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Step 1
Check the cruise line's age requirement. Some don't allow children under 2, but a majority of family friendly cruises, such as Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, do. However, most require that your infant be at least 6 months old.
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Step 2
Research the cruise line's policy regarding infant fare. For some cruise lines the fare is free, with parents only paying for port charges and taxes, while others will charge a discounted rate. There are also those that charge full price regardless of age.
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Step 3
Get a passport. There are new regulations that require this.
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Step 4
Make sure all her immunization shots are up to date.
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Step 1
Book a cabin large enough to hold a crib. You can carry your own pack and play crib, or reserve a crib at the time of booking. Cribs vary, depending on the cruise line, from the standard pack 'n play portable cribs to small ones with vertical bars.
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Step 2
Request that a mini-fridge be placed in the cabin. Some of the new cruise lines have this, but request it just in case. A fridge is needed to store baby food or formula.
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Step 3
Book a room with a balcony, if you can afford it. This way you can sit outside and enjoy the sea air while the little one is napping inside. The private balconies usually have door locks that keep little ones from straying outside unattended.
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Step 1
Calculate how much formula, baby food, diapers and wipes you'll need for the duration of the cruise. Most lines don't sell these, and you never know where the nearest port is, or what to expect at those ports.
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Step 2
Pack bottles, extra nipples, bibs, swim diapers, over-the-counter medication and any other essentials such as pacifier.
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Step 3
Also pack toys and other items to amuse and distract your baby, especially during dinnertime in the formal dining room.
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Step 4
Think about bringing a baby bathtub--most ships don't have bathtubs--an inflatable pool and a bottle warmer, since most cabins don't have microwaves.
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Step 1
Request an infant life vest if there isn't one in your cabin.
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Step 2
If you are going to need a babysitter or use the nursery--if the ship has one--immediately make the request upon boarding. This is an in-demand service and often gets filled up quickly. Also babysitting is often done by the ship staff and there can be some scheduling challenges.
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Step 3
Keep on-shore excursions simple and short. Try to plan them within the baby's nap schedule. For example, you and baby can head out in the morning and return in the afternoon for baby's nap.
