Does anyone else NOT use kids programs??

[Laulipop]

These boards have been very helpful as we plan our second family cruise. I wonder, though, if anyone else cruises as a family and doesn't use any of the kids programming? We have traveled extensively apart from cruising and my sons (ages 13 and 10 now) have never chosen to participate in kids club type programs. We enjoy staying together as a family and experiencing places together. They are good travelers, adventurous eaters, and love seeing and learning new things. (Example - last year we went to Paris and were discussing the possibility of taking a day to see Versailles. A cousin's husband said it might be boring for kids and not to waste a day. My then 9 yr old was offended and said "He obviously doesn't know us!")

 

We have always told them that if anything in kids programs looks like something they want to do, we are happy for them to try it. It hasnt happened, though -they've always wanted to experience the ports/cities/etc right along with us and we are certainly happy to have them with us. Luckily they get along great and we love to hangout together as a family.

 

I am not judging anyone who uses kids clubs - they are wonderful I'm sure. It is just confusing that anytime I see any reference to how good a ship is for families, it is almost always discussing the merits of the kids program which in our case would separate our family in a way we don't want. Is there anyone else out there that approaches family traveling like we do? Again, NOT making any judgments at all, truly just curious....

[sparky-elpaso]

You're obviously doing something right. :) Our sons are grown now but I think they would have been the same way at that age. We were stationed in Germany when they were in junior high school and they loved going to castles and museums, etc. When we took a trip to the Netherlands which included time on our own in Amsterdam they were the ones who suggested we see Anne Frank's house - they had read the play in school.

[lmg1230]

We travel with our two girls extensively and they have never used a kids program on a land-based vacation, however, they do enjoy the programs when we are cruising. They only go to the kids clubs on sea days and in the evening after dinner on port days though as they sightsee with us during the day. It's more of a social thing to hang out with other kids after having spent the day with us. By the way, we vacationed in Paris in March and took the train to Versailles for half a day - my daughters loved it!! Did you end up going with your kids?

 

Lisa

[cb at sea]

Well...ashore, the kids are always with us...but on the ship (sea days)....I'm reading and sunning, dad is gambling and/or sunning...the kids wanted to do some "kid" stuff! Fine with me! I don't know what shipboard "experiences" my kids have missed by going to the club!!

[Cruisin' Chick]

My daughter has always wanted to go to the kids' program ever since she was old enough (she was 23 months on her first cruise). She called it "ship's school" and would ask every morning if ship's school was open. Besides arts and crafts, video games, movies, there was also some energetic activities ("olympics") plus on Princess cruises, activities designed by the California Science Center (squid dissection must be one of the most popular things for the kids to do, from what I've heard). It was different on the last cruise. She was now in the teen group and at age 13, she shared the same cynicism for activities planned by adults. She did go on the first night and met some girls her age to hang out with. Sometimes she would play video games at the teen center, but often the teens would go to the pool and watch the movies there. She also ended up seeing much of the shows.

 

She did go out in port with us, and would have breakfast with us. But she's more of a small meal type of gal and would get something to eat when hungry, so she didn't go to the MDR with us, but that was fine. After working hard at school, she has earned her idea of a vacation.

 

My main issue with some parents here on the board is when they post that their kids are not going to use the kids' program. Not that they are offering the option. It's a family vacation so they are going to stay together as a family. In the OP's case, the kids are given that option. I just have to wonder about when the parents have already decided that their kids won't have the choice. Why not take your kids to the first night so they can met the other kids in their age group, and look over the packet of planned activities. They may hit it off with at least one other child. They may be intrigued by some of the items on the agenda. They may secretly love to have time away from their other siblings and parents.

[Friend100]

We have done 4 cruises and I think my DD had spent a total of half a day in kids club, and my DS none. They prefer other activities onboard. No big deal at all.

