As a very long time traveler, I beloved cruises, however what wouldn’t it be prefer to deliver a child on a cruise ship?
Having been on over 15 cruises in my life, I assumed I knew every thing there was to learn about cruising. I’d sailed via tropical paradises, explored numerous ports, and loved seemingly countless facilities aboard completely different ships. But, regardless of all of those experiences, I used to be moving into totally new territory on this explicit journey — cruising with a child in tow.
After I first talked about taking our 6-month-old on a cruise, I received quite a lot of raised eyebrows. One member of the family even known as me “courageous.” Trying again, I’m undecided if it was bravery or only a little bit of naïveté, however cruising has at all times been a giant a part of our lives, and we wished our daughter to expertise it from the beginning. There appeared no higher time to tear off the band assist and dive into household cruising.
Whilst an skilled cruiser, bringing a 6-month-old on board launched a number of contemporary challenges and a little bit of nervous pleasure. From managing a stroller on deck to syncing our schedule with our daughter’s naptime, I knew this journey can be in contrast to every other. I quickly found an entire new aspect of cruising—one that exposed how well-suited it may be for households with younger youngsters. It was an eye-opening expertise in one of the simplest ways.
Planning the cruise
Since we reside in Florida, cruising has at all times been our most well-liked strategy to trip. Residing so near main embarkation ports gives easy accessibility to quite a lot of ships and itineraries, which makes planning for a singular getaway far simpler and avoids the trouble of long-distance journey.
Once we came upon we have been anticipating our first youngster in April of 2024, I couldn’t wait to begin planning for her first cruise. I’d at all times imagined we’d have her be a part of us on our journey adventures, and the thought of her first cruise grew to become an thrilling milestone.
As I regarded into choices, I discovered about Royal Caribbean’s Toddler Coverage, which states, “Infants crusing on a cruise should be at the least 6 months previous as of the primary day of the cruise and/or CruiseTour.”
Nevertheless, for Hawaii voyages, transpacific and transatlantic routes, and a few South American cruises, the minimal age is 12 months. Moreover, any cruise with three or extra consecutive days at sea additionally requires infants to be at the least 12 months previous on embarkation day.
Realizing these tips early on was reassuring, particularly as new mother and father. It allowed us to give attention to shorter itineraries and prioritize cruises with fewer sea days. With these concerns, we felt assured in selecting a cruise that may be a snug, thrilling, and protected expertise for our baby.
In spite of everything, a profitable household trip begins with the proper planning, and realizing Royal Caribbean had insurance policies in place made all of the distinction.
With the age restrictions in thoughts, one ship rapidly emerged as the proper alternative for our child’s first journey at sea: Icon of the Seas. Billed because the “Final Household Trip,” this ship promised an expertise like no different, particularly for households with younger youngsters.
Our chosen itinerary was a 7-night Western Caribbean and Excellent Day cruise, permitting us to discover lovely locations whereas having fun with the entire ship’s family-friendly facilities. The completely different neighborhoods, number of eating choices, and actions tailor-made for kids have been good for our first journey as a household of three. We have been desirous to see if Icon of the Seas may reside as much as its family-oriented fame.
When it was time to ebook, we have been in luck — a “Children Sail Free” promotion was working, and we have been thrilled to have the ability to reap the benefits of it. I’d at all times identified this was probably the greatest offers for households, however as a frequent cruiser with out youngsters, I’d by no means had a purpose to make use of it earlier than. This time, although, it felt like a super strategy to offset among the further prices of touring as a household.
We initially deliberate to ebook probably the most inexpensive possibility and assumed that it will be an inside cabin. Nevertheless, I rapidly realized one of many attention-grabbing modifications that include reserving a household cruise: including a 3rd passenger (even a child) may really make the balcony cabin extra economical than each the inside and ocean-view choices! To my shock, including our daughter as a 3rd visitor made the balcony stateroom probably the most inexpensive.
