In 1998, I took my first cruise with an 18-month-old in tow and discovered cruising was not as family-friendly as I thought -- at least not when traveling with a toddler.
While Celebrity's Century certainly suited our adult preferences and even offered the option of hiring someone for in-stateroom sitting, we didn't realize that our son's only water play options would come down to a poolside puddle or a turned-off hot tub.
A few years and another child later, we tried a ''kid-friendly'' line, but still found much to be desired -- cabin layouts not fit for a family with a Pack n Play, pools (as well as play areas) that were off limits to our late bloomer in the potty-training department, and activities still tailored to children older than 3.
We didn't think to investigate such specifics as:
• Is there a shallow end in any of the pools? Or,
• Do children have to be potty trained to set foot in the children's play areas?
But doing so would have made the difference between an OK vacation and a great one. It was enough to make a vacationer stay on land. Thankfully the last few years have brought an increasing number of offerings geared to those traveling with the infant to preschool set.
When Disney entered the cruise business in 1998 they instantly led the pack in catering to cruising's youngest passengers, offering a nursery, larger standard staterooms with tubs and room-dividing curtains, and onboard stores stocked with products like diapers and baby sunblock.
We tried the line out a few years ago and were thrilled with the shallow Mickey-shaped pool, the enormous Oceaneer Club for preschool age children, and especially the staff's attentiveness to cleanliness. (Each time our son entered the club he was given a squirt of hand-sanitizer.)
In the past few years other cruise lines have introduced their own versions of tot-friendly amenities, from Royal Caribbean's new family staterooms and toddler play groups to Carnival's expansive play areas that allow even diaper-wearing tots in to play.
Here are five cruise lines parents of babies-to-preschoolers can love, including information on baby-sitting options, play groups, baby gear you can skip packing, plus tips on the family-friendliest staterooms.
CARNIVAL
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: 4 months
WHY THEY'RE GREAT: Parents of children younger than 5 receive a pager for use during the cruise in case they need to be contacted. Toddlers don't have to be potty-trained (parents supply diapers and wipes) to participate in Camp Carnival's free program for 2- to 5-year-olds.
Here, kids can play picture-bingo to win prizes, finger-paint, put on puppet shows and listen to stories. Mascot Fun Ship Freddy (modeled after Carnival's trademark ship's funnel), poses for photos and joins dance parties (plush Freddys are for sale in the gift shops).
Children younger than 2 can take a turn with the toys during designated Family Play Times, when accompanied by a parent.
Baby-sitting services for children younger than two are available at Camp Carnival during limited hours (check when you board, rates are $6 for the first child/$4 each additional). Activity books and crayons are available in dining rooms.
BUNKING WITH BABY: Carnival's standard cabins are relatively large, measuring 185-square-feet for an interior staterooms and 190-square-feet for an ocean-view cabin. These staterooms can accommodate up to five people with two lower beds that convert in to a king, two upper beds that fold out from the wall and a roll-away.
Be sure to inquire where the fold out beds are located because some are directly above the lower beds instead of at the other end of the cabin which would give more privacy and distance from sleeping children.
Conquest and Destiny class ships offer a 230-square-foot family stateroom with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Also consider an outside stateroom with a veranda, which allocates 40 of the 230-square feet to a balcony. This leaves less interior space but provides a place to sit, talk, and have a light on when children are asleep.
Nightly turndown service includes chocolate chip cookies. Cartoon Network and Boomerang available on in-room televisions.
TINY TOT ESSENTIALS: Single or double strollers are available ($25 per week or $6 per day on three- and four-night voyages) for rent as well as bouncy chairs. Cribs are provided gratis for in-stateroom use. Shipboard shops sell diapers, wipes and ointments. Bring baby food; mashing is not available on Carnival ships.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: No in-cabin baby-sitting permitted. Children ages 2 to 5 can participate in evening activities scheduled for their age group before 10 p.m. The only nighttime option for parents of children younger than 2 is baby-sitting from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the center, among older children watching movies and snoozing.
Info:www.carnival.com; 888-227-6482
CUNARD
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: Varies by itinerary: 6 months for some sailings, 1 year for transatlantic and many of the exotic itineraries.
