This past month we went on our first 7 night cruise with Royal Caribbean, Allure of The Seas. By we I mean my family of 5 (2 kids and a baby) and 8 other family members. My one reservation when planning this cruise nearly a year ago was that of bringing a baby under a year old along. Was 7 nights too long for a baby on a ship? How do I pack all the things needed for a baby? Will it still be a relaxing, fun cruise when working around a baby’s schedule? So in the hopes of helping out another family who may be considering taking a cruise with a big family or a baby, I’m sharing my tips from what to pack, what to plan, and what I’d do differently next time.
What To Pack
All. The. Things. Just kidding, you don’t need all the things, but there are a few things that are important.
Baby food, Puffs, etc.. ( pack more than you think you’ll need). There is a lot of downtime, shows, waiting for dinner, etc.. The Dining staff is amazing at accommodating little ones. If your little one is old enough for solids, they have plenty of soft foods they will bring out. Our little one enjoyed plain spaghetti noodles….to eat and play with of course.
Stain remover pen. It’s no surprise with the amount of food consumption on a cruise, that there will be stains. So if you want to be a minimalist packer like me, bring a stain pen and reuse. The ship also has the option where you can fill up a bag of clothes to be washed by housekeeping. ( I believe the price was somewhere between $25-$50).
Sensitive sunscreen. I’m picky about finding natural, sensitive sunscreen for my kids so I knew I need to plan ahead. Hello Amazon and 2 day shipping. I would suggest 2 sprays and one face stick.
Baby toys. Again, there is a lot of downtime and I wish we would have packed more toys quiet enough for dining rooms and shows.
Stroller and/or Baby Carrier. We took both and used both a lot! For excursions and getting off the ship the carrier was essential. It worked great for places where pushing a stroller is difficult. For walking around the ship and going to and from dining, pool, the stroller worked best. This way baby always has a seat. Definitely recommend a compact stroller with a tray.
Baby Medicine. Hopefully you won’t need any, but in case you do, it’s easier (and cheaper) to have it on hand. I carried the basics: thermometer, fever meds, and a few natural options for teething and tummy problems. Probiotics are also a good defense from stomach bugs that can be an issue on cruise ships.
Snorkel Gear (way cheaper than renting).
Puddle Jumper. The ship has life vests at the main kids pool but if you want a puddle jumper you have to bring your own (also nice for when you swim after getting off at port destinations)..
What to Plan
A few things to remember…Plan ahead as much as possible.
Before the Cruise
After booking your cruise, your next step should be exploring Royal Caribbean’s Planner before setting foot on the ship. You can make dining reservations, plan excursions, and much more in a super convenient way. Some things book up quicker than others. TIP: if you are going with a large party and wish to sit together for dinner- Do not select “My Time Dining” as this is hard, and almost impossible for staff to arrange for big groups. I would select a reserved dining time, and plan your shows, nighttime activities around it. Another Tip would be to book spa appointments beforehand. I was able to visit the spa for the day and the Manager mentioned it’s best to book ahead or by the first day on the ship. Your days at port are more open and easier to book than your days at sea or formal days.
1st Day
Download the Royal Caribbean International App
This was a must-have on the boat. It has all the information you might need. You can make dining and show reservations, explore excursions, and even message people in your party for free (remember you wont have cell phone service or internet without purchasing it). You will also have a cruise compass-aka a paper copy of all events going on during the day that will be delivered to your room daily, but it was so nice having all that info readily available on your phone.
If you haven’t made any plans by the time your cruise begins, I definitely recommend stopping (even before you get to your room) by a guest service center and reserving everything you need before it gets booked. This was super helpful for trying to reserve shows for a party of 13!
Another great thing to do on your first day is to check out the kids camp areas. I have always been hesitant about leaving my kids when traveling. However, after going to an open house/registration time on day 1 I felt more at ease and comfortable with the directors there. They offer playtimes during the day, during dinner, and even after dinner if you want to check out a show that’s not geared toward children. Thankfully we traveled with grandparents and had an extra set of hands around, but especially for parents who travel alone, this is a great option. They even have a nursery space for babies 6 months and older. (These were our options on Allure of the Seas, but may vary from boat to boat, so always ask before you set sail).
