Dream Questions

[sanglee23]

What do you want to know? (Until late last year I was a YA CM...)
It usually happens the first (full day) morning. It's just for 3,4,5 year olds to Come in explore the club. Often there's a programme e.g little einsteins, heffalump expedition. Its pretty quiet and calm. It's usually for 30-60 minutes. It is drop off but sometimes follows Open House, so you can go in together get used to the space then drop off for preschool fun. When it ends, they just open up to everyone so you want to pick up before if you don't want them with older kids.
If I kid gets upset or asks to leave they'll send a message to the wave phone, but they usually try and get them to stay around 20 minutes first.

That sounds like a great idea. My five-year-old son usually adjusts better when he can get some personal interaction the first time he enters a place. I know that that's hard to do when the place is open for everyone. But for the preschool gatherings, about how many kids do they usually have per CM? Or do the numbers fluctuate so much that it's too difficult to estimate?

 

[Quellman]

Hey guys. I am doing my first cruise this October on the Dream, with a freshly turned 3 year old in tow.

Being the overly prepared single mom that I am - I am already packing and planning. (79 days and counting )

Just a few questions maybe a more experienced cruiser can answer for me.


1- I know there is icecream on board, but do they only offer cups? I have a wild child that demands cones.

6- I am hoping to get some alone time. My minion is potty trained but I don't honestly know how he is going to feel about going to Kids Clubs, so I might have to pay for the nursery where I am sure they are much more used to children screaming while their parents gleefully skip away.

The free ice cream on board is cones ONLY. If you want a cup bring some of your own or grap a drinking cup from the drink station. There are no toppings either, so we usually bring a new unopened bottle of sprinkles. Often we receive candies and cups and spoons when we participate in the Fish Extender groups.

They have open house time on embarkation day both at the Nursery and the other Kids area the Oceaneer Lab/Club. Be sure to explore the spaces with your little guy. We cruised in May and ours was 3.5 years old. We generally would drop him off at the club when there was a planned activity about to start and only leave him there for about 90 minutes. Its a busy place for a small kid. At that age, they may still not mind the Small World nursery, I know my same son of mine loved the nursery at about 16 months old.

I wouldn't worry about the giant trikes and stuff at Castaway Cay. They aren't the easiest fun with just one adult doing all the work. They do have bicycle rental that includes a seat on the back for kids, so that might be interesting to go to the observation tower and to see the 'wrecked' plane at the end of the runway.

 

[bbel]

That sounds like a great idea. My five-year-old son usually adjusts better when he can get some personal interaction the first time he enters a place. I know that that's hard to do when the place is open for everyone. But for the preschool gatherings, about how many kids do they usually have per CM? Or do the numbers fluctuate so much that it's too difficult to estimate?

So, I only worked on the classic ships, so I don't know about the dream/fantasy.
We would have to have at least 9 counselors to open the club (usually more plus a manager or 2 hanging around). We could get anything from 2 or 3 kids up to 15-20 for pre school fun. Usually they'd go from open house, so you might start with a couple of kids, then the labbies would hunt down any kids in that age in the lab and see if they wanted to go over too.

 

[Heatherdbby]

So, I only worked on the classic ships, so I don't know about the dream/fantasy.
We would have to have at least 9 counselors to open the club (usually more plus a manager or 2 hanging around). We could get anything from 2 or 3 kids up to 15-20 for pre school fun. Usually they'd go from open house, so you might start with a couple of kids, then the labbies would hunt down any kids in that age in the lab and see if they wanted to go over too.

Thank you!!

 

[Heatherdbby]

The free ice cream on board is cones ONLY. If you want a cup bring some of your own or grap a drinking cup from the drink station. There are no toppings either, so we usually bring a new unopened bottle of sprinkles. Often we receive candies and cups and spoons when we participate in the Fish Extender groups.

They have open house time on embarkation day both at the Nursery and the other Kids area the Oceaneer Lab/Club. Be sure to explore the spaces with your little guy. We cruised in May and ours was 3.5 years old. We generally would drop him off at the club when there was a planned activity about to start and only leave him there for about 90 minutes. Its a busy place for a small kid. At that age, they may still not mind the Small World nursery, I know my same son of mine loved the nursery at about 16 months old.