Learn extra: 7 Finest Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships for Children
About 90 days earlier than our crusing, we obtained our room project and discovered we’d be staying in a Surfside Household View Balcony Stateroom. This inside balcony room neglected the bustling Surfside neighborhood, a family-centric space of the ship stuffed with actions and facilities only for youngsters. We received fortunate with our particular stateroom, because it was just some cabins from the top, permitting us a partial ocean view as nicely. Realizing we’d probably be spending much more time in our room in comparison with previous cruises, we have been thrilled to have a balcony that provided views of the motion. We may people-watch and benefit from the vigorous ambiance of Surfside proper from our room whereas our child napped.
One concern did cross our minds, although. On a earlier cruise, we’d stayed in a Boardwalk View Balcony on an Oasis Class ship, the place noise from the AquaTheater could possibly be a bit disruptive, particularly throughout late-night exhibits. We apprehensive that the Surfside space might need an analogous vibe, with the sounds of youngsters’ actions echoing all through the day. Nonetheless, being in an area designed particularly for households felt good for our first cruise as a household of three. We couldn’t wait to see if the Surfside Household View Balcony would reside as much as its fame as a prime choose for households.
Embarkation day with an toddler
One other change for us this time was deciding to drive to the port the day earlier than the cruise. Since shifting to Florida, we’d often gone in opposition to the “quick and unfastened” method with timing for earlier cruises.
Residing simply 3-4 hours from all of the Florida ports that Royal Caribbean sails from, we usually hit the street early on embarkation day, making it to the port with time to spare. It was easy and stress-free when it was simply the 2 of us. Re’d rise up early, pack the automobile, and go along with hardly a cease alongside the way in which.
Nevertheless, after a number of street journeys with our child, we’d discovered that touring with a tiny human meant extra stops, slower packing, and an prolonged morning routine.
Even getting out the door took longer than we have been used to! With that in thoughts, we determined to take the age-old recommendation of heading to the port a day early, making certain a stress-free begin to our journey. The very last thing we wished was the added strain of surprising delays, site visitors, or baby-related detours on embarkation day.
We opted to remain on the Intercontinental Miami, conveniently situated near the port, to make our embarkation as clean as attainable. Realizing we’d be minutes away from the ship gave us peace of thoughts and made the entire expertise really feel extra like a real trip from the beginning.
When embarkation day lastly arrived, we have been excited to move to the port and formally kick off our long-awaited household cruise. As seasoned cruisers, we knew the boarding course of nicely, however including a stroller into the combination introduced new challenges.
Fortunately, your complete course of was nonetheless as clean as I remembered, with employees going above and past to make the expertise stress-free. They rapidly directed us to the elevators and guided us via the handicap and stroller safety screening areas, which have been surprisingly environment friendly.
Sadly, our check-in time coincided completely with our child’s typical nap schedule. I apprehensive the busy terminal may disrupt her routine, however luck was on our aspect. Our baby fell asleep in her stroller, undisturbed by the bustling ambiance round her.
To my aid, she managed to nap her means via a lot of the check-in course of and even onto Icon of the Seas. Watching her sleep regardless of the commotion was a promising begin, and I felt reassured that she may deal with the thrill of the cruise forward.
As soon as onboard, our first order of enterprise was to finish the muster drill at our designated station. After that, we headed straight to Journey Ocean, following a preferred tip we’d examine beforehand: go on to Journey Ocean upon boarding to register your youngster and reserve hours for the Journey Infants program. Realizing that these slots may replenish rapidly, particularly on a ship geared towards households, we didn’t wish to miss our likelihood.
In contrast to the Journey Ocean program for youths aged 3 and up, the Journey Infants program requires reservations for a payment, including an additional layer of planning for households. For our crusing, we have been allowed to order six hours on day one, with the choice to examine again on day three for extra availability.
Happily, I’d deliberate forward and used the cruise planner to stipulate the actions we wished to take pleasure in as a pair. This fashion, I arrived able to ebook our most well-liked time slots with out our child, maximizing our hours strategically.
With no assure of additional slots later within the cruise, I reserved time slots that labored finest with our schedule, even when they have been farther out. Realizing we had some devoted baby-free time booked allowed us to look ahead to a couple adult-oriented experiences whereas nonetheless having fun with the family-centered ambiance on board.
