RedSox68
Retired 2021 -- All the Time to Travel Now!
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2009
- Messages
- 8,258
When was this?[/QUOT
2000 I believe. They were very nice and accommodating about it.
When was this?[/QUOT
Disney is pricy but I found them to be the top of youth programming as well as theater performances and food.
Interesting thread though as I always wonder what other cruise lines are like. We have taken 6 with Disney.
Well, about 2-3 years ago, the age restrictions started being enforced, and the upper age in each group is set. No exceptions. Occasionally the lower age limit may be relaxed, depending on the CMs onboard, allowing younger kids to "age up" into the next level.2000 I believe. They were very nice and accommodating about it.
Well, about 2-3 years ago, the age restrictions started being enforced, and the upper age in each group is set. No exceptions. Occasionally the lower age limit may be relaxed, depending on the CMs onboard, allowing younger kids to "age up" into the next level.
I think it's more than occasionally. 10 year olds are pretty much the status quo in the Edge. I think the only reason DCL doesn't change the age policy is because not all parents are comfortable with 10 year olds having the freedom to come and go as they please. I think the DCL is smart doing it this way. It leaves the decision up to the parents.Well, about 2-3 years ago, the age restrictions started being enforced, and the upper age in each group is set. No exceptions. Occasionally the lower age limit may be relaxed, depending on the CMs onboard, allowing younger kids to "age up" into the next level.
how did you like the fantasy? 5/6 cruises have been on the older ships. We took a short cruise on the dream but didn't explore muchI will give Disney that hands down. We have had just as good food and sometimes better on other cruise lines, but in 6 non-Disney cruises, have only been able to sit through one show -- a comedian who was very good. We go in every time and walk out within 5 minutes -- too Vegas Show type and we're not interested. But Disney's shows I could see over and over and the talent they have onboard can't be beat.
I will give Disney that hands down. We have had just as good food and sometimes better on other cruise lines, but in 6 non-Disney cruises, have only been able to sit through one show -- a comedian who was very good. We go in every time and walk out within 5 minutes -- too Vegas Show type and we're not interested. But Disney's shows I could see over and over and the talent they have onboard can't be beat.
Well. Yeah. That's exactly what a cruise is for us, since I watch my kids (all 4 of them) pretty much 24 hours a day. Why would that even be a problem? It's what the kids' clubs are for. Quite literally. To babysit your kids.So sorry if anyone took offense but let's face it...there are plenty of parents out there who think a cruise is an opportunity to let someone else watch their children. If it wasn't an issue the kids clubs would not shut those few hours.
Since everyone is posting such glowing reviews of other cruise lines' kids clubs, I thought I would post about our perspective on Royal's Brilliance of the Seas:
The major differences we found between Disney (all 4 ships) and Royal (Brilliance of the Seas):
1. The hours on the Brilliance were tough to work around and also interfered with when the waterslide was open (very limited amounts of time for the waterslide and only when the children's programming was also going on). For example, the evening show (which stated that it had adult content) started BEFORE the kids areas were open. There were a lot of little issues like that on our Christmas cruise.
2. The kids on the Brilliance all had to be doing the same activity, which was usually a sport-type activity. If your child didn't want to play Gaga ball, they just had to sit and watch. No other activities were available to them, even just playing on the computers or coloring.
3. Our Brilliance cruise seemed to be severely under-staffed compared to the Disney clubs. Usually it was just one adult to about 15 kids with no other staff visible.
4. Disney texts you via the Wave Phones if your child wants picked up. On the Brilliance, there is no form of communication.
5. Not kids club related, but we found the Brilliance to be not very kid-friendly. They were showing R rated movies on the big screen at the pool with people being shot and blood going everywhere. Some of the evening entertainment was not marked as adult content, but very much was. My kids saw WAY more than they should have one night, even with us getting up and leaving immediately when we realized what was going on. I'm not super strict about what my kids see and do, but one that game shows took things WAY too far without proper notice.
We decided that if we ever do a Royal cruise again, we'll do one of the bigger ships that hopefully has more to offer to families. The Brilliance was not a good ship for families, in our eyes. We also said that we would bring our own games or more to keep ourselves occupied, as the Brilliance didn't offer many family activities. We did the Brilliance for Christmas and the Disney Fantasy for Spring Break and they were night and day different. We didn't have time to do all of the Disney activities that we wanted to do and rarely had any down time at all. We love Disney, but with the increasing prices, we were hoping to fall in love with another cruise line. Let's just say we're still looking for love after trying the Brilliance!
Well. Yeah. That's exactly what a cruise is for us, since I watch my kids (all 4 of them) pretty much 24 hours a day. Why would that even be a problem? It's what the kids' clubs are for. Quite literally. To babysit your kids.
Are you saying the other cruise lines think we need to spend more time together as a family, and that's why they close? Disney is *the* family cruise line, but their clubs are open all day. Because we pay for it. A lot.
I'm assuming other lines' clubs close because there are the fewest number of kids during the lunch and dinner hours, feeding kids is logistically more difficult than playing games (although they will do it on port days, under certain conditions), and closing saves them money in some way. Note that they are also open quite late, later than DCL...for a fee.
I dont think thats the reason they shut down. Dcl doesnt shut down. Im sure it saves them money on staff. Its always about money.So sorry if anyone took offense but let's face it...there are plenty of parents out there who think a cruise is an opportunity to let someone else watch their children. If it wasn't an issue the kids clubs would not shut those few hours.
how did you like the fantasy? 5/6 cruises have been on the older ships. We took a short cruise on the dream but didn't explore much
I'm assuming other lines' clubs close because there are the fewest number of kids during the lunch and dinner hours, feeding kids is logistically more difficult than playing games (although they will do it on port days, under certain conditions), and closing saves them money in some way. Note that they are also open quite late, later than DCL...for a fee.
So sorry if anyone took offense but let's face it...there are plenty of parents out there who think a cruise is an opportunity to let someone else watch their children. If it wasn't an issue the kids clubs would not shut those few hours.