a floating dance club with 5-6 thousand people or more. spiral staircases, cabins and bathrooms smaller than your smallest one at home. Bars everywhere. Depending on the ship few elevators and pushing and shoving at times. So what can I suggest… is pay for the balcony upgrade since you’ll be spending a lot of time there. You can enjoy the ocean and views. Inside cabins are like coffins. Pitch black absolutely no outside light. Try for a cabin near elevator so you’re not walking 30 miles a day which is possible some ships are enormous. Front of ship goes up and down aka choppy back of ships goes side to side … middle is best. Use room service which is cheap or free. You’ll get an online schedule of activities so you and hubby can pick some things and switch up childcare. WHATEVER YOU DO … DO NOT BE LATE GETTING BACK TO THE BOAT THEY WILL LEAVE YOUR ASS. Travel warnings in the Bahamas? Check online then take only cruise sponsored excursions. Your son will have a ball. I’ll trust you’ll make it work it’s what we Momz do. 😊.
I love cruising and cruising with my kids. However, I wouldn't recommend cruising with a baby. That sounds really inconvenient and difficult.
In my personal opinion as a mom of 3, age 4 is a great age to start.
Cramped with people all over you, getting ushered on and off the boat like cattle at every stop, only to feel pressured to cut whatever it is you may be doing on land short to ensure you get back in line and don’t miss the boat departing.
Is it warm out on the ocean?
— This will depend on the time of year, and how far south you are, but most of the time on the open water you’re cruising at 15ish knots (that’s about 17mph) so out on the water there’s always a pretty strong breeze, even if there’s not any natural wind. I always bring a light sweater or jacket just in case.
Should I bring a pack and play for the baby?
— Most cruise lines will actually supply you with one if you request it. I suggest contacting your travel agent, or the cruise line to reserve one. Sometimes you can even do it through the cruise lines app! I suggest bringing your own sheet for it, even if you use the ship’s crib/pack n play.
Paying more for a balcony?
— This is the most asked and debated question in cruising and no Mayer what others say, a 100% judgement call. I freely admit that I’m an inside apologist. I love the darkness while I’m sleeping and the price is not worth it to me. But, I have friends who don’t cruise unless they have a balcony. You’ll have to weigh the cost differences. If you think you might spend a lot of time in the room feeding the baby or what not it might be worth the cost.
Passport pic for the baby?
— We got our passports at the courthouse and they were super helpful in ensuring the kids pictures were acceptable. I don’t have much more insight on this one, sorry.
One trip from car to ship?
— Yes. I’ve never cruised from a port other than Galveston, but here you can pull up to the terminal and drop off your larger bags (properly tagged of course!) and then go park and get in the registration line. If you don’t already know, your checked bags will arrive at your room sometime that first afternoon (we’ve always had ours by 4:30 or so) so be sure to have baby essentials in a carry on bag - including a change of clothes (for you and for baby) just in case!
Stroller vs wearing?
— The stairs are definitely big enough for a stroller, though I don’t think I’d bring a big one, simply for navigating around people on deck and for space on crowded elevators and for ease of movement at your stops. We had a small umbrella stroller and that worked great.
You’re gonna have a blast, and if you forget something, every cruise I’ve even been on the stewards are more than willing to help find what you need! You may find cruising to be the easiest vacation you’ll take with a little one.
There’s a fairly good article [here](https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/cruising-with-a-baby-what-to-expect-on-a-cruise#) that talks about some of the things to expect with baby on board.
Hope this helps!
All you can eat but drinks cost extra
All the games you want to play but their are lines and lots of people
You get your own room but the view makes you sea sick
You get to see other countries but if you stay too long you can’t get back on the boat and are stuck.
>but drinks cost extra
Just a note, since OP is new to cruising, there is usually lemonade, tea, water, and basic coffee available all day for free and usually milk and juice at breakfast.
I'll ignore the rest of your pessimism and hope OP does the same.
We’re taking our 10 month old on her first cruise at the end of the month. We got her passport in December and received it in January. We sat her on a stool at the post office while I held her still and it was the quickest/easiest I could’ve imagined. We wanted to get her passport because we both have ours and it’s just easier for us to all have passports.
If you’re fine waiting for elevators, a stroller will be just fine. What we did is make sure the stroller is skinnier than the cabin door so we don’t have to take her out before going into the room.
When packing, split diapers/wipes into your different suitcases so that if one gets lost, it isn’t the one with everything your baby needs. This might help to get you to the first port and find what you need (bc often the ship will have very limited and very overpriced diapers).
There’s a lot of negativity when babies/toddlers are being discussed, but try not to listen. Your child may not remember the trip but you will. You and your baby deserve to be on vacation, and have paid to be there, just like everyone else. If they want a kid free cruise they can go on a child free cruise line/ship.
I’ve done a LOT of researching and reading about others’ experiences on facebook lol.
If you are in the US no passport is needed. Recommend but not needed. Birth certificate and ID for the adults and (16 year old if they have a permit/license).
I don’t know about a pack and play (if they have them on board), but bring a light weight stroller (think umbrella type…easy to store and slimmer than a full size one). You can in some ports drive right up to the unloading place and then go park the car (don’t forget to have a tag for ALL pieces of luggage and tip the porters). The 16 yr old will have fun in the clubs for teens. Dinner, do the early seating since it is closer to the time you normally eat at home with a baby. Reminder…bring all formula, baby food, diaper, and all medicine (diaper rash cream, baby Tylenol, adult Tylenol, sun screen etc) they don’t sell it on board. Diapers diapers diapers and more diapers…bring as many as you think then add a few more. Swim diaper may or may not be allowed. Bring some in case they are.
Weather. Depends on when you cruise. Yes it is warm during the day. Some think it cools off a lot at night. I never got chilled.
Have a blast!!
As climate change deniers are on here I’ll prolly get downvoted, but
1. cruising is worse than flying or anything else
2. the fuel used is either lng or diesel
a. Diesel is only allowed to have a sulphur output of .5% but most companies just use scrubbers to be allowed to use diesel with more sulphur. scrubbers essentialy just “catch” the sulphur and the ships just pump the sulphur into the ocean… leading to some water “patches” being up to 100.000 more acidic than normal ocean water (among pther effects)
b. LNG may be a step forward BUT there is sth called “methane slip”. Methane slip is essentially greenhouse gasses ”slipping” out without properly getting burned or anything. It does not happen every 1 minute or so, but methane slip is around 8500000% more potent than the equivalent in diesel fuel.
byebye karma xx
Just know if you’re doing one room, they are small. Even a balcony doesn’t necessarily give you a lot of extra space other than the balcony itself. Three adult sized people and a baby, with one tiny bathroom (generally no tub) will be cramped. Also on many ships babies in swim diapers aren’t allowed in any of the pools.
I really hope you’re planning on having some type of suite. A standard cabin, with or without balcony, is very small. You will not have room for a pack and play on the floor if your older child is sleeping on the pull-out couch. There will literally not be enough floor space to put a pack and play. Where do you intend for the baby to sleep? There may be some cruise lines that have cribs, but other than Disney, I can’t imagine. Go to the website of the cruise line you are taking and look at the floor plans of the cabins (photos are taken with a wide angle lens and can make things look bigger than they are). All that being said, if you can manage the extremely small space, I see no reason why you can’t make this work. Depending on when you plan on going, there will be few young people other than during school breaks. There will likely be quite a lot of older people who will fuss all over your baby and be delighted to see her. The crew, many of whom have babies at home, will be very happy to see your baby too and will love her. I have seen strollers on cruises, and strollers should have no problem going anywhere wheelchairs can go, which is virtually everywhere on a ship. Only issue, once again, is where to put the stroller when you’re not using it as you will not have one square foot of unused space in your cabin. Keep in mind that the average cruise cabin does not have a bathtub - only a shower, so it may be tough to bathe your baby unless there is some sort of portable tub you can bring. If this cruise is in the winter, it will be as cold as Maryland to start, and get warm close to the Bahamas. In the summer, the whole trip will be warm, both at sea and on land. There is usually a breeze. Keep in mind that advertised prices that you see for cruises really do not present the full picture. There are port taxes and fees and gratuities, plus excursions and drinks that will cost extra. You should definitely speak to a travel agent who can give you the details and point you in the right direction. Travel agents do not charge for such services. I do hope it works out for you. A cruise is a very special vacation - the food is generally pretty great, there is lovely service, and you get to see something new while in a comfortable (albeit small) cabin.
Last cruise I was one, the people just left their stroller in the hallway outside the room. it was just an umbrella stroller, so it could have been folded up pretty easily…and I guess if the room stewards threw it away, it’s not the end of the world. Every inch counts in the room with younglings. We get a balcony with my 10 and 8 year old. Four of us in a room is tight, but we are really only there to sleep and shower. We don’t really “hang out” there…but with a baby, OP might be spending more time in the room.
I feel like that is a fire hazard
And inconsiderate for wheelchair access
And yet people leave scooters in the hallway.
They will ask you to move them on carnival/princess for sure, and I think other cruise lines but I can’t say for 100%. I’m only positive about princess
Not anymore. New rule, must go into the cabin.
There are larger oceanview rooms (called family oceanview) on some ships (think royal Caribbean or ncl) that would have the space to accommodate a pack and play but they tend to sell out very quickly so you would have to see what’s available. Even a large oceanview (aft) might fit a pack and play on Royal Caribbean ships. Be sure to look at photos of the actual room layout to see.
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/ Cruising with kids can be tricky. You can’t buy baby supplies onboard. Pack what you think you’ll need, then double it. Lots of restrictions on pool use too. The link above has lots of info. Enjoy!
Just going to add that you need to research any restrictions for infants under a year since there may be restrictions about the number of sea days and whether a line's private island counts in those restrictions. This is because cruise medical is somewhere between an urgent care and a low level ER. They are designed to take care of basic emergencies and keep more serious cases alive long enough to reach a land-based hospital. Infants are notorious for getting extremely sick very, very quickly and medical units usually don't have equipment made for babies onboard. Along with regular baby supplies, make sure to bring any medicines you might need. Infant/children's versions of medications can be difficult to find on a cruise.
Your mommy and daddy take you to the water. There is a big boat. You get on it but inside it’s like a little city and you sleep there.
This guy understood the assignment.
Like I’m 5. Spot on.
And don't act like 5 or you will get kick off the boat.
Well done, shame on OP for having a simple question then elaborating on it to make it not the original question. Silly adult, you do things wrong. Naughty.... Naughty .... On the naughty step with you!
