In just over 2 weeks we are going on our 3rd cruise with our Little Man. He is 3 and a half now, his last cruise was just before his 2nd birthday so it has been a while for all of us. So much has changed in the last 20 months so it will be a whole new experience for us. He is now old enough for the kids programs and is potty trained so he can use the pools. He has been in preschool for about 10 months so he is more accustomed to being away from mommy and daddy for extended periods of time.
What has changed?
Well we probably won't be bringing our trusty umbrella stroller with us, we have one that reclines so that he could nap easier in it. It was truly a great splurge for us, perfect for travel or even just taking the Metro around town. It folds up small enough to fit under the beds in hotel rooms and on cruise ships, saves so much room when you are already in cramped quarters. If you are wondering what stroller we have it is the Maclaren Quest, and actually we used it so much that we bought a second one for ourselves and even bought one for my sister for her daughter when we were in San Francisco utilizing the public transportation extensively. This stroller is perfect for those who are taller as the handles are much higher than on most umbrella strollers, no hunching over required for most people, but they aren't so high as to be uncomfortable for shorter people either.
We are leaving our car seat behind at the port, but this is the first time we are sailing from our home port. In the past we have always had our cabin steward store our car seat for the duration of our trip, most places in the Caribbean don't have seat belts to accommodate a car seat and if you take tour buses you will also not be able to use a car seat (just like on public transportation). It took us a little time to realize that we were always fine taking our little one on the buses and trains where we live but that taking him in a van or a bus elsewhere was really no different. Once we got past that we had a great pair of cruises and were more than happy with the amount of stuff we saw, we just never sat in the front of the vehicle with the little one on our lap.
On our previous sailings (and other trips) we just packed the diapers and supplies in a bag and then we had somewhere for extra stuff to fit on the way home. Some people will pack those items in a box that they can dispose of after all the supplies are gone. Just make sure to bring more diapers and wipes and formula and other necessities than you think you could possibly need because it will be difficult and expensive to find additional supplies if you run out.
As far as snacks we don't really pack much to bring with us onto the ship as there is food everywhere. I have been known to stop by the breakfast buffet to grab a prepackaged serving of Cheerios to keep on hand as a snack as well as a few pieces of fruit. I also bring a sippy cup to put some orange juice into for later in the day as it is often difficult to get orange juice after breakfast and it is our little one's favorite beverage. Also if you have to mix formula just bring a reusable water bottle to fill with drinking water as the water from the tap is not potable. Don't forget a little bit of dish soap to wash sippy cups and bottles with, you may even want to bring a bottle brush to make it easier to clean things.
There are so many other little things too, but these are some of the big things when taking a cruise with a little one. If your little one prefers a bath you will also want to consider bringing along an inflatable bathtub to put in the shower, Holland America and Disney are 2 cruise lines that have bathtubs in most rooms.
What has changed?
Well we probably won't be bringing our trusty umbrella stroller with us, we have one that reclines so that he could nap easier in it. It was truly a great splurge for us, perfect for travel or even just taking the Metro around town. It folds up small enough to fit under the beds in hotel rooms and on cruise ships, saves so much room when you are already in cramped quarters. If you are wondering what stroller we have it is the Maclaren Quest, and actually we used it so much that we bought a second one for ourselves and even bought one for my sister for her daughter when we were in San Francisco utilizing the public transportation extensively. This stroller is perfect for those who are taller as the handles are much higher than on most umbrella strollers, no hunching over required for most people, but they aren't so high as to be uncomfortable for shorter people either.
We are leaving our car seat behind at the port, but this is the first time we are sailing from our home port. In the past we have always had our cabin steward store our car seat for the duration of our trip, most places in the Caribbean don't have seat belts to accommodate a car seat and if you take tour buses you will also not be able to use a car seat (just like on public transportation). It took us a little time to realize that we were always fine taking our little one on the buses and trains where we live but that taking him in a van or a bus elsewhere was really no different. Once we got past that we had a great pair of cruises and were more than happy with the amount of stuff we saw, we just never sat in the front of the vehicle with the little one on our lap.
On our previous sailings (and other trips) we just packed the diapers and supplies in a bag and then we had somewhere for extra stuff to fit on the way home. Some people will pack those items in a box that they can dispose of after all the supplies are gone. Just make sure to bring more diapers and wipes and formula and other necessities than you think you could possibly need because it will be difficult and expensive to find additional supplies if you run out.
As far as snacks we don't really pack much to bring with us onto the ship as there is food everywhere. I have been known to stop by the breakfast buffet to grab a prepackaged serving of Cheerios to keep on hand as a snack as well as a few pieces of fruit. I also bring a sippy cup to put some orange juice into for later in the day as it is often difficult to get orange juice after breakfast and it is our little one's favorite beverage. Also if you have to mix formula just bring a reusable water bottle to fill with drinking water as the water from the tap is not potable. Don't forget a little bit of dish soap to wash sippy cups and bottles with, you may even want to bring a bottle brush to make it easier to clean things.
There are so many other little things too, but these are some of the big things when taking a cruise with a little one. If your little one prefers a bath you will also want to consider bringing along an inflatable bathtub to put in the shower, Holland America and Disney are 2 cruise lines that have bathtubs in most rooms.
