Club HAL/Kids Club.... How is it?

[Cheadle_Chick]

So I'm having a massive amount of mom-guilt leading up to our cruise. I really, really want to enjoy some adult time without my kids... but I feel guilty essentially bringing them on a cruise and then sending them to daycare on board. Should I feel guilty? Will they truly enjoy themselves? Tell me more about the kids club. Sell me on it and help me stop feeling so darn guilty so I can enjoy myself! 

 

Cruising to Alaska on the Koningsdam (Next week!!) and kids are 3 and almost 6. 

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Cheadle_Chick said:

So I'm having a massive amount of mom-guilt leading up to our cruise. I really, really want to enjoy some adult time without my kids... but I feel guilty essentially bringing them on a cruise and then sending them to daycare on board. Should I feel guilty? Will they truly enjoy themselves? Tell me more about the kids club. Sell me on it and help me stop feeling so darn guilty so I can enjoy myself! 

 

Cruising to Alaska on the Koningsdam (Next week!!) and kids are 3 and almost 6. 

 

My friends brought their children on our Panama cruise (real gems).

 

They loved Club HAL.  She literally had to drag them out.

they joined us at specialty dining when Club HAL closed and the waiters even offered them dessert (no charge).

I saw them doing some pizza  and other stuff.  They all seemed to be having a blast.  Keep your mind open.  If they don’t like it, they can hang out with you.
 

If their experience is like my friends’ children’s experience, they won’t want to leave until they close although they both did visit a couple of ports with us.  

 

In case there are a number of children on your cruise (not sure when you are going) be sure to sign up early.  Space is limited.

 

If you are not on peak vacation time, you should be fine.

[Motor City]

My kid has been on several cruises, we have been on many more cruises than we’d normally do, since she enjoys the kid’s club so much!

She’s not at all interested in a multi-course dinner, so we feed her, drop her at kids club and go for dinner. After we usually do a show, after dinner drinks or casino, We will sometimes walk around the ship just killing time, because if we pick her up too early, she gets mad.

She LOVES the kids club and activities they do.

 

 

[Cheadle_Chick]

8 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

My friends brought their children on our Panama cruise (real gems).

 

They loved Club HAL.  She literally had to drag them out.

they joined us at specialty dining when Club HAL closed and the waiters even offered them dessert (no charge).

I saw them doing some pizza  and other stuff.  They all seemed to be having a blast.  Keep your mind open.  If they don’t like it, they can hang out with you.
 

If their experience is like my friends’ children’s experience, they won’t want to leave until they close although they both did visit a couple of ports with us.  

 

In case there are a number of children on your cruise (not sure when you are going) be sure to sign up early.  Space is limited.

 

If you are not on peak vacation time, you should be fine.

 

Thank you! I really appreciate this! That's exactly what I was wanting to hear. I honestly want them to have a good time and want us to have a good time too. So I'm all for it... but I just have that horrible mom-guilt at essentially ditching them haha. 

 

We go to Alaska on September 2nd!! 

[Cheadle_Chick]

4 minutes ago, Motor City said:

My kid has been on several cruises, we have been on many more cruises than we’d normally do, since she enjoys the kid’s club so much!

She’s not at all interested in a multi-course dinner, so we feed her, drop her at kids club and go for dinner. After we usually do a show, after dinner drinks or casino, We will sometimes walk around the ship just killing time, because if we pick her up too early, she gets mad.

She LOVES the kids club and activities they do.

 

 

 

This is fantastic! Exactly what I needed to hear. And I like the idea of doing an early dinner with them, dropping them off and then having a nice adult dinner while they're busy. 

 

Any other great tips like that for successful cruising with kids? 

[Motor City]

17 minutes ago, Cheadle_Chick said:

 

This is fantastic! Exactly what I needed to hear. And I like the idea of doing an early dinner with them, dropping them off and then having a nice adult dinner while they're busy. 

 

Any other great tips like that for successful cruising with kids? 

 

 

She would much rather do some fresh fruit, bacon, plain-ish chicken, fries and pick out a couple of her own desserts…we take her around 5pm, let her eat, have a snack ourselves, buffet usually isn’t too busy yet.

We drop her at kids club at 545ish, and we are off to dinner. Works out great for her, we miss her at dinner and would much rather hang with her,,, but it really is what she loves.

She always makes a friend or two at the club and really looks forward to see them throughout the week. 

 

Room service chocolate cake and milk waiting when we get back to the room, always a hit.

 

To bad, we are the following week Sept 10 Westerdam to Alaska, she’s 6

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Motor City

[kazu]

47 minutes ago, Motor City said:

My kid has been on several cruises, we have been on many more cruises than we’d normally do, since she enjoys the kid’s club so much!

She’s not at all interested in a multi-course dinner, so we feed her, drop her at kids club and go for dinner. After we usually do a show, after dinner drinks or casino, We will sometimes walk around the ship just killing time, because if we pick her up too early, she gets mad.