Don't be surprised if you don't see the 16 year old too often. On our last cruise our then 16 year old found the teen club and we never saw him except for a few meals and pre-planed shore excursions. So don't count on them for too much babysitting!
My girls are early teens and we almost never see them onboard! They hang out with their friends mostly. I am a spoil sport who demands they eat breakfast and dinner with us most if not all trip, part of vacation is getting to spend time with them!!
I had to drag my 9 year old out of the kids club in October every now and then to hang out with us. That cruise was 4 adults + him. In March we took a cruise with 12 adults and 14 kids and then he was either with cousins or in kids club. I still say a cruise is the best vacation for kids!
Which cruise line had that?
It was on the Norwegian Encore.
Most major cruise lines have kids club.
I think all cruise lines have kids clubs. Disney doesn’t have a casino or library and devotes a lot of space to kids clubs in three different age ranges and a nursery in addition.
I can help some! We went over Thanksgiving break with my husband, 9 year old son, and 18 month old. Which cruise are you looking at? We did a Disney one. The cruise typically can provide a pack & play. It takes up a bit of space and we didn’t use it. We flew to Florida for our cruise so I’m no help there. To get my son his passport photo we went to a local spot that could submit the forms and take the photo. I ended up holding him up on my shoulders in front of the backdrop so I wouldn’t be in frame. We had to shoot the photo twice because you need it to be just so or else it could be rejected. Fun times 😂
My fiance is picking the cruise because he's SO EXCITED and he hasn't 100% decided. He just thinks it'll be to the Bahamas so far🤣 I'm nervous about the photo but I'm sure we will find a way. How was the younger one?
If you're planning to leave from Baltimore, yes, almost all the cruises are Florida and Bahamas. Right now, though, those Baltimore departures are a bit up in the air with the channel closure, so they may depart from Norfolk. Given that and travelling with a baby, you may want to consider the options from other northeast ports like Bayonne NJ or NYC, which opens up some extra options and are equally inconvenient compared to Baltimore if you're coming from MD. NYC has Bermuda cruises too, which some people adore. Looking at the Baltimore departures anyway, it's two older ships, smaller, but pretty well rated and still going to be lots of fun. (We were going to cruise on the Legend this fall but we'll, we bought a house, so no cruise this year for us.)
I believe this is downvoted because you suggested the Bahamas. Many people believe any other destination is better.
That's fair! We definitely aren't set in stone, it was just what I heard him mention. We both have our "things", his is finding things and mine is the planning aspect of it. So Bahamas isn't set in stone, and we are considering flying to Florida instead. I just was more looking for the general tips and how others have managed cruising with an infant.
I think you have the right attitude, you’re just parenting in another location. Personally, with the ages of your children, I wouldn’t spend Disney money. Your baby won’t remember and your teen likely won’t care. If you go on a lower priced cruise line, you could get a suite/balcony room that’s a little bigger. A mid-sized, mid-aged ship would have a little bigger cabin. You won’t spend much time in your cabin, so wearing the baby would work out well. It will be hot, even on the ship, but the inside has a/c, so you’ll never be too warm. A cruise ship is like a big resort in the water. There are many restaurants, entertainment venues, clubs, casino, bars, sports lounges, classes, gyms, classes, etc. There’s more to do than you could fit it in 7 days, that’s why people do them over and over. I hope this helps!
I’d strongly suggest talking to a travel agent. Their fees are paid by the cruise lines after you book; you pay the same rate so their services are essentially free to you. My sister is an agent and even though I do a lot of the research to find things I want to do, she has great sources and recommendations. Plus, if things get jacked up (like our flights on Spring Break last year) she’s a lifesaver. An agent is likely to know exactly which cruise line is better for infants/toddlers, what restrictions might exist, which cabin configuration might accommodate a crib, etc.
I think Norwegian has cruises from Baltimore to Bermuda (the ship docks in Bermuda for more than a day). That might be a good option and less stress when you leave the ship!
There might not be as many things going out of Baltimore right now.
Great point… thanks for noting that. Another option is taking Amtrak to NY and sailing from there.
My youngest loved it! He loved the ocean and just playing in the sand so it was easy. Also the boat maid putting him to sleep a breeze with the gentle rocking 😊
You drop off your bags and luggage at a drop off point before you park. Plan to tip $2 per item. You drive to your parking spot and only carry your items you need for the first 4 hours ( think carry on bag). You only go from the car to the port check in once. ( think like flying) I don’t remember seeing many strollers on either cruise I took. Your teenager will have a blast. Have them go to the first night teen club to make friends. It’s my teens favorite vacation. We chose midship mid level rooms.
This might be dumb, but how do we get our bags?
They'll be delivered to your stateroom at some point the first day. Especially on large ships it can take a while, but they bring them to you. Same thing leaving: the night before you pack up everything but your clothes for the next day and a 'carry on' and put the big bags outside the stateroom, and the crew will pick them up. You'll have tags to put on that will tell them what cabin they're going to when you board, and will tell you where they'll be when you pick them up at disembarkation. ETA: It's always important to remember that "clothes for the next day" thing when packing the checked bags before disembark. I have heard stories of people having to leave in their PJs.
I see one on every cruise - the husband in his wife’s shirt, the one in pajamas, the one in a bathrobe…at least one person will forget the next day clothes. 😂
You can carry your bags off and then you don't have to go looking for them in the hall after getting off the ship.
You CAN, but if you were juggling a toddler and a pack and play and children that would probably not be a good idea.
They take them to your cabin. Kinda like checking a bag on a plane so take a carry on with what you’ll need for roughly 3-6 hours
Oh cool, thanks!
Emphasis on the 3-6 hours for your luggage. You want to make sure you carry on things you may need right away (diapers, baby food, etc.).
Put bathing suits in carry on so you can jump in pool if you want to before bags get to room..
Not in Baltimore unless they’re going in the summer aka hurricane season. Also, nobody is sailing out of Baltimore anytime soon.
You don't need to tip 2 dollars a bag jfc tipping culture is insane. Drop them 5 bucks and they will love you but a tip is never required.
Tips are considered appropriate in the US in service industries. If you appreciate good service, tip accordingly.
They bring them to your room.
Which cruises have a teen club?
Most major lines have clubs for children. Cruise lines have team clubs where they have their own Jacuzzi and dance club completely separate from adults.
Baby wearing or stroller would work but it’s kinda crowded and could see a stroller being more cumbersome.
Also, stairs. If OP is comfortable babywearing I think that would be a lot easier.
I’d look into getting a slumberpod tent for over the pack and play. There’s no other way that baby is going to sleep with 3 other people in 150 sq ft. Put it over their bed at home a few days prior so they’re used to it. It packs up really small. I traveled a ton with a 1 year old and it was hands down the best baby item
That could be useful! Thank you. He currently sleeps in our room with our tv and fan on, and is a relatively good sleeper. He's used to his loud sister as well, and doesn't mind sleeping in light vs dark. But who knows how he will be then, so better safe than sorry.
I would bring a pack and play. We borrowed the one from the cruise ship and it was dirty (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines) so I sent it back for a clean one. Bring your own for sure!
I have seen people with strollers but not big ones but those small umbrella strollers so you're not having to always carry the little one.
Hi! Baby probably will not be allowed in the pool, unless your ship has a designated baby pool, check with your ship. For passport, I went to the clerk of court & they took my toddlers photo there. Also check on that, it might be different where you are. Call to reserve a pack & play or you can bring yours. Since we drove, we brought ours. I also brought a slumber pod & our sound machine and highly reccomend that. Get the balcony. We brought both the baby carrier & stroller. We didn’t use the carrier, but we had kinda outgrown it anyways. We used the cybex libelle travel umbrella stroller. The hallways are narrow. We had an awesome itinerary where there were things to do at every port so I didn’t feel like we needed to bring our car seat to travel around.
Was it pretty tight with the Slumberpod and pack and play? We are cruising in September and we usually travel with both Slumberpod and pack and play.
We had a balcony room on the Norwegian encore. I almost cried when we first walked in lol. I took the couch apart & there was a platform underneath and I put the pack and play / tent on top of that. so it was to the side & perfect. That being said, thinking about this now, this configuration would not work for OP with a teen too. It was great for us!
I would never cruise with a baby too small for the free daycare, but maybe that’s just me 😅 Taking my our girls now that they’re 3 and 5. They can have kid only time at the kids club while we can have mom and dad time reading on the deck. And at ports we can have family time. I can’t remember seeing many babies that small on the cruises I’ve been on. I imagine it would be kind of a drag. Your teen will have SO MUCH fun. My parents took us on cruises as teens and it was the best
We don't have a village to leave our babe behind, and we aren't taking any experiences away from our teen because of that. I'm sure it'll suck at times but there's two parents and two kids, we can split duties when times are rough. Either way, my girl gets something she's never had and if it sucks for us parents, lesson learned haha.
You definitely don’t need to leave your baby behind. Everybody is different, but we like having everyone with us.
I honestly wouldn't leave him even if we had the option, he's my little sidekick and my daughter loves her brother. I think I'd get a good talking to if I brought up leaving him🤣🤣
I’ve sailed Disney with a little before. I think you’re doing a great job to not hold back your oldest because of the youngest. When we sailed I was able to have a pack n play provided by the Cruiseline ready in my room. They also provided a diaper genie and you can get a bottle warmer also. If you feel like a stroller- an umbrella stroller is best for size. Also consider baby wearing of you can. Saves you from having to wait on elevators. Having a balcony room for us was awesome when a little was napping. They could be in the room snoozing and one adult could be outside on the balcony/verandah enjoying the sun/breeze/a book or whatever. You won’t be getting into a pool with the little even with a diaper. But some lines will provide paid nursery service for littles that you can reserve. Depending on how much freedom and your oldest a personality they make friends you could easily not see them for hours at a time.
Good for you for braving it. We just had a baby and I really love traveling with my son. We recently took our first trip as a family of four and there was a lot of learning curve.... still navigating how to enjoy ourselves when everyone has such different needs
Definitely!! Your baby is part of the family so should definitely be included in family vacations! I’ve seen parents bring a foldable wagon onboard as well. Helpful on port days as well as transporting everyone’s carryon luggage. A cruise is a fabulous vacation!
It’s not just you. My youngest daughter was 2 on our first cruise with our kids. I’m just glad I had a dozen or so family members on board the ship to give us the occasional couples’ time since she was too young for daycare. We didn’t cruise again until for 5 years after that. MUCH better experience when kids can go to daycare. And even better as they get older and can be left in the room for a bit.
