Kids Club

[OTTER]

I'm sailing on the Majesty on 8/20. It will be my son's 1st cruise (6 yo) and was looking for any comment, good & bad, about the kids club on the ship. My DW is against signing him up but I would at least like for us all to take a look at it on our 1st day. TIA!

[KimA75]

Our first cruise with kids was last year. Our sons were 7 and 3. Our 7 yr old loved it and kept asking to return. Our 3 yr old is very attached right now, but we knew that going in. We got him there twice. There was some fussing at drop off, but he seemed to be having fun when we picked him up and they said he settled quickly. You have to sign them in and out. There is the door leading to the room and then another door that once they are signed in/out the staff pushes a release/unlock button for it to open. They wash their hands every time they enter (I can't remember if they do it before exiting). I would recommend giving it at least one try to see if he likes it. Maybe just for an hour or two to give yourselves some alone time. There is no obligation as to how often he has to be there in order to sign up for it. (I should mention that this was on Freedom, not Majesty. But, I would assume that they are fairly similar.)

[Mojojojo1983]

My kids didn’t want to leave kids club, they both had a great time and we had some relaxation time as well, without feeling guilty as they genuinely didn’t miss us in the slightest!

 

I’d sign him up and see how it goes, if he’s signed up and doesn’t go nothing is lost.

 

what are your wife’s worries?

[OTTER]

I believe she doesn't trust the staff and believes that he could walk off on his own. I don't mind having him with me all day, he's a great kid, but I think that he may need a break from us! He is also our only one and I think he would like to be around other kids.

[Mojojojo1983]

It’s as secure as school in my opinion and the staff are very well educated (I think they need a childcare/teaching degree to be employed in kids club).

 

The children are engaged in activities so not just wandering and there is a gate that they have to be buzzed out of (after being signed out by an agreed signature).

 

They do on occasion go for a walk/game around the ship but were well looked after (again, the same kind of supervision as a school trip might have). And if that bit is uncomfortable for your wife check whether they’ll be staying onsite that session and if not then don’t leave him.

 

Edit- sorry that sounds a bit bossy, not meaning to, just saying my experiences!

Edited July 25, 2018 by Mojojojo1983
To explain my tone

[Bloodgem]

Firstly let me say I have no kids. We use the kids club to borrow books for my disabled adult DS. A couple of time we have been in the kids club, exchanging books, when one of the staff have rang a parent to come and collect their child. Unsure of the reason why the child wanted to leave but I think it must be reassuring for a parent to knew that their child can be collected from the kids club any time the child wants to leave.

[OTTER]

Bojojojo, Not bossy at all, I appreciate your thoughts on the subject

[mdsgu]

We've used the kids' clubs on Carnival, Royal, and NCL, and they all have been wonderful. We've been using them for 6 or 7 years (our oldest is now 9). Definitely, definitely, definitely, if you are even thinking about using it, sign them up and make them go for at least a couple of hours on the FIRST evening! Cliques tend to form rather quickly, and it is doubly hard for them to enjoy themselves if they go later in the cruise.

[spookwife]

at that age they are not allowed to sign themselves in or out.. parent must do it. they are safer in the kids club than they would be on their own on the ship. I encourage you to also check out My FamilyTime dining( early seating) so that he would get his food quicker and then be escorted to the kids club while the adults enjoy dessert and coffee

[OTTER]

Thank you for all the responses, they are very helpful! We are dining early and will look into that as well. And if anyone else has additional experiences, please let me know!

 

As for the DW...she has softened her stance and is willing to check it out...

[mom2oneXY]

I can't speak to RC, but have used other Kids clubs and our 7 year old son, an only child, LOVED the kids clubs. They are very secure and I trust the staff completely. We love to vacation as a family of three, but my son needs some socialization. He gets bored with just mom and dad 24/7! Glad your wife is willing to check it out. My bet is that between your child's excitement and your wife seeing the place and having questions answered at registration, you guys will be utilizing the kids club!!

[happymanitee]

Our first family cruise was on Majesty and our kids loved it! They were 9,7, and 5 at the time. Our 5 year old is very outgoing and loves new places, so we knew she would like the kids Club. But, I was a little worried with her being in the 3 to 5 age group because she is used to playing with older kids. She still loved it! She suddenly knew every little kid on the ship and would play with them in the pool.

 

Our son (middle child) has some social anxiety issues and doesn’t usually like group activities. The first night is a short session, so we told hi, to try it out and if he didn’t like it, he did t have to go back. Well, he loved it too! The staff was so great about getting him involved. He was playing all the group games and getting so excited about winning the little prizes. He wanted to be there every single time it was open.

 

Our oldest daughter is friendly, but a little shy. She also had fun and met some friends. One of her friends was on our flight home and since it was Southwest, they were able to sit by each other and talk the whole way.

 

My kids are now 14,12 and 10. The middle child was still 11 on our last cruise and it was the first time he didn’t really like Adventure Ocean. It was a Thanksgiving cruise on Liberty OTS. There were SO many kids on board that he felt a little overwhelmed. They were too rowdy for his taste. I think he’s going to enjoy hanging out with his older sister at the teen club from now on. The youngest, who was 9, still loved it.

 

My recommendation is to go the first night and see how it goes. The staff is great with kids. On every ship we’ve been on, they are young and energetic (like young 20s) and really interact well the kids.

[kcamp317]

We have had great experiences with the Adventure Ocean staff on several cruises. Our daughter has been on 3 cruises total with us when she was 4, 5, and last month on Majesty, she's now 6. She loves it there and always asks to go for a little bit in the evenings. Its nice to have an hour or two for us to do adult things like see an adult themed show or go to the casino. On a smaller ship like Majesty its fun to see her meet and talk to the little friends she's made over the cruise from the class. They do crafts, play games, watch movies, etc. They seem to be pretty involved with the kids there.

 

As far as them walking off, not gonna happen. They have locking doors, plenty of staff keeping track of them in the area, and only the parents equipped with her sea pass card and our own can sign her in and out of the area.

 

Only annoying thing Ive seen is parents who take their kids and just drop them off there for the whole day. To each their own I guess but I'd rather spend time and have fun with my daughter, do things on the ship or in the ports with her, etc. especially since we paid to take her with us and experience everything. We will take her there for an hour or two in the evenings because she requests it and being around other similar age kids is fun for her.

 

Your child will be equipped with a color coded plastic bracelet as well as you get on the ship that matches her up to your muster station area so if for whatever reason something happens and he/she is in the kids club they will be brought down by the staff to the muster area to meet up with you. Also, since our girl always brings on a stuffed animal with her she asks if it can also have a bracelet as well and they always are happy to do so!

 

Another thing you might consider.....we always keep her sea pass card with us so it doesn't get lost but you can ask for an extra one for your kid to have as well. Basically doesn't do anything (just a "dummy" card) but she likes to have her own to be like us. Plus it can act as an extra level of ID for her in addition to her bracelet in case of the unlikely event of something happening so they can locate us if need be.

Edited July 26, 2018 by kcamp317

[cb at sea]

Kids MUST be signed in and out until they're 9 years old. There is no way he could "wander off".

[Ready 2 Cruise]

So glad to see this thread. We are taking our grandson, age 9, on his first cruise in October on the Mariner and I am hoping he will enjoy the kids club.