Kids Club Question

[acthorson]

I have a shy 12 y.o. and a 9 y.o.  The 12 y.o. only wants to be with her sister at the kids club.  I know RC is lenient on allowing them to be together outside of their age groups, is Carnival? We’re on the Vista in March.

[bury me at sea]

Probably not going to happen within the clubs but they can be together all they want otherwise.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

From all reports Carnival is pretty strict.  

 

That said, asking is always free.  But, be prepared for the almost definite, "No."  

 

My DD was very shy at 12, also, and really did enjoy Circle C, a lot.  I don't think she would have enjoyed the kids club nearly as much.  So, I would definitely encourage her to try it on the FIRST night of the cruise, for the first meeting.  None of the kids know each other, and they do a good job with ice breakers.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Cannot be together. 

[mek]

I have a 5 1/2 year old, so in what group will they put him?  He is just a little too old and big to be with the little kids.  Not asking about bending the rules - just wondering what happens when they are right in the middle of an age group.

[Sebleo]

3 minutes ago, mek said:

I have a 5 1/2 year old, so in what group will they put him?  He is just a little too old and big to be with the little kids.  Not asking about bending the rules - just wondering what happens when they are right in the middle of an age group.

He would be in the 2-5 year old group. The next is 6-9. 

[mek]

3 minutes ago, Sebleo said:

He would be in the 2-5 year old group. The next is 6-9. 

That's fine.  I hope the group has more 5 year olds than 2 or 3 year old kids.  If the group is too young he will be bored and that will be the end of that.

Edited January 25, 2020 by mek

[bury me at sea]

Your child isn't in the middle of an age group at 5 1/2 years old, but fits squarely into the 2-5 year old group.  The next group starts at age 6.

[SERK]

They can be together with a doctor’s recommendation.  Our friends have two kids that are in different kid club age groups and Carnival allows them together because one is special needs and doctor recommends them together. 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

1 hour ago, Sebleo said:

He would be in the 2-5 year old group. The next is 6-9. 

Minor correction: 

Age groups are: 

Penguins 2-5

Stingrays 6-8

Sharks 9-11

 

Then: 

Circle C 12-14

Club O2 15-17

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

4 minutes ago, SERK said:

They can be together with a doctor’s recommendation.  Our friends have two kids that are in different kid club age groups and Carnival allows them together because one is special needs and doctor recommends them together. 

Just to be clear: was this different age groups within camp ocean (ages 2-11) or moving to/from camp ocean, circle c, and club o2?

[SERK]

Just now, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Just to be clear: was this different age groups within camp ocean (ages 2-11) or moving to/from camp ocean, circle c, and club o2?

Moving from Circle C to Camp Ocean. 

[bahacca]

There is a big difference between a 9 and 12 year old in the clubs. I highly doubt, and, in fact, my kids would be super annoyed, if a 9 year old were put in Circle C. Mine are 13 and 14. Your best bet would be for the 12 year old to move down.

[katpetal]

23 hours ago, mek said:

I have a 5 1/2 year old, so in what group will they put him?  He is just a little too old and big to be with the little kids.  Not asking about bending the rules - just wondering what happens when they are right in the middle of an age group.

We just got off pride today, there were some kids that were close to 6 (but still 5) and were moved up to the 6-8 group. I was told in no uncertain terms that a 12yo could not be moved down to the 9-11 group however.

[mek]

2 hours ago, katpetal said:

We just got off pride today, there were some kids that were close to 6 (but still 5) and were moved up to the 6-8 group. I was told in no uncertain terms that a 12yo could not be moved down to the 9-11 group however.

Thank you - this is very helpful.  I guess we will play it by ear - I think he would be happier with the 6 and 7 year olds, (because that is who he spends time with at home), than 2 and 3 year old kids, but I certainly will abide with whatever the staff decides.

[jerseygirlinAZ]

Thanks.  My daughter will be a month shy of her sixth birthday when we're on the Panorama.  I'm sure she'll be fine in the 2 - 5 group so long as there are a bunch of other five year old there, too.

[BaronArroz]

12 minutes ago, mek said:

Thank you - this is very helpful.  I guess we will play it by ear - I think he would be happier with the 6 and 7 year olds, (because that is who he spends time with at home), than 2 and 3 year old kids, but I certainly will abide with whatever the staff decides.

In our experience (6 cruises with a Penguin) the majority of the kids in the club will be 3/4/5, with a much heavier concentration on the 4/5 year olds. For night owls they combine the age groups so he'll be able to go over to the older kid side. Now that my kid is a Stingray she uses night owls to go back to the penguin room because they have more imaginative toys (my little pony, etc) and she misses those. 

Also, my kid is an only child and while she was a penguin she was the youngest of all the cousins. I worried because she spent most of her time around older kids even at school (youngest kid in her preschool/kinder class) but she never complained about being around smaller kids. 

Edited January 27, 2020 by BaronArroz

[katpetal]

13 minutes ago, mek said:

Thank you - this is very helpful.  I guess we will play it by ear - I think he would be happier with the 6 and 7 year olds, (because that is who he spends time with at home), than 2 and 3 year old kids, but I certainly will abide with whatever the staff decides.

I'll also add that the 6-8yo & the 9-11 groups were together 95% of the time this past week

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

39 minutes ago, katpetal said:

I'll also add that the 6-8yo & the 9-11 groups were together 95% of the time this past week

I believe how often they are together is somewhat cruise specific.  When school is out and there are a lot more kids, they split them up more.  They will more often be together in off peak times, like early in the morning and while in port.