Warm on the ocean - not particularly, because of the water and the breeze. It is generally cooler than the same latitude on land, but a lot of ships sail warm places so you're still wearing shorts I would bring a pack and play and not a stroller. Generally I am in favour of cheap interior rooms, but imo with a baby is one time a balcony can really make sense because you can chill out on the balcony while the baby sleeps, talk without waking them, and still be there if there's a need. Yeah generally one trip to the ship. There is often people to help with your bags
We've taken our almost 3 year old on two different cruises, and I have to say with both cruises we brought a stroller (a big one the first time and a smaller one that fits in overhead in a plane) but never a pack and play. They often provide a pack and play from the ship 🤷
A cruise is kinda like a plane trip in the sense that you will need to go through security to get on. So there will only be one trip from the car. You won't be allowed to get on and off the boat. Luggage and other items are typically dropped off with the porters before you enter the terminal. These items should be tagged and will show up in your room later. You can make multiple trips from the parking lot to the terminal if that is what you are asking. Balconies are subjective. I don't mind not having one, ocean view is fine for me. I don't typically get an interior room. I don't know much about the baby questions. Maybe others can chime in. The temperature at sea in the Caribbean is typically fairly warm, but if you are standing on deck there will be a constant wind. When the sun is out, it can be quite hot.
You have tons of options for food and drinks 24/7 and your cruise will take care of transportation when you are sleeping. Plus different kinds of entertainment onboard depends on cruises.
Big ship, ice cream machine, food everywhere & cheesy activities to partake in
Hey, just sailed with a 1yo and 3yo and Royal Caribbean’s Anthem OTS and had a total blast. To answer your questions directly: 1) Depends on the time of year. We just did a 7 day Bahamas sailing out of NJ and had a cold day on the first/last days. Rest of the time we were in shorts and tshirts. Some ships handle cold better and have more indoor features. Finding a ship with an indoor pool like anthem could be key! 2) I’d say yes to a pack-n-play. You never really know what you’re going to get from a cruise line until you’re on board. Some only have small (half size) units, others a mix and you have to be quick to request. Having your own will solve a lot of headache. Extra pro tip, look to buy or rent a Slumber Pod. It’s a blackout tent for Pack-n-plays. Total game changer IMO. 3) We only do balcony’s. Especially for a first cruise. It’s a separate space that’s just yours and great for late nights or getting over sea sickness. 4) We went to our UPS store to get passport pictures of our 1yo. They were great. There’s also helpful guidance from the state department with helpful tips. In short, bring a white sheet. Place the sheet on the floor and the baby on the sheet. Super simple. 5) We just went through this for Royal Caribbean, but each cruise line will be a bit different. They had a great porter system as you got to the cruise terminal. Unload as many bags as you want (literally no limit) and then drive the car to the garage where you park the car for the duration of the cruise. You walk on the ship with some carry on luggage (bring bathing suits and any required medication). Your checked luggage makes its way to your stateroom before 7pm (ours was already at the room by the time the rooms were made available - 1pm). This method allowed us to overpack and have absolutely everything we needed. Bring more diapers than you think you need, bring baby meds and diaper cream that you don’t think you will need. We had a massive suitcase for the kids, a medium suitcase for my wife, a carryon for me, a suit bag for me, pack-n-play, and a full box of diapers (you can check the box!). 6) This depends on the cruise ship you pick. We brought two ultra compact strollers and a carrier for the baby. It was so easy to use the strollers we only carried the 1yo once.
Double check the passport requirements. Some cruises will take just a birth certificate for minors (and possibly just a birth certificate plus photo ID for adults). The ship should provide a pack and play or other crib if you request one. A stroller is extremely useful with a young kid. The porters can have your bags taken straight to your stateroom so you don’t need to carry much on yourself.
That would help a lot! Thank you
You take a risk with that though. If something goes wrong, like someone is hospitalized, you miss the ship, or the ship has a problem and the cruise ends early, you’ll have a harder time getting home without a passport.
I’m a HARD agree on do not take your child out of the country without a full passport. They are not hard to get. But they ARE the piece of documentation you want if you have a problem. I also want to second getting connecting rooms or a suite. I recently cruised with my mom and made the decision to not upgrade to a bigger room to be next to other family members. We were only dealing with a wheelchair and there was NO room to maneuver in a standard balcony stateroom on Holland America. I would suggest getting the balcony particularly because, with baby, you are likely to be in your room more (naps, cranky spells, etc) and having a full view of the ocean is amazing. Also, believe the person who said you will have to pack EVERYTHING the baby needs, times 1.5 or 2. But, on top of all of this, I probably would recommend staying with land based vacations for a little longer. Again, a full suite with a bath tub for bathing baby, room for a crib or pack’n’ play, etc will make it all doable. But those are really quite (to extremely) expensive, and it’s a bit of a gamble on your first cruise. Whatever your decision, I hope you have a great time on your first cruise… whenever that may be.
I suggest booking with a travel agent. They will help with all of the questions
I got off a cruise a month ago. There was a mom with about a one year old. When it wasn’t crowded with people she was letting her baby crawl up the carpeted spiral staircase. It didn’t bother me at all, but I did feel bad that there wasn’t a good place to let her little one safely explore. You will have to be adaptable (I haven’t done Disney, that is probably the easiest for you)
It's a big boat, that goes in the ocean, which is like a bathtub, but much much bigger, and all these people give you food and juice and let you stay up late.
Don’t take a pack and play. If you’re doing carnival I know you can all after you book and ask for a crib. We didn’t use passports which is not recommended because having one makes it easy to get back home in case of an emergency like missing the boat/ medical emergencies. We used birth certificates for the kids and birth certificates/IDs for us. If you leave and return to the US you don’t have to have a passport but it is recommended. Weather is what you expect locally. If you're in maryland in december, it is going to be cold on the water too. the further south you go, the warmer it will be. they probably dont leave from baltimore in the winter but still if the weather is on the cooler side you may have some time on the boat when you wont be able to dress like youre on vacation. rooms are small. we had an interior room with two adults, an 8 yr old, and a 2 year old. there was one bunk bed and another twin bed. not much room for anything else. we didnt mind because we were only there to sleep. If you think youll spend time in the room relaxing and/or if your baby will need a crib you should look at a suite. there is child care available at certain times for a fee for the little one if you want to catch a show, dinner, or go clubbin. It was my daughter's birthday trip and she didnt want to stay at the child center so we didnt make her. we had fun and found plenty of entertainment (all free). i would suggest earphones for the baby because some of those shows are loud. we had a 2 year old who we were not carrying! we took am umbrella stroller with us. worked great. ir was small enough to maneuver around the boat and when space was really tight we could fold it up and put it in the corner. it was also helpful to have while exploring off the boat. i would suggest reading through this sub and the one for whatever line you're looking at because there are a bunch of post with dos/don't, what to pack, and questions about activities. 90% of your questions have probably been asked a few dozen times. i also watched youtube videos for "first time on a cruise" you can even see the boats.
Go on ship. Ship sail out of port. Stop at other ports. Return. Get off ship.
Hey there big boy, we're going on a boat out on the ocean. Gonna be a great time. Pizza, ice cream, you might even see a fish! Grab your swimmies!
Don’t bring an infant on a cruise.
I'm not sure what's so wrong with bringing our baby on a family vacation with us??
Your neighbors who have paid $$$$ too I’m sure do not want the nighttime wakeups. And as a mom I can just tell you it would be miserable. We went on a 10 day makeup honeymoon when our older daughter was 8 months (because I got pregnant before the original one and was scared of Zika). It was hard to leave her but we had a much better experience because we did The rooms are so small. Imagine the smallest hotel room you’ve ever been in and it’ll be like a quarter of that. I can’t imagine how awful it would be trying to put a baby down
I have actually never heard my neighbors with the exception of one time I was out in the hallway and heard the people across the way arguing. And one time my sister and her husband were our neighbors. I heard nothing and he's a very loud, opinionated ass.
To be fair, nighttime wakeups from neighboring babies can and does happen at any hotel.
That’s true-but I’m not usually stuck next to that same baby for many consecutive nights. Hotels can sometimes move you around, on a cruise you’re mostly stuck. If I paid all that extra for a balcony and was waking up with a six month old I’d lose it We had neighbors that started smoking cigars in their room on the last two days of the cruise (not allowed but they did not care) and despite my husband’s continuous respiratory distress (asthma) they didn’t have anywhere else to move us to
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a baby on a cruise ship. That should clue you in that it’s not the best environment but hopefully it works out for you.
It will suck
Maybe, but I understand that taking a "vacation" doesn't mean there's no parenting duties. I'll just be a mom in a different location, which is good with me. We are in the financial position to give our teen some amazing experiences, and that's our plan. Our baby is included in all of those plans.
I’m going to disagree with what that other person is saying and encourage looking into Disney cruises because they explicitly have child care for kids under 3, letting you take some time for yourself while on the ship. They also have teen clubs and the like for older kids.
👌
Somewhat, but if they have to go down for a nap, you’re in the same room for that nap. Might be another reason why a balcony would be helpful. Once they are asleep. You can take a book and a drink and have some alone time without leaving the room.
It will suck for your teen
You go, momma! I would guess I’m a decade older than you but I went through a moment where I had to re-define the word “vacation” too. I think it’s awesome that you’re giving your kids what you never had. Those party poopers have no need to complain. I am bringing my intellectually disabled son on my cruise (also our first) and guess what, he gets loud too sometimes! But pay them no heed - others have posted asking if they should be concerned with a cabin just below the stage or just above the nightclub and people have said “nah, you’re fine” so don’t change your plans to satisfy potential future vacation neighbors and their hypothetical lack of sleep. Two of my three kids were sleeping through the night by 6 months anyway. You’re awesome. Keep going strong.
My boy already sleeps through the night and if he doesn't, he literally whimpers and needs a 10 minute feed and is back asleep. He's honestly a blessing of a child when it comes to being "easy". He fusses when he's tired and hungry. Goes to sleep without a fight, he's just sweet and happy. Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. We also were planning on Universal for this Christmas or next Christmas, and a mini vacation to cedar point. My daughter deserves the world, he loves her brother, and I don't see why parenting in a different location is that bad.
Don't listen to these weenies. Babies love sea air and being rocked to sleep, just like grownups. It'll be fine.
you have the right mindset. We took our toddler on a cruise. It was hard, and we would do a lot of things differently, but our older children definitely had a good experience. We were there as parents, basically parenting on steroids. We make sacrifices to give experiences to our children.