After we had accomplished our two most necessary duties for the day, it was lastly time to discover our new house away from house for the following seven nights. One of many first issues that struck us about cruising with a child was the need of utilizing the elevators as a substitute of the steps as a result of stroller. This minor adjustment highlighted how completely different our cruising expertise can be this time round.
Happily, the elevators on Icon of the Seas have been spectacular; we by no means needed to wait lengthy for one to reach. Nevertheless, we rapidly found there have been a number of areas of the ship the place taking a fast flight of stairs would have been extra environment friendly than retracing our steps to search out an elevator financial institution.
Whereas this was a small inconvenience, it served as a reminder of the distinctive challenges and changes that include touring with a bit of one, and it didn’t considerably affect our total expertise.
Exploring the ship
With our logistical duties behind us, we made our means exterior to Surfside to take a look at this vibrant, kid-centric space for the primary time. As quickly as we arrived, we have been instantly impressed by the enjoyable and colourful designs that surrounded us, together with the considerate touches that had been applied all through the area. Surfside really gave the impression to be designed for final household enjoyable, that includes a dry slide, carousel, splash pad, playscape, consuming venues, and, most significantly for us, the Child Bay.
Child Bay is actually a child and toddler splash pad, an space solely sure Royal Caribbean ships supply, usually situated subsequent to Splashaway Bay. Since infants and kids who want diapers will not be allowed in common swimming pools or Splashaway Bay, it was important for us to decide on a ship that included this characteristic.
These splash zones are smaller variations of the normal splash pads however permit diapered youngsters to take pleasure in water play safely. Realizing that we’d be visiting heat locations throughout our cruise, having the choice to take our child into a chosen water space to chill off and benefit from the sunny climate was essential for us. It felt like an enormous aid to know that our baby may be a part of within the enjoyable whereas we soaked up the solar, making our household expertise way more pleasurable.
We discovered ourselves a bit of underwhelmed by the Child Bay on Icon of the Seas, particularly in comparison with the spectacular Splashaway Bay located proper subsequent to it. It truthfully felt like an afterthought by way of each measurement and options, notably once we considered the extra participating Child Splash Zones discovered on most of the Oasis Class ships.
We seen that there weren’t many older toddlers on this space, which made us surprise how lengthy the novelty may final for youths older than a 12 months.
Whereas the area supplied simply sufficient leisure for our child, we questioned whether or not it will totally interact barely older youngsters. We each agreed that toddlers may rapidly develop tired of the restricted options or really feel pissed off by not having the ability to be a part of the thrill of Splashaway Bay proper subsequent door.
Whereas Child Bay met our wants and was a protected area for little ones, it felt prefer it may benefit from a number of additions. Enhancements like extra interactive water parts or a bigger area may make it extra thrilling for a broader age vary, retaining older toddlers entertained. That means, they’d have the ability to keep engaged and benefit from the enjoyable with out feeling restricted.
One other nice side of Surfside was the carousel. Our daughter beloved watching it flip and was even happier when she received to trip it. It was a enjoyable, easy exercise we may simply return to all through our journey.
A element I hadn’t thought to search for on earlier cruises—however was impressed to search out on Icon of the Seas—was the provision of child altering stations all through the ship. At house, I’m typically discouraged by the dearth of handy altering stations, particularly since most males’s loos don’t embody them, which limits my husband’s skill to assist.
Instantly, we seen loads of household loos on board, every geared up with clear, well-placed altering stations and even child wipes, which was a considerate contact. This setup made it simple and stress-free for each of us to confidently discover the ship with our child.
Our stateroom setup
Not lengthy after we started exploring the ship and getting our bearings, our room was prepared. Upon coming into, I used to be instantly impressed. As with most cruise ship cabins, it was compact—one thing we had anticipated—however what stood out was the spectacular space for storing.
