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Baby & Toddler Cruise Packing List (Printable) Cruise Mummy

May 29, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News Kids Packing

I’ve cruised when my kids were babies and toddlers, and know the perils of both overpacking and underpacking!

That’s why I’ve created this free printable baby cruise packing list – so you know exactly what to pack for your family cruise, and what to leave at home.

I’ve listed all of the cruise essentials for toddlers and babies below, including links to buy some really handy things that I found online and then bought myself when we cruised with both a baby and a toddler.

I bet there are some things here you’d never have even considered!

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Just enter your email address and you’ll immediately be sent the free baby packing list which you can print off or save on your phone.

When packing for a cruise with a baby, you’ll want to pack quite light, but not too light! If you can get to your cruise ship without flying, you won’t have any restrictions on how much luggage you can bring.

But, that doesn’t mean you should bring all the baby equipment you own! Cruise cabins are generally a bit smaller than hotel rooms, so if you bring too much, your stateroom will feel very cramped.

Here are my recommendations for things to bring on your cruise with a baby…

The Important Documents

Passport

Whilst US citizens can sometimes cruise without a passport, in most cases, you’ll need a passport to cruise.

The passport rules for babies are just the same as those for adults, so don’t forget to pack your baby’s passport. It should always be top of the list of baby cruise essentials.

Birth Certificate

If your child has a different surname to his or her accompanying parents, then you’ll also need to bring their birth certificate to prove that you’re the parent.

If the parents’ and child’s passport surnames don’t match, then you’ll be asked for a birth certificate at embarkation and won’t be allowed to board without it.

Visa

Most cruises don’t require a visa, but depending on where you’re going, you may need one. Be sure to check because if you need a visa, then your child will probably need one too.

Getting Around With Your Baby

You’ll need to be able to transport your baby or toddler safely and securely not just onboard your cruise ship, but also in port and on your journey between home and the ship. This may require more than one mode of transport, so think about what will work best for you.

Pushchair

Pushchair, stroller, pram, buggy – whatever you call it, you’re definitely going to need to bring it with you.

When it comes to pushchairs, the smaller and lighter the better. Some ships will let you leave your pram in the corridor, but you may be asked to leave it in your cabin. If your usual stroller is bulky, you might want to invest in a cheap umbrella stroller which you can easily fit under the bed.

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Sun Shade or Rain Cover

Unless your pushchair has a huge hood, you’ll benefit from bringing a sunshade that you can clip on, to keep your baby in the shade at all times.

Depending on the weather, you may also wish to bring a raincover.

Car Seat

If you plan on using a taxi at any point before, after or during your cruise, you’ll need to bring a car seat.

When you’re off your ship for excursions, carting around a car seat and a pushchair can be cumbersome. One solution is to invest in a travel system where the car seat attaches to the stroller.

Alternatively, you may wish to plan to use alternative modes of transport like buses, trains or ferries that don’t require a car seat.

Baby Carrier

Baby carriers are particularly handy when flying, for when you get off the plane and have to walk to the arrivals area to collect your pushchair.

If you usually use a baby carrier a lot, then pack it for your cruise. If you don’t, a cruise isn’t the time to get your baby used to one and you’ll probably be better off using your stroller in most situations on-board.

Backpack

As well as transporting your baby, you’ll also need something to transport all their stuff, both around the ship and when you explore ashore.

Now could be the time to ditch your traditional over-the-shoulder baby changing bag and instead use a standard backpack. Not only will you fit more stuff in there, but it also leaves you hands-free for when you have to manoeuvre luggage, a pushchair and possibly chase a toddler around too.

Toddler Reins/Backpack Leash

A toddler harness, reins or a backpack leash can be great for those tots who love to wander around on their own. Definitely a good idea for the cruise packing list for toddler children who are liable to dash off!

I tried a backpack on my toddler at Disneyland, and he just spun around like a confused puppy and whined until I took it off. So this is definitely something you want to test out at home before you travel!

Clothing Must-Haves

Your baby or toddler will likely wear several outfits per day on a cruise – something for during the day, a clean change of clothes for the evening, swimwear and nightwear. This can add up to a lot of clothes so if you don’t have that many, you might want to wash some part-way through your cruise.

Suggested read: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships

As well as the usual t-shirts, cardigans, hoodies, trousers, shorts, skirts and dresses, you’ll also need to pack…

Formal Outfit

A cute formal outfit like a dress or suit is a must. Even if you don’t particularly enjoy formal evenings, you could do it for the photos if nothing else. Here’s my baby and toddler in formal outfits on their first cruise…

Shoes and Sandals

If your little one has started to walk you’re going to need their shoes and, if the weather is warm, a pair of sandals. Waterproof sandals are preferred. If there’s a baby splash area on-board, the surrounding floor could be hot, so they’ll definitely need something on their feet.

Swimwear

The best swimsuits for babies and toddlers offer full-body coverage from the neck to the elbows and knees. I’d recommend choosing a swimming costume with UV protection – it’s much easier than applying sunscreen every few hours.

Hat

For warm-weather destinations, a sunhat is a must. I usually pack two or three as they tend to go missing easily and it’s good to have a spare to hand..

Underwear and Socks

Don’t forget to pack lots of socks. Wearing socks with sandals may be a fashion no-no for adults but for toddlers, it can make their sandals so much comfier.

Bringing an extra five-pack of vests is always a good idea as these can be used as day wear, a base layer or for sleeping.

Pyjamas

You’ll want to pack enough pyjamas for a clean pair each evening. Spills and leakages can happen at any time.

You may want to change your baby into their pyjamas after your evening meal, so that they can sleep in their pushchair or in the onboard nursery while you enjoy the evening entertainment.

Feeding

Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, using pureed food or baby-led weaning, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything you need for your baby.

Read more: How to feed your baby on a cruise

Baby Milk

If your baby is used to formula milk, you should bring this with you. You can often buy it on board, and some cruise lines such as P&O Cruises offer it for free, but it might not be the same brand that your baby is used to.

For babies of 12 months and older, you’ll be able to request whole cow’s milk in any bar or restaurant or have it delivered to your stateroom free of charge each day. You can also get plant-based milks like soya, oat or almond on most ships.

Powdered formula is cheaper and takes up less space, but the ready-to-feed version is more convenient.

I found that taking a mixture of the two worked best. We used powdered formula mixed with boiled water where possible, and also had some ready-to-feed bottles for in the middle of the night or when out on excursions.

Breast Pump

Breastfeeding is welcomed in all public areas on cruise ships. However, if you want your partner to share the feeding duties, or perhaps you fancy having a few drinks one evening, then you may wish to bring your breast pump as well as milk storage bags.

Most cruise cabins have a fridge. If yours doesn’t, or if it isn’t cold enough to store breast milk, you can request to have it stored in a fridge elsewhere on the ship.

Baby Bottles

Bring enough baby bottles for at least 24 hours, and you can wash them in the sink in your cabin once per day.

Sterilising Equipment

If you usually sterilise your baby’s bottles, the easiest way to do this is on a ship is with a collapsible bucket and sterilising tablets. You can soak the bottles overnight so that they’ll be ready for the next day.

If you usually use electric sterilisers, you’ll want to check with your cruise line as they may not be permitted onboard.

Cups, Bowls and Spoons

It’s a good idea to bring your own plastic or bamboo plates and cutlery for your baby or toddler. The bowl and spoons you’ll find on board may be limited to the ceramic and metal varieties.

Plastic Containers

Food containers are essential for transporting snacks. It’s perfectly fine to help yourself to items from the breakfast buffet and store them for your child to eat later on.

If you plan to take snacks off the ship, check if this is allowed in the port you’re visiting.

Baby Food and Snacks

Most cruise ships are able to provide pureed baby food, either in jars or will make it fresh for you. You’ll also find lots of items for baby-led weaning in the buffet, such as fruit, vegetables, boiled eggs, bread and cereal.

It’s a good idea to bring some of your own baby food and snacks as well, which you can use for convenience or when you’re off the ship in the ports.

Bibs

Disposable paper bibs can be great for travel as you can just throw them away. Alternatively, choose the solid plastic bibs at mealtimes and you can wipe them clean with a baby wipe before washing them properly in your cabin sink.

Burp Cloths

You can never have too many muslin cloths. As well as burping, they’re so handy for mopping up spills, covering skin in the sunshine or as a comforter at night.

Table Mat

Some cruisers like to bring a silicon placemat to ensure that the place where your little one puts their food is clean. If the buffet is busy, you can’t guarantee that the table has been wiped after the people before you have used it. You may find this to be more convenient than bringing plastic plates and bowls with you.

Cleaning

Cruise ships are always super clean and your cabin will be cleaned twice per day. Still, you’ll need to think about washing clothes as well as any baby bottles or cups.

Travel Wash Liquid or Liquid Detergent

Some cruise ships have washing machines you can use and others don’t. If your ship doesn’t, you can wash clothes in the sink in your bathroom.

Bringing your own washing tablets for the machine is recommended. You can buy them onboard, but they’re expensive, and you may have to trek all the way to the onboard shop to get them.

Washing Up Items

When travelling with a baby you won’t be able to avoid the washing up. Dishwashing equipment isn’t provided so be sure to pack washing-up liquid, a sponge and a bottle brush.

Antibacterial Surface Wipes

High chairs will be sterilised by cruise ship staff after each use. Just to be on the same side, I usually carry anti-bac wipes just for the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve also wiped it yourself!

Hand Sanitiser

There’ll be hand gel provided throughout the ship. It’s still a good idea to bring your own to use when you get back to your cabin or when you’re off the ship on excursions.

Buy one with a keychain attachment so that you don’t have to go rummaging through your bag to find it. You can even get refillable hand sanitiser bracelets, which are a great idea for parents who always have their hands full.

