husband wants a cruise... I think it sounds awful

[Goscat]

My husband is convinced we should go on a cruise with our baby and 3year old. They look like my literal worst nightmare full of tacky entertainment and being stuck chasing a toddler round a ship with nothing to do for a baby and stuck together in the tiniest of rooms. Has anyone taken kids this age on one?

He had a great time on one to Alaska when he and his brother were in their 20s which is a very skewed view on what it will be like with kids I think!

The kids club will take the toddler ( and maybe the baby) so you can have a break.

Theres no compulsion to do the evening entertainment - although theres stand up, theatre shows, quizzes, live music of various sorts all going on all night.

Just go to one of the bars or restaurants, watch the sea from the prom deck or watch a film in your room ( or under the stars on top deck).
It’s not terrible to go to bed early as usually ships will dock early morning. It’s lovely seeing some new place come into view if you are up first thing. Helped by unlimited breakfast options to take out as you watch sunrise over the sea.

I'd only do a cruise if I had a balcony to sit on as that's where we spend all our time on holiday when not out and about. But I don't know if they are safe for children.

The size of the ships is a concern too. Some are massive so going for food or to the pool could be a hassle as popping back to your cabin could take ages.

I think the type of cruise that I'd like would be massively expensive (balcony suite, small ship) so it's a good job I'm not especially keen to go on one.

i thoughsay he same as you. I went on one around spain and italy. I loved it. A new place everyday, only one full day at sea. Lots to do on the ship. I only stayed in my room to sleep. There were lounge areas, restaurants, bars, pool, sunbath basically whatever you want to do. We had two entertainment areas one main (little tacky sometimes) then a smaller one which had lots of dancers (bit like the professionals on strictly). Find one with a kids club and lots of stops in places. I would say to have a try.

I cruised a lot with my kids, from 6 weeks old. A perfect holiday for ease. The older kids can try any food on offer - a great way to introduce your 3 year old to new tastes from the extensive all you can eat buffets. I also dislike tacky entertainment and avoided most of it. But there was the cinema, cocktail lounge, library, talks on interesting subjects and live bands etc. I loved a talk on Egyptology from the onboard specialist on a cruise to Egypt. Cruising takes the stress out of holidaying with kids. If you go outside of school holidays, there are many retirees on board who love to engage with you and the kids. Its nice to dress up for the evenings and its easy to get back to your room if there’s a nappy or clothing change needed. Watch out for fingers in doors and obviously hold on to your 3 year old on deck. I always read up on the ports and did my own thing on arrival, getting taxi’s or boats out of port to find somewhere where fellow cruise guests were not. I have great memories of every cruise with my kids. I also did a cruise to Alaska and loved it. The easiest with kids is to stick to no fly options.

Make him watch Titanic.

No way. The Netflix show ‘ Amy is missing’ has put me off ever cruising

Pick your company carefully. Never cruised with a baby but this was our preferred holiday choice with kids from 5 and seven Royal Carribean’s smaller ships. Kids clubs (all qualified nursery nurses or teachers on the team) were great. Also great food, good company etc as previously mentioned. Sort yourself out re ports . Only tacky entertainment we’re the comedians so we didn’t bother going again, plenty of other things to do.

Watch the 'Poop Cruise' on Netflix....that will doubly put you off!

Then a documentary about the 'Poop' cruise.

Go on a Disney cruise, kids club from 3-18 and a nursery for babies

And also Triangle of Sadness

😂😂😂

It's probably a really great option with young children, that or a family friendly AI resort. Safe and everything at your fingertips.

Do your research about which company, ship and itinerary would best suit your family.

Pick an outside cabin with windows rather than a balcony, so you get a view but not the stress of a balcony.

Go in term time so the nursery and kids club are quieter.

There are plenty of one-week cruises from UK which you could book as a taster. Maybe the fjords.

I suppose it depends on whether you like other people or not.

It sounds like my worst nightmare before you even throw DC into the mix.

The theory of waking up in a new place every day sounds lovely but then when you arrive, god knows how many thousands of people get off at the same time and swarm towards the sights.

I'm not sure if it is standard, but my parents went on a Norwegian cruise and had a set table for dinner with another couple. After a long day they really didn't want to have to make chit chat. (Fortunately there was another restaurant with a buffet do they went there instead). A PP said it is nice to dress up for dinner. IMO, with two small children, no, it isn't.

