GarlicBread

4 hours ago, Ashland said:

There is no break between 5:00 & 7:00pm....that's when they take them as a group for Adventure Dining in the WJ or at least that's how it worked on Harmony for the Aquanauts program. We never used the morning sessions....but I would imagine if they were there on port days during the lunch hours ....arrangements would be made by the staff to provide lunch.

I'm sure someone with experience will post the details of that situation.

Well, technically there is a break from the aquanauts programming. Theres no activities, most kids leave and it's usually movie time and they go with all the older kids for dinner. 

Lunch on a port day works the same as dinner. Pizza and fries, maybe chicken tenders in the windjammer.

On sea days theres no lunch and they close down for 2 hours. Of course, you can leave your kids but theres a $1 a minute, a child late fee Haha! 

3 hours ago, jsf said:

If you think the baby will remember being on this cruise you are wrong,this means you are doing this only for yourself.

So babies should just stay in the house until they're old enough to remember then? Because I'm pretty sure you could use the same statement for anything you do or anywhere you go with a baby....

Why does everything have to have a prize? 

And then when there is a prize, it's never good enough...

18 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Hi,

 

Do the nursery hours vary from ship to ship? Also, what are the hours during port days? I am particularly interested in Serenade when she returns to Florida this fall. Any info is greatly appreciated.

For smaller ships, nursery is often only open on a port day if there is a booking, otherwise its open play all day and no one is scheduled to work there.

Some ships will only let you book for a port day if you have an excursion through RC. 

Bigger ships that have a separate space for their open play will be open all day and you can pre book or just walk in of there is space. 

6 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Tried for years to explain it to American Managers that other cultures have other ways to motivate people and not all cultures value money as much as Americans ... I am done - total waste of time trying to get them to understand it... 🙄

Why do you think American tourists are least liked even so they tip the most? 🙄😱

I've worked on cruise ships. More than one company. And actually most people's least favourite guests are the entitled and annoying Europeans and Brits! 

Americans (and I'm not American) are our favourites because they're friendly, chatty and tip well 👍🤣🤣

Some people remove gratuities, just because they can, because it's the only tiny bit of power they've ever had in their lives 😂😂

And it's obvious who those people are because they come on every tipping thread, multiple times trying to justify themselves 😂😂

You keep mentioning DCL. Yet you do realise they work to the same 1:25 ratio right? Only have a lot more kids in at one time and often go over that ratio so more chaos, more running and 100% of the time is free play....

Royal have their ratio and stick to it. Once its reached it's one out one in. So not understaffed. The first half an hour is free play so everyone can get checked in which is probably the crazy time you saw. Go back mid session and it would be way calmer than any Disney club...

I've worked in both so can truthfully say this...

1 hour ago, rimmit said:

 

The nursery has a variety of things to choose from.  The typical chicken fingers, fries, pizza, fruit, veggies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc.  

 

AO only has cheese or pepperoni pizza and fries.  There is no other option.  This is on every ship we have been on and we have been on over half the fleet, so sadly the AO crowd gets a much more limited menu that the nursery and toddlers.  They go to the Windjammer as a group and eat there.  Kids dinner is on pretty much every night but the first on the Oasis class ships,  and is about the half the time or a little more on the smaller ships.  It varies from ship to ship and based on itinerary.  They once told me it is on formal nights and port days,  but I have found that info to be incorrect.  They always have it on formal night.

Port days if all aboard comes after kids dinner time (5pm). Mainly because if parents are off the ship, what are you going to do with the kids checked into AO when they close at 5. All aboard 5 or earlier, then there may of may not be kids dinner (at least all the ships I've been on)...

1 hour ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

The older age groups have a much larger capacity--total of 50. 

 

The first image is from the general information given out the first day.  The next 2 images are for the activities on Day 3.  

On vision class explorers and voyagers are always combined as they only have one room for them, and one for the aquanauts. 

So its 50 explorers and voyagers combined. Not 50 explorers and 50 vogagers.

12 hours ago, klmxt4 said:

I have a follow up question! We are taking our kids on their first cruise, and our youngest is 2, so he will be in the Royal Tots room. We will probably only use the nursery during dinner once or twice (although if it goes well, maybe thrice, haha!), and I’m just curious how the kids’ dinners go. Do they show you a room service menu or something? Or a list of foods in the buffet that night that you can choose from? Thankfully he is NOT picky, so I’m sure he will eat whatever I pick out, just curious about how that part works. My older son has a shellfish allergy, which I will talk to the Staff about, but we are going to do the My Family Time dining, so he shouldn’t be eating in Adventure Ocean, anyway. I plan on stopping by the kids area first thing when we board! 😊

For the nursery, depends on the ship/kid counts. Some ships (usually the busy ones who will def have kids for dinner) have a different order pre-put in every day usually including, chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, fries, pizza, pasta, salad, yogurt, cookies, and then things that change every day like chicken tenders, hot dogs, quesadillas, and they'll ask what you want from that. 

