As a family, we’ve journeyed through every stage of travel. From our very first trip with our newborn snug in an Ergobaby, to the unforgettable memories made at Disney World with six little ones, and onto thrilling adventures in new countries with our teenagers. And, yes, we have set sail on cruises with our toddlers many times over the years!
While the idea of cruising with toddlers might sound daunting to some, it shouldn’t deter you from experiencing an unforgettable vacation on the high seas. Cruising can actually be a great vacation option for families with little ones, brimming with kid-friendly entertainment and some even offer built-in daycare services.
Tips for Cruising with Toddlers
All that said, it’s undeniable that traveling with toddlers comes with unique challenges. To help navigate these, I’ve compiled a list of top tips for cruising with toddlers. With these in mind, you will be set for a great time!
1. Choose the Right Cruise
You’ll have an easier time once you set sail if you do a little research before booking. That’s because some cruise lines cater to small children more than others.
For example, while a Royal Caribbean cruise offers some family-friendly amenities and activities, including a wide selection of pools, splash pads, play areas, and kids clubs… they still do not have the same selection that, say, a Disney cruise line might offer.
The types of activities offered may differ as well. Royal Caribbean predominantly offers adult-oriented shows and entertainment, like Cirque du Soleil which, while visually appealing, may lose younger viewers with the surrealism and abstraction. Disney cruises will mostly be geared towards toddlers and children.
You can probably guess my recommendation here. If you can, I would recommend taking a Disney Cruise when you have toddlers. While we have been on other cruise lines with little ones and had a great time, the overall experience does not compare.
Imagine the delight on your little ones’ faces when they board the boat to see Captain Mickey Mouse sporting a welcoming smile. All their favorites will be there ready to take them for a fun-filled adventure on the high seas! You just can’t get that from other cruise lines. We recently took our 2-year-old on the Disney Wish and he had an absolute blast!
Part of This is Considering the Daycare Options Available
Although the nursery is often a paid feature, I think it is totally worth it so that you can have some adult time on your cruise! It opens up the opportunity for us to enjoy a date night or spend quality time with our teenagers during longer dinners.
We typically use the nursery service on evenings when we have dinner in the dining rooms that don’t feature a show. For example, for dinners at restaurants like Animator’s Palate or the Frozen-themed dinner on Disney Cruises, we bring our little ones along.
However, we’ve learned that at two years old, their patience for sitting through an entire show can be limited. So, we’ve found a happy medium by getting their meals early and then dropping them off at the nursery after they’ve finished eating, which usually coincides with about halfway through the show. This arrangement works well for us, ensuring that everyone enjoys their evening to the fullest.
Here are the nursery and daycare programs available on various cruise lines! Make sure to double-check when booking as this sometimes varies from ship to ship.
- Disney Cruise Line
- “It’s a small world” nursery: Ages 6 months to 3 years (paid service).
- Oceaneer Club and Lab: Ages 3 to 5 years (free, potty trained required).
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Guppies: Ages 6 months to 3 years (free/$6 meal fee on port days, parental supervision required).
- Turtles: Ages 3 to 5 years (free/$6 meal fee on port days, potty trained required).
- Princess Cruise Line
- Princess Pelicans: Ages 3 to 5 years (free, potty trained required).
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Camp Ocean – Penguins: Ages 2 to 5 years (free).
- Royal Caribbean
- Royal Babies (6 to 18 months) & Royal Tots (18 to 36 months): Group sessions with interactive activities (parental accompaniment required, $6/hour for babysitting service 9 am-6 pm, $8/hour 6 pm-midnight).
- Aquanauts: Ages 3 to 5 years.
2. Pack All the Essentials
It’s already an ordeal packing for yourself when going on vacation, but traveling with a toddler adds a whole new must-have to the checklist. They’ll still need all the essentials you do, like sunblock, swimwear, and travel documents, but you’ll be in for some turbulence if you dare forget their favorite toys.
Here’s a handy checklist that’s sure to help make packing up a bit easier:
- Clothes for every vacation day
- Extra clothes for inevitable accidents
- Bathing suits and swimwear
- Sandals, sneakers, and water shoes
- Regular diapers, sleep diapers, and swim diapers
- At least one pack of baby wipes
- Jammies and extra jammies for diaper blowouts
- A jacket or sweatshirt
- A hat and/or sunglasses, if they’ll let you put them on them
- Comfort blanket or stuffed animal
- Sleepsack
- Sound machine and/or night light
- Stroller and/or baby carrier
- Car seat or travel car seat
- Bibs
- Bottles and/or sippy cups
- Formula, if applicable
- Breast pump, if applicable
- Toddler size utensils
- Some of your toddler’s favorite snack food
- Empty reusable Ziploc bags (I grab snacks like extra cereal, grapes, and blueberries at breakfast for Jack to snack on throughout the day)
- Beach bag
- Floaties
- Sunblock
- Medicine and/or first aid
- Lotion
- Sand toys
- Books
- Tablet and charger
You might be thinking… “Wait a minute. I don’t see a Pack ‘n Play on the checklist. Where’s my tot supposed to sleep?”
You could try carting a Pack ‘n Play aboard, but most cruises will provide one if you call and request one in advance of your trip. Disney does this and it is a godsend! Of course, they’re subject to availability, so calling as early as possible is the pro move for this one.
Aside from where your toddler will be sleeping, I think it’s important to note we always try to keep their sleep routine similar to at home (even if that means packing a few extra things)! I always pack a few of Jack’s favorite nighttime books and his favorite plush toy to help him sleep.
