Freedom of the Seas Cruise Review: Royal Caribbean with a Baby and Toddler
This is my full Freedom of the Seas cruise review after sailing Royal Caribbean with a baby and toddler. In fall 2023, I sailed on Freedom of the Seas with my kids, who were 9 months and 2 years old at the time, on a 4-night Caribbean itinerary out of Miami with stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
My mom joined us on the cruise, but for much of the trip, including our port day, mealtimes, and splash pad supervision, I was still the main adult handling the baby-and-toddler logistics. It wasn’t always easy, but it was manageable. And yes, I’d do it again.
In this post, I’m sharing exactly what it was like to cruise Royal Caribbean with very young kids: the logistics, the wins, the challenges, and what surprised me most about cruising with a baby and toddler on Freedom of the Seas.
Before the Ship: Fairfield Inn & Suites Miami Airport South
We flew into Fort Lauderdale the day before and rented a car to drive to Miami. While I don’t necessarily recommend flying into a different city (we only did it because the flight was direct), I do strongly recommend arriving the day before your cruise—especially with kids. Staying overnight in the port city helps take the pressure off potential travel delays.
We didn’t arrive at our hotel, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Miami Airport South, until after 1:00 a.m., so there wasn’t much rest to be had—but it did the job. It was clean, close to the cruise port, and functional for a quick overnight stay.
The hotel offers a shuttle to the cruise terminal, which we booked in advance. It was a relief not to have to deal with Miami cruise port traffic the morning of embarkation—especially with two kids and a double stroller in tow. You can read my full review of the Fairfield Inn with kids here.
Traveling with kids?
Get the Free Travel Documents Checklist for Families
Before you head to the airport, make sure you’ve thought through the documents your family may need, including IDs, passports, birth certificates, consent letters, health documents, and helpful backup copies.
Embarkation at Port of Miami
I had checked in ahead of time on the Royal Caribbean app, uploaded all our documents, and tagged our luggage with the printed labels they provided. When we arrived at the port, I handed our bags to a porter—these are the folks who deliver your luggage straight to your stateroom, so you don’t have to haul it through security or onto the ship. (I tipped in cash—always a good idea.)
Pro tip: If you’re cruising with a baby or toddler and need diapers in bulk, you can bring a box with you. Just slap a Royal Caribbean luggage tag on it and hand it off to the porter like regular luggage. It’s a huge space-saver inside your suitcase and gets delivered right to your room.
We also had our Zoe Twin+ double stroller with us, which we used all over the ship and in port. It fit through most standard doors and elevators with ease. If you’re wondering whether a double stroller is manageable onboard, I wrote a full post about that here: Bringing a Double Stroller on Freedom of the Seas.
Getting through the terminal wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. When I tried to request wheelchair assistance for my mom, who has limited mobility, I quickly realized there wasn’t an easy system in place. The crew members were all inside the building, behind security. I had to leave her on a bench with the kids, navigate a security checkpoint alone, and explain the situation to someone who reluctantly let me in.
Security was surprisingly simple. I pulled the kids out of the stroller to go through the metal detector, a crew member helped push it through, and we were on the second floor in minutes via a large elevator. Easy boarding followed, and just like that—we were on the ship.
The Muster Drill: Best-In-Class Simplicity
Royal Caribbean has absolutely nailed their new-style muster drill. I watched the required safety video in the app while we waited to board, and after getting on the ship, we stopped by our muster station for a quick check-in. No crowds, no waiting, no hauling sleepy kids to a lifeboat station. It took maybe two minutes and felt like a parenting win.
Our Stateroom: Spacious Ocean View Balcony (Room 9302)
We stayed in a Spacious Ocean View Balcony room, and it was exactly that—spacious enough for three generations and all our gear. We split the queen bed into two twins for my mom and me, and I used the couch as a toddler sleep nook by turning it to face the wall. For the baby, Royal Caribbean provided a clean, cozy Pack ‘n Play.
One of my favorite memories is sitting on the balcony with a coffee during nap time, watching the sea roll by while the kids slept behind the blackout curtain I rigged with magnetic hooks and long blackout curtains. (The built-in curtain only pulls out a couple of feet—not ideal when trying to darken the room for naps.)
🧲 Want to try the magnetic hook blackout curtain trick? Grab a set of magnetic hooks here! 🧲
Storage was generous: we tucked suitcases into the closet, had room for the stroller if needed, and made the small bathroom work with a few acrobatics. No tub—just a tight shower stall—but a portable baby tub would’ve helped.
If you want a better sense of the layout and how we made the space work with two little kids, here’s a quick video tour of our Spacious Ocean View Balcony stateroom (Room 9302):
Splash Pad Days & Poolside Fun (Even With Littles)
Freedom of the Seas has a baby splash pad, which is the only option for non-potty-trained kids. That meant both of my kids were limited to the baby area whenever I was the only adult watching them, because I couldn’t be in two water areas at once.