Other ships (the quieter ones who may or may not get kids for dinner) will ask what you want/ give you a few options and order it once your kids there. 

The food comes from room service because it has to be on a time control plan, meaning it can only be out for a certain time and then it cannot be served to kids (another reason why they ask for pre packaged snacks and formula to not be ready mixed), so also check with the nursery as to when the food will be there as that can vary a little ship to ship too...

35 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

I'm so glad to hear that. It was very strange to walk to a venue that supposed to be open as a restaurant and see absolutely no food on the shelves. They had a few apples and a few pieces of bread and a couple of cupcakes. That was the sum total. But that explains it I hadn't heard that so thanks for sharing

It still sucks and shouldn't really happen but the more food being prepared, served, cleaned up is more of a chance to fail. Every cruise line does it. 

Hopefully from today it should be back to normal. 

If not, it wasnt a one off 

1 hour ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

It has been variable for the most part.  We had a pork loin on night 3 that was almost too tough to cut.  Also, a flank steak that our dinner partner had was tough. The prime rib on night 2 was very good. 

 

I am a fan of the French onion soup they serve each night.  I have had it twice already.  DH has said he thinks the desserts are better than they were the last time we cruised.  

 

I will post my impression of the food toward the end of the cruise.  I am not sure I have given it a fair test yet.

 

I will say I was annoyed yesterday.  We got back from the beach around 4.  We had a late breakfast so we did not eat in a beach restaurant.  Also, it was a Sunday and we could see they were very crowded. 

 

The Windjammer closes at 3pm.  So we headed to the Park Café to get a sandwich or a snack to last us until dinner. [8pm for us]  However, they were out of everything.  . .  and they had no intention of getting more.  They are open until 5:30pm.  I took out my camera and took pictures of the empty cases.  DH said aren't you open until 5:30?  There were about 10 of us standing there.  We just left. The person serving wasn't sure what to do.  Hw went and got a chef. who looked at the milling crowded and said he would have someone make a sandwich if someone wanted on.  What I did not understand is why the did not replenish the cases as they became empty. We plan on eating in a South Beach restaurant today.  But, I will check the Park Café this afternoon to see if the same thing happens today. It could have just been a one-off.

Yes it was a one off, USPH were onbaord yesterday doing their inspection. 

Apparently almost no food in the crew mess in the evening either according to a friend onboard. 

Most ships, parents of 3 years olds and kids with extra needs get a phone or a pager on a first come basis, as theres aren't enough for all the parents that want them. Some older ships only have a handful of pagers so wont even give them to 3 year olds and save them for kids with very specific needs. 

If your kid asks to leave they'll call the room/leave a message. If your kid is really upset they'll call guest service and find out where you last used your card and try and track you. 

If it's an emergency they'll call you over the PA. 

If you think your kids going to be upset or want to leave, you can call or check in at AO as many times as you like. 

Technically any age can be a self signer, not just those over ten. 

Also, you dont have to give self signer status when you sign up. You can do it at any time in the cruise, so why not wait a couple of days and see how they do. Get them to take you to and from the cabin and the club for example. 

Self signer status doesn't work when the ship is docked. Only when its moving, so usually sea days and evening sessions depending on sail away, if that makes any difference... 

When docked someone over 18 has to drop off and pick up. 

Just remember too, that in less than a year they would been in the teen club, which has no sign in or out and a lot of the activities happen all over the ship. So if you cruise regularly or plan to do so, self signer from AO could be a good introduction to the teen club freedom. 

Depending on numbers onbaord, most managers I've met would ask for a three hour session in the nursery first (the length of an AO session), maybe less, so the nursery staff can assess communication, concentration, skills and toileting first and then agree to the bump up or not. 

Even if  bumped up, it's never a permanent guarantee. One accident or if they're unable to follow the session, and they're bumped back down.

Why? 

You can still smoke on their ships. Just not in the parks....

Royal doesn't have parks...

38 minutes ago, holiday-shrek said:

I have seen this behavior too - RCI doesn't want any evidence!

Of course that's one reason. 

But also, if youd just been injured and in pain and laying on the deck. Would you want videos of it all over the internet without your consent before you even made it to the next port? 

Maybe you would. But I know I wouldn't and I'm probably not the only one. 

Yes, we know now the guys knew each other, but you let one person film, you let everyone and more people gather and then you can't comfortably deal with the person that needs the help. 

Security are a part of the emergency medical response team. You'll see if there's ever one called, and you're trying to get on or off the ship, half of them will run to the call and gang way operations will slow.

