Previous Dawn Cruisers -looking for Kids Crew Info

[mom-of-three]

Hi! I'll be sailing 8/28. I sailed last year during the same week and had the never ending hurricane Francis cruise. I've decided to risk it again :confused: .

 

My husband and I will be sailing with my 16 year old daughter, 12 year old son and 6 year old son. So, they will be in different kids crews, which is o.k. with me. I am looking for more specific information on any of the age groups. I have unsuccessfully searched the web for photos of the kids crew news.

I expect my daughter will want to skip most of the organized activities, but the two younger ones are very excited.

 

Any more specifics? Any helpful hints?

 

On a different note, can anyone comment on the lock on the balcony door? We have 2 category BB balcony rooms Is it up way high for the six year old? I will watch him like a hawk. However, I never know what will get in his head; hearing there is a lock up high will help me to get some peaceful sleep (before and during the cruise).

 

Thanks!

[Netnurse31]

mom-of-three.........

 

We will be sailing on the Dawn with you! I have a 16 year old son and a 10 year old daughter sailing with us. Why don't you come over to the roll call board and join our group. We will be having a CC party on Monday.

[miss-riss]

In regards to the lock on the balcony door--not to worry, there is a child safety lock on it--- :)

[liker1]

Hey, August 29th is Viv's birthday (wife) too! Please join our roll call. We have a 12 year old boy who loved the kids crew.

[NJBill]

Myself,WIfe, and kids 8,8,10,18 also sailing 8/28.....

[2Cruise4Ever]

Just got off the Dawn on Sunday with 2 kids (2 and 7) who absolutely LOVED the kids crew. The counselors knew their names after the first visit. There were so many activities that my DS (7) could not stop talking about it and we couldn't drag him out of there. It's definitely NOT just glorified babysitting. One time, I was in the casino and I heard children singing "A Pirate's Life For Me." I turned around and there were the 2-4 year olds parading through the ship (just outside the casino) all dressed up as pirates and holding balloon-shaped "swords." So, my DD (2) came back to the cabin with pirate make-up on her face singing that very same song. My DH and I were VERY impressed with the kids crew and allowed our children to spend more time there than we had originally intended. One night they offered a "parents' night out" where they fed the kids at the NY Deli and then took them back to the T Rex Kids Center afterwards. My DH and I chose this time to have a quiet dinner for ourselves in Cagney's. We didn't have a worry in the world. One tip: if you plan to use group babysitting (10:00pm to 1:00 am), you have to sign them up by noon that day. It fills up quickly. During that time, they typically watch movies and enjoy some quiet down time.

 

 

We also signed up for the Kids Crew package (unlimited soda, backpack, soda cup, sunglasses). That was well worth the money. The backpacks are very cute and the t-shirts are not the really cheap kind. The kids loved it all. And, we did too!!! :D I'll be posting my review of the whole cruise shortly.

[mom-of-three]

Thanks Viv, NJBill and Kimberly. I have joined the roll call. Looking forward to meeting you.

Thanks 2cruise4ever and miss-riss for the helpful information.

 

Caroline

[ts01854]

Don't worry abou the kids.

 

They'll have a great time

 

How was cruising in a hurricane?

[mom-of-three]

The cruise was great. We stayed well away, on the other side of cuba. The weather and sea was fine (the hurricane was sucking all the clouds from miles away). We got two free days at sea, but we also missed two ports (not that I questioned that decision).

 

The only scary thing was arriving Florida a day and a half after the hurricane. We had to make it up to Orlando (because we had a flight booked for the next day - - had planned on three days at Disney after the cruise). We had no food or drink for 3 hours - - the rest areas were guarded by police- to stop looting. It was hard to explain to my five year old. No restaurants open, most without power. Vending machines - if there had been power had been cleaned out by Floridians leaving the area. It was very surreal and extremely odd to be worrying about food /drink after a cruise. We were wondering whether we would ever find food / drink. The decision to get to orlando was a good one, because they had far less damage, and restaurants were open. I wonder how it was for people staying in Ft. Lauderdale waiting for flights. I think if I went out of Fl. during hurricane season again, I would have my flights arranged through the cruise, that way at least they would be handling hotels/ rebooking.

Information was very difficult to get, the cruise staff was as helpful as they could be, but after a hurricane there just isn't much information available. For example a state trooper couldn't tell us much about the condition of the highway all the way to Orlando. Also he couldn't tell us what Orlando was like.

Friends of ours decided to drive back to NJ because their flight was out of Ft. Lauderdale, and they weren't sure whether the airport would be open the following day. The hurricane which was supposed to go more inland ended up going up the eastern coast, which they didn't know (how can you w/out cellphone and power). They ended up catching up with the now tropical storm in Georgia, where they later learned it spawned many tornados. Pretty scary driving.

 

Anyway, it is now just a story and ended well for all of us.

 

I have decided because of the land situation, not to go out of Fl, during peak hurricane season. I figure if NY was hit, well, that's where I live, so I have to deal with it anyway. I do feel safe on the cruise.