professorandmom
My favorite girls!
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2002
- Messages
- 2,157
Although I learned that everyones version of reality is different (I thought the room size was great, for example), here are my thoughts after a long awaited 4 day Wonder (myself, DD13 and DDTSs 9)
Don't worry about:
1. crowds - I had heard that the ship was designed to operate at full capacity but I really thought that meant something like a rainy day at Magic Kingdom, a level below crowded but still full. Well, perhaps I was blessed but I was shocked at the emptiness - adult clubs were half full, NO line at Beach Blanket Buffet at 12 noon - things like that....the ONLY line we waited in - to get onto the elevators as everyone returned from Castaway Cay - we took off our flip flops and walked on the carpeted stairs. Even the shows werent bad (see my why pick late seating post).
2. Noise in the cabins again, I was blessed, but the silence was wonderful
3. The crazy people the people who shoved a stroller into a full elevator, running over toes and screaming at people (and their kids) .I refused to let rude people bother me I was polite and reminded myself of the beautiful weather etc!
4. Letting your kids have some freedom we used the post-it on the mirror technique and it was wonderful. All I had to do was threaten to eliminate sign out privileges in the club and I always knew where the kids were.
5. Cleanliness in the cabins (and everywhere) the use of bleach and toothbrushes in the corners says it all even my mother would have been hardpressed to find something to complain about.
6. Dont worry about the side of the ship you pick (or are assigned). We were port and saw the sand/rock piles at Castaway Cay but were able to wave to the workers as we left (one yelled thanks for coming I thought that was the funniest thing they certainly didnt need to thank me)
Do:
1. Pay attention to some of the major tips from the boards. For example: I was worried we would not find a good spot at Castaway Cay since we stayed on the ship until after 9:30 .but I was careful to encourage the kids towards the further end of the beach (near the wooden structure in the water) as I had learned and found many, many chairs. People who walked in search of chairs at 12 werent so lucky.
2. Teach your kids what they should do when presented a charge slip the lines are:
an area for the tip and the total (they should know that they are already giving 15% tip but there is an extra line on all the slips I saw)
room #__________
last name _________
signature ___________
cant tell you how many children struggled to get their smoothie because they didnt understand when to print and how to sign their name quickly (the child in front of me was very confused when his name wouldnt fit in the space).
3. If you decide to tip the counselors in the club or lab, do it before the end of the last night. After second seating, the three counselors my son wanted to thank had already finished their shift. I still left the phone cards in envelopes but my son was disappointed.
4. Common grounds is tough for the 13 year olds and most of the ones I talked to agreed. The club is ruled by the older kids. However, it is a great way for 13 year olds to meet and hang out together somewhere else.
5. Bring a sweater for the shows. Even I, who never needs one, was freezing WITH my sweater. It is COLD in there (although I thought everywhere else was fine).
Don't worry about:
1. crowds - I had heard that the ship was designed to operate at full capacity but I really thought that meant something like a rainy day at Magic Kingdom, a level below crowded but still full. Well, perhaps I was blessed but I was shocked at the emptiness - adult clubs were half full, NO line at Beach Blanket Buffet at 12 noon - things like that....the ONLY line we waited in - to get onto the elevators as everyone returned from Castaway Cay - we took off our flip flops and walked on the carpeted stairs. Even the shows werent bad (see my why pick late seating post).
2. Noise in the cabins again, I was blessed, but the silence was wonderful
3. The crazy people the people who shoved a stroller into a full elevator, running over toes and screaming at people (and their kids) .I refused to let rude people bother me I was polite and reminded myself of the beautiful weather etc!
4. Letting your kids have some freedom we used the post-it on the mirror technique and it was wonderful. All I had to do was threaten to eliminate sign out privileges in the club and I always knew where the kids were.
5. Cleanliness in the cabins (and everywhere) the use of bleach and toothbrushes in the corners says it all even my mother would have been hardpressed to find something to complain about.
6. Dont worry about the side of the ship you pick (or are assigned). We were port and saw the sand/rock piles at Castaway Cay but were able to wave to the workers as we left (one yelled thanks for coming I thought that was the funniest thing they certainly didnt need to thank me)
Do:
1. Pay attention to some of the major tips from the boards. For example: I was worried we would not find a good spot at Castaway Cay since we stayed on the ship until after 9:30 .but I was careful to encourage the kids towards the further end of the beach (near the wooden structure in the water) as I had learned and found many, many chairs. People who walked in search of chairs at 12 werent so lucky.
2. Teach your kids what they should do when presented a charge slip the lines are:
an area for the tip and the total (they should know that they are already giving 15% tip but there is an extra line on all the slips I saw)
room #__________
last name _________
signature ___________
cant tell you how many children struggled to get their smoothie because they didnt understand when to print and how to sign their name quickly (the child in front of me was very confused when his name wouldnt fit in the space).
3. If you decide to tip the counselors in the club or lab, do it before the end of the last night. After second seating, the three counselors my son wanted to thank had already finished their shift. I still left the phone cards in envelopes but my son was disappointed.
4. Common grounds is tough for the 13 year olds and most of the ones I talked to agreed. The club is ruled by the older kids. However, it is a great way for 13 year olds to meet and hang out together somewhere else.
5. Bring a sweater for the shows. Even I, who never needs one, was freezing WITH my sweater. It is COLD in there (although I thought everywhere else was fine).
but it was still fun to meet. Looking on these boards for someone on your cruise that might have kids the same age is still worth trying. Even if they don't bond, it gives them someone they know. Encourage them to at least visit CG, there are sure to be others their age there, and when the older kids take over they can make plans to do other things on board. It was nice for us to already have a friend on board. We are looking forward to staying friends (unless she writes something bad in a post about her horrible table mates
)
