How is the Kids Program on NCL

[idjaffe]

We are long time crusiers (4 in the last 5 years) all on RCCL and Carnival.

 

We hae twins age 5. They LOVED Carnival....liked RCCL.

 

Question - how is the kids program on the Jewel or Pearl? I know there is no climbing wall...but is there mini-golf, big slide, kiddie pool, etc? What's "cool" about the camp?

 

For those of you who have been on 2 or 3 of these lines....what are your thoughts...

 

All advise (besides leave the kids at home:) is welcome.

 

Idjaffe

[KeystoneCruiser]

The biggest difference is that the Kids Club is not open all the time. Kids Club is open from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the evenings and then during the day WHILE AT SEA. (exact daytime hours vary, but they close for about 2 hours at lunchtime and dinnertime.). The Kids Club is not open in the same form while in port.

 

While in port and between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. each night, you can pay for "group babysitting." (I think it is $5 per kid per hour.) Unlike the Kids Club hours where there are organized acitivites by age, this is just the kids grouped together.

 

Children cannot sign themselves in and out of Kids Club on their own.

 

Now for the good parts: My daughter has been on 4 NCL Cruises and has loved the Kids Club each time. She hated it when 10:00 p.m. rolled around and we came to pick her up.

 

I can't speak to the Jewel, but the Star and Dawn have excellent Kids Pool areas in the back of the ship with kids slides, etc. There is no Mini-golf however. (of course on the Pearl, there will be a bowling alley and rock wall.)

 

Hope this helps. Ask any questions that you might have.

[cmdchiefthom]

My 4, and 6 year old grandsons have been on the Spirit and the Sun, and depriving them of spendiing time at the Kid's Crew was a punishment worse than turning off the TV. They absolutely loved every single minute. Your two 5 year olds will have a ball!

[idjaffe]

Is there in-room babysitting on NCL?

[Marlissa]

Haven't used it, but this is from NCL's site http://www.ncl.com/more/fp_mi_w2n.htm#10

 

Are babysitters available?

 

NCL offers group sitting for ages 2-12 for a nominal fee with the Kid's Crew counselors. In addition to our regular sitting hours of 10 pm - 1 am, group sitting is available in port from 9 am - 5 pm. Private babysitting is not available.

[ImpulsivePuppy]

My 2 year old loved it. He asked to go to Kid's Crew and when he saw me and my wife peeking in the windows to check on him, he totally ignored us! The program exceeded our expectations.

[momofmab]

Glad to hear your son enjoyed it, I.P. :D

 

 

To the OP - my kids loved the program on the Sun. We'll be on the Jewel in April and I anticipate they'll enjoy the program on there as well.

[2Cruise4Ever]

No, there is no in-cabin babysitting on NCL. But, there is group babysitting. Both my kids would NOT leave the kids crew. They were 2 and 7 at the time. And, the group babysitting is available while you are in port. It will be about $11 per hour for both your kids.

[ImpulsivePuppy]

Glad to hear your son enjoyed it, I.P. :D

 

between the kid's crew and the midnight chocolate buffet, he thought he was in heaven!:D

[idjaffe]

Now for the choice - Jewel or Pearl?

 

Thoughts?

[clm101798]

My daughter was about 1.5 months shy of 5 when we went on the NCL Majesty - way smaller that what you are thing of. She Loved Loved Loved the kids Crew program. In fact when we asked her if she would rather Disney World or another cruise she picked the cruise and can't wait to go back to the Kids Crew