cruise with 10 month old

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Cruising with a Baby: What to Know From Someone Who’s Done It

If you’re the parent of a baby or small toddler, then the thought of a vacation has definitely crossed your mind. After sleepless nights and days consumed with caring for your baby, taking a cruise and relaxing sounds pretty good right now.

And in fact, a cruise is one of the best vacations you can take with a small child . No matter where you go on the ship, you are only a few minutes from your room. That makes it perfect for midday naps, means you don’t have to carry around a ton of baby supplies, and there is plenty to see and do without going far.

But what’s it really like to cruise with a baby? Take it from someone that’s done it firsthand. There’s a learning curve to the vacation, and it is definitely different than the experience of cruising without a kid. That said, it’s still a great way to travel.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Cruising With a Baby 101 (General Things to Know)

While you may not realize it, there are several items you should know right off the bat if you want to cruise with a small child.

Age Restrictions for Babies The absolute first thing you should know is if you can even take your baby on a cruise. Cruise lines (including the major players like Royal Caribbean and Carnival) require the child be at least six months old on the day of embarkation for most cases. Yes, you can book the cruise when the child is younger, but they must be at least that age by cruise day.

If you are sailing on a transatlantic, transpacific, or a Hawaii cruise, then your baby must be at least 12 months old at the time of sailing.

These age restrictions are put in place for medical purposes. Given the special care needed for infants in case they get sick or injured, cruise lines don’t want children of the most vulnerable ages to be stuck at sea for extended periods of time.

Passport/Documentation for Infants We recommend adults have a passport when they cruise. But do you really need to go through the trouble of getting a passport for an infant? The answer is no, if you are a sailing on a closed-loop cruise (one that begins and ends in the same homeport).

If on a closed-loop cruise, the only documentation you will need a government-issued birth certificate . For children under the age of 16, you don’t need to have any photo identification. You will show the birth certificate at check-in on your first day and when passing through immigration when debarking the cruise back at home.

Cruise Fares & Gratuities for Babies There’s good news and bad news when it comes to cruise fares for babies. The bad news is that yes, you will be charged for having a baby in your room. The good news is that the rate for a third (or fourth) person in a cabin is significantly less. (Note: Some cruise sales offer third or fourth guests free.)

For example, if your cruise fare is about $500 per person for the first two adults in the room, then the cruise fare for a third person will only be a fraction of that. Still, it does usually cost something.

As for gratuities, some cruise lines expect you to pay tips for the child and some do not. For example, Carnival’s policy is that any guests under two years old are not expected to have gratuities added to their account. Royal Caribbean, however, automatically applies gratuities for everyone — including babies. Norwegian charges gratuities only on children three years and older.

Keep this extra charge in mind when shopping for cruise deals as the gratuity can add up over a longer cruise given it costs around $16-18 per person, per day.

Cribs, Formula, Diapers, and Other Baby Supplies One of the biggest headaches of traveling with a baby is all the extra things you need to bring with you. Cruise lines do make it easier by supplying some items, but you’re still going to be packing extra if you bring a baby.

Cribs/Sleeping Areas: Cruise lines make it easy by providing a crib or sleeping area for your child at no extra charge. You should call the cruise line well in advance (2+ weeks from your cruise date) to request a crib be placed in your room. But you don’t have to bring a “pack and play” or sleep with your child in your bed!

High Chairs: High chairs are available in dining areas, just like in a restaurant. If you don’t see one, simply ask the waitstaff for assistance.

Strollers: While some lines might offer stroller rental, we would recommend you always bring your own stroller from home. Kids (and parents) are used to their own strollers. The last thing you want is a stroller that is uncomfortable and unfamiliar to ruin any outing on your trip. In particular, we suggest small, lightweight “umbrella” strollers — not the big jogging strollers like you would have around the neighborhood. Space is at a premium on the ship, so keep it small. 

Diapers/Formula/Other Supplies: Anything your baby consumes, you should bring from home. This includes any formula, snacks, diapers, wipes, rash ointment, baby shampoo and more. There might be items available for purchase on the ship (and there definitely will be in port), but it’s best to bring the items you know and trust from home. Also, pack enough for an extra day or two just in case you run out early.

Cruise Cabins and Accommodations For Your Baby

When you are on your cruise, your cabin is your home away from home. Traveling with a small child, you’ll likely spend a ton of time in the room. Between naps, some feedings, and the kid’s early bedtime, we found ourselves back in the room much more than when we’ve cruised without a baby.

For that reason, we definitely suggest booking a cabin with a balcony. Balconies offer a place for mom and dad to escape to while the baby is sleeping, yet still be able to keep an eye on things. In addition, balconies offer an important source of fresh air — a must-have given how easily stinky diapers can smell up a tiny cabin.

Safety in the Cabin In our experience, cruise cabins are pretty safe for babies and don’t require much childproofing. Plugs were up high where children couldn’t reach. There are no stoves or other hot spots to worry about. Furniture isn’t easily toppled over since things are secured for a rocking ship. Balconies offer full protection from falling — a full sheet of tempered glass means there are no gaps a child could crawl through.

In general, cabins are babyproofed.

The only real issues are with drawers/doors and cleanliness.

Our child loved to open and close drawers and doors. Every cabin has a built-in system of closets and drawers that are easily reached no matter how tall your child is. We found that our son wanted to constantly open drawers, use them to stand up, and then accidentally smash his fingers when he closed them again. The bathroom door also had pieces of trim with extremely sharp edges that were within his reach.

For the most part our cabin was clean to the eye. But just like any hotel room, there are out-of-the-way spots that you can only see when you are down on the ground like a baby. Spots in corners and behind furniture were dirty. Your kid will find these spots! It’s not the end of the world, but be prepared.

Sleeping As mentioned above, the cruise line will provide a crib/pack-n-play at no extra charge. You should contact them a couple of weeks in advance of your trip to let them know you’ll need one. Don’t just assume they will put on in the cabin.

The cribs supplied on our cruises have been perfectly fine, albeit utilitarian. Our child had no problem going to sleep in his normal “butt up” position.

We’ve had our child sleep in his own room since he was about two weeks old. In general he is a good sleeper, but he does wake up a couple of times a night, crying for about a minute before settling back down to sleep. Being in the same room — and in close quarters to other passengers — caused for some restless nights.

For one, instead of hearing our baby grunt or cry over a low-volume baby monitor, the sounds were right in our ear. That meant any sound woke us up. In addition, when our son cried in the middle of the night, we jumped up to calm him immediately to keep from disturbing our ship neighbors instead of letting him settle himself back down.

Frankly, sleeping in the same room as our baby was the worst part of the cruise. It took us back to the first months of having a newborn when we were up several hours each night trying to keep him quiet and calm.

Bathing Cabin showers make it easy to bath your baby. Almost every cabin comes with a handheld sprayer that you can use to wash your kid. There’s no need to bring a bath chair or anything else. Assuming your child can sit up, you can just sit them on the floor of the shower to give a bath.

Eating on a Cruise With Your Baby

Even if your child is a great eater, you might be anxious about dining on a cruise with your kiddo. After all, no one wants to be that family with the loud, messy eater.

On our cruises, we actually avoided the main dining room altogether. Dining in the main dining room each evening is a rather formal process with several different courses. A long, drawn-out meal is not the best environment for a happy baby — or other diners. For everyone’s sake, we simply ate in the buffet or other “grab and go” venues for our meals.

Often we would grab a meal and take it back to the cabin to eat. There are plenty of places on cruise ships to eat that are less formal than the evening dining room, so we never felt out of place in these venues.

All the dining areas will have highchairs available for you to use. Since our child loved eating finger foods like cut bananas or other fruit, he usually made a mess when he ate. We brought along a silicon mat that sticks to any flat surface . With this, we could place his food on the mat for him to eat without worrying about making a mess (or picking up germs) from the actual table. It was a lifesaver.

On days when we were in port or for baby mealtimes where we didn’t want to eat, we would always pack a bottle with formula and his baby food. When it was time to eat, we simply fed him in his stroller.

Note that you can bring on baby food and formula with you when you board . You just want to make sure they are prepackaged and in unopened containers. You can’t bring on homemade food with you on a cruise.

What to Do With Your Baby on a Cruise Ship

If you have a kid who is a little older, then there is no shortage of things for them to do. Most major cruise lines have kids areas have allow parents to drop off their children and offer all sorts of activities. The problem is that these areas cater to older kids.

For example, Carnival doesn’t offer full-time drop-off of kids under two years old (there are times when you can stay and play with your child in the kids area), so be prepared to spend a lot of time with your kiddo. Royal Caribbean does offer drop-off kids that are six months to three years old. With this program — available on most ships — you can drop your child off to be watched for an hourly fee. The staff will entertain and watch your child, providing a ton of kid-friendly things to do.

In general, you should be prepared to spend a lot of time doing things with your baby in tow. Thankfully at this age, kids are still pretty easy to keep entertained. Our child was very social, so simply walking around the ship looking at all the new people kept him interested (and other passengers took an interest in him as well).

On sea days, we often just found an empty spot on the deck to let him crawl around, explore, and play with toys without bothering other passengers. Other times there are baby-friendly things to do that were put on by the cruise line. This includes events like character dress-ups and small parades for the little ones.

Many ships (especially newer ones) also have designated areas where kids still in diapers can splash in the water by the pool. That’s something we’d definitely suggest looking for in a ship as not all have this. Kids aren’t allowed in pools when wearing swim diapers.

As well, even if you can’t drop off your little ones in the kid areas, there are times when they allow parents to bring their kids to play — as long as the parents stay and supervised the child. 

While the vast majority of activities put on by the cruise line won’t be aimed specifically at children, they are usually still welcome to attend and can have a good time. Things like ice-sculpting and the “hairy chest” contest are for everyone, even if your baby isn’t quite sure what’s going on.

Fortunately, small infants don’t need a ton of entertainment to stay occupied. Often just the new sights and sounds around the ship are enough to keep them busy.

Ports of Call With Your Child

Visiting ports of call with a baby requires a lot more planning than you might be used to. For one, you have to be sure and pack everything you would need while out and about. It’s not easy just to run to the store if your forget something.

You also have to be very careful in planning excursions that your small child can handle. If you are traveling to the Caribbean, be prepared for the heat and humidity to zap them of energy extremely fast. As well, you’ll need to be considerate of naptimes and feeding times unless you actually like traveling with an irritated baby!

Given the headache of trying to plan around a baby’s schedule, the best thing to do is make it easy on yourself and your kid by doing something simple like heading to beaches near the cruise ship on port days. That way you don’t have to shell out a lot of money for an excursion while you might be tending to a sleeping baby or having to stop and feed. You also don’t have to go far and could make it back to the ship quickly if needed.

In particular, take advantage of the port areas that have everything you need — shops, restaurants, and often pools — right next to the ship.

One other smart thing to do? Time your exit off the ship to give you the most time possible without feeding or napping. While most people got off right when the ship docked, we liked to wait until after our kid’s first morning nap. Then we fed him before setting off. This gave more time to enjoy off the ship without having plan around naps and feeding time.

One other thing you should know is that ports of calls aren’t going to cater to families with young children. Taxis likely won’t have a place for a car seat; you’ll need to carry your baby on your lap. Don’t expect to find changing tables in every restroom. And some restaurants may not have high chairs. If you are worried about having facilities catering to your baby, your best bet is to stick around the more Americanized parts of town such as the area right near the cruise port.

Parent Time When Sailing With a Child

It’s safe to say we all love our kids, but that doesn’t mean we want to be around them 24/7, especially on vacation. So what about getting away from your child for a few hours?

Yes, it is possible, but it can vary wildly. As mentioned before, some lines like Royal Caribbean offer areas where kids can be dropped off to be supervised. The staff will entertain and watch your child, providing a ton of kid-friendly things to do. They also provide a phone you carry in case you need to be contacted. Just be aware that some smaller kids may not like being dropped off in an unfamiliar place (we speak from experiences)

Other lines limit their supervised time to only certain parts of the cruise or don’t offer it at all for smaller children. 

