Cruise fares are per person which includes children and infants. When traveling with 2 full fare guests, additional guests in the same stateroom pay a discounted cruise fare. Children less than 2 years of age are not required to extend gratuities.
Babysitting services are not offered onboard any of our ships.
Royal Caribbean has Baby Splash Zones on three ships, the Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, and Disney features a toddler fountain play area on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic. The swim-diaper policy is on Royal Caribbean's website, though it can be a wee bit hard to spot.
Who must pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean? On Royal Caribbean, gratuities apply to all passengers. Many cruise lines have special circumstances for younger passengers below 2-3 years old. For instance, Carnival doesn't charge gratuities for kids under two, and Norwegian doesn't charge for kids under three.
Royal Caribbean requires infants be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise to be able to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise. For transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, select South American and other selected cruises, your infant must be at least 12 months old as of the first day of the cruise.
6 Lines Where Babies and Children Cruise for (Almost) Free
- Costa Cruises: Free.
- MSC Cruises: Free.
- Crystal Cruises: Half Price.
- Disney Cruise Line: Half Price.
- Seabourn Cruise Line: Free.
- Cunard Line: Free.
Best Cruise Lines for Families
- #1. Disney Cruise Line. #1 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #2. Royal Caribbean International. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #3. Carnival Cruise Line. #3 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #4. Norwegian Cruise Line. #4 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #5. MSC Cruises. #5 in Best Cruise Lines for Families.
- #6. Costa Cruises.
Cruise lines have some safety precautions built into cruise ship balconies. The doors to the balcony have two locks, and one is towards the top of the door. It would be very difficult for a small child to reach that lock unless they pulled a chair over to the door and climbed on it.
Carnival offers two types of cruise babysitting. The first is for kids under 2 years of age and is only available during select times. On sea days, the Under 2 program runs for a limited number of hours (which vary by sailing and demand) at a cost of $6.75 per hour, plus a 15 percent gratuity, per child.
If a cruise itinerary requires you to have a passport, your child needs a passport too. While an adult on a closed-loop cruise should travel with a government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate, kids under 16 only need their birth certificates.
Fortunately, most kids don't have problems with sea sickness on large cruise ships. And there are other options if they do, including: Dramamine for Kids – chewable tablets (dimenhydrinate) that kids between the ages of 2 and 12 years can take every 6 to 8 hours.
Travel FanCruise ship cabins are air conditioned, but the power of the air conditioner can vary greatly depending on the ship and individual cabin locations. A fan can also help you dry off swimwear or damp shoes much more quickly so you can wear them again.
In general, it's safe to budget between $12 and $15 per person per day of the cruise. So, for a family of four taking a four-night cruise, bring at least $240 just for onboard tips. (It's not necessary to tip on behalf of an infant.)
The cheapest times to cruise are typically in the late summer and fall because of hurricane season. (If you decide to travel then, purchasing cruise insurance is a good idea.) But you can often find other patches of bargain sailings, especially during the early weeks of December and in the spring.
Customers could previously check cases of bottled water through with their luggage, but the company says it will now ban any bottles of non-alcoholic drinks. It will allow customers to bring board a maximum of 12 sealed cans or cartons of other non-alcoholic beverages such as soda, juice or milk.
Top Foods to Avoid on a Cruise
- Burgers and Fries.
- Fine French Food.
- Steaks and Grilled Meats.
- Pizza.
- Sugary Cocktails.
- Chef's Table Dinner.
- Buffet Fare.
Boarding MeasuresAll checked bags on cruise ships are scanned. Passengers must pass through an airport-style detector but do not have to remove shoes; they will have a digital photo taken.
Q: Can you refuse to pay gratuities added to your bill? Yes, though cruise lines highly discourage it and will work with guests if they are not satisfied with the service on their voyage to adjust the fee to lesser gratuities if necessary.
Household AppliancesMost cruise lines do not allow you to bring items such as tea kettles or coffee makers, hot plates, toasters, or mug warmers. Don't worry, many ships have venues open most of the day for you to get your morning joe or cup of tea.
Here's a general list of what to pack for a 7 day cruise:
- Daytime: Swimsuit, cover-up, 4-5 pairs of shorts, 5-6 shirts, and wardrobe essentials.
- Evening: Dress-casual slacks and collared shirts for men, and slacks/skirts with tops for women or dresses.
There are usually two dinner times for each cruise ship. Most cruise lines also offer a form of “Anytime Dining” that allows you to eat whenever you would like.
The best size luggage for a 7 day cruise is probably a 22-24″ rolling suitcase combined with some sort of carry on bag.
The room steward (or stewardess) is the person who cleans your cruise cabin and assists you with anything you might need while in your cabin. The industry standard for tipping the room steward is $3.50 per person per day, given on the last day of the cruise.
Lock It UpSimple locks can help keep your luggage safe, especially if you turn bags over to porters as you board the ship. Opt for TSA-approved locks that will be suitable for airline use as well, and you can be confident your bags are safe for all your travel plans.
U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government
Be prepared with these essentials to pack in your cruise carry-on bags.
- Diapers and Wipes.
- Refillable Water Bottles and Sippy Cups.
- Windbreaker.
- Slip-On Shoes.
- Swim Suits.
- Change of Clothes.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
