For teens on the spectrum, how is the Vibe? and more Qs

[ppony]

Obviously all ppl on the spectrum are different, but I've not seen the Vibe and my oldest was 14 when we last cruised, so he only experienced The Edge, so he can't really tell me anything. The one on the spectrum will be 17 when we cruise next. His experience in the Oceaneers clubs was horrible. In addition to his extremely limited verbal abilities, it was SUPER overloading for him. I was crabby I paid the tips for the 1/2 hour total he spent in there. But he's quite a bit better now than he was then, though verbal communication is difficult even for us and we know what he needs.

They let adults check out/tour the kids clubs before the cruise started before, do they allow that for the teen/tween clubs too?

I'm not sure how I feel about leaving him alone in there though. Can he had an adult accompany him? He's not likely to know how to do things or ask for help unless someone can be there to interpret for him. Maybe he just won't be able to do it, but I know my oldest LOVED his time in his club. I'm just exploring options of figuring out what he can do. He's cruised twice and neither went well. But he's much older now and we'd like to try it again. We are pros are being SUPER flexible. You have to be.

Thoughts?
THANKS!

 

[Weedy]

Unfortunately no one over the age of 18 can be in Vibe. They do have Open House times where you can accompany him to the Vibe.
All the kids clubs have Open House times where you can visit as a family.

 

[SnowWhite2]

What tips did you pay for him to be there for 1/2 hour?

 

[ppony]

What tips did you pay for him to be there for 1/2 hour?

You know the bill you get at the end that has the tips listed that you are supposed to pay? It hadn't been like that the first time we cruised so I was taken a-back that they just went ahead and charged them. Perhaps if I had known, I couldn't have said something in advance or something, but I didn't know, and at that point, I just didn't want any arguments and we just left it paid. We had been in Palo and got called half way through our meal to get him, so that was that. Details are a bit fuzzy. It's been since 2014.

 

[lanejudy]

I was crabby I paid the tips for the 1/2 hour total he spent in there.

I'm not sure what you mean by this... in 10 years, we've never once been charged tips for the kids clubs.?

he's quite a bit better now than he was then, though verbal communication is difficult even for us and we know what he needs. ... He's not likely to know how to do things or ask for help unless someone can be there to interpret for him.

Honestly, I think you have your answer in these 2 sentences. Vibe is largely social. They do have some video games (not DD's thing so I'm not sure what games), but I'm not sure he could always expect to go do that solo when he wants.

Yes, there are Open House times at Vibe just like Edge and the Club/Lab. Parents or older/younger siblings are welcome to attend with the teens at that time -- or without the teen just to check-out the space. Embarkation afternoon was Open House was pre-covid so I assume that is true now as well.

 

[lanejudy]

You know the bill you get at the end that has the tips listed that you are supposed to pay?

Those tips go to the stateroom host and your serving team (head server, server and assistant server). None go to the youth CMs.

 

[ppony]

Those tips go to the stateroom host and your serving team (head server, server and assistant server). None go to the youth CMs.

I know about the other tips. We hand delivered the ones we could to the people. Mine quite literally said Oceaneer club tips. I thought it was a new thing, but I for certain had it on my bill. I just thought its as a new thing and just let it go.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I know about the other tips. We hand delivered the ones we could to the people. Mine quite literally said Oceaneer club tips. I thought it was a new thing, but I for certain had it on my bill. I just thought its as a new thing and just let it go.

There aren't any tips charged for the Oceaneers Club/Lab. You might have gotten charged a small fee, around $12 or $13, if you didn't return the magic band that they use to check kids in and out of the Oceaneers spaces, but it wasn't a tip, and you could have gotten it taken off your bill if you returned the magic band.

My DD is on the spectrum but on the higher functioning end. She enjoyed the Vibe but is verbal and has a desire to be social even though she struggles with the skills needed to connect with others. You can go to the Vibe on embarkation afternoon and talk to the YA staff in the club to see of you think your son would have fun there.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You know the bill you get at the end that has the tips listed that you are supposed to pay?

