13 Month on a Cruise Need Some Pointers!

I have been fortuante enough to of taken my daughter @ 5 months/16 months and now recentely @ 2 1/2 yrs of age on all 7 day cruise. I have tried my very best to follow the same routine I have @ home on all trips. I think after having a baby, going on vacation the VERY best thing is a CRUISE. If she is a finiky eater try to fed her before dinner time in the dining room. If your are not doing any or few excursions, try your best that she has her daily nap ( its awesome you can sleep too).

We went to the Mexican Riviera with our son who was about 20 months at the time. Be prepared not to sleep. It is not a vacation when you bring a child this young; however, I wouldn't go if I couldn't.

Depending on the cruise line, ours was RCL, they don't allow babies in the pool that were not potty trained. I could have saved room without the added suitcase. We had to travel six hours by plane. If I had to do it again, I would have gone on Disney and waited to go on this particular cruise. This was a motorcycle cruise called HOGS ON The HIGH SEAS.

We love these cruises but RCL is not baby friendly. There wasn't much for my son to do. I did take him to the beach. By the way, they do sell diapers and wipes and other baby items on the cruise; plus, they had a Walmart in Mexico. Don't over pack. I brought way to much and I still pack way to much from him when we travel.

We love cruises and so when we had our daughter we took her along. She has been on 2 cruises before the age of 2 and it has always been great. I don;t know what cruise line you are taking but Carnival has Camp Carnial that has babysitting from noon - 2:00 for under 2 age kids. Great time to grab a drink and go to lay out at the pool or whatever. They have some for port days too but we always took ours with us. We have never had any issues and it is the best way to go on vacation. The 1st time my daughter was only 9 months old so the main thing was bottles, formula, diapers etc. The 2nd one she was 22 months so bottles etc. wasn't an issue. But you need to bring DIAPERS! Lots of them and swimmies also for the beaches & the pool. Even though we were experienced cruisers I was nervous the first time also. It is the "unknown." Once we were on our way we were like - what is the big deal - what were we worried about! It is a great family vacation for all ages! They will bring you a high chair to your table at dinner and I would say to book the early seating instead of the late dinner seating. Carnival also has babsitting in the nightime from 10:00pm - 2:00am. There is a fee for the babysitting for under age 2 but it is nominal. You can find lots of info on the Carnival website. I don't know what cruise line you are taking but we are usually always on Carnival. The staff is so great with your little one too. I would not get the crib in the room. It takes up so much space in the cabin and there really isn;t too much they can get into. Just unplug the phone and let him chat! LOL! I'm not sure what ports you are going to either but if you want to send me a message and let me know chances are... we have been there. It is a lot easier packing at your child's age then the 1st time I took mine. I had to deal with bottles, baby food etc. But, now they can eat whatever on the ship so it is great. I would say to bring snacks for your room though. I even brought some of those toddler chicken sticks in the jars and fruit cups etc. to take on the islands. That way if they get hungry before you can get to food on port days you are covered. There is food all over the ship but you have to get to it so I always had snacks in the room like graham cracker sticks and stuff. Then at the buffets I always snagged a banana or 2 to take to the cabin to have on hand. It iwll be fine... really!

We just came back from a cruise with our 11 month old. He did great. I'm not sure what cruise line you are going on, but NCL has freestyle dining, which is very nice. It allows you to go to dinner anytime you'd like and having that flexibility was great to have. I would make sure you take a stroller that reclines because you may not want to go to your cabin early and at least you can stroll around the ship while your little one sleeps. Other than that everything is really just like at home. You may want to also take one or two of your own blankets for your baby. I put one in the bottom of the pack and play to make it a bit softer. By the way they provided the pack 'n' play- so make sure you ask. It will be one less thing to carry with you. Just relax and go with the flow. Bring plenty of diapers, wipes, any special food, and a few toys. Everything else will fall into place. Have fun!

We took our son on a cruise when he was 18 months and he had a blast. He loved watching the ocean, watching pull in and out of ports - it was great! Definitely let the cruise line know how old he is and they'll give you a pack and play for the room (most anyway). You can ask the staff in the restaurants or room service to bring you steamed whole milk for bottles/sippies. They are very accommodating. I would say the best thing to bring is some dish soap and a sponge of some sort for cleaning the bottles/sippies. We forgot that but we traveled with some friends that remembered so we lucked out. Also remember sunblock for him and, I know this sounds weird, but take a spray bottle with water. We had to wait for a tender in the sun and I happened to have a spray bottle and I sprayed his hair and legs to cool him off while we waited. Definitely take an umbrella stroller too. It's easier to get around the ship with a simple stroller than any of the deluxe ones. Have a GREAT time!

Do you have to take the baby?? My husband and I have been on a cruise and we vowed to never take our children until they were teenagers. Our cabin was next to a couple with a year old baby and it was horrible for us because the baby cried all the time and the walls were thin and we got to know them and they were never able to do anything because of the baby.

