15 top tips for cruising with a toddler (on P&O’s Arvia)
Earlier this year, we took our 17-month-old on a 2-week Mediterranean cruise. We sailed with P&O’s Arvia from Southampton and had a truly memorable time. If you’d like to read why I think cruising with a toddler is overall an excellent idea, then please click here.
However, like any excursion involving a child, I knew in advance that this voyage wouldn’t be without its challenges. Before we set out, I read numerous blogs to assemble a collection of helpful tips for cruising with little ones. I was then able to combine these with what I have already learnt through travelling with my son.
Here’s what I’ve established to be 15 top tips for cruising with a toddler:
Tip #1: Do your research!
Some cruise lines are much more family-friendly than others. The last thing you want is to feel that your little one’s needs aren’t catered for. Fortunately, the internet is awash with information and reviews about all the various cruise lines and their facilities.
As a starting point, here is a list of cruise lines departing from the UK and geared towards family experiences:
If you have a really specific question, see if you can find a Facebook group dedicated to that particular ship. They tend to be absolute goldmines for insider information!
Tip #2: Bring a store of nappies and wet wipes for your toddler.
On P&O, they supplied these and other essential items in the shop, but nappy sizes were limited and everything was pricey. So, to be on the safe side, we decided to bring more than we needed. Fortunately, there were oodles of space in the cabin to stow supplies. This created a real peace of mind that we wouldn’t be caught unprepared.
Tip #3: Check the size of your cruise line’s travel cots.
We originally planned to use the cot provided by P&O. However, after some sleuthing, I realised that they were really quite small and our son would have been pretty squashed. The other option provided by the cruise line was a sofa bed with a bed guard. Unfortunately, my son was just a bit too small and young for that. In the end, we brought our own travel cot and it fit the space perfectly.
Tip #4: Bring a blow-up paddling pool to serve as a bath.
If your toddler isn’t used to or hates showers, consider using a blow-up paddling pool to bathe them while on your cruise. Our cabin only had a shower, and although P&O does provide baby baths, they were too small for our requirements.
We brought a small rectangular paddling pool that we managed to squeeze into the shower. We could then turn it over to drain after use and store it away opposite our travel cot once dry.
Tip #5: Bring laundry detergent sheets for the launderette.
This small box of Leaf, good for 30 washes, was so handy: super lightweight, took up almost no space in our suitcase and did a great job at cleaning our clothes.
Tip #6: Bring a pop-up laundry basket with handles!
Packing this style of basket was an excellent decision. They take up minimal space folded flat in a suitcase, open up quickly and easily, have a flat bottom if you wish to separate clothes for different loads, and are so handy for multiple trips between the launderette and your room.
They’re especially valuable when you have big loads. I remember seeing a lot of the other guests struggling with smaller canvas bags or multiple plastic carrier bags.
Tip #7: Bring plenty of snacks that you know your toddler enjoys.
This goes double if you have a fussy eater like we do! It was reassuring to know that there was food in our room that he liked, especially if the offerings from the restaurants that day were unsuccessful. Our room’s mini fridge was filled with our son’s favourite yoghurt and fruit pouches, and it was also handy to store bottles of milk in there for later.
Tip #8: Bring sandwich bags or tupperware for food on-the-go.
During our morning meals, we would sometimes make up a quick lunch (e.g. a cheese or ham roll and an apple) for our son. This was especially handy if we were going off the ship and weren’t sure of the dining options onshore. They’re also great for grabbing any snack like fruit, cereal, crackers etc that your toddler might want to eat later.
Tip #9: Bring washing up liquid and a bottle brush.
If you’re planning to take your toddler’s bowls, cutlery, cups etc, with you on the cruise then these items are essential. Although the sink in our bathroom was small, it was easy enough to wash all of our bibs, bottles and tableware between uses. Just make sure you get an unscented liquid – ‘fresh apple’ might not smell so fresh after two weeks at sea!
Tip #10: Bring magnetic wall hooks.
This was a brilliant tip! All of the walls inside your cabin are magnetic, so it’s incredibly convenient (and space saving) to use wall hooks to get items out of the way. We used ours for hanging rucksacks, toiletry bags, hats and towels, and they worked perfectly.
Tip #11: Bring blackout curtains.
This was the best tip we received while researching how to take a toddler on a cruise. We used the bases of our magnetic hooks to affix a blackout curtain flush with the ceiling and wall in the corner of the room. This created a dark and cosy sleeping nook for our son. In fact, it meant he slept even more soundly than he did at home! This nifty hack also allowed us to move around the room without disturbing him.
Tip #12: Bring a Snooze Shade for your buggy.
This was invaluable for getting our son to sleep while we explored the ship. The Snooze Shade provided a dark, calming environment, allowing him to nap while we enjoyed our evening. If we decided to use the Night Nursery, we could then transfer our sleeping son from the buggy to the cot. This was much easier than trying to settle him to sleep in the nursery when he was already awake.
Tip #13: Bring some magnetic toys to keep the little one busy.
Magnets turned out to be a surprise hit with our son. He had endless fun moving a small turtle fridge magnet, affectionately named “Sticky Turtle,” from wall to wall. We purchased this at one of our stops – the Aquarium in Valencia – as more of an improvised toy.
In hindsight, we should have brought more magnets from the start, as the sliding, peeling, throwing, flipping and hiding aspect of just this one kept him amused for a long time.
Tip #14: Bring small toys and books for your room.
It should go without saying, but entertainment onboard cruise ships for toddlers to access isn’t exhaustive. As geared up towards young children as P&O is, it helped to have distractions like these on hand for slower moments. Keeping some aspects of our home routine intact, like books before bed, also helped ease our son into and out of this different way of life at sea.
Two weeks is a long time in the memory of a very young child. Hence, basic habits that you rely on as a family can get derailed if you’re not careful. Also, as with toys and books at home, it is wise to have these on some kind of rotation so that they remain exciting.
Tip #15: Finally, bring a lanyard for your room keycard.
Parents always have to remember SO MANY things every time we leave the room. It was so handy to have my keycard (which doubled as my room tab) in an obvious place, either worn (as modelled below) or hanging up handily from one of our magnetic hooks. This saved us from constantly searching for it, fumbling around with wallets or worrying about our son playing with the card itself and losing it.
Conclusion
Taking a cruise with your toddler can be an unforgettable experience for the right reasons as long as you make the right preparations. With some thoughtful planning of your own and these handy tips, you should be able to do away with most potential challenges and take much of the stress out of your time away.
As parents, we’re always on the lookout for ways to make it easier for our children to engage with what we’ve planned for them. Please, allow me to do some of that legwork for you! So now, whether you’re exploring new destinations or enjoying your ship’s amenities, it’ll more than likely be smooth sailing for all of you.
Bon voyage!