She LOVES the kids club and activities they do.

 

 

 

that’s what my friends did - took them to dinner in the Lido or wherever pleased and then off to Club HAL and they ate in the MDR knowing all was good.

It worked well for them.

[Cheadle_Chick]

16 hours ago, Motor City said:

 

 

She would much rather do some fresh fruit, bacon, plain-ish chicken, fries and pick out a couple of her own desserts…we take her around 5pm, let her eat, have a snack ourselves, buffet usually isn’t too busy yet.

We drop her at kids club at 545ish, and we are off to dinner. Works out great for her, we miss her at dinner and would much rather hang with her,,, but it really is what she loves.

She always makes a friend or two at the club and really looks forward to see them throughout the week. 

 

Room service chocolate cake and milk waiting when we get back to the room, always a hit.

 

To bad, we are the following week Sept 10 Westerdam to Alaska, she’s 6

 

 

 

Nice! That sounds fantastic! Thanks for the tips! I have visions of my kids absolutely terrorizing the entire ship and everyone hating us so I want to try and mitigate that as much as possible and make sure the kids have an amazing time. 
 

Darn! Wouldn’t that have been fun to “know” someone. 

[horseymike]

Hope you have a great cruise 🚢 

[vicd1969]

18 hours ago, Cheadle_Chick said:

So I'm having a massive amount of mom-guilt leading up to our cruise. I really, really want to enjoy some adult time without my kids... but I feel guilty essentially bringing them on a cruise and then sending them to daycare on board. Should I feel guilty? Will they truly enjoy themselves? Tell me more about the kids club. Sell me on it and help me stop feeling so darn guilty so I can enjoy myself! 

 

Cruising to Alaska on the Koningsdam (Next week!!) and kids are 3 and almost 6. 

My cousin also has kids that are 3 and 6 years old. They really enjoyed their time on the Nieuw Amsterdam Club Hal last week during our Alaska cruise. A couple of times, he or his wife were told by their kids to come back later because the kids wanted to stay longer at Club Hal to continue doing their activities. Often, the two boys were the only ones in their age group segment, so had very personalized attention. The Club Hal staff member got a generous tip from my cousin. Their kids are pretty good about eating in the MDR, Club Hal was mostly used post-dinner, or during the afternoon on the sea/glacier days. The hours are more limited on port days, I hope you don't expect to drop off the kids while you go about on your shore excursions, like a review I read on the Oosterdam!

Edited August 25, 2023 by vicd1969

[Cheadle_Chick]

42 minutes ago, vicd1969 said:

My cousin also has kids that are 3 and 6 years old. They really enjoyed their time on the Nieuw Amsterdam Club Hal last week during our Alaska cruise. A couple of times, he or his wife were told by their kids to come back later because the kids wanted to stay longer at Club Hal to continue doing their activities. Often, the two boys were the only ones in their age group segment, so had very personalized attention. The Club Hal staff member got a generous tip from my cousin. Their kids are pretty good about eating in the MDR, Club Hal was mostly used post-dinner, or during the afternoon on the sea/glacier days. The hours are more limited on port days, I hope you don't expect to drop off the kids while you go about on your shore excursions, like a review I read on the Oosterdam!

That’s fantastic to hear! Thank you for this reassurance! I hope my kids enjoy it too! I’m sure they will. 
 

Wait, what?! Can you even DO that?! I definitely don’t think I’d be comfortable getting off the ship without the kids. Yikes! 

[vicd1969]

3 minutes ago, Cheadle_Chick said:

That’s fantastic to hear! Thank you for this reassurance! I hope my kids enjoy it too! I’m sure they will. 
 

Wait, what?! Can you even DO that?! I definitely don’t think I’d be comfortable getting off the ship without the kids. Yikes! 

This reviewer expected to drop off their 4-year old so they could hike and bike by themselves. I couldn't believe the level of entitlement either! 

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=703604

 

 

[Cheadle_Chick]

21 minutes ago, vicd1969 said:

This reviewer expected to drop off their 4-year old so they could hike and bike by themselves. I couldn't believe the level of entitlement either! 

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=703604

 

 

Wow I didn’t even think it would be allowed to leave your kids while you went off-ship on an excursion! 
I mean deep down… wouldn’t be all love that but I’d truly just not be comfortable. What if something happens and you don’t make it back?! 

[Motor City]

yeah, no problem with kid spending time at kids club while we are on the boat,,,but we would never “leave” her on the boat, not in a million years you’d convince my wife to do that one, lol

[kazu]

13 minutes ago, Motor City said:

yeah, no problem with kid spending time at kids club while we are on the boat,,,but we would never “leave” her on the boat, not in a million years you’d convince my wife to do that one, lol

 

I actually don’t think it is allowed to leave the ship if the children are at Club HAL.

I think 1 parent/guardian has to remain on board.  

