Kids clubs on OTHER cruise lines

[AndreAggie]

What has been your experience with kids clubs on other cruise lines? We've cruised on Disney and Carnival and, to me, they're not comparable. However, I must admit our son was 3 on Carnival and almost 6 on Disney. On Carnival, he went to the camp. On Disney, he begged to go.

We're looking at a family trip to Alaska in the next couple years and there is no way I'm going to be able to convince my parents and my brother/sister-in-law to go with Disney. Plus the cost....$$$$$$!! It would be all adults and my son, 3 generations. Albeit, kids programs won't be the only factor, but it's definitely something to consider.

 

[Aerin75]

Hi,
I was not with my daughter at the time, but she went with my brother and sister-in-law on NCL in 2014 and LOVED the kids clubs there. She was 9 at the time. This was an Alaskan cruise.
What I do remember from what she regaled me with when she got home - all the counselors had nicknames they went by, and they did a show (talent maybe) as the "shows" in one of the last two days.
Hope this helps...
Aerin

 

[DnA2010]

We did Oasis in Dec 2014- DD who was 9 at the time LOVED the clubs- they did lots of fun activities, she won medals, they had a talent show, she liked how the counselors really got to know the kids. She loved going for the evening programming, we loved it too as we got to check out the bars and clubs and stuff we had an agreement that as long as she wasn't grumpy she could stay out late.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've read a lot of trip reports about Alaska on various lines. People with kids tend to say their kids enjoy the clubs on other lines because there are far less kids there and they end up getting a lot of special attention that they can't get on DCL.

 

[CamColt]

We sailed on NCL when my DSs were 4 and 7 and again when they were 11 and 14. The first time their kids club time was limited but I remember a funny incident when I dropped them off. The "club" during the day was one of the bars, and while checking them in a delivery of beer was coming in behind us. Seemed a little funny for a kids club. On the 2nd trip when my 11 yo went it was during a "free play" time and they basically had him playing with 5 and 6 year olds. He never went back to the club and has been very much against going back on NCL since then because of that. With that said, he loved the Edge and now the Vibe and I feel both my kids have been spoiled by DCL. In 2 more years the youngest will be 18 and then I can consider other cruise lines.

 

[bumbershoot]

My son prefers Royal's club to disney's. We were on a cruise the week before Easter, just packed with kids (so it was minus the extra attention he's experienced on school time cruises) and he still loved it. They have activities and they play with the kids, so he was active the whole time.

Next Royal cruise he will be 12 and therefore out of the "kid" room (they split nursery, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-11...then it's 12-something then older). Since his love of play doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon, and even when he "hangs out" he's doing some sort of sport, it will be interesting to see how he likes it. But he's an extrovert who makes friends with boys and girls immediately so I'm sure he will be fine.

 

[KashasMom]

We sailed on NCL when my DSs were 4 and 7 and again when they were 11 and 14. The first time their kids club time was limited but I remember a funny incident when I dropped them off. The "club" during the day was one of the bars, and while checking them in a delivery of beer was coming in behind us. Seemed a little funny for a kids club. On the 2nd trip when my 11 yo went it was during a "free play" time and they basically had him playing with 5 and 6 year olds. He never went back to the club and has been very much against going back on NCL since then because of that. With that said, he loved the Edge and now the Vibe and I feel both my kids have been spoiled by DCL. In 2 more years the youngest will be 18 and then I can consider other cruise lines.

I'm very surprised to read this because NCL has always been so strict with the age groups (my niece and daughter could not be together even though they are 2 years apart). On the other hand I find it horrible that Disney's age range is 3-12. Sorry but 12 year olds should not be with 3 year olds!! My daughter had a bad experience on DCL in the kids club and absolutely refuses to go back.

I also agree with the other poster that said DCL clubs are so crowded!

 

[CamColt]

I'm very surprised to read this because NCL has always been so strict with the age groups (my niece and daughter could not be together even though they are 2 years apart). On the other hand I find it horrible that Disney's age range is 3-12. Sorry but 12 year olds should not be with 3 year olds!! My daughter had a bad experience on DCL in the kids club and absolutely refuses to go back.