This was an enormous asset for us, given what number of provides we needed to deliver alongside. Cruising with a child means packing a number of further gadgets we wouldn’t have wanted up to now, so it was a aid to have ample area to unpack and keep organized for the week.
Earlier than crusing, I had researched how different households arrange their staterooms to optimize having a pack-and-play and nonetheless have sufficient area to maneuver across the cabin. We knew this might eat up a big chunk of our restricted area, however it was a non-negotiable, sadly.
We opted to place it within the heart of the residing space, which did find yourself taking over a lot of the area. We have been capable of push it to at least one aspect and create a tiny walkway to squeeze via to the balcony.
It was not ideally suited, however we needed to work with what we had. When the pack-and-play wasn’t in use, we’d take the blackout tent off, wedge it between the couch and balcony, and put the pack-and-play on the sofa. This freed up the walkway and self-importance, permitting us extra entry to the cabin.
One other characteristic I used to be thrilled about was the abundance of energy retailers all through the cabin. Usually, I discover just one or two American retailers close to the self-importance, removed from the place I really want them. In distinction, our cabin got here with a sensible number of retailers and ports. We had USB plug-ins on one aspect of the mattress, a normal outlet on the opposite, and several other further USB and USB-C ports conveniently situated across the room.
My favourite discovery, although, was the retailers within the rest room. This may look like a minor characteristic, however on earlier cruises, retailers have been on the self-importance, that means I’d must dry my hair in the principle cabin – a tough scenario with a sleeping child.
Because of this rest room outlet, I may quietly dry my hair with out disturbing my husband and child, permitting them to sleep soundly. It’s a small element, however it highlighted how thoughtfully designed this ship was for households like ours.
I’m a agency believer that any cabin on a cruise is healthier than not being on a cruise. One factor that I’ve seen time and time once more in my analysis of cruising with young children, nevertheless, is the significance of getting a balcony if attainable. This instantly proved true for us in some ways.
First, our child is a people-watcher. She likes to see what’s going on and doesn’t like lacking out on something. We have been capable of take her exterior on our balcony simply and let her take within the sights and sounds of Surfside. The balcony was additionally an awesome escape for us mother and father when the infant was napping.
We have been capable of sit on the market and get contemporary air and have conversations in regular volumes with out feeling like we’d disrupt her sleep.
Whereas a balcony isn’t important for each household cruise, I’d extremely advocate it if it’s inside price range. It added an entire new degree of comfort and leisure to our journey, and it’s a characteristic we’d take into account important for future cruises.
Learn extra: When is a cruise ship balcony value it?
Eating with an Toddler
Earlier than we knew it, our ship was crusing away from Miami, and our cruise had formally begun. After a profitable lunch on the Windjammer, we opted to strive the Essential Eating Room on evening one.
Whereas I used to be a bit nervous about how a extra formal eating expertise would go along with a child, I used to be inspired by different cruisers who shared optimistic tales about eating with younger youngsters.
Once we arrived at our desk, we requested a excessive chair, which was promptly introduced over, with the tray wrapped in plastic to point out it was clear – a contact I actually appreciated. Armed with toys to maintain her entertained, we additionally ordered some fruits and veggies for her to chew on, as she’s simply began consuming solids.
The wait employees have been unbelievable, bringing out her meals gadgets inside minutes, realizing {that a} child’s mealtime operates by itself schedule, fairly completely different from a leisurely, multi-course dinner.
The employees was attentive and fascinating with our child, coming over to say howdy, play peek-a-boo, and entertain her between programs.
Sadly, even with the employees’s finest efforts, after about 40 minutes, our child determined she was performed sitting, so we wrapped up our meal. The employees have been type sufficient to pack some to-go desserts, even serving to us navigate our stroller out of the busy eating room.
The next nights, the timing of the Essential Eating Room didn’t at all times align along with her naps, so slightly than pushing via a sit-down dinner, we opted for the Windjammer buffet. This flexibility allowed us to dine when it labored finest for us, and the vigorous ambiance gave her loads to observe, which saved her engaged. It was additionally an awesome alternative for her to strive quite a lot of contemporary vegetables and fruit as a part of her solids journey.
