kaj1436 Posted September 7, 2011 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Contemplating taking the children(4 and 6) on the Ruby in January. Was wondering if anyone had any insight on apporoximately how many children are on board that time of year. I dont want to be one of the only familes with small chldren. I want my children to have others to play with and want to go to the kids club because there will be others there. I know most will suggest another cruise line with more children but we have been invited by my inlaws and they prefer princess. So now it's just a matter of finding out how well the children will enjoy it before we accept the invitation. Thanks for the help and any information will be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CA Posted September 7, 2011 #2 Share Posted September 7, 2011 There'll be few families with kids as those school-age will be in school. My guess is that there'll be a few, not many. It's possible they may not have enough for a Kids Club. January is one of the times of the year that few kids cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 7, 2011 #3 Share Posted September 7, 2011 We have sailed several times in January, and there have been a few children onboard, but as Pam says, not many, and some cruises only a handful of children that age onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaj1436 Posted September 7, 2011 Author #4 Share Posted September 7, 2011 So does that mean that if there are not enough kids on board they will close down the kids club? That would not be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted September 7, 2011 #5 Share Posted September 7, 2011 As far as I know, closing down the kids clubs only happens on the smaller ships such as the Pacific or Ocean Princess (which there aren't any designated kids areas to begin with on the smaller ships) . The larger ships will have activities for the kids no matter how many they have onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrivesLikeMario Posted September 7, 2011 #6 Share Posted September 7, 2011 You can call Princess periodically to get the number of kids booked on your sailing. Just ask them and they'll even give you an age break-down. I'm sure there will be enough kids onboard for your kids to still have a great time. I think they close down the kids program if there are less than 20 onboard, but that's for the smaller ships. I've never heard the bigger ships like the Ruby closing down a kids' program due to lack of participation. There are SO many kids that are home-schooled now and so many school districts that have unusual school calendars that I'm sure there will be plenty of kids onboard. May not be around 80, but I'm sure it'll be more than 15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
granlea Posted September 7, 2011 #7 Share Posted September 7, 2011 This year many Canadian kids don't go back to school until January 9th. If you are cruising the Caribbean the first week of 2012, there will probably be some Canucks kids trying to warm up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janina Posted September 7, 2011 #8 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I don't think the cruiseline would make a difference at that time of year, except maybe Disney. Most kids will be in school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretchcruz Posted September 7, 2011 #9 Share Posted September 7, 2011 We've been looking at a Jan 2013 cruise thinking there would be no kids...I would check with Princess about the kids club, if it is open that would be great. Let us know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickie_bernie Posted September 7, 2011 #10 Share Posted September 7, 2011 we have sailed in January for many many years... there will be a few kids, but not a lot. the kids program is always open, but there may not be a lot of other kids. However with a 7 day cruise you will find more kids than normally would be on a longer voyage like 10 days. they will have fun and the staff will love them too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare karatemom2 Posted September 7, 2011 #11 Share Posted September 7, 2011 If you are traveling the first week of January, there will be some kids still on Winter break. Later in the month I would imagine it would be much fewer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmitchell82 Posted September 7, 2011 #12 Share Posted September 7, 2011 We sailed on the Sapphire Princess last January with our DD who was 6. The kids club was open and there was about 30 kids in her age group (3-7), but definitely not a lot of kids. We liked the smaller number of kids since they seem to get more attention at the kids club. Definitely call Princess a few weeks before you sail and ask for the breakdown in terms of how many kids in each age group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaj1436 Posted September 7, 2011 Author #13 Share Posted September 7, 2011 thanks everyone...greatly appreciated...I guess I will call princess and see what the attendance is like and maybe they can tell me historically how many they get on that cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin' Chick Posted September 7, 2011 #14 Share Posted September 7, 2011 This year many Canadian kids don't go back to school until January 9th. If you are cruising the Caribbean the first week of 2012, there will probably be some Canucks kids trying to warm up! The Los Angeles school district (the second biggest in the country) is also on winter break until the 9th. So west coast cruises would have a significant number of kids the first week of January. Don't know how many from this area would be on a Caribbean cruise unless it's over by that Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancouvergirl2010 Posted November 27, 2011 #15 Share Posted November 27, 2011 When we were on the Sapphire (a big ship!) the kids club had limited hours and activities as there were only 20 kids or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 HappyCruiser Posted November 27, 2011 #16 Share Posted November 27, 2011 This week (thanksgiving) there's about 150 kids or so on the Emerald. Even less on the previous cruise. In Jan I wouldn't expect more than a dozen or so even on a 7 day cruise and possibly 6 or 7 on a 10 day trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodmnky Posted November 27, 2011 #17 Share Posted November 27, 2011 thanks everyone...greatly appreciated...I guess I will call princess and see what the attendance is like and maybe they can tell me historically how many they get on that cruise. If Princess tells you that they don't give out this info, let them know why you are asking. I called a couple of weeks ago to find out the same thing and initially I was told that they don't give out this information, but when I told them why I was calling they looked it up for me. The rep told me that they have been asked not to give this out frequently because of people complaining about there being kids onboard. I have sailed in January several times during weeks when most kids are in school. There has always been a handful of kids onboard and more in the younger age ranges. It actuallly should be really nice because there will be other kids, but not so many that your child doesn't get attention from the staff. