Questions about kids? LIVE on Apex to Fjords7/31-8/9

[sjwebster]

Hi all,

I’m currently on the Apex sailing along the Norwegian fjords with my husband and 2 kids (ages 9 and 12). There are a few live threads about this cruise, but I’m sharing the viewpoint of sailing with children. It’s hard to find specific info! So hopefully this will help out other families. Feel free to ask questions, and I’ll do my best to answer.

[sjwebster]

Here are a few notes:

 

There are about 100 kids on this sailing, 300 on the previous one (Baltic Sea). 
 

There are various size life jackets available on the pool deck, but I didn’t see any on the retreat sundeck.

 

Kids menu available for dinner at Luminae, but not lunch. I don’t know about the main dining rooms.

 

Kids menu not available at Raw on Five, but they brought over mac & cheese from Fine Cut. 

 

Camp at Sea- kids need to try their level on first day, then can shift up; parents can sign permission for on ship scavenger hunts; kids can sign themselves out at age 10; about 1 family activity per day open to everyone,  families can join in, they bring kids up from camp at sea to participate.

 

Bring magnetic wall hooks for extra hanging storage. Also bring stain treatment for laundry. I pre-bought two bags of laundry service. I underestimated how many stains my kids would get on their clothes.

 

We’re in a Sky suite, and my kids (9 & 12) are comfortable on the couch & trundle bed. My 12 year old is about 5’2”. If he were taller than about 5’5” or so, he might be uncomfortable.

 

[soozles]

We’ll be on the next sailing with our kids (3.5 and 4.5), staying in an infinite verandah going to Iceland and Ireland. No clue how many kids their age will be on the trip, but I suspect it won’t be a lot… 

 

are they enjoying the kids club? My kids tend to get overwhelmed if the kids club becomes too loud and chaotic, so I’m hoping with what should be fewer kids their age on board, they might get some more attention and maybe actually stay and enjoy it. And no issues with kids ordering off the main menu? My 4 yo is a little gourmand and is looking forward to getting his lobster. 

[cyntil8ing]

26 minutes ago, soozles said:

And no issues with kids ordering off the main menu? My 4 yo is a little gourmand and is looking forward to getting his lobster. 

Not OP, but I've taken my kids on Celebrity nearly a dozen times since they were 4 and 6. They're now 17 and 19. They have always eaten from the regular MDR menu. 

[sjwebster]

1 hour ago, soozles said:

are they enjoying the kids club? My kids tend to get overwhelmed if the kids club becomes too loud and chaotic, so I’m hoping with what should be fewer kids their age on board, they might get some more attention and maybe actually stay and enjoy it. And no issues with kids ordering off the main menu? My 4 yo is a little gourmand and is looking forward to getting his lobster. 

Compared to Disney cruises, the Camp at Sea is a library! Seriously though, it is pretty calm and the counselors seem to adapt to what the kids are interested in.
 

My kids have had no problem ordering an appetizer off the kids menu and then maybe an entrée off the regular menu. We’re in Luminae though, so I can’t speak for the MDR. I imagine that it wouldn’t be a problem. The wait staff seem to bend over backwards for the kids. You’ll have a wonderful time!

[sjwebster]

Also, they have family swim time in the Solarium pool from 4-11pm every day. It’s pretty busy at first, but it begins to thin out around 6 PM when families head to dinner. My kids love that pool! There’s a shallow edge around, and then the depth is about 4’ in the middle section. The 2 hot tubs in there are great too.

 

Camp at Sea often has swim games in the solarium pool starting around 9 PM. We haven’t been yet, but older kids might enjoy that.

[soozles]

27 minutes ago, sjwebster said:

Also, they have family swim time in the Solarium pool from 4-11pm every day. It’s pretty busy at first, but it begins to thin out around 6 PM when families head to dinner. My kids love that pool! There’s a shallow edge around, and then the depth is about 4’ in the middle section. The 2 hot tubs in there are great too.

 

Camp at Sea often has swim games in the solarium pool starting around 9 PM. We haven’t been yet, but older kids might enjoy that.

My kids are little fish, so I plan to make use of family swim time. 9 pm, they’re likely to be in bed, so I doubt we’ll be doing those events.