Corinne McDermott2013-05-20T12:43:01-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=corinne-mcdermottCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Corinne McDermottGood old fashioned elbow grease.Five Sweet Family Getaways For Wintertag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.25421962013-01-24T17:12:13-05:002013-03-26T05:12:01-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/ ]]>It's Vegas, (Breastfeeding) Baby, Vegas!tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.24811972013-01-16T13:04:57-05:002013-03-18T05:12:01-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
Jessica Martin-Weber is the founder of The Leaky Boob -- a breastfeeding resource blog that has been online for almost three years. She's the mother of six children, the youngest of whom she was nursing at a cafe in The Flamingo Hotel -- the site of a mom blogger conference that Jessica was attending as a speaker. In her post Fear And Breastfeeding In Las Vegas, she astutely points out the unusual choice of Las Vegas for such a conference, and also the irony of being asked to cover up by the restaurant manager while feeding her daughter over lunch, after apparent complaints from other patrons:
She looked around and I kept looking at her, still chuckling at the irony of this situation. She knows that just before walking into her cafe I walked past a platform where that very evening, like every night, a woman exposing far more than I was while feeding my baby, dances with moves intending to sexually entice. She knows that the sidewalks in front of the hotel are littered with photo cards of naked women with tiny stars on their nipples. She knows that this very hotel advertises a burlesque show featuring breasts (bare), butts and spread eagle moves on a video that loops endlessly in each guest elevator. She knows that the very people that complained have seen all that and probably more in the 10 minutes before they sat at their table. I know she was just trying to do her job. I know she had no idea that there was actually a law stating I had the right to breastfeed anywhere my baby and I were legally permitted to be. I know that in her line of work making the customer happy is a delicate balance when one customer may be making another uncomfortable. I know that in that moment she was wishing I had never walked into her cafe.
Jessica did what a nursing mother should do in that situation, continued to feed her baby, chatted with her friends and finished her lunch. And since she is a high-profile blogger attending a mom blogger conference in that very hotel, she and her friends shared their experience on social media. And here is where it gets surprising, and a very big social media win for The Flamingo Hotel. In a climate where large brands and companies either fail to respond, or offer a perfunctory apology, The Flamingo Hotel went above and beyond.
Director of Food Operations, Scott Farber, met with Jessica personally to apologize, and to let her know that he had already conducted a meeting with his staff informing them of Nevada's state law that permits a woman to breastfeed her child wherever she has the legal right to be, and that if they receive a complaint about a woman breastfeeding again, they should not address the mother but work with those who lodged the complaint. Jessica continues:
Kind and genuine, Scott laughed with me at the irony of being in Vegas and asked to cover. Scott offered to make it up to me with a free meal and more and was genuinely concerned about how I was after the experience. He shared that Estella, the manager, was horrified that she had misstepped in saying anything to me and he extended her apology as well as I didn't have time to meet with her. We discussed how the Flamingo could better welcome families and some changes that could be made to do so well. The possibility of me returning to train their staff and sister hotels to consult with them on how to be set apart in Las Vegas as a family-friendly destination came up. These weren't the actions of a company that wanted to embarrass their customer families, these were the actions of a company that cared to stand apart and understands the value of doing things right.
What most surprises me here is not only the hotel's sincere apology and seemingly genuine commitment to make things right, but also that a hotel in Vegas would care at all about attracting families. I recall a brief period in the '90s where Las Vegas attempted a re-brand to attract visitors of all ages, but ever since the campaign of "What Happens Here, Stays Here" and the subsequent revival of Sin City as documented in the TV show Entourage and capped off with The Hangover, it would never occur to me to bring kids there -- until maybe now.
I have no doubt my 7-year-old daughter would adore the lights and the glitter, but I'm not sure I want to have to explain why so many women aren't wearing clothes. At three, I can get away with pretending the nudity is nothing to notice with my son, and certainly he would love the flashy cars on the strip and the Bellagio fountains, but would I really get my money's worth at the all-you-can-eat buffets with a toddler-sized appetite?
If I do visit Las Vegas, I'm envisioning a grown-up weekend of high heels and cocktails with either my husband or some girlfriends, and truth be told, I think seeing children out and about might put a damper on my kid-free fun. Then again, every time I've traveled without my kids I always take note of the places we'll go if I return with them in tow. Would Las Vegas be the exception? I don't know. But I do know that if we go I'll make an effort to stay at The Flamingo. Nicely done.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel - inspiring, motivating, and helping families travel with babies, toddlers and young children since 2007. Offering tips and advice on eating, sleeping, and getting around while traveling with baby, she is also a travel agent and family vacation specialist. Connect with her via Facebook or Twitter.]]>Should Car Seats Be Mandatory For Infants On Planes?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.24223202013-01-08T07:00:00-05:002013-03-10T05:12:01-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/wondering if her son would still be alive had she purchased him a seat on the Perimeter Aviation turbo-prop plane carrying seven passengers and two crew members that crashed December 22, 2012 near the airport in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. Isaac was the crash's only fatality, and the survivors escaped without major injuries.