[Warm Breezes]

Our first two cruises on Disney, we traveled with friends who have kids the same ages as ours (they have 2 boys, we have a DD and DS) Our two older boys liked the clubs together. Their younger DS liked the clubs too. DD hated it. We got a page after she was there an hour because she was crying and thought we had left her there "forever". All our other cruises we did not travel with other kids. Our kids were never in the same age group until our last cruise on the EPIC where they were both in the teen club. They had absolutely no interest in going to the kids club.

 

DD tried it a couple more times...but never more than once on a ship. DS just didn't go. They did go to the ice breaker on the EPIC together, but again they only went the one time. They just preferred to to hang out with us or with each other. We had no problem with that. We have a very busy home life between soccer, dance, school, and DH and I both working. When we vacation it is our time to reconnect as a family...to me it is a blessing spending that time doing things together. That is one of the main reasons why we love cruising!!

[scarlett81]

I agree that its not necessarily a good gauge of whether or not a ship is family friendly. We also do not put the kids in any programs, whether land or cruise. DH has such a crazy schedule, vaca time is when we are together. We really don't want to be away from the kids. If we need us time, we go to dinner or spend a weekend in the city together.

[RCKM43]

Well your children are older so they have more options. On Celebrity for example other than the pools, and some of the musical shows there are few family activities for children ages 3 and 5 aside from some games and arts and crafts at their kids program. We don't use the kids program for my DH and I to do things. We look at the dailies and picked the few games activities that sounded like fun. I guess I look at the fun factory like I do any other activity on the ship like wine tasting or a talk it is just something for my child to do. We never use the kids programs rather than getting off the ship as a family - to us it is more like musical chairs or superhero time sounds like fun, my daughter is very social so it is her time to socialize for 1-2 hours. Last cruise we ate all meals together, did all excursions as a family, swam, explored the ship together. As your kids get older, there are more activities your child can do (sit and read with their family, swim etc) so there is less need for outside activities. Although it is always nice to do family things it is always nice for an hour or two to havesome social time. I do agree though as someone who traveled extensively through Europe, the US, etc those trips there are no kids programs and you don't need them. I think a cruise is a bit different though as you have activities and you can't just leave the ship at sea you are more limited than a land based trip. But I understand what you are saying there are parents who put their kids in and they stay the entire week in the kids program and it is more like a babysitter. So I guess it depends if you look at it as a sitter or just as another activity that is offered and geared to your kids they can opt for. I know some lines offer ship tours for their older kids which might be fun and something they can't do with you. I also think there is nothing wrong with not using it if your child doesn't find the activities fun or they are a bit less social. Everyone has different tastes. We eat alone as a family rather than with others. A cruise is nice because you can be as active or as quiet as your personal tastes dictate.

[Laulipop]

Lmg1230- yes, we did go and loved it!

 

Cb at sea - their dad is usually in the pool with them lol! Me, I'm reading :)

 

Cruisin' Chick - I agree - I have nothing against the kids clubs and have pointed out things I though they might like to go to. Surprising in a way that they haven't taken us up on any of it! You're right in that kids have their own ideas of what makes a vacation good for them as they get older, sometimes it's not the same as ours!

 

Warm Breezes and scarlett81, I think that's why they prefer not to do the clubs - they are busy with activities at home and it's a great time to reconnect and I think they see that too. It certainly helps that they are close and get along well! I wish there were other ways to gauge family friendly than just mentions of kids clubs! We did a family scavenger hunt on Serenade and loved it!!

 

RCKM43 I like your approach of babysitting vs another optional activity

- I agree, and someday they still might find something they want to do. For now, we are thankfully all pretty compatible vacationers, where they are happy to sit and read or play in the water, watch a movie or play mini golf ....we enjoy our time all together. It may change at some point but for now I'm grateful for our family time.

 

Thanks for all of your thoughtful

responses.

[Laulipop]

Oops Friend100 didn't mean to leave you out! Thx for responding :)

[powelweb]

We're getting ready for our DD's 8th cruise this summer and she has only really warmed up to the kids club on her last cruise, which was on X. All the other cruises on RCCL and Disney, she would go and check it out, especially if we had booked a specialty dinner that she could not attend, but she was in no hurry to return.