For instance, when we sailed Royal Caribbean, we dropped our kid off for only about 30 minutes before the staff called to let us know we needed to pick him up as they couldn’t get him calmed down.

And when we traveled aboard Carnival, we had our child with us the entire time. That meant we turned in early each night when our kid went to bed. We would often spend the evening sitting on the balcony with a couple of drinks or catching up with our shows on Netflix.

Yes, we would have rather gone to a quiet dinner, caught a show or hit the casino, but those are the sacrifices you have to make when you sail with an infant.

Bonus Tips on Sailing With Your Infant

Sailing with a baby is a completely different experience than cruising without a kid. While we’ve offered a ton of tips above, here are some other things we’ve learned after sailing multiple times with a baby:

The Heat and Humidity Drain Kids Even when it’s not that hot in the Caribbean, the combination of sun and humidity can zap a baby’s energy. Don’t be surprised if after only a short time outside your child is ready for another nap. Be sure to offer them plenty of shade to keep them from getting exhausted.

Kids Wear a Muster Legband Mom and Dad will have an assigned muster station printed on their room key. Babies will get a legband to wear for their trip with the muster station listed on it. This way, if you are separated, then the crew knows where you take your kid in an emergency.

Make Sure You Receive a Kid’s Life Jacket Every room will have life jackets in it, but you should receive a smaller kid’s life jacket upon arrival. If there’s not one in your cabin closet already, just ask your room steward to provide one.

Order Bottled Water to Your Room Most cruise lines are stingy on bringing bottled water onto the ship when you board, but do let you order it to your cabin. We suggest getting a couple of cases. This way you will always have water to make your baby’s formula instead of having to go to the ship’s restaurants to fill up. It’s also just nice to have for adults.

Rooms Have In-Cabin Refrigerators We’ve never seen a cabin that didn’t have a fridge, but have heard they do exist on some older ships. Having a refrigerator is good if your are still breast-feeding/pumping as it gives you a place to store milk after you pump.

One thing to note is that it’s more a cooler than a refrigerator. If you need to keep things colder, then get some ice from the cabin steward.

Bring an Outlet Adapter Between nightlights, sound machines, and portable fans, you might bring a lot of electronics when cruise with your baby. However, most cabins only have one or two plugs. For that reason, we suggest an outlet adapter that will give you multiple outlets for all your baby’s gear. They are cheap and convenient.

Bring a Lightweight, Small Stroller We have a large comfy jogging stroller at home, but opted to cruise with a much smaller, foldable stroller . We definitely recommend bringing one of these types of strollers. Ships can be narrow and with so many people on board, it’s difficult to navigate a large stroller. Plus, you can also just fold it up and put it in the cabin closet when not in use.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen (And Aloe!) Every parent knows to pack sunscreen. The sun is much stronger at lower latitudes, meaning your baby can get a sunburn in as little as five minutes. Use sunscreen religiously. And if do see a burn, be sure to have some soothing aloe on hand to help treat.

More on Family Cruising:

• Camp Ocean (Carnival’s Kid Area): What to Know Before Your Kids Go
• 41 Must-Have Tips for Cruising With Babies, Toddlers, or Small Kids
• 17 Things to Always Pack When Cruising With Kids

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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Concerned about sleeping arrangements….Cruising with my 3yr old and 1yr old. If my 3yr old sleeps in the pullout…will there be enough room for a travel crib?

It will be tight, but we would think so. As well, you could also have the three year old sleep in the bed with you (gulp!).

Which baby monitors work on cruise ships? Thanks for the great help!!

Baby monitors aren’t likely to work well on the ship. The steel on the ship will really cut down on the strength of the signal.

What water did you use to make the bottles? Did you request bottled water or just use sink water?

You can buy bottled water. Sink water was fine with us.

Any suggestions on if your baby is picky about hot water for their bottle?

Great question. I would ask the room steward. You could also run hot water in the cabin sink to warm the bottle.

I have a 12 months old and two other older kids, do they allow me to stay and watch my older kids while they at the pool with my baby who will not be swimming

Of course! The baby can be in the pool area, just not in the pool itself until potty trained. Depending on the ship you go, there might be a kiddie pool that’s designed for kids who aren’t potty trained yet (swim diapers are still required).

Great tips! My questions- how did you wash the bottles on the cruise? Just bring some dish soap and a brush and wash in the stateroom sink?

2- did the dining room provide any sort of baby friendly food? I read somewhere else they requested (and got) some pureed foods from their wait staff! Did you have this experience too? Thanks!

Your idea for washing bottles is spot on. To be honest, we just brought a few and rinsed them out thoroughly after use. As for food, we brought a lot of our own but it the staff may accommodate (we didn’t ask). Our kiddo was eating solids and loved eating fruit, yogurt, etc. from the buffet.

Remember: It’s not just diapers, including “swim” diapers, that are forbidden in ship pools/hot tubs… including “family” pools/hot tubs. Children (including babies) who aren’t completely toilet-trained are not supposed to be there either!

Thank you for these tips! We will be traveling with Carvinal when our LO is 11 months. Any concerns with vaccines that I should be aware off? Since our LO hasn’t received all her vaccines, such as MMR, HepA and varicella (CDC till 12 months). Thanks!

Good question. We’d suggest talking to your doc about that. We didn’t have to do anything special before our trip and nothing was mentioned.

The best tips ever! Loved it. Thank you

This is such a great review about cruising with baby. This article really helpful for all whose are confused and nervous for cruising with their baby. I think it will be too adventures and also lots of fun. I will follow these tips when it will be my turn. Thanks for the sharing your experience with us.

Hi there thanks for the tips, wondering whether anyone here cruised with a crawling baby? I’m cruising soon with my 9mo baby and he loves crawling…But I’m quite nervous about letting him crawl all over the carpeted floors… Any tips? Should I bring a walker along to let him move without him going in fours on the carpet? Thanks

Why are you nervous about letting him crawl on floors? Germs?

Our guy was crawling then. We just let him crawl around. Where he got really dirty was crawling around on the outside decks (found a big empty spot behind Carnival’s funnel where not many people were). He loved it and we just used a wipe to clean him up after he was done. We don’t really worry about germs, etc. He goes to daycare so he is exposed to all sorts of stuff anyway.

Thanks for the info, 1rst cruise with our newly to b one year old 4 days after his 1rst birthday this July on Carnival Horizon. Had a lot of questions u helped with.

This is such a great review, I feel much more prepared to take my 10 month old on her first cruise in a week

Glad you like it and thanks for the comment. That’s a good age for a cruise. When they get a little older to where they run everywhere, it can be a little hectic keeping an eye on them!

This was very helpful – thank you! We are cruising with our 10 month old for the first time in Jan on RC. Looking forward to it, but definitely a little anxious. This helped us know what to expect!

Glad you like it! Enjoy the cruise!

I think cruising is more fun than flying. The baby will feel like he or she is doing his or her regular activities though things may be a little bit shaking. But, of course, you still need to prepare lots of baby’s needs, as you don’t want to end up in a mess when you forget to bring the baby’s formula.

Thank you for all these tips. I will be cruising with my baby in January, he will have just turned 9 months. I was feeling nervous about it, but these are some great tips.

Best way to care for your baby on a cruise? Bring along his grandma.

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TOP 10 TIPS TO CRUISING WITH A BABY

Published on - March 5, 2021 at 11:19 am

Make it a memorable family getaway by bringing your infant on your next cruise. The family-focused amenities will allow you to all have a relaxing trip at sea, complete with nap time.

Taking a baby on a cruise is one of the best ways to travel with your little one. You don't have to pack and unpack every few days, and there's no need to worry about the logistics of driving to your destination or traffic. Onboard, the friendly cruise ship staff take care of the details so you don't have to. Here are my top 10 mom-tested tips for taking a baby on a cruise vacation.

1. WHAT TO CARRY WITH YOU

You're likely going to have to get on a plane to get to your family vacation's starting point before you get to sail off into the sunset. When you're taking your baby, that means planning how much you need to carry with you and how you'll do it. Let's focus on the basics you'll need right on you for the baby.

During the flight, I always travel with extra diapers (you never know when you'll have what parents lovingly refer to as a "blow-out" en route to your ship's first port of call), wet wipes with a flip top, diaper cream, a pacifier, food/snacks, prepped bottles and a change of clothes (also needed in case of a blow-out) in my carry-on luggage. Those items have saved our collective bacon more than a few times.

2. OTHER PACKING MUST-HAVES

3. SPREAD IT OUT

My baby girl was pretty particular about which kind of baby formula she consumed. Keeping some in resealable baggies in various carry-on luggage and suitcases was a lifesaver when two of our three suitcases were lost en route to Panama. Having the right formula on hand meant I could feed her when we landed without having to run around looking for the right brand while I also dealt with jet lag and a hungry baby.

Luckily, we also put some of our clothes in all three bags, so we all still had something to wear after we arrived. I packed a few extra diapers and spread those across the suitcases, too.

Hot Tip: If you forget any of the above-noted, don't worry. On a cruise, the Babies 2 Go program lets you pre-order everything, including diapers, wipes and baby food, and have it delivered to your  cruise room .

4. ENSURE A HAPPY BABY ON THE PLANE

5. CONSIDER WHICH BIG ITEMS YOU NEED (OR NOT)

It's easy to think you need to carry all that and the kitchen sink when you travel with a baby, and some parents do. I never did, partly because I don't have a personal Sherpa to haul things and partly because I realized some big items just aren't essential. Here are the only bulkier items that I consider must-haves: a baby carrier so that when you dock at your destination, Baby is portable and can enjoy the sights with you; and an umbrella stroller that's compact, easy to maneuver in smaller streets or alleyways and can be covered with a light blanket to keep the sun out if the baby's dozing.

We always carried Baby on our laps during flights instead of bringing a car seat with us. Doing that meant we didn't need to pay for a ticket for her as well. If we had to drive once we landed, we arranged for a car seat with our car rental company. We also arranged cribs or pack and plays with our hotels. Onboard the ships, you can include your child's age when you buy tickets on the site, and the age will indicate to Royal Caribbean that they'll need a crib. However, you should call in that request just to be safe or ask as soon as you get onboard to have the crib delivered to the room.

Your needs might be different than ours, so you'll want to carefully consider how important these larger items are to you and your family:

-- A car seat for the flight over (not for us — she slept on our lap mostly) -- A pack and play for naps or overnight sleeping -- A baby carrier (check!) -- An umbrella stroller (plus rain cover — which for us traveling in spring was imperative) -- Your regular, more sturdy stroller (we didn't lug this along) ... and the list goes on.

6. WASH AND GO

Some parents bring a little bottle of clothes detergent with them to wash Baby's clothing if it gets dirty on vacation. You can just wring out, hang it and wait for it to dry.

If you'd rather enjoy the amenities on your ship and skip the washing, you can do that, too — washing, pressing and dry cleaning services are available onboard most ships. You'll likely also find wash-and-fold specials on your voyage and a per-item laundry list if you just need one or two items cleaned.

7. SEEK OUT KID-FRIENDLY PERKS

8. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

9. ENGAGE IN FAMILY TIME

10. REMEMBER THAT KIDS SAIL FREE

There are more than 700 cruise sailing options where your kids can come along for free, from four-night cruises to longer voyages at sea, making a  family cruise  that much more appealing and affordable.

With a little planning, you'll be ready to enjoy the comforts of a home base, while exploring lots of fun options on land and at sea. Bring along your little one the next time you decide to set sail.

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8 Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Plan ahead for smooth sailing when cruising with young mariners.

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Young children can have just as much fun as their parents on these cruises.