In 2005, the FAA released a statement about mandating the use of car seats in purchased seats on planes for children under two:
The agency said its analyses showed that, if forced to purchase an extra airline ticket, families might choose to drive, a statistically more dangerous way to travel. The risk for fatalities and injuries to families is significantly greater on the roads than in airplanes, according to the FAA. Last year, nearly 43,000 people died on America's highways as compared to 13 on commercial flights.
Many claimed the FAA was copping out on a serious safety issue, especially as they state on their website that:
The FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do.
But as a parent who has been flying with a baby from newborn to preschooler for six years and counting, I know that it's expensive. And without a doubt, it's a huge hassle to fly with a car seat. And while it was with that 2005 press release that the FAA approved the use of the CARES Harness, which is much lighter and easier to fly with than a car seat, you still have to actually purchase that additional seat. To date, seat belt extenders and "travel vests" that attach to a parent's seat belt are not allowed for take-off and landing -- and some airlines will not let you use them at all.
I've been fortunate to fly on airlines that make the use of car seats possible without having to fork over an additional airfare. Some will allow you to confer with the gate agent to double check the capacity of a flight, allowing you to either bring your car seat on board in the event of a less-than-full flight or gate-checking if there's no room. But these days it's getting more and more difficult to ensure you're seated with your family, never mind with a baby and a car seat. So relying on the airlines to help is not advisable. But I can say that those flights when my son was in his car seat were certainly the easiest, having him secure and contained.
Regarding Isaac's death, Canada's Transportation Safety Board spokesman John Cottreau said he expects the investigation will review how Isaac died and whether safety could have been improved inside the aircraft's cabin. Although Canada is in agreement with the FAA regarding the need for infants to be secured in a certified child safety seat, should parents choose to purchase a seat, the TSB's mandate can only recommend changes to eliminate or reduce safety problems. The power to actually make the changes rests with Canada's federal government.
In reality, an actual plane crash is the least of our worries. Unexpected turbulence can catapult an unrestrained infant or toddler through an aircraft cabin just as easily as a crash could. And yet, I still justified keeping my kids on my lap due to keeping costs low. Ironically, we recently had to drive to Florida and back, more than 20 hours each way, and I was very concerned about ensuring my kids were wearing their seat belts correctly and that their car seats were properly installed. Cost required us to drive, and driving at night through a blizzard in the Smoky Mountains certainly felt less safe than having my son my lap on a plane. But little Isaac died on the day we completed our journey down South, and the sadness I feel at his loss and my empathy for the anguish and guilt his mother must be feeling haven't left me upon our return.
As a parent I know how expensive it is to factor in extra airfares when budgeting for family travel. And as a travel agent I know how complicated it can be to actually purchase a seat for an infant. And this issue is really more involved than actually regulating that all infants be in their own seat, in an approved car seat. Some families don't have car seats because they don't need them. Some families' car seats aren't approved or won't fit on a plane. And if this does become the law, doesn't that make the airlines responsible to ensure the kids are in an approved seat that's properly installed? I can't see them accepting that role easily or gladly.
I started buying my kids seats on planes because I had to. And I would have bought them seats if I had to when they were under two. I hope if talks regarding infant safety on planes is reopened that the FAA and the TSB think of Isaac. And Kate Williams. In October of 2007, three-year-old Kate was the sole survivor of a Cessna 172 crash in British Columbia that killed her grandfather and his business associate. She was found surrounded by debris in the back of the plane, strapped into her car seat.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel - inspiring, motivating, and helping families travel with babies, toddlers and young children since 2007. Offering tips and advice on eating, sleeping, and getting around while traveling with baby, she is also a travel agent and family vacation specialist. Connect with her via Facebook or Twitter.]]>I'm Glad Amazing Race Canada Is Staying Close to Hometag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22545462012-12-10T17:47:20-05:002013-02-09T05:12:01-05:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
She gushed about a dream trip she hoped to take in the next few years: the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary that retraces the steps of 19th century explorers. As a well-travelled 20-something, I joked that I had seen more of the world than my own country. But that conversation stuck with me, and I vowed to stop joking and actually travel to more of my home and native land.
The media seems to embrace the notion of The Amazing Race Canada being solely set in Canada as the "love letter" CTV exec Phil King claims it will be, but comments on online articles suggest a large amount of viewers are less than impressed. Too bad they are not all as polite as the old Red Rose tea commercials. "Only in Canada, you say? Pity."
What's funny is the accusation that keeping the show in Canada is "cheap cheap cheap." The 20-something me had seen much less of my own country then anywhere else because it was much more expensive to do so. Still is. Through work I was able to eventually explore the East and the West, and a little bit of the middle, but the cost of flying within Canada can be off-putting and our sheer size makes road trips daunting. With limited travel budgets and limited vacation time, it's really not surprising many choose the Caribbean instead of Kelowna, or Europe instead of Québec City.
