momoftheseas

on a 7 night cruise, typically you are allowed to book 16 hours at the start of the cruise and then i believe on day 3, they will open up any remaining time on a first come first serve basis. We used the nursery a lot when my girls were little and i can only recall one time where there was one evening  we wanted to drop her off early and couldn't because they were full. We typically booked our hours in the evenings so we could enjoy dinner with out the kids and a few times would book hours while we were in port so we could do an excursion. Hope this answers your questions!

 You  cant make advanced reservations for the kids club, but we have never had an issue with being turned away because they are too full.

At 3, they will more than likely give you either a phone or a beeper(I cant remember what we got on anthem I think it was a phone) and you can always ask for one as well. For my youngest daughter we seemed to be given a phone at the beginning of the week and then towards the end were asked if we wanted it when it became clear she was fully potty trained.

As previously mentioned, the only fees charged are if your child stays past 10pm. It was $7 per hour(per kid) last time we were on board.

Sea day hours are 9am-12 pm, 2m-5pm and and then 7pm-10pm. They are open from 10pm-2am for that extra charge. While you are in port they will remain open the whole time you are in port.

If you have any other questions just ask!

 As the others have said the kids would be split two in the youngest group and two in the oldest.  They may let you move the 5 year old up, or the 6 year old down, but more than likely wont let you move the 4 or 7 year old as they are so far off from either cut off.

You can ask for a phone or beeper in case the kids want to leave, but depending on how any your kids are on board they may not give you one as they are usually reserved for those kids with special needs or the newly 3 year olds who are more likely to have an accident. I believe the Disney clubs are open all day(I haven't sailed Disney with kids). Royal's kids clubs have sessions so 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm and 7pm-10pm. From 10pm-2am there is an hourly charge (I think its $7/hr). On a port day they will be open the entire time you are in port. They usually offer Adventure Dining in the evenings where you can sign them up and they the youth staff will take them to get usually a pizza dinner in the Windjammer.

Hope this helps explain it a little better.

It has been a while since I sailed on Freedom, so I can't share exact hours but i'm happy to share some basic info!

The nursery can have different hours on sea days and port days. When you get on-board there will be a special nursery cruise compass that should list the hours for the week. I reccomend going to the open house session on the first day to book any times that are a must for you. usually you are allowed to book 16 hours up front and then around day 3 they will open up all remaining time slots for everyone to book. Anytime before 6pm I believe it is $6 per hour and after 6pm it is $8 per hour. You will need to bring basic supplies for her (usually they give you a small bag to bring it in, but not always) Diapers, wipes, bottles/sippy cups and whatever she is drinking ( formula or breast milk).

Hope this helps!

Usually if you are in port from 9-6. You will arrive in port at 9 and have usually cleared customs and able to get off the ship at 9:30. All Aboard would be at 5:30. It is almost always a half an hour before departure time.

It is usually open on night one but it opens late. Usually at 8 or 830 depending on the ship. We haven't sailed on Brilliance with our kids so I am not sure of the exact time. If you are okay with a late dinner, I would think you would be okay if you scheduled dinner for 8:30 if you are booking in advance. Once you are sure what time Adventure Ocean opens you could adjust your dinner plans if needed.

Hello! We're sailing in July on Symphony with a 1.5 year old. Does anyone remember the hours for the nursery, specifically how late does it stay open? For late late nights (i.e., past our son's 8:30 pm bed time) do we use an in-room sitter instead?

 

TIA

The nursery has closed at midnight on every ship we have used it on. (which is quite a few)

We sailed on connecting balconies on Independence of the Seas and I do not believe our sofas pulled out (which was fine because we didn’t need them to) but we had full size sofas in each room. I attached the photo so hopefully that will help. I imagine that those rooms have the connecting door by the beds to enable the pull out sofas to be in the room.

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In our family, we always do late seating. We take our kids to the Windjammer feed them dinner, then drop them off at the Adventure ocean when they open at 7. Then my husband and I head to dinner in either the MDR or a specialty restaurant. This works great for us because our children have no interest in a long sit down dinner. Just another idea to throw out there.

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I asked my daughter (she’s 6) and she has probably been on about 15 cruises. She says most of the time they stay in the room. Occasionally they went to the theatre but when she has been there they were given the option to stay in the room and play or go see the movie.

From what I recall they really only schedule a movie on pj night. Otherwise it just plays in the room if kids want to watch. I can’t say what night pj night is but hopefully this info helps!

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I have a question about the toddler groups. Does anyone have any experience with them? Also if my son is 1 year and 11 months old on our next cruise will he still be forced into the 1 year old group?

If you are traveling on a ship with a nursery, all the young ones are in the same room from 6months-under 3. The nursery is not as structured as Adventure ocean because they don’t know what ages will be there at what time in advance, if that makes sense. There are lots of toys available for every age. My youngest is almost 3 and has been to the nursery a bunch and has loved it at every age.

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Nursery is usually open at 8pm on the first night for drop off.

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We always sail on Royal Caribbean. Our kids love their kids program. I would maybe look into Navigator or the seas or a similar sized ships. They have great features without being to large which you said you don't like. I can't speak to any of the other cruise lines cause I haven't been on them before.

