Parents evening out w/out kids?

[Laughing Gull]

Please don't flame me.

Hubbie and I were talking about how much we are looking forward to our cruise and being with the kids and how fast the week will fly by. And then we got to wondering...how do other parents manage a little time out enjoying the adult entertainment? Do you put the kids into the kid's camps till 10:00? I'm not going to park the kids there every night and go gambling or anything but it would be kinda nice to enjoy some of the late night activities.

[shancan911]

This will be our first cruise with DS. We, too, are looking forward to his adventures, but also to a little time for ourselves. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary!!!! These boards have a ton of info about the camps and in-room sitting. You didn't mention how old your kids are, or what line you're sailing. As long as they're old enough, some of the camps have late night group sitting, and RCI for one has an option of in-cabin sitting, which must be arranged as soon as you board. Keep searching through older threads here, as well as checking back on this one. You'll get LOTS of info:p:p

 

After I posted, I noticed you are sailing RCI. Your kids have to be 3yrs old to participate in Adventure Ocean. And at 10 it goes to group sitting, I believe in half hour increments?

 

Happy sailing!

[crusinmama06]

The kids beg ALL through dinner to go to AO (or camp pending on where we are). So right after THEY are finished, we drop them off. Then have dessert ALONE. Catch a show, play a few games or hit the casino without the kids.

 

Usually by 10pm I am ready to crash and I have to physically drag them out.

 

So yes, LOTS of opportunities for daddy/mommy alone time.

 

ALSO, I have a hard time on sea days keeping them with me. They want to go to AO even over going to swim on the ship. So I got to spend some nice quiet time in the solarium in May.

[cdpteach]

Last year, my dd (then 3) loved the AO program....and we didn't use it that much!!! She often begged to go!! This year while on the Explorer (she's 4 1/2 now)....we plan on using it a bit more! I am all about a family vacation! But the activities keep her occupied...and are more kid friendly! She loved it...and now keeps talking about going again!!!! I don't use AO while we're in port...only during the sea days! Your children will love the AO program!

cdpteach

[BethCarp]

Flame you?!?!?! Ha! I'll be taking my kids to the buffet and then send them off to the kids club *before* we go to late seating dinner. I'm bummed that I have to take them to the dining room the first night.

[Laughing Gull]

Thanks for your nice replies! I was a little afraid someone would jump down my throat about how this is a family vacation by G-d and how dare I think of ...blah blah :)

 

Our kids are 10, 14 and 17. They are ALL looking forward to the kid/teen clubs.

 

True...by 10pm I'm usually ready for bed too!

 

Taking the kids to the buffet and then to AO so you can eat alone later is a great idea!

 

I really wish we had a slightly later dinner time. 6:00 is a bit early for all of our family and 8:30 is too late. 7:00 would have been perfect! But 6 works since we said we would eat dinner together every night then they could go and play.

[crusinmama06]

Thanks for your nice replies! I was a little afraid someone would jump down my throat about how this is a family vacation by G-d and how dare I think of ...blah blah :)

 

There is not alot of flaming on the Family Board cause we are ALL in the same boat so to speak. ;)

 

The ONLY time you see flaming is when posters without kids migrate from other boards cause they smell blood over here...lol. :p

[Laughing Gull]

There is not alot of flaming on the Family Board cause we are ALL in the same boat so to speak. ;)

 

The ONLY time you see flaming is when posters without kids migrate from other boards cause they smell blood over here...lol. :p

 

Maybe I should start a thread on another board..."can i wear crocs, a tank top and jeans in the dining room on formal night" :D

[lexxity]

Our son goes to the group sitting every night. We have Childrens Tea at 5 and then he is ready to hit they hay by 8 so he goes to the kids club and we have dinner a deux at late seating, an after dinner drink and maybe play in the casino. Cruises are all about everyone have a good and relaxing time.

[karenh1127]

Go for it! I know I am. We have twins and have been married 17 years. It seems the only alone time we get is once a year on our anniversary. On our first cruise one son went to camp alot while the other would not leave my side. The whole cruise was a family one. I am not complaining mind you but I have decided that on our next one, both boys will do camp things (they will be 11) and a few nights they will stay late for group sitting so dh and I can enjoy the clubs. We will balance out the cruise by doing family things together and adult things both. Everyone wins!:D

[momofmn00]

I totally agree! I know my kids will love to hang out at CC group events in the evenings! I CANT WAIT either!;)

Have a great time!

[crusinmama06]

Maybe I should start a thread on another board..."can i wear crocs, a tank top and jeans in the dining room on formal night" :D

 

Actually it should ask "Can I wear crocs, jeans and a tank top while smoking a cigarette on my balcony and drinking smuggled alcohol?" :D LMBO!