The criticism that stings the most is that the show will be boring. I wonder if this is the famous Canadian humility going into overdrive? Or maybe these are Canadians ignorant, as I was, of the spectacular natural beauty and wonderful cultural diversity that Canada has to offer. In all of my travels there are only a handful of experiences that actually made me gasp, and two of them were in Canada. The first was seeing the sapphire waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash against the bluffs at Cape Spear in Newfoundland. The second was the awe-inspiring drive on the Icefields Parkway through the Rocky Mountains from Banff to Jasper. The scenery on that journey was almost a religious experience.
But it was a result of that drive and the rest of our recent road trip across Alberta that I realized there's still a part of me that struggles with that innate Canadian-ness of downplaying everything. The other visitors that we saw -- Asian, South Asian, European, and Middle Eastern couples, families, and extended families - that were enjoying the penguins at the Calgary Zoo, visiting the dinosaur museum in Drumheller, taking in Banff and the Columbia Icefields, were not fellow Canadians as I initially thought. They were actually from Japan, and India, and Russia, and from places halfway around the world. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that someone would spend a fortune and travel for days to see what's right here in our backyard.
So if only for the notion that we might finally see ourselves as the rest of the world (and Tom Brokaw) sees us, I can't wait to see just how gushy the "love letter" known as The Amazing Race Canada will be.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of the family travel website Have Baby Will Travel and a travel agent specializing in family vacations. Connect with her on Twitter or on Facebook.
]]>The Infant Travel Bed That's a Danger to Your Babytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.19764402012-10-19T00:00:26-04:002012-12-18T05:12:02-05:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
Health Canada has issued a warning about a popular infant and toddler travel bed, sold in North America as the KidCo PEAPOD, after receiving two reports of infants rolling over and getting their faces trapped between the mattress and the side of the product, posing a suffocation hazard.
From their advisory:
Health Canada is currently in discussions with the company about how it will address the safety concerns related to the use of this product. In the meantime, the department is warning consumers to immediately stop using the product for infants under one year of age.
This follows an incident reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States last year, where a five-month-old baby allegedly suffocated in the same model listed in the Canadian advisory. The user guide posted on KidCo's website states that the PeaPod is designed for infants from birth to approximately three years of age.
Health Canada continues:
Infants should never be placed to sleep in products that are not specifically designed to accommodate an unattended sleeping infant, such as carriages, strollers, car seats, playpens, infant swings and bouncers.
Other options for travelling parents include renting baby equipment, or researching other travel cot or bed options that are approved by federal regulators.
Corinne McDermott is a family travel expert and the founder of the award-winning website, Have Baby Will Travel. Connect with Corinne on Twitter or Facebook for tips and advice.
]]>Toronto With Kids: Family Friendly Funtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18989632012-09-24T07:30:00-04:002012-11-24T05:12:01-05:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/things to do in Toronto with kids, I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my children here too. We explore the city every weekend, and in the summer months we always enjoy a Toronto staycation. These five places always play a part in our family's adventures.
The Art Gallery of Ontario
Recently renovated, with spaces designed by noted architect Frank Gehry, The Art Gallery of Ontario is home to some very impressive collections. But on weekends it's all about Off The Wall: The Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre. The AGO's youngest visitors (aged 2-10) are encouraged to draw, sculpt, and create their own masterpieces in the over 1800 square feet of play space. Watch out, Group of Seven!
The Royal Ontario Museum
Located in the chichi Yorkville area, The Royal Ontario Museum is host to a wide variety of exhibits - from the gallery of textiles and costumes to the many hands-on exhibits, and a most impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the mummies, the real, live, bat cave (not of the Christian Bale variety), shrunken heads, samurai warrior armor, the lunar meteorite, as well as the interactive Gallery of Biodiversity where you can try on field gear and handle specimens of flora and fauna.
Riverdale Farm
With free admission, and open every day except Christmas, Riverdale Farm is one of our favourite places to visit. Set your toddler free to run with the herd of other kids in this tiny working farm in the middle of the city, then watch a cow being milked, count the goats, spy on the chickens, and enjoy freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies. Riverdale Farm is maintained by the city, and there's a weekly farmer's market on Tuesday afternoons from May to October. In summer months, the park outside the farm has a city-run wading pool - freezing cold but clean, and fun for a splash.
Centre Island
During the summer months, Centre Island is another of our favourites, though you can visit year-round. After a ten minute ferry ride, from the dock it's a quick stroll to Centreville - a little amusement park perfect for pint-sized patrons. I loved it as a child and love that my daughter loves it now too. Toddler-appropriate rides are plentiful and there's a little farm to explore as well. If you've had your fill of Centreville (or it's past Labour Day), rent a bike (standard, tandem or quad) and explore the greenspace at your own pace.
