Adventure Ocean Kid's Program

[Puppyluv1526]

Hi Everyone

 

Thinking of booking on Allure of the Seas for the Spring, but on the fence. The only cruise line to get my 3 kids to go and stay in the kid's club is DCL. Any other cruise we have taken we end up spending our nights wandering the shops, playing Bingo, or sitting pool side because we either have a kid too young for the kid's program, or they refuse to stay. For that reason we have stayed with DCL for the past few years, but the itinerary never changes and we want something new. As of this cruise everyone is old enough to go to the kid's program, but I am skeptical if they will go since they will be all separated by age. We are excited for fun family days together, but I don't want to spend another cruise where DH and I never even saw 1/2 the ship because of all the adults only areas we can't go to. My questions are:

 

1- Are the 4, 6 and 9 year olds in different rooms or will they be able to see each other?

2- Is the Late Night Party Zone still split into ages, or could they hang out together?

3- The 9-11 group activities are listed as a lot of competition games. If the games and social environment is too overwhelming for my 9 year old with ASD, would they give me a hard time about putting him in the 6-8 year old group with his brother where the activities are more suited to his ability?

[Cel_cruise]

Age groups are generally under 3, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17...

 

On our cruises - often the 6-11 year olds were in the same room especially at night depending on numbers.

 

Also - the competitive games often are in the main room and no one is ever required to participate. Kids can use the computers or the craft stations etc instead of playing.

 

My youngest isn’t always a joiner. She still has a great time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Grandma Dazzles]

There’s a huge difference between the Allure of the Seas and a Disney ship especially in size. There will be much more for the kids to do. There will also be much more for you to do as a family and more pools. Kids will enjoy the carousel as an example.

 

As far as the kids clubs, they are usually pretty strict about ages - there can be hundreds of kids. You can ask if your 9-year-old can move down but they may say no depending on numbers. If you feel strongly about this and he has medical/development difficulties I would suggest contacting special needs department ahead of the cruise and discussing with them.

[gerif]

There are only three places on the ship that are adults only - the solarium, the casino and the disco after 10 pm. Tons of places to enjoy with kids. I believe that if you explain your 9 year old’s issues to one of the councilors, they will allow him to move down a group. Some kids love AO and have to be dragged out, others not so much. Depends on the kids.

[KimA75]

This thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2530825&highlight=ASD discusses 13 year olds with ASD being allowed to go to the younger age group. So, I imagine they would allow your son to go to the younger group as well. However, it may also depend on the number of children in the program on that sailing. My 8 yr old ASD handled his age level program really well last year. He did not always participate in the larger group activities, but was asking to return to the program each day.

[HOSKI]

I love this thread and found the links very helpful. My 7 year old daughter had ADHD, PTSD, RAD and severe anxiety. I'm thinking I may contact the special needs department and see if we can visit the kids' club as soon as we board so she can see it without a crowd. I'd love to hear anyone's experience with the program and their special needs child. Glad they can use other areas while the competitive games are going on because that would be more her thing. She loves the kids clubs at all inclusive resorts but it's just getting her there that is the issue.

[fuinseog]

I can’t speak to how they handle special needs, but I was very happy with the staff on Allure. My daughter was in the 3-5, and they really did a wonderful job.

 

DD probably spent about the same amount of time in the kid’s club as on our Disney cruise, but yes, there is so much more to do on this ship that it was more of a problem of fitting everything in than of not having enough to do.

 

 

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[Cel_cruise]

I love this thread and found the links very helpful. My 7 year old daughter had ADHD, PTSD, RAD and severe anxiety. I'm thinking I may contact the special needs department and see if we can visit the kids' club as soon as we board so she can see it without a crowd. I'd love to hear anyone's experience with the program and their special needs child. Glad they can use other areas while the competitive games are going on because that would be more her thing. She loves the kids clubs at all inclusive resorts but it's just getting her there that is the issue.

 

 

 

On boarding day, the kids clubs are open for touring and for signing up all afternoon. In my experience, there are usually 2-3 families at a time signing up, so not crowded and a perfect time for kids to see the spaces and meet the staff. You can also talk with the staff and they can add notes to your kids file with your feedback about things that ‘work’ and ‘dont’ or any accommodations that might be needed.

 

There are also fewer kids in the room in the morning than evening - so I would recommend maybe not attending the first night but the first morning so it’s a more calm start.

 

It’s worth contacting special needs but I haven’t read too many cases where they have been able to be helpful with things in AO before sailing and most things are left to be negotiated directly with the AO staff.

 

 

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[Hokie79]

I just did Allure in early July with my kids. They are 5 and 8. There were a lot of kids on this sailing so we’re pretty strict on the age groups.

 

Both of my kids loved Adventure Ocean and went most evenings with a couple afternoons thrown in. They were typically unhappy to be picked up.

 

 

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[KimA75]

I love this thread and found the links very helpful. My 7 year old daughter had ADHD, PTSD, RAD and severe anxiety. I'm thinking I may contact the special needs department and see if we can visit the kids' club as soon as we board so she can see it without a crowd. I'd love to hear anyone's experience with the program and their special needs child. Glad they can use other areas while the competitive games are going on because that would be more her thing. She loves the kids clubs at all inclusive resorts but it's just getting her there that is the issue.