I wouldn't worry about the giant trikes and stuff at Castaway Cay. They aren't the easiest fun with just one adult doing all the work. They do have bicycle rental that includes a seat on the back for kids, so that might be interesting to go to the observation tower and to see the 'wrecked' plane at the end of the runway.

Wait. There is a wrecked plane?? I didn't know this

 

[sanglee23]

So, I only worked on the classic ships, so I don't know about the dream/fantasy.
We would have to have at least 9 counselors to open the club (usually more plus a manager or 2 hanging around). We could get anything from 2 or 3 kids up to 15-20 for pre school fun. Usually they'd go from open house, so you might start with a couple of kids, then the labbies would hunt down any kids in that age in the lab and see if they wanted to go over too.

Wow, so even when you had a lot of kids, there was a 2:1 kid-to-CM ratio. That's really good. Thanks for the info.

 

[TrishaK]

Starting to lose faith in the post office lol.
So when she was 3 and only stayed about 30 minutes.. Do they just call the wave phone or message the app and say hey your kid is freaking out come back?

They sent a message on the wave phone that she wanted to be picked up. I don't think she was in distress or anything like that, she just wanted to leave and be with us.

 

[bbel]

Wow, so even when you had a lot of kids, there was a 2:1 kid-to-CM ratio. That's really good. Thanks for the info.

Like I said though the classics, it could be completely different on the dream and fantasy.
Meanwhile in the lab though....lol

 

[Quellman]

Wait. There is a wrecked plane?? I didn't know this

They are just prop Beech 18 planes, a video link is here.

 

[Heatherdbby]

That still sounds mega cool

 

[Heatherdbby]

So, I only worked on the classic ships, so I don't know about the dream/fantasy.
We would have to have at least 9 counselors to open the club (usually more plus a manager or 2 hanging around). We could get anything from 2 or 3 kids up to 15-20 for pre school fun. Usually they'd go from open house, so you might start with a couple of kids, then the labbies would hunt down any kids in that age in the lab and see if they wanted to go over too.

Question - Do they feed him in the club? like if he is in the club on castaway, and I go to the adult only area, will they feed him? Or do I need to go get him out and take him to eat? Or what about if I go to Palo for lunch or dinner one night? will they take him to get something?

 

[TrishaK]

If the kids are in the clubs during meal times, they're offered food to eat. They also take them to lunch if they're on Castaway Cay.

 

[Heatherdbby]

If the kids are in the clubs during meal times, they're offered food to eat. They also take them to lunch if they're on Castaway Cay.

Thank you!

 

[Piper23]

Regarding your stops at Nassau and Castaway Cay- I think you are fine to not have excursions. There's enough to do at Castaway Cay without paying anything extra. And Nassau, you could just explore the port shops- and no problem bringing vanilla back. Even better is the rum cake!

 

[bbel]

Question - Do they feed him in the club? like if he is in the club on castaway, and I go to the adult only area, will they feed him? Or do I need to go get him out and take him to eat? Or what about if I go to Palo for lunch or dinner one night? will they take him to get something?

Kids meal times are on the navigator. So if they want to eat they can, but no one can make them eat. If they're there at that time they'll have the offer of food. If you want to know that they are eating and what they're eating you may want to do that outside the club.
You can't bring any food into the clubs. Lunch is usually sandwiches and fruit salad and cheese sticks. Dinner is usually one hot option that changes daily e.g mac and cheese, lasagne, meatballs and pasta...
If you want them to eat in the clubs let the CM know when you check in and they can make a note and strongly encourage it.

 

[Heatherdbby]

Kids meal times are on the navigator. So if they want to eat they can, but no one can make them eat. If they're there at that time they'll have the offer of food. If you want to know that they are eating and what they're eating you may want to do that outside the club.
You can't bring any food into the clubs. Lunch is usually sandwiches and fruit salad and cheese sticks. Dinner is usually one hot option that changes daily e.g mac and cheese, lasagne, meatballs and pasta...
If you want them to eat in the clubs let the CM know when you check in and they can make a note and strongly encourage it.

oh lord. Small child lives on cheese sticks lol