TOP 10 TIPS TO CRUISING WITH A BABY

Published on - March 5, 2021 at 11:19 am

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.

1. WHAT TO CARRY WITH YOU

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.

2. OTHER PACKING MUST-HAVES

Other baby essentials for the trip include sunblock, any medications for Baby, bibs, a portable changing pad (that you can use onboard in your room as well), extra bottles, formula or breast milk (the TSA allows this onboard), shoes/sandals, swimwear, sun hats, toiletries and feeding bowls and spoons for each day of your family vacation. I'd also recommend a favorite stuffed toy, blanket and white noisemaker. Our daughter required her noisemaker to sleep.

3. SPREAD IT OUT

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.

4. ENSURE A HAPPY BABY ON THE PLANE

Babies can't chew gum or yawn on command when your plane takes off and lands. When we traveled with our infant, we made sure to have a bottle at the ready so we could feed her when the plane was taking off and again when it was landing so she didn't get earaches. If you time your flights right or if you're just lucky, you might even be able to change the baby's diaper before boarding, feed Baby upon takeoff and have them fall asleep for a nap while you fly. That happened to us exactly once and it was like winning the lottery. A sleeping baby is a happy baby, and the parents and fellow passengers are, too.

5. CONSIDER WHICH BIG ITEMS YOU NEED (OR NOT)

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.

6. WASH AND GO

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.

7. SEEK OUT KID-FRIENDLY PERKS

From infant to toddler and beyond, your child can have a good time onboard with the complimentary, award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program. All youth team members have experience working with children as well as degrees in education, recreation or a related field. Children are grouped by age so their interactive programs will be perfect for them.

8. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

Whether you're looking for some quiet time with your partner or spouse, a date night at one of the many Broadway shows or a special meal together, you can make plans knowing you'll be able to drop Baby off at the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery®. There are programs to keep little ones six to 36 months entertained or you can join in an interactive, 45-minute activity with your baby. Check with your crew about hourly fees.

9. ENGAGE IN FAMILY TIME

If you're looking for something to do as a family, there are plenty of options. Each cruise ship features numerous swimming pools, some with kid-friendly water features. The babies in swim diapers are all welcome to splash the day away on Baby Splash on certains ships. Catch a kid-friendly movie in one of the theaters, head out for a walk with your baby and enjoy the ocean breezes or go on one of the shore excursions. You can set up camp on a beach and nap under a palm tree.

10. REMEMBER THAT KIDS SAIL FREE

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.