GarlicBread

I've cruised DCL since the Magic's maiden voyage in 1998' date=' and I've seen rules come and go. They started with "the child must be potty trained," then there was a phase where pull ups were allowed at night. After the incident that resulted in the tightening of age rules (you used to be allowed to continue in the Stack/ Vibe if still in high school until this incident) there was a time when 3 year olds were in the OC, regardless of toiletting status. The medical exemption is also a newer phase; originally there was no medical exemption.

 

Based on your post in another thread, it seems they are in a "less age enforcement" phase with allowing kids to move up in programming. For MANY years, the policy was that you had to be within 30 days of the birthday to allow a move up. Then there was a time of "just ask and you'll probably get in." The problem with allowing kids to move to an older group is that the kids in that older group really don't want "babies" in their programming, so the kids of the age the level is intended for tend to just not participate....and that's sad. This is particularly true in the Vibe age range. The overlap in the ages for the various groups was designed in part to combat the need to move up. We've also seen DCL change and rearrange the age groups thru many permutations. I guess they finally learned that no matter where they place the cut offs, there will be parents who object and want to advance their kid. In this regard, I like the Princess Cruise Line policy--No, your younger child cannot move to the next older group. But the older child can move to a younger group. It almost never happens![/quote']

 

I've heard all the stories of all the 'incidents' that have happened over the years.

 

But I wasn't posting that here to get into a debate of if what DCL do with their rules or policies is right or wrong, or if other cruise lines are better.

Yes I've seen many of them change. Back when I first started 2 years olds could come in the club.

 

Like I stated: I just wanted to make things clear so people don't get upset when they get onboard.

 

I'm not saying you're right or wrong, good for you for cruising so long...

 

I'm just saying what the rules are NOW and those particular rules I was talking about have been like that while I've been there....over two years now.

 

I saw you posted, not too long ago that pull ups and diapers were now allowed. I honestly just didn't want kids and parents to go expecting that to be allowed and being told no once they go to check in.

 

We can talk about the past if you want to, but that's not relevant or helpful to people who are looking for current information...

So, I'm a YA Counselor, just come back from my 5th contract and have hit the two year mark.

Just want to clear up the diaper/pull up thing for anyone cruising in the future so no one gets disappointed when they get onboard.

They are NOT allowed in the club/lab during secured programming, unless they have a medical need (and then parents have to come back a check every 30-45minutes). This has been the case the whole time I've been in YA, so I'm not sure where the comment about the rules constantly changing comes from, because they haven't in the last two years, and think it had been in force for quite a while before I got there...

When you register you sign to say your kid is potty trained.

We cannot help them in the bathroom in anyway.

Do people break the rules and send them in not potty trained/In pull up, yes, there's at least one every cruise. Most get caught, it's pretty obvious on most kids, if it is caught, you will be asked to go and remove the offending item.

I see you already cruised, but for future reference, all the kids clubs (club, lab, edge and vibe) also all have a stash of games:cards, uno, bananagrams, spot it, guess, who, connect 4 and many more and are free for anyone to use during open house times.

Especially on prt days, open house times are extensive and you'd be one of the few in them.

As long as Edge or Vibe aren't too full with their own age group, almost all of the time a child can age up into that club within a year (10 year olds to Edge, 13 to Vibe).

A parent has to go and sign a waiver when they first go. It's vary rare for them to be told no, but a Counselor may ask/strongly encourage that they at least try the club aimed at them first.

No one, can go over the age limit though. If you turn 13 on the second day of the cruise, no more club/lab for you. If you turn 18 at any point during that cruise, no more Vibe, unless it's open house times.