First day/night at Edge?

[erosenst]

We're going on the Dream in early April. Our DD (12) is looking forward to Edge, which is great.

I've heard a lot about the importance of being there the first night to meet people, and totally get it. We have second seating for dinner though - will this impact it? Do the older kids leave at 9:15 to go to the clubs when the younger kids are picked up?

Any input/experience would be helpful - thanks!

 

[crafty91]

Really its the first day in general. Since its basically "open house" the entire day just have her go in and hang out at different times to meet people then definitely look at the Navigator to see when the ice breaker stuff is. By then she will have a good group to hang with for your trip! I would suggest getting her comfortable with introducing herself but mostly everyone is in the same situation as her so it usually doesn't take long to meet a few people.

 

[MariaJ]

If I recall from our trip, since it's a teen club many families will have the second seating as well. They may schedule a gathering after the show. My daughter was young then and she was out very late many evenings, and loved it!

 

[lanejudy]

The ice breaker or cruise planning sessions at Edge and Vibe tend to be scheduled late -- maybe 10pm? -- to make sure everybody has a chance to eat with their families. She may want to drop by earlier as well; the afternoon of embarkation is fully Open House with nothing in particular scheduled, but there likely will be activities starting after the muster drill through the evening.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[kddlm]

That is the age my daughter was for our first cruise as well and she had a BLAST! We rarely ever saw her, except at dinner, which she would excuse herself early from to go hang out with her new friends. Alot of them had earlier seating, where we had the late. She really made some lifelong connections and continues to communicate through social media with many of them! Just hoping her experience in Vibe this March (where she will be a week shy of 16) is just as great and memorable.

 

[erosenst]

Thanks for all the input so far (and more is welcome!)

 

[Lmjenk]

I am interested in this thread too as would like to involve our two dds (10 & 14) in the clubs as I think it will add so much to the cruise for them. Both a bit shy and embarrassed when it comes to meeting new friends though so may need a bit of persuasion. Which Dream Cruise are you on? We are on 8th April

 

[thinkoflaura]

learning a lot here myself -- thanks!

 

[asgardner]

Great information! We're sailing Mar. 12 with our 11 y/o DD. Is anyone doing this cruise?

 

[StlZNF]

Great information! We're sailing Mar. 12 with our 11 y/o DD. Is anyone doing this cruise?

We are and our DD is also 11, so it's going to be her first time heading to Edge.

This thread has already been most helpful!

 

[missyp]

After reading a similar thread I rushed my DS ( 12) out of dinner before dessert on our last cruise this summer. We had second seating and I didn't want him to miss anything at the Edge. It was his third cruise so he knew the ropes and insisted it wasn't necessary, but I pushed him to go based on what I read. We are getting ready to leave on our 5th cruise and we had a discussion on favorite things to eat on the cruise and I said Grand Marnier Soufflé. He said, " oh yeah the dessert I didn't get to have because you rushed me out". He said he wouldn't have missed anything had he stayed for dessert.

 

[erosenst]

Which Dream Cruise are you on? We are on 8th April

Sorry - we're on a different cruise. Hope that your girls find a way to enjoy the clubs!

 

[erosenst]

After reading a similar thread I rushed my DS ( 12) out of dinner before dessert on our last cruise this summer. We had second seating and I didn't want him to miss anything at the Edge. It was his third cruise so he knew the ropes and insisted it wasn't necessary, but I pushed him to go based on what I read. We are getting ready to leave on our 5th cruise and we had a discussion on favorite things to eat on the cruise and I said Grand Marnier Soufflé. He said, " oh yeah the dessert I didn't get to have because you rushed me out". He said he wouldn't have missed anything had he stayed for dessert.

This is exactly what I was curious about - does she have to leave dinner 'early', and will there be somewhat of an apparent time for her to do so? Thanks for sharing your experience! (And totally love your son's response )

 

[mrs.ariel]

FYI, you can take dessert "to-go" any time!!!

 

[missyp]

This is exactly what I was curious about - does she have to leave dinner 'early', and will there be somewhat of an apparent time for her to do so? Thanks for sharing your experience! (And totally love your son's response )

I would have her complete her meal then leave. I have found the speed at which waiters serve you really vary from wait staff to wait staff. I have been in and out extremely quickly and I have had waiters that have us there forever. According to my son, let her finish her meal then go, even if it means leaving the rest of you at the table finishing up.

 

[Drusilla99]

The "icebreaker" is what you really want the kids to attend the first night of the clubs if they're going to go to anything. That will be part of the club program and on the navigator schedule that you get onboard. It's not during dinner, for sure, so both shows are safe too.

 

[CarolinaDD1997]

the icebreaker normally is done after the kids from the second seating are done. Ive been in vibe and my brother in edge - we both ate dinner with no rush and left after we were done. Went to the edge/vibe each of us and like half an hour after, the ice breaker started.
Don't worry though, the exact time for the "icebreakers" parte will be in the navigator

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Are the "icebreakers" at edge and Oceaneers at the same time? I've got an 8 and 12 year old..and they are struggling with leaving each other alone to go to separate clubs.. My 12 year old would probably want to check out both.

 

[erosenst]

Thanks for all of the additional input/advice - it's helpful!

 

[JTBE]

My kids just went to Edge for the first time on the Magic. They tried it on the 3rd day and they were able to still make friends.