The Toronto Zoo
World-renowned and well worth the trip to the 'burbs, The Toronto Zoo has good transit links to and from downtown. The Children's discovery zone at the Toronto Zoo offers icky things your kids can touch, plus a fantastic sandbox for digging up dinosaur bones. The grounds are huge and this is truly a day trip. Pack a picnic lunch and don't miss the majestic giraffes in the African Savannah - our favourite walk.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel, an award-winning website about travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. Born and raised in Toronto, she counts herself lucky to have so many wonderful Ontario resorts at her doorstep, as well as direct flights to much of the world. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.]]>10 Reasons To Travel When Your Kids Are Littletag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17428162012-08-08T07:00:00-04:002012-10-08T05:12:32-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/plane hate, the apparent need for a bill to seat children with their parents on flights and now stories of how travel is wasted on the young, parents these days might be understandably discouraged from family vacations, especially to destinations that require more effort to travel with kids.
This year I attended the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration - a gathering of writers and bloggers hosted by Disney at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Amy Foster, the Director of Consumer Insights for Disney Destinations, had perhaps the most thought provoking quote of the conference, "You might only have 18 summers with your children, make memories now!" Since most naysayers believe that travel is wasted on children too young to remember it, that would mean we'd have only 14 summers, maybe 15 - tops.
And while a Disney vacation is a dream for most families, there's value to be had in any trip, and it doesn't matter that they won't remember, because you will never forget.
Remember, folks, 18 summers. Here are 10 more reasons to travel when your kids are little...
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel, sharing tips on flying with babies and great family friendly destinations. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.]]>Calgary With Kids: Family Friendly Fun Beyond Stampedetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16568332012-07-17T08:30:00-04:002012-09-16T05:12:12-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/Calgary Stampede turns 100 this year. And while the annual, 10-day long rodeo, exhibition and festival is a great excuse to visit, Calgary is so much more than "Cowtown," and is a wonderful spot (and starting point) for a family vacation. So while Stampede is a definite highlight of July, here are a few suggestions so you won't be wondering what to do in Calgary to fill up the other 355 days of the year.
The Calgary Zoo
Probably the top of the list of things to do in Calgary with kids is the Calgary Zoo. Not only is it a mere 10 minutes from downtown, but the transit access via the C-Train makes it that much easier to visit. The animal exhibits are arranged by geographical zone, and the variety of flora and fauna belies the Zoo's fairly compact size. There are two discovery walks. The Prehistoric Park takes you through what the area might have looked like when dinosaurs were roaming around, and the Canadian Wilds let you wander through the Rocky Mountains, Aspen Woodlands and Northern Forest to get a close-up glimpse of grizzly bears, mountain goats, wolves, bighorn sheep, moose and bison. But by far the highlight of the Calgary Zoo is their new Penguin Plunge. Groups of 15 are taken into a climate-controlled exhibit to see the Humboldt, Gentoo, Rockhopper and King penguins. You're close enough to touch and certainly might get splashed. There can be a wait to see the penguins, especially on weekends, arriving early and weekday visits means less chance of a line -- although the penguins are worth the wait.
Heritage Park
Located in the southwestern part of Calgary, Heritage Park gives you a glimpse of a century-old frontier town on the Glenmore reservoir. The historic buildings are real, not replicas, brought in from around Alberta to create the authentic atmosphere. The steam train is also real, although the S.S. Moyie is a replica of a paddle steamer sternwheeler that worked on Kootenay Lake in British Columbia for almost 60 years -- the rides around the reservoir are relaxing and scenic, although sometimes in the summer the water level is too low and the boat is docked temporarily. The latest addition to Heritage Park is the Gasoline Alley automotive museum. The vintage cars have been painstakingly restored, but there are still a few that are barricade-free which makes toddlers (and their parents) very happy.
Day Trip To Drumheller
Most think of heading west of Calgary to the Rockies for a day trip, but consider heading east instead to Drumheller, Alberta. Located in the Red Deer River Valley, the landscape of the Badlands seems to appear out of the blue, and the fossil-filled land that ultimately became the source for the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada's only museum dedicated to paleontology and home to one of the world's largest collections of dinosaurs. Daily programs during high season include dinosaur digs and discovery hikes, but merely strolling the museum and the chronological galleries celebrating the almost four billion year history of life on Earth is incredible on its own. At a less than two hour drive from Calgary, it's an easy day trip, although the many local hotels and their water slides often convince families to crash for one night at least.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel - an award winning website with a mission to inspire, motivate, and help families travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. For tips on flying with an infant, to advice on family travel destinations, check out Have Baby Will Travel or connect on Facebook or Twitter.]]>NY Congressman Introduces 'Families Flying Together Act 2012'tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16721492012-07-16T08:00:00-04:002012-09-15T05:12:02-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
Parents often have to rely on the kindness of strangers to switch seats, if they were not able to reserve seats together on a flight. Now that some airlines are charging additional fees for certain aisle and window seats, it's less likely fellow passengers would be willing to relocate. The Families Flying Together Act takes the onus off of parents to ensure their family is seated together (either by reserving extra early or incurring fees) and onto the airlines.
