NCL kids club

[LDinCT]

Hi, haven't sailed on NCL since my son was 8. Thinking of going on the Dawn this summer out of NYC. He is now 12 & 3/4. I read on the NCL site that they don't let 12 year olds out of the kids program without parents picking them up. He's been signing himself out of other programs for the last 2 years, I don't know how well this would work. Either he wouldn't go at all, or he would be constantly paging me to pick him up if he got bored. I assume he wouldn't be allowed in the older group. DCL I think you have to be 8 to sign out and RCI has a 12-14 yr. old program that doesn't require sign in and out. Is the NCL kids program that rigid? Is it a new thing?

[momofmab]

Wow - I wouldn't be comfortable with my 8 y.o. being able to sign herself out, but that's just me. I don't know if their policy is new or not, but my understanding on a recent cruise was that 12 y.o. were not allowed to sign themselves out. Don't know if that is a fleet-wide policy or if it varies by ship.

[electricron]

Hi, haven't sailed on NCL since my son was 8. Thinking of going on the Dawn this summer out of NYC. He is now 12 & 3/4. I read on the NCL site that they don't let 12 year olds out of the kids program without parents picking them up. He's been signing himself out of other programs for the last 2 years, I don't know how well this would work. Either he wouldn't go at all, or he would be constantly paging me to pick him up if he got bored. I assume he wouldn't be allowed in the older group. DCL I think you have to be 8 to sign out and RCI has a 12-14 yr. old program that doesn't require sign in and out. Is the NCL kids program that rigid? Is it a new thing?

 

Yes, the NCL program is rigid!

 

Here's the NCL Kids Crew webn page.

http://www.ncl.com/more/kidscrew_mini.htm

 

Please take the time to read it, then ask more questions afterwards if you need more information.

[hods93]

LdinCt, I have a similar problem. We are on the 6/11 Spirit and my son will be four weeks short of 13 going in 8th grade. I am not sure what to do. Some of the activities in his age kids club sound more geared to the 10 year olds. Think he probably would be better suited for the teen club. I wonder if NCL is firm on the age requirements??

[electricron]

LdinCt, I have a similar problem. We are on the 6/11 Spirit and my son will be four weeks short of 13 going in 8th grade. I am not sure what to do. Some of the activities in his age kids club sound more geared to the 10 year olds. Think he probably would be better suited for the teen club. I wonder if NCL is firm on the age requirements??

 

Yes, NCL is firm on the age requirments.

[KeystoneCruiser]

I second Electricron's comments: There have been many stories on here from passengers on NCL ships, NCL is VERY strict on their age requirements. The age of the child on the sail date is the determining factor. They do this simply for one reason: to take away the decision from the counselors. Counselors on one ship may "bend" the rules for a couple of weeks in age while on another ship, they would not. If you have a positive cut-off date and mandate that it be followed, there is no "Gray" area that could be created.

 

 

As a teacher and IMO, I think NCL's sign-out policy is a good one. Part of the problem with society today is that parents give their children way to much leeway and allow kids to sign themselves in and out of things as well as not knowing what their children are doing. (and then parents ask who is to blame when their child becomes injured or arrested -- look in the mirror!)

[mousey]

Hi, haven't sailed on NCL since my son was 8. Thinking of going on the Dawn this summer out of NYC. He is now 12 & 3/4. I read on the NCL site that they don't let 12 year olds out of the kids program without parents picking them up. He's been signing himself out of other programs for the last 2 years, I don't know how well this would work. Either he wouldn't go at all, or he would be constantly paging me to pick him up if he got bored. I assume he wouldn't be allowed in the older group. DCL I think you have to be 8 to sign out and RCI has a 12-14 yr. old program that doesn't require sign in and out. Is the NCL kids program that rigid? Is it a new thing?

My son is 10 1/2 and for the last two years we have cruised with him at spring break. On both cruises he did not want to participate in the kids programs because they were just too young for him. The teen club is too old for him. We solved the problem by taking him to the arcade on both times. There he met new friends. We gave him a walkie talkie and he checked in with us every hour on the hour to let us know where he was and who he was with. With a firm set of rules in place as to where on the ship he could and couldn't go we gave him some freedom. Both times it worked out beaufifully! No problems whatsoever! He and the guys he made friends with would go to the arcade and play games, go to the library and play board and cards games, go to the pool, etc. Our son had a ball and we got to do some adult things like go to a wine tasting, an art auction, the casino. We would do it all again in a heartbeat. This only works though if you know your child will follow whatever rules you set up for him. Our kid did great and your's probably would to.

