If your visions of cruising involve playing in the pool with your kids, then you better make sure your tots are potty trained before booking your trip. The Centers For Disease Control does not allow diapered tots (including those in swim diapers) to play in cruise ship pools, for sanitary reasons. On the Disney Magic, the best alternative is Mickey's Splash Zone, a play area with interactive fountains, but certainly not a pool.
The ship's amazing kids' clubs (the Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Lab) are designed for children 3-12, and they're one of the highlights of the ship. The clubs are usually open from breakfast until midnight and feature everything, including indoor playards; video games; storytime; and cooking, dance, and pirate-training classes — all for free. The ship's nursery — Flounder's Reef Nursery — is usually open during similar hours (and costs $6 per hour), but as it is reserved for tots under 3, its activities are more babysitting-focused.
Our best tip: Though the cruise welcomes tots over 12 weeks old, wait until your lil one is 3 or older to book your first trip. They'll get more out of it!
