To prevent the baby from running down the deck and annoying other people (some of us do not delight in this as some of their parents do- nor do we think the kid is cute) retain the infant in a stroller or keep on a harness with a leash. Bring something to med the child to keep it quiet as to not annoy other people. Also, if you are going to change the baby, would you kindly refrain from doing it on the airplane's food tray or in open public.
Better yet, keep the kid home or delay long trips until the infant is old enough to be safely left with others.I have seen people bring infants into casinos, bars and experience situations that a infant does not belong at. You will enjoy your vacation more without the snivelling brat anyway.

Wondered how long it would take for the anti-child voices to appear, and 19 posts isn't bad.

Now you are going to get people chiming in with Jim telling you to put the kid in the witch's oven and other people horrified that Jim would mention drugs, etc.

But the breadth of your question -- "a cruise or vacation" -- is so broad, Ellen, that it has a whiff of trolling to it. Unless you are brand new to Fodor's (and if so, welcome, and sorry for the sour note), you can't possibly avoid knowing that travel with babies is a major red cape for forum bulls, bull-slingers, bull-fighters, and bullshot.

The advice already posted here is very good -- frankly, I'd take it and run. But if you want anything further, why not be specific about where you think you might take your child and what you are most concerned about.

An earlier post recommended passing the children on to the grandparents as they have probably waited to have them to theirselves for a year. As a mother, now a grandmother, I do enjoy my children and grandchildren. But like many of my friends who are also grandparents, as much as I love the children, they are too much to handle for a week or more. We have raised our children and expect our children to raise theirs. Although many may not admit it, running after small child/children when you are advancing in years, is not such an easy thing to do. We are not free babysitters. In an emergency we may not be that fast or quick in reaching a child. If you can plan appropriate trips to bring them with you, do it. If they are that small think of other types of vacations or spend quality time on day trips. You have a very strong commitment to that child, it is not a dog to board or doll to throw in the closet. They are only small for a few short years anyway. Although I would not put it in his words, Jim is basically right. You need to be sensitive to other people and they may not enjoy the ramblings of an infant or the indulgences people extend their children on airplanes, cruise ships etc or adult activities. There are approaches to keeping them controlled in many situations and that is probably an important question for you to be asking. Would you want people smoking around your baby, gambling or spilling their alcohol on your child? Be responsible and mature or that infant may end up being a difficult child.

Ellen, I have been reading, with interest all this controversial feedback. As I have a small one as well it would be interesting to know what your thoughts/decisions are on this topic now. Would you kindly advise?

The minute that someone address the "reasonableness" of taking infants or children on vacations, they are accused of all kinds of deviant behaviors including "chid hating!" Frankly, the parents need to consider the needs of the child and how the change in routine/food/schedule/etc will impact on the child. Then there are those who don't give a thought what happens if the baby gets sick ... what do I do for medical treatment ... suppose something happens to YOU ... The trend to take "family" vacations and "dump" the child with strange sitters or at a "camp" with strangers whom they know nothing about astounds me. They also need to take into consideration the appropriateness of the choice of destination and how child-friendly the location is. A very big consideration, when on vacation, is that other adults may not appreciate the antics of Junior who screams thru a candlelit dinner, who is wheeled to the bar in a stroller, who chooses to build the sand castle under someone else's chair other than his parents and who has not a clue how to modulate his decilbles or tone and whines and whines when he does have all the comforts of home! You don't hear it, you don't see it - you are immune, it seems but it is annoying to others who want to relax and enjoy their space and time - just like you do! Children learn what they live and if they are not taught consideration for others, they don't know it! Frankly, I find it annoying that dodging strollers and darting children is becoming more hazardous than going thru mine fields. As to "Grandma," who is too old and tired to tend to the grandchildren for the short time her son or daughter and spouse go away to recharge their batteries, she is missing a wonderful opportunity to make some cherished times for and with her grandchildren. Of course, not all grandma's stay home and make gingerbread all day and have lives of their own but I hope she looks at spending time with the grandchildren more as a joy than a drudgery so that the parents can go away to "indulge" themselves. Sure it is exhausting, sure it is hard, but it is only for such a short time ... and the price is not too high for the wonderful time you can have together despite the work - and it is work! And be thankful for it! The parents have a responsibility to each other and if they take time each year and nuture their relationship knowing that Junior is well cared for by a loving warm family, what better message can they teach the children about family?