Kids Club open houses - newbie question

[elle21]

I was looking at some recent navigators and noticed there are tons of open houses on the cruises. Does this mean that you aren't allowed to leave your kids in there during this time? That would put a serious dent in our alone time, spa, and Palo brunch goals. (One of the big reasons we want to try cruising. Family time and alone time in one vacation.) We have three kids who would be in the Oceaneers and two in the Edge. Seems like they go back and forth with who has open house through the day. Ugh. What happens if your only Palo brunch option happens to be during an open house time?

 

[Dug720]

I think they would only have the Club or the Lab in open house and the other half would be secured programming. Since the Club and Lab ages are combined, those not with a parent would be shepherded into the secured area.

Regarding Edge, those kids all come and go as they please regardless - no parent drop off or pick up - so I am not sure how that affects Open House there if they even have it for them.

 

[lanejudy]

With Oceaneers Club/Lab, when 1 location (Club) is in "open house" mode, the other (Lab) will be in "secure programming" for all kids 3-11. So, correct, you cannot drop-off at the one having open-house but there is an alternate location. Kids using Edge can attend during open house, since they aren't technially in "secure" programming as each child must have sign-in/sign-out privileges at Edge.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[elle21]

I think they would only have the Club or the Lab in open house and the other half would be secured programming. Since the Club and Lab ages are combined, those not with a parent would be shepherded into the secured area.

Regarding Edge, those kids all come and go as they please regardless - no parent drop off or pick up - so I am not sure how that affects Open House there if they even have it for them.

Oh that's good to know that they only open half of Oceaneers for the open house. Thank you! I don't think I feel comfortable with the idea of my tweens being in the club when random adults are allowed to come in and out.

 

[fredandkell]

I don’t know how old your two oldest are, but remember that kids can still go in the Oceaneer club when they are 11 and 12. So you might be able to put all five of them in the same location. Also just know that Edge has automatic self check out, so just know they are not going to stop them if they try to leave.

 

[elle21]

I don’t know how old your two oldest are, but remember that kids can still go in the Oceaneer club when they are 11 and 12. So you might be able to put all five of them in the same location. Also just know that Edge has automatic self check out, so just know they are not going to stop them if they try to leave.

Thank you! Oldest will be 12 turning 13 during the week. I’m assuming they would consider her 12 for the duration of the cruise?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thank you! Oldest will be 12 turning 13 during the week. I’m assuming they would consider her 12 for the duration of the cruise?

No, they won't. Once she has her 13th birthday, she will no longer be permitted in the Oceaneers Club/Lab. The upper age limits are strictly enforced.

 

[SmileEar2Ear]

The Open Houses were a big drawback on our cruise. It seemed like they were always having “Open House” and my kids didn’t even go there very often. Maybe 4-5 times for an hour or two the whole cruise and at least half those times ended up with an Open House at some point. They were really disappointed because then they were stuck doing activities on only one side so they couldn’t do what they came there to do. There were a few more times they considered going, but saw it was an Open House time and decided not to go. I really don’t understand the purpose of all of the Open Houses. Have one the first day and maybe a small window on the second day in case you missed it on embarkation day, but then that should be it. I thought the whole point was to have a special spot just for kids?!? We were a 3 day cruise, so maybe it shuts down more on the longer ones, but after hearing such great things about the Kids Clubs, I was actually a little disappointed.

 

[Chemist]

I really don’t understand the purpose of all of the Open Houses.

They have open houses so that families can do the club activities together as a family. We usually do 1 or 2 of the programs together as a family.
Also, if you have a child in diapers, or a younger child who is uncomfortable being dropped off, that is the only time they can enjoy the club.

 

[elle21]

No, they won't. Once she has her 13th birthday, she will no longer be permitted in the Oceaneers Club/Lab. The upper age limits are strictly enforced.

Well stink. Guess we better hope for a Palo reservation on our first sea day! Or maybe the timing will work out perfectly so the older ones can be in the edge.

 

[pixarmom]

We're thankful for the open house concept - wonderful for siblings when some aren't oceaneer club/lab age to spend time together in the club. Also, our youngest has autism and his interests lean very young for his age. He is turning 13 soon and we're really glad there will be open house time available so that he can still enjoy at least some of the club activities.

 

[elle21]

We're thankful for the open house concept - wonderful for siblings when some aren't oceaneer club/lab age to spend time together in the club. Also, our youngest has autism and his interests lean very young for his age. He is turning 13 soon and we're really glad there will be open house time available so that he can still enjoy at least some of the club activities.

I can understand the benefit of having open club times. I just wish they did them all at the same time for all the clubs so that there wasn’t an open house somewhere for big chunks of the day. Makes it hard to juggle the schedule if you have kids in different clubs, don’t want them to be there during the open house, and want to schedule adult activities while your kids are in a supervised location. Not that we can’t deal. We can save some money by not being able to schedule things.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I don't think I feel comfortable with the idea of my tweens being in the club when random adults are allowed to come in and out.

