Cruising with a Toddler

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
So the wife and I need a vacation. We've been trying to figure out what we want to do and found this awesome deal on cruise at the end of march. The wife and I have been on two cruises in the past and loved them, just never with a toddler. Our little girl is 3 and this will be her first cruise. Obviously, Covid is still a concern for us, but would be dumb to pass up a deal like this, but I understand the risk of our itinerary changing at a moments notice. Sucks that we would be required to wear a mask most of the time we are indoors, but would be really nice to get away. Any of you went on a cruise with a toddler?
 
I have, he was 3 at the time and I made him a deal...our deal was that I would get him ice cream any time he asked for it as long as he was a good listener. I obviously didnt make it a big cone every time but he loved the cruise, never threw any fits and our ship has a arcade room which he loved. We also got up earlier than most everybody else and would play putt putt before it got real hot and crowded.
 
My question would be who has been on a cruise since all the covid restrictions? How was it?

Friends of ours just got stuck at a resort in the bahamas for 3 weeks, No symptoms but they kept testing positive for covid and weren't allowed to travel back to US.
 
83oldyoda4x4 said:
My question would be who has been on a cruise since all the covid restrictions? How was it?

Friends of ours just got stuck at a resort in the bahamas for 3 weeks, No symptoms but they kept testing positive for covid and weren't allowed to travel back to US.
Click to expand...
oh lord....

I've read a couple blogs and watched a couple videos on recent cruises and folks are saying it was obviously different but still enjoyable.
 
83oldyoda4x4 said:
My question would be who has been on a cruise since all the covid restrictions? How was it?

Friends of ours just got stuck at a resort in the bahamas for 3 weeks, No symptoms but they kept testing positive for covid and weren't allowed to travel back to US.
Click to expand...
One of my wife's coworkers has been a few times. Most recent one the boat was at 25% capacity, Nice big rooms for everyone, no lines or waiting for food or anything. If you're in it to get away from people, it worked out pretty well.
it's hard for me to imagine how the cruise line can stay in business like that. Suggests the profit margin must be pretty damn big. Or just that the cost of closing up shop completely for awhile is even greater.
 
That might not be to bad if they are not at full capacity. I have only been on one before, it was the cheapest carnival they had, was a fun trip in my younger days.
I didn't know if there would be limited capacity in the food areas, so you would have to wait.. etc
 
We just want to go to feel like we are getting away. I sort of want to make this about our little girl. We ended up missing out on our trip to the Dominican with my wife's office, so we want to sort of make up for that. I think it will turn out the way you make it, plus hopefully this will be something she remembers and we can make a great memory.
 
I don’t wanna be negative. A cruise isn’t my thing is why I said what I did above. I can’t imagine the Covid restrictions, that would suck. Not to mention getting stuck.

As for making memories with your daughter, I can promise it’ll be for y’all more than her. She won’t remember it in just a year or so, maybe little bits and pieces at best. We went to Disney when my daughter was 5 and she barley remembers it. Albeit some kids are different. I would look at other options as well.

A cruise was fun when I was 20 but now, being trapped on a boat sounds awful. I’d much rather go to an inclusive resort, or (can’t believe I’m saying this) Disney world :shaking:

Don’t take what I said as negative, just sharing my opinion. Do what you think is best. It could be really fun for all.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I don’t wanna be negative. A cruise isn’t my thing is why I said what I did above. I can’t imagine the Covid restrictions, that would suck. Not to mention getting stuck.

As for making memories with your daughter, I can promise it’ll be for y’all more than her. She won’t remember it in just a year or so, maybe little bits and pieces at best. We went to Disney when my daughter was 5 and she barley remembers it. Albeit some kids are different. I would look at other options as well.

A cruise was fun when I was 20 but now, being trapped on a boat sounds awful. I’d much rather go to an inclusive resort, or (can’t believe I’m saying this) Disney world :shaking:

Don’t take what I said as negative, just sharing my opinion. Do what you think is best. It could be really fun for all.
Click to expand...
Nah, you're not negative at all. Its why I ask.

My wife is all for it and constantly buzzing in my ear, so chances are, we are going to end up going. I am just the realist of the family and try to think of all possible outcomes.
 
Honestly thought the title said "Cursing with a Toddler" and was gonna say "I feel ya brother" but I haven't been on a cruise since I was 16 and wasted, and don't remember much of it anyway, so I'm no help :D
 
RatLabGuy said:
One of my wife's coworkers has been a few times. Most recent one the boat was at 25% capacity, Nice big rooms for everyone, no lines or waiting for food or anything. If you're in it to get away from people, it worked out pretty well.
it's hard for me to imagine how the cruise line can stay in business like that. Suggests the profit margin must be pretty damn big. Or just that the cost of closing up shop completely for awhile is even greater.
Click to expand...

There are some really interesting articles on how much it costs to not run the ship, or to "winterize" it for not being used. It takes a ton of staff to even just keep them running, so some revenue is better than none to help their costs, I'm sure they are still losing money, but its probably less money they are losing.

www.bloomberg.com

The World’s Cruise Ships Can’t Sail. Now, What to Do With Them?

