Sailing with an infant, generic and specific question

[harriet2]

Next year, if this whole Covid mess clears up a bit, we hope to be sailing with our then 10 month old. I have two questions though.

I see I can request items, one of which being a high chair. If you request this, will the high chair be in your room, or will this be to use in the dining room? (think it will be a hassle in the room, but useful during dinner).

And a more specific question. The last port of our cruise is close to our home town. Would it be possible to dorp of our infant with the grandparents, so we have one adult only night on our cruise? I plan to notify guest services, because my guess is an infant left behind in a port will raise a lot of alarm bells and might be enough to delay departure. But has anybody done this? (Because I'm afraid, even if we let guest services know, it'll still raise alarm bells and cause issues). (Not sure yet I'll be up for it myself at that point, but if I am, would it be a possibility).

 

[Marc D]

The high chair will be brought to your table in the dining room.

Whatever the age of the passenger, you cannot definitely leave the ship anywhere else than your final port. Doing so will put DCL in direct violation of the PVSA and they will be fined - in a previous post, someone mentioned that fine is now close to 800 $ - and will pass on that fine to you. Guest services will not allow it even if you ask. Every passenger is checked out in port, and must check in when they come back onboard.

They know at all times who’s ashore and onboard. If one simply does not show up at all-aboard time, they will hold the ship for a while, make an investigation - probably a more intensive one if the missing person is a minor - and certainly notify the local authorities.

 

[harriet2]

The high chair will be brought to your table in the dining room.

Whatever the age of the passenger, you cannot definitely leave the ship anywhere else than your final port. Doing so will put DCL in direct violation of the PVSA and they will be fined - in a previous post, someone mentioned that fine is now close to 800 $ - and will pass on that fine to you. Guest services will not allow it even if you ask. Every passenger is checked out in port, and must check in when they come back onboard.

They know at all times who’s ashore and onboard. If one simply does not show up at all-aboard time, they will hold the ship for a while, make an investigation - probably a more intensive one if the missing person is a minor - and certainly notify the local authorities.

It's an European cruise, so the PVSA is not an issue.

I know the procedure when going ashore and coming back, that's why I know they'll miss an infant. I also know they won't hold the ship if you're not aboard at the all-aboard time, they'll just leave you behind.

I also know a family stayed behind in the last port during our last cruise (also didn't end in the US). But I'm not sure if they're finned or not. I know they passed customs, but didn't board to wave us good bye. I also know from our table mates they removed their suitcases in the last port because it was close to their home and it'd same them luggage on the flight back and they were given a hard time about it because they didn't notify guest services before hand. (But they were able to do it).

 

[auntlynne]

(A cruise will definitely leave you. My sister was stuck in Paris during a work strike on the railroad. She got an overnight bus to Southampton, England, on disembarkation day and was escorted by Security while she packed.)

I could see that leaving an infant could cause great suspicion! They might even contact the police - I wouldn’t risk it.

I guess leaving your wee one with the grandparents the entire cruise is out of the question?

(Here’s my morning humor - do you have a generic infant?)

 

[harriet2]

(A cruise will definitely leave you. My sister was stuck in Paris during a work strike on the railroad. She got an overnight bus to Southampton, England, on disembarkation day and was escorted by Security while she packed.)

I could see that leaving an infant could cause great suspicion! They might even contact the police - I wouldn’t risk it.

I guess leaving your wee one with the grandparents the entire cruise is out of the question?

(Here’s my morning humor - do you have a generic infant?)

No, the entire cruise is out of the question, like I said, not even sure I'm up for one night (while at sea and unable to get there if something happens).

We would never just leave an infant behind, we'd alway notify guest services (maybe before and after we go ashore?), if they contact the police, the grandparents would be able to be checked pretty easy I'd guess? What will also help is that the child will have the nationality of the country it's left behind in, but still.

 

[nancipants]

If you'd like adult only time (and as a new parent of a 7 month old I completely understand that desire), you could always book them in the Small World nursery for a few hours at night. At 10 months old hopefully they'll have an early bedtime so you could get them settled into the nursery with their nighttime routine/pajamas, go do adult things, and hopefully they'll still be asleep when you pick them up for the night.

 

[ahain]

Would you be able to work through DCL and make specific arrangements for the infant to debark a day earlier?

