How do cruise excursions work with toddlers?

[Anonymous]

I am the OP of the Christmas in the Sun thread , and just read the Disney Cruise thread, and wondering if we should consider a cruise. But I am not sure of the logistics for excursions for the youngest. We will have a 1, 3 and 5 year old. What happens at ports? Are people bringing car seats? Is there a lot of waiting around for transportation?

I know the kids club is a big hit, and I think that’s not for us this trip.

[Anonymous]

I would not consider a cruise with a 1, 3, and 5 yo fwiw

[Anonymous]

I've never seen a car seat on an excursion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never seen a car seat on an excursion.

What have you seen? I am asking how it does work.

[Anonymous]

Never seen a car seat. If the car excursion requires transportation it’s probably a coach bus or minibus. Wait till your youngest is 3 and potty trained. Then they can use the pools and main kids club.

[Anonymous]

NP. I’ve been on many cruise excursions and have never seen a family with multiple little kids. Most have strict age limits of 8+.

[Anonymous]

also never saw a car seat on an excursions and each cruise line has its own rules about things like strollers and wagons. Also typically excursions have a minimum age which it’s doubtful that all of your kids meet.

To can exit the ship at ports. And to can get private drivers but that’s at your own risk. If they don’t get you back in time the boat leaves without you, which would be awful if to have kids. Plus you aren’t getting American safety standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’ve been on many cruise excursions and have never seen a family with multiple little kids. Most have strict age limits of 8+.

This is just wrong, particularly on a Disney cruise. They are specifically geared toward families with young children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of the Christmas in the Sun thread , and just read the Disney Cruise thread, and wondering if we should consider a cruise. But I am not sure of the logistics for excursions for the youngest. We will have a 1, 3 and 5 year old. What happens at ports? Are people bringing car seats? Is there a lot of waiting around for transportation?

I know the kids club is a big hit, and I think that’s not for us this trip.

Did a Disney Alaska cruise with our daughter's family in June: grandsons 3 and 1. I stayed behind to watch the boys during one adult only excursion (tickets were sold out for the family version). Otherwise, the little guys went on all of the excursions and had fun. Train ride, salmon hatchery, panning for gold, lumberjack show, etc. During at sea days, the one year old went to the nursery and 3 year old to the kids club for a couple of hours so that my daughter and her son could have a break. We chose this trip specifically because littles are accommodated.

The one place where we had a bit of trouble was at some of the dinners. The restaurants were very noisy with entertainment, etc. and the 3 year old had a hard time waiting through multiple courses. I might utilize the burger place more, or do more room service (included in price) if they were my kids. Or put them in the nursery and enjoy a more adult dinner. But he got used to it by the end of the cruise and The Animator's Palette was amazing for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’ve been on many cruise excursions and have never seen a family with multiple little kids. Most have strict age limits of 8+.

Maybe I don’t know what a cruise excursion is. When you get off the boat and see the island, go to a beach or whatever, how do you do that?

[Anonymous]

Re: transportation...

They put us in vans or buses, depending on the excursion. My daughter brought "car seat vests" (although for a short drive on a bus, I don't think we used them. Strollers are accommodated on all excursions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of the Christmas in the Sun thread , and just read the Disney Cruise thread, and wondering if we should consider a cruise. But I am not sure of the logistics for excursions for the youngest. We will have a 1, 3 and 5 year old. What happens at ports? Are people bringing car seats? Is there a lot of waiting around for transportation?

I know the kids club is a big hit, and I think that’s not for us this trip.

Did a Disney Alaska cruise with our daughter's family in June: grandsons 3 and 1. I stayed behind to watch the boys during one adult only excursion (tickets were sold out for the family version). Otherwise, the little guys went on all of the excursions and had fun. Train ride, salmon hatchery, panning for gold, lumberjack show, etc. During at sea days, the one year old went to the nursery and 3 year old to the kids club for a couple of hours so that my daughter and her son could have a break. We chose this trip specifically because littles are accommodated.

The one place where we had a bit of trouble was at some of the dinners. The restaurants were very noisy with entertainment, etc. and the 3 year old had a hard time waiting through multiple courses. I might utilize the burger place more, or do more room service (included in price) if they were my kids. Or put them in the nursery and enjoy a more adult dinner. But he got used to it by the end of the cruise and The Animator's Palette was amazing for him.

Can you tell me how it worked when you got off the boat? What was the transportation like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never seen a car seat on an excursion.

What have you seen? I am asking how it does work.

People hold their kids in their laps during the transportation. They bring strollers or wear their kids for the walking part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP of the Christmas in the Sun thread , and just read the Disney Cruise thread, and wondering if we should consider a cruise. But I am not sure of the logistics for excursions for the youngest. We will have a 1, 3 and 5 year old. What happens at ports? Are people bringing car seats? Is there a lot of waiting around for transportation?

I know the kids club is a big hit, and I think that’s not for us this trip.

Did a Disney Alaska cruise with our daughter's family in June: grandsons 3 and 1. I stayed behind to watch the boys during one adult only excursion (tickets were sold out for the family version). Otherwise, the little guys went on all of the excursions and had fun. Train ride, salmon hatchery, panning for gold, lumberjack show, etc. During at sea days, the one year old went to the nursery and 3 year old to the kids club for a couple of hours so that my daughter and her son could have a break. We chose this trip specifically because littles are accommodated.

The one place where we had a bit of trouble was at some of the dinners. The restaurants were very noisy with entertainment, etc. and the 3 year old had a hard time waiting through multiple courses. I might utilize the burger place more, or do more room service (included in price) if they were my kids. Or put them in the nursery and enjoy a more adult dinner. But he got used to it by the end of the cruise and The Animator's Palette was amazing for him.

The 1 yr old went to a nursery?! Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I’ve been on many cruise excursions and have never seen a family with multiple little kids. Most have strict age limits of 8+.

Maybe I don’t know what a cruise excursion is. When you get off the boat and see the island, go to a beach or whatever, how do you do that?

OP this isn't hard to understand.

An excursion is something you pay for - a day/trip planned at one of the ports. Many are not appropriate for a 1 year old.

You can also just go explore on your own.

No people are not hauling car seats around these ports/stops! That's why you don't bring infants.