Excursions
The first day is also a great time to book excursions. Stop by an excursion desk and let a professional help. Especially when planning for a baby, there are alot of questions that are not always answered on brochures. We chose to forego excursions this time around and decided to swim/play or just explore at our port destinations.
Last but not least- I recommend unpacking and organizing as much as possible on your first day. I wish we would’ve done more of this instead of rummaging through suitcases and shoving them back under the bed every time.
What We Did At Port Destinations:
What I researched most from other bloggers was what to do when getting off the ship at our destinations. You can read all the brochures but it’s nice to hear a mom’s perspective. As a mom you have to plan for everything and of course, safety first. Here is what we chose to do at each port and a few things I’d maybe change next time around.
First Stop: St. Maarten
This was the prettiest stop in my opinion. The blues of the water were second to none. There are quite a few excursions to choose from but we wanted flexibility and shade for baby girl. We simply got off the ship, walked a few steps to a water taxi (I think it was a $6 dollars per person, 3 and under are free). You can also skip the water taxi and walk to the beaches- it’s a bot a 15-20 minutes walk. The water taxi took us to the Philipsburg boardwalk and beaches. You have plenty of oceanfront restaurant options here and can negotiate prices with local vendors for chairs and umbrellas. Local merchants are somewhat of a constant during your time here. Everyone we encountered was friendly but persistent.
We spent our day swimming, snorkeling, finding shells, and relaxing with baby in the shade. Beach naps are the best naps!
2nd Stop Puerto Rico
The hubs and I had been to Puerto Rico before and had taken an excursion to a waterfall in the rainforest. It was amazing but not ideal for grandparents or little ones. We knew Puerto Rico would probably be a quick exploration for us.
Shopping
However, one bonus of getting off the ship is that there is a CVS as soon as you get off of the ship. So let’s say you ran out of diapers and baby wash (guilty), you can load back up with essentials. There were also some great local makers and ways you can support the people of Puerto Rico. If you are wanting to see the natural beauty of Puerto Rico, planning an excursion and allowing time for a bit of a drive is the way to go.
Food
Another reason to explore Puerto Rico is the food. We stumbled upon a bakery called Mallorca before heading back to the ship and it was delish! Order the Mallorca Bread and you wont be disappointed.
Last Stop: Labadee, Haiti
Although St. Maarten won for prettiest beach, I think Labadee won best overall. It was perfect for families. TIP: if you want a good seat close to the water, get off the ship as soon as possible. The beach chairs closest to the water get taken quickly. You have various choices of beach, some are more adventure driven (Columbus Cove and Adrenaline Beach). This is where you can use water toys and have fun at the Aqua Park (there is an age/height requirement for aqua park). There is also a splash park that is perfect for babies.
Nellie’s Beach
We spent the majority of our time at Nellie’s beach. The water was more calm here and seemed like a good fit for little ones and had shade. You can also have an attendant help you set up an umbrella for a small fee. We brought our snorkels and the kids loved exploring the rocks and finding shells. We also rented a few beach mats to float on and relax. When it’s time for lunch Royal Caribbean has three areas that serve bbq (complimentary) buffet style. There are designated times so make sure you don’t miss out. Bringing your own water bottle is also a good idea and you can fill up at the lunch stations.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
Zipline + Hike at Labadee
Labadee had a lot to offer. Next time I want to do the Dragon’s Breath Zipline It’s advertised as one of the longest zip lines in the world, and will take you over the ocean and land.
Hiking trails: It wasn’t until we came home that I learned of a couple hiking/nature trails at Labadee.
Schedule more breaks/utilize naptime. It’s always tempting to skip naps on vacation, but everyone does better with a little break (parents included). Especially if you want your kids to be able to sit through a formal dinner and stay awake for a show.
Naptime would have also been a good opportunity for the husband and I to take turns staying in the room while the other person got some free time . The child free swimming area was calling my name but I never got the chance to enjoy it., and reading a book while looking over the ocean sounds amazing in theory but that’s not reality while watching kiddos. Next time we know:) Thats all for now! Now onto planning the next adventure with my favorite crew.
For more of our traveling adventures that are a little closer to home (Florida) check out our stay at
Hammock Beach Resort In Palm Coast Florida: Our Family Staycation
And
Omni Amelia Island Plantation: Weekend Getaway
Thank you Royal Caribbean for hosting my family and I while we explored the eastern Caribbean. As always, thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
