Sparkygirl

Does anyone know if a parent can stay with their child in the program? Our 3 1/2 year old daughter has a disability (brittle bones) and we wouldn't want to leave her alone there without one of us there with her.

Contact NCL access desk and ask to speak with the Shoreside Splash Academy Director. NCL is the only cruise line who adjusted their kids programing to accommodate my daughter's severe allergies (Airborne Anaphylaxis to latex). Over the past 5 years were have been on 6 cruises because it is the only safe vacation we could have. Explain your daughters needs and see what they say. We often are in communication with the splash academy staff onboard months before our cruises to work on accommodations for my daughter. We went through the scheduled and looked at what activities would or would not be okay for my daughter, what could be modified, etc. The 3-5 year olds are under the early childhood program and have separate counselors than the 6 and up age group. You may be able to work out a combination of splash academy activities and guppy parent/child activities.

Mustafa now working for Holland America and Richard is on the Gem

 

 

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Thanks! Does anyone know who is currently the Hotel Director on Epic? Boarding on Sunday and was curious if we'd see any friends.

In Ocho Rios, Jamaica We did the enchanted gardens waterfalls, gardens, and aviary with my 6 year old. She loved it, it was private and we had a tour guide and photographer.

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Vibe and H2O are adult only areas on Escape. You'll find the right mix of things for your family. My little one doesn't ever want to leave splash academy.

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Where do I find Amex offers? We have an Amex card but I've never looked to see if I should use it to book our shore excursions.

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What type of entertainment are you looking for? We've taken our kids on dawn and Gem and they have had plenty of entertainment and they are smaller ships than Epic.

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We go to dinner as a family. Our 4 year old eats dinner, then DH takes her to the Kid's Club. Our 13 year eats dinner, orders dessert, then leaves and meets friends or goes to the Teen Club. DH and I linger over dessert, wine, and coffee. Then we head to pick up DD.

 

We bought DS a dining package, but DD will order of the Kid's menu, and will most likely eat Mac and Cheese every night.

This is exactly how dinner works for our family. The little's main meal comes out with everyone else's appetizer. Once she is done we walk her to kids club and the main meal is at the table when DH or I return. Then the teens are excused as soon as they eat their main meal as they get dessert at either the buffet or the main dinning room with friends later in the evening.

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Yes, children can stay onboard while in port, there is a fee and if the child has self check out privileges which I believe is allowed at age 10 then he could leave the club on his own, the self check out doesn't change if in port or not.

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I believe this.

 

 

 

Presumably if you use two different credit cards in each cabin (one for each occupant), that will split the cabin into two separate accounts, thus preventing this problem.

 

 

 

However this solution would not work for me, as the 2nd person in my cabin is a minor.

We have done this with minor children, we split the minor child off of the cabin credit card and open a cash account for the child. This child is also often the one who a la carte's at the specialty restaurants. We cruise with my stepchildren and their mom so it is easier accounting wise if each child has their own account and mom or dad are responsible for charges of the child while they were with the respective parent.

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I am afraid No

 

 

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That is not consistent with the Chinese staff I spoke with a week ago on the GEM. The staff are required to be trilingual (mandarin, Cantonese and English). The ship will sail with European and American guests. American's and Europeans are not the primary audience and sailing on the joy will be a cultural immersion cruise, I'm guessing that was what lead to the quote referenced above.

Look at the complaints on this site, now make English the last language for any and all announcements, change the way things are done to cater to an Asian market and think about how bad the complaints will be for those who are uninformed or unwilling to have a different experience.

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Kids have to hand sanitizer before going into splash each time, little kids 3-5 are kept separate from everyone else. Toys are disinfected each night. Because it is a controlled access point, no non splash staff adults inside after open house registration on 1st day. Is it secure? Absolutely yes, must have child's key card, authorized pick up adult key card and password to get child out. Handy phone or pager is given to parents of littles so that you can be reached with the I want mommy or I'm hungry and I'm tired messages.

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Many people think just because they are of the minimum age to serve in the military that automatically gives them the same respect and privileges of the very few that do step up and serve.

 

 

 

Step up, raise your right hand, swear the oath, serve and then get back to us.

Was this comment directed at me? I was responding to the comment where the posted hoped those serving in the military wouldn't encounter the same issues. Just become someone is 18 and the same age as a member of the armed services does not mean those two individuals are the same and I 100% agree that the respect and privileges are earned by members of the armed services and/or uniformed services.

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I've always found that analogy amusing...

 

Let them join the military then and I'm sure NCL won't have a problem occupying a cabin as an adult with their military ID just as the other occupant is not a minor.

 

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Correct, it is spelled out that if under 21 and married or in active duty they can book their own rooms on a cruise ship.