WHY THEY'RE GREAT: On Queen Mary 2 and new ship Queen Victoria, nannies take care of children age 1 and up. Onboard nurseries are stocked with everything from Lamaze toys to Fisher Price Little People and Little Tikes Light and Sound Toys. Diaper changing and naps in the nursery's full size cribs included (the program is gratis for all ages).
Preschoolers can go on treasure hunts, jump around in a soft play area, and attend a pirate party.
Queen Mary 2 has a 3-4 foot deep Minnows pool for families, plus a 6-12-inch-deep splash pool for smaller sailors. (QV has no children's pool, but the Play Zone for ages 1-6 features a nursery for infants/toddlers, video games, arts and crafts, a large plasma screen for videos and movies and a secure outdoor area with climbing.)
Be sure to escort your little one to the Children's Tea, served in King's Court every evening with balloons, artwork place mats, crayons and kid-friendly treats.
Queen Mary 2 has the largest library at sea with more than 8,000 books including a well-stocked children's section.
BUNKING WITH BABY: Britannia staterooms range in size from 155 to 248 square feet and include small refrigerators. Princess Grill Suites include daily bottled water and fruit baskets (gratis).
Bed configurations vary for third and fourth passengers within a stateroom. Some have double sofa-beds, others include single sofa-beds with a pull-down bed above. Be sure to inquire about the specific configuration when booking your cabin. The QV features berths for a third guest in the statement but not a fourth.
TINY TOT ESSENTIALS: King's Court restaurant will blend food for babies on request. Play-pen like cribs are available complimentary for in-cabin use.
Be sure to bring plenty of diapers, wipes and other baby necessities because the ship's stores do not carry these items.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: While Cunard has an excellent program for young children, this is not a line where you'll find a ship's deck worth of activities and facilities for kids. Private in-cabin baby-sitting is not available.
Not all itineraries are available for children under 1, so be sure to check with the cruise line for the cruise you're considering.
Info: www.cunard.com; 800-728-6273
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: 12 weeks
WHY THEY'RE GREAT: The Little Mermaid-themed Flounder's Reef Nursery (available on both Disney ships) caters to children 12 weeks to 36-months-old, offering infant swings, assorted Hasbro toys, board books, arts and crafts for toddlers and even a one-way viewing window for parents.
Toys that were mouthed by children get thrown in the ''yuck-bin'' to be cleaned and sterilized before becoming available to the next child.
In addition to the drop-off service, family hours allow parents to enjoy the nursery's toys and amenities with their children. The ratio of counselors to children is one to four for infants, one to six for toddlers.
Nursery spaces fill quickly. Book up to 10 hours of nursery time through Disney's website before you cruise, register for additional hours (if available) once onboard. (Cost: $6 per hour for first child; $5 per hour, each additional child.)
Children 3 and older (or those close to 3 and potty-trained) can participate in the Oceaneer Club (free) where kids get to make their own chocolate chip cookies, climb on an indoor pirate ship, and put together a giant Mr. Potato Head.
Children in swim diapers can splash about in the moon and star themed fountains in the toddler pool recently added to Disney Wonder. Each night, dining room servers give children a Disney themed activity-sheet and crayons.
BUNKING WITH BABY: Disney's staterooms are 25 percent larger than the industry average. Deluxe inside and outside staterooms are 214 square feet and include a privacy curtain that separates the two sleeping areas, allowing you to switch on a light without waking the children. The 304-square-foot deluxe family staterooms with verandas sleep up to five.
Unlike most sofa beds that take up precious floor space when converted to a full-size bed, Disney's sofas convert to a twin bed. The pull-down bed above the sofa makes a bunk-bed set up that can comfortably be left set up all day, making mid-day nap times a cinch.
Unlike almost all other cruise lines, most Disney cabins include full tubs -- a big plus for bathing babies and toddlers. The Disney channel (of course) is included on stateroom televisions.
TINY TOT ESSENTIALS: Graco Pack n' Plays and Diaper Genies are available for use, gratis. Huggies disposable diapers are sold in gift shops along with two brands of formulas, bottle liners, diaper cream and baby sunblock.
