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Planning to cruise with a Tiny Traveler? Here's the information you need on babysitting and childcare options.

While a cruise vacation is a dream for many families, those with infants and toddlers may be confused about which lines will welcome the diaper set aboard, and provide care for them.  While most ships offer elaborate activities for school age children and even teens, baby care and toddler programs are not as widespread.  Here is what you can expect from the most popular family-cruise lines for your tiny cruisers:

Carnival Cruises
888/CARNIVAL
Mates as young as 2-years-old can attend Camp Carnival daily from 9am until 10pm and take part in fingerpainting, story time, puppet shows, picture bingo games and more fun activities.  Don’t worry if your toddler hasn’t mastered potty training quite yet - just provide the staff with diapers and wipes.  While children under 2-years cannot participate in Camp, they can enjoy their own  "Fun" programs including family play time where parents can accompany their little ones to the playroom during designated times.  After Camp hours, babysitting is available from 10pm until 3am at just $6/hr.  Got a picky eater?  On Carnival Cruises, toddlers receive a special menu with all their favorite foods, and you don’t have to bring your stroller onboard because you can rent one for a modest fee. 

Celebrity Cruises
800/760-0654
Celebrity Cruises comprehensive X-Club Youth Program is available daily from 9am to 10pm in the Fun Factory where there are lots of options for Tiny Travelers.  Potty-trained 3 to 6-year-olds, under the supervision of trained Youth Counselors, enjoy arts’n’crafts, t-shirt decorating, treasure hunts, games, movies, ship tours and Play Stations.  Toddlers under 3-years-old are also welcome in the Fun Factory provided that they are joined by a parent, and there are special Toddler Times set aside, when parents with young babies can come together and meet each other.

Crystal Cruises
888/722-0021
Crystal Cruises offers a Toddler Time program to potty-trained children as young as 3-years-old.  The fun starts in the children’s own onboard playroom called Fantasia to participate in games, storytime arts’n’crafts, PlayStation and other activities during select sailings, typically during the summer and holiday sailings.  Additionally, under the direction of Junior Activities Directors, even little kids enjoy pool Olympics, scavenger hunts and fashion shows in age-appropriate groupings.  Moms and Dads can borrow children’s books and videos from the onboard Library for in-room use and private babysitting can be arranged through the concierge.  Please note that Crystal Cruises does not accept children under 6-months-old on board, and reserves the right to limit those under age 3.