Hi there Lindsay, and welcome aboard planDisney!
I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of tours and excursions, especially since it was something I enjoyed doing on my time off while living and working on board; after almost a decade at sea I've had the opportunity to escort and evaluate hundreds of these all over the world! Now as luck would have it, I'm currently looking forward to
setting sail on a cruise in Europe myself soon with my toddler niece in tow - who will be on her very first voyage out on the open seas. We also had similar questions and after reaching out to a Disney Cruise Line representative as well as the folks that work with
Port Adventures, here's some insight that you might find helpful:
- Port Adventures in Europe & Mediterranean rely on local tour operators who often contract out transportation to motorcoach companies to bring guests to and from destinations. There is unfortunately no way to guarantee whether any of the buses will be able to accommodate your car seat and in my personal experience I've observed a lot of families traveling with younger children having challenges with this. (With the precious limited amount of time allotted in each port, we certainly didn't want to be the family affecting the chances of a timely departure for the rest of the guests by wrestling with seats that aren't properly equipped to safely secure a car seat.)
- In certain cities or countries, laws may vary on what is permissible for infants in vehicles and it'll be up to you whether this is something you'll want to risk traveling overseas. I've observed families resort to sitting on laps and also certain modes of transportation operated without seatbelts, but it's always worth inquiring the knowledgable Crew Members at the Port Adventures Desk on board in case they have more up-to-date insights about certain offerings.
- Fellow seafaring families who choose to cruise further from home with younger sailors often swear by Private Adventures offered through Disney Cruise Line; be sure to check the Know Before You Go section found in each description to see whether it specifically indicates that "Limited children’s car seats are available." or "Booster seats for children age 4 to 8 years old and car seats for children age 0 to 3 years old are available." Be aware that select offerings may also state that "Children accompanied by an adult are allowed to sit in the back seat without a car seat." In my experience these can skew to be on the higher range of pricing, but families do find it worth the reassurance of safety along with the fact that they can often explore on their own terms based on how their little ones are feeling on these often lengthy private outings.
I hope this helps, Lindsay! Here's hoping that you and your family will be able to safely enjoy some excellent adventures out there in June - and as a personal Princely bit of advice, make sure everyone's shoes are very comfortable for Mediterranean destinations and take every opportunity you can get whenever you come across a restroom as they aren't always easy to find out there when the kids really need one!
Wishing you smooth sailing with your young sailors!
Prince