Kids Clubs

[efoote01]

Some questions on the kid's club:

• do you get a beeper to pick up your kid if they want to leave or is it an announcement over the pa
  
• is there a show @ the end
  
• do they go outside or around the ship
  
• do they get wristbands or do we in registration or is this done w/only the card
  
• do any of the kids club activities cost $$
  

Thanks!

[Alessandrina]

Hi. The Kids Club hours are from 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, 19:00-22:00H.

 

Sign up/registration is the first day and second morning onboard where you will find out all the details. They do not get a wristband. You will get a pager/beeper and they will notify you if your child wishes to leave. You'll need to carry your ID with you to sign the child out. Most times they will photocopy it.

 

Some ships have a small enclosed outside area, but really they are not in the fresh air much. Depending on the itinerary, they make take the kids out to take in the views (Panama Canal, glaciers, etc.).

 

Some afternoons the leaders will take the group to the buffet for ice cream. Usually on Formal Nights, there will be a kid's dinner. You will receive an activity schedule at the start of your cruise.

 

There is not a show put on by the kids.

 

The only minimal charge I have seen is for the "Jr. Chef at Sea" program - a chance for the children to make something with the chef. And there is an extra charge for group babysitting after 10pm.

In the dining room there is a children's menu with the typical fare.

 

Hope that helps!

[freakymickey]

Hi. The Kids Club hours are from 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, 19:00-22:00H.

 

Sign up/registration is the first day and second morning onboard where you will find out all the details. They do not get a wristband. You will get a pager/beeper and they will notify you if your child wishes to leave. You'll need to carry your ID with you to sign the child out. Most times they will photocopy it.

 

Some ships have a small enclosed outside area, but really they are not in the fresh air much. Depending on the itinerary, they make take the kids out to take in the views (Panama Canal, glaciers, etc.).

 

Some afternoons the leaders will take the group to the buffet for ice cream. Usually on Formal Nights, there will be a kid's dinner. You will receive an activity schedule at the start of your cruise.

 

There is not a show put on by the kids.

 

The only minimal charge I have seen is for the "Jr. Chef at Sea" program - a chance for the children to make something with the chef. And there is an extra charge for group babysitting after 10pm.

In the dining room there is a children's menu with the typical fare.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Alessandrina, Can I ask when was your most recent experience using the Kids Club? I only ask because we will be on the Crown next saturday and I have had to deal with Princess Access Department as well as the Medical Coordinator due to my daughter recently being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent). I asked about how they would reach us should there be an emergency with our daughter - I specifically asked if they had pagers and was told that they do not and would reach us over the loudspeakers. As you could imagine, I am not very comfortable with that scenario but would be with a pager. So please, if you don't mind, let us know when the last time you used the Princess kids club.

 

I feel like everywhere I turn with Princess they are not accomodating at all. Basically everything is left for me to find out either thru CC or on the ship. Very frustrating!

 

I appreciate your help.

[mycruz]

We just returned from the Ruby here is what we experienced.

 

• do you get a beeper to pick up your kid if they want to leave or is it an announcement over the pa - the youngest ones, Pelicans were given pagers, the older group 8-12 did not.
  
• is there a show @ the end - there was no show on this one
  
• do they go outside or around the ship - yes! They have a really nice area on the Ruby outside that they can go play in.
  
• do they get wristbands or do we in registration or is this done w/only the card - the 8-12 get a wristband when they check in. At registration you can designate whether or not you want them to be able to check in or out without a parent.
  
• do any of the kids club activities cost $$ - we were not charged for anything, unless you want to keep them from 10pm-1pm there is a charge of $5 per child per hour.
  

The Club closed from 12-1pm and 5-6pm except on formal nights, they served the kids dinner from 5-6 in the Horizon Court.

 

I can't imagine why they wouldn't give you a pager if your child is in the older group if you requested it. All the counselors were great, I was very pleased with the experience on the Ruby.

[freakymickey]

We just returned from the Ruby here is what we experienced.

 

• do you get a beeper to pick up your kid if they want to leave or is it an announcement over the pa - the youngest ones, Pelicans were given pagers, the older group 8-12 did not.
  
• is there a show @ the end - there was no show on this one
  
• do they go outside or around the ship - yes! They have a really nice area on the Ruby outside that they can go play in.
  
• do they get wristbands or do we in registration or is this done w/only the card - the 8-12 get a wristband when they check in. At registration you can designate whether or not you want them to be able to check in or out without a parent.
  
• do any of the kids club activities cost $$ - we were not charged for anything, unless you want to keep them from 10pm-1pm there is a charge of $5 per child per hour.
  

The Club closed from 12-1pm and 5-6pm except on formal nights, they served the kids dinner from 5-6 in the Horizon Court.

 

I can't imagine why they wouldn't give you a pager if your child is in the older group if you requested it. All the counselors were great, I was very pleased with the experience on the Ruby.

 

 

I agree that if requested they should provide me with one but there will be 600 kids on our sailing so I am concerned they will have a shortage, there are about 270 kids in the Pelican age range. You said that the children in the 8-12 range get wristbands, how about the younger children. I thought I read somewhere that all children when boarding are given a wristband - is that true?