Thanks to having my mom onboard, I was able to take him to the bigger area while she stayed back with the baby, and he lit up when he could finally explore more. But if you’re the only adult supervising kids in different swim stages, prepare for some limitations.
Want to see what the baby splash pad actually looks like—and how small it is compared to the rest of the water area? Here’s a quick video from one of our splash pad days on Freedom of the Seas:
Entertainment: Light for Littles, But Thoughtful
We didn’t do the big shows. My kids weren’t ready for long sit-down events, and we’re early bedtime people. But I appreciated that there were some low-key, family-friendly options sprinkled in.
One sea day, we joined a casual trivia-style game in a lounge. There were toys set out for little kids and space to move around. We didn’t stay long, but it was a welcome surprise—and a good change of scenery from the usual loop between the stateroom, splash pad, playground, and buffet.
Also: our sailing was during Halloween, and the ship was decked out. Think pumpkins, garlands, and trick-or-treating events (which we didn’t join, but still fun to see).
Dining on Freedom of the Seas: Surprisingly Easy with Toddlers
Windjammer Buffet
This was our go-to for breakfast and lunch. I was able to push the stroller straight through the buffet line, grab food while the kids munched on snacks, and sit near the drink stations to keep everything in arm’s reach.
Staff were quick to bring high chairs and often helped clear trays or grab things I couldn’t reach without disturbing the kids.
Main Dining Room
Every night, we ate in the main dining room, and I had pre-requested a private table. We got one—huge win.
Our servers were warm, engaging, and quick to bring food, crayons, and jokes to keep the kids smiling. My toddlers were allowed to order off the adult menu, which was great, since they often preferred our meals over the kid-friendly pasta and nuggets.
Ports: Nassau & CocoCay
Nassau, The Bahamas
I explored Nassau as the only adult with the kids, stroller in tow. The port terminal was stroller-friendly and manageable, even without extra help. I did make it out to see the Queen’s Staircase, but navigating the uneven sidewalks and curbs with a double stroller was tricky. While the area felt safe and generally accessible, it definitely required some creative maneuvering.
Read my full Nassau cruise port review here.
Perfect Day at CocoCay… Almost
This was the biggest letdown. We pulled up close enough to see the island from the dining room windows over breakfast—but the weather was terrible, and the ship couldn’t dock. We had a sea day instead, thanks to rough weather—and it definitely showed with a few wobbly walks through the ship’s hallways.
Baby & Toddler Amenities: Hits and Misses
Compared to Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean felt a step behind in baby perks, but there were still some thoughtful touches:
- Pack ‘n Play: Clean, set up well, refreshed daily.
- Playground: Yes! A legit indoor play area where parents can stay and play. We used it daily.
- Toy Rentals: You can borrow a bag of toys from the nursery.
What I missed: bottle warmers. I had to bring our own, plus all the cleaning supplies, which ate up a lot of suitcase space. Unlike Disney, they don’t provide warmers, so plan ahead.
Curious what the indoor playground actually looks like? Here’s a quick video tour of the space we visited every day—it was a total game-changer on this trip:
Childcare & Kids Club
We didn’t use the childcare options on this sailing, but here’s what’s available:
- Royal Babies & Tots Nursery (6 months–3 years): Paid hourly.
- Adventure Ocean Kids Club: Free programming for ages 3–12, with age-based groups like Aquanauts (3–5), Explorers (6–8), and Voyagers (9–12). Think crafts, science experiments, themed parties—lots of learning through play.
Traveling with kids?
Get the Free Travel Documents Checklist for Families
Before you head to the airport, make sure you’ve thought through the documents your family may need, including IDs, passports, birth certificates, consent letters, health documents, and helpful backup copies.
Would I Cruise Royal Caribbean With Toddlers Again?
Absolutely.
Was it easy? Not always. I had my hands full every second. But it was doable, and honestly, joyful in so many little moments.
Cruising with kids, especially on Freedom of the Seas, gave me the structure I needed, like meals, nap times, and safe spaces, with enough freedom to actually enjoy the trip. The playground, the splash pad, the balcony naps, and the easy dining setup all helped make it feel manageable.
Just make sure your specific ship has the baby-friendly amenities you need. Not every Royal Caribbean family cruise offers the same setup. Look for Freedom class and up, and double-check what’s available onboard before you book.
If you’re wondering whether cruising with a baby and a toddler is worth the effort, my answer is a confident yes, with a few lessons learned and a lot of extra snacks.
Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.
More Helpful Family Travel Tips
- Traveling With Kids: How to Make the Logistics Feel More Manageable
- Child Travel Consent Letter: When You Need One
- What I Teach My Kids About Getting Lost While Traveling
- How to Travel Without Car Seats: Safe Options for Every Trip
- Staycations With Kids: The Easiest First Step for Nervous Family Travelers