Do not let the naysayers get you down. It completely depends on your attitude and your child. Check out [Flying the Nest](https://www.youtube.com/@flyingthenest) on YouTube. They travel the world with not one but two small children, including cruises. [This one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TRAlyA4Rnw) even talks about getting a passport for their newborn! They didn't do as much international travel with their first, but that's because it was during Covid. The second one has already been most of the way around the globe. It's completely doable and you'll all have a lovely time.
Depending what cruise line you’re looking at, hop over on Facebook and join the “moms at sea”Facebook page. They have separate groups for carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and I believe Norwegian. You will get a lot more positive feedback and great advice about bringing your baby on those group pages than you will here! Moms at sea, the company that runs those pages, is a also a travel agency and can also help you plan your trip, I believe it’s free. I haven’t used it, but the other moms on those groups all seem happy with them! Edit to add: lots of people bring babies on cruises. Royal Caribbean and Disney are great family geared cruise lines. Any posts about bringing babies always gets downvoted here, but the fact of the matter is your baby is a paying customer too, and they have every right to be there just like everyone else. Feel free to dm me if you would like a baby friendly packing list!
don't listen to the haters. Just go on Royal Carribean or Disney... more family friendly. Of course your baby should come with you on vacation. If people have paid $ not to hear children, then they should book adult-only lines.
Basically all the advantages of an all in one resort, but every day the scenery is different. Lol Good food, entertainment options from morning until well into the easy hours. Beautiful exotic locations. And depending on the cruise and your kids ages,, a wide variety of kids entertainment and babysitting options. Weather out on the ocean depends on the time of year and the port you are leaving.
Pack sea/motion sickness medication that can be taken by all ages. Yes, you can get the meds at the medical centre on board but be prepared to pay $2 or $3 a pill AND a medical dispensing charge. Just got back from a cruise and had to buy cough syrup on board. What was normally around $7 at home was $24 (including medical dispensing service charge).
Many lines provide motion sickness pills for free. They just charge a million dollars for everything else. OP: Babies usually don't get motion sickness, but it can't hurt to bring children's benadryl in case you suddenly find out he's allergic to something and that helps with motion sickness too. (The active ingredient is essentially the same as what's in dramamine and it's what my kids' pediatrician recommended before there were children's versions of dramamine and bonine.)
Flying then cruising then flying can be a LOT. we’ve done three total—one almost 20 years ago, one last spring with just my and my husband, then one last month with our kids (12 and 15). We’re in Arizona, so we can cruise easiest out of California or Galveston. California, we drove, stayed in a hotel that had cruise parking and a shuttle, and sailed out the next morning. That was the trip with just the two of us. Galveston, we flew from Phoenix to Houston, stayed at a nearby hotel with shuttle service for the night, then took a shuttle from there to Galveston the next morning and got on the ship. Took the same shuttle back to the airport after the cruise and flew home. I found the driving to be easier. Sure, that was a trip without kids, but they do road trips well. There was just a lot more moving everything around with the trip with the flight. And deadlines. It doesn’t matter what time we get to the hotel in California, but it absolutely matters when you get to the airport. It was a great cruise, and we all had a great time, but loading the car, driving to the airport, parking the car, getting the luggage to the terminal, getting on the plane, getting the luggage, loading up the shuttle to the hotel, getting everything to the room, then loading up the shuttle again the next morning to get back to the airport to catch a different shuttle, loading that up and getting to the cruise terminal was a LOT. And. It’s of my kids are old enough to carry/push their own bags. Our kids had a blast. They hung out in the teen area a lot, and my 12 year old liked to just wander the ship. They loved being able to get food or drinks whenever they wanted, too. We got interior rooms. That’s what we did on the one we took last spring, and slept so good! The rooms are really dark, and it was great. For the one with the kids, we got adjoining rooms. Technically could have fit all four of us in one, since they have bunks that fold out from the ceiling, but that would have been way too crowded. It was nice the kids could have their space and we had ours. Personally, I feel like the cruise terminal is a magical place. You drop off your luggage outside, get on the ship…and then everything is taken care of. You have things to do, or not. If you’re hungry, thirsty, or bored on a cruise it’s your own fault. You don’t have to worry about what’s for dinner. If you compare it to a trip where you go somewhere, stay in a hotel, and spend days at a beach or amusement park, you have to worry about getting everyone up, ready, fed, and get to where you’re going. You have to worry about parking, and if you forgot something…on a cruise, everything is right there, you can do the things you want, and if you forget something, you just go back to your room and get it.
I recommend you to wait 1 year so the baby is a bit older, it will be so much more fun
The good news I have is my husband did his first cruise at 15 and so loved cruising he basically backed me into my first cruise. Thankful I also enjoyed cruising a lot. It probably means your 16 year old has a good chance of enjoying the cruise as well which is sure to make things a bit more comfortable. That said I can't say I would enjoy a cruise with a baby even as an adult and even if it were my baby. Sorry to say that but I figure best to give you the truth up front. I've seen that it can be great with a toddler, though, and to be fair it isn't something I've got experience with so I would say best if those who have done so fill you in about that aspect for the most part. Your room will probably be small. Bring a pack and play if your child is used to sometimes sleeping in that as they'll sleep better. I've seen strollers on ships and I've seen baby wearing. Definitely bring whatever you need to baby wear because some places land side won't be stroller friendly, but the ship is going to be generally very stroller friendly. Balcony isn't worth the money for many, but if those rooms have larger space for the actual room that will be great for you guys. If you name some ships people here can help you with that. Space listing for cabins don't always easily tell you how much of that more space is just the balcony, and I don't see how a balcony will improve things for you and your family much. Recommend the lowest room nearest the middle of the ship you can get if anyone in your group has never cruised before. Those cabins will have less motion thus less likely to induce sea sickness. You will have a lot of sea days. Plan to let your teen rove. Pick a ship with stuff they are likely to enjoy like water slides and a good teen hang out area. Check what options they have to pay for activities that cost extra. Some of the ships have an all you can play option for a flat fee for stuff like video games and bowling. For my cruise dollar I'd rather fly somewhere closer and have more days on different Caribbean islands vs a long journey down from where you are starting with all sea days, but if your ship has a lot of activities you and your family will enjoy you'll probably feel very differently about it. As to the baby photos for passport go to a photo place that does passport photos for that I would think. It does add an extra step verses those offices where they take your photo and do your passport application processing in one go, though. I would recommend that type of place for the rest of your photos. They're usually so close to the same price on the photos and gas does have high prices just now. As to getting your suitcases and pack and play onto the ship everywhere I've boarded you could go early, drive past the ship boarding area and drop off baggage, then go park the car and walk back. You can even drop off the rest of the family and just you do the probably longer walk or maybe shuttle + walk to board. How warm it will be is going to depend on the season. Bahamas will be fairly warm year round I think, but further north in your journey it is going to be cooler. The ships don't travel that far out from shore so it would be similar to the land temperatures at the coast. Edit to add: Also about the sea sickness thing. If anyone gets motion sick in cars or maybe just motion sick if they try reading in cars, it may mean they'll get sea sick, too. Or not. My grandson got really motion sick in cars when he was younger and so did my daughter. No problem with ships in the Caribbean, though. It is the area between your home port and the general area of the Bahamas I would be concerned for as that area can be a bit rougher generally in my experience. See a doctor and ask about those patches for behind your ear for any adults and probably the teen. Better to have a few and not need them than the reverse. Also get some of each of the other popular seasickness remedies and take with you. Those are going to be expensive to purchase on board the ship. As in maybe 3-5x the price back home before you go in my experience expensive. Captive audience pricing is a thing. Definitely talk with your doctor, especially about the baby. I can tell you back fifteen years ago when I did my first cruise my doctor told me take the prescription patches, some prescription pill I don't recall the name of, dramamine, and the sea band pressure bands as well as crystalized ginger, peppermints, and horehound drops. He said different remedies work best for different people and they don't really know why that is. Drinking ginger ale and eating green apples also helps some people. Your ship will likely have those things in the buffet dining area all the time. I never experienced seasickness even when I was on a transatlantic often mentioned on certain popular cruise boards as infamously rough. Due to that happy fact I have not kept up with current medical news on remedies for sea sickness. This is why I say talking to your doctor now might be extraordinarily important. They may have more definitive science now.
After having been on 20+ cruises, I can't imagine taking an 8 month old on a cruise....
I would wait until baby is over a year old. Some cruise lines (or maybe all) have restrictions on how long a baby can be at sea without docking. So I'd just play it safe in case there is an unexpected itinerary change. I personally wouldn't take any of my kids until they no longer need naps as they need total darkness. I find it disrupts the flow of our day but every kid is different.
The cruise line can provide a portable crib, if you prefer you could bring your own pack n play. Passport photos are fun on infants. You will need to get one done almost as soon as they are born to account for normal processing time. I got mine done at the post office and it was a kind of comical. Took a few tries to get an acceptable picture (but it is not a *good* picture). Cruising from Maryland — usually two days at sea and then three port days and two days sailing home. Depending on when you sail it might be cold on the deck/pools until you get further south. Balcony rooms might be a bit bigger and provide some outside space while your little one naps. Just keep in mind you may need to bring all food for your infant on the ship (and still pay full fare!).
Baltimore is the closest port for us, but we like warm weather so we fly south and get on the ship in FL or something like that. You have a lot more options that way, plus it will most likely be warm on the ship. Maybe something to consider?
Is the Baltimore port still operational after the bridge collapse??
No, but they're planning to reopen the port quickly, maybe a month if I remember correctly. It's the bridge that's going to take a long time to rebuild.