 

I was hoping by advising Princess of our situation and providing paperwork from our doctor prior to sailing that some things could be noted and possibly planned a bit ahead of time. But they can't and don't seem to be willing to help much. Even though they have an access department everything we need help with must wait til we are on the ship...UGH!

 

I appreciate your info, thanks

[CruisinFinsUp]

Some questions on the kid's club:

• do you get a beeper to pick up your kid if they want to leave or is it an announcement over the pa
  
• is there a show @ the end
  
• do they go outside or around the ship
  
• do they get wristbands or do we in registration or is this done w/only the card
  
• do any of the kids club activities cost $$
  

Thanks!

 

Hi,

We were on Emerald Dec 2010. Here is what we experienced (our kids were 8 & 10)

-beepers were only for the younger kids. Parents of older ones were not offered beeper. Please keep in mind that the beepers DO NOT work OFF SHIP. So if you are leaving the kids in the club while you go on shore, they CANNOT REACH YOU even if you have a beeper. The kids club had set times that it was open and you were responsible for being on time to get your kids, or if you let them sign in /out, the kids with that ability were asked to sign out 15 min prior to close to help cut down on the crowds right at close time.

 

-There was a show on the 2nd last day or so (can't remember exactly). It was a "talent show" and participation was voluntary. One of our kids did a dance, the other didn't.

 

-There were no wristbands. In the past, when they've received the wristbands, I think that they were only to indicate muster station letter. I honestly can't recall if it was Princess or Carnival or RCI that had them. Sorry.

 

-The older kids, who were allowed to sign themselves in and out, were able to participate in scavenger hunts where they teamed up and wandered around the ship in search of particular things. The kids' club staff sometimes took the kids out to the back deck area for some games. The kids club staff do NOT take the kids to the pools.

 

-There were a couple of "extra" activities that were pay and parent accompanied -- make a teddy bear; decorate a cake in the galley are the two that I remember.

 

I think that the kids' clubs vary slightly ship to ship depending on the staff involved. Keep in mind that kids' club staff rotate / change, and depending on the staff's preferences, the policies and activities will change slightly as well.

 

For those with medical related questions, I'd go see the person in charge of the kids club as soon as you get on board -- explain your personal situation and what you'd be comfortable with as a solution (ie pager, whatever). I'm sure they'd accomodate whatever they can. That way you don't have to rely on communications between head office and the ship to explain what you want/need. From what I've read here on cc over the years that communication is not to be relied upon !! :)

[efoote01]

Thanks for all the info...we are on the Ruby in one week :) and now I think I know everything!!

[soprano]

I agree that if requested they should provide me with one but there will be 600 kids on our sailing so I am concerned they will have a shortage, there are about 270 kids in the Pelican age range. You said that the children in the 8-12 range get wristbands, how about the younger children. I thought I read somewhere that all children when boarding are given a wristband - is that true?

 

 

I know on RCI they put wristbands on the kids (with the location of their muster station), but I don't remember that on Princess.

 

How do you find out the number of kids on a sailing? This would be useful to know!

[freakymickey]

I know on RCI they put wristbands on the kids (with the location of their muster station), but I don't remember that on Princess.

 

How do you find out the number of kids on a sailing? This would be useful to know!

 

 

Just call and ask...when I did they actually broke down the age groups for me.

[GingerCandy]

Does anyone know what the more recent Kids Menu looks like? Any info would be appreciated. The menu posted from 2004 is all that I can find.

[Alessandrina]

Regarding the menu: I don't think it has changed much at all. The usual hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, alphabet soup (broth), spaghetti, sundaes.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I don't recall seeing any wristbands on kids on Princess. Carnival had the green wristbands when we've cruised on that line (last time was in 2002 when our girl was 4). The wristband was printed with the muster station.

 

I don't recall hearing that there was a build-a-bear type of activity on Princess, but I could be wrong. I somehow remember another line has that.

 

More info about Princess: if you want a day in port w/o child, you can sign up your child for in-port kidsitting at least 24 hours in advance. That and the night time kidsitting is probably better for the younger kids (my girl at 8 years old got mad at us for having her in kidsitting one night). There's no charge for in-port kidsitting.

 

We didn't give my girl sign in and out privileges on her first three cruises (she got it of course when in Remix, the teen club). So when they did the passenger scavenger hunt, a counselor accompanied her. The kids were taken out on our first Hawaiian cruise to check out the volcano cruise-by (everyone was checking it out, including crew members) and to the hula dancers show.

 

After the kids' dinner in the Horizon Court (usually on formal nights), the counselors will escort the kids to the kids' area for evening activities.

[merela]

Does anyone know what the more recent Kids Menu looks like? Any info would be appreciated. The menu posted from 2004 is all that I can find.

 

There has been no changes as far as I know. Basically, if you can describe what your child wants to eat, the chef will be able to accommodate your child.

[efoote01]

Can kids order from the adult menu?

 

Thanks

[cosytoes]

My dd always chose from the adults menu in the restaurant, they always have a pasta and plain chicken on and she liked the soup and desserts. They would bring her chips if we asked. There In fact I don't even remember them offering her a kids menu.

 

Just a question - if there are so many kids on board how do they cope, do they limit the numbers in the kids club on a day by day basis or first come first served?