Cruising With Kiddies
Photo: Princess Cruises
By Wendy Perrin
Another question from a reader:
"We're thinking of taking a cruise with our 2-year-old son. It seems like a good plan for an easy getaway that a kid would love: no hassles about meals, daily access to a pool, various destinations without changing hotels, fun shows and activities. Can you offer any advice for a smooth sailing? Are there any cruise lines that are particularly friendly for very little kids?"
As someone who has taken 10 cruises and has 2 small boys (ages 2 and 4), I recommend waiting till your child turns 3. The best cruise lines for kids are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Princess, but their child-care programs are for 3-year-olds and up. I know that if I took a cruise with my 2-year-old Doug -- a marathon runner in training -- most of my day would be spent chasing him around the ship and I'd be unable to do much quality sightseeing in the ports of call. The Queen Mary 2 has child care for one-year-olds and up, but you might need to take a long transatlantic flight with Junior to get to or from the ship. Disney Cruises' child care is for kids 12 weeks and up, but why on earth would you want adult alone time on a Disney cruise? (And why would you want to take a child who's just as happy to play with a large cardboard box as he is to meet Mickey Mouse? Wait till he's seven.)
RSS Feeds
I couldn't disagree with you more. I have taken both of my children on a Disney cruise when each was age 2 and it was purely enjoyable for all of us. Cruising is the easiest form of a family vacation with little ones. The excitement of sharing the world of Disney with your 2 year old is priceless. Babysitting services are available aboard ship should you feel the need to see a show or dine alone , but my children were an integral part of our family cruise. They saw the shows, played duck duck goose with Goofy, enjoyed the magnificent beaches in port, and we enjoyed sharing the moments with them. If my child missed a nap and fell asleep at dinner, we'd order room service and sit on our balcony.
Our stroller was indispensable ..for in port and strolls on the deck. My children are now 5 and 8 and have cruised aboard Royal Caribbean as well. We will be returning for another Disney cruise next year. Cruising is great for families and extended families of all ages, not just 3 and up.
Susan Kerr
an independent agent of Joystar.
www.kerrtravel.joystar.com
Posted by: skerr11 | September 27, 2006 at 01:45 PM