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We're currently booked to go sailing in February, but we've decided that we want to postpone it a bit since our baby would only be 4 months old by then. We were considering maybe the May - June time frame instead. Has anyone sailed with a 7-8 month old? How was your experience?
We were on the Magic last year and our son was 2, but we never utilized the nursery. I've heard great things about it, but we're still wondering if it's a bit difficult otherwise on the ship having a baby with you as opposed to a toddler.
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Last edited by Belle*; 05-20-2013 at 11:50 AM..
Reason: newsletter05232013
Just the sound of a cruise makes me jealous! Lol. This is a somewhat hard question to answer so I will give you our story of cruising with a 4 year old and 12 month old. We did a 4 night cruise on the Dream in Feb of 2012.
- baby was great sleeper so had no issue in cabin at night. Bathtub in split bath was great for giving little one baths at night.
- baby loved being pushed around deck in his stroller.
- had to trade off nights seeing the shows with hubs since baby went to bed at 8. We had early dinner, but one night I just did that fast food on the pool deck because baby was tired. If dining and shows are big for you, be aware of this. Same with pirate party.
- my oldest child was one who I could easily leave in a nursery and he was fine. My youngest not so much. We never used the nursery because he was MAJORLY attached to me. Obviously you don't know your baby's temperament yet but something to think about.
- no excursions in Nassau, just pool. Baby played in sand at Castaway and then napped on me before lunch.
Overall, it was fun but we are really looking forward to another one in two years when both boys will be in the kids club. I think if your expectations are to relax with your family, great, if your expectations are to do it all, you may be disappointed.
We never used the nursery because he was MAJORLY attached to me. Obviously you don't know your baby's temperament yet but something to think about.
- no excursions in Nassau, just pool. Baby played in sand at Castaway and then napped on me before lunch.
Overall, it was fun but we are really looking forward to another one in two years when both boys will be in the kids club. I think if your expectations are to relax with your family, great, if your expectations are to do it all, you may be disappointed.
Thank you so much for your feedback. You bought up some great points - I just assumed we'd utilize the nursery at times, but the baby could be really attached. My first one would go to pretty much anyone, but they say every kid is different.
We would be going with the expectation to relax with the family, our last cruise we just took it easy. We skipped excursions and toured on our own, but we were lucky to have a pretty easy going 2 year old. I saw a few families that didn't appear to have the same luck. You've given me a lot of good info to think about. Thank you!
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We cruised last September when DD was 12 weeks old. I'm positive she was the youngest on board since you have to be at least 3 months old to sail. DD wasn't and still isn't, as easy going as my oldest who was 4 1/2 when we sailed.
We did utilize the nursery and loved it! She received great care when my husband and I had a couples massage and brunch at Palo's. She wasn't sleeping through the night yet which was difficult. I think the pack n play took up a lot of room in our cabin but the CM who cleaned our room put it away for us every morning. We also asked for a Diaper Gene and that was nice to have.
I did like Nemo's Reef for her because it's shaded!
We brought the stroller and car seat (Chicco Keyfit Caddy) which was very easy to maneuver around the ship and when she was sleeping at dinner our servers let us bring the stroller right up to our table so I didn't have to wake her. They accommodated us so well.
We enjoyed Castaway Cay even though it rained. Get there early enough to grab an umbrella.
Kellensmom made a great point about the shows. Wish we would have thought to do that!
They don't offer much in baby supplies at the gift shop, which luckily I didn't need anything but I scoped it out just being curious.
I think the pack n play took up a lot of room in our cabin but the CM who cleaned our room put it away for us every morning. We also asked for a Diaper Gene and that was nice to have.
I did like Nemo's Reef for her because it's shaded!
We brought the stroller and car seat (Chicco Keyfit Caddy) which was very easy to maneuver around the ship and when she was sleeping at dinner our servers let us bring the stroller right up to our table so I didn't have to wake her. They accommodated us so well.
Have fun!
Great idea on taking the stroller in with you. I assumed we'd have to put him/her in the nursery when going to dinner. When we sailed April 2012 there were only 2 babies in our area at dinner and both were big enough to sit up and eat solid foods. I just figured all the others were in the nursery while the parents dined.
Good to know you didn't have to keep the pack & play out all day and the Diaper Genie is a great idea!
You might search on our travels with Alexander during his first year. We traveled more then than at any time since! Walt Disney World and DCL at four months. Disneyland Paris, Paris, and London a few months later. 7 nights on Carnival a few months after that, DCL's first 14-nt Eastbound Panama Canal at around 13 months (Disneyland and more pre-cruise). Never regretted it!
Yep, stroller in the dining rooms. No problems with the shows. We did late dining, early shows, only needed to take him back to the room a couple of times - he either ate or slept without issues. If it happens, your server will make up a nice to-go plate. Rarely used the nursery, but it was nice to have. He came on excursions (many allow lap-carries regardless of published age limits).
Be sure to switch-off on who stays in-room at bedtime. If you use formula, powdered lets you travel light, but mixing and washing's a chore (ship's tap water was fine for us, but you can buy bottled if you prefer). You couldn't pre-order baby supplies back then, but you might consider it! In either case, don't count on getting what you need in the gift shops. A verandah is nice for the babysitter. Whatever you figure for diapers, double it. First year is easier than second year. Strollers are bulky-go as compact as possible. Strollers don't work well on many excursions - rough or no pavement. Plan on using a sling, backpack, etc. if there's much walking involved, even on city streets (cobblestones? Ugh!)