Employees and visitor interactions
All through our journey, the crew members on Icon of the Seas have been extremely attentive and welcoming to our child. They typically remembered her title, went out of their strategy to say howdy, and would assist us collect meals like steamed broccoli for her. Their real care and thoughtfulness actually enhanced our expertise and made us really feel valued as a household.
One factor I hadn’t anticipated was how a lot we’d find yourself interacting with different visitors and crew, all because of our child. As somebody who’s often extra introverted, I don’t typically begin conversations with strangers, however our child appeared to produce other plans.
She would make eye contact and smile at individuals close by, prompting pleasant exchanges. It was a good way to attach with different vacationers and share experiences, particularly with these concerned about cruising with younger youngsters.
I had some preliminary reservations about how different visitors may react to a child onboard. With a lot on-line commentary about households cruising, I used to be a bit apprehensive about potential unfavorable reactions, however we had solely optimistic interactions. Everybody we met was extremely type, making us really feel that we belonged and that cruising with a child is really embraced on a family-friendly line like this one.
Excursions and infant-friendly choices
One in every of my largest considerations about cruising with an toddler was the potential limitations on excursions. Most excursions include age necessities of 3-4 years or older, even for one thing so simple as a seashore day. This restriction left us with few choices at our ports, so I wasn’t totally certain what our greatest decisions can be.
I didn’t really feel comfy occurring any excursions that required using in a automobile since we hadn’t introduced our automobile seat on board, so we centered on actions inside strolling distance or these accessible by ferry. This allowed us to prioritize our child’s security whereas nonetheless having fun with some gentle exploration.
I wish to word that I’ve been extremely lucky to have already visited all of those ports on earlier cruises, permitting me to expertise the must-see excursions up to now. This familiarity made it simpler to just accept skipping sure excursions, as I didn’t really feel like I used to be lacking out on something main. I understand, nevertheless, that this might pose a extra vital problem for households cruising to those locations for the primary time.
We ended up choosing a single seashore tour that was only a fast, five-minute ferry trip away. One in every of my most important priorities was to maintain our return to the ship so simple as attainable so we may head again rapidly if wanted.
This tour had the ferry working backwards and forwards all day and was really in sight of the ship. For the opposite three ports, we determined in opposition to reserving excursions, opting as a substitute to discover the port areas on foot or take pleasure in a seashore day at Excellent Day at CocoCay.
Using Journey Infants
One useful resource we have been thrilled to have onboard was Royal Infants and Tots, which gave us the chance to take pleasure in a number of experiences only for us. We received in a date-night dinner, and my husband had an opportunity to strive the adventurous Crown’s Edge (whereas I lucked into assembly the Chief Canine Officer, Rover).
We additionally explored the most important waterpark at sea and even caught one in all our favourite exhibits, Love and Marriage. Having certified childcare that was simply accessible was an enormous consolation and allowed us to stability household time with a little bit of enjoyable for ourselves.
One factor I used to be disenchanted to find was that Journey Ocean didn’t have a devoted child playroom. I’d learn that another ships have an open play space with mushy flooring and toys accessible with no reservation—a super area for letting our child roll round and play exterior of our cabin.
Once we requested the Journey Ocean employees about it, they defined that Icon didn’t embody this playroom, opting as a substitute for the playscape and different options in Surfside. Whereas Surfside is the final word spot for youths, these particular options are undoubtedly geared towards older youngsters.
Nevertheless, we have been happy to search out out that the ship participated in a toy rental program, providing quite a lot of toys packed in numerous baggage you can “lease” all through your trip. These toys are free to borrow, and you’ll swap them out anytime.
This was a implausible strategy to preserve our child entertained with contemporary toys all week, together with bigger ones like a light-up piano—issues we wouldn’t have been capable of pack ourselves.
One thing else we noticed was that the employees at Journey Ocean clearly places a number of effort into creating memorable experiences, particularly across the holidays. Since we cruised over Halloween, we had the prospect to see how Royal Caribbean transforms the ship with festive touches for households.