Sleeping

Travel cots are provided for babies on cruises. If yours isn’t there when you arrive in your cabin, just call your stateroom attendant and they will set it up for you.

Sheets and Blankets

Whilst you will be provided with a travel cot for your baby or toddler to sleep in, the bedding provided is often limited to just a sheet. It’s a good idea to bring your own bedding with you.

Blankets often aren’t provided for babies for safety reasons, so you’ll need to bring your own. Baby sleeping bags are a great alternative to traditional blankets. You should also bring a toddler pillow if your little one usually has one at home, as well as their favourite comforter.

Night Light

If you choose an inside cabin, your stateroom will be completely dark at night. To avoid waking everybody up when you use the bathroom or tend to your baby in the night, invest in a plugin nightlight that emits a dim glow.

Changing

You’ll find plenty of baby-changing facilities on board your cruise ship. It’s not always clear where they are, but if you ask at guest services, they may be able to provide you with a map so that you can always find your nearest one.

Nappies/Diapers

Packing enough nappies for a week or more can take up a lot of space in your luggage. When we took a two-week cruise from the UK, we simply put them in a black bin bag and attached a luggage label. If you’re flying and have limits on luggage, you may wish to stock up after you fly but before you embark.

Don’t rely on being able to buy nappies on board your ship. They’re incredibly expensive and don’t always have all the sizes available. If you run out, you can usually buy more when you call at a port.

If you normally use cloth nappies, you’ll probably find it easier to switch to disposables whilst travelling.

Swimming Nappies/Swim Diapers

Many cruise ships do not allow children who aren’t yet toilet trained into the swimming pools and Jacuzzis. However, you should probably still pack swimming nappies. There may be a toddler splash area on board or you may need them for swimming in the sea.

Folding Changing Mat

A fold-up changing mat is a must, whether it’s for changing your baby on the bed in your room or on a changing table in a public toilet. In some countries, baby changing facilities aren’t available as regularly as they are at home, so if you have to change a nappy on a beach, you’ll definitely need the mat.

Baby Wipes

Imagine how many baby wipes you might need, then double it! As you’ll know, these can be used for cleaning hands, faces and everything else as well as bottoms, making them one of the handiest and most versatile items of baby stuff to pack for a cruise.

Nappy/Diaper Disposal Bags

The bin in your cabin will be emptied twice per day. However, it’s still a very good idea to bring some scented nappy bags to keep the smell of waste contained.

Toiletries

As well as packing your own toiletries bag, it’s handy to have a separate bag with everything that you need to keep your baby clean and healthy.

Baby Wash, Shampoo and Sponge

Whilst shower gel and shampoo will be provided, it’s often not the best for baby’s delicate skin so you’ll probably want to bring your own toiletries from home.

Sun Cream

Baby sun protection with SPF 50+ is essential. Yes, you can buy sunscreen onboard, but it’s going to be expensive and options may be limited, so bring your own.

Baby Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Don’t forget your baby’s toothbrush! And the same brand of toothpaste that they’re used to at home.

First Aid Kit and Medicines

There will be a fully-stocked pharmacy on your ship, but it won’t be cheap and is unlikely to be open around the clock. Be sure to pack a small bag with infant paracetamol, nappy rash cream, teething gel, a thermometer and anything else which you use at home.

Everyday Items

Here are some more miscellaneous things to add to your baby cruise packing list…

Comfort Items

Some babies have dummies or pacifiers, some have muslin cloths, blankets or a favourite toy. Whatever your baby uses to soothe themselves at home, you’ll want to bring several of them on your cruise.

Toys

I’d recommend bringing a couple of favourite toys and a few new ones. Stacking cups, a book and something to stick on the tabletop are good travel toys to add to your list.

Inflatable Baby Pool

Your own baby pool can be a good place for your baby to cool off on a hot day. Not all ships allow them, so check before you pack it.

Most cruise cabins only have showers rather than bathtubs so another use for a baby pool is to create a baby bath in the bottom of your shower cubicle. Failing that, the lid of a Pringles tube placed over the drain can function as a plug to enable you to fill the shower tray with a couple of inches of water.

Baby Swim Ring

If your ship allows babies to use the pools, then it’s worth bringing a baby swim seat, ring or armbands.

We cruised on P&O Cruises’ Britannia and kids were allowed in the Beachcomber pool with swimming nappies. However, the pool was at least six-feet deep all over, so some kind of baby floatation device would be essential.

Spray Bottle

If there are no swimming or splashing areas for babies on your cruise, it’s a good idea to have some other way of cooling them off on a hot day. Filling a spray bottle with water can be one solution to this dilemma.

Things to Leave at Home – Don’t Bring These!

Travel Cot/Pack and Play

A travel cot will be provided for you so there’s no need to bring your own.

High Chair

High chairs are always available in every dining venue on the ship.

Baby Bath

Some cruise ships, such as P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships, provide baby baths on request. Even if yours doesn’t, a baby bath is such a bulky item that you’re better off not bringing it. Instead, you can wash your baby in the sink or in the shower.

Side-by-Side Pushchair

If you have twins or a baby and a toddler, don’t be tempted to bring a side-by-side double pushchair. I saw a family do this and it was awful for them as it was too wide for the corridor leading to their room so they had to fold it up and carry both babies every day.

We’ve used a double pushchair with one in front of the other on a cruise ship and it was okay, but it took up a lot of room in the lift and was a bit tricky to manoeuvre around tight corners.

We’ve also used two single pushchairs for our baby and toddler and this was the best idea. As we only owned one single pushchair, we borrowed one from onboard the ship, which is a good option if you’re cruising with MSC Cruises.

Packing for your Family Cruise

Before you go ahead and pack, it’s worth researching what’s already provided for you on the ship. Free-to-hire baby equipment will vary depending on whether you’re cruising with P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises or some other cruise line.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

Once you know what you need, I’d recommend starting to pack quite early. Packing for a cruise with a baby or toddler can be a tough job, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to avoid getting stressed out and overpacking.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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From Infants To Over 50s: Cruise Age Guidelines

April 10, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Choosing a cruise Cruise Lines Cruise News Kids

While many people might assume that babies can cruise from six months or that you have to be 21 to cruise alone, there are many exceptions to this rule.

Some cruise ships allow babies that are fresh out of the womb, while others won’t let you sail before your fiftieth birthday!

So, read on to find out how old you have to be to take each type of cruise…

Cruise Mummy with her family on a cruise

Newborn Babies

Can a newborn go on a cruise? Not many people know this, but the answer is yes! You don’t need to wait until your baby is a certain age to cruise.

The only ocean cruise line with no minimum age requirement to cruise is MSC Cruises. Newborn babies are accepted on most cruises with MSC, with the exception of long-duration cruises and those with many consecutive days at sea.

If you’re interested in a river cruise, the only river cruise line with no minimum age requirement is CroisiEurope.

You can book a cruise before your child is born. Just enter Unborn Baby for their name and the due date for their date of birth. You can then update these details once your baby arrives.

While it is possible to cruise with a baby that’s only one or two months old, you should think carefully before you decide to do this.

Your pregnancy may go on longer than expected, your baby may need additional medical care, or you might just not feel ready to travel once your baby arrives. For this reason, you may wish to wait until your baby is born before booking a last-minute cruise.

3 Months Old

Once your baby reaches three months old, you have another cruise option in addition to MSC Cruises and CroisiEurope – your baby can now cruise with Celestyal Cruises.

Celestyal Cruises is a Cypriot cruise line offering port-intensive Greek Island itineraries. These cruises aren’t the most relaxing as passengers generally spend their days sightseeing, sometimes visiting more than one port per day.

While relaxing on board is always an option, all your guided excursions are included with Celestyal, so it makes sense to get off the ship and explore.

If your small baby is happy to be strapped to your chest with a baby carrier while you explore the sights of Greece, a Celestyal cruise could be a great option for your family.

Suggested read: 15 Things to Love About Celestyal Cruises

6 Months Old

At six months of age, your baby will be accepted onto most cruise ships. However, you’ll want to avoid itineraries that have lots of consecutive days at sea or visit exotic and remote ports as these aren’t usually open to babies less than a year old.

This is because if your baby falls ill, they may need specialist medical care on land. And that wouldn’t be easy to get if you’re in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Europe and the United States.

I took my son on his first cruise when he was six months old and he loved it, especially the pizza!

Cruising with a baby can take some extra planning, but it’s so worth it! Once you’re on board, I find that it’s easier than any land-based holiday.

In my opinion, some of the best cruise lines for babies are MSC Cruises and P&O Cruises.

Suggested read: Taking a Baby on a Cruise Ship? Read This First!

12 Months Old

Once babies are 12 months old they can cruise on all family-friendly cruise ships. This includes cruises with more than three consecutive days at sea (such transatlantic cruises) as well as world cruises and exotic itineraries like Hawaii and South America.

Of course, walking babies are some of the hardest work to look after. So look out for family-friendly ships where you won’t feel so bad if your toddler has a screaming tantrum during dinner.

2 Years Old

Toddlers are welcome on all family-friendly ocean cruise ships; however, kids often need to be a little bit older before they can cruise on river ships.

If you want to take a river cruise with a toddler, your options are CroisiEurope (which has no minimum age requirement) or A-ROSA river cruises, which will accept children from two years of age.

There are a few reasons why most river cruises aren’t suitable for young kids. River cruise ships are small, so there’s no room for pushchairs or buggies. The excursions are usually in cities, so you can expect a lot of walking to be involved.

Plus, while the railings on cruise ships are generally pretty high and not easy to climb, the same can’t be said of river cruise ships. Rather than glass-fronted balconies, you’ll often find horizontal railings. Eek!

If you want to take an ocean cruise with a two-year-old, I recommend P&O Cruises. They allow two-year-olds in the kids’ club, unlike most other cruise lines, which won’t take under-threes.