[hods93]

I believe that the sign-out requirement is a very good thing, especially for the younger ages. I certainly would not want my 10 yo wandering around on his/her own. No different than if we were home or at a land based resort. My thought was that my son just weeks short of 13 probably will not want to participate in the 10-12 kids club. I do however understand NCL enforcing their rules. That's what rules are for.:)

[momofmab]

As a teacher and IMO, I think NCL's sign-out policy is a good one. Part of the problem with society today is that parents give their children way to much leeway and allow kids to sign themselves in and out of things as well as not knowing what their children are doing. (and then parents ask who is to blame when their child becomes injured or arrested -- look in the mirror!)

 

I totally agree - especially when you hear stories about underage drinking on ships. I always wonder why the underage child was allowed to wander around on their own! I'll take the strict policy. If I want anarchy, I'll sail on Carnival (just kidding of course ;) )

[LDinCT]

Thanks, read the policy on their site. Was just wondering if the sign out policy was definite. Read some posts on NCL that seem to say they could sign out. My only issue was this- Once you have been signing out it's hard to go back to having your parents sign you in and out. I'm thinking he just wouldn't ever go to the kids program, which wouldn't be a good thing.

As far as underage drinking, I think that's mostly a problem in the 15-17 age ranges, and they can come and go wherever.

[palmtre2]

My DD is stuck again!!! This year we cruised with 2 other families on CCL - CCL's kids club breakdown was 8-11, 12-15 - all of her friends (3, that she sees on a regular basis at home too) from the other families had just turned 12, she was 11 1/2. Needless to say when it came to the 12-15 evening dances she was not aloud to attend and her friends either went and left her alone or didn't go when they wanted to, to keep her company. Next year we are all cruising NCL and since the breakdown is 10-12, 13-15 she's left out in the cold again. Do you think it may be possible if all the Mom's talk to the counselors they may make an exception??? I would hate for a rerun of this year and all the tears that come with girls that age!!!!

[electricron]

Do you think it may be possible if all the Mom's talk to the counselors they may make an exception?

 

I'm sorry to say they will not. NCL is very firm.

[LDinCT]

Yeah Palmtre2, one of the reasons we've been cruising with Royal Caribbean lately is their 12-14 age group. We tried HAL which we really liked, but the 8-12 age group, didn't work out to well. Haven't been on NCL since he's been 8, so just wanted to know what to expect before we book. Might still consider the Dawn, but at least we'll have expectations set. I read somewhere I think on the NCL site, that 12 year olds & under weren't allowed to be anywhere on the ship alone. That would definitely be a problem - no arcade, no icecream, etc. My son is used to a certain amount of freedom- he can walk to the library, convenience store and downtown where we live.

I applaud NCL for being so careful with their kids programs. I read somewhere else recently that they now only hire women for their kids programs. Now rightly or wrongly and I'm sure there are many great male counselors, they feel it is the way to go. Some of the most fun kids counselors have been male over the years, but I guess it's a risk they are not willing to take.

[hods93]

LDinCT, do you remember where you read about 12 yo not being alone on NCL ships? I looked on NCL website and could not find anything. I may have missed it. I am fairly sure my almost 13 year old (4 weeks short) will not want to participate in 10-12 kids club, which is OK. While I take responsibility for my children and do not let them run wild, we are bringing his buddy with us and it would be nice if they could walk for an ice cream etc. by themselves.

[tpear3]

I, too, have mixed feelings on this issue. I traveled on Princess in January with my 10 year old where he was able to sign himslef in/out and meet me in the room or pool area. We will be travelling with his 2 cousins in December (9 and 7) and guess I'm glad the three will not be able to roam around freely; however, will remember this policy for the next time DS and I travel alone. This policy also serves as a reminder to pack walkie talkies for this trip in order for him to call for "pick-up service"!! :D

[LDinCT]

Electricon posted a daily planner on this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=324356&highlight=kids+program

 

That seemed to say kids under 13 would not be able to walk around without an adult, but maybe it was just in reference to signing out, but.

I'm not in favor of letting kids go wild, but don't want to feel I need to walk my 12 yr old to the bathroom, or to get icecream, or to go to the gift shop. Also, the bracelets are a little to "big brother" for him at his age. Now, I know why they require them, it's a safety thing, but I know how he feels.

[palmtre2]

LD - it seems like the under 12's just can't sign themselves out, which is something I don't mind at all. If I put her in the kids club - that's where I'd like her to be.

 

We now have a group cruise set up - I can't believe how many people want to do the holiday sailing next year with us. My DD is really going to be upset now because her cousins will be aboard and, you guessed it - they are older too. I can't believe that NCL would be that rigid that they would shut one child out of an entire group out of the activities all of the rest of the children from the same group can enjoy.