Cruises are an ideal vacation option for families with toddlers . But with so many cruise lines to choose from – and new ships offering an array of endless activities and amenities for kids of all ages – you may find it difficult to wade through the sea of options when planning a cruise for babies and toddlers.

Many mainstream and premium cruise lines offer well-designed staterooms with families in mind. Many family cruise ships also offer water parks, rides and attractions, kid-themed venues, live entertainment and more – making cruises for babies and toddlers (as well as cruises for teens ) ideal for both young and multigenerational families.

"Many cruise lines offer the perfect solution for families with babies and toddlers to enjoy time together as well as adult-only cruise time ," says luxury travel adviser Elizabeth Caran, a member of Nexion Travel Group. "From family-friendly activities to babysitting services and kids' clubs, cruises encourage the whole family to travel together."

When you're ready to cast off with your young mates, these eight cruise lines offer varying degrees of creature comforts, in-cabin amenities, and activities to make this maritime adventure memorable for your baby or toddler – and for the whole family.

Disney Cruise Line

Msc cruises, celebrity cruises, holland america line, norwegian cruise line, carnival cruise line, royal caribbean international, princess cruises.

Matt Stroshane | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Minimum sailing age: Infants must be 6 months of age or older on embarkation day to sail with Disney Cruise Line . Children must be 12 months or older to sail on the line's Hawaii , transatlantic and Panama Canal itineraries.

Disney Cruise Line's family staterooms and suites offer expanded spaces for families, with some sleeping up to seven guests. Many of these cabins are split-bathroom staterooms with two bathrooms; one has a sink with a combined shower and tub, while the other has a commode and sink. You'll also find bunk-style beds, room-dividing draperies, extra space for storing luggage, on-demand television, in-room movies and a refrigerator.

Families traveling with infants will have access to many complimentary baby amenities on board Disney's ships, including bottle warmers and sterilizers, diaper disposal units, playpens, cribs and Pack 'n Play portable cribs. Parents can request these items through the stateroom host or hostess. Complimentary strollers are also available through Guest Services, and all of the dining venues have highchairs to accommodate your hungry shipmates. If you forgot your baby's pacifier or other necessary items, you'll find baby essentials including rash cream, infant formula (ready to feed) and more available for purchase at the onboard shops.

While you can bring your own baby food on board the ship (the items that don't need food preparation from the kitchen), the restaurant staff is also happy to puree fresh vegetables, by request, in the main dining room or through room service.

When parents are ready for adult-only time, Disney's fleetwide "It's a Small World" nursery accommodates children starting at 6 months old (or 1 year of age, depending on the itinerary), up to age 3. This whimsical themed space boasts some of the most extended operating hours – and lowest hourly rates for child care – in the cruise industry. While at the "club," tots can read or play with interactive toys, games, videos or crafts. If one of the counselors needs to reach you on the ship, never fear: They can contact you via an onboard mobile phone service.

Older children – ages 3 to 12 – have access to the Disney's Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab play areas, which offer even more Disney-inspired fun. And don't forget all the other kid-friendly activities on the ship like themed parties and water attractions for little ones, as well as character encounters with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a whole host of other princesses, pirates and superheroes. Don't forget to pack your baby's Disney-themed gear to join in the onboard fun.

Want to cruise with your family on Disney Cruise Lines? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Minimum sailing age: MSC Cruises welcomes children of all ages but recommends consulting your pediatrician if you plan to sail with a baby younger than 12 months of age.

When you're ready to set sail with MSC, the line has connecting staterooms and large suites to accommodate families. You can also opt to stay in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club to experience the luxury ship-within-a-ship accommodations and amenities, which include private venues and a 24-hour dedicated private butler. Cribs and playpens from baby care brand Chicco are available for your complimentary use through the housekeeping staff.

The Baby Club (for ages 2 and younger) is one of five distinct offerings for kids. MSC partners with Chicco to provide a dedicated play space for babies and toddlers who are younger than 3 years old. MSC Baby Time is available at select times on sea days and in port, giving the ship's youngest guests an opportunity to play with pals from around the world while you supervise your children and engage with other parents. Little ones will also enjoy the educational toys from the Osservatorio Chicco Baby Research Center, which include rhythm and music activities and crawling games. Another MSC offering allows 2- and 3-year-olds to test out their budding culinary skills with a Baby Chef activity. Babysitting is an option at the Baby Club for kids between 1 and 3 years old. This service – and available hours – varies by ship, so check with the Youth Program once you're on board.

For slightly older sailors (aged 3 to 6), the Mini Club's partnership with Lego provides even more friends and fun with arts and crafts, games, and events.

This cruise line's kids menus offer a wide selection of delicious and fun choices assessed by nutritionists from the Osservatorio Chicco. Some food options are dedicated to 6- to 12-month-old palates, and the menus are available in the main and specialty restaurants. Each buffet also features a Kids' Corner or Marketplace Family & Kids area. If your wee ones get hungry at off-hours and you don't want to head out into the ship, you'll still be able to keep them satisfied and happy – room service is available 24 hours a day.

For excursions, children 2 years and younger can join you free of charge; kids aged 3 to 13 receive a 30% discount off adult prices.

Looking to plan a cruise on MSC Cruises? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Minimum sailing age: Infants must be at least 6 months old on the first day of a Celebrity Cruises sailing or cruisetour. Some cruises/cruisetours require children be at least 12 months of age to participate.

Celebrity's Veranda Stateroom is the perfect option when traveling with younger kids as it allows parents the flexibility to go outside and enjoy a glass of wine or private time after the little one is fast asleep. If your child is more active, an Ocean View Stateroom still offers the view but with more peace of mind. If you splurge on a spacious suite, everyone will have more room to rest and roam – and get access to VIP areas of the ship – along with concierge and butler service. Suite accommodations also offer a private babysitting service for up to three children (for a fee), as long as the kids are all at least 1 year of age.

Celebrity offers several programs for younger children. Toddler Time is available in the ship's playroom for all kids younger than 3 and requires parental supervision – and you can check out the fun and educational toys and books to take to your stateroom. Led by the ship's youth staff, the daily Camp at Sea program is an option for potty-trained kids ages 3 to 5. Camp activities include science excursions, art activities, singing and cooking challenges. Children aged 3 to 12 who are registered in the youth program can join in for more activities with supervised afternoon and slumber parties on the ship.

Fussy young eaters will find plenty of kid-friendly favorites at mealtime like spaghetti Bolognese, mini pizzas, cheeseburgers and fries; these are some of the selections on the main dining room's kids menu. The buffet is an excellent alternative for a relaxed environment and even more choices – including an ice cream and dessert station for those sweet tooths. If you prefer to dine in your stateroom, kiddie favorites are also available on the in-room dining menu.

Want to cruise on Celebrity Cruises? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Minimum sailing age: Infants cruising on Holland America Line must be at least 6 months old at the time of embarkation. On longer cruises, such as transoceanic voyages or itineraries in South America , Asia , the South Pacific or Hawaii, infants must be at least 12 months at embarkation.

Holland America offers a selection of accommodations ideal for families that include connecting cabins and rooms with sofa beds or Murphy beds. On the Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam ships, there are also dedicated family staterooms with beds for up to five guests, additional closet space and two bathrooms (one of which has a tub). The line also offers reduced fares for kids – who can even cruise for free on select itineraries during Holland America's Kids Sail Free promotions.

A limited number of complimentary cribs, highchairs and booster seats are available on board. The line recommends requesting a crib no later than 90 days before sailing. If you don't want to bring all the necessary supplies with you, select items can be purchased in advance, including diapers, baby wipes, formula and baby food.

Parents will appreciate the kids menu in the dining venues, with toddler-approved favorites like chicken strips, pizza, and mac and cheese, along with healthy options like soups, salads and fresh fruit. Children 12 years and younger receive half-off meals in specialty dining restaurants – or they can order from the kids menu for free – and you'll find reduced rates for the kiddos on shore excursions.

Club HAL, the line's youth program, is available on all 11 ships and offers supervised and entertaining activities for ages 3 to 17. At the Kids Program (for 3- to 6-year-olds), children can participate in games and crafts and attend themed parties like a "Ships Ahoy Pirate Treasure Hunt Adventure" or "Dino-Mite Night." The program, along with lunch, is an option on port days. The line also encourages children with special needs to participate in Club HAL activities based on their chronological age.

Looking to plan a family cruise on Holland America Line? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Minimum sailing age: Infants must be 6 months of age at the time of sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line , or at least 12 months old at embarkation if the voyage has three or more consecutive days at sea.

Norwegian's "freestyle cruising" philosophy provides parents options to design a vacation that will be flexible and fun for everyone in the family. Choices abound for staterooms and suites, including connecting cabins. The Haven, the line's exclusive luxury retreat, offers spacious accommodations, suites and villas – even a two-bedroom family villa. The Haven also boasts private venues, a concierge service, a 24-hour butler and other perks. During promotions on select sailings – and in all stateroom categories – kids can sail for free .

Complimentary portable playpens and foldable sleepers are available fleetwide. You'll also find highchairs in the dining venues, but booster seats are only available on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore.

For activities, the line's Guppies Program is for tiny tykes ranging from 6 months to 3 years old. This hosted activity (on all ships) is open to parents and their children, focusing on sensory play, music and movement. Parents of children aged 3 to 12, meanwhile, can head out for an afternoon in port – or a night alone on the ship – and leave their children with the supervised Late Night/Port Play program for a fee. For more active pursuits, parents and their kids can check out the aquaparks and waterslides, play a game of mini-golf, or go on exciting and adventurous excursions, such as a whale watching expedition on a cruise to Alaska .

Throughout the ship guests will find complimentary dining venues, like the main dining rooms and buffet, where kids can enjoy tasty favorites like pizza, chicken fingers, pasta, waffles and soft serve ice cream. You can also visit specialty restaurants that offer a kids menu at no extra charge. If you're staying in for the night, 24-hour room service is always available.

Want to cruise with your family on Norwegian Cruise Lines? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Minimum sailing age: Infants must be 6 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail with Carnival Cruise Line . For transoceanic crossings, remote itineraries and any cruise with more than two consecutive sea days, children must be at least 12 months of age. They also must be at least 12 months to sail if there's at least one international port ( Singapore , the Pacific Islands or New Zealand ) or a port in Hawaii.

Carnival offers connecting cabins and flexible staterooms that can accommodate up to five guests – some also have an extra half bath. If you're cruising from Long Beach, California , to the Mexican Riviera with the kiddos, plan to reserve one of the 96 Family Harbor staterooms or suites in the family-dedicated zone on Deck 2 of Carnival Panorama. These cabins accommodate up to five passengers and feature a nautical flag motif. Additionally, the Family Harbor Lounge is the perfect place to hang out with your little ones: The space has large televisions, hosted family activities, complimentary snacks – like milk and cookies or ice cream – and other amenities. You'll also be able to grab continental breakfast in the lounge on port days. Family Harbor suites and staterooms are also available on Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras and Carnival Vista. All the cabins in this category have additional perks like free specialty dining for kids and one free evening of day care.

While on board, parents can request a complimentary crib to use in the stateroom, and there are highchairs and booster seats available in the dining venues. Strollers are available to rent for a fee.

When it comes to activities, Camp Ocean has programs for infants younger than 2, with limited availability on sea days during the cruise. Children do not need to be toilet-trained to participate. Parents can leave their tots in the care of the ship's youth staff for a fee, or they can stay and use the camp facilities free of charge. On port days, child care is also available (at additional cost), but parents must return at mealtimes to feed their children – or to administer any medications. Children who are 2 years of age can join in the kiddie fun in the Penguin group for ages 2 to 5, which offers complimentary programming with entertaining age-appropriate activities and kid-friendly cuisine. Other ways to keep young seafarers amused while on the ship include Seuss at Sea, Zumbini and Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea.