3 Years Old

Three years old is a great age to take your child on a cruise. By this age, they’ll be able to attend the kids’ clubs and, so long as they’re toilet trained, they can use the swimming pools and whirlpools on the ship.

While you can certainly take your child on a cruise before they reach three years of age, you may find that you’re paying the full fare for a child who’s not old enough to participate in many of the activities.

Plus, if you wait until your child is three, there’s more chance that they’ll actually remember the trip as they get older.

For something really special, a Disney cruise is a great option for three-year-olds.

Suggested read: Disney Magic at Sea UK Cruise Review

Children on a Disney cruise with Disney characters

4 Years Old

Once your child is four years of age, more river cruise options become available. Kids aged four and over are welcome with Uniworld, AmaWaterways, and APT.

Another river cruise line, Tauck, has a selection of cruises called Tauck Bridges, which are aimed at families with kids aged four and up.

Remember, just because you can take a river cruise with a four-year-old, it doesn’t mean that you should. Many river cruise lines only recommend their cruises for kids aged eight and older, even though they allow younger children to cruise.

If your child doesn’t mind a lot of walking, is generally well-behaved and can be trusted not to climb overboard the moment your back is turned, a river cruise could still be a great option for your family.

7 Years Old

Many exotic river cruises require kids to be aged seven or older to cruise. These included river cruises in Russia, Asia and South Africa.

The age requirements vary with each cruise line, but if you’re looking for something outside of Europe, be sure to check this with the cruise line or your travel agent.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

8 Years Old

I would say that eight years old and above is when kids will most enjoy a river cruise. After this age, they should take more of an interest in learning about the places you visit, so it can be a good educational family holiday.

Avalon River Cruises allows children aged eight and over onboard its river ships. In addition, Windstar Cruises usually only allows children aged eight or over to cruise, but exceptions to the rule may be made in exceptional circumstances.

12 Years Old

Adult-focussed river cruise lines Scenic and Emerald allow kids aged 12 and over on board their luxury river ships. There’s nothing specific for teenagers to do on board, but they are allowed to cruise with adults if you wish.

16 Years Old

Children aged 16 and 17 have to be accompanied by an adult to cruise. However, at this age, they are generally allowed to stay in their own cabin and can do things alone on the ship, such as attending shows in the theatre, going to the gym, and leaving the ship by themselves without your permission.

18 Years Old

If you’re 18 years old and want to cruise without your parents, there are some options. However, most cruise lines require at least one passenger on the booking to be aged 21 or over.

However, there are some cruises that allow groups of 18, 19 or 20-year-olds to cruise with friends.

List of cruises for 18 years olds (without the need for someone 21+):

Cunard
Marella
MSC (only if no ports in the US)
P&O Cruises
Royal Caribbean (only if no ports in the US)

Adult-Only Cruises

Some cruise lines only allow adults to book, whereas others have adult-only ships or adult-only cruises.

If you’d rather cruise without children, there are some adult-only cruises for you to consider…

List of adult-only cruises:

P&O Cruises – Arcadia & Aurora
Marella – Marella Explorer 2
Tui river cruises – All ships
Viking – All ships
Virgin Voyages – All ships

Suggested Read: A Guide To The 12 Best Adult-Only Cruises

21 Years Old

While 18-year-olds can sometimes cruise alone when outside of the United States, many cruise lines require that at least one person in each cabin is 21 or older.

These include Celebrity Cruises, Costa, Crystal Cruises, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Seabourn Cruise Line.

Certain cruises also require passengers 21–24 years old to be accompanied by someone 25 years or older. These include Carnival, Costa and Windstar.

With all of the rules for people aged 16 to 25, exceptions may be made for legally married couples and members of the military. For example, if you’re a 24-year-old couple on your honeymoon, you’ll probably find that the cruise line will waive the rule about needing someone aged 25 or older on the booking.

40-50 Years Old

British cruise line Saga is aimed at the over 50s and has a minimum age requirement to cruise. Guests must be aged 50 or over to set sail with Saga.

The exception to this is for people aged 40 – they may cruise with Saga only if they are accompanying a person who is aged over 50.

Suggested read: The Best Cruises For Over 50s

FAQs

How old do you have to be to book a cruise?

Most cruise lines will let you book a cruise on your own when you turn 21. Some let you cruise when you’re 18, but not if there’s a US port on the itinerary. A couple, including Carnival, set 25 as the minimum age (with a couple of exceptions).

What cruise can you go on alone at 18?

The cruise lines that will let you cruise on your own at 18 years old include Cunard, P&O Cruises, and Marella Cruises. You can also sail with Royal Caribbean or MSC, provided there are no US ports on your itinerary.

Do you have to be 21 to go on a cruise?

If you’re travelling with someone older than 21, then no – you don’t need to be older than 21. Many cruises accept children and younger adults, but someone in the booking party typically has to be 21, depending on the cruise line and itinerary.

Multiple ages drinking and having fun on a cruise

The Bottom Line

Cruises make great holidays for people of all ages. You can take your kids on a cruise as soon as they are born, although you’ll have a much wider choice if you wait until your baby is six months old.

From three years of age, kids can access most areas of a cruise ship including the pools, hot tubs and kids’ clubs. After the age of eight is the best time to take a river cruise as children can make the most of this kind of holiday.

If you’re aged between 18 and 25 and want to cruise, you may find that you need to have an older adult with you on board. However, the rules vary and exceptions may be made in certain cases.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

If you found this interesting, please share!

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Cruising With A Baby Or Toddler On P&O Cruises

April 9, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Kids P&O Cruises

Many people ask me whether babies can go on P&O Cruises and the answer is yes! Not only can babies sail on board P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships, but this is a great cruise line to choose for babies and toddlers for so many reasons…

P&O’s Baby Policy

Babies must be at least six months to sail with P&O
Cruises and at least 12 months for exotic fly-cruises. If you want to cruise
with a baby who is younger than six months old, you should look into other
cruise lines such as MSC Cruises.

P&O Cruises Infant Pricing

Infants under two years old sail at a ‘reduced rate’ with P&O Cruises. Exactly how much you’ll pay for your baby varies depending on the cruise – the P&O Cruises infant prices do vary. According to online forums, people have paid between £50 and £300 to bring a baby on their cruise.

From time to time, P&O Cruises has promotions where the third or fourth passenger in a cabin can sail for as little as £1. So booking your cruise whilst one of these promotions is live can be a great way to save you money on your cruise.

Click to see how P&O Cruises baby prices compare to other cruise lines.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

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Accommodation For Babies

P&O Cruises provides travel cots free of charge. There is space in even the smallest of inside cabins for a travel cot but if you do require a bit of extra space in your cabin, your cabin steward will be happy to take down the travel cot in the morning and put it back up for you in the evening.

The travel cots come with a thin mattress and a sheet. Guests are requested to bring their own cot bedding such as duvets, pillows or sleeping bags as required.

It might be a good idea to bring a thick blanket or small quilt to create some extra padding if your little one is used to a softer bed. If you forget to bring your own bedding, you may request a thin blanket from your cabin steward.

If you’d prefer for your toddler to sleep in a bed, you can request a bed guard to make sure that they can’t fall out. Some cabins have sofa beds and others have Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling like bunk beds. When you book, you can request a cabin with a sofa bed if you prefer this option.

Two children asleep in a sofa bed onboard P&) Azura — Sofa bed on P&O Azura

A variety of cabin types are available. Budget-conscious travellers might be best to opt for an inside cabin.

But if your baby will only sleep in a cot and you’re likely to be confined to the cabin at nap times or in the evening, then it’s probably worth considering upgrading to a balcony cabin so that you can relax on the balcony while your child sleeps.

Suggested read: Are Cruise Ship Balconies Safe for Toddlers?

Onboard Activities For Babies And Toddlers

You’ll find lots to keep tots entertained on board P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships. One of the best things about P&O Cruises is that children wearing swimming nappies are allowed in designated pools. On many other cruise ships swimming nappies are completely banned from all pools.

We sailed on P&O Britannia and our two-year-old loved splashing in the shallow paddling pool in between the two main pools. He also loved the splash area which has a fountain and flowing water that can be stopped with various levers and wheels.

This area is a little bit hidden on the ship between the shuffleboard court and The Reef kids’ club, so make sure you don’t miss it if you sail on Britannia.

P&O Cruises ships are very spacious and your little ones will love crawling around the open decks. Railings are either high with a double hand-rail or made of glass walls, which makes the decks a very safe environment for little ones to roam as long as you keep an eye on them.

Although under-twos aren’t permitted to be left in the kids’ club, they can attend with parents for supervised play sessions. You’ll also find a variety of family events on board such as discos and magic shows.

Babysitting

Although there is no in-cabin babysitting, P&O Cruises offers a Night Nursery for free-of-charge group babysitting.

The Night Nursery is a dark, quiet room with beds and cots where under-fives can sleep under the supervision of two qualified members of staff. This is open from 6 pm until midnight and extended until 2 am on request.

Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents are given a pager so that they can be contacted should their children wake up.

Baby Food

P&O Cruises provides baby food free of charge. Hipp Organic baby food jars are available in an assortment of savoury and dessert flavours in stage 1 (4 months +) and stage 2 (7 months+).

Alternatively, you can request that any food from the main restaurant menu be pureed or mashed. There are also always plenty of foods on offer that are suitable for baby-led weaning such as bread, fruit and vegetable sticks.

Read more: How to feed your baby on a cruise

Baby Adam eating Pizza onboard cruise ship

Children and babies can dine in any of the dining areas on board. In addition, there is a special children’s tea at around 5 pm each evening (the exact time varies by ship).

Here, you’ll find a variety of kids’ favourites on offer in a relaxed atmosphere – perfect for parents who’d like to eat a little later in the evening than the children.

