Family Cruise with 2 Year Old

I just took a 7 day cruise with my 3 year old on Norwegien and it was great. The only thing is make sure you take the chewable Dramamine with you. My daughter was seasick but once I started her on the dramamine she was fine.

I am not sure about carnival, but norwegian would only babysit if they were potty trained, and they were not allowed in the pools unless they were potty trained. Not an issue for me, but it was for my 18 month old nephew who was also there.

Hi H.,

My husband and I took our then 16 month old on the Carnival Valor this past June. We had a blast, not the vacation we are use to, but still a great time. We use Club Carnival since our son was under 2 we could only use it from 12-2 during the day and after 10:00pm at night. We went everyday to play with him and he loved it (he thought it was just for him). We did use the evening babysitting three times, I felt comfortable with the staff and it was set up like a big sleep over. They try to get them a sleep (on the floor in front of a giant jumbotron) by 12:00 or earlier, and when we would go pick him up he was a sleep. We were able to go to the casino at night, walk around or catch a show, it was great.

Believe me I had my second thoughts but by the time we used the club a couple of times during the day I felt much better. They give you a cell phone so that they can call you if your son is not taking to it.

One thing is that you have to take alot of stuff with you, and the rooms are small. We packed all the diapers, wipes, applesauce etc., and anything that we would use up and some dollar store toys that we didn't care to bring back in a big diaper box and labeled it. That way you don't have to use all your room in the suitcase.

Staff was great with our son (extra cookies and stuff), they don't see their famlies for 6 to 8 months at a time, so they would play with him at dinner or when we would just walk around.

Bring a half way good stroller with you. We used it on the ship to walk around, put our son to sleep at night, and it was great on the islands.

Have a great time and if you need more info just e-mail me.
R.

Hello H.,

I also took my son on a cruise when he was 26 months old. It was a big party with our dear friends and in-laws for a 5 day New Years cruise. He was old enough to use Club Carnival so we tried. After awhile he figuired out we were haveing fun without him and would start to throw a fit and we would get a call to pick him up. We did use the babysitting service too, but he kept doing the same thing with starting to cry and becoming so upset that we would get a call. One thing we learned quickly is no matter what, whoever drops him off MUST pick him up. The first time my husband went to pick him up after I dropped him off was a pain because he was there throwing a fit and could see Daddy but Daddy couldn't take him. My husband had to come get me to pick him up.

They were very accomidating for dinners, which is only appropriate since we spent just as much for his ticket as for our own. When we were having lobster he would have mac and cheese! It was funny, but there was no way he was going to eat the gormet grown-up foods. It was way cool that we could order peanut butter and jelly any time we wanted or needed through room service. We also were able to get the Soda pop band for him and the rest of us to use as needed. One thing that was challenging was that he was still on a sippy cup so we had 3 that we just kept washing in our bathroom sink. I would suggest the throw away cups so you wouldn't have to worry about that.

He was also a big pacifer baby and we had brought several with but the 3rd day when we went to Mexico we lost our very last one as we were getting back on the boat. He had finished his drink and we were very conscious of not losing the last pacifer so we stuck it into the cup. Just as we were getting everything together to board the ship the cup and last pacifer rolled into the gulf! We were beside ourselves. There was no where on the ship to buy a new one and our son would not sleep without it. We actually paid another passenger $6 for one of his daughter's. It was the best money spent the entire cruise! So I guess the moral to the story is if your little guy is dependent on anything to sleep or comfort himself make sure you keep a VERY close eye on it AND bring more if possible!

The other thing we did was take advantage of was the portraits they do all the time on the ship, as family photos, with Mom or Dad with our little guy, and by himself. I think that is where we spent a LOT of $$.

All in all, it was a very expensive trip to take with a little guy that will never remeber it. The pictures helped because we talked a lot about it with him after the trip was over, so he kinda knows he went. If that is not an issue with you, then I think it was an awesome time for us to have to spend with our little man!

Just one more thing to add, I don't know if you have been shopping prices, but we were able to get a killer deal through Abracadabra Cruises. Their website is http://www.cruisemagic.com/

Good luck on your decision!
J.

H., I've taken my daughter on two cruises - both Carnival. Both were a blast! During out first cruise, she was already 4 & used to being in daycare so I think that helped in terms of acclimating to the environment. She didn't go until the final days of our 7 day cruise as we were having so much fun w/ all the activities on board! But, when she did go to Camp Carnival, she didn't want to leave when I went to pick her up cuz she was having so much fun.

My nephew, who also went w/ us that first trip, could not go into the Camp as he was under 2. My brother & sis-in-law would have paid top dollar to get him in there just to get a break & enjoy some of the adult fun.

The people are great, they have good security measures and you can enjoy some alone couple time.

Take advantage of the fact that he's over 2.

Have a great trip!!

Good Morning H.,
I have been on 11 cruises in my lifetime and they are my favorite vacation. As for taking kids, we took our daughter on a Carnival cruise just last Dec. and she was 27 mos. old. She had a blast. We went on a 7 day cruise and it was a bit exhuasting. Since there are so many people everywhere you are constanly on top of your child. Not that we minded spending the time with her but it was more work then we anticipated. We did use Camp Carnival. They have some pretty good security measures in place. Like whoever drops your son off is the same parent that needs to pick him up. They give you a pager in case of emergency as well. My daughter enjoyed it most of the time. We didn't use any of the sitters because the camp was open most of the hours that we wanted to do things on our own.
Good luck and good cruising!
If you have any other questions, just let me know.
P.