In the evenings, infants 6 months and older – and children up to age 11 – may attend Night Owls (for a fee), a late-night supervised slumber party-type activity where tots can watch movies, play games, listen to music, participate in giveaways and enjoy snacks. Depending on the itinerary, there may also be themed Owl Jam Parties for the kids. Complimentary Pack 'n Plays are available to use for infants.

Looking to plan a cruise to the Caribbean on Carnival Cruise Line? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Minimum sailing age: Infants must be at least 6 months old on the first day of a Royal Caribbean International cruise or cruisetour. Note, however, that they must be at least 12 months old for certain cruises/cruisetours such as transatlantic and transpacific voyages, Hawaii cruises and select South American itineraries. Children are required to be at least 12 months old for any cruise with three or more consecutive sea days.

Royal Caribbean has a wide range of staterooms and suites appropriate for all sizes and types of families, but for an epic adventure, book the Ultimate Family Suite. This two-story accommodation is available on three of the line's ships, including Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest ship – and the largest ship in the world. Suite amenities feature a private game room and cinema, table tennis, an in-suite slide and VIP perks around the ship; you'll even have your own dedicated Royal Genie. For shorter itineraries closer to home, consider booking one of the line's Freedom-class vessels sailing from ports in Florida , Texas and New Jersey .

Take advantage of the line's Babies 2 Go service to make packing light and easy for your cruise. This program will deliver Huggies diapers, baby wipes and cream, and Gerber organic baby food to your stateroom. The items must be ordered in advance.

Royal Caribbean's Royal Babies program (for ages 6 to 18 months) offers little ones and their parents enriching classes in child development. Royal Tots features 45-minute interactive playground sessions for children aged 16 to 36 months. The ship's youth staff hosts these programs; parents must attend alongside their infants or toddlers. If your little one is between 3 and 5 years old – and potty-trained – they can participate in the educational program as an Aquanaut at Adventure Ocean. With this program, kids take part in fun experiments to become a Certified Jr. Adventure Scientist. These programs are complimentary for guests.

If you want to dine early with your kiddos and avoid the crowds in the main dining room, My Family Time Dining is available for kids ages 3 to 11 during the first seating. After dinner, they can head to Adventure Ocean for nighttime kid fun while their parents have an adults-only evening to explore the entertainment on board – or off the ship.

Want to cruise on Royal Caribbean International? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Minimum sailing age: Princess Cruises requires infants be at least 6 months or older on embarkation day and at least 1 year old for remote itineraries and transoceanic crossings. Children must be at least 5 years of age to participate in an escorted cruisetour.

Princess ships have plenty of staterooms that will accommodate up to four guests. The line also offers connecting cabins and two-bedroom suites for a family of up to eight that boast additional living space, a balcony and two bathrooms (one with a full tub). If you need a portable crib, you can call the line or reserve one in advance through the Cruise Personalizer.

Kids aged 3 and older (who must be potty-trained) can participate independently in Camp Discovery, a hosted complimentary program during the day and evening. Late-night group babysitting is also available at Camp Discovery for a small hourly fee, so parents can drop off their children and enjoy a quiet date night or some "me" time. Families can also delight in onboard entertainment such as stargazing with Discovery at SEA, kid-friendly films during Movies Under the Stars, festivals, dining events and more.

Kids menus are available in the main dining rooms and in specialty restaurants, where children receive half-price meals. Complimentary stage 1 and 2 jarred baby food can be ordered in advance through the Cruise Personalizer. You can also request fresh pureed fruits and vegetables in the main dining room.

Looking to plan a family cruise on Princess Cruises? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Tips for Cruising with Babies and Toddlers

• Book a short cruise: Celebrity Cruises' blog advises booking a shorter itinerary when cruising with babies and toddlers – especially until little sailors learn the ropes and get their sea legs.
• Choose a local port: You might also consider an itinerary departing from a port closer to home so you can drive there – and look for kid-friendly itineraries that offer age-appropriate excursions.
• Cruise during the off-season: If your schedule is flexible, book your vacation during the off-season or shoulder season, which will vary depending on your destination. Cruise fares are typically lower , and the kids facilities won't be as crowded when the older children are in school.
• Pack essentials in your carry-on: Keep anything you'll need the day of embarkation – food, diapers, pacifiers, swimsuits, a change or two of clothing, etc. – in your carry-on bag . Your checked luggage may not be available to you until later in the day. Carry-on luggage can include a rollaboard bag, diaper bag or backpack , the latter of which will also be useful for shore excursions.
• Pack plenty of diapers: Both regular and swim diapers are essential for your cruise packing list . Pack more than enough diapers as most cruise ships do not carry them (and even if they do, it's not guaranteed they'll sell the size your child needs). If available in a port of call, diaper options may be limited and/or more expensive.
• Pack baby food: Formula isn't widely available on cruise ships, and because there are so many varieties (and so many babies with particularities), it's best to bring the formula your baby enjoys at home. Even though some cruise lines will puree baby food, you'll still want your own for shore excursions (even those on the cruise lines' private islands ). It's also a good idea to confirm the cruise line serves the type of milk your toddler drinks.
• Pack bottles and bottle accessories: Some cruise lines offer bottle warmers and sterilizers, though they are few – and you may feel more comfortable packing a bottle brush and portable warmer anyway.
• Reserve baby items ahead of time: Most of the lines have portable cribs (such as Pack 'n Plays), travel strollers , and highchairs or booster seats that you can use, and it's best to reserve these items in advance. Depending on the cruise line, you may be able to order other essentials ahead of time as well.
• Consider travel insurance: Life is unpredictable – especially when you have a little one. You might want to consider cruise insurance or a cancel-for-any-reason travel policy for emergency protections and peace of mind during your vacation.

You might also be interested in:

• How to Get Your Child a Passport
• The Biggest Cruise Ships in the World

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

• The Top Family Travel Insurance
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Family Vacations

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• Cruise Advice

7 Best Cruise Lines for Babies and Toddlers

Nancy Schretter

• March 16, 2024

Planning a cruise with your precious munchkins? No need to fret about the logistics—this guide will be your go-to resource for discovering the best cruise lines for babies and toddlers! 

While certain kid-friendly cruise lines cater primarily to families with kids three and older, others pamper their tiniest guests with a wealth of programs and amenities. These include nurseries, complimentary cribs and strollers, baby-friendly Splash Zone areas, and more.

1. Carnival Cruise Line

Minimum Sailing Age

For most Carnival Cruise Line voyages, children must be at least six months old upon embarkation. However, for transoceanic crossings and remote itineraries involving more than two consecutive sea days, children must be at least one year old.

Amenities Available

Cribs are offered and should be reserved when booking. High chairs and booster seats are available in shipboard dining rooms and restaurants. Single strollers can be rented on Carnival ships, subject to availability. 

Sadly, diapers, baby supplies, baby food, and formula aren’t available on board, so parents should bring these items with them.

On a related note, it’s worth mentioning that some Carnival ships feature non-stocked mini bar units. Parents can ask the ship staff to refrigerate medicine and formula upon request if needed.

Tots and Family Programs

Carnival’s Camp Ocean features a free Penguins children’s program with a full schedule of daily fun activities for kids ages two to five. 

Children don’t need potty training to participate, but parents must supply diapers and toiletries. 

Camp Ocean also offers special play times for “Under 2s.” Parents/guardians can leave their child in the care of the Camp Ocean Youth Staff for a fee during these play times or stay and play with their little ones free of charge.

Carnival provides various family programs for guests with young children on every cruise, including the widely enjoyed Seuss at Sea activities across its fleet. 

Some ships, like the Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, also include Dr. Seuss Bookville, a dedicated family reading venue.

Babysitting for Babies & Toddlers

Since in-stateroom babysitting isn’t an option on Carnival ships, parents may want to explore the ship’s designated kids’ activities. 

One of these activities is the Camp Ocean’s Night Owls program, available for children aged six months to 11 years. This program takes place inside the Camp Ocean facility and includes various activities such as movie time, arts and crafts, toys, video games, snacks, and more.

Participating children don’t need to be potty-trained, but parents need to supply diapers and toiletries.

2. Celebrity Cruises

To embark on Celebrity Cruises, children must meet the age requirement of at least six months at the time of embarkation. 

The minimum age requirement is one year for transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, certain South American cruises, and other selected cruises and cruise tours featuring three or more consecutive days at sea. 

For families traveling with infants, specific accommodations are made available on request. Playpens can be secured by making advanced reservations, and high chairs can be provided upon request. Guests can request baby food up to 30 days before embarkation.

Like the Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises doesn’t offer strollers, formula, diapers, and other baby supplies. Families can use the in-room mini-bar for storage, but parents should ensure that it reaches a safe temperature for formula, food, and other perishable items.

Children under three can participate in Celebrity’s free daily Toddler Time activities with a parent or guardian. Activities include interactive play sessions, age-appropriate games, and creative activities designed to engage and entertain toddlers. 

Kids don’t need to be potty-trained to participate in Toddler Time; lavatory-based changing tables and baby wipes are provided. 

Celebrity Cruises also offers a Fat Brain Toy Lending Program, allowing families to borrow engaging and educational toys during their cruise. If a toy captures the child’s interest, families can check it out from Camp at Sea.

Private, in-suite babysitting services are offered for Celebrity’s suite guests only, subject to availability. Fees apply, and requests must be made at least 24 hours before. Up to three children at least one year old may participate per family. 

On port days, at least one parent/legal guardian must accompany their child under supervision. No other in-stateroom or group babysitting services are offered for children under three years of age.

READ MORE:  The 7 Best Lines For a Family Reunion Cruise

3. Cunard Line

The Cunard Line allows parents to bring infants as young as six months on board their ships. The minimum sailing age is one year for Full World Cruises, Exotic Cruises, or Transatlantic Crossings. 

Cribs, cots, and high chairs are available. Loaner baby baths and other essential amenities such as baby food, bottle warmers, and sterilizers can be provided upon request. All Cunard staterooms feature small refrigerators to store perishable items. 

Strollers, diapers, and baby supplies aren’t available onboard.

Cunard provides a complimentary Night Nursery service for children aged six months up to two years from 6 to 11 p.m. For added convenience and reassurance, parents receive a pager to keep them connected in case their child needs attention. 

Children aged two to seven years can enjoy Cunard’s complimentary Play Zone supervised by Youth Staff. The Play Zone area offers books, toys, and a variety of activities—everything a curious child needs to keep them entertained. 

Cunard’s Night Nursery group babysitting is available. No in-stateroom babysitting is offered.

4. Disney Cruise Line

For most Disney Cruise Line sailings, children must be a minimum of six months old upon embarkation. However, the minimum age requirement for transatlantic and Panama Canal itineraries is one year old at the time of embarkation.

Disney Cruise Line ships provide complimentary cribs and playpens upon request, subject to availability. High chairs and a limited number of complimentary strollers are also available. 

The cruise line offers bathtubs and in-room refrigerators, and it can supply bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers if desired. Diapers, ready-to-feed infant formula, bottles, baby food, and baby supplies can be purchased onboard all ships.

Staff in the main dining rooms can prepare fresh, pureed vegetables, which can also be ordered through room service.

In addition to the nursery childcare center (which we’ll discuss in the next section), Disney Cruise Line presents “Toddler Time” sessions for parents and their little ones.

Children under three years old also have the opportunity to explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab alongside their parents during designated Open House hours. 

Families with tots can enjoy many fun, family-focused activities, as well. All Disney Cruise Line ships feature water play areas for little ones under three, where swim diapers are allowed.

On most itineraries, Disney Cruise Line features the “It’s a Small World” nursery childcare center, catering to children between six months and three years of age. On transatlantic and Panama Canal sailings, this facility is available for children aged one to three years. 

The nursery provides children with a safe and engaging environment, with dozens of toys, books, and activities. Counselors will feed and change little ones, but parents must provide supplies. 

