Taking our 3 yr old with us on Rhapsody

[Shelly]

We are going on our first cruise in a few months and will be taking our 3 yr old with us. I have several questions.
1. Any advice from someone who has cruised with young children?
2. How good are the children's programs on the Rhapsody?
3. I normally don't leave my daughter with anyone but a family member when I need babysitting so naturally I am nervous about leaving her with the cruise counselors. We plan to keep her with us for the most part but I did see one shore excursion that I really want to do that would require she be left for 3 hrs. Anyone have first-hand experience with this??

Thanks
Shelly

I'm the family cruise editor at CruiseMates.com. My 8 year old daughter is about to go on her 10th cruise; she sailed on Royal Caribbean when she was 3-1/2 years old. She really enjoyed the kids' program, youth counselors and especially riding the glass elevators in the lobby! Since she was an only child until this past year, she welcomed going to the youth program as a way to be with other kids. We left her with private babysitters a few times over the years when we cruised and found them to be very warm and efficient.
I guess my best advice is that you shouldn't let on to her that you're concerned about leaving her and chances are that she'll have a great time. If she's not sold on the kids' program the first visit, continue taking her until she warms up to the counselors and other kids.
We're so sold on family cruising that we're taking our daughter and six month old son on his first cruise next month!
Let me know if you have any add'l questions.
Smooth sailing,
Luisa Frey Gaynor

Shelley,

I took my 6 year old son over Thanksgiving he had a blast. The ship does a great job they have a lot of activities to keep them busy plus they earn sea dollars each time they go and at the end they can purchase souveniers with the money they earned. They also offer an alternative for the kids 3 of the 7 nights for dinner they can eat with staff at the cafe by the pool you sign up the day before space goes fast. They also have activities for the kids if they do not want to go into port my son opt for that it was very safe and he had fun they also take them for lunch. I think she will have a good time. The kids have face painting, science projects, ice cream sundae making, western night, pillowcase decorating, tee shirt decorating plus a lot more.

Ann