help!!! (baby@shore excursions)

hi we r going to the bahamas with our 8 month old baby -NCL DAWN
we have already booked 3 excursions(brevard zoo, swim with the dolphins, and sea &see)the question is....is it safe to bring our baby to any of these activities? would it be better if we do this on our own w/out booking with ncl?

help us!!!!

o yes...what kind of PJ is appropriate? (air condition could be too cold for the baby)

[alison1170]

We started cruising when our son was 11 mos and will be taking our then 5 mos old this next trip. We skip excursions as its too much for little ones in my opinion. I would hate to be "trapped" on a bus or somewhere that I couldnt catch a cab back to the ship if I needed to. Also keep in mind, the Caribbean sun is very strong and the humidity doesnt let up-both which could be very dangerous for a little one. What we normally do is walk around port/shop, then head back to the ship for lunch, and on to the beach for a few hours at most (or reverse the order to avoid the heat of the afternoon). If one of us wants to do a tour, we have no problem splitting up for a few hours.

As for the dolphin swim-how will you work that out? Will both of you be swimming-who will stay with the baby since the baby wont be allowed in the water with the dolphins. The zoo should be fine-just rememer to keep the baby cool and covered up (a stroller fan would be a good idea, as well as a hat and sunscreen). Again with the sea and see-if youre going to be snorkeling, who will stay with the baby? And is there a covered area (if on a boat or beach) to stay under?

PJs-you can regulate the temp in your cabin. I would dress the baby the same as you would at home in the summer, but also bring along a sweater and blanket to use if the ac is too much in the dining room and other areas.

alison

tank you for your sweet advice alison.

oopsie.......thank......not tank.....THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

I agree that the less formal excursions with a baby, the better. WE often hopped in a cab to go to the beach when our son was a baby/toddler for all the reasons Allison named above. While the zoo should be fine, why don't you and your spouse split up and one day he goes on a shore excursion and you stay w/the baby on the ship and another day you go on an excursion and he stays on the ship or strolling the baby around the port area? I think you might be wasting your money by trying to all go to all of the above excursions.

You may want to read Bringing the Baby article I wrote on the main home page of the family section on cruising with babies and toddlers.

Smooth sailing,
Luisa Frey Gaynor
Family Cruise Editor

thank you Luisa.......by the way i like your name.....