Note: To secure a spot, parents can make reservations online. Fees apply. In-stateroom babysitting services aren’t available.

5. MSC Cruises

There is no minimum age to sail on an MSC Cruise ship .

High chairs and strollers are available on ships, and cribs are provided upon request. 

MSC Cruises guests have access to free bottle warmers, baby carriers, backpacks, and bouncy chairs through MSC’s partnership with Chicco, a global baby brand. 

Baby food and formula aren’t offered onboard, but in-room refrigerators are available.

Kids under three can get together and play with the latest Chicco toys during MSC Baby Time sessions when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

MSC Seaside’s Baby Club for tots under three years of age is the largest on any MSC cruise ship. MSC provides fun programs with Chicco toys for babies and toddlers, including Rhythm and Music, Mini Olympic Games, Let’s Speak English, and more. 

MSC Cruises also offers dozens of family activities for guests sailing with little ones to participate in together.

MSC Babycare Service provides free babysitting by dedicated staff for kids from 12 months to under three years old. This drop-off service is offered during limited hours while ships sail and when parents disembark for a shore excursion. 

Parents must book at least one day in advance to use this service. Availability is limited, so advanced reservations are a must. 

MSC Cruises doesn’t have in-stateroom babysitting.

6. Norwegian Cruise Line

Children must be at least six months old when they embark on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship . For voyages with three or more consecutive days at sea, the minimum age requirement is at least one year old at the time of sailing.

Portable playpens/foldable sleepers are supplied on request. High chairs are provided, and booster seats are also offered on some ships. 

Diapers and wipes can be pre-purchased. 

Strollers, baby food, and formula aren’t available. In-room refrigerators are provided in staterooms to accommodate two or more guests.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Splash Academy youth program features a Guppies area for kids from six months up to age three, providing sensory play activities and games for parents and kids to enjoy together. 

A parent or guardian must remain with their child during these hosted activity sessions. Open play times in the Guppies room are offered, as well. 

Tots in swim diapers can enjoy special Splash Zone areas featured on some Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

Babysitting for Babies and Toddlers

Norwegian Escape’s fee-based Guppies Nursery provides care for kids from six months to under three years. Parents are given a handy phone to stay in touch onboard the ship.

Advanced reservations must be made with the Nursery Attendant. The Guppies Nursery staff will change children’s diapers, but parents must provide all supplies. 

No other Norwegian Cruise Line ships offer private or group babysitting services for children under three years of age.

7. Royal Caribbean International

Children must be at least six months old when embarking on a Royal Caribbean ship . 

For specific voyages, such as transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, and certain South American itineraries, the minimum age is at least one year old at the time of embarkation.

Royal Caribbean provides baby cribs upon request, and a limited number of high chairs and booster seats are available on each ship. 

Baby diapers and some baby supplies can be purchased and delivered to guests’ staterooms. 

Strollers aren’t available on Royal Caribbean ships. A limited number of in-room refrigerators are available, so make reservations in advance.

Babies and toddlers can enjoy educational, fun activities on Royal Caribbean ships at Adventure Ocean’s complimentary Royal Babies (ages six to 18 months) and Royal Tots (ages 18 to 36 months) interactive playgroups hosted by trained youth staff. 

A parent or guardian must be present during these free activity sessions.

Program hours vary by ship and itinerary. Some open play sessions may be available as well. Family activities are also offered onboard. 

Little tots in swim diapers can play in specially designed Royal Caribbean Baby Splash Zone areas available on some ships.

Royal Caribbean’s fee-based Royal Babies and Tots Nursery babysits children in two age groups: babies from six months to under 18 months and toddlers from 18 to 36 months.

Reservations are required, and the available time slots vary, so reserve these in advance.

The ratio of nursery staff to children is 1:4, and staff will change diapers as needed, but parents must provide supplies. Day and evening drop-off times are available.

All Royal Caribbean ships feature a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery except for Adventure of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

No in-stateroom babysitting services are currently being offered on Royal Caribbean ships.

Families interested in taking a European river cruise or canal barge sailing with babies and toddlers should check out CroisiEurope Cruises .

There’s no minimum age to sail with CroisiEurope, but certain departures or rivers may be more family-friendly. Cribs can be provided on most ships when reserved during booking to ensure availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do cruise lines accommodate families with infants under 6 months old.

Cruise lines accommodate families with infants under six months through various services and amenities. 

For example, Disney Cruise Line offers the “It’s a Small World” nursery childcare center, which provides specialized care for infants aged six months to three years.

MSC Babycare Service features a complimentary Night Nursery service for children aged 6 months up to 2 years, while Cunard Line provides essentials such as baby food, bottle warmers, and sterilizers. 

All cruises on this list offer amenities specifically designed for infants, such as cribs, baby bathtubs, and high chairs.

Are cruises good for toddlers?

Absolutely! Many cruise lines have dedicated kids’ clubs and age-appropriate activities, so they’ll be sufficiently entertained even when their parents aren’t with them. 

Plus, it allows them to bond with other kids their age—not to mention all the new sights and experiences they’ll encounter during the cruise!

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What to Expect When You Take a Baby on a Cruise

Some helpful advice for parents considering whether to take an infant on the high seas

By Tiffany Leigh

March 8, 2023

When my husband and I took our 16-month-old baby on a cruise for the first time with Disney Cruise Line in December, we thought we had everything figured out by the end of that trip. We were wrong. When we took a second voyage with baby on board—this time with Princess Cruises in February—we discovered we still had a boatload (pun very much intended) to learn. 

Until that second cruise, for instance, it didn’t occur to us that from a baby’s perspective the onboard casino would look like a thrilling carnival and we would have to chase her down when she waltzed right into that adults-only, smoking-very-much-allowed area. 

Much of the time, it’s fun watching a tiny tot toddling all over a vast ship and taking her to exciting ports of call. At other times, we felt like sleep-deprived bouncers trying to outwit a wily underage fun-seeker. 

Overall, though, having our little one with us on the cruises was (mostly) worth it, and we’d do it again. For other parents considering taking a baby on a cruise, here’s some helpful advice to ensure (relatively) smooth sailing.  

First and foremost, consider your little one’s health. 

How young is too young to cruise? Many major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean , Celebrity Cruises , Holland America Line , Disney , and Princess , stipulate that children need to be at least 6 months old in order to go on most local sailings—which for U.S. travelers means cruises in North America and the Caribbean. 

For cruise lines and itineraries in more far-flung destinations, such as South America, Hawaii, and Europe, kids often need to be at least 12 months.

Remember that a newborn's immune system needs time to develop, and travel provides many chances to come into contact with harmful viruses and bacteria. 

That's why parents of babies who were born prematurely or have compromised immune systems may want to wait even longer before taking their kiddos on a cruise—perhaps after they've received all the necessary vaccines.

“This should definitely be kept in mind when considering a cruise for anyone at higher risk for severe illness or hospitalization from infection, and very small infants should probably be considered to fall within that category,” according to our family physician, Dr. David M. Silver of Generations Family Health Centre in Toronto. 

It might be a good idea to take your child to get a checkup with your pediatrician prior to booking a cruise. In my family’s wanderlusting haste, we didn’t schedule a checkup for our baby before the Disney cruise—and as karma would have it, we all ended up with colds and runny noses. 

We did make sure to see our physician prior to going on the Princess trip. Dr. Silver reminded us to be careful of being in close quarters and shared spaces on any ship. “The main thing to be conscious of with regard to cruises is that infectious diseases—i.e., respiratory viruses, influenza, gastroenteritis, etc.—are more common and spread quicker than in comparison to other vacation options.” 

Keep in mind that although you and your family may be germ-conscious, your fellow passengers on the ship may not exercise the same level of caution. As a matter of fact, we observed numerous people ignoring the hand-washing stations and hand sanitizers located near ships’ high-traffic eateries (read: buffets). 

To help battle germs, I recommend parents tote around a kit of essentials that includes antibacterial hand wipes ( the ones made by Boogie Hands are designed to be gentle on young skin) and hand sanitizer (such as this spray from Baby Bum ). 

With some extra discipline and care, we managed to have a snuffles-free voyage the second time around.

One last thing to keep in mind on the health front: Don’t expect there to be extensive medical services on the ship. There is always an onboard infirmary, but it can be rudimentary. 

As Dr. Silver explained, “Access to medical care might be somewhat more delayed on a cruise ship, particularly if more specialized pediatric care is needed at any point.”

As always, it helps to be prepared. On our first cruise with Disney, we ended up paying an arm and a leg for Infants’ Tylenol in the gift shop. For our second cruise, we did not make the same mistake. We not only brought along any essential   medicines but also our baby’s Munchkin nasal aspirator just in case. 

[ Related: How Soon Can You Fly with a Baby on an Airplane? ]

“Kid-friendly” doesn’t necessarily mean baby-friendly. 

Unless they’re explicitly for adults only, most mainstream cruise lines promote themselves as family-friendly. But ships’ offerings for kids sometimes stop short of including infants.

Disney, for instance, is famously family-oriented, but we found Disney Cruise Line lacking in baby-specific activities. By and large, our tot was simply too young to enjoy most amenities and activities available both on and off the ship. She couldn’t participate in shore excursions like a dolphin encounter, and day camps like the Oceaneer Club are for ages 3 through 12.

Granted, there’s the It’s A Small World Nursery for pint-size cruisers ages 6 months to 3 years, and there’s also a babysitting service—but on our cruise, it was one of the rare services not included in the cost of the cruise. We only relied on the babysitting service for one adults-only shore excursion. Other families opted for the service to have a much-needed date night. 

Somewhat surprisingly given Disney’s reputation, we found that the crew on our Princess cruise were far more thoughtful and attentive. Though the ship’s Camp Discovery program was too old for our baby, the staff allowed us access to Camp Discovery spaces when they weren’t busy (and as long as my husband or I was present). And at one point staffers even let us participate in baby-friendly structured programming such as singing songs, doing arts and crafts, and sitting in on storytime with Stanley, the cruise line’s bear mascot. 

In fairness to Disney, it’s possible that staff members weren’t as available because they had way more kids to deal with—anywhere from 20 to 30 at all times, compared to the 10 or so youngsters aboard the Princess cruise.

So while the self-described family-friendly brands might be a strong choice for kids past the infant stage, don’t assume there will be tons of options for babies. 

To avoid overpacking, reach out to the cruise line ahead of time to find out what free resources are available.

I used to think you can never overpack with a baby, but trust me: You can, especially if you want to live comfortably in a standard-sized cabin that can be as small as 120 square feet. 

In fact, I wish I had taken the advice of fellow mother and travel journalist Natalie Preddie, who advises parents to call or email the cruise line in advance to learn about all the free items available for your little one’s use. 

For instance, we found out (too late) that Princess had complimentary changing facilities at the Camp Discovery center stockpiled with diapers and wipes . Knowing this beforehand would have saved precious luggage space. 

Additionally, you probably don’t need to lug around a heavy mobile crib or pack-and-play . You can reserve one of those in advance for free with many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney, and Carnival.

It was also unnecessary for us to haul all our baby food onto the ship. A quick perusal of the cruise line’s FAQ page or a chat with customer service would have revealed the ship’s preset kiddie menu. If your baby doesn’t have teeth yet, you can even check with the line to see if jarred Stage 1 and 2 baby foods are available or if the ship can make you some fresh purees. In my experience, lines have always been happy to accommodate these requests.

Relying on the free resources available on the ship saves room for other essentials in your luggage. Among the gear I’m grateful for bringing on board: our Nanit travel baby monitor with built-in noise machine and breathing sensor, Bombi’s handy lightweight foldable stroller (though you can check in advance to see if the ship has loaner strollers), and Colugo’s ingeniously designed three-way baby carrier .

Get ready to bring new meaning to the term “poop deck.”

Okay, let’s talk bathrooms. 

