Kid in Club - You on Shore?????

[CheapMom]

I totally plan on using Flounders for a few hours during the CC day. I understand being overprotective I was that way with my 1st baby- I was stay at home mom- terrified by the idea of daycare... Now with my 3rd baby- I work part time- he is in a nice daycare 2 days each week- it works out great-
The argument that people use "They are on a ship- they will never get off the ship with your child" is a poor argument- bad things can actually happen ON THE SHIP.

 

[aprilgail2]

No, I would not leave her on the ship while I got off. Not for any reason of being afriad someone would take her or murder her on the ship but more because I am afraid something would happen to ME, if I got in a accident and was taken to a hospital or airlifted someplace and my child was on board all by herself....what happens to her? I am sure they would take fine care of her and I would make it back on the ship just fine ...but then again what if I missed the ship?? I am not comfortable leaving her while I am that far away. My daughter goes to 2 different pre-schools without me, she goes swimming at the YMCA without me and does a bunch of other things but I am just not comfortable leaving her on the ship without me.

 

[crisi]

Depends on the age, maturity, health of the child and how far I'm going.

Our kids were four and five, and we stayed on the ship while they were in the clubs. I was toying with the idea of just heading off in Nassau as far as the shopping for an hour, but just wasn't comfortable with it. But I'm not sure if it was that I really didn't need to shop in Nassau and was using the kids as an excuse to sit by the adult pool instead, or if I really was uncomfortable with the idea. I suspect the first.

Part of it was that we told the kids that if they ever wanted to leave, they just needed to page us and we'd come get them in a few minutes. I didn't want to be in the position of breaking that promise and taking longer than a few minutes to get back to them (as it turned out, that night my son paged us - he had forgotten he could ask and thought we'd forgotten him!).

 

[CheapMom]

My child will be 23 months and I plan on going to the beach for a few hours with my older kids on CC while he is in Flounders- It doesn't scare me anymore than leaving him at daycare.
AprilGail, that same thought has crossed my mind when I drop DS off at daycare- "What if I have an accident and can't get back to him in time." Well that would be an extraordinary situation. How can you really prepare for that? You can't. So I am not too worried about it.
I would feel weird about leaving him on the ship at Nassau- too many variables, crime... but I feel pretty secure about my decision to use Flounders while at CC.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We left our DS 8 in the lab for about two hours to shop in St. Maarten. We told the counselors where we were going. I don't think I would leave them for an entire day. I have to agree however, that there are times when bringing them along does not work like you would want it to.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

We would take our daughter with us for a stroll around town - Most of the time she complained she was too hot/bored - Either that or she wanted us to buy everything for her!

We would then take her back to the ship to the kids club - and hubbie and I would go back ashore for a couple of hours -

Didn't plan on - Before the cruise we weren't going to - But she was comfortable in the kids club and we felt really confident in Disney and their counselors -

It is really a personable decision that I believe each person/couple should make -

 

[Typhoon]

I think the kids are more safe on the ship then off. If something bad were to happen to me while off the ship I would rather the kids not be with me(it might happen to them also). I am going to let the kids decide what they want to do. It's a vacation for them too. If they are having fun on the ship I bet they will want to stay on the ship. My son is 12 and DD is 10.

 

[TMTIP]

On our first Disney cruise we left both dd's in the kids club and they didn't mind at all--preferred it! On our second cruise this May we plan on leaving them both for the morning while we do the 12-Meter Regatta since neither is old enough for it. After the excursion, we plan to go back to the ship, pick them up, have lunch and head back out to do some shopping. For us the cruise is for the adults as well as for the kids.

 

[jrabbit]

Rae,
I KNOW you are a responsible and loving parent. If you and Michael feel up to it - I say Go For It.

