Make it a memorable family getaway by bringing your infant on your next cruise. The family-focused amenities will allow you to all have a relaxing trip at sea, complete with nap time.
Taking a baby on a cruise is one of the best ways to travel with your little one. You don't have to pack and unpack every few days, and there's no need to worry about the logistics of driving to your destination or traffic. Onboard, the friendly cruise ship staff take care of the details so you don't have to. Here are my top 10 mom-tested tips for taking a baby on a cruise vacation.
You're likely going to have to get on a plane to get to your family vacation's starting point before you get to sail off into the sunset. When you're taking your baby, that means planning how much you need to carry with you and how you'll do it. Let's focus on the basics you'll need right on you for the baby.
During the flight, I always travel with extra diapers (you never know when you'll have what parents lovingly refer to as a "blow-out" en route to your ship's first port of call), wet wipes with a flip top, diaper cream, a pacifier, food/snacks, prepped bottles and a change of clothes (also needed in case of a blow-out) in my carry-on luggage. Those items have saved our collective bacon more than a few times.
My baby girl was pretty particular about which kind of baby formula she consumed. Keeping some in resealable baggies in various carry-on luggage and suitcases was a lifesaver when two of our three suitcases were lost en route to Panama. Having the right formula on hand meant I could feed her when we landed without having to run around looking for the right brand while I also dealt with jet lag and a hungry baby.
Luckily, we also put some of our clothes in all three bags, so we all still had something to wear after we arrived. I packed a few extra diapers and spread those across the suitcases, too.
Hot Tip: If you forget any of the above-noted, don't worry. On a cruise, the Babies 2 Go program lets you pre-order everything, including diapers, wipes and baby food, and have it delivered to your cruise room.
It's easy to think you need to carry all that and the kitchen sink when you travel with a baby, and some parents do. I never did, partly because I don't have a personal Sherpa to haul things and partly because I realized some big items just aren't essential. Here are the only bulkier items that I consider must-haves: a baby carrier so that when you dock at your destination, Baby is portable and can enjoy the sights with you; and an umbrella stroller that's compact, easy to maneuver in smaller streets or alleyways and can be covered with a light blanket to keep the sun out if the baby's dozing.
We always carried Baby on our laps during flights instead of bringing a car seat with us. Doing that meant we didn't need to pay for a ticket for her as well. If we had to drive once we landed, we arranged for a car seat with our car rental company. We also arranged cribs or pack and plays with our hotels. Onboard the ships, you can include your child's age when you buy tickets on the site, and the age will indicate to Royal Caribbean that they'll need a crib. However, you should call in that request just to be safe or ask as soon as you get onboard to have the crib delivered to the room.
Your needs might be different than ours, so you'll want to carefully consider how important these larger items are to you and your family:
-- A car seat for the flight over (not for us — she slept on our lap mostly)
-- A pack and play for naps or overnight sleeping
-- A baby carrier (check!)
-- An umbrella stroller (plus rain cover — which for us traveling in spring was imperative)
-- Your regular, more sturdy stroller (we didn't lug this along)
... and the list goes on.
Some parents bring a little bottle of clothes detergent with them to wash Baby's clothing if it gets dirty on vacation. You can just wring out, hang it and wait for it to dry.
If you'd rather enjoy the amenities on your ship and skip the washing, you can do that, too — washing, pressing and dry cleaning services are available onboard most ships. You'll likely also find wash-and-fold specials on your voyage and a per-item laundry list if you just need one or two items cleaned.
There are more than 700 cruise sailing options where your kids can come along for free, from four-night cruises to longer voyages at sea, making a family cruise that much more appealing and affordable.
With a little planning, you'll be ready to enjoy the comforts of a home base, while exploring lots of fun options on land and at sea. Bring along your little one the next time you decide to set sail.