Cruising With Kids: Royal Caribbean

You can bring your little on e as early as 6 months old on most Royal Caribbean Cruises. Please note that the minimum age to cruise on all Royal Caribbean transatlantic voyages, transpacific journeys, Hawaiian and South American cruises, is 12 months old.

45-minute play-session, held by youth counselors, are available on board ship. Royal Babies (6-18 months) get the chance to play with musical instruments, baby gymnastics and some food based activities, as well. Yum! Royal Tots (18-36 months) have a pretend pirate playscape, princess dress-up sets, sing-alongs, and a fully stocked toy chest by Fisher-Price. Once the Oasis of the Seas launches, parents on board will have the opportunity to drop their children off at a fully staffed Royal Babies & Royal Tots Nursery with both daytime and evening daycare options, for an additional fee. Be sure to make advanced reservations.

There is also an Adventure Ocean program for children 3 and older. Children taking part in this program can spend as much or as little time at the program as they wish. There are even some special surprises for kids at Coco Cay, including power wheels vehicles and a "racetrack". Royal Caribbean is also one of the few major cruise lines to offer, in-cabin, family-specific babysitting. 24-hour, advance signup is required and payment is requested in cash ($10 per hour for two children and $15 for three). Kids who are not potty-trained cannot go in any of the pools on board Royal Caribbean ships, with or without swim diapers, unless you're on the Freedom or Oasis class ships, on which there are several Baby SPlash Zones.

Accommodations aboard Royal Caribbean ships range widely for families of all shapes and sizes. The Freedom-class ships offer six types of family staterooms, many including sleeping alcoves and pull-pout sleeper beds. Some of the larger ships, including Freedom of the Seas, Liberty and Independence also offer the Presidential Family Staterooms, with over 1,200 square feet of space, which can accommodate 14 family members. Its best to consult your travel agent or cruise line directly to determine which family staterooms are available and determine which one best suits your family's needs.

Pack and Plays are complimentary aboard all Royal Caribbean ships, but cribs are no longer provided. High chairs are available upon request. IMPORTANT: You must bring ALL your own baby supplies with you when traveling on a Royal Caribbean cruise. They do NOT sell baby items in any of the stores on ship. Parents can pre-order diapers, wpies and cream through a program run by Huggies. You must also bring your own stroller or sling on board as there are none available for rent.

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Thanks, Tim. It's nice to know that there are cabins big enough for a large family.

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