So DrLoveGun and I are planning a long-overdue honeymoon. We are looking to take a cruise in or around October. Tinkleberry will be 11 months old at that point, and we will probably be bringing him with us. We are looking for any experience you guys may have had with the various cruise lines- good or bad. Has anyone else taken their family or infants with them? How was the babysitting onboard? Tell us about your family cruise experience!
We went on a cruise with the kiddos when they were 3 and 5 years old. I’d say at that age, we could have gone either way…kids or no.
The kids had a good time, but really, they were a little young to get very much out of it. The had more fun on off-boat activities and excursions.
We didn’t get to do much “night-life” stuff together because child care was not available at night except occasionally, so we wound up taking turns.
The babysitters were, like the whole crew, mostly young foreigners. The child care center had somewhat limited hours. When they were open, the did have a schedule of fun activities/snack times that they adhered pretty well to. The child care people were availabe for hire after hours and at night, but we were reluctant to leave our children with them (we have always been cautious, perhaps too cautious, but that’s the way we are).
Myself, if I had a one year old, I think I would call in the grandma army and go without the child.
We went to Alaska with our 13 year old daughter. We had great fun on the land excursions, and like it over all, but she didn’t find much to do, despite there being a teen program. Most of the other kids were in big family groups. It was also not very romantic.
Staterooms are small. It won’t be easy to warm bottles or change diapers, etc. I agree that you will have a much better time if you leave him home. He is not going to get anything out of the cruise, and it will not improve your experience.