Kids Program--Rules on Ages

[KeystoneCruiser]

I was on the Dawn back in June and I found the Kids Club counselors to be very pleasant and great with the kids. Many people become defensive when people try to argue their way around rules that can't be changed.

 

The rules are set by the company to avoid just what everyone is asking for on this board. The right to move their child up or down to suit their own conditions. As I said before, with having a rule set in stone you do not put the Kids Club workers in the position of making the decision and more importantly, as jsil found out, you give them the ability to not be coierced into granting one kid a waiver.

 

As far as why the program was changed, did it ever occur to you that the Jean Ann Ryan Company, which is a seperate, contracted organization and not part of NCL, might have cancelled their dancers appearance for any number of reasons. (extra rehearsal, extra time off, etc.) You can't blame the Kids Club Counselors for something that most likely was out of their control.

 

Finally, I too paid a cruise fare, why should my older child have to have a younger, possibly more imature child in her group just because another parent wants it? It is a two way street that the age rule is designed to protect.

[Lisa63]

My son is two months younger than a close friend, but due to when their birthdays fall, he is a grade behind in school. Is he offended? Not at all. It's a rule, and part of life is learning to live with rules.

[jsil]

keystone cruiser- glad you had a great experience with kid's crew. We did not.

 

According to the counselor, the appearance of the Jean Ryan Dancers was cancelled because it was July 4h- good reason, who knows. It is nice to think there was a legitimate reason like an extra rehearsal. Just to note, as far as the kids dailies for the rest of the week - the appearance of the dancers were not rescheduled. My daughter looked every day.

 

I am not disagreeing about the need for rules. In my earlier post, I suggest that NCL relook at the age groupings. 2-5 and 6-9 seem like very big groupings. The difference in maturity levels within these two groups seems would be quite difficult to manage.

[palmtre2]

My situation with the age thing has my daughter fretting over our next cruise instead of looking forward to it. We have cruised with friends for the last couple of years and the children all get along very well. This year on Carnival DD was excluded from the evening dances because she was 11 and the cut-off was 12, all her friends were able to go (they are really only a few MONTHS older) and she wasn't. She was looking forward to being able to attend the dances with her friends next year, but we booked with NCL and guess what??? - the cut-off age is now 13!!! I've promised an evening with Mom in the spa and her friends have told her they won't go every nite but she's still very upset. I think sometimes allowance should be made - this kid is travelling with friends she's known for years but can't spend time with due to this rule.

[juliejoe]

I suggest that NCL relook at the age groupings. 2-5 and 6-9 seem like very big groupings. The difference in maturity levels within these two groups seems would be quite difficult to manage.

 

I agree completely! There is a huge difference between a just turned 2 and an almost 6 yr old. There is also a huge difference between just turned 6 and almost 10 yr. old - think kindergarten and 4th grade.

 

I'm wondering if they will group within the group - according to interests and abilities. That seems the only way to make these age spreads work. They have surely done this enough times to know what they have to do to make it work. Or.... perhaps they have enough kids who don't participate because they are unhappy with their group assignment.

 

One of the comments from this thread that I find most helpful (and hopeful) is that perhaps the older child will find several others in his/her group who are "in the same boat".

 

DH and I have developed many lasting friendships on our cruises and we had hoped the boys would have the opportunity to meet new friends. Thankfully we do not need NCL Kid's Club to make our cruise successful.

[jsil]

One of the comments from this thread that I find most helpful (and hopeful) is that perhaps the older child will find several others in his/her group who are "in the same boat".

 

quote]

 

My 9 1/2 yr old daughter did exactly that. She met another 9+ year old at the pool who also did not want to be in the 6-9 age grouping. They spent alot of the week together going to the pool and video arcade.

[newmexicoNita]

I am stuck in a similar situation. We are taking 4 kids on board, aged 7, 10, 12 and 13. Our 12 year old son will be 2 weeks shy of his 13th birthday and is only 5 months younger that our 13 year old. The 12 year old is a foot taller than our 13 year old and they do everything together, so it would highly offend our 12 year old to put him with the "little" kids and put his step-brother with the "teens". I can relate to the other parent, it isn't as cut and dried as some make it out to be. There should be some flexibility depending on people's situation. Our daughters will be separated, but that is fine, they are 3 years apart. We will see if we can have it changed on board and if not, we won't put them in the teen's club, because we won't put one in and not the other. I know my almost 13 year old would be completely bummed if they don't allow him to be with his step-brother. I'd rather keep them both out.

 

I hope we have decent kids crew staff and that they understand, maybe they will, maybe they won't. We were on an NCL cruise 2 years ago and our kids were in the clubs and absolutely loved it and the staff were awesome then, so they are all looking forward to it again, here's hoping it works out to keep the kids happy. It is alot of money to spend to have an unhappy teenager on board!!