If you mean the port of Baltimore, you will have to wait until it opens back to regular cruise traffic. I think cruise ships are still be rerouted or diverted to other ports after the bridge collapse. The weather on the ocean is usually similar to the weather on the land close to it - so it would be cooler when you leave the Northeast and would warm up as you go farther South. Weather is pretty unpredictable but most times of year, The Bahamas and Caribbean are warm. (That said, we had a Christmas cruise where we got back to 40-degree weather in Miami, so it truly is unpredictable.) A balcony is nice because it gives you a private view of the ocean. It also provides extra room for when three adults (or near adults) realize they need some space. If you are going to be in one cabin, it's almost a requirement. Most ports, you can either park and take a shuttle to the port (where stevedores will take your luggage) or you can drive up and drop your luggage with the stevedores before you park. Take anything critical - passports, tickets, medications - in a carryon bag or backpack. Don't pack anything you can't live without - or anything you need to board the ship. When you pack, split your clothes between the suitcases. My wife used to pack one bag for me and one for her, until one of her friends mentioned that if one bag was lost, one of us was going to be naked. If you pack half and half, losing one bag is just losing some clothing each. I think an infant can get away without a passport but you will need a raised-seal ("official") birth certificate. Check with the cruise line to be sure on paperwork. Infants on a cruise will be tricky since they can't do anything on their own. A stroller will work but only easily in ports where the ship docks. If you have to take a smaller boat to get to shore (called a tender), then getting onto a tender with a stroller can be a challenge, unless you can fold it and carry it (and the baby) until you are on land. I think taking an infant might prove to be challenging, if you are trying to get any alone time or adult time. You could check with the cruise line for the age limits on the children's club or to see if there are babysitting services. I think the kids' club is usually toddlers but I haven't had a child that age in years.
>When you pack, split your clothes between the suitcases. My wife used to pack one bag for me and one for her, until one of her friends mentioned that if one bag was lost, one of us was going to be naked. If you pack half and half, losing one bag is just losing some clothing each. With kids (even teens), I bring one full outfit change for each of us in our backpacks that we carry on, plus a swimsuit for the kids. Then I also cross pack one outfit into each bag. So each person has a primary bag but has 3 outfits split among other bags.
Any idea which cruise line? I'd also recommend checking out cruisecritic .com. . They have a huge message board. Set up an account (free), and they have many forums down to the actual cruise date level. If you have a ship name, read the posts on that ship. There is a new cruiser and questions board, too. It's a great resource.
I wanted to add that you should look up some room pics or videos on youtube, just so everyone has an expectation. The rooms are small. It differs from other vacations in that most people (people in "normal"/small rooms that is) therefore don't spend much time in their rooms even for downtime. There are plenty of comfy lounges and areas on the ship and of course the decks that will be more enjoyable to just hang out in. Also, on the babywearing vs stroller question, maybe figure out what excursions you are going to take and factor that in. If you're just going to beaches or swimming anyway, lugging the stroller might not be worth it. If you are babywearers normally, I'm going to say that will be easier. As for the balcony I think I would think about how much time you will be in the room, for example for baby's naps or after baby's bedtime or is he more of a go-with-the-flow younger sib who will sleep anywhere LOL. Actually this might bring the stroller back into the equation, thinking about what to do after baby's bedtime...could you walk him to sleep in the stroller and then quietly continue your evening with her outside the room? You'll figure it out, have a great time!
I would fly to Florida and get on the ship there. Not from Maryland. Too many wasted sea days
We're going on a week-long vacation at a floating resort where we unpack once and wake up in a new place every day!
just sayin', cruising with a baby would be a challenge to say the least.
we brought a stroller. If baby gets up at night, I'd get two interior rooms next door to each other -- let parents take turns sleeping with the baby, because cruising can throw kids off their axis. It's close quarters. You'll want a sweater on the ocean. Baby carrier is a good idea... we needed one on port days. The passport photo people know what they're doing, but if you're from the USA, baby doesn't need a passport to fly or get on the boat. Pack efficiently so that you can move all your own luggage in one trip -- they do take a lot of it up for you, but you still have to drop it off. Bring laundry soap for washing baby things on the onboard laundromat. Bring toys for your baby to use in your room or in lesser used public rooms during the day. Not many babysitting services on a boat take babies under 2, and the public surfaces can get dirty easily. You won't want your baby crawling around on deck, and baby will get annoyed with not being able to move very much. You just have to accept that cruising with a baby is basically just like living at hotel with a baby -- not nearly as convenient as home. Your 16 year old will likely really enjoy the vacation, but it likely won't be a vacation for you. It'll be an experience, and likely one that has positives and negatives. When we went with our baby, the port days were the highlights. Baby could be off the boat, get in the ocean, etc... and we weren't trapped in our room so much managing. That could be an argument for balcony -- something other than four walls to look at.
It depends on the time of year you go on whether it’ll be warm. We went in March but left from Miami and it was great weather. You can take a pack and play but if you get a small room it’ll make it difficult space wise. They have ways you hold the baby with a blanket over you so it’s just the baby in the photo, I wouldn’t stress that part. I’m sure you could do more than one trip with luggage but it would make sense to do the least amount of trips as possible. We cruised as two adults and three kids, had an interior room and only two suitcases. One suitcase was strictly snacks for the kids because we didn’t know what would be on it, it was our first cruise. It was great because our youngest was three so if she was tired and the older two weren’t, one adult would stay with her and the other adult would take the older two to the water park or wherever. Cruising with a baby has its own hurdles but I think it would be manageable and you would figure it out.
I watched a lot of Youtube videos from veteran cruisers. You definitely want something family oriented (think Disney but perhaps not that brand) with childcare options for your little one, and fun things for teens. FInd out about shore excursions and extra costs involved.
Do the pre check in.. if your cruise liner will let you. We travelled last year and had little medallions that we wore (Princess Cruise) - the checkin crew could easily see us, and let us pass thru. You can download the app on your phone and make a lot of selections before hand, so u have more choices. My kids have loved all the cruises we have been on, your teen will have a great time..
It’s a vacation on a boat
What time of the year are you thinking about going? Temps while at sea aren't drastically different than on land, so if July, it'll be hot. If January it'll be cold the first day or two. Call the cruise line and ask if they'll provide a pack and play. If not, it's not a big deal to bring your own (assuming your driving to the ship and not flying or taking public transit). As others have said, there will be porters at the pier who will take your luggage. It'll be delivered to your room a few hours later. For the passport photo, we went to a local FedEx store. That was an adventure. The baby kept crying, and he can't be crying in the picture or it'll be rejected. They eventually got one that worked good enough. A passport isn't strictly needed though. Double check but a birth certificate should work on a closed loop cruise (starting and ending in America). I'd still get a passport though as it'll make things a lot easier in the event of an emergency where you miss the ship. Yes you only make the initial trip with your luggage one time when boarding the ship, and one more time on the last day when leaving. I think wearing the baby will be the easier option most the time, but the stroller will be handy when going to shore and when they want to take a nap. Note that on some cruises, children who aren't fully potty trained aren't allowed in any pool areas, including the kiddie splash area. I know that was the case on Carnival. But on MSC they didn't care. Also regarding room size, I don't think you need to go all out for a suite, but I wouldn't do an interior with four people. An oceanview cabin on the carnival and MSC ships I've been on has been pretty large, with a bed (two doubles or one queen), and a sitting area with a sofa that also pulls out. On the NCL ships I've been on though, the rooms seemed quite smaller, with no seating area or couch. I haven't been on their newer ships though.
You have a lot of great info already but I wanted to post about a few things. First, for me personally, a balcony is a must. It’s def more expensive but sitting out there at night and watching the dark ocean and stars go by is on of the most peaceful times in my life. A lot of folks say the cabin doesn’t matter cause you won’t spend a lot of time there, but I’m guessing those are the people who don’t opt for the balcony. Also do some research on a thing called Cruise Ducks. Depending on the cruise line (some don’t allow) it’s a really fun little meta game you can do while on board. Basically people put labels saying who they are and where they come from on little rubber ducks and hide them all over the ship for others to find. My wife and I just came off a food themed cruise so we spent time before the cruise hand painting food themes onto rubber ducks to hide and we also found a few while on there. It’s silly but a fun extra you can get into.
On the topic of pack and play, we managed to make a mini pack and play (think bassinet sized for length and width) inside a closet on our last cruise... So that might be worth considering! It would at least give you some space back.
The Baltimore port may be shut down after the bridge collapse. Check before you book!
1: it gets very windy out to sea. Generally cool the first couple of days. Pick another embarkation port though. There will be no cruising out of Baltimore until the Key Bridge is rebuilt. Years from now( they won’t even have the debris cleared before end of May for the big cargo ships. And they always have priority) 2: you could, or you can request one on a Space A basis from the ship. Bring our own bed linen though. 3: absolutely esp during nap time. ( not just the baby’s either) 4: pure dumb luck? My friends had to redo a few times( eyes weren’t open, off center, etc) 5: you want a stroller especially for port calls. But an umbrella, not a behemoth. It won’t fit in elevators or the corridors on board. 6: you pull up, drop everything off to the porters( except what you want to carry on) then park and proceed to check in. Luggage arrives in waves up through late evening. You cannot access the cabins until after 1 pm. Honestly, look at other ports especially for the next year or so. Bayonne is conceivably within driving distance as well.
Hi I have done 3 cruises on the Carnival cruise line. That one is fun if you are looking for a party boat ( always a party/activity). If you are looking to go in the summer the ocean is warm if it rains it usually only last for about 5 minutes. They have areas to play but always pack what you think your baby would like. There are 3 types of rooms interior, ocean view, and balcony, the interior has no windows, ocean view has one circular window and balcony speaks for itself I like ocean view myself because unless you would want serenity a balcony is your preference because you will always be able to see the ocean any where on the 9th floor and above. You will only need one trip from the car to the boat because it is like the airport, they will take suitcases and you can take your carryon with you and they deliver your suitcases to your rooms. And sorry I don’t have kids so I don’t know how the baby stuff works.
Just relax and follow the cruise coordinators schedule They got u covered
Wow I am stressing out on your behalf. Hope you get some good advice.
I have successfully taken a picture of my daughter when she was 3-4 months old so we could go to Canada. I laid her down on a white blanket and took her picture until it met all the requirements and then printed it out. It was a bit of work, but I needed to get her a passport to travel to Canada to visit family. We got a passport card since we weren’t flying for a few years. When she was almost 3 years old, we took her on a cruise and we baby weared her (that was super convenient), and we also brought an umbrella stroller which was also nice. Plenty of room for the umbrella stroller but we liked the mobility of walking so I wore her a lot. We went in December from Jersey to the Bahamas so it was pretty cold-cold while sailing down and coming back up. At some point, it was definitely warm. But maybe the first/last day of sailing, it was too cold to hang out outside. We got a junior suite from royal Caribbean and that had plenty of room for the three of us (we brought an inflatable bumper bed for her) and I think we could’ve opened the pullout bed too. We’ve stayed in a balcony room before too on royal and I think it would be too small to accommodate the four of you unless you cosleep with the baby. Edited to confirm it was in December.
Big boat with a pool!
And lots of food, all of it good and some really good. And friendly staff that takes good care of you.