The kid's clubs are not part of the suggested gratuities. In fact, the kid's club CMs cannot accept tips.

The suggested tips that are added to your onboard account (which can be adjusted, if you wish) are paid to your dining room servers (head, main, and assistant) and your room host.

 

[Lilsia]

So the first day that you get on the ship, the whole family can go and check out the clubs. But after that, unless it is the specific open house times, adults can not go to the clubs. We obviously don't know what your son's limitations are, but there are pods that they can sit in and listen to music, there are a few video games that he can play, there is an outdoor pool area. And of course, he can come and go as he pleases. And I will also add to what everyone else has said, they have never had a "tip" envelope for the kid's clubs so it had to have been for something else.

 

[ppony]

The kid's clubs are not part of the suggested gratuities. In fact, the kid's club CMs cannot accept tips.

The suggested tips that are added to your onboard account (which can be adjusted, if you wish) are paid to your dining room servers (head, main, and assistant) and your room host.

All I can tell you is that it was a line item charge. I know perfectly well about the other tips and made sure they were well tipped. It may have been only for a short period of time, I don’t know, I just know I read it and was annoyed. It was there. I know what I was charged. It was never an envelope for them, it was a line item charge labeled “Oceaneers Club tip”. I wish I still had it because I know what I read and my thoughts at the time were “huh, this is new. He was in there less than an hour.” Anyway… this at least tells me that it was weird and I was right to be surprised by it. I do remember them taking his band so that wasn’t it. I’m at a loss.

That’s not my reason for the thread.

 

[ppony]

My DD is on the spectrum but on the higher functioning end. She enjoyed the Vibe but is verbal and has a desire to be social even though she struggles with the skills needed to connect with others. You can go to the Vibe on embarkation afternoon and talk to the YA staff in the club to see of you think your son would have fun there.

So the first day that you get on the ship, the whole family can go and check out the clubs. But after that, unless it is the specific open house times, adults can not go to the clubs. We obviously don't know what your son's limitations are, but there are pods that they can sit in and listen to music, there are a few video games that he can play, there is an outdoor pool area. And of course, he can come and go as he pleases. And I will also add to what everyone else has said, they have never had a "tip" envelope for the kid's clubs so it had to have been for something else.

that was really helpful! Thank you! He does love to listen to music and play video games. We’ll do as was suggested and take him there in the open house period to show him around and talk to the staff. He then can determine if it’s of interest to him. We’re thinking about making sure the handicap accessible room we get is located in the decks nearby and below.

 

[KT2038]

Obviously all ppl on the spectrum are different, but I've not seen the Vibe and my oldest was 14 when we last cruised, so he only experienced The Edge, so he can't really tell me anything. The one on the spectrum will be 17 when we cruise next. His experience in the Oceaneers clubs was horrible. In addition to his extremely limited verbal abilities, it was SUPER overloading for him. I was crabby I paid the tips for the 1/2 hour total he spent in there. But he's quite a bit better now than he was then, though verbal communication is difficult even for us and we know what he needs.

They let adults check out/tour the kids clubs before the cruise started before, do they allow that for the teen/tween clubs too?

I'm not sure how I feel about leaving him alone in there though. Can he had an adult accompany him? He's not likely to know how to do things or ask for help unless someone can be there to interpret for him. Maybe he just won't be able to do it, but I know my oldest LOVED his time in his club. I'm just exploring options of figuring out what he can do. He's cruised twice and neither went well. But he's much older now and we'd like to try it again. We are pros are being SUPER flexible. You have to be.

Thoughts?
THANKS!

Hi,
As others have said, an adult cannot go with your son to Vibe. However, I suggest visiting with him on the first day, showing him the space and chatting to the CMs about how we can best help him.
We cannot accept tips so the charge would not have been that. If you did not rerun the Mickey band, you would have been charged for that though. Please let me know if you have any other questions and I will try and answer them as best I can. KT x