"Air travel is complicated and expensive enough for families without adding new stresses," says Nadler. "Families should not be stuck paying hidden fees, or buying 'premium' seats, simply because they wish to be seated together on crowded flights. It is positively absurd to expect a two or three-year-old to sit unattended, next to strangers, on an airplane. It is up to air carriers to make their seating policies clear and easily accessible to the public."
Back in May, Senator Charles Schumer requested Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issue rules that would prevent airlines charging parents more to sit with their children. He also asked Airlines for America, an industry trade group, to persuade carriers to voluntarily waive fees for families flying with young children. Schumer was successful in his bid to get five major airlines to promise they would not start charging for overhead carry-on luggage after Spirit Airlines introduced their fee for that back in 2010.
Corinne McDermott is a Family Travel Expert and the founder of Have Baby Will Travel, an award-winning family travel website.]]>Planning A Cruise On The Disney Fantasy? Read Our Travel Guidetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.16096762012-07-03T07:00:00-04:002013-01-07T11:53:54-05:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/The Disney Fantasy is the newest addition to Disney Cruise Lines' fleet of four luxury liners. With so many cruises and cruise lines to choose from, to make planning easier we've done all the research for cruise vacations. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on cruise ships, here is all the information you need to know about a cruise on the Disney Fantasy.
Great Destinations
The Disney Fantasy offers 7-night cruises, with both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Eastern Caribbean ports of call include St. Maarten or San Juan, Puerto Rico, plus St. Thomas/St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Western cruise stops at Grand Cayman, plus Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. Both itineraries include a stop at Disney's Castaway Cay - their private island in the Bahamas.
Grand Vessel
The sister ship to the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy has 14 that can house up to 4,000 passengers plus the over 1,450 cast and crew members. There are 1,250 staterooms that can all sleep a minimum of four passengers, and most feature the split bathroom with sink and toilet in one room, and a tub and shower plus a sink in the other. As with the rest of the DCL fleet, it is designed in the style of luxury ocean liners of days gone by, with opulent art nouveau decor and finishes.
Special Features
The Disney Fantasy is designed to have something that appeals to every passenger of every age, so The best cruises for kids keep them busy, and since the is a Disney property, the children's clubs are bright and fun. The well-trained staff to keep your little ones engaged and safe. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are play spaces with programs for kids aged 3-12 (little ones must be potty trained) and are included in your fare. The It's A Small World Nursery cares for little ones from 3 months to 3 years of age, for an additional fee of $6.00/hr. Reservations are recommended for the It's A Small World nursery, but walk-ins are usually accepted without issue if the ship is not at capacity. For the tween set, Edge is a lounge space located on Deck 13 where kids ages 11 through 14 can watch TV, listen to music, play videogames, and surf the Internet. Once the kids are ensconced in their own thing, the grown ups can enjoy the multitude of adult-only lounges or two adult pool areas, or unwind at the Senses Spa & Salon.
The entire family can enjoy the pools, waterslides and water fun areas, movie theater, and the shows at the Walt Disney Theatre on Decks 3 and 4.
Accommodations
As with the entire ship, the staterooms on the Disney Fantasy are well-appointed and nicely decorated with a nautical flair. Disney designed the 1,250 staterooms with families in mind - and there are options like private verandahs, deluxe rooms with expanded space, "magical portholes" - LCD flat-screen monitors with a stylized nautical frame disguised as a porthole for those without windows, as well as rooms with porthole views. All but the Standard Inside Staterooms offer Disney's signature "split bath". All staterooms are equipped with an LCD flat screen TV on swivel arm with remote-control,
an iPod Docking Station, full-length mirror, ample closet space, mini fridge, in-room safe, hair dryer, phone with voice-mail messaging, and individual climate controls.
Cost
Cruise prices can vary widely, depending on when you buy, itineraries, the time of year, off-ship excursions and your choice of stateroom. Cruisedirect.com lists prices for seven night Eastern Caribbean cruises departing from Port Canaveral starting at $1,344 for a balcony stateroom, going as high as $3,780 for the same room. Inside staterooms start at just over $1,000.
Excursions
If your itinerary takes you to the French/Dutch island of St. Maarten, port adventures include a bicycle tour through the historic capital of Phillipsburg, and many options for active exploration or beach relaxation. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, there's also the options of beach or bike, as well as shopping and catamaran options as well.
