The Magical Mermaid Mama

If you have young children, chances are you will become well acquainted with Nemo’s Reef on Disney Cruise Line (unless of course you’re sailing on the Wish, then you’ll enjoy a Toy Story themed splash area). So let’s talk about what you can expect from Nemo’s Reef!

1. Intended for Young Children

I think the signs say Nemo’s Reef is for children 8 and younger, but I honestly don’t think children older than 5 or 6 should be allowed, excluding special circumstances. The majority of children in this area are babies and toddlers, and nothing brings out the Ursula in me more than seeing a kid who is way too old and big cutting in front of and pushing babies and toddlers. Thankfully, the lifeguards are pretty good about monitoring the splash area for older kids and will promptly run them off. It is worth mentioning that there is another splash area intended for older children elsewhere onboard. If you have an infant or toddler, this is the only water area he or she will be allowed onboard. DCL is very strict about pool requirements. Absolutely no swim diapers or children who are not fully potty trained are allowed in the pool or other water areas. There are no exceptions. Consequently, swim diapers are required for non potty trained littles in Nemo’s Reef.

2. It Is Out of the Sun

As a fair skinned redhead, this is one of my favorite things about Nemo’s Reef. Your children will not be in the sun at all in Nemo’s Reef. It is fully covered, which is such a huge benefit other cruiselines (I’m looking at you, RC) do not share. The splash area on Castaway Cay is not covered, so you definitely notice the difference when you compare the two! You don’t have to worry about lathering up in sunscreen, hats, and rashguards while your little ones play.

3. The Theming is Adorable

My toddlers don’t really care much for Finding Nemo yet, but they LOVE Nemo’s Reef. The theming is adorable, and there is a lot of variety: characters to climb on, water spouts, an adorable slide, characters that spray water, a water curtain, etc. And it’s all straight from the movie! The colors are super vibrant and make for great photos.

4. Bring Water Shoes

When we went on the Dream last spring, I was shocked at the lack of swim shoes. They’re not required, but I like them from a sanitary perspective alone. However, the floor in Nemo’s Reef is smooth and slick, especially for babies and wobbly toddlers. I saw many a child wipe out from slipping. You can find cheap, non-skid water shoes on Amazon, and they make all the difference! I even saw a couple of very young toddlers slip and fall pretty hard, hitting their heads. Trust me. Buy the swim shoes.

5. Know It Will Be Crowded

There are certain times of day it will be more crowded, and it will be the most crowded on sea days. We typically go after breakfast and early in the afternoon when our girls wake up from their naps. There is a max capacity posted, but I personally have not seen anybody enforce that. It’s best to keep your swim essentials in your diaper bag so you can change in the bathroom and go play without having to do a whole scouting process and then go back to the room and change. By the time you get back, you might have missed your window.

Nemo’s Reef is one of many activities DCL offers for babies and toddlers. Sailing with little ones can be difficult for a lot of reasons, but we have had so much fun making memories with our girls! If you’re planning a once in a lifetime cruise, is is probably better to wait until your children are older and can participate and remember more, but if you want to go now, don’t let your child’s age deter you! And definitely check out Nemo’s Reef for endless fun! My 3 year old still talks about it!

Happy Sailing!

Ashley