Help! we have a 2y/o!

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adamommy

Guest
Hello Cruise addicts! I am new to cruising and to this forum. Our family is treating us to a cruise this summer on Liberty of the Seas. I am feeling a little nervous that our not-totally-potty-trained toddler will be left with not much to do, including swimming in a kiddie pool! Any advice? (and yes, I know, you are groaning that there is yet another child to tear around the ship)
Thanks!
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
There's never a problem with another child on the ship as far as I'm concerned. It's the parents that have no clue where their kids are or what they're doing that bother me. Here's some tips:

Bring some toys for her from home. (I learned this the hard way. :grin )

Bring a small stroller because there is a lot of walking involved.

Bring a favorite blankey or bedtime buddy.

If you have a full suite, bring some DVDs for her to watch or if you're not in a suite, bring a DVD player with some DVDs from home or from Netflix.com.

To be considerate toward your cabin neighbors, try to minimize the crying & yelling. I know kids will cry no matter how well-behaved they are, just try to keep it to reasonable hours.

We had a toddler next door to us. On the last night of the cruise, her father was loudly packing at 1am. He was slamming drawers and doors for a long time. The child's mother was on the balcony talking on her cell phone for well over an hour. The little girl was yelling, "MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!" for what seemed like forever. Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep that night. :lol

We saw many kids in strollers on the Liberty last week. They all seemed to be entertained and happy. Just go & enjoy! :)
 
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adamommy

Guest
Thank you for the positive feedback. I will definitely bring the favorite DVDs along. Hopefully our neighbors like "Shrek" ;)

I am just hoping there is a kiddie pool on the ship. It is unclear on the website. It is really disappointing to learn that we can't bring our son into the Adventure Center (or whatever it is called) because he is not potty-trained. Poor kid, he will be separated from his 5 and 7 y/o cousins.
 
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PH8

Guest
Not only is he not potty trained but he is not 3...the age RCCL requires them to be for AO......They do have a program for his age called Aqua tots.....click on for more info
AQUA TOTS

As far as swimming,heres from one of the compasses....
Per United States Public Health, pull up/swimmers or diapers are not permitted in the swimming pools including the H2O Zone. All Children must be potty trained.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
:lol - Shrek. :lol

As far as I know & have read, there is no pool or water area available to those that aren't potty trained. They are very specific about this in the Cruise Compasses. They state that no swim diapers or anything else like that is allowed.

You can bring your toddler into Adventure Ocean. They have many play times for adults AND their younger kids that aren't in the program yet. I was surprised that just about every afternoon, they had family play time and many other activities for very young kids & parents at other times too, but it's not set-up for the young kids to be left.

Those age restrictions are there for a reason. My sons have been in the program at almost every stage - they had to be separated into different age groups, then were together, then separated, then together. Sometimes, it's so packed with kids that the activities don't run well or there just isn't enough space. Many kids are "dumped" at the program when they clearly would rather not be there.

The programs run much, much better when there are fewer kids. In fact, if you're on a sailing where there's hardly any kids at all, they'll combine some of the age groups. My kids always enjoyed their cruise so much more when the kids program only had 75 kids or less. That just doesn't seem to happen on these big ships though - even during the school year.
 
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adamommy

Guest
So what you are telling me is that I am bringing my toddler to the Caribbean in August and the only place he can get wet is in the shower? I guess I was assuming there would be a wading pool or something.

What is the Cruise Compass? We did not book this trip so we may not be getting all of the information!
 
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PH8

Guest
The cruise compass is the daily activities for your cruise.....there will be a copy of it in your cabin every day.......

And yes,the shower just might be the only place your son can get wet.......sorry........its a public health issue with kids in diapers or not potty trained..
 
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PH8

Guest
Heres a copy of the cruise compass(this one is for Western Carib).not sure which one you're doing,but it will give you an idea of activities onbaord.........page 3 (under hours--swimming pool)tells you about no kids(not potty trained) allowed.click on this to see more..



Too bad your family didnt know this when they booked it for you.....Disney allows little kids in their pools....hope it works out for you..
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
You might want to wait until he's three and potty trained then.

If they did have a non-potty trained wading pool, your son would be swimming around in a cess pool of germs. With the way little ones splash and touch water, that's a great way to get him really sick.

Cruises aren't especially geared toward really young kids. They are getting more that way, but Disney probably caters to them more than anyone else. When we first started cruising in 1998, we never saw kids under 3 on the ships.
 
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adamommy

Guest
I appreciate all this honest feedback. I really don't know what to do. I figure that there will be other things to do with my son, and that we can at least go on the beaches during the land excursions (please tell me that the beaches are nice where the ship stops!) Ugh. I really did not expect to feel this way about the this trip of a lifetime.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
What beaches or ports are you talking about? That would enable us to give you a more accurate description of whether they are kid-friendly or not.

We waited until our sons were older - around 7 - to start cruising. Even then, one of them was not ready to be left in the kids' program. By the next cruise, he asked to be able to go to it & thoroughly enjoyed it. Every situation is different though - you have to weigh what will work for you & your son.
 
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adamommy

Guest
We are going to the Western Caribbean stopping at Labadee, Montego Bay, George Town, and Cozumel.

Thank you so much for any info. I am looking into the excursions finding he is too young or too short to do things, but I am finding website is cumbersome to navigate and may be missing something.

My son is 2 1/2 and at that age where he wants to do everything he sees other kids doing. He is a normal toddler that needs his energy outlets.
 
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Lady Jag

Guest
Yep, that's right. Labadee is RCI's private beach area & perfect for little ones. In Coz., there are many beaches that are perfect for families and in Grand Cayman, 7 Mile Beach is the most popular and great for families.
 
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PH8

Guest
Good thing you only have 2 sea days.....will be kinda hard when your son sees this area.....anyway,you can potty train him real quick??;)



If you click on the pic,you'll see more of the LB..
 
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adamommy

Guest
You know, I think we are at the point in potty-training that he would be fine in the pool...it is the age requirement. Doesn't he have to be three?

The beaches will be fun, I would think. And isn't there a Sea Turtle place?

Is there live music during the day on the boat?
 
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PH8

Guest
He doesnt have to be 3 for the pool..........only potty trained............3 is for Adventure Ocean(the kids club).........

The turtle farm is in Grand Cayman......it is more like bit round cement holding pens with turtles in it,but I think kids like it......

Yes, live music around the pool during the day,esp the pool area..
 
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adamommy

Guest
OK, here is another question....what do people do about the carseat situation. We would only really need it for the transportation from the plane to a hotel the night prior to boarding, then,to get to the ship. Do we just leave it and hope for the best? Do you think the ship would store it for us?
 
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PH8

Guest
I would bring it......what about getting around the islands?? You do want to put him in one,right?? They drive crazy down there........the steward can store it for you,if you dont have room in your cabin..

I have heard of travel car seats....if that would help..
 
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PH8

Guest
Adamommy.......heres an update for you....looks like your son can get wet after all!!(tu)

Q: Are there any restrictions regarding children in the pools?
A: Please note: Due to Public health regulations, children in diapers, swim diapers, pull-ups, or who are not COMPLETELY toilet trained are not allowed in the pools, whirlpools, or H2O zone.
On the Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas children in diapers, or who are not toilet trained may use the Baby Splash Zone" specially designated for them.
 
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