Dining Experience
Unique to Disney Cruise Line cruises, "rotational dining" is also a part of the Disney Fantasy dining experience. You eat in a different restaurant each night, but your serving staff follows you. There are three main dining rooms. The Enchanted Garden and Royal Court are more formally appointed, with fairytale-themed decor. The Animator's Palate, is a more casual atmosphere, with the amazing addition of watching a character of your design dance in Disney's classic animated films with Mickey Mouse and friends. Palo and Remy are Italian and French-themed adult-only dining experiences - usually for dinner but sometimes also brunch. Cabanas on Deck 11 is a varied buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and quick meals and snacks are also available on Deck 11 at is Flo's Café. The 24hr beverage station is located beside Flo's. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
Maiden Voyage
The Disney Fantasy's Fairy Godmother is Mariah Carey, who christened the vessel in New York City in early March, 2012. After a number of media preview sailings, she started her maiden voyage on March 31, 2012, sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida. It is the sister ship to the Disney Dream, which also sails out of Port Canaveral and does three to five night Bahamian Cruises.
In The News
On May 29, 2012, the Disney Fantasy rescued four men who were adrift on a small raft off the coast of Florida. The four men were Cuban nationals, who were spotted signalling for help off of Key West, Florida.
]]>Airlines Respond About Keeping Families Together On Planestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.15472522012-05-30T07:30:00-04:002012-07-30T05:12:13-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
As she wrote on her blog, mommiesarelight.com, the flight attendants were not helpful:
As we boarded the plane I approached the flight attendants and said, "I need your help, my two year old and I are not seated together." They laughed and said if I could get someone to change seats we could sit together and that my two year old could sit alone. I walked down the aisle behind my two year old and my eyes began to fill with tears imagining how scared he'd be if he had to sit alone. I started to cry and by the time we reached the aisle of our first seat 32A which was four aisles away from our other seat in 36B and a woman in 31C asked how she could help. I asked the man in 32B if he would switch with us and he did.
Hearing this story really harshed my mellow, especially after my inspiring travel experiences only days before. And now , this article by the Associated Press, which has been picked up by thousands of outlets. It states:
Airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra. That's helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members who don't pay this fee to sit next to each other. At the peak of the summer travel season, it might be nearly impossible. Buying tickets two or more months in advance makes things a little easier. But passengers are increasingly finding that the only way to sit next to a spouse, child or friend is to shell out $25 or more, each way.
Further in the article it's clarified that "Since last summer, American, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines have increased the percentage of coach seats requiring an extra fee. Some -- like those on Delta, JetBlue Airways and United -- come with more legroom."
Almost across the board, the minimum age for an unaccompanied minor to fly on a plane is five. I figured if an airline would not guarantee a young child be seated with their parent or guardian, they were in violation of their own unaccompanied minor policies. In order to get to the bottom of this, I reached out to all the airlines name-checked in the article. All but one got back to me, and here's what they said:
Morgan Durrant of Delta Airlines said if you book online via their site, you select your seats right away at no extra charge. If you book your flights online via another website (Expedia, Travelocity, etc.), you can still then go online to Delta's website with your confirmation number to choose your seats free of charge.
American Airlines' Tim Smith emailed me to confirm that any seating policies referred to in the AP article are not new and that by booking online there is the option of pre-selecting your seats at no extra charge. He clarified that "there are seats available for free at the time of booking -- depending on how early you book and how full the flight ultimately becomes."
Allison Steinberg of JetBlue confirmed that "we do not charge additionally for window or aisle seats, and our E190 aircraft have only window and aisle seats with our two-by-two seat configuration." JetBlue does have a seat upgrade offering a number of perks that you can pay extra for, but it is not a requirement to do so unless the flight has already booked up.
Frontier Airlines' Lindsey Carpenter explained that "there are seats on our aircraft that we block for premium passengers ... The remainder of our aircraft is open for advanced seat assignments for all classes of tickets. If, for any reason, a parent and child can't get seats together, our wonderful customer agents will work with the customer at the ticket counter or gate to get them seated together."
Jessica Wheeler, Public Relations Manager for Allegiant Travel Company, did her best to break down Allegiant's complicated seat selection and boarding processes. In a nutshell, you can pre-reserve seats for all your party for anywhere between $5 and $75, depending on seat placement, row and duration of flight. If you choose not to pay to pre-select (and pay extra for) your seats, families with children aged seven and under are permitted to board in the fourth boarding group, behind those with disabilities, those that have paid for priority boarding (on top of pre-paying for seats) and those that have pre-paid seats.
US Airways' Andrew Christie clarified that "the grand majority of the aircraft cabin remains open for the convenience and comfort of all of our passengers, including families who wish to sit together. It is recommended that families traveling together check their seating assignments prior to the day of departure to ensure they are seated together. If a seat assignment change is necessary, customers are encouraged to contact US Airways reservations."
Spirit's bluntness is kind of refreshing. Director of Corporate Communications, Misty Pinson, simply stated that "Yes, if families want to ensure that they have seats together, then they must pay for seat assignments." Combine that with their exorbitant fees for carry-on luggage, and Spirit Airlines may inadvertently become the child-free airline everyone seems to be clamouring for.