 

On this last sailing, she seemed to click, and would ask to go,now whether that was because we had an 8 yr old girl at our dinner table that she would meet up with, quite possibly, but she is also planning to check out the kids club during our Alaskan cruise this summer.

[Mom2B&Z]

ITA with RCMK that kids club is just another possible activity to choose from on the ship. DS1 loves going to the kids club for a few hours in the afternoon on sea days, and maybe some time in the evening if he doesn't want to go to the show. We always eat meals together and do shore excursions with the kids, this is not a choice but a requirement of a family vacation ;). Otherwise it's up to you how you spend your time. I always tell the kids I hope they choose to spend some of thi time with Mom and Dad, but I can't force them! DS2 usually chooses to go to kids club with his brother for group play, but prefers to be with us most other times, which I don't mind at all. I know soon enough he will be at the kids club and we will be (sadly) alone.

[angelndscz]

I am one of the previous posters who said my kids won't use the kids program. I did say if they wanted to they could (which some overlooked) but I know my kids and I know they won't want to use them. My kids get plenty of social opportunities, camps, clubs, and activities at home. We are traveling with friends and their kids and our kids usually stick together. I have been overseas for two years without my family (military) so this vacation will be for us to spend time together. We usually only have a drink with dinner, we don't gamble, we just want to go on a cruise for family time. :)

 

I am sure kids who like kids club can rave about them. Not all kids are interested. The kids in our party are boys ages 10, 18, 18, 19 and girls 9 and 14. The 9 and 14 year old girls are close and wouldn't be in the same kids club which alone would keep them from wanting to go. The 10 year old boy loves being around his older brothers too much.

[circuitrider]

Our son loves the kids club. We do shore excursions together of course, but I'll admit it is nice to have one less kid for part of the day (we have a younger daughter who hasn't been old enough to go yet). We get to spend a lot of time together throughout the year, so it's not like we're missing on a crucial bonding opportunity.

[Laulipop]

actually angel you bring up a good point - they are always in separate groups...if they were in the same group it might be more attractive to them, but they like to hang out together.

[graceinmelbourne]

Our girls were the same age as yours when we went on our Mediterranean cruise and they didn't go to the kids club once. It is just not really their thing but they still hung out with some of the kids at the water slide and the pool. It was a port intensive cruise and we didn't even think about them not coming with us at each port. They were old enough to enjoy every place we visited. I can understand with toddlers that parents might want to go and enjoy a particular port knowing their toddlers are being well looked after rather than them getting tired and cranky.

[room010]

The first and last time my kids got nits was the first and last time they went to kids club. Just saying :mad:

[Karysa]

Good thing you posted this topic here and not on the main boards. Over there many posters think that all kids should be in the kids club whenever they are not in port, not eating or not sleeping.

[Mom2B&Z]

Good thing you posted this topic here and not on the main boards. Over there many posters think that all kids should be in the kids club whenever they are not in port, not eating or not sleeping.

Good point. I really do feel strongly about the kids club being OPTIONAL for kids...just as going to bingo or casino are optional for me (Ha! Never!).

Our cruise is a vacation for everyone in our family, which means everyone gets to help decide what to do. Sometimes we do things as a family, sometimes we don't. But we all get to have fun and relax, that's most important!

[sprockie]

My kids have been on 2 cruises with us and although I have taken them to the first night on each cruise, neither of them are interested in returning. I would go over the schedule each day and encourage them to take part, but they'd rather play with us (which is just fine by me, because that's why we brought them in the first place). I know there are kids who think it's fantastic, and would go from dawn to dusk, but not mine.

[ebandive]

Part of what appeals to me about cruising with preschool children is the kids clubs! I think sea days are a perfect time to let the kid(s) have fun with other kids and let mommy and daddy get some precious quiet time alone together.

 

We are just starting to think about our first family vacations, and when I consider other options (land based vacations, Disney, etc) honestly I feel like I'd be exhausted by the end of it. Not that we won't do those things, but I really, really like the idea of being able to take a family vacation and still get at least a few hours on sea days for alone time with my hubby. There will still be LOTS of time for family time together.

