Holiday cruise with a baby...good idea?

[ehyouwhat]

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are thinking about booking our first holiday since the birth of our son, and we're trying to work out what sort of a holiday is going to work best for us. I really fancy the idea of a cruise, and we're starting to research cruises around Europe and the Canary Islands for next February...our son will be 10 months old when we take the trip.

Does anyone have any experience of cruises (or holidays in general) with a baby? This would be my first cruise and, whilst my partner has been on one before, she was only a child herself when she went.

We've spotted an 11-day cruise with Royal Caribbean (On Independence of the Seas) and it seems to fit the bill, but we're quite open to informed suggestion at the moment as we just don't know what we're talking about!

Any help, advice or suggestions more than welcome!

Cheers in advance,

EYW

[Puggit]

If you do it, I'd strongly advise taking a pushchair so you don't end up as prisoners in your cabin!

[Jubal]

It sounds a weird idea to me. Having lived through the baby years now by far the best holidays have been when shared with other families in big rented houses. Worst was a well known "family friendly operator" resort type place with the laid on childcare etc. Just useless for evening drinks due to lack of decent outside space near the rooms. This contrasted with the same operator's ski chalets which were excellent, but I guess it's all down to the expectations and desires for each type of holiday and the child's age(s).

My fairly obvious top tip is to find somewhere you can enjoy your evenings within baby monitor distance of the child's bedroom and you will both be able to relax. Otherwise add a few hundred to the bill for evening childcare.

[miniman]

Jubal said:

My fairly obvious top tip is to find somewhere you can enjoy your evenings within baby monitor distance of the child's bedroom and you will both be able to relax. Otherwise add a few hundred to the bill for evening childcare.

This rules out cruises then. Whilst I would certainly recommend Royal Caribbean, and Independence is a great ship, you are going to be trapped in your cabin in the evenings. There's no babysitting, and most cabins are hundreds of metres and several floors away from the food, casino, shopping etc.

That said, it's a great way to see a lot of places in a short period of time.

[Webber3]

We were on Independence a few months ago and Freedom before that. There's always plenty of parents out late at night with their little ones sleeping in their buggies. Not something we could ever get away with though, when ours were little.

[ClaphamGT3]

Jubal said:

It sounds a weird idea to me. Having lived through the baby years now by far the best holidays have been when shared with other families in big rented houses.

Couldn't agree more. If you get three or four couples, its worth taking a nanny/au pair as well (odds are one couple will have one anyway).

We did a fabulous trip to the Dordogne last summer and to Menorca two summers before that

[Amateurish]

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you get three or four couples, its worth taking a nanny/au pair as well (odds are one couple will have one anyway).

You and I live in different worlds! I know no one with a nanny/au pair.

To the OP - how about a rented villa in the Canaries. We did this when our daughter was that age. Great fun.

[ClaphamGT3]

Amateurish said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you get three or four couples, its worth taking a nanny/au pair as well (odds are one couple will have one anyway).

You and I live in different worlds! I know no one with a nanny/au pair.

To the OP - how about a rented villa in the Canaries. We did this when our daughter was that age. Great fun.

You're a solicitor and no no-one with a nanny??!!

[getitupya]

We did it with our 14 month old, but we took granny with us, which was great. To be honest, until they are two or over you will be very lucky to get anytime without your child, which does limit the appeal of a cruise.

We also found shore excursions too much for the little one as temps were well in the 30's,(Greek isles cruise) added to queues, launch rides etc. I would say leave the cruise for when they are a little older and they can go to kids clubs etc.

[Amateurish]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Amateurish said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

If you get three or four couples, its worth taking a nanny/au pair as well (odds are one couple will have one anyway).

You and I live in different worlds! I know no one with a nanny/au pair.

To the OP - how about a rented villa in the Canaries. We did this when our daughter was that age. Great fun.

You're a solicitor and no no-one with a nanny??!!

Shocking isn't it? Butlers and maids are equally thin on the ground.