Leaving Kids on Ship during Port Days CC

[fab402016]

Good morning! We are leaving on the Carnival Magic on October 7 with our 6 year old daughter & 10 year old son. This our second cruise and our first with CC. My husband and I would like to do an adult excursion while at Amber Cove. My understanding is that the kids club is open during port days. Will there be a lot of kids still on the ship for them to engage with on port days? Will the clubs have the same activities planned like they do on sea days?

[rebeccalouiseagain]

There will be a handful of kids onboard on port days. I wouldn't worry about it. They do activities similar to sea days, but it's important that the staff knows you are going on an excursion. They will take the children to lunch and so forth. If your excursion starts before the youth program opens at 9AM- you have to make arrangements with them the beforehand- make sure they know ahead of time. Also- if it's not a ship sponsored excursion- they won't open early.

[fab402016]

Good to know! Thanks for responding! :)

[am2350]

There will be a handful of kids onboard on port days. I wouldn't worry about it. They do activities similar to sea days, but it's important that the staff knows you are going on an excursion. They will take the children to lunch and so forth. If your excursion starts before the youth program opens at 9AM- you have to make arrangements with them the beforehand- make sure they know ahead of time. Also- if it's not a ship sponsored excursion- they won't open early.

 

Do you (or anyone) happen to know the hours for the nursery on Liberty of the Seas? I have a flyer from one of their February sailings but it was a different itinerary than what we are doing in August so didn't know if the hours vary? We plan to take our daughter with us in port in Cozumel and Costa Maya but do not wish to do so in Roatan and need to know the hours open so hopefully can book an excursion (would not be through the cruise line). . . .

[kitkat343]

This may have changed, but previously on RC, you cannot sign up for nursery hours prior to the cruise. Since these slots are limited, I don't know that you will know prior to sailing what times your child can remain in the nursery. If this policy has changed, I'd love to know about it since I'm also thinking of RC and need to use the nursery.

 

In Roatan, Bodden Adventures could arrange for all day private transportation for your family, so if the nursery hours vary, you could just tell them ahead of time to please wait for you (they have one person at the dock who coordinates everyone's pickups).

 

If things don't work out with the nursery, my 3 year old loved visiting the monkeys and other wildlife at Victor Bodden's house, and visiting the iguana farm.

[am2350]

This may have changed, but previously on RC, you cannot sign up for nursery hours prior to the cruise. Since these slots are limited, I don't know that you will know prior to sailing what times your child can remain in the nursery. If this policy has changed, I'd love to know about it since I'm also thinking of RC and need to use the nursery.

 

In Roatan, Bodden Adventures could arrange for all day private transportation for your family, so if the nursery hours vary, you could just tell them ahead of time to please wait for you (they have one person at the dock who coordinates everyone's pickups).

 

If things don't work out with the nursery, my 3 year old loved visiting the monkeys and other wildlife at Victor Bodden's house, and visiting the iguana farm.

 

I know we cannot book prior to the cruise but I guess just hoping to know the hours so I can book an excursion accordingly (and hopefully get her a spot for those hours that port). We plan to go to the open house and registration as soon as it opens once we board. :) I figured the times the nursery is open would be pretty similar if on the same ship/itinerary. Being closer to the sailing date, was hoping someone would know...which would at least tell me if the hours match up with the pick up time for the excursion we are wanting to do. I read somewhere if you are on a cruise sponsored tour and the nursery is not open yet, they will open early for you....but not if booked outside the cruise line (which I understand). And getting conflicting info that they are closed for a few hours around lunch time? So was just trying to get clarification....if possible.

 

Worst case scenario, I'll stay onboard with her and my hubs will go with the rest of our family on the excursion (snorkeling).

[O.G.]

Just off the Liberty. I believe the nursery was open all day on port days. We did use it but were not really happy with it. Our 14 month old is very used to daycare and never a problem. First morning of the cruise we used them and when we picked him up they said he was sick (he was not but he was sleepy and had coughed a few times). They said we would have to go to the ship doctor, pay $150 and get a clearance. I went to guest services and they said it would not cost during the medical center open hours so we went down, they took his temp and called the nursery to say he was fine. First evening we used them they called us and said we needed to pick him up because he was crying. There are several nursery workers but one in particular was not at all warm and friendly. We felt like we were dropping him off for jail as her manor was so cold. It was nicely outfitted however. There is also a room near Johnny Rockets (on the door it says FUEL) they have placed mats and toys down. It was always empty when we went and it was a great place to let the little man run around and go crazy.

[am2350]

Just off the Liberty. I believe the nursery was open all day on port days. We did use it but were not really happy with it. Our 14 month old is very used to daycare and never a problem. First morning of the cruise we used them and when we picked him up they said he was sick (he was not but he was sleepy and had coughed a few times). They said we would have to go to the ship doctor, pay $150 and get a clearance. I went to guest services and they said it would not cost during the medical center open hours so we went down, they took his temp and called the nursery to say he was fine. First evening we used them they called us and said we needed to pick him up because he was crying. There are several nursery workers but one in particular was not at all warm and friendly. We felt like we were dropping him off for jail as her manor was so cold. It was nicely outfitted however. There is also a room near Johnny Rockets (on the door it says FUEL) they have placed mats and toys down. It was always empty when we went and it was a great place to let the little man run around and go crazy.

 

Thanks for the info! Although a little disappointing to hear that negative feedback. :( We are traveling with several family members so hopefully will not have to utilize it too often but the one day in port we would definitely need it as everyone will be going on the excursion. I suppose we will do some 'test' stays on those first few sea days and if we think it will be an issue we will adjust accordingly. My daughter will only be 7 months so there will definitely be some crying while in there if she needs to be changed or fed so I guess we'll see how that goes. Thanks again!

