Kids club question

[TamaraH]

Okay so what is it like on the 1st night in the Oceaneer Club/Lab? We made reservations at Palo for 7:30 so we can sit with our 7 and 10 yr old daughters and then take them to the club so we can have dinner. What can they expect? Are there generally alot of other kids there the first night or is it sparse? Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Always full, children love it, you cant get them away.

 

[TamaraH]

Great - Thanks. They didn't spend much time in there last time because we had so much going on. This time hubby and I would like them to spend more time in there so don't want them to be bored the first night. LOL

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Lots of kids there the first night. My DD couldn't wait to get to go to the clubs, both the Club/Lab and the Edge. She's 11 but I ended up asking our server to hurry her dinner so she could get going to the clubs each night.

 

[TamaraH]

Oh yay! Definitely feeling more at ease. Thanks!

 

[Weedy]

Or you could stay by the pool after the crowds leave and feed them dinner by the pool.
That would have been my kids idea of a great evening/dinner.

 

[aneshka]

Sorry to hijack the thread but is the kids club always open whether at sea or in one of the ports? I was reading NCL's forums and there are only open at certain times of the day. Checking if it's the same with DCL.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry to hijack the thread but is the kids club always open whether at sea or in one of the ports? I was reading NCL's forums and there are only open at certain times of the day. Checking if it's the same with DCL.

Yes, the kid's clubs are open in port and at sea. Hours vary by day, but generally from 9am-midnight.

 

[Quellman]

The first night IMO is the crucial night for the kids clubs. They do ice breaker games so they get to know one another and stuff. It can be harder to integrate later on in the week when kids have already made other friends.

 

[TamaraH]

You know that is exactly what I heard. That's why we decided to do Palo on night one. Thanks for reinforcing that!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yes, the kid's clubs are open in port and at sea. Hours vary by day, but generally from 9am-midnight.

I want to point out that if you are on a Caribbean or Bahamas itinerary, the secure programing for the kids clubs moves onto Castaway Cay for that day. There are various times when the kids clubs will be in open house mode as well. In the case of the Oceaneers Club/Lab, if one is in open house, the other will have secure programing.

 

[Quellman]

I want to point out that if you are on a Caribbean or Bahamas itinerary, the secure programing for the kids clubs moves onto Castaway Cay for that day. There are various times when the kids clubs will be in open house mode as well. In the case of the Oceaneers Club/Lab, if one is in open house, the other will have secure programing.

To clarify further, on CC day you can book nursery time still on the ship. That remains on the boat.

 

[bumbershoot]

On the 3 first-night Navigators I just checked, around 6:30 or 7 is when normal Club/Lab programming begins. They have Open House until then, which means kids can ONLY be there WITH a parent. But looks like you'll be in the clear for being able to drop them off after their dinner.

Definitely a great idea to have them go that first night. They'll meet the CMs, maybe meet other kids. They'll feel more comfy the rest of the cruise, after checking it out that first night. You can also go with them earlier, to see what it's like, during their Open House hours before you take them to dinner.

 

[aneshka]

I was looking at the navigator and there were open houses during port days. I wanted to have a short excursion (2 hrs) without the kids and my concern is that there will be open houses during the time of our excursion. Without the navigator it's hard to book excursions without knowing the open house hours

 

[squirrel]

I was looking at the navigator and there were open houses during port days. I wanted to have a short excursion (2 hrs) without the kids and my concern is that there will be open houses during the time of our excursion. Without the navigator it's hard to book excursions without knowing the open house hours

If your children are under 12 they will have at least one (club or lab) area in secure programming. They may have open house at the other, or they could both be in secure programming. There will be a place for them to go, it just might not be their preferred (club or lab) one.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

If your children are under 12 they will have at least one (club or lab) area in secure programming. They may have open house at the other, or they could both be in secure programming. There will be a place for them to go, it just might not be their preferred (club or lab) one.

Yes, if your kids are in the 3-12 age group, at least one of the Oceaneers spaces will be secure programming. I just looked at our Navigators from last week. On our St. Maarten day, the Club was in open house mode from 10:00 until 2:00, but the Lab had secure programming that entire time. The Lab went to Open House from 5:00 until 6:30pm but the Club was in secure programming during that time.

 

[Sotong]

Sorry to hijack this thread but similar question but for older DD 12.

We are on late sitting and will watch the show before we eat, how will this work with being at the Edge at the first meeting which seems to be key for establishing friends.

Assume others will be in this situation but does anyone have any experience.
Thanks Gillian.

 

[scm]

Sorry to hijack this thread but similar question but for older DD 12.

We are on late sitting and will watch the show before we eat, how will this work with being at the Edge at the first meeting which seems to be key for establishing friends.

Assume others will be in this situation but does anyone have any experience.
Thanks Gillian.

My grandson(13) was in the same situation and apparently became very comfortable in the club that night as he 'disappeared' there for every moment of free time thereafter.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Sorry to hijack this thread but similar question but for older DD 12.

We are on late sitting and will watch the show before we eat, how will this work with being at the Edge at the first meeting which seems to be key for establishing friends.

Assume others will be in this situation but does anyone have any experience.
Thanks Gillian.

I believe the "let's get acquainted" meetings are fairly late that first night (after second dinner seating). Open Houses (where the whole family can go in and look the place over run until dinnertime, AFAIK.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Sorry to hijack this thread but similar question but for older DD 12.

We are on late sitting and will watch the show before we eat, how will this work with being at the Edge at the first meeting which seems to be key for establishing friends.

Assume others will be in this situation but does anyone have any experience.
Thanks Gillian.

I believe the "let's get acquainted" meetings are fairly late that first night (after second dinner seating). Open Houses (where the whole family can go in and look the place over run until dinnertime, AFAIK.

Yes. The meeting at the Edge is at 10:15. The one in the Vibe is at 10:30. So there is plenty of time to eat if you have the late dinner seating and still have your tweens/teens get to their clubs in time.