You’re sitting in the rocking chair, it’s the middle of the night, you’re on your 12th feeding of the day, 24th load of laundry in the wash, and all you can think about is watching the world go by from your cruise ship balcony… Sound familiar? This was me, I am you. Deep in the weeds of early motherhood, I knew my family needed a vacation to look forward to. After many nights of scrolling and going down infant travel rabbit holes, I found the perfect trip for my family. A cruise with your infants on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line! As a Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor, I want to share what I found through my research and experiences with you!
Royal Caribbean is a fantastic choice for families, offering a mix of luxury, entertainment, and activities suitable for everyone – even the littlest cruisers. But as all parents know when going anywhere with littles, preparation is key to success! Here are some essential tips and tricks to ensure smooth sailing.
Staterooms
When cruising with an infant, space is key. Consider booking a larger stateroom, such as a Family Oceanview Stateroom or Suite. These rooms typically provide more space for cribs, strollers, and all the other baby gear your clients might bring. You also need to consider proximity to other venues. Being close to late night venues or the pool may be great for couples, but not so great for families with littles and their early bedtimes. Our family chose a sunset veranda room which features a larger balcony at the very back aka Aft of the ship. It was perfect for mornings with Baby Girl. She could take her bottle while the adults enjoyed our morning beverages from Cafe Latte-udes (plus maybe a mimosa or two!). There was plenty of room for us plus the grandparents to enjoy wake views while sailing into ports of call. We even saw dolphins from our sunset veranda one morning!
Pro Tip: When picking a stateroom, speak to your Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor about your top needs and wishes. We will help you make the perfect selection for your family.
Dining
Royal Caribbean takes dining for families seriously. In addition to offering high chairs in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, parents can also request baby food, pureed options or baby led weaning selections. For a more flexible option, parents can utilize the Windjammer Buffet, which has a variety of baby-friendly food options and the freedom to serve themselves at their own pace. On our family vacation, dinner was our favorite part of the day. Baby Girl was treated like a PRINCESS by every single staff member on our cruise, but especially our main dining room team. At every dinner we had extra bread and a cheese plate ready for us. As soon as we sat down, Baby Girl could munch while the adults took a look at the menu. The staff would always check with me about what food options I would like for Baby each night being aware of any food allergies or restrictions we may have. Baby Girl loved our team so much they were the first people she waved to EVER and she always gave them the biggest smiles!
Want to dine in a specialty restaurant, but worried about your littles? Have no fear! We also had outstanding service with Baby in tow at 2 of the Vision of the Seas specialty restaurants. We had a wonderful lunch at Chops Grille on embarkation day and a pasta feast at Giovanni’s Table for dinner later in the sailing.
Shout out Ry & Yoga and the whole dining team on Vision of the Seas!
Amenities
One of the best parts about cruising is that there are so many different types of activities on board. Everyone in your travel party is bound to find multiple activities they are interested in each day including families and their young children. From cruising classics like trivia and theater performances to the modern selections like aqua shows, splash pads and even carnival rides, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line specializes in family cruising.
Many Royal Caribbean ships feature baby-friendly splash zones making it easy for infants to enjoy the water safely. Keep in mind, Children wearing diapers cannot swim in the pools onboard.
Pro Tip: Our family brought a collapsible laundry basket onboard and used that as a mini personal baby pool for our girl. It was a hit for our water loving baby!
For parents looking for a break from childcare, the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery is a perfect option. Available for babies aged 6 months to 3 years, this onboard daycare service is staffed with certified child care professionals. It allows parents to enjoy some relaxation time knowing their infant is in good hands. The nursery offers a variety of activities and playtime that will keep the little ones entertained. Babysitting services may also be available for some sailings.
Baby Girl loved coming along to the various events we attended throughout our cruise. She tagged along in her stroller making friends with crew and passengers alike. There is so much to see and do on a Royal Caribbean ship that babies (and their grown ups) could never be bored!
Excursions
For families planning to go ashore, Royal Caribbean offers several stroller-friendly excursions. However, it’s important to verify whether the chosen excursion is suitable for strollers. Some destinations may require walking tours, and others may be more difficult to navigate. Also some of Royal Caribbean’s itineraries include tender ports, where guests must take smaller boats to shore. When traveling with an infant, ensure parents know that tender boats can sometimes be a bit bumpy. Your Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor can assist in picking excursions that best fit your family’s needs!
Our favorite excursion was in Charleston, SC. Our family decided to take a horse and carriage ride through the city. It was the perfect way to sightsee with our little one. The adults got to learn about Charlestons’ interesting history and current popular spots while Baby Girl got to look all around and see some beautiful horses. The gentle clip-clop of Ms. O’Malley the horse was so calming for her she fell asleep by the end of the tour! We got to spend the rest of the day exploring while she napped in her stroller.
Bon Voyage
A cruise with your infants on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line can be an unforgettable experience. I hope these tips put you on course for an amazing cruise experience with you little ones. If you’d like to dive deeper into sailing with Royal Caribbean or vacation itinerary options that are particularly family-friendly, contact a Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor! Happy Cruising!