 

Browniegirl

Unless they bend the rules and take a chance of losing their jobs I doubt the boys will be together. Again, everyone knows of exceptions, but if rules are bent for one where do they draw the line? Kids do adjust; I think we all have to remember, your kid won't be the only one at top of the age group. If they are really unhappy they will have to find activities away from the kids program. I think families can enjoy cruising without all the organization anyway. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

I agree completely! There is a huge difference between a just turned 2 and an almost 6 yr old. There is also a huge difference between just turned 6 and almost 10 yr. old - think kindergarten and 4th grade.

 

I'm wondering if they will group within the group - according to interests and abilities. That seems the only way to make these age spreads work. They have surely done this enough times to know what they have to do to make it work. Or.... perhaps they have enough kids who don't participate because they are unhappy with their group assignment.

 

One of the comments from this thread that I find most helpful (and hopeful) is that perhaps the older child will find several others in his/her group who are "in the same boat".

 

DH and I have developed many lasting friendships on our cruises and we had hoped the boys would have the opportunity to meet new friends. Thankfully we do not need NCL Kid's Club to make our cruise successful.

I have heard they do have activities based on age, but I am not a witness to that. Of course there is a big difference between a 2 yr old and a 5 year old, so what would you like to see: a 5 year old that hasn't even started K in a group with 8 years old, some about to enter the 4th grade. There is no way without adding another age group everyone will be matched completely. Beleive me when I say NCL is not much different than other groups; HAL 3-7 and 8-12. How bout that one? NMNita

[mamalana]

Two problems with your plan:

 

1.) They will check the birth certificate or passport at the dock when you check in. (I just happened to be at the counter next to a person who did the same thing and you should have heard her scream when the NCL person told her the Passport date did not match and she would have to change it.)

 

2.) You just informed NCL of your plans by posting that on a web board that we all know NCL monitors. Brillant!!

 

...ok and I think I said that if they balk..I will say.."oops cant type! sorry!" ..and leave it at that. I am not going to scream or threaten a lawsuit. It really isnt THAT big a deal, she can go to the 2-5 group and if shes bored she can not go.. no biggie. I just know my child and know that most of her playmates ARE 6-9 and she would prefer that activities I have seen posted for that age group vs. the bubble blowing and coloring I have seen offered in the 2-5.

 

I am pretty sure my name and cabin number arent on this post, probably not even my sailing, so exactaly HOW are they gonna find me out???

 

y'all need to relax a little.. funny how a discussion forum about a relaxing pastime like cruising gets people so worked up...

 

 

[juliejoe]

There is no way without adding another age group everyone will be matched completely.

 

If adding only one more age group would match everyone completely then of course that is what they should do. IMHO one more age group would not accomplish that much. Perhaps it would complicate things too much, but maturity and behavior of each individual child could be evaluated during the first long session. If the number of children in each group would not be too unbalanced, moves could be made accordingly (if that move meets with parental approval, or has been requested by the parent). I believe some lines hire counselors with child development experience.

 

As I said before, surely they have done this enough times to know how they can make it work for the majority. I repeat, if their grouping does not work for my grandsons, they just won't go. For them to not participate in the Kid's Club will not be a big deal for any of us.

[mbisson]

2.) You just informed NCL of your plans by posting that on a web board that we all know NCL monitors. Brillant!!

 

ROTFLMAO-

 

My boys have been on cruises where they were about the oldest in their group and others where they've been about the youngest. They enjoyed the kids club in both cases.

 

-Monte

[Ga_Girl]

The minimum age to enter a kids program is impacted by the liability insurance that the line has chosen. If they indicate to their insurance broker that their age limit is 2YO or 3YO, the insurance company determines the risk and bases their coverage on that rule. Thus the minimum age to enter the program is pretty much set in stone - if your child board while 2YO and turns 3 while on board, he will be denied entry to the program for the entire cruise.

 

If that information is accurate (liability insurance), then that makes sense to me. I didn't mean for this thread to get heated!! :)

 

Is that other part definitely true? If a child has a birthday while on the cruise, they still wouldn't allow him in? I just read a huge thread where a dad said his son would turn two on the cruise and wanted to use the program and no one told him this rule.

 

Susan

[Onessa]

Is that other part definitely true? If a child has a birthday while on the cruise, they still wouldn't allow him in?

 

I'm not 100% as to this on NCL. I know on RCCI, for entrance to the kids program, entrace to the casino, ability to drink, etc. (all of the legally impacted age limits), your age on the first day of the cruise is your age for the entire cruise.