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That would be the USPH inspection that is de rigeur when a ship returns to the US after some time away. Unfortunately, this shows that the Jade is not maintaining the USPH culture when away from the US, which NCL used to do, as it needs to become second nature, not something that is "crammed" for like a final exam.

I have often overheard staff discussing the QA process and I often ask about it on my cruises. On my cruises there is usually one day of week that is a mock inspection day (usually see the hotel director and food and beverage director with flashlights in their hands). I do not necessarily view this as the Jade not adhering to USPH rather that the Jade is transitioning from EU home port rules versus US home port rules. The example of the diaper child pool that must be no longer used upon returning to a US home port is a prime example of different rules. NCL has some of the best VSP ratings and reports which I do read before sailing on a particular ship. I do consider the areas where deficiencies were found and if there was immediate resolution or if a longer timeframe was needed.

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I agree with all of the above.

 

 

 

We sailed on the Getaway last week in the Haven and tipped the night before leaving to those who gave us exceptional service. This was in-addition to what we already pre-paid.

I do need to chime in on the tipping front, DH and I prepay our gratuities for the three of us and then for our 5 year old daughter we budget an additional $200 for a 7 day cruise. She is in splash academy which we tip $100 for the week and she has food allergies and a special needs waiter brings her meals for breakfast and dinner each day, we figured $5 per meal as an additional tip and then added on to that because we bounced locations at the last minute, she overslept breakfast one morning requiring tracking down a chef after the galley closed, etc.

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It is on the menu for an additional charge.

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Wait Captain Roger (the one who sings and plays guitar) is back with NCL. I don't remember last name from when we sailed with him but supposedly he left NCL a few years ago. So hoping this is one and the same if anyone knows for sure!!!!!!

Yes! That would be him, he played/sang at our latitudes party this week as well. Also, I saw him more than any other captain out on the pool deck and around the ship interacting with passengers. He works a 10 weeks on 10 weeks off rotation.

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NCL has a bargain laundry bag day, usually mid cruise when you can fill a laundry bag and have it back in a day or two. The trick is to roll items as small as possible,and place them in the bag. As a platinum, I get 1 bag of laundry done for free.

 

We usually send underwear, socks, PJs, shorts and tees. Any fine-washables are washed by hand in the sink and hung on the shower clothesline to dry.

As Gold I was able to combine the laundry special price with the 25% discount coupon and washed all of my 5 year olds clothes as she went through more outfits a day than we had planned.

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The Captain was Roger Gustavsen. He sang and played a guitar at the Latitudes party - a talented man!

 

 

 

I asked a crew member about upcoming officer changes. He said Jovo and the Staff Captain would be "leaving soon". Sorry, I don't know how soon, but others here might know about that.

 

 

 

The Concierge was Elvina. We loved her! :D She was very attentive and friendly. Actually, the whole crew was great! But alas, now it's back to the real world...:(

Staff Captain switched mid 10/8 Gem sailing. Jovo is onboard for a few weeks, he was to have already been on vacation before coming to the Gem. The entire staff were awesome on our 10/8 sailing!

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8201! We staying in this cabin with 4 adults and a toddler, large balcony, big hot tub. Only catch is you must keep the curtain closed and lights off if you want to go outside on the balcony at night. Also be aware the bow cam can see the front of your balcony and so can anyone watching on the their tv. The bow cam can not see the hot tub.

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Contact the access desk regarding mobility issues and arrangements. They will provide info about boarding, muster drill, etc.

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Following in hopes next year will be similar!

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I should have mentioned we have special needs child so hoping to figure out something with instant contact so if if she needs us when with him we can be reached.

 

I thought I had read messaging only worked with Apple phone. Thanks .

With a special needs child contact the access desk and request two hand phones. These are wireless phones that can be used throughout the ship. They are used by the staff to communicate with each other and have been extremely valuable to us when sailing with our special needs child.

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The 9th is a little too soon to tell. I can say 100% that Disney has rerouted the 10/7 Magic to Canada, so it's not unprecedented. The question may be if there are docks large enough for the Breakaway in those Canadian ports.

The magic was not re-routed the 10/7 Canada sailing was its planned itinerary.

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She is nearly 5, however; she is teeny tiny. Only 32 lbs and very short for her age. We have decided we will eat and shop in port and then take advantage of less crowded pools back on the ship.

 

 

 

While I'm sure everything would be fine, I just can't take that risk! I appreciate everyone's input :)

Given your daughter's age and weight I would highly recommend looking into the ride safer travel vest. It is no more bulky that a standard no back booster seat. The newest release is adaptable to a variety of car seatbelt, top teacher options. Yes, it is more expensive than a booster but also safer than a booster seat for such a tiny child. With the size, height and weight one vest would last for several years so also look into what future travel you will be doing to see if it is worth the investment.

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