Hurricanes, humidity, expired permits—they’re all costly threats to empty ships.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com

My aunt has done 2 cruises during covid. The one she is on right now, they have to wear masks 100% of the time unless they are eating or in their room.
 
DSM Turbos said:
There are some really interesting articles on how much it costs to not run the ship, or to "winterize" it for not being used. It takes a ton of staff to even just keep them running, so some revenue is better than none to help their costs, I'm sure they are still losing money, but its probably less money they are losing.

www.bloomberg.com

The World’s Cruise Ships Can’t Sail. Now, What to Do With Them?

Hurricanes, humidity, expired permits—they’re all costly threats to empty ships.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com

My aunt has done 2 cruises during covid. The one she is on right now, they have to wear masks 100% of the time unless they are eating or in their room.
Click to expand...
Even outside? What cruise line is she on?
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
Even outside? What cruise line is she on?
Click to expand...

They don’t do major cruise lines so I’m not sure which this one is. But yes. Even outside on the ship they have to us my understanding.

My brother was supposed to do a cruise in Europe but they had to cancel as they require everybody regardless of age to be vax and he has a 3 year old and a 10 year old
 
My biggest concern would be getting stuck somewhere, especially with a child or responsibilities to get back to. I've never been on a cruise and we discussed it last year for this summer, but with things still the way they are decided to put it off.
 
LBarr2002 said:
My biggest concern would be getting stuck somewhere, especially with a child or responsibilities to get back to. I've never been on a cruise and we discussed it last year for this summer, but with things still the way they are decided to put it off.
Click to expand...

Just had a friend pop positive on his way back from diving in Mexico. Got to stay at a hotel In Mexico eating airline food for 10 days, and wasn't allowed to leave his room.

That alone makes me not want to go out of country right now.
 
DSM Turbos said:
Just had a friend pop positive on his way back from diving in Mexico. Got to stay at a hotel In Mexico eating airline food for 10 days, and wasn't allowed to leave his room.

That alone makes me not want to go out of country right now.
Click to expand...

So does he have to cover the cost of that? I assume so.
 
The cruise we would be going on is only going to Nassau and back. 4 nights. Nothing special. Just a chance to get away. I hate that I am like this, but I always think about the "What if's" and I tend to over analyze those "what if's"

The possibility of us getting stuck or if there was an outbreak of covid on this ship, I don't know what they protocol would be in that case.

Just all around sucks, but if the ship is nowhere near full capacity, that would also be very nice.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I don’t wanna be negative. A cruise isn’t my thing is why I said what I did above. I can’t imagine the Covid restrictions, that would suck. Not to mention getting stuck.

As for making memories with your daughter, I can promise it’ll be for y’all more than her. She won’t remember it in just a year or so, maybe little bits and pieces at best. We went to Disney when my daughter was 5 and she barley remembers it. Albeit some kids are different. I would look at other options as well.

A cruise was fun when I was 20 but now, being trapped on a boat sounds awful. I’d much rather go to an inclusive resort, or (can’t believe I’m saying this) Disney world :shaking:

Don’t take what I said as negative, just sharing my opinion. Do what you think is best. It could be really fun for all.
Click to expand...
All of this.
If you want it to be a getaway - leave kiddo with Grandma and have an actual getaway. Otherwise its just the usual parenting life but on a big boat.
 
RatLabGuy said:
All of this.
If you want it to be a getaway - leave kiddo with Grandma and have an actual getaway. Otherwise its just the usual parenting life but on a big boat.
Click to expand...
Wish we could. We have a unique situation with our parents. We don't have the luxury of being able to have the grandparents take care of her for days while mom and dad are off on vacation.
 
DSM Turbos said:
They don’t do major cruise lines so I’m not sure which this one is. But yes. Even outside on the ship they have to us my understanding.
Click to expand...
That would be a hard pass, because
1 - wtf is the point of enjoying the fresh air of a boat in the ocean if you can't actually enjoy the fresh air of a boat in the ocean, and
2 - not giving my $$ to a company that is just stupid.
 
RatLabGuy said:
That would be a hard pass, because
1 - wtf is the point of enjoying the fresh air of a boat in the ocean if you can't actually enjoy the fresh air of a boat in the ocean, and
2 - not giving my $$ to a company that is just stupid.
Click to expand...

They are retired and are used to traveling for like 6 months out of the year. The past 2 years they haven't traveled at all, so they are willing to do it to just get back to traveling. I'm sure if nobody is around and they are social distanced people are taking off masks.
 
I'm not a cruise guy, or a follow covid restrictions guy, so it would be miserable for me. What I'd ask is, define 'how is it with a toddler'. For me, there's not a single place I'd go (responsible place), that I wouldn't take my kids...for me, my kids enhance the experience, that's why I had them. Vacation with kids is vacation with kids...expect them to have to use the bathroom at the worst time, expect them to still need a nap, expect them to get pissy over the same things they always do. If you're worried about getting kicked off the ship if your kid doesn't wear their mask properly, I get that, and couldn't tell you.
 
Back
Top