9 Tips Before You Book a Cruise With Your Child

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I love to travel and have found taking a cruise to be an easy way to get back out in the world now that I have a child. Here in Corpus Christi, we are fortunate enough to be just a few hours’ drive from the cruise ship port of Galveston.

If you have ever considered taking a cruise with your children, here are some tips I learned from my first cruise, which included my then-two-year-old son.

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Cruise Ship with the Kids- Corpus Christi Moms Blog

Use a Travel Agent

I have found booking through an agent offers lower prices than going through the cruise lines directly. At the very least, it does not hurt to contact both and compare rates.  

Bring Some Sort of Identification for Your Child

Most cruises require a passport no matter the age of your child. There are some exceptions for cruises that travel to Mexico AND start and end at the same U.S. port. Just another reason to use a travel agent, as they will know ID requirements. Remember, passports can take six weeks or more to process.

Be Ready to Pay Full Rate for Your Child

No matter his or her age, children are charged full price for their trip. While that may seem excessive, your child will have access to almost all amenities, with the exception of adults only areas. It also means your little one can eat as much as he or she wants, with no limitations to a kiddie menu. So, order a steak for your munchkin while enjoying your own entrée. If a few bites make it on to your plate, no biggie. My son ate his weight in cake and ice cream on our trip.

Consider Waiting Until Your Child is Potty Trained

All cruise lines, with the exception of Disney, require that children are potty trained in pools. Believe me when I say this, ships are serious about this issue. My husband saw a family with a small child in a swim diaper. The child was pulled out of the pool quite publicly, and the pool was then drained and closed for cleaning, much to the aggravation of other passengers. If fighting your kids to keep them out of the pool is an issue, consider waiting until the diapers and swim pants are a thing of the past.

Pack Light, Rooms are Small

This is a tough one for me to remember, as I tend to pack everything under the sun in anticipation of my kid needing something. But on our last cruise, we spent most of our time exploring the ship, listening to live music, playing basketball, eating, watching movies by the pool in the evening, and having all sorts of fun. You really only need small toys for the evening when you are relaxing or winding down for the day. Maybe download some movies to your phone or tablet. If your child has prescription medications, pack those. Otherwise, ships are equipped with full medical supplies and equipment. And most of your time will be spent out of the room.

Ask in Advance About Eating Options, Dietary Needs and Room Service

There is a less formal dining option available on all ships, most often buffet style, which is great for when hunger strikes your child or yourself. If your child has diet restrictions, like gluten or dairy free, check with your cruise line ahead of time for accommodations. Room service is also available, with some ships offering a la cart, and others offering a menu of included items.

Bring a Relative

I brought my mom with me. She watched our son at night while my husband and I enjoyed nightclubs, live shows, the casino, and just sitting on the deck and drinking wine. During the day, there were plenty of opportunities for all of us to have fun together, as well as individual time for each parent without the other parent getting worn out. My husband played a poker tournament in the casino one day, while I relaxed in the steam room another day. One evening, we gave my mom the night off to do what she wanted.

Research Kids’ Club Accommodations

On Carnival, children must wear a wristband at all times if they are going to participate in the kids’ club. The wristband indicates where your child needs to go on board in the event of an emergency evacuation. My son absolutely refuses to wear any kind of wristband. We had already decided he wasn’t going to go to the kids’ club. But had he wanted to, he would not have been able to because of the wristband. Another point to remember: parents are not allowed to stay at the kids’ club with their child for any length of time. If you are concerned your child might not be cool with that, reconsider the kids club.

Bring Your Own Lanyards

This is just a tip to save you a little money. Every transaction on a cruise ship is done with your room key card. It’s easiest to wear the card around your neck on a lanyard, rather than carrying it in a bag or pocket where it could get lost. Lanyards are sold onboard ships for $10-$20. If you have a family of four, that adds up.

I hope these cruise travel tips help, or at least give you questions to ask when booking a cruise. Any advice you can share? Tell us in the comments below. Happy travels!