Jan115

I agree. We were so happy to hear it when Princess announced their short sailings - we just had to book one!

Nice review. We've been to Bermuda three times, twice by land and once by sea. I love the whole cruise experience there - it's so relaxing with no rush to get anywhere because there's no clock ticking to get you back to the boat at a certain time. My favorite beach is St. John's Bay - very pretty, not too crowded and a little off the beaten path!

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The number of ships in port on any given day can have a significant impact on your cruise experience. The more ships in port, the heavier the crowds and the greater the demand for popular attractions. The number of ships can affect everything from available taxis to seating at popular restaurants. A super-mega ship like Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas carries 5,400 passengers alone, and if it is joined in port by two or three other modestly size ships, that number can double or even triple in size. Combine that with the number of locals and land tourists, and you can expect large crowds and exceedingly long waits for the most sought-after sights that you and every other tourist want to see. While I don't choose a cruise based on the number of ships in port, I do like to check sites such as www.cruisetimetables.com or www.cruisereport.com - or, better yet, the individual port websites themselves - to find out what I can expect in terms of port congestion and how far ahead I should book an independent tour or otherwise arrange my day. For example, I might choose an off-the-beaten-track tour if I know there will be an overly large number of people in town. Simply look up your port and the date on which you ship will be docked there, and you will learn how many ships will be docked and their arrival and departure times - especially useful if your ship is first to arrive and you want to get a head start to beat the crowds. Knowing in advance how many people will be competing for tours can be a deciding factor in how you plan your day in port.

There is a reason cruising is so popular with families – high quality, supervised children's programming, fun activities parents and kids can do together and, increasingly, sports such as ice skating, zip lining and bowling that even a decade ago would have seemed unthinkable. But one area that has historically been challenging is the lack of facilities for parents of infants and toddlers – arguably the group that could most use a break from parenting duties. The good news is that cruise lines are getting the message and increasingly welcoming families with very young children, even those who aren't potty trained. Be aware that swim diapers are usually frowned upon, and don't expect supervised, drop-off programs on most ships for children under age three. Dedicated play spaces offering organized activities that tiny cruisers can enjoy with their families are becoming more available, however, and group babysitting at night – usually for a fee – is almost standard. That said, each line has its own personality and features; the trick is to find the right one for you and your family. Carnival Cruise Lines Small frys ages 2 to 5 get the red carpet treatment at Camp Carnival, even if they aren't potty trained. Staff will change diapers on toddlers 3 and younger if parents supply the provisions, but tots in swim diapers can't use any of the water play areas onboard. Nonstop fun at Camp Carnival includes games as well as arts and crafts. Parents who want a late night out can take advantage of the supervised Night Owls program for ages 2-11, which operates from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. for a fee. There are games, activities and parties, although keep in mind that the children will be grouped together. Fleetwide, kids returning to their staterooms are greeted with towel animals fashioned by cabin stewards at turn-down. On the new Carnival Breeze, families can opt for ocean view, family staterooms big enough to sleep five, and bath time is a snap with two bathrooms, one with a junior tub. Cribs, which are available for free, should be requested at the time of booking, and chairs and booster seats are available for use on a complimentary basis in the dining room. Strollers are available for rent. Infants/toddlers under 3 are not only welcome on some shore excursions, but can participate for free if they sit in their parent's lap during transport. Who can sail: Overall, children 6-months and older are welcome on most itineraries; 12- months on longer voyages, such as transatlantic, Hawaii and South American sailings. Cunard Cruises Yes, this is a premium cruise line and maybe not the first company you would think of for infants and toddlers, but surprisingly the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth welcome children as young as 6-months on many sailings. Even better, onboard nurseries are staffed by nannies who will change diapers if parents sign a consent form, or parents can request a pager to be on call if they are needed. Supervised activities for kids 2 to 7 take place at the Play Zone, which features all manner of fun, including arts and crafts, reading, songs, scavenger hunts and outdoor play, with themes that range from the Wild Wild West to Under the Sea. Activities change every 30 to 60 minutes, and children younger than 2 can also participate, as long as Mom or Dad is present. The play area turns into a night nursery from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., although there are soft toys and games for youngsters who are not sleepy. All children's programs are complimentary, including in the evenings. Children's Afternoon Tea is offered on all ships, serving child-friendly hot and cold meals, and baby food is available on request. Cots are available on request, as are high chairs in all restaurants. Keep in mind that the line limits the number of children onboard specific sailings. Who can sail: Most Cunard sailings welcome infants as young as 6-months old, but on longer itineraries, such as transatlantic crossings and world voyages, passengers must be at least one-year-old. Disney Cruise Line As you might expect, Disney has been the innovator for the under-3 market from the outset by offering nursery services, their trademark bath and a half – what parent likes trying to bathe infants in the sink or, worse, the shower? – and larger-than-average, family-friendly staterooms. Tots ages 3-months to 3 years are cared for and entertained with age-appropriate games and toys in the Small World Nursery on the Magic, Dream and Fantasy and in Flounder's Reef Nursery on the Wonder. In addition, the nurseries operate on port days, as well as at sea, so that parents can opt to go ashore on their own. Because of the number of children onboard a typical Disney sailing, the number of hours parents can prebook the nursery is limited, but once onboard, parents can extend their nursery reservation depending on availability. Parents can preorder baby products online, such as diapers and formula, to be delivered to their staterooms, and cribs and strollers are available upon request. There is no charge for these, but guests are asked to place a security deposit when checking them out. Swim diapers are not permitted in the pools, but the ships do offer water play for little ones featuring soft play surfaces and spray zones. Who can sail: Infants 12-weeks old and up are welcome onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian has widened its net to include younger children with the recent roll out of a new Guppies program, designed for children 6 months to 3 years. Guppies have a dedicated play space where they, in the company of at least one parent, can get busy with Wee Can Too art projects using organic, vegetable-based products; baby Rhyme Time, featuring storytellers and puppets; and Motion in the Ocean mini-workouts for parents and babies. Diapers are not allowed in any of the pools onboard, and Norwegian Youth Counselors are not able to change diapers or pull-ups. Parents are given a beeper or handy phone to alert them when their child needs a diaper change. Be aware that one parent must stay onboard when the ship is ashore for diaper duty if the child is enrolled in the children's program during that time. Diapers are not available onboard, so parents should plan to bring their own. On the plus side, pack and plays and strollers are available, but need to be requested prior to the sailing. As with most cruise lines, in-room babysitting is not offered, but group sitting services are available in the evenings for a fee. The newer ships, including the Epic and the Breakaway, offer family-friendly staterooms adjacent to the children's club area. Who can sail: Infants must be at least 6-months old to sail. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean has been ahead of the curve with regard to its children's programs for years, so we are not surprised to see the wealth of offerings for its youngest cruisers. The Royal Babies Nursery, for infants ages 6 to 18 months, and the Royal Tots Nursery, for ages 18 to 36 months, on select ships is a case in point. Unlike on some lines, parents can drop their infants and toddlers off at the nursery for some activities, knowing that the staff-to-child ratio is carefully monitored, or parents can stay and play with their youngsters in a fun, creative environment with Fisher Price developmental toys created especially for Royal Caribbean. The line also offers Crayola Beginnings workshops with art supplies and activities for families to enjoy together for a fee. Families can preorder organic baby food and diapers for onboard delivery via a Babies 2 Go program. Royal Caribbean is one of the few lines to offer in-stateroom babysitting for a fee for kids at least 12-months old, or parents can opt for group sitting services. In addition, the newer ships, including the Quantum of the Seas, to begin sailing in 2014, will offer family connecting staterooms, which can combine various categories, such as mixing a balcony or junior suite with a studio, to accommodate various extended family configurations. Who can sail: Infants must be at least 6-months-old in order to sail. By Felicity Long - USA Today ("Best Lines for Children Under 3) For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more http://www.cruisecrazies.com Photo credit: Royal Caribbean International View full article