First, keep in mind that the bathroom in your stateroom is likely to have a phone booth–sized shower with standing room only. Obviously, it’s tricky to bathe a baby in those circumstances.

While we were lucky that Disney had built-in tubs as a standard shower feature, on the Princess trip we had to transform the bathroom sink into a makeshift tub for our daughter. While that solution worked in a pinch, it would have been better if we had brought along a collapsible tub ( like this inflatable option ). 

To be extra prepared, consider doing an internet image search and looking up YouTube videos of the stateroom you’ve been assigned so you can see what you’re working with. 

And speaking of the challenges of staying in small quarters with an infant, smelly diapers can become a big problem when you’re in a tiny cabin with no odor-absorbing diaper pail. Add that to your list of things to ask the cruise line about when you book.

Disney supplied us with a Diaper Genie as a matter of course, but my research suggests that in-room disposal units are not the norm; Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian are among the lines that don’t offer Diaper Genies in staterooms.

Ultimately, your best bet here is to bring a stash of disposable diaper bags (similar to the bags used to deal with dog poo) and become BFFs with your stateroom attendant so that you’ll have some help disposing of said noxious bum-bombs on a daily basis. Don’t forget to tip the attendant generously at the end of your cruise.

Know your limits for shore excursions.

All of us want to make the most of a cruise, and shore excursions are a key part of that. However, your tiny human can only do so much. 

Before our baby turned 1, we took for granted being able to take her everywhere for long stretches of time because she could easily nap on the go. But now she’s an almost-toddler and we’re contending with a little person who can be charming in one moment and have a meltdown the next. 

Considering her nap schedule, finite amount of patience, and varying energy levels, we learned it was important not to overdo. We discovered that our sweet spot for shore excursions was about 3 hours for tours. We’d always book excursions that started right after breakfast (8am–9am) and ended right around noon (naptime). 

If we timed it well, the moment she hit the crib she’d be out for a solid 3 hours. Any excursions lasting longer would be tempting fate and risking the wrath of our overextended tyke. 

You don’t have to be loyal to save money. 

Cruise lines will try to get you to avoid the competition by letting you build up loyalty status. But if your schedule is flexible and you like to shop around, you can save money without having to cruise with the same company every time. 

Looking for kids-sail-free promos, booking discounted cruises during the slow season, and sometimes even just signing up for the cruise line’s newsletter will go a long way toward improving the bottom line for you. 

As every new parent quickly discovers, babies are expensive. You can use all the help you can get. 

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Traveling with Infants and Toddlers

Making Your Cruise Reservation Cruise fares are per person which includes children and infants. When traveling with two full fare guests, additional guests in the same stateroom pay a discounted cruise fare. Children less than 2 years of age are not required to extend gratuities.   Infant Policy Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days . Baby Food and Formula We do not carry baby food or formula on board our ships.

Permitted On Board

• Items need to be stored in your stateroom and we are not able to provide food preparation or refrigeration.
• Formula (powdered or liquid in original container), PediaSure
• Distilled water is available on board. For pre-purchase, please contact The Fun Shops™ department at 1-800-522-7648, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm ET. For purchase on board, please contact room service.
• Opened jars or containers of food
• Homemade items or pre-cooked foods

This information applies to mother’s traveling with their babies on board or traveling without them.   Breast Feeding Policy Nursing mothers have the right to breast feed in public or private areas and are not required to cover themselves while doing so. This policy is consistent with state law in 49 states in the U.S. Diapers and Baby Supplies We do not carry diapers and baby supplies on board our ships. High Chairs and Booster Seats High chairs and booster seats are available in the dining rooms and restaurants. Cribs Cribs (including sheets) are available for stateroom-use. When making your booking reservation, please indicate that a crib will be needed in your stateroom. Cribs dimensions are 38"L x 24"W (Holiday Folding Metal Portable Crib, made exclusively for L.A Baby, Inc.). Please note, for toddlers age 2 and older, a request for a crib must be done on board with your Stateroom Attendant. 

You may also bring on board a portable, compact, fold-up travel crib/play yard with your carry-on luggage.      Strollers If you prefer to leave your stroller at home, single strollers are available for rent on board (subject to availability) and may be used on the ship and in port. Strollers are collapsible with a roof/umbrella. For rental rates, click here .

Car Seats Car seats may be brought on board and stored in your stateroom.  Babysitting Please note that Camp Ocean® does not accept children under the age of 2 unless they are turning 2 years old during the cruise. There are no exceptions to this policy. To learn about the activities and policies for this age group, click here .

Children ages 2 to 5 may attend and participate in our Camp Ocean program. To learn about the activities and policies for this age group, click here .  

For the convenience of our guests, we offer Night Owls (babysitting) for children 6 months to11 years old, allowing parents time to enjoy the nightlife without having to worry about their little ones. To learn more about Night Owls, click here .  

Water Sports Children who are not toilet trained (and those in diapers or swim diapers) are not allowed in any of the water facilities on board, as per United States Public Health Services. Toilet trained children should be taken on frequent bathroom breaks. Water sports include pools, spray parks, waterslides and whirlpools. We provide clear and conspicuous signage to alert guests that lifeguards are not on duty and parental supervision is required for children at our pools. To read more about our Water Sports policies, click here .

Travel Documentation Travel documents are required for all guests, including infants. Please review our Travel Documentation section for required documents.

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The Complete Guide to Taking a Cruise With a Toddler

Last updated: January 2nd, 2024

• Find a Cruise

Anyone who has traveled with a toddler before knows the experience can be overwhelming. After all, toddlers fidget on flights, don’t adapt well to new bedtime routines, and sometimes refuse to eat different foods than those they get at home.

For these reasons, maybe you’re hesitant to book a cruise with a toddler. The truth is, taking a toddler on a cruise is easier and more fun than you might expect. In fact, after sailing with your young one for the first time, we won’t be surprised if you start making a family cruise a yearly tradition.

Still, there are many factors to consider before booking your next cruise vacation for your family. From the best kind of stateroom to the excursions you’ll want to sign up for, here is everything you need to know about taking a toddler on a cruise.

How old should a child be to go on a cruise?

Infants must be at least 6 months old in order to be able to travel on most cruises with Celebrity. For transatlantic cruises, transpacific cruises, and some cruises to South America , as well as cruises with three or more consecutive days at sea, children must be at least 12 months old.

For those traveling with toddlers over 6 months old, there are various programs onboard tailored to entertain them, including Toddler Time, for kids under 3, and Camp at Sea, for kids ages 3 -12.

What are some of the best cruises for toddlers?

If you’re cruising with your toddler for the first time, these are some of the best cruises to book.

Cruises with departure ports close to your home city

Taking a flight before boarding a cruise with a toddler can be taxing on both kids and parents. By picking a departure port close to home, you’ll be able to cut down on travel time before your cruise even begins, ensuring a smooth trip once you do take off on your actual vacation.

If you don’t live near one of our departure ports, consider breaking up your travel time by spending a day or two in the city you’ll sail from. This will also give you the chance to stock up on some travel essentials like diapers, their favorite snacks, and sunscreen.

Shorter cruises

If you’re taking your first cruise with a toddler, you might want to book a shorter itinerary (3-4 days) to see how your little one adapts to the sea. If your toddler has traveled well on a cruise before, go ahead and book a longer itinerary (7-10 days), but we recommend choosing one with multiple port stops and few consecutive days at sea in order to avoid seasickness and allow more opportunities for activities on land.

Cruises with family-friendly destinations

While we offer fun and exciting shore excursions in all of our port cities, some are more family-oriented than others. For example, little ones might not find a European city tour as interesting as a day swimming with dolphins in the Bahamas. Browse our website for family friendly excursions  before deciding on which cruise you’ll ultimately embark on.

Are cruises fun with toddlers?

Of course they are! Cruises are fun for kids of all ages, and there are plenty of activities to keep your toddlers entertained.

Kids under the age of 3 can enjoy Toddler Time at the ship’s playroom, where they’ll be able to play with educational toys and interact with other kids around their age. Parental supervision is required during Toddler Time, but children don’t have to be potty trained in order to participate in Toddler Time activities. Certain toys and books will also be available to check out and bring back to your stateroom.

Camp at Sea

Potty-trained kids over 3 can participate in our Camp at Sea program. Open every day from 9:00am to 10:00pm, Camp at Sea’s entertainment center offers activities for kids with all kinds of interests, including STEM-oriented excursions, Xbox tournaments, culinary experiences, and art programs.

For parents who want to enjoy a couple of hours off or perhaps a romantic dinner, the Camp at Sea program also offers afternoon and slumber parties at different hours of the day. During these parties, kids will eat a meal and enjoy activities while being supervised by our youth staff, so you can rest easy that they are being taken care of while you get to enjoy some alone time. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

What should I pack for my toddler on a cruise?

Preparation is key when traveling with a toddler on a cruise. For those about to cruise with a toddler, we recommend packing the following essentials in your suitcase:

• Passport or proof of citizenship
• Baby monitor
• Umbrella or foldable stroller
• Inflatable tub, which will come in handy since most staterooms only have a shower.
• Medicine/First Aid kit with kids acetaminophen, band-aids, aloe gel, and antibiotic cream
• Two outfits per day, in case there are any spills or accidents
• One formal look
• At least 3 swimsuits
• Sandals or water shoes
• White noise machine
• Baby body wash and lotion
• Childproofing supplies, such as outlet plugs

What’s the best stateroom for families cruising with a toddler?

The type of stateroom you choose when taking a toddler on a cruise depends on your personal preference and budget. While all of our staterooms are family friendly, there are some advantages if you decide to book a higher category of stateroom on your cruise while traveling with children.

Veranda Stateroom

Parents traveling with toddlers may want to book a veranda stateroom because it gives adults a little more in-room flexibility. Since kids generally go to bed earlier, a veranda stateroom allows parents to sit outside on their private veranda and still keep an eye on their kids sleeping inside. Just because they have an early bedtime doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the view—and maybe even a glass of wine.

Oceanview Stateroom

For parents of rowdier toddlers who might prefer to book a room without a balcony, our ocean view staterooms offer you peace of mind and large windows to take in the view outside.

Royal Suite

If you prefer to cruise in a more spacious and exclusive stateroom, a suite is your best bet. Not only do our suites offer private rooms, living areas, and outside verandas, they also include concierge service—which might come in handy if you’re having a particularly difficult day with the kids—access to VIP areas of the ship, and plenty of space for active toddlers who like to move around.

What will my toddler do on a cruise?

There are plenty of fun activities for your toddler to do while on a cruise!

To start, all of our ships include a large outdoor pool, in which kids of all ages who are potty trained are welcome to swim, play, and splash around while onboard.

At the Lawn Club, a half-acre area laden with real grass, kids are free to run around, play croquet, or enjoy a picnic, all while taking in the magnificent view of the open sea all around.

Kids under the age of 3 can enjoy Toddler Time at the ship’s playroom, where they’ll be able to play with fun and educational toys and kids in their age group.

Older toddlers who are potty trained can also enroll at Celebrity Cruises’ Camp at Sea program, which is open every day from 9:00am to 10:00pm. At Camp at Sea, kids will be entertained with daily activities like science excursions, video game tournaments, art activities, and even culinary challenges.

In port, choose from a number of family-friendly shore excursions that you and your toddler will enjoy. The possibilities are endless.

What will my toddler eat on a cruise?

What to feed a toddler on a cruise ship can be worrisome for parents of picky eaters. Luckily, our cruises make it easy. At our main dining room, toddlers will be able to order from our kids menu, which includes favorites like spaghetti bolognese, grilled cheese sandwiches, mini margarita pizzas, and cheeseburgers with fries.

If your toddler is too tired to make it through a sit-down meal, we also offer an in-room dining kids menu that includes chicken skewers with yogurt sauce, hot dogs with fries, and a variety of desserts.