I agree that many things are handled on the ship itself, so it may be better to ask the crew member giving you her muster station band instead of calling special needs. When we attended the introduction the first night last year there were several families in there. It took a while to speak with an employee one on one. So, it may be better to see if you can get in there earlier. While that night was a bit hectic, all other times we went were very smooth and organized. Drop off and pick up were easy. They had the kids washing hands entering and leaving. No parents were allowed into the kid areas, the kids had to be buzzed out by staff.

 

 

As I said, my 8 year old ASD loved it and asked to return. Our 3 year old has issues with being dropped off, but he even has those issues with daycare he attends every day at home. Once he was dropped off though, he settled quickly and was having fun when we returned. They were wonderful at getting him in and settled.

 

A couple things. If your ASD, or other special needs child, is noise sensitive, you may want noise reducing headphones, or avoid the upper deck area when they are about to sound the horn to leave a port. Also, I believe you may be able to arrange through the special needs department assistance with the boarding process to get you through a little bit quicker, or alternate arrangements for muster if they are doing the drill outside. Fortunately our son is high functioning enough and our check in was fast enough last year that we did not bother with any boarding/check in assistance. We were also fortunate enough to be in a group that went to the MDR for muster, so we were able to sit rather than be crammed together on the deck. I am not sure how they determine when/who will be outside compared to inside for muster. I think sometimes it is weather, but we were out of FLL in December, so weather was fine. Just something to think about.

 

 

Lastly, check out the social story they have. My son enjoyed filling this out before we left for our trip. http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/Autism_Social_Story_Booklet.pdf

[Spacecaydet]

Just sailed Allure Aug 5-12. I can't speak of special needs programs from personal experience but from what I understand Royal Caribbean is industy leading in its attention to ASD children.

 

As far as the basic age groups. This past cruise our 3 year old went a few times but didn't love it despite being with his sister in the 3-5 age group. It is what it is, yes less free time with my wife but at this stage we are OK with family vacations and the ups and downs that go with it. Plus, we had our 8 month old with us so it wasn't like we were lounging by the pool drinking pina coladas while the kids were at camp anyway. Our 8 month would not have done well in the nursery.

 

Here's what might be relevant to you. There were indeed a lot of kids on this sailing. Not Spring Break numbers I'm sure nor middle of the summer numbers but we had plenty running around. Our 5 year old liked the 3-5 programming but after her brother did not want to continue we asked to bump her into the 6-8 year old group so that she could be with friends that we were cruising with. They accommodated the request. She WAS 100% sold. The 6-8 group was much more active and much more fun as she put it. She was consistently disappointed when I arrived to pick her up.

 

Also, relevant we went to Adventure Ocean open house on embarkation day at around 2:30pm. It was a mad house. Too many parents asking questions, not enough counselors, kids running around playing and screaming. To make you 9 year old feel comfortable I recommend boarding as early as possible and making that your first stop. It will likely be that the craziness isn't at a fever pitch earlier on embarkation day.

 

Bottomline, I've heard (and experienced) that they are usually going to grant a request to move a child up to the next level or down to the previous level if it's only 1 year separation. Plus, with your situation and from what I've heard about Royal, they'll likely grant your request no questions asked.

 

I honestly don't know how Disney works the club with all 3-10 year olds in the same spot. That's a huge gap!!

[Puppyluv1526]

Thank you so much to everyone for the detailed responses! I booked the Allure today for Spring Break week. They sent me a special needs form so it's on file. I was going to book the Grand Suite so my son could have priority boarding but the rep on the phone said save the money and go with connecting balcony rooms since it's unlikely we will use any of the suite level perks with 3 young kids. Plus this way we get 2 bathrooms and that's always a plus :D

 

He said boarding is smooth and if it's an issue for my son I can speak to the port staff and he can board with the guests with mobility issues. He is HFA, but also ADHD with anxiety so it depends on the day and situation with him. I think I will try him in his AO age group and see how it goes. We can always speak with the staff when it's less crowded and hectic about moving him down if needed. He is turning 9 three weeks before the trip, so would be fine in either group. DH doesn't think they will want to go to AO, but I think they might. It sounds like a great time from the responses and maybe a little social independence from each other might be good. I will pack his ear plugs, good point on the noise. So excited! haven't cruised RCI in 16 years and I hear there are a lot of cool changes.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Glad you have booked your cruise. I am sure you will have a wonderful family time.

 

Just one comment. You indicated you had booked connecting rooms - which is correct and good for your family. However, make sure they are truly connecting and not adjoining.

 

Some of the representatives are not always the best at describing the difference. Connecting, which is what you have according to your post, means there is an interior door that can be opened between the two cabins - truly connecting. Adjoining cabins just means next door to each other. I would just check the deck plans to make doubly sure.

 

Also, check with AO on boarding before they get super busy. I would also check about the muster drill for your son. RC is very good at handling children and adults who might have problems with noise, etc.

 

Enjoy the cruise.

[Cel_cruise]

My kids are daycare kids from 6 weeks old so maybe they are more adjusted to group care settings and new kids - but they never want to leave AO! They actually use most of their ‘vacation souvenirs/ fun money allowance’ on staying for late night!! There were nights I set the alarm to wake up at 11:55 to go get them for midnight! Even when they were 4 and 8!!

 

Hope your kids decide to spend some time in AO!!

 

 

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