Talk to me about cruises with a baby

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We're looking at a cruise for the end of this year, hopefully a nice way to combine a winter city break with our first cruise.

I know P&O don't accept kids under six months but ours will be 8/9 months depending on when we go so not worried about that.

I can only see (bear in mind I'm only searching on my phone so might have missed it) options for single adults, two adults or a family of four. Is there an option with any cruise companies you're aware of that you can book as two adults plus an infant? Or where an infant under 2 is free? I begrudge paying for a family of four when we're only two adults and a baby.

Would also love any cruise tips, recommendations or stories?

Not fussed for kids clubs as she'll be with us all the time but wouldn't say no to a couple of evenings where you can drop the baby off at the crèche for two hours so we can have a fancy meal. Can see P&O only seem to accept kids 2-17yrs. Not a deal breaker though, we can forego a fancy meal!

Looking for no flight cruises. Southampton ideally as there's no luggage limit so we can take a pushchair plus travel cot. Unless any other UK ports allow enough to take these too (+luggage).

Sorry I have no experience of babies on a cruise, but are you formula feeding? Prepping and washing bottles on a cruise will be a nightmare, I'm not sure how you would do it. At 8/9months you'll still need 4-6 bottles a day.

Also babies are crawling at that age and into absolutely everything so pick a ship that's got lots of space where you are able to let baby down to play, maybe a soft play or playroom. Keeping them in a pushchair or high chair most of the time will be miserable for everyone. Mine absolutely hated to be contained at that age.

Thank you, no I'm breastfeeding so that should make things much easier thankfully.

Appreciate the tip on space with crawling etc. :)

Royal Caribbean currently has Kids Sail Free for certain dates https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/kids-sail-free

Thank you, doesn't look like they do any winter cruises from the UK unfortunately!

Iona has a night nursery that takes from 6 months and closes at 2am. So you can have dinner and/or watch a show.

usually when you go through the booking process online it asks how many adults and children and their DOB. Also if you require a travel cot. Do that and see what rooms and prices they offer.

Much appreciated I'll give that a go now!

We went on Iona with our then nearly-3yo and I can't remember if we paid extra for her but it wasn't much. We had a small balcony room with dd on a little sofa bed.

I read this blog avidly before going, it's a must-read. Not just about Iona cabins but everything to do with cruising with little ones

https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/po-iona-cabins/

I have moved this years cruise to next year as I am currently pregnant ( can't board after 24 weeks) with p and o . infant cost me £99. They helpfully have prebooked botle warmer, cot and baby bath for the room . At no extra cost.
I rang them direct. I have paid select fare so I have picked a specific room. Ie no clubs or bars or restaurants above or below the room. If you want quiet go for a room surrounded by other rooms.

The lady on the phone suggested the best room to fit a cot into. Which with there being 4 of us next year was a balcony. We have previously sailed in an inside room and was lovely for 3. But no floor space for a cot.