UPDATE: thank you for your feedback.
We had an amazing trip to Athens and then Celebrity Greek Islands cruise with five adults and 9 month old. Baby was happy, charming and didn’t have any melt downs. We did a set time for dinner on cruise and table was always waiting with high chair in place. Patrons around us lit up when they saw him come in and he didn’t fuss or cause disturbance. (No one asked to be moved on our 9 day cruise:). He successfully went with us on multiple cruise excursions, but we limited to 3.5 hour activities, chose two panoramic tours which wouldn’t have been our choice if traveling without baby, and booked two private tours. He took the cable car up and down in Santorini and enjoyed the beach in Mykonos. We had no issues with him on the tenders. We brought his car seat as we needed it to and from airport and then stored it in the ship shower or veranda. The tours we hired in Athens and Santorini had a car seat for small fee. Mom carried him in front pack on the tour busses and walking, which though some risk worked out fine. We intentionally sat in very back row of bus to minimize any issues, but he never fussed (luckily). He didn’t sleep much on long flight to Athens but did coming home. We picked seats right in front of bathrooms so there was space to stand if he needed soothing and no seats behind us, minimizing potential disturbance to others. We had long lines for customs but he just hung out in the front pack.
Traveling with a baby takes planning and coordination but it’s feasible without being a nightmare for others around you. I read lots of tips on various forums and we were lucky to have been blessed with a good natured baby who’s normally content and doesn’t get scared with new surroundings. We were blessed and this family trip will be remembered for a long time to come…
So happy I found this forum. Greece cruise with family and 9 month old. ‘Have baby will travel’ is my daughter’s philosophy as was ours 30 years ago.
I’ve been researching baby’s and car seats and talking to celebrity and it’s about clear as mud. US and Greece require infant in car seats. So do we. We’re planning to bring his car seat. I’m reading that infant car seats are different in Greece, that hooking a U.S. car seat in a Greek vehicle could be an issue, etc.
Looks like three excursions we’re going on are confirmed ‘coaches’. On past travels there’s always been seat belts in these vehicles - normally high end. I’m getting mixed messages online and from cruise regarding ability to use a car seat, whether we’ll be traveling in vehicles with no seat belts, and whether baby will have to be a ‘lap baby’ on the excursions.
Any insights from cruisers, travelers or locals appreciated. Thx