 

My friends were on a tour and their daughter wanted to go so the husband took her on the tour and his wife stayed on board with their son as he wanted to be in Club HAL for a bit.

 

That was their choice but I seem to recall her mentioning the rule (for which she was very grateful and in complete agreement with).

[Cheadle_Chick]

2 hours ago, Motor City said:

yeah, no problem with kid spending time at kids club while we are on the boat,,,but we would never “leave” her on the boat, not in a million years you’d convince my wife to do that one, lol

some days I’d be tempted! 😆 but wouldn’t actually do it lol

[Petronillus]

DW & I are at the grandparent stage of life. We have tried to prevail on one or the other of our children to join us on a cruise and even considered, however briefly, bringing an 11yo grandson with us. That prospect is only possible because of the good things I've heard about Club HAL.

On two occasions over the years we have had the pleasure of sharing a lunch table in the Lido with one of the Club HAL "minders" (d/k if that's the right term). In each case I was very much impressed with the caliber of the young woman, both in her personality and in her experience and training.

I can honestly say that DW & I have been spared any encounters with a bratty child. In our experience they have behaved in a polite and unobtrusive manner. I tend to think that, in addition to good parental supervision, it's due in part to the atmosphere prevailing on a HAL ship that moderates their rambunctious tendencies. We avoid booking one-week cruises in the summer or during spring break time. We have never seen what it's like when the number of children reaches a critical mass. But we've never ever heard tell of some "Lord of the Flies" nightmare occurring on board.

[Cheadle_Chick]

9 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

DW & I are at the grandparent stage of life. We have tried to prevail on one or the other of our children to join us on a cruise and even considered, however briefly, bringing an 11yo grandson with us. That prospect is only possible because of the good things I've heard about Club HAL.

On two occasions over the years we have had the pleasure of sharing a lunch table in the Lido with one of the Club HAL "minders" (d/k if that's the right term). In each case I was very much impressed with the caliber of the young woman, both in her personality and in her experience and training.

I can honestly say that DW & I have been spared any encounters with a bratty child. In our experience they have behaved in a polite and unobtrusive manner. I tend to think that, in addition to good parental supervision, it's due in part to the atmosphere prevailing on a HAL ship that moderates their rambunctious tendencies. We avoid booking one-week cruises in the summer or during spring break time. We have never seen what it's like when the number of children reaches a critical mass. But we've never ever heard tell of some "Lord of the Flies" nightmare occurring on board.

 

I’m hoping my kids won’t be the first to gain that title! 😆

[CBJ]

I’m on the Oosterdam right now and they have drastically changed Club HAL. It is now only for 3-6 year olds. Our 7 and 12 year old have no programming available. Instead there is a drop in arcade with limited supervision for “tweens and teens” which is 7-17 years old. They can come and go as they please. Fortunately for us our 12 year old can be trusted to watch her younger brother a bit but we are really unimpressed with this change which was not communicated to us before boarding. Our kids loved the old Club HAL programming and have been struggling to find friends on board which was never a problem when there was actual programming. 

[exm]

Just came back from Rotterdam. My kids are 7,9,12. Unfortunately they are grouping 7-12 (and 3-6) so my eldest didn’t go at all. At other cruise lines they group 12 year olds with older kids.

 

Anyway, during sea days they are doing mandatory activities, and my kid really didn’t like them. They just wanted to do their own things. Very disappointed with the kids club.

 

I will attach a picture of activities.

[Btimmer]

Last year we took our 11 year old granddaughter on a 7 day Alaska cruise and this year we took her 10 year old brother.  Both were on the Noordam and both absolutely loved Club HAL and didn't ever want to miss it during the evening and on sea days.  Both made friends from the club that spilled over into pool times.

 

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Kids love it. 

[Ipeeinthepools]

On 8/24/2023 at 3:58 PM, Cheadle_Chick said:

So I'm having a massive amount of mom-guilt leading up to our cruise. I really, really want to enjoy some adult time without my kids... but I feel guilty essentially bringing them on a cruise and then sending them to daycare on board. Should I feel guilty? Will they truly enjoy themselves? Tell me more about the kids club. Sell me on it and help me stop feeling so darn guilty so I can enjoy myself! 

 

Cruising to Alaska on the Koningsdam (Next week!!) and kids are 3 and almost 6. 

 

Kids Club's never worked for us.  My daughter called it Kid Jail and she always wanted early-release.

[OlsSalt]

On 8/25/2023 at 5:10 PM, Cheadle_Chick said:

 

I’m hoping my kids won’t be the first to gain that title! 😆

 

Kids do try to live up to their parent's expectations. Just saying.

[Cheadle_Chick]

On 8/28/2023 at 10:42 AM, OlsSalt said:

 

Kids do try to live up to their parent's expectations. Just saying.

 

When you've got one kid with ADHD, I'm just doing my best to be prepared!