After repeated attempts to connect over several days, ultimately United Airlines did not respond to comment regarding seat selection, regarding Amanda's story and also regarding their termination of family pre-boarding procedures.
AP's Scott Mayerowitz followed up his article with the news that Senator Charles Schumer is requesting Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issue rules that would prevent airlines charging parents more to sit with their children. He is also asking Airlines for America, an industry trade group, to persuade carriers to voluntarily waive fees for families flying with young children. Schumer was successful in his bid to get five major airlines to promise they would not start charging for overhead carry-on luggage after Spirit introduced their fee, so it's nice to see that traveling families do have an advocate in Washington, D.C.
But for now, the policies exist, so I guess there are a couple of morals to this story.
First, to avoid any extra fees, try to be organized and book as much in advance as you can. You have to be prepared for every aspect of travel with babies, toddlers and small children, from packing essentials to carry-on necessities, and now booking is no different. In order to connect directly with the airline, it may be well worth the time spent on hold to purchase tickets by phone.
Second, the mainstream media is still not above adding fuel to the fire of the whole anti-kids on planes movement. A story like the Associated Press article sparks outrage, which in turn ignites heated comments and then page views explode. It's a win for the media outlets, but it continues to be a loss for family travelers everywhere.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel. For tips on flying with babies and toddlers, to the latest in baby travel gear, Have Baby Will Travel's mission is to inspire, motivate, and help families travel with babies, toddlers, and young children. Connect with Corinne on twitter and on Facebook]]>Flying The (Still) Friendly Skies. With Kids!tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14763592012-05-06T08:30:00-04:002012-07-06T05:12:07-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/travel car seats, cleaning hands, procuring snacks and travel toys and now, blessedly, setting up the iPad, was spent actually observing the goings on around me. Our travel day ran just about as smoothly as a travel day could, but I think it was in spite of that rather than because of it that I noticed something I had long suspected but now could confirm. Regardless of what Internet commenters would have you believe, people are polite, courteous, even, when you're traveling with small children.
The polite and courteous part was sadly often a response to the not so polite and courteous actions of an adult person (behaving in a decidedly less than adult manner). JetBlue may force toddlers to deplane, but they still offer a pre-board for those flying with small kids or requiring special assistance. But that didn't stop the scrum of people pushing themselves in front of the families with strollers. Kudos to the JetBlue staff for not rewarding such actions, as well to the gentleman who cleared a path of passengers to assist a mom traveling on her own with a tiny baby. It was refreshing and inspiring to witness chivalry in action. You'd never expect to see that after reading the comments on this article.
And a word on the pre-board: This is not a luxury that we "entitled" parents feel we deserve. It's an opportunity to get organized and out of everyone's way -- thus actually facilitating the boarding process. Grown-ups who believe they are also entitled to such "privileges" are welcome to do so by upgrading their flight.
There are thousands of uneventful flights taking place every day. When all we hear about are tales of disruptive children and how 53% of people wish there were child-free flights or family zones on planes, and the barrage of hateful comments that ensue, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the vast majority are drama-free.
Those threatening to put a damper on our smooth flying day were not children being children, but grown ups acting like the ill-behaved kids we keep hearing so much about. The person who reclined his seat during landing after he was told to put it up was not a sullen tween, but a man in his 50s. Those that raced ahead to get in front of us in the security line were not preschoolers, but a couple in their thirties. When I did see kids acting up, I also saw mothers and fathers doing their best to manage the situation. Whether or not I agree with their parenting methods is irrelevant. I saw no so-called "checked-out" parents.
Flying with kids can be challenging, and flying with babies and toddlers can be a lot of work. But so is just being a parent. It used to be you could count on help from the village to raise your child, now it seems like you need to protect them from that village -- or at least the villagers who comment on online articles. But this most recent flying experience has inspired and encouraged me, at least until the next time someone publishes an online article like this one.
Corinne McDermott is the founder of Have Baby Will Travel - your online guide for travel with babies, toddlers & young children. From baby packing lists to tips on coping with jet lag in toddlers, Have Baby Will Travel wants to help you travel with your baby! Connect with Corinne on twitter and on Facebook]]>A Toddler Is Kicked Off a Plane... Why Is This Headline News?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.13394262012-03-15T14:51:05-04:002012-05-15T05:12:01-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/thrown off a JetBlue flight as a result of her tantrum. Is this headline news because toddlers delaying flights is a real issue facing the airline industry, causing frequent disruptions and threatening the safety of flight crews? Well, according to this ABC News report, it has happened at least three times since 2007. Hmm. Is it headline news because stories like this garner hundreds of heated comments resulting in lots of page views for the news websites? Ding ding ding -- bingo.