 

Edited to add: I think really this depends on the age of the kids. Older children and preteens are entirely different than my will-be 2 y/o for example. While I don't plan on using the kid's club as a "babysitter" for the whole week, I do plan to take advantage of it at least a few hours on sea days to reconnect with my husband as well. I'm a stay at home mom 90% of the time - so while I get to play with my son every day, sitting and sharing a quiet cup of whatever on a lounger with my hubby is a rare luxury. And quite honestly - a 2 year old will not have much to do on board with the adults, whereas a 10 year can enjoy more "grown up" things and adventures. I just don't want to be judged for WANTING to use the kid's club!! LOL. We've also cruised with DH's then 14 year old brother who we adopted - who used the club maybe once or twice, but mostly just hung out with us. TOTALLY different comparing a 14 year old using the teen club to a 2 year old using the kid's club. :)

[Laulipop]

ebandive - couldn't agree more - no one is judging you (not me anyway!) and I agree, ages make a HUGE difference! We didn't cruise until my sons were 8 and 10, that's a completely different case than a 2 yr old.

 

Have fun whatever you decide to do as a family vacation :)

[Warm Breezes]

Part of what appeals to me about cruising with preschool children is the kids clubs! I think sea days are a perfect time to let the kid(s) have fun with other kids and let mommy and daddy get some precious quiet time alone together.

 

We are just starting to think about our first family vacations, and when I consider other options (land based vacations, Disney, etc) honestly I feel like I'd be exhausted by the end of it. Not that we won't do those things, but I really, really like the idea of being able to take a family vacation and still get at least a few hours on sea days for alone time with my hubby. There will still be LOTS of time for family time together.

 

Edited to add: I think really this depends on the age of the kids. Older children and preteens are entirely different than my will-be 2 y/o for example. While I don't plan on using the kid's club as a "babysitter" for the whole week, I do plan to take advantage of it at least a few hours on sea days to reconnect with my husband as well. I'm a stay at home mom 90% of the time - so while I get to play with my son every day, sitting and sharing a quiet cup of whatever on a lounger with my hubby is a rare luxury. And quite honestly - a 2 year old will not have much to do on board with the adults, whereas a 10 year can enjoy more "grown up" things and adventures. I just don't want to be judged for WANTING to use the kid's club!! LOL. We've also cruised with DH's then 14 year old brother who we adopted - who used the club maybe once or twice, but mostly just hung out with us. TOTALLY different comparing a 14 year old using the teen club to a 2 year old using the kid's club. :)

 

I wouldn't judge anyone for using or not using the kids clubs:D. Our kids are now 15 and 18 and have been on 9 cruises on the last 11 years. We always gave them the option to go or not and while they did try it a few times, they just didn't like it, even at 4 for DD. IMHO it's totally up to the kids. If it makes them happy then let them go. If they would rather spend time with their parents or each other then what's the harm in that. I'd rather have them enjoy their vacation doing what they want rather than make them spend time either in a club, or with us, if that is not where they want to be. Have fun and enjoy your vacation, with or with out clubs. Hopefully your 2 year old will like them so you can get that time with your DH. Our private time ended quickly when I got the call to come back for DD(4) when she wouldn't stop crying because we had left her "forever" (2 hours:rolleyes:). Ce La Vie.

[alise007]

Using the kids club for some evenings and sea days for a few hours was the only way to get the DH to let me bring the kids along on our 10th anniversary cruise! I couldn't stand the thought of leaving them at home for a week +. I don't think I would leave them at the kids club on port days. I want them to see the sights!!!

 

Mine go to full time daycare (4 yr old) or after school (6yr old) and are pretty laid back/flexible when it comes to that sort of environment. Heck they are happy just relaxing and reading books or watching cartoons for little bit. I tend to think of it as childwatch like our YMCA and they do well there.

 

They know on any vacation that we do some adult things (museum exhibits they may not find interesting) and we do things just for them.