First night for kids in clubs

[cheermom2four]

This is our first time cruising with the kids and I keep reading quite often to make sure the kids go to the clubs the first night to make sure they meet everyone etc to help with feeling comfortable (I'm talking the older kids like in Vibe and Edge). We have second seating for dinner (as my DH and I preferred it actually when we went alone back in February). I noticed from quite a few recent navigators for the 7-night Western on the Fantasy the icebreakers happen during second seating. So Are we supposed to just let our kids leave the dining room just to go? I would hate to have my son miss his opportunity to meet kids especially on the first night. I'm not so worried about my soon to be 5 year old because she's so stinkin shy anyways and at that age I'm not sure it matters as much as for my Vibe aged son(but just noticed "meet your counselors" in the lab happens right when 2nd seating starts ugh). How has everyone handled it in the past.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is our first time cruising with the kids and I keep reading quite often to make sure the kids go to the clubs the first night to make sure they meet everyone etc to help with feeling comfortable (I'm talking the older kids like in Vibe and Edge). We have second seating for dinner (as my DH and I preferred it actually when we went alone back in February). I noticed from quite a few recent navigators for the 7-night Western on the Fantasy the icebreakers happen during second seating. So Are we supposed to just let our kids leave the dining room just to go? I would hate to have my son miss his opportunity to meet kids especially on the first night. I'm not so worried about my soon to be 5 year old because she's so stinkin shy anyways and at that age I'm not sure it matters as much as for my Vibe aged son(but just noticed "meet your counselors" in the lab happens right when 2nd seating starts ugh). How has everyone handled it in the past.

The icebreakers in Vibe & Edge are generally around 10:00. That's after the second seating dinner time of 8:00.

 

[cheermom2four]

So in Edge if it starts at 9:30 is that enough time for kids to finish dinner and head there? Thanks for your help Princess Shmoo

Is the younger kids "meet your counselors" at 8:30 really something that is needed - basically asking is this a get to know everyone thing?

Edited to add: I am getting my info off previous navigators for the 7night Western on the Fantasy (believe one of the dates is 12/26/2015 since we arent going on a SW one)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So in Edge if it starts at 9:30 is that enough time for kids to finish dinner and head there? Thanks for your help Princess Shmoo

Is the younger kids "meet your counselors" at 8:30 really something that is needed - basically asking is this a get to know everyone thing?

You can ask your servers to serve the kid's food quickly. 90 minutes is usually plenty of time for dinner. Meet the Counselors is nice, but certainly not required. Your kids will have time to meet them once in the clubs. I would think the icebreakers (where they actually meet the other kids) might be more important.

 

[FigmentSpark]

10pm? My guys are usually turned back into pumpkins and snuggled into their patches by then. Oh wait, we'll be at the magic source... maybe they'll last a little longer.

 

[tink1970]

I agree that the first night "icebreaker" is important...I can tell how active DD is on a cruise (with Edge now Vibe)based on how much she participated on that first pm.

Dinner can definitely be expedited to ensure making it on time.

I *wish* my daughter wasn't such a night owl...she starts perking up about 10 pm on cruises and comes in quite late. But I figure it's her vacation too and if she isn't hurting anyone (except herself) burning the candle on both ends then go and have fun!

 

[aidtrismommy]

My advice is to enjoy your dinner as a family. The kids club is always full of kids coming and going, it is not necessary IMO to have kids meet each other on the first night...who knows when they will run into each other again? I think it is important to go during open house time as family if your child has not been before and prior to leaving them there alone so they know what to expect,etc. My boys generally find kids to play with, especially if there is an activity going on. Sometimes they play alone, and I often found my nine year-old playing checkers with a CM. I wouldn't overthink the first night thing.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My advice is to enjoy your dinner as a family. The kids club is always full of kids coming and going, it is not necessary IMO to have kids meet each other on the first night...who knows when they will run into each other again? I think it is important to go during open house time as family if your child has not been before and prior to leaving them there alone so they know what to expect,etc. My boys generally find kids to play with, especially if there is an activity going on. Sometimes they play alone, and I often found my nine year-old playing checkers with a CM. I wouldn't overthink the first night thing.

The first night is very important for the Edge and Vibe. You are correct for kids in the Oceaneers Club/Lab, but for kids in the older clubs, they tend to make friends and form groups on the first night.

OP, my experience has been that the icebreakers start around 10:00. They do try to schedule those so the kids with the second dinner seating aren't left out.

 

[Hundredacre]

I wouldnt worry about the young ones having to be there the first night. It is the teens that should go the first night to avoid feeling left out later.

 

[DnA2010]

My DD didn't got to Edge the first night- it was either the 2nd or 3rd- she still had a blast and made lots of friends easy enough

 

[Fuhnuh]

DD15 has always been able to make the Vibe/Edge meet. We have also traveled with friends with a Lab aged son. They visited the Lab once earlier in the day, just so he was comfortable being there and then he went after dinner. I agree with others in that it doesn't seem as important for the Lab-aged kids to get there for the first meet. We like to push DD15 into the other clubs the first night to maximize her chance of meeting some kids with similar interests and sensibilities. I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip.

 

[party-of-five]

From our experience, I don't think it will ruin their cruise if they didn't make it to the 'ice breakers'. Our first cruise, first night, everyone was exhausted and my kids were feeling a little off from the motion of the ship (we had some rough seas as we left port). They didn't make it to the Edge the first night. They went during the rest of the week and had a great time! They made friends, were included in activities, etc. I don't think either one felt like they missed out on anything because they weren't there for that first night event. And my kiddos are very shy.

 

[cheermom2four]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience in this. Now that I really think about this question I had posted, I was honestly more worried about DS16 in the VIBE than my dd4 since there's so many kids coming and going in her age group. I'll visit with him during the open house so he knows where it is and then he can get there around 10pm when they have the VIBE ice breakers. He's a night owl so I'm sure I'll need to prepare myself for very late nights for him

 

[The Sasquatch]

i still laugh at the Mom yelling at the entrance to Oceaneer's after she saw the operating hours. "Please do not tell me there are children in here at midnight!" She was horrified. LOL

10pm? Its just getting started at 10! Let your kids go and enjoy it, its vacation.