Toddlers can choose from the extensive children’s menu or try a small portion of any dish on the main menu. You’ll also find plenty of high chairs available in the restaurants.

Toddler drinking juice during dinner at a cruise ship dining room

Baby Milk

P&O Cruises can provide baby milk powder free of charge on request. The brand offered is SMA progress. If you prefer an alternative brand, you should bring your own baby milk.

Whole cows’ milk or plant-based milk can also be provided. Just call your cabin steward to place your request for warm or cold milk to be delivered to your cabin.

If you ask for a large jug or carton of milk, this can be kept in the fridge in your cabin. Alternatively, you can help yourself to milk from the buffet restaurant.

Breastfeeding is also welcome in all areas of the ship.

Read more: How to feed your baby on a cruise

Pushchairs

You are welcome to bring a pram or pushchair on board. The only restriction on this is that they are not allowed to be left in the corridor outside your room as they are with some other cruise lines.

If your pushchair is collapsible, you’ll find plenty of storage space under the beds, should you wish to keep it out of the way.

For those travelling with two children, side-by-side pushchairs are not recommended as they can be too wide for some of the corridors. Instead, opt for a narrower style or take two pushchairs or a buggy board.

Baby Paraphernalia

Babies come with a lot of equipment, but luckily, much of what you need is available to borrow free of charge, which means you can cut down on your packing list substantially.

Items available on request include:

Travel cot
Baby bath
Bottle/food warmers
Sterilisers
Nappy disposal units (although normal bins are emptied twice daily too)
Bed guards

Just mention if you would like any of when you book and you’ll find them waiting in the cabin for you.

For a full list of baby items to pack on a cruise, get the free printable checklist that I use. Just enter your email address below and it will be sent to your inbox.

Laundry

On board P&O Cruises you’ll find self-service launderettes with washing machines, tumble driers and irons which are free of charge.

You needn’t worry about packing lots of clothes for your children, as you’ll be able to do washing during your cruise should you need to. I’d recommend bringing your own washing tablets, as they cost £1 each to buy in the on-board shop.

If you prefer someone else to do the washing for you, there is also a laundry service available for a fee.

Summary

Whilst many cruise lines cater very well for babies and children, the P&O Cruises baby policy is one of the best and you can’t go wrong. The staff are all very friendly and on-hand to help wherever they can to make your family holiday as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Do you have any more tips for cruising with young children on board P&O Cruises? Please share them in the comments below. Or if you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

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125 Ocean Names to Inspire You

January 21, 2025

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News

Ocean-related names always have a lot of meaning behind them. What better name to give your baby (or fur-baby) than something which relates to the features of the sea – strong, mysterious and beautiful.

Many of the ocean-themed baby names are names that mean ocean in other languages. Some mythical ocean names refer to gods of the sea and others are related to the sea in different ways.

In researching this article I found that my own name, Jennifer, means ‘white wave’, which is something I’m thrilled about! I love having a water-themed name.

Names that mean ‘Ocean’

There are many baby names that mean water or ocean to choose from. Some of these aquatic names are obvious, but others have a hidden meaning and you wouldn’t know that these names mean ocean unless you looked it up.

Ocean-inspired baby names

I’ve split this list of ocean-themed names and ocean-related names into boy names, girl names and dog names. However, some names are unisex and some of the dog names can definitely also be used by humans so please don’t be offended if your ocean baby name is on the dog name list!

Also, if you have any more suggestions for sea related names or names meaning sea then please do let me know in the comments!

Ocean names for girls

This list includes girls’ names that mean ocean and other water-related girl names.

Giving your baby girl a name meaning ocean, sea or water is a great idea because the ocean is powerful, beautiful and mysterious – just like your daughter! There are so many beautiful water names for girls.

Whether you want a subtle ocean-themed girl name like Jennifer or a strong name like Ocean, take a look at this list of the best ocean names for girls.

Aerwyna – Old English, means ‘friend of the sea’
Amphitrite – In Greek mythology, Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon and was said to be the personification of the sea
Ariel – Thanks to Disney, probably one of the most popular mermaid names right now
Asherah – This awesome name has an awesome meaning – ‘she who walks on the sea’
Aukai – Hawaiian girls name that means ‘explorer of the sea’
Avisa – Means ocean in Sankrit
Beryl – Now considered a more old-fashioned name, these eventually get popular again and this means ‘sea-green jewel’ – one to consider if your girl has green eyes
Cari – In Welsh, it means ‘beloved’ but it also has a Turkish meaning, ‘flows like water’
Chantara – A more unusual name, this Thai word means ‘moon water’
Coral – A classic ocean-inspired name that makes you think of reefs
Cordelia – She is the Celtic goddess of the sea and also an Indian cruise line
Daria – A variant of the Persian name ‘Darya’, which means ‘ocean’
Delja – This Polish girls’ name means ‘daughter of the sea’
Delmare – French in origin, and meaning ‘of the sea’
Derya – This Turkish name is one of the prettiest names that mean ‘sea’
Doris – This name is of Greek origin and means ‘gift of the ocean’
Dwyn – A Welsh name, this power word means ‘wave’
Ezili – This name comes from the Benin goddess of water and beauty
Firtha – An old Scottish name that means ‘arm of the sea’
Gali – In Hebrew, this name means ‘wave’.
Ginevra – A name similar to Guinevere, this means ‘white wave’
Iluka – This Aboriginal name means ‘by the sea’
Itsaso – This Spanish girls’ name means ‘sea’
Jennifer – Cornish for ‘white wave’
Kailani – This pretty Hawaiian girls’ name means ‘sea and sky’
Kaimana – This Hawaiian name means ‘the power of the ocean’. It’s suitable for both girls and boys.
Kairi – This Japanese girls’ name means ‘ocean’
Kendra – A pretty name meaning ‘water baby’
Lana – A name from Hawaii, this means ‘afloat in calm waters’
Manami – This Japanese name has several possible meanings, one of which is ‘ocean’
Mar – Mar is the Spanish and Portuguese word for ‘sea’
Marcelline – A pretty French name meaning ‘defender of the sea’
Maree – This is a variation of Mary, and means ‘ocean tides’
Marella – Latin for ‘star of the sea’
Maren – Another Latin name, this time meaning ‘sea’
Marina – As well as being a place where boats are kept, Marina is a Latin name meaning ‘from the sea’
Marissa – A pretty alternative to Melissa that means ‘drop of the sea’
Maya – Of all the girls’ names that mean ‘water’, this one is very popular right now
Mayim – A Hebrew name, this is another that simply translates to ‘water’
Meri – A name of Estonian and Finnish origin, meaning ‘sea’
Mira – This beautiful Latin name has several meanings including ‘ocean’
Moana – This Polynesian name means ‘sea’ and is also the title of a well-known Disney movie
Morgan – This popular unisex Welsh name means ‘sea-born’. An alternative that’s just for girls would be Morgana.
Morwenna – This is a Welsh girls’ name which means ‘waves of the sea’.
Murial – An Irish name meaning ‘of the bright sea’
Naia – A name from the Basque region that means ‘wave’ or ‘seafoam’
Nerida – One of the most exotic sea names for girls, this name means ‘mermaid’ in Greek
Nerissa – A Greek name meaning ‘from the sea’
Nori – Japanese for seaweed, and also the nickname Kim Kardashian uses for her daughter North West
Ocean – This strong name is perfect for a baby girl
Onda – Italian for ‘wave’
Ondine – A Latin name meaning ‘little wave’
Pearl – English in origin, named for the birthstone found in the sea
Sedna – A more unusual name, it is shared with the Goddess of the sea
Sereia – The Portuguese word for ‘mermaid’
Serena – The Latin origin of this name means ‘clear’ or ‘tranquil’
Stellamaris – This is a girls’ name meaning ‘star of the sea’
Tarni – A favourite in Australia for girls, this name means ‘wave’ or ‘surf’
Thalassa – This unusual girls’ name means ‘ocean’
Ula – This unusual name means ‘gem of the sea’
Umiko – A Japanese girl’s name that means ‘child of the sea’
Vanora – This unique girl’s name is Welsh in origin and means ‘white wave’
Varuna – In Hindi, this is the god of water and oceans, and it’s a popular girls’ name
Yara – A popular name from the recent Game of Thrones books and TV series, this Brazilian name means ‘water lady’
Zarya – This Slavic name once belonged to an exotic water priestess

Ocean names for boys

This list includes boy names meaning ocean and other ocean-themed names for boys.

Water-inspired names are flowing back into fashion for boys and are especially popular with nature lovers. The ocean is strong, interesting and limitless – just like your baby son will surely be!

Ocean names for boys can be traditional or modern, common or unusual. There’s a sea-inspired name to suit every young man.

