When my daughter, Ava, was 9 months old, I took her on her first cruise. She had just started to walk and was barely talking. Of course, as a new mom and as new parents, we didn’t know what to expect onboard, so we packed everything we possibly could. After several subsequent cruises with our toddler, we have cruising with a small child down to a science and have learned a few things along the way.
All Ships Are Not Equal
First, not all cruise ships are created equal. This may seem obvious but, just because one ship has a toddler program, a baby welcome package or other amenities for small children, doesn’t mean that all of the ships that the cruise line operates have the same features. For example, on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, there is a robust toddler program with kids’ club facilities and more; however, this is an amenity that has yet to be introduced fleetwide.
Many newer ships have great features for toddlers. The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas offer complete nursery facilities. However, older ships still have limited facilities and, an important aspect to note is that some cruise lines also require children to be potty-trained before entering the pool area. That means no swim diapers are allowed. Obviously, there is no potty police, but this policy is something that parents should be aware of before they plan a trip thinking that they will be heading to the pool instead of the kids’ club.
It’s a good idea for agents to stay abreast of all the amenities offered onboard each specific ship when recommending cruises for families with small children.
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Easy Access
To bring a stroller or not — that may be the question. When my daughter first cruised, it was an absolute necessity. I wouldn’t have left home without it. But make sure that clients are aware that, onboard the ship, there could be many areas that aren’t stroller friendly. Often times, we found ourselves plucking our daughter out of her chair and carrying her and the stroller up several flights of stairs. This was particularly true during the safety drill as well as during busy times when the elevator was full.
I would suggest that, if your clients have a child who is a fairly capable walker, try to plan direct flight schedules and shore excursions with less walking. If all this is possible, recommend they leave the wheels at home. It just becomes a hassle.
Feeding Time
When it comes to cruising, access to food is almost a no-brainer, but a very young child who is still drinking formula or who is a picky eater might find themselves in foreign territory.
One of the best things you can do is request to have a refrigerator in your clients’ room. This is so handy with small children. I know that, when my daughter was young, she always woke up wanting a bottle or a cup of milk. We would bring down some milk or order some from room service and stash extras in the fridge so that we would always have some on hand.
We also did this with snacks such as yogurt and cereal. This way, mom and dad can relax en suite without having to run out and grab a meal, all while relinquishing precious hours of vacation sleep-in time.
For picky eaters, a fridge is also a great place to stash foods that parents know their toddler will eat and that they can buy in town, in case these items are not available onboard.
One of the best things about cruising is that, if a child has a favorite food in the dining room, the waitstaff will usually make every effort to bring it out each night, making dining “out” actually a pleasant experience.
Out and About
While onboard activities are easily managed, time away from the ship should be fun, too. When advising clients about a cruise for the toddler set, be sure to check out shore excursions in advance. Cruise lines do a great job of offering a variety of activities that are fun for every mobility level, but some can be more enjoyable for small children than others, and families don’t always want to spend every day doing the beach trip or the bus tour.
The first step should be to ask clients what they would like to do and remind them to keep their expectations reasonable — obviously, junior isn’t going ziplining.
Also, advise them to spend their excursion dollars wisely. In some destinations, it might be easier to plan independent activities for families with small children. For example, in Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, it can be easier for them to explore the city on their own rather than with a big group. For example, families can stroll through the city center in Los Cabos or hit up the tourist market or the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta at their own pace, which is more relaxing than traveling in a large group.
Pack Light
The last piece of advice is that, when it comes to packing, tell clients that less is more. When I took my daughter on her first cruise, we were weighed down by diapers, formula, toys, clothes and more. When it comes to packing, suggest using a service such as Babies Travel Lite, which will ship diapers, formula and more straight to the ship without the hassle of extra luggage.
Also, many cruise lines lend toys from the childrens’ clubs to keep young ones entertained in the room.
So, with all that said, my final suggestion is for agents to make sure they do their homework. If you investigate all of these aspects for your clients, there is sure to be smooth sailing ahead.
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| Disney keeps toddlers happy in the splash pool. // © 2011 Disney Cruise Line |
