Kids - Alaska - days at sea

[Chrislovesdisney]

Unless DCL changes its policy about automatically quarantining kids in the same kids’ club “pod” as someone who may test positive, I’m likely going to keep my girls out of the kids club on our Alaskan cruise this summer. They will be 6 and 9, and are pretty well-behaved and keep themselves pretty entertained. We are also traveling with their grandparents and uncle. Just wondering if anyone can comment particularly on an Alaskan cruise and filling up the daytime at-sea hours with kids who did not utilize the kids’ clubs for one reason or another. Tia!

 

[mullysisters]

I dont have kids but I was wondering why anyone would put their kids into the club where they might end up being quarantined? This will be my first cruise but I hope you get lots of good ideas from others. What about art projects from home related to the animals and geography they are going to experience? Not school, just fun. Some little gifts of stuffies, wristbands or whatever they are interested in? Just my 2c.
I have 6 and 9 yr old nephews. They love scavenger hunts. Not hidden objects but things easily found around the ship?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I dont have kids but I was wondering why anyone would put their kids into the club where they might end up being quarantined? This will be my first cruise but I hope you get lots of good ideas from others. What about art projects from home related to the animals and geography they are going to experience? Not school, just fun. Some little gifts of stuffies, wristbands or whatever they are interested in? Just my 2c.
I have 6 and 9 yr old nephews. They love scavenger hunts. Not hidden objects but things easily found around the ship?

There are hidden Mickey's around on the ships. There are also family activities onboard, that the whole family participates in.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

DD was 9 on our DCL Alaska cruise (first cruise ever) and she didn’t love the kids club so only went when she had to (so only for Palo and a tasting class). We had plenty to do to occupy our time between movies, bingo, game shows, etc. There were also family-friendly activities like drawing classes and crafts, but we didn’t have time for those. Honestly we spent a lot of time just marveling at the scenery, but I don’t know if your kids would find that entertaining. I think there will be plenty to do but you may want to bring things like coloring books just in case.

 

[tvguy]

It's Alaska, most folks and kids spent all day on the top deck on sea days watching the amazing scenery and wildlife as you pass by. My kids did on our HAL Alaska cruise, they were 11 and 15 at the time.

 

[Calantha]

I dont have kids but I was wondering why anyone would put their kids into the club where they might end up being quarantined?

I put my kid in school every day under similar circumstances. But that aside, he wanted to go, it was only a 4-night cruise, and since it was just the two of us, I wanted to be able to spend some time in the adult only area.

For Alaska in June, we'll see what's going on and what he wants to do. DH and I are hoping to do Palo brunch as a belated Valentine activity so he'll at least have to go then.

 

[anricat]

My DD was 8 when we went to Alaska and was lukewarm on the kids' clubs. I'm looking back at my trip report and she did go a couple of times, which surprised me because I recall the cruises just after this she pretty much refused to go at all. We mostly do activities together: looking at the scenery (take binoculars), having snacks, trivia, crafts, movies, funnel vision, etc. She really never liked the clubs much and always preferred to do family activities and we never really had an issue. There's always something going on. She's 13 now and much prefers Edge so it makes having some with just DH and me a little easier, but it wasn't a big deal. There's nearly always something you can do as a family (which we found was NOT the case on Royal Caribbean).

 

[lovingeire]

I'm kind of playing everything for Alaska by ear. I completely see your point about not wanting to risk the family's cruise for the club. My 8-year-old is pretty easy-going, but super high energy. He will go to the club when we have Palo and tasting reservations. He was much younger on our last cruise and loved the club and didn't want to leave most of the time. Meanwhile, our middle child, didn't care for it. (He was the same age that our current youngest is now so we will see.) The oldest will go to Edge this time around so it's really the youngest who could be the weakest link.

 

[IcedCoffee52]

Can I tag onto this question: do kids use the pools on Alaska cruises? We just got back yesterday from a 7-night on the Fantasy, and on sea days, my 4 kids basically split time between the kids club/Edge and the pool (and there were no reported quarantines on our trip as far as the cruise data shows).

I'm looking at an Alaska cruise, and wondering if the pools are warm enough to swim on these trips (recognizing that my kids will swim in much colder water than I typically will, LOL)?

 

[lovingeire]

Can I tag onto this question: do kids use the pools on Alaska cruises? We just got back yesterday from a 7-night on the Fantasy, and on sea days, my 4 kids basically split time between the kids club/Edge and the pool (and there were no reported quarantines on our trip as far as the cruise data shows).

I'm looking at an Alaska cruise, and wondering if the pools are warm enough to swim on these trips (recognizing that my kids will swim in much colder water than I typically will, LOL)?

While we've never been we are packing swimsuits for our Alaska cruise this summer. My kids will likely want to to the slide and I figure there is always the hot tub!

 

[Calantha]

do kids use the pools on Alaska cruises?

I figured on days it was warm enough he probably would. I got him a shortie wet suit to wear.

 

[Cheburashka]

Anna's Chocolate Chase is a scavenger hunt on the Wonder. You'll receive instructions for it from your stateroom host. There are family game shows, nature talks given by experts, a sports deck, and other family activities on sea days.

Whether or not they'll enjoy swimming is weather dependent, and varies a lot between Alaska cruises. On our early June Alaskan cruise, we only tried swimming once and it was not enjoyable unless you really like swimming in the cold.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Can I tag onto this question: do kids use the pools on Alaska cruises? We just got back yesterday from a 7-night on the Fantasy, and on sea days, my 4 kids basically split time between the kids club/Edge and the pool (and there were no reported quarantines on our trip as far as the cruise data shows).

I'm looking at an Alaska cruise, and wondering if the pools are warm enough to swim on these trips (recognizing that my kids will swim in much colder water than I typically will, LOL)?

We used the pool and hot tub on our Alaskan cruise, we did mostly only meet other Canadians in the pool though.

And considering my older son did swimming lessons in an outdoor pool the end of last summer when then temperatures were hovering around freezing I’m sure he’ll be game for the pool!

 

[kmmfl2va]

Our kids were 8 and 6 on our Alaskan cruise. Plenty of family activities and scenery to keep them busy, mine used the clubs very little. They swam a couple of times…our cruise was late June.

 

[Dug720]

I would not say it's always too cold to swim. A couple of summers ago they were running out of swimsuits for sale on the ship because it was so warm and many people had not packed anything for swimming.

 

[tvguy]

I would not say it's always too cold to swim. A couple of summers ago they were running out of swimsuits for sale on the ship because it was so warm and many people had not packed anything for swimming.

And the pools are heated. I have a great photo of my kids and I in the pool with the Hubbard Glacier in the background. It was 70 degrees that day.