Their job is to clear the area and crowd control. Not assist medically. They security guy was just doing his job...

42 minutes ago, ilovetotravel1977 said:

Sorry to hijack the thread, but do kids have to check-in for the 7-10pm slot by a certain time?  Was just thinking DD11 would likely want to come to some of the shows with us and then pop over to AO for a while later.

 

I guess the part of the answer to that might have something to with capacity / # of kids on board...

Any time before 10...

They can come and go as they please, but like you said, depends on capacity, but it's rare it's full. 

Just remember after 10pm there's a charge per (half) hour

Sea day sessions 9-12 2-5 7-10 after 10pm till 2am a charge of $7 an hour. 

Potentially every day theres kids dinner 5-7 if you sign up on the day of. Kids go to the windjammer for pizza and fries. Might not be every day and almost definitely not the first day. 

AO is open for all port hours 9-5 or later if the port is later. If kids are in during a port day lunch they will go to the windjammer for pizza and fries. 

31 minutes ago, 1992cruiser said:

I saw something online that said navigator is going to have ages 3-11 combined on a trial basis. Has anyone seen or heard this?  Sorry op, a little off your post. 

Ugh. I hope not. That's the reason I left Disney.

It wasn't running a kids programme it was 11 hours a day hearding cats. Stopping younger kids running in the middle of ball games and getting hurt, so the older ones can play. Only every being able to entertain a small percentage of the group because older kids aren't interested in 'baby games' and the little ones dont understand the more active games...

It will end up just being a free play programme...the kids a Disney were boring, they just wanted to play video games all day lol.

My favourite part of AO is age appropriate groups with age appropriate activities. You really get to know the kids that way... 

2 hours ago, NannyKimby said:

Thanks! little man kicks butt with the shower so this pretty much the only thing we aren't worried about 🙂

I knew about the swim diapers, I know there's suppose to be 2 water areas they are allowed. We've had such conflicting info on what areas but guess this is something we will have to know when we get there. Also there's a babies and tots compass?!?!!? that's perfect! Is it available to grab on the day we board? is the nursery the same location as adventure ocean? thank you!!!!!

For swim diapers, theres just one area, the baby splash area, right next to splash away bay. 

Yes theres a royal babies and tots compass (more just a page of information) if you dont see one in the terminal before you board you can pick one up at the nursery. 

The nursery is in same area as adventure ocean, if you can't find it some one in AO will direct you/answer the questions you have/ should have the compass there too (you'll only really need the nursery if you want to book hours or take out toys)...

8 hours ago, NannyKimby said:

I'm traveling with a 9 month old on the Freedom the end of this month.

1) do kids get their own ship card.

 

2) if they don't, how would a non parent (aka not someone who will be in the same room kiddo is staying but someone who does have a notarized care letter to take on and off the boat) be able to get the kid on and off the boat without a ship card or in the kiddo's room? Can we request an extra room card for this purpose?

 

3) anyone know what time the kids pool or splash zone open?

 

4) we've read a few places that the adventure ocean offers a special time once per day (or a few times a week?) for kids 0-3 to basically come and play with their adult in tow, does anyone have any details? where? when?

 

5) has anyone asked for a crib to be provided? we have it in the requests. but wondering what they end up looking like if they are decent or if we should just bring our travel crib.

 

6) trying to figure out the best way to make bottles, room temp or warm just can't be cold. If the tap water is safe (assuming it is) that's just fine just not sure the best route for this, would prefer not to lug a weeks worth of bottled water on board.

 

Any other information would be super helpful! thank you!

1. Yes 

3. Your child will only be allowed in the baby splash area as no swim diapers are allowed in the pool or splash away bay and kids have to be fully potty trained to use it. Times will probably vary between port days and sea days but the times will be on the daily compass.

4. There will be a nursery open play, probably every day in the teen centre from around 9-5. Stop by the nursery for a babies and tots compass for the week that will give you all the info for that. Open play, you have to stay with your kids. The nursery is drop off that you have to pay for. You can also check out bags of toys from the nursery if you dont want to pack a load. 

5. Usually a small pack n play. 

6. Yes tap water is safe. But you can also buy bottled water onboard if you dont want to carry it on. If you have a drinks package, bottled water is included in that. 

I know the slide rules from splash away bay (so assume other slides too as those ones are pretty tame): no loose items at all (shoes, sunglasses, jewelry, flotation devices, hats, go pros) are allowed down at all, holding or wearing. 

Now, if these rules get enforced is different, it's pretty tedious standing there in the sun watching everyone go down correctly, making sure they come out and then checking for (non obvious) loose items too, and some people have days that they dont really care so will let you get away with it or hold it as you go down....