If you like all-inclusive for the hotel facilities however, it may suit you.

I've been on two cruises, one with my 5yr old DSS.
Personally, I thought it was a waste for DSS.

Cruises are great for adults, loads to do, sightseeing at every port, great food and entertainment.

With DSS, it was a little fraught, he wasn't interested in sightseeing obviously, wanted to eat in the burger/pizza restaurant every night.
Couldn't take our eyes off him for 5 mins as he was obsessed with looking over the rail, it was pretty stressful.

The days where you sail all day were horrendous, no-one can get off obviously so it's really busy, you can't get near the pool, all restaurants are busy, queuing for a drink etc

Dss was constantly "bored" on a holiday that cost an absolute fortune 😃

Couldn't have a cabin with a balcony as he wasn't old enough, I think the dc had to 10 yrs old, inside cabins were dark and gloomy.

This isn't a stepchild bashing post, I love DSS and been on countless holidays with him, he was just a little boy who was into everything (grown up now)

I'd save the cruise until your dc are off to uni and you and dh can go alone.

Sounds like my worst nightmare too! Surely there is some sort of compromise- somewhere with tacky entertainment your husband can go to if that's his thing while you can go out and about and explore?

I have been on a couple of cruises, but they have been " adult only". I don't think I'd fancy it with a 3 year old. We went on smaller ships, and no forced dining sitting at tables with others.
Disney cruises seem great for families though. A 3 year old might not appreciate it though. You tube has loads of reviews of ships and companies.

We went on a cruise, loved it so much we came home and booked another! A cruise isn’t going to be any different in terms of looking after your children as any other holiday tbh. Put them in the kids club if you need to. My kids were 8 and 6 when we went so not the same ages as yours.

None of the main cruise lines force you to sit with others anyone. On some it’s just the default as that was part of cruising but you can ask for a table and wait for one of your own. Or you can eat at any of the other places on board serving food including a buffet.

You don’t all have to get off the ship at the same time. Get on and off when you like. I’ve often waited until mid morning, swung off an empty ship into a quiet port and got a waiting taxi to something local I fancied seeing (or a beach). DS liked it best at 3 as he refused the kids club as a shy only child.

I don’t know what people like doing on their holidays normally but you can do it on a ship. Go for a walk under the stars, go to the gym, watch a film, eat outside ,listen to a band.

No different to an AI resort really - we went term time (October) round Italy with our 3 year old and she absolutely loved it. Would highly recommend Celebrity - good food, staff great, kids club, not tacky. I was always a bit sniffy about cruises but not any more. Just do your research when it comes to cruise lines/ships.

I came here to say this! Hahahaha
You’ll never look at a lasagna the same again

We love cruises and find it the easiest holiday with little ones as you get an unlimited luggage allowance (unless flying). We’ve not long come back from one with our 1 and 6 year olds and they loved it. There was so much for them to do and was really safe for them.
The entertainment that we saw was really good (didn’t see to much so may have been some tacky things!)
The cabins can feel small but we always get a balcony which helps and do have enough room even with a travel cot.

Go on you tube and watch some of the 10000s of blogs about cruises - search by the cruise company and the route, you can literally watch the exact cruise you’ll go on and see what it’s like. Travel Blog Jamie and Brogan Tate are very good for example. Amy Hart from Love Island works with P and O and has a toddler and has done lots of you tube videos about cruising with young children.

I absolutely love cruises and I think people have very weird misconceptions about them. You can literally do as little or as much as you like. I would never want to do any of the entertainment for example. For me it’s like a floating city with a luxury hotel that takes me to other places.

But - I think holidays with little children are a bit of a nightmare at the best of times. When ours were that age we mainly went to Haven! As they’ve got older we’ve become more adventurous.

Choose a line that allows kids in swim nappies into the pool/splash pad.

Some of them have incredible kids clubs/activities with qualified staff. Carnival has a reputation for being tacky but the kids club was brilliant and we just avoided the elements we disliked.

Get on youtube and watch some of the vloggers. Lots on cruises and they all, no matter how luxurious the ship is, fill me with horror 😄 It would be a definite no for me.