This is our first cruise!!! We are heading out of Tampa, going to Grand Caymans, and Calica. We have a 15 month old we are taking. Questions:

- When docking in Calica, are we assigned a port? Is this close to Cozmel- and if so, I am guessing from the reseach I have done that Cozmel's port is still not ready.

- How does the on board baby sitter work? He is too little to do Camp Carnival (2-?) but Carnival said they have free child care for him till 10 p.m. and then it is $6 per hour till 3 a.m. We were thinking of doing a show or just having some "us" time after 10, just wanted to know if anyone has experience in this situation. If we take him during the day, do we just drop him off, do we have to "sign him up" do they have cribs in the camp?

- Do they have highchairs/booster seats on board for dinning?

- Take a pack and play or use there roll away cribs, if so is there a charge?

- Is it worth it to take a bottle of cheap wine and pay the $10 or just get it there?

Any other info/suggestions/words of wisdom would be great!!!! Thanks!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by jkbrown38:
We have a 15 month old we are taking. Questions:

- How does the on board baby sitter work? He is too little to do Camp Carnival (2-?) but Carnival said they have free child care for him till 10 p.m. and then it is $6 per hour till 3 a.m. We were thinking of doing a show or just having some "us" time after 10, just wanted to know if anyone has experience in this situation. If we take him during the day, do we just drop him off, do we have to "sign him up" do they have cribs in the camp?

- Do they have highchairs/booster seats on board for dinning?

- Take a pack and play or use there roll away cribs, if so is there a charge?

Any other info/suggestions/words of wisdom would be great!!!! Thanks!!!!!

Welcome to cruise-chat jkbrown38. I can answer a couple of your questions about the babysitting. I am not sure where you got your information concerning the babysitting on the ship being "free" until 10:00 pm for a 15 month old, but here is Carnivals policy from their Camp Carnival brochure:

As a special aid to parents, group babysitting is available in the evenings from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am for children 11 and under: The cost is $6.00 per hour per child ($4.00 for each additional sibling). In port, daytime babysitting is available for infants two and under from the time we arrive in port until noon. The same price structure applies. Port day activities for children 2 and up are complimentary. NOTE: All services take place in the Camp Carnival setting as there is no in-room babysitting.

Camp Carnival does have scheduled Family Playtime for children under 2 but this is Family which means that you cannot take the child there and drop them off. This is scheduled time for you to spend doing activities with your child. You need to check with the Camp Carnival staff to find out the days and time of this. Camp Carnival also has stroller rentals for a nominal fee, bouncy seat rentals and travel swing rentals.

Yes they will be able to accomodate the child in the dining room but you need to have your agent put the request in with your dining that you would need a highchair. Please keep in mind that the dining experience usually lasts about 2 hours or more depending on whether you chose the early or late dining times. The dining times are 5:45, 6:15, 8:00 and 8:30, most families with small children choose the early seatings. This is quite a long time for a 15 month old in the dining room, but there is alternate dining areas if you need to use them such as the pizzarea or the buffets or room service. (My husband and I usually choose the 8:00 dining due to the fact that there are usually hardly any young children in the dining room during this time, please do not get me wrong, I love children, but do not want to hear them crying while I am enjoying my dinner).

To save on extra luggage I would request one of their roll a way cribs, your cabin steward will set it up for you. This is another request you need to make with your agent beforehand.

I hope you have a great cruise!!

Excellent post by Carol. As far as the wine, they don't charge the corkage fee unless you take it to the dining room. Have never been to Calica, but I am keeping up with progress for Cozumel and I will try to check around.

Best to you,
IslandCruz

IslandCruz, are you and I the only SC people that stay up this time of night???

I believe the rest of the state is sleeping..lol.

I believe so, I wake up sometimes and do the computer stuff. Then sleep again. I sorta sleep in 3 hour shifts

I do hear we may be in for some rain and wind today

IslandCruz