Northeast Holiday Cruises

[xtremegk]

Starting our planning for our next set of bookings and an idea we're considering is a NYE-week cruise out of Cape Liberty. Concerns we have that I'm hoping those with experience can address:

 

1) Adventure Ocean...does it typically end up requiring reservations during the holiday week cruises? Our son loves to go for the evening session after dinner, so this is a consideration we need to have in mind.

 

2) December cruises out of Cape Liberty...realistically, when have your kids started to partake in the pool/Splashaway Bay? Is it basically embarkation day + 1st full sea day down that you've "lost" + last full sea day coming back?

 

Appreciate the insights from those who have done these!

[Tatka]

  With Odyssey replacing Anthem I'd say kids will be able to use pools on the third day if it is not too cold in Florida.

[pyrateslife4me84]

This year, we did 12/24-12/31. You could be in the outdoor pools by the afternoon of day 2 (it was about 70 by then) through the end of day 6. Last sea day was post-cold front and chilly. 

[xtremegk]

How about kids club? Anyone have experience there with needing reservations or reaching capacity?

[smokeybandit]

Other than the brief time when AO was capped due to covid rules, I've never seen anyone turned away from kid's club.

 

[Tatka]

I believe all Covid rules were removed in 2022.

[xtremegk]

43 minutes ago, Tatka said:

I believe all Covid rules were removed in 2022.

It's not so much a COVID rule I was concerned about, but more if they just don't have the staffing those weeks that they do during the more popular family travel times (ie summer) and have to cap AO at times due to capacity for staffing reasons.

[Tatka]

I did not hear about it. We sailed during Thanksgiving on Anthem with almost 1400 kids on board (it will be less for New Year) and did not hear any complaints.

[smokeybandit]

6 minutes ago, xtremegk said:

It's not so much a COVID rule I was concerned about, but more if they just don't have the staffing those weeks that they do during the more popular family travel times (ie summer) and have to cap AO at times due to capacity for staffing reasons.

Staffing levels don't change from cruise to cruise. And the majority of kids on board do not attend AO. Your child will be able to attend any and all sessions.