In this most recent case, the Vieau Family was returning to Boston from the Turks & Caicos islands. With no other flight options that night, booking new airfares and an extra night in a hotel cost them $2,000. Turks & Caicos can be a pricey island, but because it's so safe and clean, it's very popular with families. When I flew home from there with my daughter, there were 15 babies on the plane. And you know what? One or two of them might have cried a little. Somehow we all survived.
That same ABC News Travel section had an article about alcohol on planes less than six months ago. In it, the author gives seven examples of passengers acting inappropriately on airplanes -- in some cases assaulting flight attendants -- and mentions that he "could go on and on." That article received a grand total of 17 comments, most agreeing with the author. I recall the series Airline on A&E a few years back, and while I don't remember any misbehaving toddlers or negligent parents, I think the drama, for most episodes, was a response to people drinking too much.
It's my guess that alcohol is the cause of frequent delays and threatens the safety of flight crews. Research by Britain's Civil Aviation Authority found that almost half of air rage incidents were connected to alcohol abuse. And yet there is never talk of banning booze on airplanes or at airports. (Thank goodness, since I do enjoy an inflight Bloody Mary once my children are safely ensconced in their toddler headphone and iPad coma.)
Here's what's really alarming about all the news headlines about babies on planes: It frightens new parents and may prevent them from seeing the world with their children. Truthfully, in all our flights, we've never had anyone be outwardly rude to us -- even on my solo flight to Florida where both kids threw up all over me. Our kind seat mate kept offering tissues, although there wasn't much I could do with them. I wrote about my first experience with a toddler on a plane over four years ago, and sadly the public's attitude seems to be getting worse.
The Internet is a far crueler place than most airplanes, and no one would dare to be as rude in person as they are behind the anonymity of a computer. But this piece in Jezebel fairly accurately details all the online vitriol towards those traveling with kids in tow.
And is it ironic that most of those most vocal against travel with babies claim their love of travel began in infancy?]]>Beach Resorts For Babies...tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.12734212012-02-23T07:00:00-05:002012-04-24T05:12:02-04:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/
Or maybe it's just that mom and dad need a bit of down time, what with that 400-750 hours of lost sleep in that first year, not to mention the new piles of laundry and dishes and the desire for a lovely meal that someone else has prepared.
So whether it's baby or parent who needs a dose of natural Vitamin D, these resorts will make sure every member of your family enjoys a well-deserved beach vacation.
]]>Some Winter Sun Ideas For Familiestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.11409152011-12-28T11:15:00-05:002012-02-27T05:12:01-05:00Corinne McDermotthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/corinne-mcdermott/traveling with children adds a new dimension to the decision making process. In a perfect world, all flights are direct, and all destinations are safe and clean with good access to decent medical care. There are lots of places that fit that bill, but not all of them are affordable -- or offer the array of choices of accommodation options that pricier locales often do.
Our summer break is usually kept low key, but my children have apparently inherited my preference for sand over snow, so although we live in a northern climate, we're always dreaming of our next sunny getaway.
If you're craving a little vitamin D, as well as some quality time with your family, here are a couple of suggestions:
Jamaica
If you're thinking about visiting Jamaica with your kids, it's a great choice. Suitable for a wide range of budgets, family-friendly accommodation options abound, from luxury all-inclusive resorts to villa rentals to modest beachside inns. In terms of being baby friendly, Jamaica even has a resort that assigns your family its own personal vacation nanny (don't knock it 'til you've tried it).
If parking yourselves at the beach is what you're after, Negril is probably the stop for you. The famous Seven-Mile Beach has a gentle slope into the turquoise water, and there's a nice mix of beachy cottages and big resorts to choose from when it comes to a place to stay.
Cancun & The Riviera Maya
Cancun, The Riviera Maya and Cozumel are the main draws to the Mexican side of the Caribbean Sea. The Cancun area was specifically built by the Mexican government as a tourist development on the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean. The Riviera Maya starts in Puerto Morelos and ends just past Tulum with most accommodations and attractions falling at most a 90-minute drive from Cancun's airport. There are no highrise hotels or thumping discos on the beach in the Riviera Maya, so it combines the beauty of Caribbean beaches with the charm and flavor of Mexico.
The Riviera Maya is incredibly convenient when traveling with kids. There's a large Wal-mart nearby, as well as more attractions than you or your wallet could possibly stand in a week. Being spoiled for choice is a good thing when you've got little ones in tow.
Barbados
Perhaps the priciest of these options but certainly do-able is Barbados. Infused with a Britishness that's posh without being uppity, Barbados is impeccably kempt for a Caribbean island with tap water so fresh that the bottled water tastes funny. It's the Caribbean's most re-visited island, and it's easy to see why: In addition to being incredibly safe and clean, Barbados is incredibly beautiful. The waters are calmer on the sleepy west coast, and there's more to do further south, but everyone should plan to stay up past bedtime for the hopping fish fry in Oistens. The vast array of accommodation options and price points, as well as the many natural attractions, makes Barbados for families a great option.
