I’m looking for advice and experiences from anyone who’s traveled with a mobile infant.
Our family is thinking about going on a cruise next year when our little one will be about 10 months old. I’m feeling unsure about it, and honestly, I wonder if staying home would be better for both of us. I’ve been on a cruise before, and from what I remember, there’s not much for babies of that age except for the kids’ crèche.
My baby can’t swim yet because they’re not potty trained, and I wouldn’t feel okay leaving them in the crèche. The excursions don’t seem suitable for a baby either—maybe just a walk with the stroller. There’s also not a lot of space for them to crawl and play on the floor. The only option seems to be a cruise with a splash pad, but I’m not sure I want my baby spending the whole week just playing in the water.
Plus, my little one sleeps best in a dark, quiet room, so at least one of us would be stuck in the cabin with the baby while the other has fun. Does this sound worth it? It almost feels like it would be tough for the baby to enjoy themselves on a cruise when we could be at home, going to classes or the park.
I’ve only had one baby and been on one cruise, so maybe I’m missing something. What are your experiences with cruising with babies?
Here’s the original post again, just to keep it all together.
I’ve been on cruises before but not with an infant, so I totally get why you’d be unsure about it. You’re not alone in feeling like there’s not much for that age group. A lot of the ships focus on kids who are a bit older, and babies under a year are really hard to cater for.
But hey, there might be more options than you think. Other people can give better advice, but it does sound like you’re mostly concerned about space and how your little one will enjoy it. Totally understandable!
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We had the same thought when we were planning our trip! We looked for cruises in Australia, but couldn’t find any that would take a baby under 12 months. We ended up going with our 21-month-old, and they had so much fun.
Honestly, I think it’s easier with toddlers who can walk and eat regular food. If you do decide to go with a baby, it might be easier to bring along extra family or friends to help out. That way, you can take turns enjoying things while someone else watches the baby.
I didn’t have a lot of experience with babies on cruises, but I did notice a lot of parents with babies on the cruise I went on. The babies were the center of attention everywhere they went, getting tons of smiles and waves from other passengers.
Most parents kept their babies in those baby carriers and just went about doing everything else, which seemed to work well. Some cruise lines can even provide a pack and play, so that might be worth checking into.
The biggest thing I’d be worried about is baby crying—definitely download a white noise app or soothing music to help with that. I think the hardest part is the baby being attached to you, but with some planning, I think it could still be a great time. I also remember seeing a family on YouTube who traveled with their really young kids, so there are definitely people doing this successfully!
If you’re traveling with extended family, look for ships that have areas for little ones to play. If you already know which ship you’re going on, try to find out about its amenities for babies. Some ships have play areas for kids under 3, though they’re not drop-off daycare—they just have toys for you to play with your baby. Some places even offer a nursery service, but you can use the play area for free during certain hours.
For our trip, we only did one excursion that was suitable for our kids. The rest of the time, we just walked around with a stroller and explored. We even found a small library with a kids’ section at one port!
It might depend on your family, too. If it’s my side, someone’s always willing to watch the baby so I can get a break. But with my in-laws, I feel like I’d be doing everything myself! Still, it’s about figuring out what works for you.