The Promenade was embellished with Halloween inflatables and enjoyable decor, including to the thrill and making it simple to rejoice the vacation as a household.
They didn’t cease with decorations, although—the ship was alive with themed occasions designed for each age group, and Journey Ocean was on the coronary heart of it. Trick-or-treat stations have been arrange round Icon, with an early timed phase in Surfside making a festive scavenger hunt, and the employees even put collectively a kid-friendly haunted home.
For households, they hosted a fancy dress contest parade and a vigorous Monster Bash, the place youngsters and adults alike may costume up and rejoice collectively.
For folks, these considerate additions meant that the cruise was participating for all relations—even our child may absorb the sights, sounds, and festive power with out us needing to exit of our strategy to search out vacation enjoyable.
Perks of cruising with Royal Caribbean
One added good thing about cruising with Royal Caribbean is that if you happen to maintain a Crown & Anchor standing, your youngsters mechanically share your standing till they flip 18. After that, their standing adjusts primarily based on the variety of nights they’ve sailed.
Earlier than our cruise, I emailed [email protected] a number of months upfront to rearrange this, they usually assigned our daughter a Crown & Anchor quantity, giving her Diamond standing earlier than she even set sail.
Since she’s nonetheless an toddler, she doesn’t drink something aside from formulation and small quantities of water, so we fortunately used her 4 complimentary non-alcoholic beverage vouchers every day. This little perk felt like a enjoyable bonus and allowed us to take pleasure in a number of further treats alongside the way in which.
Setting lifelike expectations
One thing that helped my husband and me take pleasure in this cruise was entering into with the mindset of getting no expectations. As a result of we’d each cruised to those ports earlier than, we didn’t really feel the necessity to examine off each attraction.
We’ve had the prospect to expertise most of the exhibits and actions Royal Caribbean gives throughout its fleet, so this time, we centered on actions distinctive to Icon of the Seas.
We approached the cruise with the understanding that our child’s schedule would dictate our days, which made it a lot simpler to glide and embrace flexibility. Some days, this meant one in all us staying again within the room whereas she took an excellent nap, letting the opposite discover a present or exercise.
Different occasions, it meant returning to the room early if she wasn’t up for no matter we have been doing. By going into this expertise realizing it wouldn’t appear to be our earlier cruises, we may regulate our plans with out feeling any disappointment.
This method allowed us to chill out and have a memorable trip, even when it was a unique sort of cruise than what we have been used to. The truth is, my husband did a solo tour whereas we have been in port in Costa Maya, whereas I hung again with our child.
General ideas on taking our child on Icon of the Seas
Taking your child on a visit basically means parenting with out the comforts of house, however it’s additionally what you make of it. We may both change diapers at house or do it within the Caribbean! Cruising gave us the flexibleness of a trip with out the standard stresses of planning a land-based journey, like discovering appropriate lodging, arranging meals and actions, or coordinating transportation.
Finally, Icon of the Seas was a implausible alternative for our first cruise as a household of three. With a continuing number of actions accessible, we by no means needed to surprise what to do subsequent.
Our child particularly loved the Child Splash Zone, watching different visitors strive the FlowRider, gazing on the floating tiles inside The Pearl, and all the brilliant lights and murals adorning the ship. Each nook appeared to supply one thing enjoyable and stimulating for her.
Reflecting on our journey, a few of our favourite advantages of cruising with a child have been the convenience of returning to our cabin at any time when we would have liked a break or nap and the liberty to depart an exercise or meal early if vital. There was no strain to stay to any set schedule, permitting us to fill our days as we happy and at all times with choices shut by.
Whereas we felt that Icon of the Seas, and Surfside specifically – with its devoted kid-friendly actions – can be ideally suited for kids 3 and up who can totally benefit from the points of interest, we nonetheless had an awesome expertise. The ship’s facilities made it simple for us to maintain our child engaged and cozy, and we appreciated the considerate touches for households.
We loved our journey a lot that we’ve already booked her subsequent cruise in just some months. It’s protected to say we’re fortunately elevating a future cruiser!