Are you dreaming of a cruise vacation? Maybe you were an avid cruiser before kids like me, or maybe you’ve never tried one before. If you have young children (in my case, twin toddlers), you may be a little skeptical about how you can make it work in your favor. We love a good beach vacation, so I was determined to make this work. This is the first post in a series of cruise tips and tricks that we learned on our first cruise vacation with toddlers.
I had been begging my husband practically since the kids were born to let us go on a cruise with our twins. I’m glad I listened to him and we waited to book a cruise until they turned 3. We went on a short Bermuda cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas out of Bayonne, NJ. Driving from Massachusetts to New Jersey saved us paying airfare for 4 people, and we were really looking forward to getting on to one of the newest ships. Since we are Platinum level Crown & Anchor Members, we have LOTS of cruise tips for cruising couples, but we were really unsure of how it would all play out with kids.
Arrival
Arrival Tip #1: Arrive Early
Your ship likely gave you a targeted arrival time. The earlier you arrive the more relaxed you’ll be. Arriving early will help you avoid the crowds. You’ll be able to get on board and get some lunch, and explore the ship before heading to your stateroom. We failed at this, by getting stuck in bumper to bumper traffic in the cruise line parking lot! We got onto the ship much later than we wanted, and we starving and picking at snacks. Before you leave, prep yourself with some tips on surviving the road trip to your cruise vacation.
Arrival Tip #2: Use a Leash if you have runners
My son is crazy. He is a wild toddler who loves to run & explore. I knew that if we didn’t have him on a leash, we would be running all over trying to catch him. As you board the ship there will be a lot of things to catch their attention. I gave up my insecurities of being the mom to leash her kids, in the name of safety. He preferred the wrist cuff version, and my daughter preferred the backpack version. This also helped calm a lot of my fears about baby snatching too! This cruising tip is in the name of safety, so just get one if you are concerned!
Arrival Tip #3: Pack a LOT of snacks and a few toys in their backpacks
We kept snacks & their tablets from the car in their backpacks. Since we were stuck in traffic and got on the ship late, we didn’t have a chance for lunch before the safety drill. Thank goodness I had tons of snack bars and water to hold them over. In the future, we plan to upgrade to bigger backpacks. Our current ones didn’t hold much beyond their blankets, tablets, and Mimi (the ratty jelly cat bunnies they’ve loved since birth).
Once you are on-board the ship, you’ll need to know the best way to stay entertained with kids for days at sea! Read more here!
Departure
Departure Tip #1: Get Organized the night before
On a cruise ship they will get your large bags off the boat for you as long as you put them out the night before. Take some time on your last afternoon to get your bags organized. Only keep out the necessities for bedtime and the next morning that can fit in your carryons. Really go through every cabinet, under the bed and even in the fridge multiple times to make sure nothing slid out of sight by mischievous toddler fingers.
Departure Tip #2: Enjoy one last sit down meal
They like you to leave your stateroom as early as possible when you return to port so they can start cleaning it up for the next sailing that leaves the same day. My cruise tip with kids is to wake up, get ready & pack up your carryons. Take everything with you out of your rooms. Then head to the dining room for a leisurely sit-down breakfast! You won’t have to struggle with lines at the buffet while balancing kids and luggage. Your kids can have one last fun meal before you hit the road. We loaded the kids up with pancakes and sausage praying it would lull them to sleep in the long ride home from New Jersey.
Departure Tip #3: Use a Porter
This is an absolute must with kids (or for people in a rush). Once you leave the ship, you’ll have to find your bags and wait in line to get through customs. A porter has a large cart to put all your bags on for you so your hands are free to take care of your kids. BUT the real bonus is that you get to skip to the front of the line to go through customs. That perk alone is worth the tip to the man for carrying your bags out for you. Don’t be a cheap fool like I almost was. Thank goodness for my husband who overrode my authority and got their help, and found us the ultimate cruise tip for departure with kids.
I can’t wait to share with you more about the cruising tips and hacks we learned throughout our trip cruising with our twins! My kids are already asking if they can go back. Before you book your trip, you’ll want to check out my tips for booking your cruise vacation with kids. If you’re on the fence about trying cruising with your young kids, go for it! It may a little tough, but the fun and memories are worth it! You can see some of those memories when you visit me over on instagram! Happy Cruising!
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