Topic: Cruising with 2 toddlers

Hi all, due to go on the RCI independence at christmas with my husband and our two girls who will be 2.5 yrs and 13 months. We will all be in one cabin; yee ha! We are seasoned cruisers; took our eldest on her first cruise at 4.5 mths; before the policy changed, this time will be very different! Looking for hints/tips/advice on sleeping arrangements, have a while to get them used to sleeping in the same room, but looking for any little gems of advice that you've discovered and/or used pleeeease!

Thanks........in advance!

Our two were 12 and 23 months when we first took them cruising. They shared a cot in our four berth cabin. It was fine. They loved their first cruise though were too young for the kids club, and this year they'll be 16 and 17 and nearly too old for the kids clubs! Time flies.

You will have to let us know how you go, we have narowed ours down to RCI Independance of the sea or the Ventura. Ours will be 3.5 and 2.5 so too small for the bunks and too big for the cots

One thought that we've had is to buy one of these all in one sleeping bag things that you inflate; Argos do them, all sorts of characters Peppa Pig will be the number 1 choice(!), and put it on the floor for our eldest. They vary in age range as to whether they need sides on to stop them falling out. Reasonably priced at £35. Will let you know how we get on !

The ready bed, mum has one of those for my eldest, never thought of that either, I am sure someone just mentioned it on one of my posts too, now there is an idea and will keep costs down on the rooms

my daughter has an Upsy Daisy ready bed and they are soo good. So quick to put up and move around the cabin to keep it off the floor and out of the way!

Make sure you ask the cabin attendant to remove the small coffee table and store it somewhere else, this will free up some floor space for you.

We first cruised as a family when my daughter was 2 years old, at home she was in an ordinary bed so when we booked I asked if possible would they be able to provide a bed guard.

This was on OV and they did, it was affixed all the way down the side of the upper bunk and was much higher than the ordinary bed rail so there was no fear of her rolling out, she just had to climb into bed from the end. She had great fun and thought herself very grown up! We had no problems what so ever ~ so maybe ask if they can provide one for your older child?

I asked P&O about the bed rails Shelley and they said they could provide 'Mothercare' rails which went all the way round. However on another forum someone coming back from Ventura very recently said the rails he had were no good as they didn't go round the head of the bed (which wasn't against the walls) and his little ones would likely have fallen out so he and his wife took the top bunk. Obviously I don't know if these were the special rails or not, but it has made me a bit wary.
I have read posts re Aurora and Oriana where the posters have taken two ready beds for their children and had room for them on the floor, but the floor plan of a standard Azura outside doesn't look like they would fit.

QUOTE:

I asked P&O about the bed rails Shelley and they said they could provide 'Mothercare' rails which went all the way round. However on another forum someone coming back from Ventura very recently said the rails he had were no good as they didn't go round the head of the bed (which wasn't against the walls) and his little ones would likely have fallen out so he and his wife took the top bunk. Obviously I don't know if these were the special rails or not, but it has made me a bit wary.
I have read posts re Aurora and Oriana where the posters have taken two ready beds for their children and had room for them on the floor, but the floor plan of a standard Azura outside doesn't look like they would fit.

There was a small gap at the top end of the bed but my daughter sleeps quite far down the bed and is VERY Tossy Turny in her sleep and we had no problems. A couple of extra pillows would cover/plug the gap adequately ~ I will try and find a picture.

Ok, the white light is the gap at the top of the bunk on OV


Here it is from another angle, with the cabin set up for 4 people:


Ignore the small scruffy child, It was first thing in a morning getting ready for an excursion, that early it's still dark outside!