[Laughing Gull]

As I contemplate sitting night after night on my balcony chain smoking while wearing my bathrobe and hair curlers....;) ....is there any dancing on board? NOT music that my teenagers listen too, but what they like to call "old people' music??

[crusinmama06]

As I contemplate sitting night after night on my balcony chain smoking while wearing my bathrobe and hair curlers....;) ....is there any dancing on board? NOT music that my teenagers listen too, but what they like to call "old people' music??

 

LOADS of dancing....of almost any kind. There might be salsa in one bar, disco in another and dueling pianos in another. You won't have any problem finding old people music. ;)

[lostie]

I know that (on NCL) the kid's camp ends at 10pm and group sitting starts at 10pm. If my kids are signed up for group sitting, do I have to return at 10pm to sign them in? I'd rather them not see me or they might want to leave. I don't have the kind of kids that beg to go to kid's camp. I wish I did. (Don't flame me, I would not leave crying kids there I just don't want them to see me if I plan on leaving them for group sitting.)

[crusinmama06]

I know that (on NCL) the kid's camp ends at 10pm and group sitting starts at 10pm. If my kids are signed up for group sitting, do I have to return at 10pm to sign them in? I'd rather them not see me or they might want to leave. I don't have the kind of kids that beg to go to kid's camp. I wish I did. (Don't flame me, I would not leave crying kids there I just don't want them to see me if I plan on leaving them for group sitting.)

 

Nope, you don't have to sign them into babysitting. If they are there past 10pm, they are considered "in babysitting". The kids won't know the difference.

[momofmn00]

I'd rather them not see me or they might want to leave. I don't have the kind of kids that beg to go to kid's camp. I wish I did. (Don't flame me, I would not leave crying kids there I just don't want them to see me if I plan on leaving them for group sitting.)

 

;)lostie~I totally understand! Although, unfortunately, I do not have and answer for you!

[lexxity]

Don't forget crying kids often are really settled really quickly!

My son recently started nursery for one morning a week. He cries like mad when I drop him off. The nursery nurses say he stops within a minute and his daily report shows he has had loads of fun! Today he did stories, songs, outdoors play including ring games, bubbles, cars and bikes and had a nap and ate a big lunch! Honestly he makes me feel so guilty for taking him, but has a ball and then when my Mum picked him up today he was showing her all around the place!

 

Little so and so!:D

[Luxuriate]

Flame you?!?!?! Ha! I'll be taking my kids to the buffet and then send them off to the kids club *before* we go to late seating dinner. I'm bummed that I have to take them to the dining room the first night.

 

This is sooooo my thinking! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I can't wait to cruise with my boy when he is old enough to go to the play room! Love him to death, but it is my vacation too.

 

Cheryl

[momofmn00]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethCarp

Flame you?!?!?! Ha! I'll be taking my kids to the buffet and then send them off to the kids club *before* we go to late seating dinner. I'm bummed that I have to take them to the dining room the first night.

 

This is sooooo my thinking! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I can't wait to cruise with my boy when he is old enough to go to the play room! Love him to death, but it is my vacation too.

 

Cheryl

I'm with ya both!!!!!!;)

[JCSM-Mom]

My kids are planning on the kids club too they are 3 and 4, even that young the first thing my son asked when I told him we were going on a cruise was "do they have a kids club"....and then "can I go"...and DD was "me too".:)

 

I have a feeling I'll drag them out crying...not leave them crying. Course you never know....they don't always act the way I expect. :o

 

I'm a bit stressed over taking them to dinner the first night since it we have late seating. They behave well generally at restaurants but we don't usually go that late with them or for that long.

 

Do they serve food at the welcome aboard party in the Camp (we are sailing carnival). I know they have sundaes later....

 

We may just do the buffet that night. I'll probably decide last minute where to go based on their attitudes that night, maybe bribery that they can go back to CC after dinner....

[lrizit]

We just got back from our kids second cruise...both times we had one night for the grown ups, and they loved us for it. :D

 

This last time, my DS (11) thought it was so cool to be able to stay up until 3 am. He went to the scheduled Late Night Party. Begged the whole cruise to for us to let him go. So we used that night to take DD to the "slumber party" and had our big person night out.

 

I will tell you tho...we made the mistake of checking on our DD the first night, and once she spotted us, that was all she wrote. She wanted to leave. Up to then she didn't even miss us. So, don't let them see you!

[gracie65]

I just decided against RCL because they only take the kids to dinner 3 nights on a 7 night cruise. Our son loved going to dinner every night with camp Carnival so we will stick with Carnival.

We leave next week on The Legend & I am bummed because of the first night orientation is during our dinner time. Oh well we will have him there at 10:00pm for the after hours of the first night. Our son did not want to leave the camp last year on his first cruise. It is truly the best way to travel with kids & feel safe & secure enough ti enjoy adult time as well. I can't imagine going to a resort hotel & having the peace of mind I do with Camp Carnival.