Aalto – A Scandinavian boys’ name, this means ‘wave’
Adrian – The name Adrian was originally used to refer to a person from the Adriatic Sea
Alon – This sophisticated-sounding boys’ name means ‘waves’
Arnav – This Hindi name means ‘ocean’
Calder – Becoming more popular in the last 10 years, this name means ‘rocky water’
Caspian – The Caspian Sea is an inland body of water between Europe and Asia
Cove – Gaining popularity as a baby name in the US, a cove is a coastal inlet
Delmar – Translated from Spanish, this boys’ name means ‘of the sea’
Delmore – This French boys’ name means ‘of the sea’
Deniz – This Turkish name means ‘sea’. It was traditionally a boys’ name but nowadays it’s unisex. Variations include Dennis and Denise.
Douglas – This Scottish boys’ name means ‘black water’. It can be shortened to Doug.
Dylan – Commonly used for boys, but can also be unisex, Dylan is a Welsh name meaning ‘son of the sea’
Earwyn – Surprisingly common in the US, this name means ‘friend of the sea’
Eldoris – The inspiration for Doris in the girls’ list above, and also meaning ‘of the sea’, but a great unisex version of the name
Gyatso – This is a Buddhist boys’ name which means ‘ocean’
Hali – This unisex name is of Greek origin and means ‘sea’.
Heli – A Celtic unisex name which means ‘saltwater’ It’s found in the name of the Welsh town Pwllheli, which translates as ‘saltwater pool’
Hurley – An Irish boys’ name meaning ‘sea tide’
Irving – More common as a surname, this Scottish name means ‘sea friend’
Jordan – This popular name means ‘to flow down’. It can also be used for girls
Kai – A really popular name in the UK, this means ‘sea’ in its Hawaiian derivation.
Kano – Mixed routes from Japan and Africa, this means ‘god of the water’
Laguna – Another name that can be used for boys or girls, it’s Italian and means ‘pond’ or ‘lake’, which is similar to ocean
Llyr – This Welsh name means ‘the sea’, but is virtually impossible to pronounce if you’re not Welsh
Malik – This Arabic boys’ name means ‘wave’. It can also be spelled as Malek or Maliq.
Marino – The male version of Marina, it means ‘of the sea’
Maury – With a Latin heritage, this name means ‘sea channel’
Moses – Really popular in the UK right now, this biblical name means ‘delivered from the water’
Murdoch – Also spelled as Murdock, this was originally a nickname for a person associated with the sea
Murray – An old Scottish name that means ‘settlement by the sea’
Okeanos – In Greek mythology this was the body of water that was believed to surround the earth
River – This is a great name because all rivers lead to the ocean
Trent – In Latin, Trent means ‘gushing water’
Wade – You can ‘wade’ through the sea, so this is surely one of the best subtle water names for boys.

Ocean names for dogs

This list of dog names is for boy and girl dogs. However, this list of mostly unisex names can certainly also be used for human babies as well as fur babies!

The breed of dog or puppy that you choose will likely influence the name that you choose for your dog. Big strong dogs might suit strong ocean names like Captain whereas smaller breeds might be more suited to cute sea names like Pasha.

Azure – The colour of deep blue water, like the sea. Great for female dogs
Bardo – A name with mixed routes, but in several cultures, it means ‘water’
Blue – Another simple option named for the colour of the sea
Bo – A great short name for a dog, it means ‘wave’ in Chinese
Captain – This ship-related name would be great for a boy dog
Chop – While it doesn’t inspire calm, a name that is related to choppy waters
Crest – This short, sharp name is like the crest of a wave
Cruise – Well why not? It can definitely work as a cool name for a dog.
Knot – Another strong name, this relates to the speed travelled on the ocean
Marley – The name of the naughty labrador in the movie ‘Marley & Me’. Marley means ‘pleasant seaside meadow’
Marvin – This boy dog’s name means ‘sea hill’ in Welsh. An alternative with the same meaning is Mervin.
Merlin – Perhaps a bit too wizardly for a human, this name which means ‘sea fortress’ is perfect for a dog
Murphy – This jaunty Irish name means ‘sea warrior’
Murray – Meaning ‘settlement by the sea’
Nen – Short and snappy, this Egyptian name means ‘ancient waters’
Neptune – This mythical ocean name comes from the god of the sea according to the Romans
Nixie – A great girl dog name, Nixie is a Maori name that means ‘reflections on the water’
Pasha – This unisex name means ‘of the ocean’
Poseidon – Greek god of the seas, and a great one to shorten to ‘Po’.
Reef – This relaxing name probably works best for boy dogs, but could be unisex
Siren – In Greek mythology, sirens were alluring mermaid creatures. Now, it makes a good name for a female dog.
Tallulah – A name with both Irish and Native American heritage, this means leaping water – great for a bouncy female dog.
Tiberius – The Tiber is a river in Italy, not strictly the sea, but this would make a great name for a big male dog.
Tide – This is another strong name that would work great for a dog
Triton – Greek god Triton was the son of Neptune
Zale – A powerful name that means ‘strength of the sea’

To conclude

Whether you’re thinking of a name for a baby boy, girl, dog, cat or other pet, I hope that you’ve found inspiration in this list of ocean and water-related names.

Can you think of any other ocean, water, sea or otherwise aquatic names? Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!

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Are Babies Free on Cruises?

December 31, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Choosing a cruise Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Money saving tips

Babies can be expensive little things, can’t they? However, one of the upsides of travelling with a baby is that they get in pretty much everywhere for free.

But do babies cruise for free?

Baby Adam on the bed — My baby on his first cruise

On holiday you wouldn’t expect to pay for a baby to stay in your hotel room, visit tourist attractions with you or eat bits of your plate in a restaurant.

So, you might think that your baby would also travel for free on a cruise, right?

Do You Have to Pay For a Baby On a Cruise?

Babies typically aren’t free on a cruise. MSC Cruises and Cunard don’t charge for babies, but any other cruise lines that accept them will charge, though it will often be a reduced fare.

Many cruise lines charge the FULL ADULT PRICE for babies on-board.

Shocking! So does that mean that your cruising days are over once your little bundle of joy arrives? Or that you suddenly need to pay for a whole extra person when you add a baby to your booking?

Thankfully, no. Read on to find out how you can take your baby on a cruise for a reduced rate, or even for free…

Cruise Lines Where Babies Sail For Free

If you want to get the best value for money when taking your baby on a cruise, you’ll want to know about these two cruise lines that don’t charge for infants…

MSC Cruises

The baby facilities on-board MSC Sinfonia — The baby facilities on board MSC Sinfonia

If you want to take your baby on a cruise for free, one of the best cruise lines to choose is MSC Cruises as children under two sail free of charge.

Cruises from the UK are available, or, if you need to take a flight to start your cruise, you’ll just have to pay a very small amount to your airline to have the babysitting on your knee. The exact amount depends on the airline, but it won’t be much.

Not only do babies sail for free with MSC Cruises, but there are loads of facilities for them on-board too. In fact, MSC Cruises have partnered with the Observatorio Chicco Baby Research Center in order to create holidays that are ‘tailormade for babies’.

They even now offer babysitting services for kids as young as six months old, as of summer 2024. So you can drop them off for a nap, and go explore. There is the option to have your baby supervised in your cabin but that’ll cost extra.

I took my six-month-old son on his first-ever cruise with MSC Cruises on MSC Preziosa and we had a fantastic time – I would highly recommend this cruise line.

Cunard

Under-twos sail for free on board Cunard cruise ships, but you will still need to pay Cunard’s daily gratuities for them.

Whilst traditional cruise line Cunard isn’t the first cruise line that comes to mind for most families, it is actually really good for babies.

Unlike MSC Cruises, which has a limited choice of sailings from the UK, Cunard has plenty. However, you won’t find the same level of facilities for them on-board.

One great thing about Cunard cruises that MSC Cruises doesn’t offer, however, is the complimentary night nursery.

Open from 6 pm until 11 pm, under-twos can be left to sleep under the supervision of professional staff whilst you enjoy dinner, a show, or a trip to the onboard casino.

Cruise Lines Where Babies Sail For a Reduced Rate

The following cruise lines are also certainly worth considering if you’re looking for a cheap cruise with a baby…

Costa
Cruises

Not only will you find Peppa Pig on board, but Costa Cruises doesn’t charge any cruise fare for children under the age of 18 years. Rejoice!

However, they do charge port fees and taxes for children of all ages, including babies. Port charges are what the cruise line must pay to the local authority of each port that the ship calls at, and taxes are what they have to pay to the government.

The cost of port charges and taxes varies depending on the ports that you call at but is usually around 10-20% of the adult cruise fare. This means that you’re still making a great saving when you take your children on a Costa cruise compared to other cruise lines.

P&O Cruises

On P&O Cruises, infants under two years old travel at a ‘reduced rate’ which varies by cruise. P&O Cruises doesn’t publish details of what the rate is, but as it varies by cruise, this is likely to be based on port taxes and charges, as well as possibly some other factors.

Passengers have reported paying anywhere from £50 to £300 to bring their baby on-board, which is always a great reduction on the adult fare.

What’s more, P&O Cruises regularly have promotions which offer child places for as little as £1 outside of the school holidays. So if you can travel then, and book at the right time, you can make great savings.

The complimentary night nursery is open from 6 pm until 2 am, which means that you can spend each evening child-free, should you wish.

Disney Cruise Line

On Disney cruises, under-threes pay half of the child fare. The child fare varies and isn’t a set % of the adult fare.

Disney’s pricing is a bit different than other cruise lines in that they don’t display a ‘per person’ price, just the overall price for your group. This makes it a bit tricky to see how much you’re paying for the kids, but it won’t be a great deal extra to add on a baby.

What might be worth noting, is that Disney Cruise Line is one of the few cruise lines to provide cabins that sleep five people.

On other cruise lines, you’ll be forced to book two cabins, or a family suite, for the five of you, whereas with Disney you can all fit in one room, which is generally cheaper.

Suggested read: The best cruises for a family of 5

Cruise Lines That Charge Full Price For a Baby

Most other family-friendly cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line don’t make any reductions in pricing for children or babies.

This means that, in theory, your baby could be charged up to the full adult fare for your bundle of joy.

Royal Caribbean's baby facilities — Royal Caribbean’s baby facilities

However, it’s important to note that almost all cruise lines DO have reductions for the third and fourth passengers in a cabin – which applies whether they are babies, children, or even adults.

The reductions for the third and fourth passengers varies. It can be just a 10-20% reduction, or it can be much more, depending on your choice of the cruise line, sailing, whether it is in the school holidays or not, and any promotions which are currently running.

Does Royal Caribbean Charge For Infants?

