Question about Ocean Adventure's Late Night Party Zone

[LisaGoeke]

Mostly interested if anyone has used the Aquanauts, ages 3-5 program, for the late night party zone (10 p.m. to 1 a.m.) I was just wondering if they have activities planned for the children and/or quiet time (since most children this age are normally sleeping) or ???

 

We may also be using it for our 6 year old and 10 year old so if you've used it before I'd love to hear more about it.

[cyndyt]

The activities depend on the number and ages of the children. On the Majesty they weren't broken into groups because not many. Usually its a pyjama party and they watch movies, have snacks, colour, that type of thing. Many of the younger children fall asleep.

[spdfrk]

Can't speak to the younger children, my DD is 9 (almost 10). She loved the late night fun and stayed two nights until 1. She would have done it more but we wanted her to get a good nights sleep prior to port visits/tours. They played games, did crafts, watched movies, etc. We gave her the ability to check in/out on her own. I think part of the fun was having some independence. She handled it well so we let her enjoy it.

[ga-shel]

My son who tried it first at the age of 6 and has done it on all of the other cruises loves it. BEWARE - some ships DO NOT take sign and sail cards for this. We actually had to pay cash.

 

They do games RCI's famous Gaga ball tournaments, crafts, dance contests, movies, room service, sundae making, cookie decorating, and for the ones that just want to lay down they offer an area to drift off with bankets and pillows.

 

I think this is great for the kids.

[cruiseaddick]

what is the cost of this late night party zone

[toolongnocruise]

You pay CASH at the rate of $5/hour directly to the staff member on duty.

 

The staff take turns doing this to benefit the parents who would like to go to a show or to the casino or just have some more adult time w/o the children. Of course, the children love it as they are with others kids and they get to have their own "late night, grown-up kind of party". My son is an only child so he loves this kind of "vacation stuff" as he does not get to do these things at home.

[RenSea]

On our first RCL NOS cruise my little one then 4 1/2 yrs went to the late night a few times. The cost is $5 per hour and I dont remember if we could sail n sign this or not. I did notice that there was not a huge turnout but it was off season. Most night he was still awake playing quietly on a computer with the staff close and attentative. We always had him dressed in comfy sweats not his actual PJ's, didnt want him to feel wierd if others were not dressed for bed. If he fell asleep in comfy clothes that was fine by us. The ship does get very cool in the evening so plan on some warm clothes even in the heat of summer.

[RenSea]

Forgot to mention that the AO staff is not on the suggested tip list but if you take advantage of thier services please plan on tipping them too.

[dms_cruisers04]

Lisa, just back from SoS, DD loved OA. They charged it to our SeaPass card for the nights she stayed. There were no scheduled activities for the Late Night, but they are allowed to do whatever they would like ie. coloring, the computer, blocks etc. Twice we picked her up and she was still awake, one of those times she was the only one there. :eek: She was in the 3-5 group. HTH

[LisaGoeke]

Thank you all for the great replies. I will make sure we have cash on hand just in case we need it. The only thing that I wonder about is if you have to prepay (or even if you don't) do you need to tell them how long you'll be there or keep them there the full three hours?

[dad son team]

Thank you all for the great replies. I will make sure we have cash on hand just in case we need it. The only thing that I wonder about is if you have to prepay (or even if you don't) do you need to tell them how long you'll be there or keep them there the full three hours?

 

No, you do not need to prepay. When you sign them in after dinner, there is usually a separate sign-in sheet for the late night so you will not have to go back at 10pm to re-sign them in. At 10pm, they take attendence from that sheet. If you signed up and your child is not there, then there is no charge.

 

Does anybody know what ships you pay cash on? I was on the Mariner and Explorer and both were put on my seapass.

[Jacquelyn11]

My sons' did Carnival's all night party and had a blast. They said they would paint their faces if they fell asleep. They stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG and gave me and the DH a night alone! ;) Of course they came in and crashed, but it was the last sea day before going home.

 

I've told my sons' about the GAGA ball and they can't wait to try it!

 

Jacquelyn :D

[dms_cruisers04]

Lisa, on SoS, if we knew she was going to stay late (when we dropped her off after dinner) then we could sign her up then. If not, then if she did stay, they would consider it the after hours charged time. We just called periodically and checked on her. They either asked her or let us talk to her to she if she wanted to stay.

She did not have to stay the whole time, but you might want to ask how what they charge for 1/4 hour and 1/2 hour increments. The night she was the only one there when I picked her up, it was about 12:40 and we were charged a full 3 hours. Considering she was the only one there and she was having a good time, it really wasn't a big deal. HTH

[PAGA]

One of the best things about the 3-5 year old program is that they give you a pager -- if your child needs you they will beep you, so it's really not necessary to call or check-in.

 

Another nice perk of the 3-5 year old program are the dinners at Johnny Rockets on the Voyager-class ships. We took advantage of this dine-with-the-Adventure-Ocean-staff program when we were assigned late dinner seating and couldn't get it changed. You sign-up in the Adventure ocean room ahead of time, then drop off your child at Johnny Rockets at 6pm. The kids have dinner and then the staff takes them to the Adventure ocean room -- once they are dropped of at Johnny Rockets they are signed-in for the night.

 

My son loved the late-night. When we sailed in October (age 5) he was usually the only one there when we picked him up around 12:00am -- he was usually cuddled up watching a movie with one of the staff. When we sailed in May (again, age 5) there were a few more kids there...they were usually watching a movie and coloring.

 

We sailed again recently when my son had just turned 6. The 6-8 year old room was still jumping when we'd pick him up at 12:30 (I should note it was Thanksgiving week, so there were a lot more kids). I'd say there were at least still 15-20 kids in the room. They were playing games like "ghost in the graveyard" -- the staff in that room ahd to be exhausted by week's end!!

 

One note about the 6-8 and 9-11 year old rooms for your older children -- you have the option to allow them to sign themselves in and out of the Adventure Ocean activities. You do give or deny this permission when you register your kids for the program on the first night of the cruise. I, personally, would not allow my 6-8 year old to sign himself out, but many did...just something to think about before you're faced with the decision...

[familycruzer]

One note about the 6-8 and 9-11 year old rooms for your older children -- you have the option to allow them to sign themselves in and out of the Adventure Ocean activities. You do give or deny this permission when you register your kids for the program on the first night of the cruise. I, personally, would not allow my 6-8 year old to sign himself out, but many did...just something to think about before you're faced with the decision...

 

I wont even allow my son who will be 11 on our next cruise to sign himself in or out. If I were on a smaller ship I would consider it during the day but being on the VOS no chance.

[toolongnocruise]

We were on the Vision, the Serenade and the Sovereign and had to pay cash on all three (see dates in signature line). Perhaps they have changed all of the ships to allow for sign/sail cards now?? We will be on the Serenade again in Dec. so I guess I will find out then.

 

Originally, when we were on the Vision with our son, we were told the "late night" fees went directly to the counselor who was on duty. That is why it was cash only. Perhaps now they have devised a way to be sure each counselor is paid properly. Or perhaps they have decided to schedule this late night duty as part of their work hours and therefore have changed the system?? Just guessing as to why the policy is different. Perhaps someone "in the know" will respond.