 

[auntlynne]

No, the entire cruise is out of the question, like I said, not even sure I'm up for one night (while at sea and unable to get there if something happens).

We would never just leave an infant behind, we'd alway notify guest services (maybe before and after we go ashore?), if they contact the police, the grandparents would be able to be checked pretty easy I'd guess? What will also help is that the child will have the nationality of the country it's left behind in, but still.

You said it - “but still.”

 

[Marc D]

It's an European cruise, so the PVSA is not an issue.

I know the procedure when going ashore and coming back, that's why I know they'll miss an infant. I also know they won't hold the ship if you're not aboard at the all-aboard time, they'll just leave you behind.

I know the procedure when going ashore and coming back, that's why I know they'll miss an infant. I also know they won't hold the ship if you're not aboard at the all-aboard time, they'll just leave you behind.

I also know a family stayed behind in the last port during our last cruise (also didn't end in the US). But I'm not sure if they're finned or not. I know they passed customs, but didn't board to wave us good bye. I also know from our table mates they removed their suitcases in the last port because it was close to their home and it'd same them luggage on the flight back and they were given a hard time about it because they didn't notify guest services before hand. (But they were able to do it).

They will leave you behind but they’ll delay departure if they can. The captain might have to leave at a certain time to make the next port, to not be stuck in port because of the lowering tides or to no incur additional port fees, but we’ve waited close to an hour in certain ports for late arrivals without a DCL excursion.

I would think the main problem is customs and immigration. DCL is responsible to present the onboard guests to the local authorities through the ship’s manifest in each port. If someone is missing, whatever the nationality, and even if it’s arranged in advance with guest services, I believe the officer will have to explain and fill some paperwork and other formalities.

Just leaving the kid ashore is definitely out of the question. You may create a lot of hassle for DCL and the authorities simply for a ‘night out’. Also, Disney has a tendency to ban clients, temporarily or sometimes for life, when you break a rule. That would probably be a situation where they may do that.

 

[harriet2]

They will leave you behind but they’ll delay departure if they can. The captain might have to leave at a certain time to make the next port, to not be stuck in port because of the lowering tides or to no incur additional port fees, but we’ve waited close to an hour in certain ports for late arrivals without a DCL excursion.

I would think the main problem is customs and immigration. DCL is responsible to present the onboard guests to the local authorities through the ship’s manifest in each port. If someone is missing, whatever the nationality, and even if it’s arranged in advance with guest services, I believe the officer will have to explain and fill some paperwork and other formalities.

Just leaving the kid ashore is definitely out of the question. You may create a lot of hassle for DCL and the authorities simply for a ‘night out’. Also, Disney has a tendency to ban clients, temporarily or sometimes for life, when you break a rule. That would probably be a situation where they may do that.

I feel pretty attacked by you. I've already made clear we won't do it if not allowed, I just wanted to know if somebody had any experience with it, that's all.

 

[jenmsmith]

I do not have experience with debarking early. But I did want to add that traveling with an infant on DCL was a very enjoyable experience for us. Obviously, it’s not the same as an adults-only trip, but the nursery folks were so wonderful with our daughter. She loved being on ship and seeing the characters and we enjoyed some adult time, as well.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

As others have pointed out, leaving the baby at a different port probably won't be allowed. I would recommend booking the nursery for as much as you can of the evening.

But I will also say, traveling with a baby is a giant hassle. I would not want to be dealing with bottles and formula and/or pumping in a tiny room on the cruise. Even if you plan to breastfeed it may not work out (my body didn't cooperate after 6 months both times) and there's not a great way to wash bottles in the tiny bathroom on the ship. Just thought, it sounds like you might a new parent.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and there's not a great way to wash bottles in the tiny bathroom on the ship.

That's a good reason to use the disposable bottle liners. That's what I used for the baby sitter when our kids were little.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

That's a good reason to use the disposable bottle liners. That's what I used for the baby sitter when our kids were little.

Yeah we did that with my 2nd on trips, but you still have to wash the nipples and have a place for them to dry.