Royal Caribbean charges the standard cruise fare for babies – there is no discounted Royal Caribbean infant price. However, if your baby is the third or fourth passenger in a cabin, you will often pay a reduced rate for them. Infants are also charged the full gratuity rate per day.

How to Decide Which Cruise Line is the Cheapest For a Baby

To decide which cruise has the best price, you need to work out the price of the entire cruise holiday, not just the price for the baby.

Whilst babies might get a highly reduced rate on a Disney cruise yet no discount on a Carnival cruise, the Disney cruise could still cost you three times as much.

You also need to add in the cost of other added extras such as gratuities. Some cruise lines will add up to $15 per person, per day to your bill at the end of your cruise to cover tips for the staff. Often, the gratuity charge applies to all passengers, even babies.

On a seven-night cruise for two adults and a baby, gratuities could add up to an extra £250.

If you’re not expecting it, this can be an unwelcome surprise at the end of your cruise. But if you choose a cruise line that doesn’t charge any gratuities, such as P&O Cruises or MSC Cruises, you won’t need to worry about it.

Babies tend to be free of charge (or only have a very small fee) on most airlines.

Of course, if you decide to fly, you’ll have airline luggage restrictions to think about because let’s face it, babies tend to need a lot of stuff! One of the great things about cruising from your nearest post is that you don’t have any limits on how much luggage you can bring.

Here’s a handy list of what you need if you choose a fly-cruise: Flying with a Baby Checklist

Finally, remember, that the cheapest cruise isn’t always the best. When you’re travelling with a baby, you’ll want to be really mindful of things like awkward flight times, long coach journeys in each port and whether the cruise has like-minded passengers who will be happy to see families joining them on-board.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…

Have you cruised with a baby? Did you get a good deal?

And if you need a little more help, why not sign up for my baby cruise packing list?

And if you fancy bagging yourself a free cruise for the whole family, check out this article next: How To Get A Free Cruise.

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How to feed your baby on a cruise (breastfeeding, formula & baby food)

December 9, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips Food and drink Packing

Cruising with a baby is one of the best ways to travel, but it’s important to plan ahead and know exactly what and how you’re going to feed your baby during your cruise.

Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding or have moved on to pureed or solid food, feeding your baby on a cruise is easy, as long as you plan ahead.

Breastfeeding on a cruise

Breastfeeding in public is welcomed on all cruise ships, and there’s no need to cover yourself unless you prefer to. Most cruise lines have breastfeeding policies that explicitly state that it’s acceptable to breastfeed without a cover anywhere on a cruise ship.

Depending on the countries that your cruise visits, you may need to check the attitudes toward breastfeeding in your cruise destinations.

If you plan to visit one of the few countries where public breastfeeding isn’t widely accepted, it might be a good idea to take something to cover yourself with (I like this cute nautical cover-up, which also doubles as a sun-shade!)

As well as being best for your baby’s health, breastfeeding is the most convenient way to feed your baby while you cruise. It does, however, mean that you might have to turn down the option of an alcoholic drinks package!

If you plan to enjoy a couple of drinks, leave your baby with on-board babysitters, or like your other half to do their share of the night feeds, then you might want to express some milk during your cruise. In this case, don’t forget to pack your breast pump, baby bottles, and anything you need to sanitise them.

You’ll also need to think about where you will store any breast milk. Some cruise ship cabins have a mini-fridge, but it isn’t always cold enough for milk.

If you don’t have a fridge, or it feels too warm, then just ask your stateroom attendant to store the milk for you. There’s a main fridge that they use to store people’s medication, so you can keep your milk in there.

Formula feeding on a cruise

Bottle feeding your baby on a cruise is pretty straightforward; you’ll just need to do some planning to make sure that you have all the equipment you need.

I’ve cruised with a six-month-old formula-fed baby and found that it was no different to staying in a hotel.

Here are my top tips for bottle-feeding your baby on a cruise:

1. Pack plenty of formula

Some cruise ships carry baby formula, and P&O Cruises actually offer it free of charge! However, it might not be the brand that your baby is used to, and it may be expensive to buy onboard.

I’d definitely recommend packing enough formula to last your whole cruise rather than relying on being able to get it on the ship or in ports.

2. Take powdered and ready-to-drink formula

Powdered formula is good because it’s relatively cheap and doesn’t take up a lot of space in your luggage. However, it’s also a good idea to pack some of the pre-mixed bottles for convenience.

I would generally make up powdered formula on the ship. But once you head ashore for your excursions, popping open a carton of the ready-made stuff is super fast and easy.

3. Cruise ship water is safe

Cruise ship water is safe to drink for children and adults, but you should boil it if giving it to babies or using it to make up formula milk.

Of course, using bottled water to make baby formula is an option too, but you’ll still need to boil it, so you might as well use the tap water.

Some bottled water contains too much salt or sodium for babies, so be careful if you choose this option.

4. Check what baby equipment is available on the ship

The following cruise lines allow you to hire bottle warmers and sterilisers free of charge:

Costa Cruises
Cunard
Disney Cruise Line
P&O Cruises

If you’d like to hire any baby equipment, be sure to let the cruise line know before you sail.

If you’re cruising with a different cruise line, you’ll need to bring your own bottle warmers and/or steriliser if you need these.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…

5. Check if your cabin has a kettle

The general rule is that if you’re cruising from the UK, you can expect to find a kettle in your room on most ships. Cruise lines know how much us Brits like a cup of tea first thing in the morning!

You won’t be allowed to bring a travel kettle on your cruise ship, so if you’ll need hot water to make baby milk, then it’s definitely worth asking your cruise line if they can provide you with one.

As a last resort, you can get boiling water from the buffet or from room service.

6. Don’t forget bottle cleaning equipment

As a minimum, you’ll need to pack a bottle brush (I like this travel bottle brush with a built-in drying rack) and some dishwashing liquid. If you usually sterilise bottles at home, then you’ll probably want to do so on your cruise.

I’ve always found that a cold water steriliser with tablets is the best for travel. But if you prefer to bring a travel steam steriliser then these are generally allowed, but you might want to confirm this with your particular cruise line first.

If your baby is a little older, you may opt to sterilise bottles using boiling water from the kettle.

Suggested read: What can you not bring on a cruise?

Toddler milk on a cruise

Once your child is over 12 months old, you might want to give them whole cow’s milk instead of baby formula. If you do, then you’ll always be able to get this free of charge on your ship.

Whole cow’s milk is available in the buffet and any of the ship’s restaurants. You can also request it via room service and keep it in the fridge in your cabin if you have one.

When we cruised on P&O Britannia when Adam was a toddler, we asked for a jug of milk for our room. After the first couple of days, it appeared in our fridge each day without us having to ask, which was lovely.

If your toddler has an afternoon bottle of milk, I’d recommend filling the bottle at the breakfast buffet, then placing it in a cool bag so that it’s ready when they need it, even if you’re off on an excursion.

Can I bring milk on a cruise?

Cruise line policies normally only specifically mention water and soda for beverages that guests can bring onboard. But generally, if a cruise line allows you to bring water, they’ll let you bring milk as well – as long as you follow the same rules for water.

Some cruise lines don’t allow bottles, but will allow cartons and cans – so milk cartons should be OK. Always check with your cruise line on what drinks you can bring onboard, if you’re not sure.

Baby food on a cruise

If your baby eats pureed food, then you have three options on a cruise:

Ask the restaurant staff to puree some food for you
Bring your own pre-packaged baby food jars or pouches
Use pre-packaged baby food provided on the ship

On almost any cruise ship, the restaurant staff will be happy to make up some mashed baby food for you using fresh fruits, vegetables and rice. MSC Cruises even has a special baby food menu for babies aged six to twelve months!

Although the freshly-prepared mashed food is great, you’ll probably want another option too, for when baby wants to at a different time of day to you, or for when you’re off the ship.

Suggested read: Can you take food off a cruise ship?

The following cruise lines provide baby food jars or pouches free of charge:

Cunard
P&O Cruises
Princess Cruises

On other cruises, baby food may be available to buy in the on-board shop. It’s probably best to bring your own, though.

Baby-led weaning on a cruise

If you’ve decided to skip the pureed food and go straight to solid food, then a cruise is food heaven for a baby!

We cruised when my son was six months old, and he absolutely loved trying all the different fruits, vegetable sticks, rice, and potatoes, and he even had his first slice of pizza!

First slide of pizza on MSC Cruises — Adam with a pizza slice on MSC Preziosa

Of course, baby-led weaning can be messy, but you really don’t need to worry as the cruise ship staff are incredibly friendly and do a great job of cleaning the floor! If you feel guilty about all the sweeping up, you could always slip them an extra tip at the end of your cruise.

Don’t forget to pack some food-catching bibs. The disposable bibs can be handy as an alternative to washing plastic bibs in your cabin sink.

Whilst cruise ships are kept scrupulously clean, if you’re concerned about your child eating food that’s touched the table, you might also want to take some disposable stick-on placemats.

For a full list of things to pack for a cruise with a baby, I recommend that you get my free baby packing list. You can save it on your phone or print it off and tick off items as you pack.

Cruises can be fantastic for babies!

However you choose to feed your baby, you’ll be able to do that on a cruise. What’s available on the ship and whether it’s free or you have to pay for it varies depending on the cruise line and also on the ship.

If you have any unanswered questions about what to expect on your particular cruise, then you should get in touch with your cruise line as they will be able to give you the best answer.

If you’d like to borrow any baby equipment, you should be sure to give your cruise line at least three weeks’ notice so that they can ensure that it’s ready for you when you board the ship.

Suggested read: Taking a baby on a cruise ship? Read this first!

Fussy eaters are well catered-for on cruise ships

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Can Babies Even Go On Cruises? Everything You Need To Know About Age Limits, Facilities & More

May 28, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News Cruise Tips

A few short decades ago, cruises were very much seen as being an adults-only holiday. But now, there are plenty of family ships offering services for younger guests too. But what about the youngest guests – can babies go on cruises, or is that still a step too far?