You need to be aware that not all Edge activities take place in the Edge club space. They sometimes go up to the sports deck or do scavenger hunts around the ship. That will put them around random adults. During Open House times, there are counselors there in the club, and honestly, there aren't a lot of random adults wanting to hang out in the Edge. You're more likely to see random adults checking out the Open Houses in the Oceaneers Club so they can see the Star Wars area.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just wish they did them all at the same time for all the clubs

Then people have no possibility of dropping off the youngest group in a securing programming setup.

 

[SmileEar2Ear]

Yeah, I understand wanting to have some availability for families to check things out together, but there are so many other family activities to do on board I guess I was just surprised at how often they opened up the one area that is supposed to be a fun, secure spot for kids. It really did get hard to find a time during our 3-day cruise that some portion wasn’t having an Open House.

I also found it interesting that it was the adults who often behaved worse than children. At the Star Wars simulator there was a line and the kids all took a turn for one “round”. A dad went with his son and when the round ended the kid tried to get up to give the others waiting a turn, but dad made him sit back down so he could take a second turn.

 

[elle21]

You need to be aware that not all Edge activities take place in the Edge club space. They sometimes go up to the sports deck or do scavenger hunts around the ship. That will put them around random adults. During Open House times, there are counselors there in the club, and honestly, there aren't a lot of random adults wanting to hang out in the Edge. You're more likely to see random adults checking out the Open Houses in the Oceaneers Club so they can see the Star Wars area.

I'm fine with my kids going around in public areas with a group of tweens from the club. I guess you kind of hit on my concern. There aren't a lot of random adults waiting to hang out in the edge and play video games or foosball or whatever. But if there is a creep who wants to befriend my child, open house seems like an opportune time.

Then people have no possibility of dropping off the youngest group in a securing programming setup.

I meant I wish the Oceaneers and Edge had their open houses at the same time. I saw on some of the navigators that they go back and forth. Edge has open house, then the next hour Oceaneers has open house, then it might go back to Edge open house.

 

[gotomu212]

I'm fine with my kids going around in public areas with a group of tweens from the club. I guess you kind of hit on my concern. There aren't a lot of random adults waiting to hang out in the edge and play video games or foosball or whatever. But if there is a creep who wants to befriend my child, open house seems like an opportune time..

The Edge isn’t a very big space and there are counselors and lots of other kids there during open house, I really can’t imagine an adult going in to “befriend” a 11-13 year old during their open house. What you mainly see during the Edge OH is younger siblings going in to play. It really is no different then when they go around the ship for their activities-they are allowed to wandering off and come and go on their own so there would be a lot of opportunity for them to also talk to random adults then too if that is your concern.

 

[elle21]

The Edge isn’t a very big space and there are counselors and lots of other kids there during open house, I really can’t imagine an adult going in to “befriend” a 11-13 year old during their open house. What you mainly see during the Edge OH is younger siblings going in to play. It really is no different then when they go around the ship for their activities-they are allowed to wandering off and come and go on their own so there would be a lot of opportunity for them to also talk to random adults then too if that is your concern.

That's good to know. Thank you. I never even thought about the possibilities of inappropriate interaction, or even molestation until I read reviews about people who have specific rules set up for their tweens about using only specific elevators (one that only goes to the edge I think), not being in hallways alone, etc. and I talked to a friend who goes on lots of disney cruises and doesn't let her kids walk around alone. So of course, I want to be aware and careful now.

 

[lanejudy]

don’t want them to be there during the open house

At the Club or Lab, they will be moved to the location doing “secure” programming when the other side has open house. They won’t be left at open house unless you have given the kids self-check-out privileges.

Also, “Oceaneers” is 2 separate but connected spaces — the Oceaneers Club and the Oceaneers Lab. 1 will always have secured programming if the other is open house mode, so there is always a drop-off option available.

Personally, I would consider tweens safer at Edge during open house than out around the ship alone (pairs or small groups). But I give DD rules for when she leaves Edge and then trust her.

Enjoy your

 

[gotomu212]

That's good to know. Thank you. I never even thought about the possibilities of inappropriate interaction, or even molestation until I read reviews about people who have specific rules set up for their tweens about using only specific elevators (one that only goes to the edge I think), not being in hallways alone, etc. and I talked to a friend who goes on lots of disney cruises and doesn't let her kids walk around alone. So of course, I want to be aware and careful now.

I know it’s hard as kids age to know where the line should be between independence and safety and it’s also different for every family and based on the needs of your specific kids. But, as a mom of a kid in this age group who has cruised a lot I can add our experience. I feel very safe on the ship, it’s not an absolutely perfect environment, but compared to other places my children go it’s very safe. That said, our rules are just the normal rules we give for our son for growing up and being aware of your surroundings/knowing what things are unsafe. Common sense stuff like let us know where you’ll be, don’t go into anyone’s room, and remember to ask an employee for help if you get lost/uncomfortable. Since you have 2 eligible for the Edge you can add don’t go anywhere without a buddy.

If your kids don’t normally have a lot of independent experience, it can be a good place for them to try spreading their wings just a little. Just wanted to add our experience as a mom also in the middle of the this sometimes difficult to figure out age.