Cruise with an 11-month-old?

Both my parents are having milestone birthdays this year and I'd like to surprise them with a week-long cruise as a gift.

I know my mom would love it even more if we came along. DD will be about 11-months-old at that point. Am I crazy for considering going? Would I be better off saying Bon Voyage to my parents and staying home?

Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

Message edited 1/31/2013 4:21:38 PM.

Cruise with an 11-month-old?

I think the trip would be nice! I would just try to look into a cruise line that either has a lot of kid friendly activities on board or excursions. I know when I went on a Carnival cruise they would not allow any children who were not fully potty trained in the pool. If that's the case I would just want to make sure there was something else to keep up entertained on board.

Re: Cruise with an 11-month-old?

I wouldn't want to take a cruise with an 11 month old. At that age my DD was so routine with TWO (2-3 hr) naps a day plus being in bed for the night by 7:30 that I feel like I would have just been sitting in the cabin all day and night. I love cruising but I don't think I would enjoy it with a child so small.

Re: Cruise with an 11-month-old?

I don't know, but my mom wants to take us all on a cruise this summer, and I will have a 14-month-old! I think it is going to be difficult, but my family will help out. I am not happy that DD will not be allowed in the pool, but I am going to get a small inflatable tub to bathe her in and let her splash around in. It's so hard for me to even imagine what she will be like in August. It's almost twice as old as she is now!

Re: Cruise with an 11-month-old?

I think the answer is it depends. Which cruiseline, what itinerary? How many sea days? Are you okay with not having any adult time unless your parents help out? Will you have a balcony? Are you willing to be flexible?

I did 2 bermuda cruises on celebrity recently with a 2 and 4 and then 3 and 5 year old. We could use the pools bc DD#2 potty trained so she could swim.

You will have more fun if you are willing to be flexible, and have family who if you decide to all eat together can take turns watching the baby. We ate early and my parents ate late or in blu. This way we could bring the girls or feed them and my parents watched them while we ate.

We had a huge balcony where we ate breakfasts, lunches and some dinners. You could have quiet dinners and drinks on your balcony while your DC sleeps. Order room service or bring food from the buffet.

If you pick an itinerary with only 1 sea day if possible or 2 at most would help. Then you can take your DC to the beach where they can swim or sleep in the stroller while you sightsee. This way the pool is a non issue. There are a few ships that have a special area a diapered child can go. Most do not. The blow up is good but not great for a few days. I know my girls just enjoyed exploring all the various places on the ship and looking at the artwork on board.