Disney cruise with toddlers - Caribbean or Alaska

[Flymeaway4]

Has anyone done both? Which would you recommend? Children will be 1 and 3. Would be going July or August. I feel like we'd love the scenery and day trips in Alaska, but the kids love swimming too and weather may not be warm enough for the pool, even then.

Never done a cruise before either, but though the kids would love Disney. Thoughts?

If you're UK based why not one of the summer cruises out of Southampton or one of the other European ports? I'm not sure I'd want a long haul flight plus the cruise with toddlers!

I think that out of the 2 you have picked the Caribeean for the reasons you've given about the weather.

I have been on a Northern European and Norway Disney cruise and the weather was actually fine, not hot but the pools were useable.

I've done the Caribbean and it was lovely but to be honest I'd wait until a little older. At least when we went you couldn't use the child care until 3, and that was their favourite part of the cruise - particularly princess story time, tears when we picked them up!

I'm not worried about the flying aspect, they're pretty good at flying (hope that's not jinxing it!) and we'd get business class seats, so plenty of room.

That's a good point about being able to use all the facilities and activities though.

Ah that's good.

My young kids were fine with flying too.

I believe there are pay for nurseries for babies, you will need to check with Disney.

I will say though not to discount the European itineraries, I preferred them to the bahamas/ carribeen ones as the ports offered more of interest to me.

Other point to note is that whilst there are pools, they are more for lounging/ splashing than swimming.

Can your children go in the swimming pools? I know some don’t allow non toilet trained children in their pools onboard. If they do then probably I’d opt for the Caribbean. I don’t like the Caribbean and would personally love to do Alaska but with young kids, you do need to keep them entertained.

Will Disney allow such young children in their clubs.

It's hard to find specific rules to be honest; I think they need to be toilet trained for the swimming pool, but their splash zone equipment has been designed and licensed to allow non potty trained children to use that (I think the water is filtered each time ot drains away or something).

I think my eldest could go in the club, as she's 3, but not my youngest (except the paid for nursery). I'm not worried about that though, happy to keep them with us all the time anyway (although I'm sure our eldest would love the kids club, so we would make use of that for her). Are there activities on board we can do with them? Or is it just really the kids clubs?

Don't get me wrong, I love Europe and European cities (and the food!!), but I feel like the stops might just be too busy for us with them the age they are. I thought beach stops in the Caribbean or whale watching/train trips in alaska would suit us better. Maybe alaska is one for when they're a bit older too though.