Kids club open port days?

[LeslieG]

Is the kids' club open on port days? If so, do people leave their kids and go ashore for say an adult excursion? We have small children and would like to do a snorkeling excursion, but our kids are too small to go. A little nervous about leaving them though, if it's even possible.

 

[aprilgail2]

They are open adn people do leave their kids on board when they go on excursions...I personally wouldn't do it because I don't like to be out of contact area since the beepers don't work that far but I know plenty of other people do it.

 

[Hollua]

Yes, you can leave the kids at the club on port days. The club opens when the early excursions start, even if it is earlier than the normal club hours. When we called to book our excursions, we booked only one. The TA asked, "Is that all?" My DH said we'd do more if the kids' clubs were open. He said, "They are." Just to double check we called Disney and they said that the clubs are open.

At first I had thought that I wouldn't leave them. I didn't feel comfortable about it. My DH thought that was silly since the kids are left for hours at a time at school and gymnastics. I've become much more comfortable with the idea and I have no issues with leaving them. (Of course it helps that today I was volunteering in my child's kindergarten class. I arrived ten minutes early and no one was there. I went to find a spot for my coat and realized that all the kids' coats and snow boots were gone. I was surprised because it was too cold for outdoor play. I checked and they weren't in the play yard. I took a seat and waited for them to return about 15 minutes later. They had walked over to another school for a presentation on magnets. So much for my knowing where my kids are and what they are doing every day! )

 

[lbgraves]

We left DS in the club when we went into Cozumel with DD. It was the first port day that we didn't hear whining or bickering. The BEST decision that we ever made!!! She was even quiet & didn't constantly say that she wanted to go to the pool. Next cruise we are doing this again with both of them.

 

[roscodog]

The on the ship is closed during Castaway Cay since all activities are held at the island.

 

[TheWog]

We were very uneasy doing it as well, but left our son to go onshore at St. Thomas to hit one store and return. He did great and barely even knew we were gone. We wouldn't want to go too far, but it worked well for us and we were only gone about and hour and half to two hours with tendering.

 

[maelcu]

Being a stay-at-home mom our DD 4 has never been to preschool the only babysitters we have are our teenager well they didn't go with us on our cruise. I didn't think that DD would stay in the club or at least not without me. BOY was I WRONG. She wanted to go the first day on the ship. The next morning at 7:00 am she wanted to go back I told her we were going off the ship she got so mad she didn't want us she wanted the club. We told the CMs we were going into Nassau they said that was fine just give us a time you will be back. I am still in shock that we left her on the ship something I said I would never do.

 

[4ltlTinks]

This was a concern of mine before our cruise as well. I was a bit uncomfortable leaving our two younger DD's on the ship while we were out of contact for a few hours. We did decide to book the excursion and let the CM's know when we would be back on the ship. Our pager went off very shortly after our return...one of the girls fell in the club and tore her lip open. The CM's handled it very well, but I felt a little guilty for not being there. As it turned out, she didn't want to go back to the club for the remainder of the trip because she was afraid we wouldn't be there if she needed us.

Even though this little accident happened...I still plan on doing an adult excursion when we cruise again next year. The chances of something happening is pretty slim...and even if something happens, I've learned that the CM's handle the situation well and they know precisely when you have returned to the ship.