I also agree with the other poster that said DCL clubs are so crowded!

I can't say if that is the norm or not but the 1 time on this particular cruise (about 5 years ago) when DS went, that was his experience and it really soured him on it.

Something else I should have mentioned is I noticed on some nighttime activities there was a charge to send the kids to the club. Being so used to Disney, this really shocked me but I guess it does happen on other cruise lines.

 

[KashasMom]

I can't say if that is the norm or not but the 1 time on this particular cruise (about 5 years ago) when DS went, that was his experience and it really soured him on it.

Something else I should have mentioned is I noticed on some nighttime activities there was a charge to send the kids to the club. Being so used to Disney, this really shocked me but I guess it does happen on other cruise lines.

We never paid for for nighttime but maybe because it wasn't too late?

 

[Ofinn]

I'm very surprised to read this because NCL has always been so strict with the age groups (my niece and daughter could not be together even though they are 2 years apart). On the other hand I find it horrible that Disney's age range is 3-12. Sorry but 12 year olds should not be with 3 year olds!! My daughter had a bad experience on DCL in the kids club and absolutely refuses to go back.

I also agree with the other poster that said DCL clubs are so crowded!

This is why my kids moved to the edge at age 10. They really need a club for the 9 to 12 group.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is why my kids moved to the edge at age 10. They really need a club for the 9 to 12 group.

Time was there were smaller age group clubs. 3-7; 8-11; 12-13; 14-18. But, there were enough people who wanted their kids "to be together", that DCL revamped it. Now people say that's not what they want. DCL can't win.

I like Pricesses' concept. If you want your kids together, the older can "age down" but the younger can't "age up". Yeah, a lot of kids don't want to be in the younger group. Means a whole lot of kids learn to be their own person in separate groups.

 

[disfam3mi]

How about the family activities on other lines? Our son only spends an hour or so each day in the Clubs, but what we really like are the trivia games and game shows and such. How do those compare?

 

[Ofinn]

Time was there were smaller age group clubs. 3-7; 8-11; 12-13; 14-18. But, there were enough people who wanted their kids "to be together", that DCL revamped it. Now people say that's not what they want. DCL can't win.

I like Pricesses' concept. If you want your kids together, the older can "age down" but the younger can't "age up". Yeah, a lot of kids don't want to be in the younger group. Means a whole lot of kids learn to be their own person in separate groups.

My oldest cant wait until he turns 14 so can go to the Vibe and get away from his younger brother. When they were little they did like being in the same club. They both starting disliking the club at age 9 because of the little kids. We cruise off season so the little kids always way out numbered the school age kids.

 

[dhardawa]

We've done NCL a ton and Carnival once and the kids have loved every kids club. My daughter is 16 now and hasn't wanted to go for a few years. She's too old.

 

[mcd2745]

The only other cruise line besides DCL that we've sailed on is RCCL (Freedom & Oasis).

Our daughter (now 10) loved being in the kids clubs on RCCL just as much as DCL - when it was open. There is, however, one huge difference/problem - at least to us. Whereas on DCL the club/lab is open continuously (normally from 9am through midnight), on RCCL, they have "sessions", and close for two hours twice daily. Once from noon-2pm and then again from 5-7pm - presumably for lunch and (main seating) dinner. This really, really bothers me. It assumes that everyone with children follows roughly the same daily schedule...eating lunch around noon (which, by extension assumes you're up and eating breakfast early) and having first seating for dinner. If you don't adhere to that schedule...if you eat a later breakfast and lunch (or skip lunch altogether, perhaps just grabbing a quick snack), and have second seating for dinner, then the clubs are closed at the times you'd most like them to be open. The one positive on RCCL is that the kids clubs are open until 2am. There is a fee per child, per hour after 10pm...but we don't have a problem with that. Our son (about to turn 14 in a few days ), wasn't crazy about the kids clubs on either line when younger. However, seems to prefer the "tween" spaces on RCCL much better.

 

[DnA2010]

The only other cruise line besides DCL that we've sailed on is RCCL (Freedom & Oasis).