The kitchen can prepare pureed fruits and vegetables upon request. A limited number of strollers are available for use through guest services.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: With only two ships (two more are scheduled for delivery in 2011 and 2012), destinations are limited. In-cabin baby-sitting not permitted; however, babies and children can be cared for in the children's centers at night. There is a television in the nursery, so be sure to inform staff if you don't want your little one in front of the tube.
Disney ships have no casinos and the adults-only entertainment district is rarely crowded or open much past midnight -- not that many of us parents of young children stay awake that late.
Info: www.disneycruise.com; 800-951-3532
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: No minimum
WHY THEY'RE GREAT: In 2005, Royal Caribbean announced a partnership with Fisher Price, offering play groups (two 45-minute sessions daily) for parents to attend with their children and hosted by youth counselors.
Here ''Aquababies'' (6-18 month olds) play with musical instruments, shapes and colors and Baby Gymtastics toys. ''Aquatots'' (18-36 month olds) can pretend to be pirates and princesses, sing songs and play with Little People themed-toys.
Children 3 and older (and potty-trained) can spend a half to a full day in the Adventure Ocean program plus drive a Barbie Escalade or jeep on the new Power Wheels Track on the cruise line's private island, CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean offers in-cabin baby-sitting (based on availability) for ages 1 and older ($8 per hour for two children within the same family, $10 per hour for three, booked through guest services, 24-hours in advance).
Borrow a children's book from the ship's library for bedtime reading.
BUNKING WITH BABY: Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas and new Liberty of the Seas offer six different family stateroom categories, including the 330-square-foot six-person inside family stateroom that includes a curtained-off sleeping alcove and sleeper sofa.
Freedom and Liberty also offer 495-square-foot family oceanview staterooms that can accommodate a family of six.
Numerous other Royal Caribbean ships offer 265- to 328-square-foot family oceanview staterooms that can accommodate up to six guests. The staterooms include two twin beds (which can convert into a queen-size bed) bunk beds in a separate enclosed area, sitting area with sofa bed and mini bar (detailed floor plans on the website).
Cartoon network available on stateroom televisions.
TINY TOT ESSENTIALS: Complimentary cribs are available for in-cabin use. Bring your stroller and your own baby items. Diapers and the like are not sold in ship stores.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: The plight of children not potty-trained: In addition to not being allowed for free play in the Adventure Ocean playrooms, even with a parent, they aren't allowed in any of the ship's pools, even in swim diapers.
Info:www.rccl.com; 866-562-7625
NORWEGIAN
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: 6 months
WHY THEY'RE GREAT: Most (but not all) NCL ships offer children 2-years-old and up an opportunity to play at Kid's Crew, which is home to ball pits, tunnels, jungle gyms and Leap Frog Learning Toys.
While in-cabin baby-sitting is not permitted on this line, children age 2 to 5 have their own nighttime baby-sitting room sans older, rowdier kids.
NCL's Dawn, Star and Spirit each have a children's themed water play area including slides, water squirters, and splash areas for swim-diaper free children.
The Kid's Café (available on select ships) offers tot-sized table and chairs with a buffet of youngster favorites like hot dogs, French fries, cookies, plus fruits and veggies to keep them healthy.
BUNKING WITH BABY: Norwegian's stateroom categories and sizes vary considerably by ship, with notable new family staterooms and suites on Norwegian's Jewel, Pearl and Gem and Pride of America ships.
These ships offer 32 stateroom categories, including suites and junior-suites that can interconnect additional staterooms to create two, three, four or five bedroom configurations suitable for small to large families. The 205-square-foot oceanview staterooms include balconies; select 572-square-foot courtyard villas have a bedroom with queen-size bed and luxury bath (with whirlpool tub), plus a separate children's bedroom.
The Cartoon Channel is available on stateroom televisions.
TINY TOT ESSENTIALS: Bring everything. NCL does not provide stroller rentals, cribs or any of the other paraphernalia parents utilize for young children.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: Best for children age 2 and older. Unlike Carnival and Disney, NCL's youth staff are not permitted to change diapers, hence parents of diaper-wearing tots receive pagers and are paged when they need to come change junior.
In addition, there is no age-specific programming for children under 2, nor are wee ones allowed in the playrooms even if accompanied by a parent.
Info: www.ncl.com; 866-234-0292