Thanks for sharing your experience. Transatlantics do get an older, more seasoned crowd, I think. Plus, kids are back to school in fall, and that will make most any cruise from Sept through early November much quieter than usual. I think I counted a total of 5 babies and toddlers on our NE/Canada cruise 2 weeks ago. It's a great time to cruise!

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

It is a very sad tragedy, indeed, and I can only imagine what kind of hell the family must be going through right now. I agree - a lifeguard is totally unnecessary on a cruise ship, and the signs are clearly visible indicating the need for parental supervision, and should not take this lightly. I don't want to point fingers and blame anyone, but with the number of people hanging in and around the pool on a hot day, there may be a false sense of security and parents may let down their guard a bit when it comes to watching the kids in the water. All it takes is a second for someone to drown. Which also reminds me of another important point - people should never swim alone - even adults, and I am guilty of this. Like an idiot, I was swimming alone in the solarium pool one morning last week just after 6 am. It was great - I had the whole place to myself with not another soul around - except for an occasional passing crew member. What if I had a heart attack and drowned? There would have been no one to see me. I did notice a video camera above the pool, but what if no one were watching it at the time? Did I think a lifeguard should have been posted for just me? No, it's ultimately my responsibility to use common sense.

Hey friends - We're starting to plan our 2 or 3 night pre-cruise stay in Rome next summer before our cruise on the Celebrity Reflection. Can anyone recommend a good moderately priced hotel close to the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain etc.? It can be a B&B, major chain or boutique hotel - doesn't matter. Just a respectable, reasonably priced hotel with good service.

It sounds like an amazing journey! I'll be sure to check out the blog.

Here are a few more critters I picked up on our cruise last week: Two little chipmunks that Jenn found in her bag from the last cruise ... An elegant swan ... and a swinging monkey!