The buffet is an excellent option for parents cruising with toddlers. There’s a huge selection of food and the setting is more casual and relaxed. Plus, the buffet has an ice cream and dessert station that’s sure to appeal to any toddler.

Should I bring a stroller?

Cruise ships can require a lot of walking to get from one area to the next. Make it easier on your little one, and on your back, by bringing a stroller onboard with you.

We suggest leaving the big bulky stroller at home and bringing a lightweight umbrella stroller that folds up compactly, so you can store it under your bed or in the closet of your stateroom.

If you don’t want to bring a stroller onboard, you can also opt for a baby wrap or baby carrier that can comfortably hold your toddler.

Strollers and carriers will come in handy while in port, too, particularly if you’re planning on doing some shopping or walking to and from the cruise ship and town.

What type of shore excursions can I bring my toddler on?

When planning your day in port with a toddler, a family-friendly shore excursion makes for a fun, hassle-free day.

We offer plenty of kid-friendly shore excursions that can be enjoyed by all members of your party. If traveling with a toddler, make sure to choose a shore excursion that doesn’t have an age restriction.

Also keep in mind that an excursion that requires a lot of sitting, like those which include long bus rides in port, won’t necessarily be the best or easiest activity for your toddler Instead, look for excursions that involve short and easy hikes, or an activity they’ll get a kick out of, such as panning for gold during Alaska cruises or a water park excursion in the Caribbean .

Book Your Family Cruise

Ready to enjoy an unforgettable family vacation with your toddler? Browse our cruise itineraries online or contact one of our friendly vacation specialists at 1-800-852-8086.

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Taking an Alaska cruise with baby in tow

By: Author Wandermust Daddy

Are you considering taking an Alaska Cruise with baby in tow and looking for tips and tricks to help make your sailing easier and more enjoyable. Well look no further! In this guide we will not only tell you some of our general cruising with a baby tips but tell you how to enjoy and what to do in Alaska Cruise ports with toddlers and of course what to pack for an Alaskan Cruise with toddlers. 

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

Alaska Cruise with baby tips and tricks 

Princess cruise ship in Alaska – Taking an Alaska cruise with baby tips

Alaska has to be one of the top cruise destinations anywhere in the world. The reason for this is because it is hard to visit Alaska without a cruise and involves long journeys and difficult terrain. Certainly for those traveling with babies, a cruise is the easiest way to visit Alaska.

If you want to visit Alaska on a cruise with a baby then these tips will help ensure you book the right ship and line, pick the right excursions and make sure you don’t forget to pack anything important.

Can babies go on Alaska cruises?

Cruising with a baby – baby friendly cruises

So probably the first question you have about taking your first cruise  to Alaska with babies is “Can babies go on Alaskan cruises?”. And the good news is for the most part the answer is absolutely yes but there are some caveats. 

That is because babies under 1 year of age are not usually permitted on cruises where the itinerary contains two or more consecutive cruise sea days (i.e. days where you don’t dock in port). This is done for health and safety reasons. 

If you would prefer to have an itinerary that has more cruise days then you may want to consider waiting until your little one turns 1 and do an Alaska cruise with a toddler instead. 

The other thing to remember is some cruise lines are adults only i.e. Virgin Cruises and Viking so these aren’t possible to do a cruise with a baby with. 

Is it safe to take a baby on a cruise to Alaska?

Probably the number one question we are asked by people considering their first cruise vacation with kids is “ Is it safe to take kids on a cruises ?”

In our opinion cruises are a safe vacation. In fact babies are in fact easier to cruise with than toddlers as they are not on the move. 

However you should always keep your little ones well supervised particularly in open air areas. 

What is the best cruise line for families with babies going to Alaska? 

Norwegian cruise ship in Alaska – Taking an Alaska cruise with toddlers tips

When you are cruising with a toddler or older children to Alaska you really need to think about child friendly amenities. However you need to consider this less with babies as they have less opinions and entertainment needs.

However for parents of babies there may be some things that are important to you i.e.

• Babysitting on your cruise
• Laundry facilities on your ship 
• Royal Caribbean Line,
• Holland America

Disney Cruises is also a line that cruises in Alaska however it comes with a premium price tag. I personally would wait to cruise Disney with preschoolers and toddlers and older children who will enjoy the meetings more. However Disney does provide a lot of baby friendly amenities so if your budget allows this too could be a great choice.

Note: going on a Disney Cruise check out these best Disney Cruise Instagram captions or these general cruise instagram captions for your family vacation photos. 

Best Cabin on Alaska Cruises for Families

Cruising with infant tips – what stateroom should I book?

It is always a dilemma choosing the type of cabin on a cruise line but I think this dilemma is amplified when cruising with a baby and then add in a destination as scenic as Alaska it really becomes a minefield. 

The three main factors when picking a cabin with kids are:

• safety i.e. do you want a balcony
• scenery – there is usual some scenic cruising on Alaska cruises. 
• brightness – can your toddler sleep at night if it is still light as days are long in Alaska. 

Personally for an Alaska cruise with a baby, especially if your baby is not yet mobile I would choose a balcony cabin. That way adults after bedtime can use the balcony for drinks and enjoy the scenic cruise in their own space. 

For more information o n room types check out our post here

And if you want to know more about cruise suites you can see our review here. 

What to Pack for babies on a cruise to Alaska

Can you Cruise Holland America with kids

Clothing 

The thing about Alaska is even if you are traveling in the summer it can be cold, especially for a baby in a stroller. Generally speaking it is recommend that babies have one extra layer to adults when in the cold. 

We recommend packing for babies in Alaska:

• onesies 
• thick socks
• booties 
• gloves 

that way you have plenty of layers to keep adding in the cold in dining rooms where there is air conditioning, on deck and when near glaciers or on boats such as when whale watching. 

And don’t forget waterproofs as Alaska is very rainy and being soaked could really ruin your day in port and isn’t healthy for a little one. 

Also don’t forget formal wear. Unless you are cruising on Norwegian Cruise Line, there will be a cruise formal night on your Alaska cruise. Therefore you may want to pack a cute outfit for your little for those important formal night photos.

Baby Essentials

Baby essentials that you should take on cruises are:

• formula (if you use)
• pacifiers 

We recommend taking enough of all of these with you on the ship to last your entire vacation as these aren’t readily available in towns or on the ship and if they are you will be paying a premium for them. 

Important note : when you embark on a cruise your bags will be take away and returned to you at the end of the day (hopefully) in your stateroom. 

It can take awhile to get your bags back so be sure you have all your essentials to last you through the day and overnight by packing your cruise embarkation day bag properly. 

We usually go for low irritation toys that can be used outside the stateroom such as colouring, sticker books and jigsaws which can help keep your toddler entertained on cruises at dinner etc without having to use electronics and things that also work for when they are in a stroller. 

Umbrella Stroller or compact stroller

Space is a premium on cruise ships so make sure your stroller is compact.

For a full guide on what the best stroller for cruise travel is click here! 

Whenever we are traveling with a baby we think about if we need a carrier, a stroller or both.

For Alaska we recommend taking both as carriers are needed on some port excursions such as hikes in the rainforest at Ketchikan. 

Should I take a car seat on a cruise?

Whether or not you should take a car seat on an Alaskan cruise will largely depend on what type of excursions you are planning on doing and who you are doing them with and if you plan on using it if you are flying with baby to embarkation.

If you plan to take any excursions by car this is going to be necessary unless your private tour operator can supply these.

However you will also need to consider the size of the car seat. Staterooms on cruise ships are small so having a more compact car seat to reduce the space it takes up in your room. 

Potentially if comfortable for your little one you could use the car seat attachment for your stroller. 

Do you have any other questions about cruising to Alaska with a baby? Drop us a comment below and we will do our best to answer

jane anderson

Thursday 27th of July 2023

what about carseats?

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Traveling with Infants & Young Children – Frequently Asked Questions

Can I purchase diapers and other baby supplies on board?

Is babysitting available on board while the ship is in port?

If my child will be turning 3 years old during the cruise, can I reserve an appointment prior to his or her birthday at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League?

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Cruising with 9 month old

By youngcruiser14 , June 27, 2021 in Family Cruises

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youngcruiser14

We’re thinking if booking a cruise for when little one is 9/10 months old. We’ve cruised before and live in the Uk. We’re planning on sailing from Southampton. The 2 cruises we’re looking at are RC and P&O. Anything we should be aware of with these lines travelling with a baby? I’m not fussed about kids clubs and know baby can’t go in the pool. Mainly thinking about feeding…

Thanks in advance

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• 2 weeks later...

There are a lot of "mashable" foods you can order for baby.  If that won't work, you will need to bring your own supply of food.  My son was pretty much eating anything he could "gum" by 9 months, but my daughter was still breast-feeding for the most part at that age.....some fruits, veggies and cereals, but not much else until she was a couple months older.  

We cruised with our first little boy at 9 months and it was a great age! We found the cruise line provides any finger type foods we asked for and our little guy spend most of the dinner diligently eating  peas, carrots, blueberries, etc.  We did bring our own formula, bottles and ouches of baby food but some lines do provide pouches.  Washing bottles in the bathroom was a bit of a pain but we really enjoyed ourselves with him and found it MUCH easier than traveling with him on his second cruise at 18 months! 

Itchy&Scratchy

a crawling 9-10 month old on dingy carpets.... I'd rather they walked on them at 18 months.

We waited until the kid was 3 yo and out of diapers to take him on a cruise with us. He also listened a whole lot better than a 10 month old. We personally escaped on a cruise from him when DS was 9 month old, and I was a walking zombie due to the lack of sleep.

andyfriend80

We cruised with our son when he was 6 months. It was great and he had an amazing time.   

We used to put him in his pjamas and get him to sleep in the pushchair and then head for a drink or two. Sometimes we’d eat in the main restaurant with him (they found us a great spot in a corner where he wouldn’t bother anyone!) Other days we ate in the buffet because it was just easier.   

Hope you have a great time! 

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Live updates, heartbreaking video shows cruise ship passenger swimming, fishing with friends week before fatal jump.

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Heartbreaking video shows 20-year-old Levion Parker happily swimming in the ocean and fishing with his pals just a week before he drunkenly jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and was never seen again.

The TikTok video was posted by Parker’s friend, Kaleb Felty, on March 27 and shows Parker beaming on a boat off Florida and splashing around in the shallows.

At one point, a shirtless Parker holds up a fish he’d just caught. Another clip shows him fighting with a fish on his line as it darts under the boat before it cuts to Parker taking a dip in the sea.

Felty posted several other videos of Parker, including one of him hunting with a bow and arrow. In another video he dubbed a “typical Levion moment,” Parker feeds pelicans a fish out of his hands from a boat.

Parker’s pal also posted a slideshow of several photos of the two together, writing “I will see you again one way or another.”

Parker, of North Port, Florida, jumped off the 11th deck of the Liberty of the Seas around 4 a.m. on April 4, plummeting 200 feet into the Atlantic in front of his helpless brother and father while heading to Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island, Florida officials said.

He had been drinking and had just gotten into an argument with his father, witnesses said.

“There was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately,” cruise passenger Deborah Morrison told The Post.

“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves,” she added.

Royal Caribbean said it “immediately” launched search boats to look for the 20-year-old and alerted the Coast Guard, which later took over the search. 

The boy’s stunned father, Francel Parker, told The Daily Sun he threw six life rings off the ship in hopes of saving his son before the massive vessel was able to come to a stop about 20 minutes later.

Five days later, The Coast Guard called off its search.

Francel Parker is demanding to know how his underage son was given alcohol on the four-day cruise.

However Royal Caribbean sources told The Daily Mail he could have purchased the booze offboard, where the drinking age is 18.

“We have a strict policy on underage drinking. We did not serve this guest on board,” the source told the outlet. “The ship was docked in the Dominican Republic that day, so we cannot speak to what guest did when he was off the ship.”