Taking a baby on a cruise is a great idea, as long as you do your research before you travel. To save you trawling the internet looking for answers, I’ve collated all the most important tips and information about cruising with a baby.

This article will help you to:

Choose the best cruise ship for your baby or toddler
Take your baby on a cruise for free
Know what baby gear to pack and what to leave at home
Make the most of your family cruise

You can take a baby on most cruise ships

You can take your baby on a cruise. Most family cruise ships welcome babies from six months old. The exception to this rule is MSC Cruises, which has no minimum age for babies to sail. On certain itineraries that have a lot of consecutive days at sea, babies must be at least 12 months old to cruise.

Suggested read: How Old Do You Have to Be to Go on a Cruise?

Cruise with a baby and toddler — Our cruise with a baby and a toddler

A surprising number of ships are actually baby friendly!

Every cruise ship is different and some are much more baby-friendly than others. You’ll want to look for ships with baby-friendly facilities like travel cots, high chairs and splash areas.

A cruise is often a good option for families with babies because embarkation is easy and there are no luggage limits. However, if you have to fly to the port to join your ship, this won’t apply.

I’d recommend cruising from your local port if possible. If you have to fly, take a look at these tips for flying with a baby.

The best cruises if you want to travel with a baby

The good news is that there are lots of baby-friendly cruises to choose from!

I particularly love MSC Cruises because not only do they let babies cruise for free, but they also provide baby play areas with activities, free one-hour babysitting slots for those aged 6 months and up and fantastic baby food menus.

That 6-month age limit is relatively new – it was introduced for summer 2024. Prior to that, it was for 12 months + only.

I also love P&O Cruises because they are the only cruise line to allow babies in the swimming pools and free babysitting is available from 6 pm until 2 am.

The best cruise lines for babies are:

MSC Cruises
P&O Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Disney Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Carnival
Cunard
Costa Cruises
Celebrity Cruises

This list is in approximate order from most to least baby-friendly out of all the cruise lines that allow children to cruise.

Don’t choose these cruises with a baby!

Adult-only ships – Some cruise lines and ship are for adults only, so you can rule those out straight away
Luxury cruises – You won’t find many families on the ultra-luxury cruise ships, more retired couples who may not relish the company of a baby on-board
Party cruises – There are also some sailing such as ‘festivals at sea‘ and college spring break cruises in the US that wouldn’t be a great place to take a baby

How young is too young?

Most cruise lines require that babies must be at least 6 months old on the first day of the cruise. For selected itineraries that visit exotic destinations or have several consecutive days at sea, babies must be 12 months or older to sail.

MSC has no rules (sort of)

MSC Cruises has no minimum age for babies to sail and on Celestyal Cruises, the minimum age is three months. If you want to take a cruise with a baby under six months then these are the two cruise lines to consider.

Suggested read: 15 things to love about Celestyal Cruises

We cruised on MSC Preziosa when our son was six months old. We saw several babies who were much younger than him, including a teeny-tiny set of twins.

Six-month-old baby on a cruise — Our six-month-old baby on a cruise

It’s perfectly possible to cruise with a newborn baby. If you’re planning a cruise with your first baby, you may wish to wait until your baby is born before you book anything. Your baby could have health issues, or you may take a while to recover from the birth yourself, which might mean that you need to wait a little bit longer before taking your first family cruise.

Your baby still needs to empty that piggy bank

On most cruises, babies are not free but they do sometimes cruise at a reduced rate. Taking a baby on a cruise can cost anywhere between $50 and the full adult cruise fare.

How much you pay to bring your baby along can make a huge difference to the overall cost of your cruise.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…

Cruise lines where babies are free – MSC Cruises & Cunard

If you want your baby to cruise for free, choose a cruise with MSC Cruises or Cunard. These are the only two cruise lines that offer baby friendly cruises and never charge for children under two years of age, although on Cunard you will still have to pay the daily gratuities.

If you book a fly-cruise, you may be charged a small fee for a baby to sit on your lap on the plane, depending on the airline.

Cruise lines where babies aren’t free…

All other cruise lines charge for babies. The exact price for babies on cruises ranges from a few dollars to the full adult fare.

P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises and Disney Cruise Line: Charge a reduced fare for babies
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line: Sometimes have ‘Kids Sail Free’ promotions, where you can bring your baby along for free. (If you book your cruise when this promotion is not on, you’ll be charged the full adult fare for your baby)
Carnival, Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises: Always charge the full adult fare for babies

Splash happy – the rules on babies and pools

Most cruise ships do not allow babies or toddlers who are not toilet trained to use the swimming pools or Jacuzzis on-board. However, P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships do allow kids in swimming nappies to swim in designated pools. Also, some other cruise ships have splash parks where swimming nappies/diapers are permitted.

Swim diaper in cruise ship pool — Adam wore a swimming nappy in the pool on P&O Britannia

Here is a list of cruise ships that allow babies and toddlers in swimming nappies:

1. P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises allows children in swimming nappies to use the following swimming pools:

Azura – Children’s pools (Aft) and the Coral Pool
Britannia – The Reef Adventure Zone and the Lido Pool
Iona & Arvia – Baby pool in the Splash Zone
Ventura – Children’s pool (Aft) and the Beachcomber Pool

2. Royal Caribbean:

Royal Caribbean does not allow swim diapers in any of the onboard swimming pools, whirlpools or H2O Zones. However, swim diapers and nappies are allowed in Baby Splash areas which are available on the following ships:

Allure of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas
Icon of the Seas

3. Disney Cruise Line:

Disney Cruise Line does not allow swim diapers in any of its swimming pools or spas. However, kids in swim diapers are allowed in the water play areas on each ship:

Disney Dream – Nemo’s Reef
Disney Fantasy – Nemo’s Reef
Disney Magic – Nephew’s Splash Zone
Disney Wish – Toy Story Splash Zone
Disney Wonder – Dory’s Reef

Nephew's Splash Zone on the Disney Magic — Nephew’s Splash Zone on the Disney Magic

All other cruise lines including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Marella and MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises do not allow babies in the water with swimming nappies.

There may be water areas, such as the water play areas on-board MSC Virtuosa or Caribbean Princess, where this rule is not policed. You may see very young children playing in the water on your cruise. However, the official line is that swimming nappies are not permitted by these cruise lines.

The best type of cabin for a family

Personally, I almost always choose an inside cabin when we cruise as a family. We’ve cruised with a baby in a toddler in an inside cabin and it was just fine.

The main reason to choose an inside cabin is cost, but they also have advantages in that they are lovely and dark at night, more private and it can be safer not to have a balcony if you’re scared that your toddler might attempt to climb it.

However, there are several reasons why you might choose to upgrade to a larger cabin, a balcony stateroom or a suite when cruising with a baby…

Inside space – Your baby will sleep in a travel cot in your cabin, which will take up valuable floor space and you might not be able to open drawers or the fridge
Outside space – If you plan to spend time in your cabin while your baby is asleep then a balcony will be incredibly valuable
A bathtub – Suites often come with bathtubs as well as a shower, which can be handy

My kids loved to sleep in pushchairs so when naptime or bedtime came around we’d do a few laps of the deck and then park the pram in a shady spot. However, I recognise that not all children are the same! Some babies will only sleep in a bed. If you can relate to this then a balcony would certainly be a great investment so that you can spend naptime sitting in the sunshine rather than whispering in the dark.

Taking a baby on a cruise in an inside cabin

Essential baby packing info

Babies come with so much stuff, don’t they? A cruise with baby luggage could easily get out of hand… Luckily, if you’re able to join your cruise ship without flying, then there’ll be no limits on how much you can bring.

However, just because you can bring all the baby equipment and paraphernalia you own, doesn’t mean that you should. Cruise ship cabins are generally on the small side. And they’ll feel even bigger if you bring too much stuff, so try to stick to the essentials.

To make it easier to know what you need to bring, what you can get on board your ship and what you can do without altogether, I’ve created a free printable baby cruise packing list.

Just enter your email and it will be sent straight to your inbox.

Other things that are good to know

Babies are treated exactly the same as adults when it comes to passport requirements. It’s recommended that everyone taking a cruise has a passport. Passports are always needed for a cruise, with the exception of US citizens when taking certain cruises that begin and end at the same US port.

Be aware that baby monitors don’t work very well on cruise ships because almost all of the walls on a ship are made of metal which stops the signal from passing through.

It’s unlikely that you’ll actually need a baby monitor on a cruise ship anyway. Chances are, you’ll all be sleeping in one cabin. If you have two cabins with an adjoining door or a mini suite, you can just leave the door open, or at least ajar, and you’ll be able to hear your baby should they wake up.

In terms of food, you are allowed to bring any pre-packaged food that you wish on to your cruise. However, fresh food like fruit, vegetables and homemade baby food may be confiscated.

Baby food is often provided on cruise ships. If you wish to also bring your own, you should stick to ready-made jars and pouches.

Suggested read: How to feed your baby on a cruise

And here’s an interesting fact – according to a medical study on motion sickness susceptibility, it is uncommon for children under two years old to suffer from seasickness.

If your child does suffer from seasickness, remedies include acupressure bands which you can get on Amazon and eating green apples. Children’s seasickness medication is usually only suitable for those ages two and over.

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Cruise Ship Balcony Rooms Are NOT Safe for Toddlers

March 12, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Baby & toddler Cruise Lines Cruise News

If you’re planning a cruise with your toddler, then one of the biggest concerns is their safety. And if you’re constantly worrying about your little one, you’re simply not going to have fun.

I’ve been cruising since my son was six months old and I’ve done it plenty of times with toddlers in tow. So I know exactly how you feel.