Also this might be an instance where a great travel agent is helpful. Someone that could take what you are looking for and give you all your options.

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I bought the Shrunks inflatable bed railfor my two year old on our last cruise. Didn't take up a lot of space and she never once fell out of the bed. My 6 year old has never had an issue so I only bought one. Just a suggest and doesn't take up much room. Royal doesn't provide any bed rails so you will have to bring your own.

Another option is to ask your room steward for extra towels and you can just roll them to make lumps on each side of the bed.

Here is the bedrails: http://www.theshrunks.com/shop/bed-time/security/Inflatable-Bed-Rail/

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Usually Adventure Ocean is open from 9-12, 2-5 and 7-10 and then from 10 to 2am for an hourly fee. On port days, the house vary depending on what time you are in port.

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Just curious what kind you are bringing? I was wondering what kind will travel well.

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I can't help in regards to the cruise questions especially since my oldest is 6 so hopefully someone else can help there. as far as passports, my kids are 6 and 2 and both have passports. Will you be fine with out them, yes you will. For me the piece of mind is worth the expense. On the plus side, if you get your 16 year old a passport it will be valid for 10 years as opposed to the 10 year old where it would only be valid for 5. It makes that money go a little bit farther. Just my opinion! Have a great cruise.

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With my youngest we used the nursery here and there because the few times we cruised we often had family on board who would watch her for us.

With my youngest though we do exactly what you plan on doing. We have late seating dining and drop her off so we can eat just as adults.

They way the nursery works is that you are allowed to precook 16 hours on the first day onboard, so make sure you go during the open house to do that. I believe it is on day 3 ( just ask and they will tell you) they open up any remaining space. It is hard to say what the ship will look like as far as the number of kids but we have had pretty good luck booking the evening times we wanted. We ran into some trouble the few random times we decided last minute that we wanted to drop her off during the day. But that was only on one cruise so far and we have been luck enough to sail on quiet a few.

I don't think there is a pattern that I have noticed for busiest times since it really depends on the cruise.

Hope this helps!

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I can't speak to Harmony since we don't sail her until September, but I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old who have been cruising since they were 9months and 6 months. They love the nursery and I find the staff to always be so wonderful. If you have any specific questions I would be happy to help.

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I have not sailed with Royal, but from what little I saw online is there a nursery or anything onboard MSC? I don't know if it's important to you, you mentioned the 7 and 8 year old (my daughter is 6 and loves royals kids clubs). My husband and I don't get out much just the two of us at home, so it important to us when we cruise we also have an option for our 2 year old (we have cruised since she was 6 months) have someplace for her too. It's vacation we like to be able to spend time with the kids, and get a break from the kids if that makes sense. Hope this answer wasn't too all over the place, but just something else to consider.

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If you want a ''free'' Disney experience with the kids, you could go to Downtown Disney (I believe it is called Disney Boardwalk or something like that now). You can walk around there for free and let the kids have somewhat of an experience. There are lots of shops, restaurants and other things to do there, but there are no themed rides that Disney is known for.

 

 

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What Strobe is talking about is called Disney Springs. It is a decent option if you want a taste of Disney but don't want to pay the admission price. The only issue is that there isn't direct transportation from the Ticket and Transportation center to Disney Springs.

Though you could take the resort monorail to one of the resorts then take a bus from there. Or take a cab. Not sure if that is of interest to you.

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I haven't done this excursion, but I live in Orlando. Port Canaveral is just over an hour from WDW. So the tour time is 12:30 the earliest you would be at the Ticket and Transportation Center is 1:30. You then have to take the monorail or boat to the MK and go through security to get into the park. So my guess is you would be in the park at 2 assuming you already had your park tickets in hand. If you have to pick up or buy tickets it will take a little longer.

Your ship leaves at 9:30 so all aboard is usually 9. I don't know what time the bus will pick you up hopefully someone else will know but my guess is around 7:30. Keep in mind it will take you a little while to get from the park back to the Ticket and transportation center.

Personally with the cost of admission for MK being around 400 for all four of you and really only about 5 hours in the park, I don't know if it's worth it. For my family I would say now, but for you it might be. If you go I would recommend buying your tickets in advance so you can make your Fastpass reservations online before you go so that you can make sure you have at least 3 rides you know you won't have to wait long for!

Hope this helps.

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Hours on sea days are usually 9-12, 2-5, and 7-10. After 10 they stay open until 2 am or till the last kid leaves and there is a fee of $7 per hour per kid. On port days they open half an hour before the first scheduled exclusion and closing times for the "day" session vary depending on what time you are in port. We haven't cruised NCL so I can't compare the programs, but I will say my 6 year old LOVES Adventure ocean. Many times we would go to pick her up and she would ask us to come back later cause she was having so much fun. I think your kids will enjoy it!

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Strollers are perfectly fine. Just keep in mind at the theatre you will have to be towards the back, probably near the handicap section. You can't block the aisle. I wish my kids would sleep that well in the stroller.

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I don't know about on all ships, but my most recent cruises. ( freedom this past September, and I believe on navigator in April and allure in February) the kids club was open on the first night. The hours did vary by ship. I know on our freedom cruise they didn't open until 830 but I believe on the others they opened at 7. Hard to plan for, but check when you get onboard because they may now be open some on the first night.

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