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A company is turning former cruise ships into floating hotels — see inside its largest 'floatel'

• Bridgemans ServicesGroup operates a fleet of former cruise ships turned into hotels. 
• Its "floatels" are designed to house workers during long-term projects.
• See its largest 652-cabin floatel with a game room and buffet.

Some old and unwanted cruise ships meet their demise at ship-breaking yards , where they are disassembled and sold for scrap.

Other vessels find a more fortunate fate, receiving a second chance to do what they already do best: serve as floating hotels.

Canada-based Bridgemans Services Group buys and charters former cruise ships to turn into "floatels," outfitted with standard cruise amenities like daily housekeeping, buffets, and relaxing lounges.

But the ships aren't designed to transport tourists from one destination to another anymore. Instead, companies turn to Bridgeman when they need to house workers for a long-term project, whether it be the construction of an offshore wind farm in Europe or the shooting of a major film in a remote destination.

Floatels can accommodate workers in remote destinations where hotels might not be an option.

In more metropolitan areas, Bridgemans says its ships could lessen the stress an inundation of workers might have on the local housing market.

And once they are no longer needed, the vessels depart and "leave no trace behind," the company said.

Over the last decade, Bridgemans has deployed its ships for 15 projects on every continent, Brian Grange, the company's president, told Business Insider.

Grange said that its deployments — most often for liquified natural gas companies — last for an average of two years.

In the past, it has also provided accommodations for MSC Cruises at its Ocean Cay private island and housing for more than 1,000 workers in the Philippines' on a project for the Manila International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company's three ships range from 150 to 652 cabins.

The floatel operator acquired its largest ship, the 561-foot-long MV Isabelle X, in 2023.

In its past life, the 35-year-old vessel sailed around the Baltic Sea as one of Estonia-based Tallink Gruipp's cruise ships.

But gone are its days of leisurely cruising. The 35,000 gross-ton ship is now on its first deployment in Howe Sound, just north of Vancouver, where it's housing more than 600 workers who are building Woodfibre LNG's "net zero" LNG export facility.

Isabelle X underwent a six-month retrofit before it was sent to Howe Sound.

The process included updating the ship's cabins and adding amenities like a game room and an 8,000-square-foot gym.

The latter two are especially important: "We need to make sure we delineate between work and home," Grange told BI. "We have to create a social environment on board these vessels that makes it attractive for workforces around the world."

During their free time, workers can play billiards, relax in the outdoor lounge, or use the ship’s WiFi to catch up on social media.

The sports lounge has large television screens, while the games lounge has darts, ping pong tables, and air hockey.

The 'quiet lounges' are the go-to space for people who need to unwind after a long work day.

Or, they could recharge and catch up on the latest shows in their cabins, which all come with desks, storage, and 32-inch televisions.

Like a typical cruise ship, Bridgemans' vessels have buffets with live cooking stations, a dessert bar, and the occasional themed night.

The ships' chefs tailor their menus to the demographic and dietary restrictions of the workers on board, the company's president told BI.

Residents can expect at least four protein options, plenty of veggies, and handmade bread and desserts.

Unlike most cruise lines, Bridgemans can pre-purchase all the food it needs before deployment.

Grange says this allows the ships to maintain food quality and consistency in remote locations.

Remember that deployment in the Philippines during COVID-19? He said the ship had packed almost 800 tons of food ahead of the project.

He wouldn’t disclose the cost to rent one of Bridgemans’ floatels.

But he did note that the cost of a cabin on the Woodfibre LNG project in Howe Sound is comparable to a hotel room in nearby Vancouver, as is the case with most of its projects near major cities.

The company’s most recent acquisition, the 150-cabin Diamond XI, is currently being retrofitted and would be ready for deployment this year.

According to the company's president, the vessel is small and high-end, likely to be used for sporting events and movie shoots.

It could also be the start of a greater expansion: He hopes to add two or three more vessels to its fleet in the next five years.

"The world has opened up to this as a valued alternative to housing," Grange told BI.

Who knows, the next time you see a cruise ship off the coast, there's a slim but possible chance it could be housing workers — not vacationers.

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Adults-only cruise launches on River Walk in downtown San Antonio

50-minute tours are available on select days through may.

Rebecca Salinas , Digital Journalist

SAN ANTONIO – Visitors to downtown San Antonio can now hop on an adults-only river barge that’s complete with a mariachi band.

GO RIO, the city’s river barge operator, announced this week that it has launched the Mariachi Sip & Cruise.

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The cruise is for people 21 and older, and includes a tour around downtown, entertainment from Mariachi Amador, two drink tickets and a souvenir cup.

Boats depart at 7 p.m. on select dates this month and in May. The tours last 50 minutes and tickets cost $60 each.

GO RIO also announced that for the first time, it will showcase one of its boats during the Fiesta Flambeau Parade on Saturday.

“GO RIO boat captains and Girl Scouts from local troops will ride on the wheeled boat float, giving out GO RIO beads,” a news release states. “Marina, GO RIO’s lively turtle mascot, will lead the crowd in a Flambeau dance party -- be sure to be on the lookout for float #133 so you can join in!”

The Fiesta Flambeau Parade is known as America’s largest illuminated night parade with more than 200 parade entries and a typical attendance of about 750,000 spectators. It’s also broadcasted and livestreamed (on KSAT!) to about 1.5 million more people.

KSAT will broadcast a pre-party from 7-8 p.m., with parade coverage following from 8-11 p.m. The vanguard kicks off at 7:15 p.m. and the main parade starts at 7:45 p.m.

You can watch KSAT’s live coverage on KSAT 12, KSAT Plus (our free streaming app), YouTube and KSAT.com .

More Fiesta coverage:

• 🎊 FIESTA FORECAST: Humid and warm, trending damp for Battle of Flowers
• Fiesta guide: View the day-by-day schedule for Fiesta 2024 in San Antonio, watch the biggest events on KSAT

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Rebecca Salinas is an award-winning digital journalist who joined KSAT in 2019. She reports on a variety of topics for KSAT 12 News.

More From Forbes

How to see the best of northern europe on a scandinavian cruise.

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Cruise ship passengers enjoy the view of Sweden’s Stockholm archipelago from the Royal Caribbean ... [+] ship ‘Serenade of the Seas.’

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise.

Scandinavia—and Norway in particular—is an expensive place to travel around, so a cruise can make financial sense for those seeking an introduction to the region. For one price, you get your travel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment covered.

Such a trip offers the opportunity to sample various Scandinavian travel highlights , whether you prefer the Scandinavian capitals, the stunning Norwegian fjords, or soaking up the atmosphere of beautiful islands and historic ports in the Baltic Sea.

Popular Scandinavian Cruise Itineraries

Many different types of itinerary can be advertised as Scandinavian cruises. Typically, they focus on the Nordic capital cities. Some may also include the highlights of the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltic countries and ports in the north of Germany and Poland.

With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises.

Scandinavian Capitals : Cruise itineraries starting in the U.K. or Germany and calling in at two or even all three of Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen have long been popular.

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The Nyhavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a popular destination for cruise ship passengers ... [+] visiting Scandinavia.

Helsinki is often included on such itineraries. If you want to explore modern Scandinavia while gaining access to some of the region’s best museums, such an itinerary is a perfect choice.

Such itineraries tend to be shorter, and are a great introduction to both cruising and Scandinavia, with limited sea days and plenty to see and do while in port.

Baltic Sea : Longer Scandinavian itineraries often include stops at Baltic Sea islands and ports. The beautiful Estonian capital city, Tallinn, or the Latvian capital, Riga, are particular highlights, as are ports on the northern coastline of Germany and Poland.

For those interested in Viking history, look out for smaller ship itineraries featuring Visby on the wonderful island of Gotland .

One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn. Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter.

The old city walls of Visby on Gotland island, a popular cruise port.

Norwegian Fjords : By far the most variety can be found in the Norwegian fjords region , with almost all major cruise lines operating at least some itineraries here. Although port calls in Flåm and Geiranger will soon be severely limited, many alternative ports will still be able to welcome some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you.

Following the recent rise in popularity of the region as a cruising destination, the fjords season has extended, with trips available as early as April and as late as September.

British line P&O Cruises operates its relatively new megaship Iona in the fjords region for much of that period, with regular departures from Southampton on a popular 7-day itinerary.

Midnight Sun : Although all summer cruises in the region will experience long summer days, specific midnight sun itineraries set sail for the far north of Norway to let guests experience the thrill of being outside with the sun in the sky at midnight. Many of these trips visit Honningsvåg, which allows guests to travel by bus to the North Cape.

Northern Lights : In recent years, Scandinavia—or more specifically Norway—has become a year-round cruising destination thanks to the growth in popularity of northern lights cruises .

Aurora borealis in the sky seen from a cruise ship in Arctic Norway.

These itineraries can be found heading north of the Arctic Circle between October and early April.

Planning Tips For Scandinavian Cruises

Cruising in Northern Europe offers a fantastic variety of excursions and experiences, from historical city tours to adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures.

The region’s love of the outdoors lifestyle means active experiences are easy to find, both through cruise line excursions and independent operators.

The high levels of English comprehension across the region means booking your own activities and exploring ports independently is much easier than in many other parts of the world. Even so, look for independent tours that take place earlier in the day to reduce any time-related risk.

No matter when you visit Scandinavia, pack for all weathers. The height of summer can be marred by heavy rainfall, while it’s possible to get sunburnt in the snow-covered conditions of February and March.

Pack a versatile wardrobe. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions.

Cruising And Sustainability

Prospective travelers should be aware of environmental concerns associated with cruising in this pristine region. The industry is moving towards sustainability, with initiatives to introduce zero-emission vessels in sensitive areas, particularly the UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjords .

Some local initiatives protesting against cruise travel have also gathered momentum, so cruisers should be aware of these issues before setting foot ashore.

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Amber Alert issued for abducted 2-month-old in Texas

SAN ANTONIO (Gray News) - Police in Texas are asking for help to find a 2-month-old boy they say was abducted

The San Antonio Police Department says Caleb Gomez was last seen on April 11 on Beesport Street.

The child is believed to be with Marisa Pena, 42, and Eddie Gomez, 51. Pena is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. Gomez is said to be 5 feet 8 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes.

Police say they are in a white 2009 Chevrolet Silverado with California license plate number 8J47725.

Anyone with information is asked to called 911.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Tom Cruise Apparently Started Breakdancing at Victoria Beckham's Birthday Party and Left Crowd 'Dumbfounded'

The 'Mission: Impossible' actor reportedly cruised over to the dancefloor at the former Spice Girl's birthday party in London.

Tom Cruise apparently shut it down on the dancefloor at Victoria Beckham ’s birthday party.

According to the New York Post , Cruise, 61, is a longtime friend of the former pop singer and her husband, David, and was a guest at the formal event held at the private club Oswald’s in London on Saturday night.

After dinner, the Mission: Impossible actor apparently cruised over to the dancefloor and showed off his breakdancing skills, leaving a reported 100 guests stunned at the sight. Or, to quote a Daily Mail source , "People were absolutely dumbfounded."

Among the A-list guests who may have witnessed some Maverick-level moves were Gordon Ramsey, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Jason Statham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Guy Ritchie.

Also included in the star-studded celebration were Victoria’s former bandmates, the Spice Girls . Although no cameras were allowed at the event, David Beckham generously shared a small clip of his wife along with Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, and Geri Halliwell performing their 1997 hit single, “ Stop .”

View this photo on Instagram

“Best night ever! Happy Birthday to me! I love you all so much! #SpiceUpYourLife” wrote Victoria on her Instagram account.

The former Posh Spice shared snaps with her husband and their four children, Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 12.

No footage of Cruise breakdancing has surfaced online, so the thought will just have to live in your imagination until they find a way to write it into Top Gun 3 .

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