Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

I am looking to plan my first trip in 3 years! I will be 30 in September, and DH and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary in November. We would plan on going in November. By that time our DS will be 14 months, so I am trying to think of a cruise that will suit DH and I, and the baby. We would get a balcony on either one.

Oasis of the Seas:
Pro: I like the idea of the Boardwalk balcony because we can watch the aquatheater from our room while DS is sleeping.
Con: Worried about DS having things to do


NCL Breakaway:
Pro: I like the idea of leaving out of NY and not taking a plane with all of DS's things.
Con: Too many days where we will be in the transitioning weather and again, worried about DS being entertained.

Disney:
Pro: DS is already in love with Mickey and I am dying to see his reaction to all things Mickey and the characters. I also like the nursery which for some reason I trust more than the other ships.
Con. We would only do the 4 night cruise on the Magic and it seems a bit old and dated. If we did this cruise, we were thinking of spending 2 days to just relax in Fort Lauderdale, but not sure if this is too much commotion.

DH really doesnt want to go to an island so our solution is a cruise. So if anyone has done a cruise with year old or so, which would you suggest. Any other opinions would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

Message edited 2/25/2013 1:07:44 PM.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old

One thing to check is if the ships have a splash area for non potty trained kids. I haven't looked recently so I am not sure which do these days I used to know. Most ships have no where for a non potty trained chikd to swim. So that might be important to you if you want something for yoir DC to do. Especially important since your DC will be too young to do the childrens programs.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Thanks. I just assumed they all did! NCLs website is unclear, so I will give them and Royal Caribbean a call later.

Thanks

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

On Oasis, we didn't really care for the interior balconies, we had an exterior balcony. While you could see the aqua theater from the balconies towards the rear of the ship, there is a lack of privacy. There is also a lot of noise because of the constant activity, the climbing walls, not sure how that sounds in the interior balcony rooms.

The kiddie pool area was really cool, but since I don't have kids, I didn't pay that much attention to it. I'm almost sure that they had to be potty trained for sanitary reasons.

Message edited 2/25/2013 2:52:07 PM.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Message edited 2/26/2013 8:24:30 PM.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

I am not concerned with a lack of privacy. The reason why I think the interior balcony would be good is, if we could see the aquatheater from the balcony, DH and I will have something to do when DS is asleep at night.

Thanks Lillykat. I can't believe they would lie! I'll check out cruise critic. Thanks so much.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

FYI - Non-potty trained chldren are not allowed in any pool on any cruise line on ANY cruise with a US stop per CDC rules. Some lines and ships have better toddler splash areas than others.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by Megan1129

I am not concerned with a lack of privacy. The reason why I think the interior balcony would be good is, if we could see the aquatheater from the balcony, DH and I will have something to do when DS is asleep at night.

Thanks Lillykat. I can't believe they would lie! I'll check out cruise critic. Thanks so much.

I don't think they lie. I think the call centers are often in who knows where, with people who have never stepped foot on a ship or at least the one you are asking about, and they are not well trained, so they just don't know.

I look at it like disney. There centers are no where near the parks or hotels. They give out tons of wrong or old info. Do you know if you are in a disney resort and you pick up the phone in your room and try to call the front desk you are routed to a call center who answers ....the ___________ resort by the number that comes up on their phone. If you have a real problem you are better taking yourself to the front desk rather than calling.

It is the luck of the draw in who answers. That why they joke if you don't like the answer call back.

I like cruisecritic bc you will get people who have been on the ships.

We have cruised on Celebrity. They are strict about no swimmies. But do you know they allow kids in their pools as long as they are trained. Guess what? They have signs by their outdoor pools on the Summit that says No children allowed in the pools I think it also says only 12 people or something as well. (No not the hot tubs). But a call center might say that but the reality is potty trained kids are welcome in the outdoor pools anyway, but not in the thesselotherapy pool.

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?

Oh Ok, a PP made it sound like some lines were more strict about it than others, but it's the case on all lines.

I think DCL does the best job of having activities for all age groups on all ships, but the other lines are catching up

Re: Cruise with 14 month old: Oasis, Disney, Breakaway?