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umieesa Posted November 27, 2011 #18 Share Posted November 27, 2011 We will be among those Canadians bringing our kids (10, 6, 1) in January to escape the winter! I'm actually hoping that there won't be too many kids onboard...like someone else said about the more individual attention, and if I wanted a ship with more kids I probably would have picked a different cruise line, ;) We are also sailing on the Ruby on the January 22 sailing, so if this is your sailing date then you can count at least my kids! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toeloop Posted November 27, 2011 #19 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Try checking on the roll call. There may be people there who are bringing their kids along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin' Chick Posted November 28, 2011 #20 Share Posted November 28, 2011 When we were on the Sapphire (a big ship!) the kids club had limited hours and activities as there were only 20 kids or so. Which would be pretty strange for July (going by your cruise list). We were on the Sapphire in August 2004 and though I don't know how many kids there was on that sailing, I'm sure there was a lot more than 20. There was a significant number of activities for my daughter who was 7 on that cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kmkub Posted November 28, 2011 #21 Share Posted November 28, 2011 We are sailing the Ruby on Jan 15 with our teenage boys. We looked at Spring Break, but it was over $1K higher. The boys have 2 1/2 days of school, MLK week, and those are finals for our High schooler (which can be made up, we checked,) and not much loss for our 6th grader. They don't do much learning in a 2 1/2 day week, judging on past experience. So, we're expecting low kid turnout, but not zero kid turnout. It means the times they want the PS3 in the center, it will be most likely available for them. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancouvergirl2010 Posted December 1, 2011 #22 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Which would be pretty strange for July (going by your cruise list). We were on the Sapphire in August 2004 and though I don't know how many kids there was on that sailing' date=' I'm sure there was a lot more than 20. There was a significant number of activities for my daughter who was 7 on that cruise.[/quote'] Yes, we were surprised also…there may have been a few more, but in the younger or teen age groups, rather than the pre-teen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtheships Posted December 1, 2011 #23 Share Posted December 1, 2011 You can call Princess periodically to get the number of kids booked on your sailing. Just ask them and they'll even give you an age break-down. I'm sure there will be enough kids onboard for your kids to still have a great time. I think they close down the kids program if there are less than 20 onboard, but that's for the smaller ships. I've never heard the bigger ships like the Ruby closing down a kids' program due to lack of participation. There are SO many kids that are home-schooled now and so many school districts that have unusual school calendars that I'm sure there will be plenty of kids onboard. May not be around 80, but I'm sure it'll be more than 15. Just wondering..if they will give an age breakdown for the kids...will they give an age breakdown for the entire ship? It would seem that they should do that as well......it is only fair......If others have the right to know how many kids are on board...then others have the right to know if there are large numbers of say...honeymoon couples....senior citizens...retirees.....singles.... I would think the number of singles on a cruise....would be of interest to many considering a cruise. If the number of kids on a cruise relates to how crowded the Kid's club will be........then the other demgraphic groups will relate to how crowded say the Lido deck will be...and the ease in which deck chairs by the pool will be available. so...if they are going to give out the info regarding the number of kids on a cruise...which should never be done in this day and age..period....then they should give out all of the demographic of the pax on the particular cruise. Just sayin':mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancouvergirl2010 Posted December 2, 2011 #24 Share Posted December 2, 2011 Just wondering..if they will give an age breakdown for the kids...will they give an age breakdown for the entire ship? It would seem that they should do that as well......it is only fair......If others have the right to know how many kids are on board...then others have the right to know if there are large numbers of say...honeymoon couples....senior citizens...retirees.....singles.... I would think the number of singles on a cruise....would be of interest to many considering a cruise. If the number of kids on a cruise relates to how crowded the Kid's club will be........then the other demgraphic groups will relate to how crowded say the Lido deck will be...and the ease in which deck chairs by the pool will be available. so...if they are going to give out the info regarding the number of kids on a cruise...which should never be done in this day and age..period....then they should give out all of the demographic of the pax on the particular cruise. Just sayin':mad: Good Point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.