Pro tip! You might find the electricity for your room a tad lacking once you try plugging in the sound machine, night lights, and other things your toddler refuses to sleep without. Pack a surge protector or power strip to give yourself a few extra outlets.
3. Onboard Safety
Obviously, we want our children to have a blast (and we’d love to have some fun too!), but safety is always the top priority. The cruise ship poses dangers that don’t exist anywhere else, so it’s prudent to discuss those dangers in a way your little one can understand.
Make your child aware that, even though it’s a big boat, they’re still on a boat on the water. Tell them that it might rock back and forth a little sometimes. There’s nothing to be scared of when that happens and it’s normal, but it also means that they’ll have to be brave.
Childproofing the cabin is important as well, as you would do with any hotel room. The rooms pose the same types of dangers; electric outlets, sharp corners of furniture, cords they can grab, and other things that need to be put out of reach.
If you’re staying in a balcony room, consider setting something up that will ensure they cannot get outside unless you’re supervising them closely. Every balcony room I have stayed in has a latch on the top of the door out of reach from little ones, so you will want to keep that locked at all times.
Of course, the best way to keep them out of harm’s way is by closely supervising them!
4. A Kid-Friendly Itinerary
Once you’re aboard, the ship is your oyster. Cruises catered to children, such as the Disney Cruise Line, will offer a plethora of activities specially designed to keep them smiling, laughing, and entertained.
Disney tends to kick things off with the Mickey’s Sail-A-Wave Party, a blast in which you bid bon voyage to the port and celebrate with music, dancing, and your favorite friends, including Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and more!
Some Disney cruise lines also offer the Marvel Day at Sea, which calls your favorite superheroes into action. Guests are treated to appearances by Spider-Man, Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Groot, Captain America, Black Widow, Loki, Ms. Marvel, and more, as well as a show in which evil-doers threaten everyone’s good time, that is unless the superheroes stop them from succeeding in their dastardly deeds!
Beyond the entertainment and events, there are plenty of things that toddlers are bound to enjoy, including pools, splash pads, play areas, playgrounds, and even inflatable action centers like the Hero Zone aboard the Disney Wish.
So long as you did your research before booking and picked a great cruise for toddlers and children, you’ll have a wealth of options and attractions they’re bound to love.
5. Dinnertime!
Depending on how well-traveled you’ve been during your toddler’s relatively short life so far, they may understand dining room etiquette or they may not. Even if you’ve taken them to some local spots, the stimuli of being in a new place is going to require a little adjustment and probably a few words to prep them.
Luckily, cruises that are catered to children mean that you’ll be in good company!
I mean, can you blame your toddler for not sitting still? How are they supposed to eat their dinner when the Frozen world of Arandelle is represented in every aspect of Disney Wish’s crown jewel of Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure?
Many cruises also offer items for babies and toddlers that aren’t on the menu. For example, Disney is happy to prepare pureed fruits and vegetables upon request, so there’s no need to lug jars of Gerber or a NutriBullet to give your baby their favorites.
6. Helping Them “Get Their Sealegs”
Cruise ships are seemingly less affected by the motion of the ocean than, say, a small fishing vessel or ferry that you may take for a local tour. Nonetheless, children who are susceptible to motion sickness may have trouble enjoying themselves without tossing their cookies overboard.
Nausea and motion sickness will put a serious damper on the fun, but vomiting over and over also puts your child at risk. If your child is susceptible to motion sickness, consult your pediatrician before embarking and see if they can recommend or prescribe seasickness remedies that will keep them on their feet and smiling the whole time.
If you’re looking to minimize the motion, choose a midship cabin also. These tend to be less tumultuous during choppy waters.
Pro tip! You should take nausea medication or put on motion sickness bands the night before setting sail. It works better with time to set in.
There are plenty of things to keep in mind when traveling or going on a cruise, but the game totally changes the second you bring a baby, toddler, or small child into the mix. You’ll have a whole new realm of responsibilities and things to keep in mind, keep track of, and make sure of, or you’ll be in for rough waters and we’re not talking about the actual ocean here.
Keep our top tips for cruising with toddlers in mind and you’re bound to have a family cruise that everyone will remember fondly for ages!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cruising with Toddlers
What are the best cruise lines for children?
We happen to love, love, love Disney cruises, so choosing a ship like the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, or the brand spanking new Disney Wish will help make your job that much easier.
Other great choices include Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, P&O’s Iona, Norwegian’s Epic, and Carnival’s Vista.
Are all cruises all-inclusive?
Many cruises boast all-inclusive amenities, including food, drinks, and activities, but many roll in extras that you’ll have to pay for in advance or prior to enjoying.
Before booking, check to see which shows, restaurants, and excursions are complementary and which cost an additional fee, especially if it’s one of the main factors that weighs into your ultimate decision.
What types of excursions are available?
From private islands to quaint Caribbean towns, there are often several stops you’ll make along your journey, offering even more sights and attractions for you and your family to enjoy.
Make sure you review the destinations of your cruise line before booking so you can decide whether or not you plan to disembark or plan an excursion for the stop. Some toddlers and children will be happy to have another quick change of scenery before heading back to the boat, while others may not be amenable to abiding by an itinerary and will prefer to stay on the boat.
If you enjoyed our list of tips for cruising with toddlers, you might also like:
THE ABSOLUTE BEST DISNEY CRUISE TIPS TO SAVE YOU MONEY & TIME!
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