A Vacation Car Seat Question

[icedcoffee]

Help me out here.  We're going on a cruise for spring break.  Driving to the port in our car with our car seats so no flying.  The ports are Port Canaveral, CocoCay and Nassau.  CocoCay you get off the boat right to the beach.  Easy.  Nassau we plan to just walk around then go back to the ship and enjoy the pool while it's empty(er). 

But Port Canaveral.  You basically have to drive somewhere.  We're thinking Cocoa Beach which is like a 10 minute drive each way.  My kids will be 6.5 and 3.5.  Do I really need to schlep 2 car seats for this?  What are the chances of an uber having 1 car seat and then I can maybe put my 6 year old in a backless booster bubblebaum type thing?  Is thinking I'll get an uber with a car seat unlikely?

What would you do?  (In real life, not in GBCN we take car seats seriously life).

[Susie]

Is there any possibility of a bus to popular activities or other type of transit that wouldn't require a car seat? I'm pretty GBCN about car seats IRL, but my kids are basically the same ages and I'd be so annoyed to lug car seats just for that.

[waverly]

Could you do a rider safe travel vest? I haven't used it myself. travelcarseatmom.com/ride-safer-travel-vest-review/. it starts at age 4, so maybe could work for the 3.5 year old? I don't know since I haven't used it myself.  There are smaller sizes for smaller kids.  

Then yes for the 6 year old a regular backless booster or a travel backless booster.

[purplepenguin7]

I am GBCN level safefy for car seats IRL also (seriously I have texted friends when they post pictures of unsafe car seats). I'm not a huge fan of this but I would try the Rider Safety vest for your 3.5 year old and the bubble bum for your 6.5 year old. I don't love the vest thing but it is typically reccommended for travel by CPSTs. ridesafertravelvest.com/

Second to that (and I wouldn't judge you) I'd try and book an excurison with a shuttle where the kids can sit on your laps if it's a short ride. Not the best in terms of safety but I do agree that I wouldn't want to lug car seats just for this.

I think relying on an Uber with a car seat would be tricky and would be my last choice.

editing to add: I am not a fan of the vest because it looks complicated and tricky.  It is 100% safe. 

[joy]

Ride Safer vests!

EDIT - my kid has used it since age three in the city. It’s an enormous help with travel. She is now six and we take a careseat nowhere.

[mpm]

I’d come up with another plan TBH if this were me. I’m not comfortable with my kids on any motor vehicles without appropriate restraints so no buses for us, I don’t trust rider vests at those ages, wouldn’t trust an Uber to have appropriate restraints, and no room to store 2 car seats on a cruise. We’d stay at the pool on the ship that day or choose something within walking distance of the port.

ETA: you might find this helpful:

thecarseatlady.com/travel/taxis/

[icedcoffee]

Jan 27, 2023 10:07:28 GMT -5 Susie said:

Is there any possibility of a bus to popular activities or other type of transit that wouldn't require a car seat? I'm pretty GBCN about car seats IRL, but my kids are basically the same ages and I'd be so annoyed to lug car seats just for that.

This might be the best bet.  It's pricier, but not as expensive as the Ride Safer which I don't know if we'd ever use again (at least not anytime soon).

[keweenawlove]

Putting this on there on the Ride Safer vest in case it helps anyone else. My co-worker's wife is a CPST for our hospital so I asked her about it. She said it seemed like it would be a good solution for situations like this, especially if kids are seated next to an adult. She wished she'd thought of the idea. They released a new version that's rated down to 2 years so we're going to try it on an upcoming trip for Ubers.

I've checked for Ubers with car seats around Chicago and never had any luck. Assuming it would be even harder in a smaller city.

[janegold]

It is kind of pricy but we use our Ride Safer vest all the time, it's been incredibly handy for travel. Personally, I would do that for the little one and a Bubblebum for the big one.

[cmeon]

There are tons of shuttles (mini buses) that run all over the place- including cocoa hotels (the beach) at all the port terminals, I'd just arrange for that.

[erbear]

If buses weren’t an option, I’d bring a cheap light seat for my 3.5 year old and a booster for my 6.5

[VillainV]

If you can borrow a Ride Safer vest, or if you think you’d use it enough to justify the cost to purchase one, I’d do that for the younger kid. We’ve used them before (borrowed) and they were very easy. I’d do that and a BubbleBum for the older one.

If you can borrow and don’t want to buy a Ride Safer, then I’d probably do an excursion with a shuttle bus. Or stay on the ship.

[steamboat185]

Rider safe vest and a bubblebum for the older kiddo.

[krystee]

icedcoffee the Ride Safer vest is sometimes borrowed in my Buy Nothing group, so it may be worth posting on yours to see if you could use it for a week and then return it to the owner.

We are cruising next week and using shuttle buses or boats to beaches to avoid the car seat issue.

[icedcoffee]

Thanks all! We booked a shuttle through the cruise line. Best part is the 3 year old was free. Yay! I think this is the safest and most convenient way.

[lolalolalola]

Sorry for the stupid question but why are shuttles safer than cars without car seats? Or is it just related to seat belt laws? My kids are well past the age of car seats so I am not able to help. Just curious!

[mpm]

Jan 30, 2023 14:03:59 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

Sorry for the stupid question but why are shuttles safer than cars without car seats? Or is it just related to seat belt laws? My kids are well past the age of car seats so I am not able to help. Just curious!

They’re not. Buses are larger than cars and thus more visible, so they’re in fewer accidents. There are public policy reasons why they don’t have restraints and why it’s legal for children to be on them without car seats. But if there is an accident involving a bus or shuttle unrestrained children can absolutely still be injured. Same for planes.

[egishere]

"Driving to the port in our car with our car seats so no flying."

Maybe I'm missing something here but isn't Port Canaveral where the cruise leaves from? And you will have your car?

[icedcoffee]

Jan 30, 2023 15:24:06 GMT -5 egishere said:

"Driving to the port in our car with our car seats so no flying."

Maybe I'm missing something here but isn't Port Canaveral where the cruise leaves from? And you will have your car?

Nope.  It leaves from NJ and Port Canaveral is our (not super exciting) first stop.

[egishere]

icedcoffee, ahhh makes sense then! lol I had no idea they actually use that as a port stop for cruises originating in other ports!

[icedcoffee]

Jan 31, 2023 14:02:28 GMT -5 egishere said:

icedcoffee , ahhh makes sense then! lol I had no idea they actually use that as a port stop for cruises originating in other ports!

They do...but it's a pretty lame one!  LOL

[aprilsails]

Another option than the bubble bum would be a MiFold booster seat. We have one for DD as a backup option. It’s legal in Florida and we love ours, it is so small and great for if we ever have to fit kids three across.

Otherwise I would see if there is a shuttle solution available through the cruise line. Seems odd there would be no large group activities available at the stop.