In early December, my husband and I did one thing courageous: We took our toddler on a cruise â particularly, the inaugural crusing of the Disney Treasure. Donât get me improper, we made so many fantastic new recollections, and the three of us nonetheless discuss concerning the journey typically. However man, taking a 3.5-year-old onto a floating island of temptation with tender serve machines and present outlets at each flip meant we had plenty of tantrums to work by means of in the midst of the ocean. By the tip of our three days, we agreed on one factor with absolute certainty: We are going to by no means take any cruise that isnât a Disney cruise till after our child strikes out.
I do know that sounds dramatic, however we’re usually hesitant to journey with our son. The world just isn’t variety to folks whose children have tantrums in public (which all of them do sooner or later), and they are often downright imply and judgmental. And attempting to maintain a toddler glad, fed, and usually OK is simply tougher in new environment. However on the Disney Treasure, all of these issues have been truly really easy. In fact we had the swimming pools, the character meet-and-greets, the exhibits, and all of the magic. However it was the little issues that saved our sanity as dad and mom on our Disney cruise.
01Forged members who arenât afraid of a tantrum
When folks pay some huge cash for a visit, they anticipate every little thing to go their manner, and youngsters being children of their house arenât often welcome (consider all of the cranky folks judging the mother with the crying child on an airplane). Not on a Disney cruise. Each time our son was overwhelmed, cranky, overtired, no matter, a forged member picked up on it and stepped in to deliver him again into the enjoyable.
There was the lady who observed us attempting to get our son to scrub his palms, who laid out his paper towels with a flourish and made him really feel like royalty. He washed. Or Kris, who went out of his option to join with our son on Castaway Cay and periodically stopped by our desk throughout lunch to play âdown low, too sluggishâ and ask him questions. For fogeys who’re used to having to shuffle their fit-throwing child out of the restaurant, itâs such a pleasant vibe shift to have workers members actively attempting to make it potential so that you can keep. This was the most important distinction maker for us.
02The truth that they’ve bathtubs
Our bathe was not only a tiny cruise ship bathe. Oh no. It truly had a decently sized bathtub within the backside. I used to be resigned to the truth that my child, who hates having water poured over his head or getting in his face, was simply going to hate showering within the evenings throughout this journey. What a deal with to see this tub ready for us as an alternative. (For reference, we stayed in a Verandah stateroom.)
03Two loos (sure, for actual) and an enormous olâ self-importance
The Oceanview and Verandah staterooms have a particular function I didnât know I might love a lot: two loos. One homes the bathroom, a mirror, and a sink, whereas the second is dwelling to a different sink and the bathe. It was so handy for 2 folks to have the ability to prepare without delay. And the big, lighted self-importance meant I might do my hair and make-up comfortably seated whereas my little man watched some pre-dinner motion pictures in mattress.
04Simply… every little thing concerning the Oceaneer Membership
This place is grade-A child bait. They’ve tremendous immersive play areas for all ages, these cool futuristic handwashing stations at check-in and within the loos that make children need to scrub up (bye-bye, germs), and itâs tremendous safe with skilled baby care suppliers on workers. Thereâs additionally a safe childrenâ space on Castaway Cay â itâs known as Scuttleâs Cove âwith a splash pad, basketball courts, and extra. Our little man nonetheless will get critical separation anxiousness, however I see us utilizing this when heâs older so we will check out the adults-only areas on board.
05First-come, first-serve strollers and wagons on Castaway Cay
Oh, the fantastic thing about not getting your personal stroller lined in sand. We opted to depart our stroller onboard after we obtained off to go to the seaside on Castaway Cay… and instantly regretted it, as a result of the island is larger than we realized. Fortunately, Disney has free strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs accessible on the island. We snagged one and thanked our lord and savior Mickey Mouse that we didnât have to hold our child all day strolling between the seaside, lunch, the toilet, and again to the ship.
06Disney motion pictures on demand in your room
I donât know my streaming login credentials; my TV simply remembers them, and I’ve scrubbed them from my mind. The very last thing I need to do on trip is fuss with password restoration. Blessedly, our roomâs TV got here pre-loaded with a bunch of Disney motion pictures prepared to look at; no Disney+ subscription or logging-in required. It truly is the little issues.
07The straightforward availability of meals
Nothing is scarier than a hungry toddler having a tantrum on a ship in the midst of the ocean (ask me how I do know). In an effort to stave off meltdowns, we tried to maintain snacks and meals in entrance of our little man always. Between the meals court docket on the pool deck, the breakfast and lunch buffet, and the 24/7 complimentary room service, we might all the time maintain him fed and make sure that if he was breaking down, no less than we had eradicated one potential trigger.
08The stateroom storage
Throughout our cruise, I attended a panel with the Imagineers, designers, and folks behind the creation of the Disney Treasure. Within the staterooms, they positioned plenty of give attention to making certain thereâs sufficient storage to maintain the flooring clear whilst youâre underway. Our stateroom had two massive closets, this shelving unit (ignore all of the bundled-up clothes thrown in right here), and many cabinets and drawers across the self-importance. Plus, the beds are lifted to suit even the biggest suitcases beneath.
09The handwashing stations
Again to the washing of the palms. Main into Marceline Market, which is the Treasureâs breakfast and lunch buffet, thereâs a row of handwashing stations â together with a shorter sink for the littlest friends. I used to be type of paranoid weâd get sick on the journey as a result of children contact every little thing, so it was so good having the ability to clear our palms and our sonâs conveniently. And once more, I actually liked the cool whirlpool handwashing machines they require every child to make use of upon getting into the Oceaneer Membership. Minimizing the chance of germs spreading soothed my soul.
10Further, high-up balcony locks to maintain children in
Anxious mothers, take coronary heart: The balconies within the Verandah staterooms have security locks on the very high of the door body, so you possibly can relaxation assured your child canât wander outdoors with out your supervision.
My husband and I mentioned greater than as soon as on this journey that we most likely wouldnât have had practically as a lot enjoyable on some other cruise line. These little touches that make dad and momâ lives simpler went such a great distance in letting us calm down and benefit from the cruise ourselves.