Just be careful if you decide to do a tour off the boat...While we didn't go with our children we were around some that did...my fear for them was going on a tour in an unsafe place (there were a few stops that in my estimation were not safe, and they tend to take advantage of those that are preoccupied). They tell you that you should only book tours with the cruise line because they will be garunteed, and if they run late the boat won't leave you. A lot of people book tours on their own to save money but in your case I would deffinitely book them with the cruise line. Just for added protection. Make sure you have a passport for your baby in addition to the birth certificate especially if you are leaving the country.
Sunscreen is a must as I'm sure you know, it will be 10 dollars a bottle on the cruise.
Take a small stroller because there are times when the decks are full and the smaller the stroller the better. The decks closest to the front of the boat were the less busy, and that might be a great place for you to go with the baby...there is shade provided, where there isn't so much closer to the pool.

If I remember anything else I will let you know. Just relax and have fun. I'm with the others, if you can find care for your 13 month old I would, but if you are like me and have limited options for care, just take it easy. Don't worry about schedules as much. Have fun! :)

I would check with the cruise line ahead of time (or your travel agent) and ask about programs for little ones (day care, etc.) and extra amenities they can provide.

DH and I are big vacationers. We scrimp and save in all other aspects of our life to be able to take at least one a year. When we only had one child and he was 10 months old, we went to the Club Med Sandpiper in south Fla. and they had a kids club program that started with babies as young as four months old. Basically is was day care to allow parents to have some time alone, and it provided age appropriate activities for the little ones. They also provided baby food, portable crib, high chair in the room and other necessities. I was worried becasue my son had never been in day care at that age, but they were great with him and DH had some time to ourselves. I know some cruise lines also have similar programs, but it may require advance registration, so check on it ASAP if you can.

Flash forward two years later, we had a two year old and a 10 month old, and a travel agent friend of ours found a great deal on a Celebrity cruise. Initially we assumed we would take the kids however, when we found out they did not offer any children's programs for kids under age 4, so we opted to leave the kids with my MIL and take our first (and only) solo vacation since our honeymoon.

We have gone other places with the kids (St. Augustine, Portland Maine, Chicago) and in all honesty it can be a bit taxing, but try to relax as much as you can. Roll with the punches and don't stress if you forget something, you'll make do.

We went on a cruise with our son when he was about that same age. He did better than me! Unfortunately most cruise don't do daycares for any child under two but trust me there are so much things to do for the whole family that you wont even needed it. If you are going with other relatives, try to take turns. We went as a whole family and our niece (13) got pay for staying in the room with him while my husband and I had a little adult time.

If kids are hungry or not feeling good, trust me they will tell you. My son normally doesn't take naps during the day unless he is at the house and he even took naps while we were out and about doing tours.

Just make sure you bring things with you that your child likes to make it as normal as possible.

We went on a cruise when our son was about 20 months. Be prepared to bring a gazillion suitcases!! We went on a 3 day and when the guy was putting our luggage in our cabin he asked if we were on the wrong cruise, if we knew it was only 3 days!!! LOL. Make sure you bring snacks, juice, whatever he likes to eat. Also make sure you bring every medicine you have, tylenol, cough med, etc... Stock up on diapers & wipes, they do have them available but they are super expensive. Lots & lots of sunblock also. Benadryl can help if he gets sea sick. My son had a blast though, there is so much to do. We went on Royal Caribbean and they had a mommy & me class & playtime for kids under 3. Have fun.

I wouldn't think this would be the best idea for a child that young, since you are limited in time and activities. The cruises are also great for kids catching bugs of all kinds, dirty floors, the salt air, the food, YIKES. I would probably try and bring as many items for the trip as I can, remember you will probably not be able to get out at port fast enough and back fast enough if you have a million things with you as well. Make sure the baby is fed before, bring a snack during any stops, and don't drink the water at any location. It will not be easy but you can pack right and take some benadryl with you and some baby tylenol, etc. Good Luck!

I know this isn't what you had in mind when you asked for pointers, but...
If it's feasible, let Grandma and Grandpa have a vacation with your little angel! You and hubby probably could use some alone time.. and grandma and grandpa would probably thrill at the chance to have their grand-baby for a week. Plus, if you let MIL/FIL be the ones to keep him/her.. think of the brownie points you could rack up by trusting them this much! ;)

Baby will be fine, and if they should get sick (which could happen on the cruise too), gramma can take them to their own doctor.

Whatever you do... try to remember to relax and enjoy .... that's the point of the cruise.. right?
Happy vacationing!

I have taken both of my children on cruises and never had a problem. Bring lots of toys and things to keep them entertained. Many cruise lines will offer a playgroup once a day for that age group so check that out. Bring a stroller, food, lots of diapers and wipes. Don't forget baby tylenol and any other medicines. Most cruise lines are very accomodating with children. What cruise line are you taking?

wow, you are my hero now! ha! I been wanting to do it but I'm so afraid. My friend told me she purchased that thing that you tie around the kid's body I call it a dog's collar...i know it sounds bad...but she said it was the best to walk around with him w/out being too much afraid he would go running around.

I was thinking make sure you double up in all medicines including nausea medicine, just to make sure ask your pedriatician which one is better...because everything is expensive. And yes there are ways to contraband food in your hand luggage, take snacks you know he/she will eat just in case he/she gets picky. Which you know some kids are, mine is one of them.

And maybe some of his/hers favorite toys or teddy. Or even a blanky to remind him of his home. If this is your first time w/him/her on a cruise you want to be ready for anything and then the second time you already know and will be easier.... and let me know too!
good luck and I hope you have fun!