Our daughter (now 10) loved being in the kids clubs on RCCL just as much as DCL - when it was open. There is, however, one huge difference/problem - at least to us. Whereas on DCL the club/lab is open continuously (normally from 9am through midnight), on RCCL, they have "sessions", and close for two hours twice daily. Once from noon-2pm and then again from 5-7pm - presumably for lunch and (main seating) dinner. This really, really bothers me. It assumes that everyone with children follows roughly the same daily schedule...eating lunch around noon (which, by extension assumes you're up and eating breakfast early) and having first seating for dinner. If you don't adhere to that schedule...if you eat a later breakfast and lunch (or skip lunch altogether, perhaps just grabbing a quick snack), and have second seating for dinner, then the clubs are closed at the times you'd most like them to be open. The one positive on RCCL is that the kids clubs are open until 2am. There is a fee per child, per hour after 10pm...but we don't have a problem with that. Our son (about to turn 14 in a few days ), wasn't crazy about the kids clubs on either line when younger. However, seems to prefer the "tween" spaces on RCCL much better.

Wow I never noticed that on our Royal cruises- that the clubs closed. I guess those were periods that DD was with us. She didn't tend to go to the club till the afternoon and then after dinner, so I guess we never encountered the closures. She loved the late night sessions! She will be in the 12-14 next time we cruise, so will see how she likes that. She really liked Edge on Disney, so I bet she will like it.

 

[KashasMom]

NCL closes their kids clubs similar to RCI. When I asked about it they told me it was because parents dropped their kids off all day and night long. That's not my idea of a family vacation but I guess some people just use it as a babysitting service.

 

[TeaBee]

What has been your experience with kids clubs on other cruise lines? We've cruised on Disney and Carnival and, to me, they're not comparable. However, I must admit our son was 3 on Carnival and almost 6 on Disney. On Carnival, he went to the camp. On Disney, he begged to go.

We're looking at a family trip to Alaska in the next couple years and there is no way I'm going to be able to convince my parents and my brother/sister-in-law to go with Disney. Plus the cost....$$$$$$!! It would be all adults and my son, 3 generations. Albeit, kids programs won't be the only factor, but it's definitely something to consider.

We sailed on NCL to Alaska when my kids were 4 and 7 with their cousins who were 6 and 9 at the time. (This was 7 years ago so things may have changed). The 6, 7, and 9 year olds had a great time in the kids club. The space was very small compared with Disney's but they had a lot of activities and enjoyed their counselors. My 4 year old didn't have a great time. One evening the adults had dinner in an upcharge restaurant while the kids were all in the club and she had a potty accident (very shy and didn't want to ask to use the bathroom). Instead of calling us, they made her sit in her wet clothes for over an hour. When we asked why they hadn't contacted us to come get her they said they didn't want to bother us during dinner. I was pretty horrified and she didn't go back to the club for the rest of the cruise.

 

[krisinparis]

We sailed on Princess to Alaska when my kids were 4 and 8. At first the 4 year old didn't like that she wasn't with her older brother (and he refused to go "down" to her club), but after the first day she felt very comfortable. There were not many kids on the cruise (I think 60 total), so the counselors really got to know the kids and they were very interactive with them. We sailed to the Caribbean on Princess a few years later and it was a similar experience. It was a Christmas sailing so there were lots of activities in the lobby and all of the counselors knew my kid's by name. However, there were not too many activities outside of the kid's clubs for the kiddos (well, on the Christmas cruise there were, but not Alaska). One thing my kids did love though was the food--- they thought it was much better than DCL! In fact, my 12 year old just saw a Princess brochure and reminded me that he would like to sail on the Royal Princess!

 

[Cwusinbunny]

We have done one DCL and one NCL with the kids - the kids enjoyed the kids clubs, loved the counselors silly names, but they were closed several hours a day, and there were no options for dinners or lunch at the clubs - we are paying about 1000 more for our feb. vacation cruise on disney, and honestly, I think its worth it. The other thing I didn't like on NCL was the kids menus - peanut butter and jelly, mac and cheese, pizza, hot dog - when I tried to order a half portion of an adult entree, they brought the whole and I had to break it down - a 6 year older gets very overwhelmed with a large plate of food - disney get kids - plain and simple.