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| Aboard a Disney cruise, children
enjoy a story about ocean creatures in the Oceaneer Club.
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Taking Your Toddler To Sea
The Straight Poop About Swim Diapers
by Linda Coffman
Cruise ships are wonderful places for family vacations, but you
must understand the rules before promising your littlest sailors
unlimited playtime, either in the kid’s program or the swimming
pool. Nothing is sadder than the face of a toddler who isn’t allowed
in the ship’s pool—even the kiddy pool—because he/she isn’t
potty-trained. Even swim diapers won’t pass muster in most cases.
Cruise ships must comply with the Center for Disease Control's
(CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) regulations. Charged with the
prevention of pool contamination and the resulting spread of
bacteria that can cause illness after “accidents” in pools and water
parks at sea, the VSP provides health and safety requirements to
cruise lines, including the ban on any diapers in the pools.
The straight poop is that swim diapers are not leak-proof. They
can prevent solids from escaping, but don't contain urine or
diarrhea, nor do they stop seepage of infection-causing germs.
However, not all cruise ships entirely ban water play for
non-potty trained youngsters. Special wading pools approved by VSP
standards feature their own water and disinfection systems and heavy
duty filtration units that can be “flushed out” when diaper
accidents occur. Such splash zones are found on Disney Cruise Line’s
Disney Wonder and Disney Magic and on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of
the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas.
About those kid’s programs, check with the cruise line for age
limits—some are as low as two years of age, but most will accept
only children three and older. While being toilet trained isn’t
always a prerequisite for participation, only the counselors on
Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Lines will change diapers. In
fact, on Disney Cruise Line, Flounder's Reef Nursery offers special
attention and activities for infants and toddlers, providing
childcare for children ages 12 weeks to 3-years old (additional
charges for babysitting apply).
Cruising With Kids? This is
must-have Info:
~ Going to sea with children... why you need a
Consent
Letter
~
Family Cruising, The Basics
- Will your family
enjoy a cruise?
~ Do's and don'ts & what to know
Before You Go
Related Articles...
Photo Courtesy
of Disney Cruise Line©