For everyone else (sorry - I don't mean that to sound as harsh as it does - but it's worth repeating):
If you are going to leave your child on the ship while you go ashore - MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON BACK ONBOARD THE SHIP BEFORE THE ALL ABOARD TIME. I remember a year or two ago where the Magic had left St. Thomas and a child was in the club and the parents we on the island. The Magic had to return to pick up the parents and then EVERYONE ELSE'S day at CC was cut short. The "dad" acted like he was a big shot because "he" had made the Magic return to pick them up.

 

[CheapMom]

What???
Did the ship leave St. Thomas early? Clearly no person would want to 'cut it close' and return in the nick of time but are you saying you have to be back to the ship BEFORE the all aboard time because it may leave early? Or were these people just dolts?

 

[hopelea]

1st DCL vacation......my dd's 9 & 7 stayed on the ship while we walked around Key West. We took them the other days at port.

This next trip they will be 11 & 9. They do not want to go on excursions. I will let them stay in the clubs while I go ashore. I don't venture far from the ship. I am a very protective parent also, but I felt the security on the ship was wonderful.

The 11 year old will be able to check herself out of the clubs while I am on the ship. While I am on an excursion, her checking out privelages will be removed. Once she is in, she can't come out until I get back on the ship.

I know so people have been slammed here for saying that they would leave their children. The security is so good on the ship, I have a hard time seeing that anything bad could happen. And, if you do have ideas that something bad could happen, Please don't tell........

Thanks

 

[Masonpips]

I was very nervous our first cruise and we left them at the clubs while we went ashore at Key West. We were ashore for less than 2 hours and I was stressed the entire time (not to the point that I rushed back, but more "what if they hate it?"). I think a lot of it was that Key West is the first full day (and it was our first cruise) so I didn't know what to expect.

My kids both loved it and were fine. They went with us on Captain Marvin's in Cayman and none of us left the ship at Cozumel.

2nd Cruise Eastern, since we knew they'd love the clubs, we planned an "on our own" excursion to Orient Beach. We told the kids we'd be back at 3 to pick them up, told the counselors the same (they did put it in the computer) and went off on our own. We did the beach, a bunch of shopping and I got back right before 3. They were fine. We then did a full-day all family private day sail in St. Thomas and they loved that. It was such a nice mix for us; we got a day to wander/do our thing, we all got a family thing.

One nice thing on port days is that the clubs aren't as full since there is always someone taking their kids on an excursion so if your children don't go one day, they seem to get better ratios/attention. I'd definitely mention that you're going ashore at check-in for the club that day so the counselors will know.

 

[cindy_k]

I did. Before we left on our 1st cruise (a 4 day on the Wonder) we had booked the Nassau Island tour for the whole family, my 9 year old DS included. He had so much fun in the clubs the night before that when we pulled into Nassau he didn't want to go.

As always, you know your child best, but my son a seasoned day care and summer camp attendee, wanted to stay in the club, so we let him. He was fine, didn't even miss us.

Actually after taking the tour I was glad he had stayed behind. We had the Smelliest Taxi driver for the Tour. I mean SMELLY! and my son would have been bored. Heck, I was bored.

Our next cruise starts on Saturday. We are going on the Magic this time. He's 11 now and with a 7 day will have more club time, I think he will join us this time. We are seeing Sting Rays, and a Sea Lion show. Which is more interesting to him than a historic Island tour was when he was 9.

Have a Good Trip!!
Cindy in NY

 

[jrabbit]

What??? Did the ship leave St. Thomas early? Clearly no person would want to 'cut it close' and return in the nick of time but are you saying you have to be back to the ship BEFORE the all aboard time because it may leave early?

The ship did not leave early. There are two important times that you need to know when leaving the ship. THere is an all aboard time and about 1/2 hour later is the ships departure time. The most important time for the passengers (the ONLY time) is the all aboard time.

Or were these people just dolts?

I believe that at least the hubby is a dolt!! The description of his attitude when the ship came back to pick them up was that of a total a--hole! I think that they forgot to change their watches as the ship changes time zones. They thought that they had another hour.