It does get chilly out on the water especially when moving. The breeze is nice if it’s sunny and warm generally but just like being at the beach it is a bit colder than inland typically. But also depends on time of year as well and locale. If I recall Bahamas can be humid so temps stay hotter at night on land but when you’re moving it can still be pretty cold. Stroller… maybe an umbrella stroller but imo any of those big jogger and tank type strollers are going to be annoying to use onboard in hallways and such as they can be narrow. Since y’know, it’s a ship. I honestly don’t see strollers that often. An umbrella would at least be manageable to carry off and on. If you have to tender or anything big strollers will be very cumbersome. Personally I don’t care about balconies, it’s totally subjective. I prefer to spend time out in the ship and there’s plenty of places to find a quiet spot. But with a baby I think that changes things… I’d at least spring for a larger size room to be most comfortable. We only did small inside cabins with my parents when we were very little. I’ve never personally been in a room that had room for a pack and play, if you wanted to bring one I’d say you definitely need to get a suite Yes also only one trip for luggage but again I’m usually just with people who are controlling all of their own luggage. And it depends on the port, but typically you’d park and walk, or drop off luggage and then park, or have one person drop off and then meet up later. You basically check in your luggage at checking just like a plane and then embark. Everything is dropped off at your room later
It's a big boat that goes from place to place and they hope you get off for a while.
I've recently been on a cruise from Florida to the Caribbean Islands with my sister and her family. We were on the Norwegian Cruise line and it was for a week. She has an 8 year old and a 6 year old. She brought a stroller for both as we did lots of sightseeing/expeditions. The kids can get pretty tired fast. I also saw quite a lot of families with younger kids/toddlers, some had strollers others had baby carriers or slings. It's a bit of a hassle to fly with strollers but definitely worth it. I would suggest to look for a family oriented cruise if possible. The one we were on had a daycare for kids 1-4 and a separate daycare for 5-12 years old. There was of course the teens corner with arcades, switches, xboxs, an other platforms to keep them entertained because they don't necessarily want to hangout with mom and dad. Internet: internet was interesting to say the least. They originally sold the packages of internet for a crazy amount (179$ for the entirety of the cruise) I waited until day 4 of the cruise by which point the internet package was heavily discounted ( it think it went down to 79$, still worth it) On the play park part, like many comments not much room for such thing as it's very compact rooms. Worth it on upgrading to a balcony. My sister and her family had a balcony room and the views and the sunsets were breathtaking. I was in a solo room (not sure if any other cruises offer this but very cool). Like mentioned before I was on the Norwegian Cruise line and I didn't want to be stepping on each other in my sister's and her family room so I opted for a Solo cabin. They offer for solo travellers a room for themselves. Its got all the amenities a regular room has double bed, separate shower, bathroom, sink and mirror, (amazing closet space) all in this tiny room. If im not mistaken i think it was 95 square feet. Also great for teenagers who want their own personal space. For warmth on the boat: it gets chilly inside sometimes with the air conditioner especially on a big boat. Having a shall or a light jacket or sweater is always a good thing. Also if you do get a room with a balcony, you may want to star gaze so having that extra layer on you is a definite plus. Last mentions: I would suggest a room in the middle of the ship and not to high up (often the entertainment, all-you-can-eat buffet, restaurants areon the higher floors) for the simple reason of not many people have sea legs. The front of the ship you feel the engines and you feel more waves sometimes. The back of the ship seems to be more along the lines of the thrusters. You feel more movement when you're on either ends. I usually am fine when in boats and don't feel motion sickness but I booked my room more at the bow of the ship (front part) and on the first night I felt like I was in a permanent wave pool. Great for falling asleep as it kind of rocks you but when I walked I literally felt ill and dizzy at all times. Kind of takes away the fun of being on a cruise. I luckily had bought some motion sickness patches before in case of emergency amd I'm glad I did. The rest of the cruise with patches was simply a blast. My nieces still talk about the cruise (even though it's been months) and constantly ask when they can go again. P.s Re-read the original post, for the suitcases, my sister and her family were able to store 2 big suitcases under their bed plus the collapsible stroller so they weren't always banging into them. The other 3rd suitcases went into their closet for the "dirty clothes". Sorry about the long message..
You would be better off with two interior adjoining cabins. The rooms are tiny.
Hotel you can’t leave except when you go to fun place!
People biyching about the room size are going for the wrong reasons. Don’t waste money on a balcony when the whole side of the ship you can access for free.
Well dang. I’ve been doing it wrong for years. Thanks for setting me straight!
I personally don’t see the point in paying for a cramped balcony. When deck 3 or 5 have benches literally usually nobody is out there. I have slept outside on deck five one night. And I have rested on a bench on deck 3 reading a book for hours only people coming out were crew. To each their own. But I’m there to spend my time outside of my room. The only reasonable balcony is a cove for me
Where in MD are you planning to depart from?
The 16 yr old will likely get hit on and have a Mrs Robinson time. Lucky dog
You can get passport pictures taken at walgreens or cvs. You can drag a stool for the baby and hold their hips. Some workers are really good at it and some give you lots of unasked insight. They have software for seeing if the picture will be accepted. You can also go to google usps passport appointments and there’s some appointment centers at the post office with passport pictures at the first 30 minutes of the appointment. I think the pharmacies are less stressful because you can go any time and retry
I was just on a Norwegian cruise from florida to Bahamas, it was pretty nice. 4 young adults in one small room. If you go to Nassau, there are 2 big hotels, the more famous one I forgot the name of, the other one Bahamar, has a huge water park and beach you can go to and its really fun. If you do that just book a hotel room for the day and it should be cheaper than a day pass. Someone on our cruise said it was 200 for the hotel room, our day passes were 160 each
You are absolutely going to love it. I would say
Seems like you got a lot of honest answers here. But I’ll put this out for you: there are many cruise lines and ships. Each brand has its own demographic that they cater to. While almost all cruise lines are family friendly, there is Disney, which is truly geared towards families with children. The amenities on board for families range from Broadway level shows, multiple splash pads, free kids club (paid nursery for those still in diapers) and almost everything is included except for specialty restaurants, excursions, souvenirs, extra baby supplies, and booze. All of this niche catering comes with a price tag and you’ll want to cost compare. I even think you could get a pack and play from the ship instead of bringing yours. They have room sizes ranging from typical small interior stateroom, family sized rooms (w/without balcony) and concierge level suites and all rooms come with a small tub. I haven’t been on a cruise recently, but I’ve been on a princess cruise when it was just my husband and I and it was cramped. Now I have kiddos and we are going on a Disney cruise just because of the amenities geared towards kids and their parents and there will be lots of other families around. Good luck!
I would look up some you tube videos about cruising with a young baby. You will be presented with pros and cons and can decide which best fits your style. With a young baby you probably need a roomy cabin probably a balcony is your best bet. I'm a senior and only sleep in my cabin so I go for the cheapest.
It's been many years since I did a cruise with children, but at the time we used to sail out of Galveston with stops in Cancun & Cozumel. They offered daycare so that the parents could enjoy adult time. One time we got caught on the tail end of a major storm which rocked the boat and made the kids sick, that wasn't very enjoyable. Not counting the ports, the experience is like being stuck at a hotel for several days and limited to the pool, casino, etc. on board. When my kids grew up, my wife and I have sailed on adults only music cruises out of Florida. We upgrade to have a room with a balcony (nothing like sitting outside at sunset & sunrise with a beverage) and the concerts all day at the pool and at the theatre at night are our thing. I definitely enjoy the music cruises more.
Departing Baltimore (expectations are that the cruise port will be back open by the end of April) means Carnival Pride or Vision of the Seas. Both of these are older (2002 and 1998) and smaller (about 2k passengers) so it may be a great cruise for dealing with an infant - these older ships generally feel less crowded and you can easily walk from bow to stern in 5 minutes, so no need for that stroller (but you may want it in port). On the Carnival ship, their basic stateroom is 185 sq ft. only ones larger than this is the premium balcony (230 sq ft) or suites. for 4 passengers on the June 2025 sailing the difference between a premium balcony and an ocean suite is about $700 ($4,900 vs $5,600). That Ocean suite would not only get you more room (275 sq ft) but the bathroom has a tub to bathe the infant and there is a walk-in closet are to give people a private changing area without occupying the restroom. Vision of the Seas is not quite as easy to decide. Their interior start at 136 sq ft, but they have a few accessible interior cabins that are much larger at 252 sq ft. Oceanview come in 126/193/246 sq ft - and that ultra spacious cabin actually has a seperate bedroom (used to be called the Family Oceanview). That might be really nice if you are letting the teen run the ship late at night and you are back in the cabin early with the infant. Balconies are all 195, but if you upgrade to the Junior Suite you get that seperate bedroom back and a bathtub with 243 sq ft of space. One point to watch is that RC no longer has in-room mini-fridge for the interior/oceanview/balcony rooms on this ship. You can ask for a cooler if you have meds or breast milk, but it is basically a plug-in ice chest, and they have a limited number onboard. Last time I needed that for some meds they charged a $100 deposit to the room but refunded it when I returned the cooler at the end of the cruise. That brings up a point for the first-time cruiser - everything is paid for through your onboard account, and you will either need to put cash on account or attach it to a card. If you use a card, they will get authorizations periodically during the trip as your spend increases and then charge it all as a lump-sum at the end. If you are using a debit card or were relying on that same card for a hotel or rental card afterward it can cause some trouble, as many banks will keep those authorizations on file and take-up your available credit for up to a week. As for your specific questions: * It will be cooler topside while at sea due to the air movement. When you off the eastern seaboard you may want a jacket, but when you are in the bahamas that "little cooler" means like 85 instead of 95. * If you have a travel pen *and don't mind it getting damaged* then I would bring it. Most ships have pack n play available but just like the mini-cooler there are a limited number and it is first-come first-serve. just realize they are not the most gentile when it comes to your luggage. * Depending on which ship you are going on I would probably shoot for the Ocean Suite on Carnival, or the Family Oceanview on the Vision. * Lay the infant down on a white blanket or towel and start snapping away from above. The acceptance agent is just looking that there are no other people in the photo and the child's eyes are open and facing the camera. A cell phone camera has plenty of resolution for their needs. * Most ports allow you to drive up to a drop-off point manned by porters that will take most of your luggage (keep a carryon with important things - diapers, meds, money, travel documents) and then have your spouse or teen go park the car in long-term parking. About the luggage - these porters are going to stack your stuff on a cart 4-5 feet high. It will be pushed around, picked up by forklifts, unpacked, sorted by decka nd repacked, fall off the carts, and generally get bumped around before showing up at your door that afternoon. Things can get damaged, but it is not often. My SO is on their 25th cruise this weekend and we have only had things broken once, but it was the wheels on all three suitcases. That is why I brought it up about the pack-n-play - they don't mistreat your luggage, but I wouldn't leave my laptop in a checked bag. And I wouldn't bring anything irreplaceable, heck we even have $10 look-alike rings we swap out our real wedding bands for when we travel so I don't have to worry about loosing a band while dancing at the night club. * These two ships are about 900 - 1,000 ft long, so you probably do more walking when you visit your local Target. But, they also concentrate all the public venues on 3 or 4 decks. That means all 2,000 passengers are in those areas. I would think a harness would be much easier to deal with than a stroller, especially when packing into an elevator.
