Car seats on a cruise: it is a question I hear a lot from people traveling with young children. Before our first cruise, I struggled with the decision of what to do about car seats. We wanted to explore ports on our own, but didn’t want to carry and store large, heavy car seats with us on vacation. I thought I should share what we have done.
Before I start, I do want to say that car/booster seats are not required in most caribbean cruise ports. Many cruisers do not use them in cars or taxis. In fact, some cars and taxis do not even have seat belts with which to secure them. We have used taxis and private cars in Cozumel (4 times), Grand Cayman (4 times), and St. Thomas (4 times) and ours have always had seat belts. If you get into a taxi that doesn’t, I suggest asking for a different one. It may mean you have to wait a few more minutes, but chances are you will be able to find one that has seat belts.
All that being said, I was not comfortable without car/booster seats for my kids. There are 2 products which I have used while in port, and while we have never been in a car accident to actually test their effectiveness, they made me feel like at least I was doing everything I could do to protect my kids from a worst case scenario.
Bubble Bum Booster Seats
These are inflatable booster seats that are lightweight and fairly compact when deflated. Click here for recent prices. They are not difficult to inflate and ours have held up well after numerous uses. Make sure to read the height and weight requirements before using them with your child.
Ride Safer Travel Vest
This is what we used when our kids were at least 3 years old but not yet old/big enough for the booster seats. Click here for recent prices. They are also lightweight and fairly compact for traveling. They come in different sizes so make sure you choose the right size for your child. Please read the age/height/weight requirements carefully.
Mifold Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat
I have never used this booster seat, but a reader emailed me to let me know that she has and really likes it. Click here for recent prices and reviews. It gets great reviews on Amazon and looks extremely portable and easy to use.
Mifold One Non-folding Grab-and-Go Booster Seat
The is a newer product that just came on the market not too long ago. Click here for prices and details. It has good reviews and seems like it would be great for travel.
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If your child does not meet the height/weight/age requirements for any of the above products, here are some suggestions for enjoying a port with a very young child:
Do something within walking distance of the ship
Do an excursion that does not require transportation by car. Some involve ferry boats or buses that you walk to from the ship.
Leave your child in the nursery or kids’ club on the ship. They allow this, although this may understandably be beyond the comfort level of some parents.
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We have a 17 month old and we are extremely strict about using car seats, within reason. So I understand what you are going through. The car rental part of the trip is not the problem, thats easy. I personally think the taxi ride from Ft. Laud to Port of miami (about 45 mins) is too far to not use a car seat for both kids, especially the 4 year old. I would take your own car seats the entire trip. I have read on here that people store their car seats in the shower while on the cruise. I doubt the cruise company will have a place to store the car seats, but it never hurts to call up and ask. Maybe there is a rental storage in the port of miami where you can store the car seats?
This car seat is expensive but folds and you can carry it like a back pack…….https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Booster-Shadow/dp/B009NMO5CK/183-4262553-4896548?ie=UTF8&tag=savmar-20
I saw this one on Amazon it’s pricey but folds and can go on your back like a back pack…..https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Booster-Shadow/dp/B009NMO5CK/183-4262553-4896548?ie=UTF8&tag=savmar-20 . I think we are getting the vest.
Thanks Stacey! I have never seen those before. Those are really neat!
We always use a car service to get from the airport to the cruise terminal. With that, you can request car seats ahead of time and that solves that. It’s the excursions that seem more difficult to me. Thanks for suggesting those devices. I wish Disney clarified what the transportation on each excursion was specifically.
Yes, I wish they would too! It would make planning so much easier!
Thanks for letting us know. very helpful!