Best cruise ship or Caribbean resort for two toders

[Fran92]

Looking for ideas, either a specific Caribbean cruise ship (Not Disney) that accommodates well for toddlers with splash pools etc and some child care or a resort that has crèche for under 4 / over 1 for a couple of hours. This will be for winter sun, already for a eurocamp type place sorted for summer!

I’ve noted hotels in Dubai with crèches and it’s doable price wise, currently pricing a Villa & Orlando holiday but ideally want All Inclusive / Cruise to take out the cooking elements.

so please any specific recommendations for cruise liners or hotels for toddlers would be great please! I’ve said not Disney as I’d rather go for a couple of days than pay for the cruise of it.

Thank you!

P&O Ventura and Britannia are really good.

Not sure this is the answer you want....
I'm just home today from 2 weeks cruising the Caribbean. It was VERY hot. The beaches are a mini-bus / taxi ride from the cruise ports. The cruise ports themselves are really not suitable for wandering around with small children - not very interesting, generally working dock towns and very uneven pavements for buggies.
The cruise ship was lovely for adults. The pools were deep - even I couldn't touch the bottom in one and only just in the other.
Food in the main dining room was fabulous with waiter service and lots of choice, but again probably not suitable for small children as the service was quite slow.

There was also a canteen type place with lots of choice - Indian, Greek, fish, pizza, Mexican - even roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Loads to choose from but you have to get your own food with a tray.
Cabins are fairly small but were very nice and spotlessly clean.
We cruised Barbados, St Kitts, St Maarten, Dominica, Tobago, Grenada, Guadaloupe, St Lucia, Antigua and St Vincent on Marella (TUI) Voyager ship.

If I were in your shoes looking for Caribbean winter sun with small children then I would opt for a child friendly hotel in Barbados, St Lucia or Antigua.

Royal Caribbean, they have the Royal Tots nursery on most ships (you do have to pay extra for this, then Adventure Ocean for 3+ and independently potty trained is free) and most ships also have a splash pad for babies/toddlers in nappies.

I’d be interested in a hotel in Barbados with childcare - it didn’t seem to be a thing when we looked.

@ruby1234 we we’re on the very same cruise! Small world! Love it. Agreed it was V hot!

P&O Arvia is a lovely modern ship, although I haven't used the childcare myself.

All ports are alongside, not tenders.

Lots of options for eating are included -formal dining, a food court, American style diner, Mediterranean and a huge buffet.

Several pools and a splash zone for toddlers I think.

Look at Bougainvillea Barbados. A hotel right on the beach with 2 pools kids are allowed in(including a toddler pool). They have a kids club and a baby sitting service. The on-site restaurant also does very kid friendly meals.

Thanks all,

ill look at some of the cruises mentioned but I expect would add up if I want a suite etc.

I've seen club med are in Dominican Rep / Mexico which could work but would prefer a package to keep it easy. Will take a look at the hotels mentioned too

Blue Waters in Antigua was fab when DS was 18m old, the crèche took him at that age.

@Twilightstarbright thank you, unfortunately if went early Dec my youngest would only be 17 months and Antigua isn’t a direct flight from Manchester so with only having 10 days I don’t fancy a connection.

@YouveGotAFastCar ive seen Sugar Bay in Barbados has childcare but the AI doesn’t serve food all day and I don’t fancy being restricted if the children want food but it looks a lovely hotel.

so I’m back to the drawing board unfortunately and not found anything other than Club Meds.

Can I convince you to change your mind about a Disney cruise, they really are fabulous and nothing like going to Disney so you could still do that?
The cabins are big, almost double Marella and quite a bit bigger than celebrity, NCL etc.

@SunnySunnySunny

I’ve had a nosey and them and we’d need a concierge room unfortunately which massively bumps up the cost so until we could cope in a small room it’s just out of budget, it’s around £15k for 7 days! RC have one for 8 days for £10k but in a two bedroom suite.

I think cruising is for when the children are older and the youngest is potty trained to make the most of it.

Currently looking at Dominican Republic (but have reservations about it) or good old Lanzarote but have been the canaries for the past couple of years and wanted a change

In some of the Barbados resorts you can pay to have nanny look after them for a bit in the creche, but it's extra. So Sugar bay and Sandy lane are the ones I can think of.
You don't want to spend 10 days though in one resort, it will get quite dull, so yes, maybe think of a cruise. Royal Caribbean have loads from Miami.