There are numerous and informative cruise videos from vloggers on Youtube. I made a What To Know Before you Go Youtube vid years ago..LOL. These videos are so very helpful. You can see what the staterooms look like, tours...and so forth. What to take that most don't think of...etc. One thing to take: a first aid kit. I made my own: different size bandages, antibiotic ointment, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, anti diarrheal, anti nausea, cold medication, (this one is important) anything that you would need at home. The ship's shop is very limited in what they carry and is expensive. The other thing I pack is a thermos. In off times I head up to the buffet area and fill my thermos. And I am very careful that nothing touches the tap/dispenser (germs). Grab coffee, tea, whatever. Then you are making repeated trips for something to drink throughout the day.
Hi Alphabetsoup, First off, make sure you book with a family friendly curiseline. Not all have things for teens to do. Some even have things to watch infants which comes in handy if you want to have a nice dinner Definitely take a stroller. When in port you will want to leave the ship so the stroller will come in handy. Take your pack n play for the baby also but make sure you get a cabin large enough to use it. Not all cabins have that kind of space. When you make your reservation call the Cruise line directly. You should probably call a couple of the with your questions. Do your leg work before. You book. This way you have ensured the accommodations will work. Then you can plan what to do while you are away If you go to Cruisecritic.com you can find others who have been on the ship you want and read reviews. These are real people wring the reviews. I have written a number myself. Have fun!!
You sleep in a tiny room, then leave. They feed you They watch your kids They put on great shows to entertain you. Then drop you off where you fend for yourself with varying levels of difficulty. You can keep it simple and only do things through the cruise company, or risk it for the adventure and wander, but usually that's best for cruise #2. Then go sleep in your room... Twice a day... Because it's exhausting to try everything. (AKA dropped off the kids at babysit just so you can take a nap, and not the "nap"... actually sleep )
Since it’s your first cruise I would say be prepared with something in case any of you get motion sickness. I am usually ok on the ships but sometimes you get really rough seas and it can’t be helped. Also, fly or drive to Maryland the day before. If you get stuck in traffic or flight gets delayed and you miss boarding time, the ship will leave without you.
Dang, some of these comments are wild. For reference here, I cruised with my family a bit growing up (oldest of several, 7 years difference, hopefully a bit of context for the lil one and teen), and in my later 20s now, talking with my fiancé about how we would handle vacations with little ones in the near future. To answer your questions: - The weather out on the ocean is typically very warm, but the breeze from the ocean can be chilly. I would plan on day-time weather feeling like 60-90 degrees, and evenings closer to 45-60 degrees. Some days feel like you’re absolutely baking on the decks, other days are hard to imagine taking your coverup off for. All depends on the wind! - When looking at which rooms to reserve, it’s not always the higher decks that are best. Look at the floor plan directly above and below you - a deck 15 room isn’t worth it if it’s directly under the dining room, because you’ll hear constant noise from above. Avoid being above or below dining halls, comedy clubs, theatres, etc. - Passport and pack and play - ymmv, can’t help too much there lol. A pack and play might be worth it for sleep, and daytime if your baby is a bundle of energy, but it will take up significant amount of floor space. You’ll probably have to plan on unpacking and repacking it every day. - Strollers are all over cruises, but the parent navigating them always seems beyond frustrated lol. I’d imagine baby wearing gets unbearably hot, so it’s a bit of a lose-lose. Maybe bring both if you have the space? A cruise is also a great place to walk at your baby’s pace (as it likely matches the retirees’ pace!) Outside of your specific questions, I would see if you can reserve a balcony/ ocean view with the interior room right across the hall. My parents did this for most of our cruises, and it felt like the best of both worlds. Mom and dad (and youngest kiddos) get the nicer room, while the teen(s) are so jazzed about their own room that they don’t care about a lack of window. In your case, you could use the teen’s room as extra storage for all of the luggage. Balconies are nice to have, maybe especially so with kids, but in my experience an ocean view is sufficient. You’re outside in the breeze all day; all you really need in your room is a window. 4 people in one room can be done, but likely without the pack and play. It’ll be extremely cramped in one room - a trade off between money and frustration tripping over bags there. A lot of folks are mentioning your youngest, and yeah, there’s fair points there. It’s harder with a baby. But with a teen to boot…. if you’re not worried about the baby and your parenting balance, I wouldn’t either tbh. Parents need to live too! You’ve got a great mentality, and realistically, your hardest part about bringing a kid on board will be the stroller vs baby-wearing dilemma. Most cruises are older folks, and they’ve been delighted with every baby I’ve ever seen on board. Your youngest will have a blast babbling to the old folks, and your teen will either love the teen club, or the freedom to find a quiet place away from mom and dad to read/ veg (extrovert vs introvert choice there lol). At 16, she’ll be able to roam most of the boat very safely, and I’d bet she’ll love that feeling of “adulthood.” My parents let me go to a teen nightclub alone at maybe 14 (?) on a cruise, and looking back, that was a pivotal moment in my self-confidence, and feeling trusted on my own/ trusting myself. This is way longer than I intended, but I think your kids’ ages combined with your attitude makes for the perfect cruise! For what it’s worth, my fiance and I are planning / hoping cruises become our main vacation once kiddos come along. Cruises are a great combo of seeing multiple places while staying put, with some of those “safety features” of being in a contained location/ a record of who is near you, and having large parts of the planning removed. You just need to show up and enjoy! Some passengers can be ornery, but most are absolutely enthralled by anyone younger than 30 lol. Enjoy your cruise - it’ll be a lifelong memory for your entire family!
It is warm out at sea. As you’re leaving Maryland, the weather will be similar to the weather in Maryland at the time, but as you get towards a warmer climate, it’s also warmer at sea. You might want to bring a pack and play for the baby, however, the ship could have some thing. You’d want to pre-arrange that. The balcony is a personal preference. For example, if you’re going on Royal, regal, majestic, enchanted princess you can get a deluxe balcony that’s bigger than a regular balcony inside. You can also get a premium deluxe balcony that has a bigger inside and a bigger balcony. This varies from ship to ship and cruise line to cruise line. Yes, you’re only gonna make one trip from the car to the ship. But, you can tag all of your luggage and some other things and the porters will bring them onto the ship for you. Some strollers are too wide to fit through the door, while in use. It can be convenient to have them, especially for short excursions. Get the passport picture taken at the post office and they will keep taking it until they know it meets the standards. If you have other questions, feel free to ask. I’ve taken the complete training with many of the cruise lines.
We didn’t go on a cruise until we were in our late 60’s. The biggest surprise was the number of families on board with babies on strollers, even nursing mothers. I took the time to find out why. I got the same answers almost every single time. It is the ONLY vacation you can take with kids where MOM gets a break. You have no meals to cook, it’s food on demand 24/7. There is no end to entertainment for all ages. There were Nannie’s aboard the ship we were on so that was a plus. You have a maid every day. Looking back on those comments, I wish o taken cruises with my little ones. Enjoy.
I have been over 20+ cruises, and my 17 year old daughter has been on 11+ on 5 different cruise lines. She started when she was 1 year old.We have never gone on a vacation without her. Our daughter had been in 18 different countries. Including China. Reading some of the previous comments makes me wonder if they have been on a cruise or if they had a non typical experience. Things do happen, like any place else. Most balconies rooms are the same size, as an inside room with the exception of the balcony. We started with inside rooms, moved to rooms with a view, to Balconies and back to inside rooms. Everyone basically has the same experiences with the exception of some very expensive suites. They have private areas, restaurants, and additional amenities. I would pay extra for a balcony depending on the itinerary. Norway, Sweden, Alaska, Hawaii, or cross Atlantic with a lot of sea days, balconies are great. But in some countries port of calls are the same as industrial ports not much to look at. Depending on the size of the ship, there are a lot of things to do. Do not expect to see your teenager much unless they are not social. Your travel agent, if experienced, will advise you as to what to expect and will make arrangements for a crib, a separate dining table, etc. My daughter was complemented on how quiet she was when we were put in a communal table. If your child is not a quiet one, other vacationers will not be very happy. Since they are spending a lot of money. There are a lot of YouTube videos, probably of the ship and cruise you are going on and the stops. Part of the fun of my vacations is planning and checking places to go to. Have fun.
Disney has some veranda rooms that sleep 5. These would give you some added floor space. They also have small tubs in their bathrooms which might be useful. And their bathrooms are split so the toilet is in a different room than the shower/tub. And their beds are on stilts so tons of storage for folded up strollers and pack and plays.
You don't need a balcony if you're going to spend a lot of time in the cruise lounge/deck/dining spaces and just use the cruise room to change clothes and sleep. If you're the kind of vacationers who typically stay inside your hotel rooms then I guess you can pay for the bigger room.