I’m not saying you can’t have a cabin with a balcony with young children. But if you do, you’ll have to be as vigilant as a hawk. So, read on and I’ll help you decide which is the best stateroom to choose for your family.

What Are Cruise Ship Balconies Like?

Cruise ship balconies are usually pretty small, with just enough space for two chairs and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a little table or footstool. The side is made of glass that comes up to waist height, and if you look down, the drop will be between four and 20 storeys, either into the sea, or onto a promenade deck.

cruise ship balconies on Iona — Balconies on Iona

People do go overboard from cruise ship balconies several times per year, and it’s almost always fatal. It’s important to note, though, that these instances are pretty much always caused by passengers who jump on purpose, or are doing something silly, like climbing.

You can’t fall off a cruise ship balcony by accident. But If you’re standing up holding a toddler near the edge, or letting them climb up on furniture, then the risk of them falling overboard is very real.

What Parents Need to Be Aware Of

Cruise lines go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their guests, but their measures are not foolproof. And as you’ll know, toddlers, are as nifty as they come.

Here are the things that you need to know about cruise ship balcony rooms, so you know what to expect if you book one…

1. The height of balcony rails

Waist-heigh glass barriers may seem impossible. But that’s not always the case, and you should never assume that your child won’t be able to climb over. Toddlers are very curious as you’ll know, and they may find a foothold somewhere that you haven’t spotted.

my daughter on the balcony — The height of balcony railings

While most modern cruise ships have balcony barriers made of glass, some do have either solid metal or metal railings. The solid metal balcony fronts usually have a ledge that a child could use to step up, and the metal bars of a railing make them the easiest to climb.

solif-fronted balconies — Solid-fronted balconies on Nieuw Statendam

2. Balcony furniture

A chair or a table may seem like an exciting climbing frame to our little explorers. But once a child has that added height, it becomes all to easy for them to go overboard.

You can ask your cabin steward to remove the furniture from your balcony, but this isn’t always possible. On our cruise on P&O Cruises Iona, we tried to bring the chairs in from the balcony, but they were simply too wide to fit through the door.

balcony furniture on Iona cruise ship — Our large balcony on Iona

3. Balcony doors

Cruise cabins usually have glass doors that open onto the balcony. Most have a lock at the top of the door that’s tough for a toddler to reach unless they get creative with a chair.

However, the locks aren’t always at the top, sometimes they’re much lower. As you can see in this photo that I took onboard MSC Virtuosa, my six-year-old was able to open the balcony door lock with ease.

Child opening balcony on MSC Virtuosa — Balcony door on MSC Virtuosa

The Golden Rule

There’s a golden rule you’ve got to stick to when you’re cruising with your little ones. Never, ever leave a young child unattended with access to a balcony. Even if you use the bathroom, make sure that there’s another adult watching your child so they can’t sneak out there.

Of course, the exact age at which you can trust your child to behave sensibly on a balcony depends on the child. I could trust my eight-year-old daughter not to do anything dangerous with 100% confidence. But when I remind my six-year-old son not to climb on the balcony footstool, he’ll likely forget five minutes later and do it anyway.

Baby and toddler on a cruise — Cruising with a baby and toddler

Other Areas of Cruise Ships That Can Be Dangerous For Toddlers

Aside from your cabin, there are several public areas that could prove to be hazardous for your child. It’s important to be aware of these and take necessary precautions.

1. Railings in Public Areas

Out on deck, the barriers are usually chest height to an adult and made of glass. Sometimes, they’re over head height. This makes them impossible to climb, unless there’s furniture involved.

However, many older cruise ships also have horizontal metal railing instead of glass, making it much easier for small adventurers to climb.

Railings on Bolette — Promenade deck on Bolette

River cruise ships are probably the most dangerous, with metal guardrails only reaching an adult’s waist height. These would be very easy to climb, and this is one of the reasons why most river cruise lines do not allow children under five on board.

balcony on a river cruise ship — Our balcony on A-Rosa Sena

You may remember the horror story when a grandfather accidentally dropped his grandchild through an 11th-storey window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2019. He lifted the 18-month-old toddler up to what he believed was a wall of glass, but it was actually an open window. The child fell through his hands and sadly died.

2. Swimming Pools

Most cruise ships don’t allow toddlers who aren’t yet toiletry trained to use the pools. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous to young kids.

When my son was two, he was walking around the edge of a very deep swimming pool on P&O Cruises’ Britannia. I was walking right behind him. In the blink of an eye, he dove head-first into the water and immediately sank down to the bottom. I had no idea that a child would sink so fast!

Frantically, I reached down and plunged my whole arm into the water to grab his ankle and haul him out.

Luckily, my son was absolutely fine and somehow not upset at all. But I was very shaken, and also felt very lucky that he was underwater for just a couple of seconds.

Depending on the cruise line, the pools on your ship may or may not have lifeguards. But even if they do, the pools are often very busy, so you should always keep a very close eye on your toddler near the water.

3. Bars and Restaurants

Your little one might think it’s all fun and games at the bars and restaurants on a cruise ship, but it could be a recipe for danger. People come and go, toting trays laden with food and drink. One unexpected toddler dash could lead to someone tripping and spilling a hot drink or smashing a glass in the vicinity of your child.

While you’re enjoying your food and drinks, it’s vital that you don’t let your children run around. Be sure to pack some tabletop toys and activities that will keep them entertained between courses.

4. Stairs

The stairs on cruise ships can be incredibly dangerous for little ones. The problem is that they often have gaps in between each step. While these gaps may be small to an adult, they could be huge to a toddler, so they could fall through.

Kids on a river cruise ship — The stairs on A-Rosa Sena

As each deck is quite heigh, a flight of stairs may have 15 or more steps, and they’re sometimes made of marble, crystal or other materials that won’t give a soft landing.

5. Elevators

Ready for another tale from my accident-prone son?

A couple of years ago we were in the elevator on an MSC Cruise ship when he let out an almighty shriek. As the elevator doors opened, his finger had got sucked into the side and trapped.

We frantically pressed the button to close the doors in an attempt to free his finger, but they didn’t move. All that was left to do was to pull his finger out with force. Luckily, it wasn’t too badly damaged, but it was red and swollen for a few days. It could have been much worse.

6. Falling out of bed

Most cruise lines allow you to borrow a travel cot for your baby. But once they’re over a year old, you may find that they’re simply to big for it, or they try to climb out, which can be dangerous.

At that point, you’ll have to put them in a full-size bed. So it’s important to know what kind of beds are in the room when you book. Your best option would be a sofa bed.

kids asleep on sofa bed — A double sofa bed on Azura

If they’re likely to fall out you should bring your own bed guard from home, tuck a pool noodle under the sheet, or place some spare pillows on the floor. Alternatively, you could bring an inflatable ‘Ready-Bed’ for them to sleep on the floor.

Some cabins have Pullman beds that come down from the ceiling. These sometimes have age restrictions, but not always. When we cruised on MSC Virtuosa, our two-year-old slept up on the top bunk.

That bed had a large guard rail, but not all do. Here’s an example of what extra beds may look like on a cruise…

If, when you arrive, you’re at all concerned about the safety of where your toddler sleeps, you should be sure to let your stateroom attendant know.

Should You Book A Balcony Stateroom With A Toddler?

Cruise ship balcony staterooms do have their advantages for parents with young kids. It’s a private space where you can relax while your kids nap, with the fresh air from the sea making you feel alive.

But, if you feel that you wouldn’t be able to relax with a balcony, then an ocean view stateroom might be a better bet. As well as being safer, they’re more affordable and come with enough room and amenities for a comfortable stay.

The lure of a balcony stateroom can feel strong, but remember, the child’s safety comes first. Logically, an Ocean View stateroom might just hit that right balance of budget and safety.

My Recommendation

When it comes to cruising with kids, it’s all about ensuring they have a memorable time while staying safe. If you’re torn about which type of room to book, then make sure you read my article about why I (almost) always choose an inside cabins for a family cruise.

Choose your accommodation wisely, keep a keen eye on your kids, and you’re good to go. After all, a safe cruise is a happy cruise. And as a parent, that’s all we truly want.

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Get the free printable PDF

The Important Documents

Passport

Birth Certificate

Visa

Getting Around With Your Baby

Pushchair

Sun Shade or Rain Cover

Car Seat

Baby Carrier

Backpack

Toddler Reins/Backpack Leash

Clothing Must-Haves

Formal Outfit

Shoes and Sandals

Swimwear

Hat

Underwear and Socks

Pyjamas

Feeding

Baby Milk

Breast Pump

Baby Bottles

Sterilising Equipment

Cups, Bowls and Spoons

Plastic Containers

Baby Food and Snacks

Bibs

Burp Cloths

Table Mat

Cleaning

Travel Wash Liquid or Liquid Detergent

Washing Up Items

Antibacterial Surface Wipes

Hand Sanitiser

Sleeping

Sheets and Blankets

Night Light

Changing

Nappies/Diapers

Swimming Nappies/Swim Diapers

Folding Changing Mat

Baby Wipes

Nappy/Diaper Disposal Bags

Toiletries

Baby Wash, Shampoo and Sponge

Sun Cream

Baby Toothbrush and Toothpaste

First Aid Kit and Medicines

Everyday Items

Comfort Items

Toys

Inflatable Baby Pool

Baby Swim Ring

Spray Bottle

Things to Leave at Home – Don’t Bring These!

Travel Cot/Pack and Play

High Chair

Baby Bath

Side-by-Side Pushchair

Packing for your Family Cruise

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

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Newborn Babies

3 Months Old

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2 Years Old

3 Years Old

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8 Years Old

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16 Years Old

18 Years Old

List of cruises for 18 years olds (without the need for someone 21+):

Adult-Only Cruises

List of adult-only cruises:

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