 

And a side note - you should definitely give that feedback if/when you get the survery from the cruise line...especially if you recall the staff member's name.

[sprockie]

I am hoping it is a ship sponsored excursion that will guarantee your return to the ship. We missed our ship in St. Thomas (before we had kids) and I can't imagine what it would have been like if our kids were on the ship as we were standing on the pier.

We were snorkelling at Coki Beach in St. Thomas - lots of traffic coming back and an accident and the ship sailed without us. Just saying, you just never know.

[flhokie]

I am hoping it is a ship sponsored excursion that will guarantee your return to the ship. We missed our ship in St. Thomas (before we had kids) and I can't imagine what it would have been like if our kids were on the ship as we were standing on the pier.

We were snorkelling at Coki Beach in St. Thomas - lots of traffic coming back and an accident and the ship sailed without us. Just saying, you just never know.

 

This was my thought when reading the thread. The ship will not wait for private excursions or individuals. This actually made the news recently with video of a ship leaving Nassau with parents on the dock & kids on ship.

[celle]

I know it's a personal choice, but I wouldn't leave a child in the nursery or kids' club while I was on a shore expedition.

 

Apart from the (admittedly unlikely) possibility that you might not get back to the ship in time, how would you feel if your child had an accident or was taken ill and you couldn't be contacted or get back to the ship in a timely manner?

 

If you're in a group, I think it's a better idea for one person to stay on board - you could take turns doing this.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I know it's a personal choice, but I wouldn't leave a child in the nursery or kids' club while I was on a shore expedition.

 

Apart from the (admittedly unlikely) possibility that you might not get back to the ship in time, how would you feel if your child had an accident or was taken ill and you couldn't be contacted or get back to the ship in a timely manner?

 

If you're in a group, I think it's a better idea for one person to stay on board - you could take turns doing this.

 

If you can't get back to the ship, the children will be looked after. They won't be left unattended on the quayside.

 

As for children being left unattended with parents unable to be contacted, it's really not uncommon. Most children go to school; most parents do things during school hours that don't involve hanging around the school gates "just in case". My parents had a landline phone, but didn't fret about being out of the house and out of earshot; the idea that parents must always be available in three seconds flat is a very new one. (If it's a major worry, I'm sure a mobile phone that works internationally is an option they have considered.)

[sprockie]

If you can't get back to the ship, the children will be looked after. They won't be left unattended on the quayside.

 

As for children being left unattended with parents unable to be contacted, it's really not uncommon. Most children go to school; most parents do things during school hours that don't involve hanging around the school gates "just in case". My parents had a landline phone, but didn't fret about being out of the house and out of earshot; the idea that parents must always be available in three seconds flat is a very new one. (If it's a major worry, I'm sure a mobile phone that works internationally is an option they have considered.)

 

No, they'll be looked after perfectly well I am sure. But they would be hysterical as the ship chugs away and so would I from the pier. I'd never take that chance - especially knowing how easily things can go awry.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

In Europe I got off the ship with my father and stepmother and left my then 6 year old on the ship in the youth program. Use common sense. Obviously I was never too far from the ship- had no issues with getting back there. Would I do a non- ship sponsored tour to some far-flung location? No way. The only way you have any assurance of the ship not leaving without you is to do a ship sponsored tour. As for a child taking ill or something- that staff and medical center are there to handle emergencies.

[dsrdsrdsr]

No, they'll be looked after perfectly well I am sure. But they would be hysterical as the ship chugs away and so would I from the pier. I'd never take that chance - especially knowing how easily things can go awry.

 

Hysterical? Bit strong. How would you or they feel if there was some sort of accident - presumably some way past hysterical?.

 

Besides, the children probably would be put off. But in competent care, waiting for the parents to turn up. The parents would presumably have already informed the ship that they would be late.

[notentirelynormal]

I've been cruising with my young kids and now my grandkids. We have cruised with as young as 6 months. On our last family cruise to the Caribbean we went snorkeling off a catamaran, speed boats, sail boat. We took car seats on them. Snorkeling was as simple as one person stayed on the boat while the other snorkeled then switched out.

 

I wouldn't leave them on the ship but that has nothing to do with the care they would get or the fear of missing the ship. Nor would I make someone in my group stay on board while the rest of us went off and had fun.

 

I want those kids in the pictures. I want to see their faces fill with joy and they bounce up and down in the speed boat. One of the funniest was when my DGD was standing up (okay, being held up) in the front of the boat. Bounce, bounce, bounce. We were moving. She had her hair blowing straight back. I look over at her and she is sound asleep. I told my daughter she could stop holding her up now. I want those moments.

[celle]

If you can't get back to the ship, the children will be looked after. They won't be left unattended on the quayside.

 

As for children being left unattended with parents unable to be contacted, it's really not uncommon. Most children go to school; most parents do things during school hours that don't involve hanging around the school gates "just in case". My parents had a landline phone, but didn't fret about being out of the house and out of earshot; the idea that parents must always be available in three seconds flat is a very new one. (If it's a major worry, I'm sure a mobile phone that works internationally is an option they have considered.)

I know the children will be looked after, but they will be upset and wanting their parents.

 

I'm not suggesting you should hover around the school gates or never let your child out of sight. I was never a helicopter parent and I believe in allowing children to develop their independence.

 

But when you're on a cruise it is a slightly different situation from being in your home town. You may be in a different country. Even if you can be contacted by mobile phone, you may be on a tour where you can't get transport back to the ship until the tour has ended. That's very different from being at work in the same town, where you have a car or know which public transport route to take.

 

My son broke his arm at school while I was at work. The school phoned me. The Principal took him to the Emergency Department, where I was able to meet them. Could I have done that in a foreign country? I'm not sure.

 

As I said, it's an individual choice and I would prefer not to do it.