I posted a message recently about my wife and I taking our son (who will be 22-months) on a Princess cruise to the Panama Canal. We have decided (along with some great advice from people in this blog) to consider changing to a Carnival cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, Limon, Costa Rica, and Colon, Panama. I was wondering if anyone had advice on things to do in those locations with a small child, or advice on things to do on the ship with our child. Thanks for the info.
Advice for a cruise to Mexico/Panama/Costa Rica with a toddler
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My advice from past clients who sailed with small children would be:
Limon-
The Tortuguero Canals which is a national park created to protect the spawning areas of the green turtle. The excursion is a very slow moving boat trip along the canals and you will see sloths hanging upside down from the overhanging trees,lots of birds (toucans, etc) monkeys and maybe some crocodiles.
Cozumel-
Glass bottom boat or just go to the beach there
Colon-
Really great must have souviner here for your little one are the crafted wooden puzzle boxes -- shaped as fish, flowers, exotic birds and other animals. They're made from the hard wood of the Cocobolo tree, which varies in color from black to reddish-brown and yellow. The boxes cost from $10 to $50 and can be found at the Cristobal Pier's flea market.
Really not a whole lot to see in port itself except for the shops. You would need to take a taxi to get to the beach. They have an ariel tram ride but it is 5 hours long.
Hope this helps.
I think CruiseGirl has given you some good advice.
The beach in Cozumel is a nice relaxing day if you don't feel like doing much in the port.
There's always a lot of driving around in Colon. The city itself is a pit and not safe at all, so if you don't feel like taking a half-day or day-long excursion with your child, this is the day to stay on the ship. But there is a nice (and cheaper) craft market in Portobelo, fairly close to Colon, that might be worth the trouble. You can walk around the little town, take a peek at the craft market next door, and then watch the cultural show near the museum. There's also a little film about Portobelo in a blissfully air-conditioned theater.
On a cruise ship with a 22 month old toddler would be tough regardless of which cruise line you are on. It is also going to be tough (tiring) for the little one. At least the Carnival is a better match than the Princess. Have you consder Disney Cruise?
My concern is safety and you must (or someone) watch the little one like a hawk to avoid any accident, espeically on the shore excursions, getting on and off the tenders etc.
With the little one in tow, you will be somewhat limited to what shore excursion you can take. Regardless of what shore excursison you take, it will involve some sort of transportation, be it a bus, train whatever, and a tour guide talking on the PA. If the toddler is restless, you will draw the ire of fellow travellers who may have a tough time trying to listen to what the tour guide is trying to say.
My suggestion is that eveyrone takes a turn looking after the young one, be it a walk at the beach or stay on the ship or whatever. This way, everyone else can take on at least one or two good shore excursions during the trip.
If the whole group must travel together, then my suggestion would be those excursions with very limited time on the bus, train, boat etc and more time on the ground ... i.e. beach, streets etc so that the young one will have room and the freedom to run, walk and explore.
I have been to those ports you listed and there are so many GREAT shore excusions and sights that it would be a shame to go to Cozumel and get on the glass bottom boat. I would have picked Tulum, Coba, the Eco-park etc. However, with the 22 month in tow, I would not recommend any of them, maybe with the exception of the Eco-park, which the little one may enjoy.
I have stopped at Colon and have never ventured off outside the "controlled" area. If you are on a Canal cruise, get off the boat at Gutum Lake, take the train to the Pacific side, it is a safe enviroment for the toodler on the train, there is elbow room (excpet during the bus ride) nad maybe all of you can enjoy the scenery. After the excursion is over, they get you back to Colon, walk around the flea market by the ship and call it a day.
As to Limon, there is really not much to see there unless you want to take the excursion to see San Jose, which is very worthwhile but it is an almost 3 hours bus ride one way. Or you can just go to the beach.
As to what to do on the ship, everyone has soem sort of kids program ... but it is still very limited for that age group. They will have a play area for the 6 and under, no more elaborate than a normal day care playground. There is a wading pool just for the very young ones, usually out door. They will have supervsion (very important) and they may, depending on age, teach them arts, craft, sing song, group activity etc. For the 6 and under, it really is a glorified baby sitting service. Depending how many young one his age on the ship, he maybe the only one or a handful of kids that age.
A lot of people who travelled with children only have their children under the care of the ship at certain tme and they spend time with the kids at the pool, the deck etc.
Unfortunately, cruise travel is mainly for adults and there is really very limited activities for the very young one.
Here is one for you: look into the Oasis of the sea. They have various "communites" on the ship including an area with a merry go round. Maybe there will be more things for the 22 months to do on that ship.
Once you have make a choice and booked th cruise, come back and maybe the group here can offer more specific ideaas to the ship and the itenary you have chosen.