 

[bbel]

I don't know about DCL, but I work/ed for Royal and we had a family leave early (to get to a wedding), they were telling us they had to pay and admin fee for the paper work to be done, and pay the fine that may be charged to the cruise line (the fine is usually waived if you have to leave for a medical emergency and apparently not always imposed but I dont know how that works or if it's from immigration/customs/coastguard) and they had worked all this through with the cruise line beforehand so although they still had to do some paperwork onboard the ship were already aware of the plan.

However, this was a whole family and a whole cabin, but I assume it would be the same for one person.


My advice would be to talk to DCL, what worked on one cruise may not work on another. What is allowed on one cruise line may not be the same, and what happened in a world pre-covid might be different post-covid.

 

[auntlynne]

I feel pretty attacked by you. I've already made clear we won't do it if not allowed, I just wanted to know if somebody had any experience with it, that's all.

I am sorry you received their post in a negative way. Once a subject gets started, it often just continues as ongoing story telling. You never know what little piece of information you present might help someone else. And this is a bunch of people who love cruising, travel, etc. and need someplace to talk. As you may notice, I am wordy, being an extrovert and living with my introverted sister during a close-down.

And, boy, it is hard to get across emotion / inflection and tone.

I hope you get to have a wonderful cruise. And a great birth experience (from a former L&D nurse).

... But didn’t the idea of leaving them overnight sound like a great idea? !

 

[harriet2]

As others have pointed out, leaving the baby at a different port probably won't be allowed. I would recommend booking the nursery for as much as you can of the evening.

But I will also say, traveling with a baby is a giant hassle. I would not want to be dealing with bottles and formula and/or pumping in a tiny room on the cruise. Even if you plan to breastfeed it may not work out (my body didn't cooperate after 6 months both times) and there's not a great way to wash bottles in the tiny bathroom on the ship. Just thought, it sounds like you might a new parent.

Thank you for your insight. Yes, we'll be new parents. We'll do some kind of trip anyway and a cruise actually felt hassle free with an infant, because you will alway have the bed closely for naps, but no experience, so that was just my thought process.

I do not have experience with debarking early. But I did want to add that traveling with an infant on DCL was a very enjoyable experience for us. Obviously, it’s not the same as an adults-only trip, but the nursery folks were so wonderful with our daughter. She loved being on ship and seeing the characters and we enjoyed some adult time, as well.

Yes, we will definitely also use the nursery, but I thought it give a more relaxed night and more relaxed trip home the next day (probably by train, less stuff to howl around).

I don't know about DCL, but I work/ed for Royal and we had a family leave early (to get to a wedding), they were telling us they had to pay and admin fee for the paper work to be done, and pay the fine that may be charged to the cruise line (the fine is usually waived if you have to leave for a medical emergency and apparently not always imposed but I dont know how that works or if it's from immigration/customs/coastguard) and they had worked all this through with the cruise line beforehand so although they still had to do some paperwork onboard the ship were already aware of the plan.

However, this was a whole family and a whole cabin, but I assume it would be the same for one person.


My advice would be to talk to DCL, what worked on one cruise may not work on another. What is allowed on one cruise line may not be the same, and what happened in a world pre-covid might be different post-covid.

Thank you for charing your experience. I'll call them (when the rush of new bookings is over...) and ask. We won't decide till closer to sail date anyway, but just so we know if it's an option or not.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

Thank you for your insight. Yes, we'll be new parents. We'll do some kind of trip anyway and a cruise actually felt hassle free with an infant, because you will alway have the bed closely for naps, but no experience, so that was just my thought process.

In a lot of ways you're right, a cruise is so incredibly convenient and hassle free. Food and activities are right there at your fingertips. And so easy to go back to the room for nap time. But it can also be hard in the room dealing with bottle cleaning and changing diapers on the floor and stuff. Just something to be aware of.

 

[thndrmatt]

Is the night in question an overnight in port? If the ship is staying there overnight and not leaving port until the next day, then they DO let passengers stay off the ship, with no additional notification or requirements. This applied to the Bermuda cruise for us and some have overnighted in St Petersburg as well.

Also wanted to mention when we traveled with an infant and then later two young children having all the help from our stateroom host with the cleaning, the dining room staff with the eating mess, as well as the short term drop off ability of the nursery, made for a great vacation that was much more relaxing than others we could have done.

 

[Capitalangel]

I don’t remember if this has been mentioned because I have popped in and out a few times, but you can also request a diaper pail and pack and play from DCL.