**********spinmom********

[machelleD]

Hello, I read your post re: traveling on a cruise with your 7 month old. We are cruising in October with our baby (will be a week shy of 11 months at cruise time) and I was wondering if you could think of anything else? I was thinking of bringing the bigger stroller due to cup holder and holder for stuff on bottom. What did you do at Dinner time? Our friends picked the 8pm dinner so that was another reason I was wanting the big stroller so he can lay down in it at dinner time since he'll be pooped I'm sure? So you do not recomment their crib? Is it worth toting the pack in play all that way? Anything else you can think of will be of much help to me! Thanks in advance
MachelleD

[SpinMom]

I think it would have been well worth it to lug the pack and play, especially if you are going to be gone for several days. It will be familiar to your child, and you know it will be safe. The stroller would help at dinner time for him to lay down if you're going to have dinner late, but we ended up scheduling everything around our son and his routine. Someone was always with him in our cabin close to his bedtime so he could go to sleep there (remember, my entire family went on our cruise, including his two aunts and grandma and grandpa, so we had babysitters who could take turns). There was a lot going on at the time; I'll think more about it, and let you know soon.

[SpinMom]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Your experience will no doubt be much different from ours. Our son was not yet sitting up on his own, so even bathing him was difficult. By the time you cruise, your baby will probably not only be sitting, but crawling if not walking.

We also had to pack baby food, rice cereal and formula, as well as purchasing distilled water to mix the formula (which we did after boarding -- a gallon of distilled water was $3, a bargain compared to buying their bottled "spring" water -- we also drank this ourselves). You may have to bring your own baby food, but your child could very well be on table food by the time you cruise. If you are lucky enough that he/she is eating table food, you will be set there... cruise lines typically have food that you can mash up for baby (vegetables, fruit, soups, pudding, mashed potatoes, etc).

I would recommend that before cruise time, you begin preparing baby for the experience as far as feeding and sleeping. Check with your doctor about table food (when to start and what to start on). If you are a stay at home mom and able to simulate the sleeping schedule you plan for baby to be on during your cruise, start gearing baby towards that schedule at least a week before departure. By 11 months old, most babies take one nap, usually just after lunchtime. If you plan to be out and about during that time and want him awake, try arranging his naps at home beforehand accordingly.

We cruised with Carnival. As I stated before, childcare was not offered for us. Our son was too young for their guidelines. They also didn't allow children not yet potty trained in any of the pools, even if they had swim diapers on. There were a lot of other distractions... there is always something to do and see on those cruise ships. We were careful because some of the activities were extremely loud, and we were also concerned about our son getting sunburned. We packed too much sunscreen with zinc oxide, but we weren't in the sun that much. I think one tube or bottle will be plenty for everyone.

If you find you have forgotten something or something comes up that you didn't anticipate, do not hesitate to ask your cabin steward. Remember that you will probably be tipping them generously (whether you intend to or not), as it is worked into your ending balance that you pay before debarkation. They are there to help you. If they can't get their hands on exactly what you want, they can help you improvise something.

I hope this helps you, and I hope you have the vacation of a lifetime. Do what I say, and not what I do: relax as much as possible, and enjoy yourself. When are you going to get this opportunity again??