Cruises with a toddler.

[BitterIwasntfurloughed]

I dont know why im asking.. As I write this it sounds like a terrible idea :D

Bare with me if you will... Has anyone here sucessfully gone on a cruise with a toddler? Assume you would need a bigger cabin with 2 bedroom spaces so little can sleep?

Any tips or comments welcome.

We started cruising when our youngest was 3…. There are usually lots of toddlers on board when we cruise (royal Caribbean).

we only have a basic cabin and not one with separate sleeping areas. We either let the kids stay up late or once they’re asleep we have a quiet drink in the room or on the balcony. They went to the nursery and now kids club too.

I would do a Disney cruise, but I'd be too nervous to have a cabin with a balcony.
I've also done RC and loved it. It was bk, but good to know a pp likes them for dc.

Amy Hart from love island has done a lot of vlogs with p and o showing how it works doing a cruise with a toddler. Have a search for her on you tube and instagram.

You wouldn’t have separate bedroom areas (unless you paid absolutely £££ for a suite) but the way it works is you either have a sofa bed (in addition to the main double bed) that changes into a bed and you can get a guard rail or you can ask for a travel cot.

Research very carefully as nappy wearing toddlers aren’t allowed in most cruise ship pools. Find one with a toddler friendly splash pad.

Most cabins have a seating area which can take a cot or converts to an extra bed. Most have toddler play areas and splash pools but they won’t be allowed in the main pools unless fully potty trained (maritime hygiene rules). Child care facilities generally start older but some have Nannies for a fee.

We did cruises from Southampton when the dc were toddlers and they were such easy holidays. No flying, night crèches so we could eat and enjoy the evening entertainment, soft play area, organised excursions…

2 bedroom suits on cruise ships costs thousands and thousands of pounds. Usually everyone is in together and there is a curtain that can separate areas off.

As others have said, no swimming pools unless children are fully potty trained and often it’s 3 years before a child can be left in childcare. Just research fully before booking so you aren’t disappointed.

Do a Disney cruise, look at YouTube videos on their cabin layouts for families

I agree that you won't get separate sleeping areas, unless you spend mega bucks. Some may have curtains though to divide the room. Some cabins will have only a shower, rather than a bath, which may be a challenge for some toddlers.

Check carefully what childcare is available on your chosen cruise ship/line - it varies enormously. Some will provide evening babysitting for toddlers, some will have group babysitting session, some won't have anything much for under 3s, or will expect you to supervise sessions.

Many ships will have a 'splash zone' for youngsters, but even then, not all will allow non-potty trained kids to use them.

Cruising can be a great way to holiday with small kids, especially if it removes the need to fly, but some research is needed to check what will suit you best.

I have seen some parents take a small paddling pool on a ship with them for their child to play in, and also doubles as a bath if there's only a shower in the cabin.

Would you not be terrified the toddler would fall overboard? I've only been on a ferry, never a cruise but I can't imagine this being in any way relaxing with a small child.

How does a night creche work? Do they try to put a load of young children to sleep? Surely they must all be crying and waking each other as theyre not in a familiar place?
Or do they just keep them up babysitting late?

In almost all cases, anyone going overboard on a ship has been messing around in some way - either climbing over railings, or unfortunately jumping on purpose.

Railings/walls around cruise ships are generally much higher than normal balconies - they tend to come up to about chest height on me (I'm 5'6"), and in areas where there are tables/chairs etc, they tend to be even higher. If you have a cabin with a balcony, there are locks high up on the doors so your toddler would not be able to reach these, and even if they could, they are very stiff to open.

I've never heard of a toddler going over board, except in the rare cases of an adult doing extremely stupid things, such as lifting the child up to the top of the balcony railing. Cruise ships are very safe places, and, as you would in any hotel/resort, you keep an eye on your children.

@MossAndLeavesAt the night nursery, the parents put the dc to sleep in one of the nursery cots, and the staff message you if/when your dc wakes up.

Sorry I wrote this and neglected it.

Really appreciate the feedback. I might leave it for a few years until she's maybe 4 or 5.

100% going to look at Disney as they seem to be really well set up (as you would imagine) also less chance of booking onto a saga or party boat🤣

We did a Disney cruise when DD was 3. It wasn't a problem - she was potty trained and could go into any family pool, and she could go in the kids club (although in the end we preferred to spend time with the dcs so she only went for a couple of hours in total. I think they have nursery childcare for babies.

We had a large stateroom with a balcony. There was a king size bed (possibly super king), a sofa bed and a bed that came down from the ceiling. The maid sets up the bed for you every night. But 3yo ended up sleeping in our bed mostly. Our dcs don't tend to sleep early and youngest would nap in the day so they'd be awake for the evening shows, so we ended up all going to sleep around the same time.

We found some dining/show timings awkward - they are very strict with dining times and doing the earlier dining option meant that the shows were very late. The kids club had open access sessions where parents could stay and play, but in reality there weren't that many activities for her (there are more activities put on when the club is closed). Pools were too crowded to do any swimming. The food and service is amazing but perhaps a little more than we needed.

We weren't too worried about dc going overboard, the sides are high. But we weren't lying on loungers relaxing while they played elsewhere (except when in clubs), we were with them the whole time so we always had them in sight.

We enjoyed the experience, but we're not likely to do another cruise again soon. I didn't like the strict timings for dining and stressing about making sure we'd get back after a port day, and I like to be left to get on with things rather than have very attentive service. I think older kids get more out of it.