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Thanks Dave, you guys certainly did a lot of traveling! I'm happy to hear that the experiences were fairly easy (much easier than I was anticipating).
We took advantage of pre-ordering diapers and things on our last cruise since DS wasn't yet potty trained. It made traveling so much easier. We took a compact stroller but skipped excursions since he didn't meet the published age limit. I like that we can look into possibly having a lap baby and doing more of them this time around.
That's right I forgot about bottles! I bought a 12 pack of water and used Playtex disposable bottles. So much easier because I could throw it away and only had to wash the top. For the diaper genie, just and FYI they will empty it for you everyday so don't worry about the smell. We never had a problem. They provide a sheet for the pack n play. I brought my own just in case. When they clean your room and put the pack n play away, they'll bring you a new sheet every day. At least they did for us.
That's right I forgot about bottles! I bought a 12 pack of water and used Playtex disposable bottles. So much easier because I could throw it away and only had to wash the top. For the diaper genie, just and FYI they will empty it for you everyday so don't worry about the smell. We never had a problem. They provide a sheet for the pack n play. I brought my own just in case. When they clean your room and put the pack n play away, they'll bring you a new sheet every day. At least they did for us.
Awesome, thank you! It sounds like disposable bottles are definitely the way to go.
We took our son who was 9 months on the Dream, with also my DD who was 4 at the time. I wished he didn't start crawling 2 weeks before we left, but he did
I had no plans on using the nursery, I just wasn't for it, until our first night at dinner all he wanted to do was grab every last thing on the table.........needless to say, we checked out the nursery and took him down there while we went to dinner with DD on the second night. The ladies in the nursery were so sweet. They would give him his nighttime bottle and put him in his jammies, we would pick up our sleeping baby and take him back to the rom for the night, hubs would choose to stay with him while I went to the show with my DD. We did all eat together on pirate night, the whole place was loud so it didn't bother me. I did notice lots of other tables near us with little ones around his age.
I took a small umbrella stroller and used that around the ship and on CC.
I would do it all again with a little one. We took it slow and just rolled with the punches. DD had a blast just being on the ship, so to her anything was a bonus!
Have fun!!
We took our son who was 9 months on the Dream, with also my DD who was 4 at the time. I wished he didn't start crawling 2 weeks before we left, but he did
I had no plans on using the nursery, I just wasn't for it, until our first night at dinner all he wanted to do was grab every last thing on the table.........needless to say, we checked out the nursery and took him down there while we went to dinner with DD on the second night. The ladies in the nursery were so sweet. They would give him his nighttime bottle and put him in his jammies, we would pick up our sleeping baby and take him back to the rom for the night, hubs would choose to stay with him while I went to the show with my DD. We did all eat together on pirate night, the whole place was loud so it didn't bother me. I did notice lots of other tables near us with little ones around his age.
I took a small umbrella stroller and used that around the ship and on CC.
I would do it all again with a little one. We took it slow and just rolled with the punches. DD had a blast just being on the ship, so to her anything was a bonus!
Have fun!!
Thanks Linny! It's nice to know someone else put the baby in the nursery at dinner time. I was planning on doing that to make things easier, but the idea gave me a twinge of guilt. It sounds like they took really good care of him, which I know will help me with any guilt I feel dropping him/her off.
We took our 6 year old son and 4 month old daughter on the Dream last May for a 5 night cruise. The idea was that the baby would be sitting up, but not yet crawling. It was perfect! She was so happy looking at everything while in her stroller, carrier, or being held. She liked the shows , went to dinner in her stroller with us, and had a blast. She was still nursing and hadn't started solids, so no worries about baby food, etc.
Some things to think about...
We took my mom and aunt, and had adjoining staterooms. This worked really well, and allowed us to have a little bit of extra help with entertaining both kids. My mom kept the kids after bedtime 1 night so we could go out. It also allowed for neither of us being left as the lone adult at the dinner table if the baby needed to leave. She didn't, but it was reassuring anyway.
You can nurse or give a bottle during the show, or anywhere really. (I have a nursing cover that makes me feel comfortable in any situation.)
Did I mention that she didn't require any baby food because she was too young? Awesome!
Did I mention that she wasn't crawling yet, but could sit up and enjoy the sights? Awesome!
Even if baby isn't crawling, do the Diaper Dash. My husband read about it before we left for vacation and was insistent that the baby would do it. I humored him even though she wasn't crawling, and I am so glad. Everyone oohed and ahhed over her, and all of the participants received a DCL bib for a prize. It was the same one sold in the shops for $8, and it was so nice to have the free souvenir.
Best vacation with a baby ever! I recommend it to everyone I know.
Ya know what else I forgot..........aside from requesting a pack and play, you can also request a highchair for your room AND a diaper genie
That was a huge bonus!!
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. DD wasn't and still isn't, as easy going as my oldest who was 4 1/2 when we sailed. 
I bought a 12 pack of water and used Playtex disposable bottles. So much easier because I could throw it away and only had to wash the top. For the diaper genie, just and FYI they will empty it for you everyday so don't worry about the smell. We never had a problem. They provide a sheet for the pack n play. I brought my own just in case. When they clean your room and put the pack n play away, they'll bring you a new sheet every day. At least they did for us.
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