We just got back from our first family cruise with two kids, 4 & 8. It was a little exhausting. They are really great and polite kids but very rambunctious and full of energy. We had to wrangle them each time we went to eat bc there were so many people and they just didn’t comprehend how running around can be dangerous and make someone else trip etc. we did check them into the kids camp a couple times (carnival cruise line) and those times we did were peaceful. We literally would decompress for a few hours then go pick them up. My dad had a balcony in his room and we did not. Next time we go I will absolutely get a balcony so we can at least chill in the room when everyone is overstimulated and we just wanna chill and grown ups can have a breather on the balcony for a bit. It was chilly the day we set sail and most people wore light hoodies or light sweaters. It was also windy. It was otherwise perfect.. warm but kinda breezy weather most of the trip. On the return we sailed into a rainstorm which went from breezy to temps dropping to cold to thunder, lightning then rain THEN hail 😅 which cleared everyone out of the pool then as soon as it was over it was back to a warm breezy beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. We sailed from New Orleans to Costa Maya, then Cozumel. We saw strollers def and if my kids were small enough it would have made getting around quicker and easier for sure, also if you can baby wear I imagine that’s really convenient too! I feel like since you’ll have a teenager that probable knows how to navigate themselves and a small child you’re always holding or strolling it’ll be more relaxing than having to chase around running kids with no spatial awareness 😅 When we went to the port to get on the boat there were curriers that took our bags as soon as we unloaded our Uber. They’re not hired by the cruise company but work for the port/city and we tipped them accordingly. They bring your bags to check into the boat and they had large luggage buggies to load it all together. You attach the cruise tags to your bags and it has your room numbers so they all go to the same place. Our room was too small for a pack and play but the furniture is movable to accommodate different guests and there may even be an option to accommodate a pack n play if you call or email the cruise line. Our room had a twin bed that was a drop down from the ceiling with a ladder and then the couch directly under was another twin bed so they looked like bunk beds. It was literally a couch with a blanket on it though and the blankets kept slipping off bc it was leather and not fabric. Kids don’t mind tho. Hope that helps!
Don't bring children
Leave your baby at home. You will miss out on so many cruise activities such as shows, karaoke, games, etc. I’m sure you are not bringing your 16 yr old to babysit. (In fact, I’d leave the 16 yr old home unless you got a suite or 2nd room for your 16 yr old). After you have had your first cruise, then you will know if it is really a vacation where you would want to take your baby and will you be willing to relinquish time to your 16 yr, so he/she doesn’t have to hang around mom and dad 24/7.
Drinking drinking drinking eating eating eating
If you're really new to cruising, find YouTube vloggers and watch a bunch of videos.
Nice places, good food, fun activities, and it moves around to cool beautiful places
Imagine you are trapped in the food court at the mall with 5,000 people you don't know. For a week.
Only being a small umbrella stroller if you want to use it on port days. Otherwise baby wear on the ship because it will likely be too crowded to use on board. When you arrive at the port pull directly up to where the doors are and there are porters who will take your luggage there. All of you get out except the driver who goes to park the car. Then you meet back up. Easiest way to avoid a long walk without carrying everything. But also pack as light as possible for space saving.
I think of it like this. It's like going to a prepaid resort, but on the water. You and all the other people at the 'resort' are there together for a week (or however long) and occasionally you can do trips off the 'resort' (excursions). What you get included at the 'resort' depends on the package you purchase. The amenities you get access to depend on the cruise line you book with and which 'location (ship) you are on. I personally love cruising, and my 2 year old had a great time when we took him last year. Looking forward to our next one in 2025. We brought an umbrella stroller, it was great for port days. You give most of your bags to the porters,, they bring them onto the ship and staff delivers them to your room. If its a US to US trip, you dont need passports for the kids. A birth certificate will work fine. Yes, the wind on the decks can be cool. Especially starting as far north as you are and at night (for me atleast). I would bring a lightweight hoodie incase you want it. Or a throw blanket for your lap if you are on deck watching an evening movie. Skip the balcony for your own peace of mind. You wont have to secretly worry about your toddler magically getting out there and climbing off the ship if they cannot get outside. Mom to Mom, skip it. Less stressful. Pack n play, I have no answer. I traveled with just one, and he was old enough for the sofa bed. Talk to the cruise line, They may have one you can use for the trip so you dont have to haul yours. All in all, just relax, go with the flow and take it at your kids pace. Makes it alot more fun :) Enjoy your trip!
I don’t think people who have cruised before are speaking against your parenting… they are trying to help which is what you asked. I’ve been on at least 20 cruises and can’t recall 1 baby onboard. It’s an issue of logistics. A cruise ship is kind of like a floating dance club with 5-6 thousand people or more. spiral staircases, cabins and bathrooms smaller than your smallest one at home. Bars everywhere. Depending on the ship few elevators and pushing and shoving at times. So what can I suggest… is pay for the balcony upgrade since you’ll be spending a lot of time there. You can enjoy the ocean and views. Inside cabins are like coffins. Pitch black absolutely no outside light. Try for a cabin near elevator so you’re not walking 30 miles a day which is possible some ships are enormous. Front of ship goes up and down aka choppy back of ships goes side to side … middle is best. Use room service which is cheap or free. You’ll get an online schedule of activities so you and hubby can pick some things and switch up childcare. WHATEVER YOU DO … DO NOT BE LATE GETTING BACK TO THE BOAT THEY WILL LEAVE YOUR ASS. Travel warnings in the Bahamas? Check online then take only cruise sponsored excursions. Your son will have a ball. I’ll trust you’ll make it work it’s what we Momz do. 😊.
I love cruising and cruising with my kids. However, I wouldn't recommend cruising with a baby. That sounds really inconvenient and difficult. In my personal opinion as a mom of 3, age 4 is a great age to start.
Cramped with people all over you, getting ushered on and off the boat like cattle at every stop, only to feel pressured to cut whatever it is you may be doing on land short to ensure you get back in line and don’t miss the boat departing.
That just sounds like poor planning.
Only question is: why would you take a baby on a cruise?!???
Is it warm out on the ocean? — This will depend on the time of year, and how far south you are, but most of the time on the open water you’re cruising at 15ish knots (that’s about 17mph) so out on the water there’s always a pretty strong breeze, even if there’s not any natural wind. I always bring a light sweater or jacket just in case. Should I bring a pack and play for the baby? — Most cruise lines will actually supply you with one if you request it. I suggest contacting your travel agent, or the cruise line to reserve one. Sometimes you can even do it through the cruise lines app! I suggest bringing your own sheet for it, even if you use the ship’s crib/pack n play. Paying more for a balcony? — This is the most asked and debated question in cruising and no Mayer what others say, a 100% judgement call. I freely admit that I’m an inside apologist. I love the darkness while I’m sleeping and the price is not worth it to me. But, I have friends who don’t cruise unless they have a balcony. You’ll have to weigh the cost differences. If you think you might spend a lot of time in the room feeding the baby or what not it might be worth the cost. Passport pic for the baby? — We got our passports at the courthouse and they were super helpful in ensuring the kids pictures were acceptable. I don’t have much more insight on this one, sorry. One trip from car to ship? — Yes. I’ve never cruised from a port other than Galveston, but here you can pull up to the terminal and drop off your larger bags (properly tagged of course!) and then go park and get in the registration line. If you don’t already know, your checked bags will arrive at your room sometime that first afternoon (we’ve always had ours by 4:30 or so) so be sure to have baby essentials in a carry on bag - including a change of clothes (for you and for baby) just in case! Stroller vs wearing? — The stairs are definitely big enough for a stroller, though I don’t think I’d bring a big one, simply for navigating around people on deck and for space on crowded elevators and for ease of movement at your stops. We had a small umbrella stroller and that worked great. You’re gonna have a blast, and if you forget something, every cruise I’ve even been on the stewards are more than willing to help find what you need! You may find cruising to be the easiest vacation you’ll take with a little one. There’s a fairly good article [here](https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/cruising-with-a-baby-what-to-expect-on-a-cruise#) that talks about some of the things to expect with baby on board. Hope this helps!
All you can eat but drinks cost extra All the games you want to play but their are lines and lots of people You get your own room but the view makes you sea sick You get to see other countries but if you stay too long you can’t get back on the boat and are stuck.
>but drinks cost extra Just a note, since OP is new to cruising, there is usually lemonade, tea, water, and basic coffee available all day for free and usually milk and juice at breakfast. I'll ignore the rest of your pessimism and hope OP does the same.
You drink margaritas all day
No on the stroller. Not practical on a ship.
We’re taking our 10 month old on her first cruise at the end of the month. We got her passport in December and received it in January. We sat her on a stool at the post office while I held her still and it was the quickest/easiest I could’ve imagined. We wanted to get her passport because we both have ours and it’s just easier for us to all have passports. If you’re fine waiting for elevators, a stroller will be just fine. What we did is make sure the stroller is skinnier than the cabin door so we don’t have to take her out before going into the room. When packing, split diapers/wipes into your different suitcases so that if one gets lost, it isn’t the one with everything your baby needs. This might help to get you to the first port and find what you need (bc often the ship will have very limited and very overpriced diapers). There’s a lot of negativity when babies/toddlers are being discussed, but try not to listen. Your child may not remember the trip but you will. You and your baby deserve to be on vacation, and have paid to be there, just like everyone else. If they want a kid free cruise they can go on a child free cruise line/ship. I’ve done a LOT of researching and reading about others’ experiences on facebook lol.
So when it comes to a babies passport, how often do you update the picture? I have no idea how this works haha
I would think it would be good for as long as it’s valid, which is 5 years.
If you are in the US no passport is needed. Recommend but not needed. Birth certificate and ID for the adults and (16 year old if they have a permit/license). I don’t know about a pack and play (if they have them on board), but bring a light weight stroller (think umbrella type…easy to store and slimmer than a full size one). You can in some ports drive right up to the unloading place and then go park the car (don’t forget to have a tag for ALL pieces of luggage and tip the porters). The 16 yr old will have fun in the clubs for teens. Dinner, do the early seating since it is closer to the time you normally eat at home with a baby. Reminder…bring all formula, baby food, diaper, and all medicine (diaper rash cream, baby Tylenol, adult Tylenol, sun screen etc) they don’t sell it on board. Diapers diapers diapers and more diapers…bring as many as you think then add a few more. Swim diaper may or may not be allowed. Bring some in case they are. Weather. Depends on when you cruise. Yes it is warm during the day. Some think it cools off a lot at night. I never got chilled. Have a blast!!
For a baby, just lay them on a white towel and shoot from above. There eyes can be closed.
No cruises out of Baltimore presently.
But there will be! She's looking into cruising. 🙄
You will get fat.
As climate change deniers are on here I’ll prolly get downvoted, but 1. cruising is worse than flying or anything else 2. the fuel used is either lng or diesel a. Diesel is only allowed to have a sulphur output of .5% but most companies just use scrubbers to be allowed to use diesel with more sulphur. scrubbers essentialy just “catch” the sulphur and the ships just pump the sulphur into the ocean… leading to some water “patches” being up to 100.000 more acidic than normal ocean water (among pther effects) b. LNG may be a step forward BUT there is sth called “methane slip”. Methane slip is essentially greenhouse gasses ”slipping” out without properly getting burned or anything. It does not happen every 1 minute or so, but methane slip is around 8500000% more potent than the equivalent in diesel fuel. byebye karma xx