Kids in Clubs while parents on Port Adventures?

[hubbard53]

I keep hearing that kids can stay in the clubs while parents enjoy port adventures. Is that true? For some reason, it just doesnt seem right given that kids can request to be picked up at any time. Is it different while in port?

I'm tempted to use this feature but not sure if, even if allowed, I would be comfortable being out of touch for hours, in case of emergency.

Thoughts?

 

[disneymomto5]

My husband and I did this for our young daughter (5) several years ago. We went to the ruins and didn't think she could handle the walking or appreciate any of the scenery so we left her in the club. When we dropped her off we told them where we were going so they could make a note and when we'd be back. I did worry a little but honestly she was fine and had a great time while we were gone.

 

[squirk]

I personally would not feel comfortable sending my kids to the clubs, getting off the ship, and going incommunicado for hours in a foreign country. I wouldn't even go incommunicado for hours when at home in the States.

Yes, things would *probably* be just fine, but I still wouldn't want to risk being unreachable if something happened.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

To each their own, but this is not something we would do. I understand the chance of a real problem is rare, but in a foreign country, things can happen or something could happen on the vessel.

AKK

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I keep hearing that kids can stay in the clubs while parents enjoy port adventures. Is that true? For some reason, it just doesnt seem right given that kids can request to be picked up at any time. Is it different while in port?

I'm tempted to use this feature but not sure if, even if allowed, I would be comfortable being out of touch for hours, in case of emergency.

Thoughts?

Never done it But seems many do.

 

[hubbard53]

damn, i have too active of an imagination. I can think of a number of scenarios that make this a bad idea. . . at least for me

Thanks

 

[MunFam]

damn, i have too active of an imagination. I can think of a number of scenarios that make this a bad idea. . . at least for me

Haha! Me too! Cool service, but no bones. My what-ifs out weigh any positives.

 

[Crystal O_o]

I am in the boat that I wouldn't do it. My kids go where I go for vacation. I also know everyone is different and have different levels of things they are comfortable with.

 

[hubbard53]

I am in the boat that I wouldn't do it. My kids go where I go for vacation. I also know everyone is different and have different levels of things they are comfortable with.

yep, i agree. I just saw a champagne catamaran cruise and had a "what if" moment - but then my imagination too over and saw us stranded on a catamaran as the Fantasy sails away with my son to the next port

 

[Carrie in AZ]

It's very, very difficult to picture doing this and, before I did it, I swore I would never do it! LOL! Our DD13 at the time swore up and down she would go with us very willingly with a good attitude to Stingray City and Coral Garden. We had hired a private boat and captain and the whole deal. Well, once we were on the ship and she was having a blast with friends in Edge, she begged us to let her stay on the ship and not go on the excursion. We just couldn't do it and insisted she come along. She made that trip miserable for the rest of us with her poor attitude, saying she was sick, complaining, on and on and on. This was a once in a lifetime event for us and she soured it greatly.

The next day was Cozumel and we wanted to snorkel again. DD didn't even have to ask if she could stay on the ship, I asked her first if she wanted to stay in Edge while we were off and she, of course, agreed. I spoke to the CMs and told them I was nervous leaving her on the ship while we were off in a foreign land. The CM assured me all would be well and it was. We were gone for about 2.5 hours.

I don't think I could leave my little ones on the ship without me, but it worked out fine with our teen and I would do it again. Before I sailed I wouldn't think it would be a good situation at all -- my mind can go to some awful places. But once I was onboard and saw how it all worked with the club, I was fine.

If you don't go on an excursion, I hope you will at least get some adult time together on the ship. It's your vacation, too!

 

[KT2038]

Hi! I am a YA CM and yes of course you can leave you kids with us! When you drop off just let the CM know that you will be off the ship and roughly how long. Then if your child asks to leave we pull out all the stops to keep them distracted.Lots and lots of people do this, even with very young kids. If you have further concerns please don't heditate to contact me. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[squirk]

Hi! I am a YA CM and yes of course you can leave you kids with us! When you drop off just let the CM know that you will be off the ship and roughly how long. Then if your child asks to leave we pull out all the stops to keep them distracted.Lots and lots of people do this, even with very young kids. If you have further concerns please don't hesitate to contact me. Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, what would DCL do if it was time to depart the port and the parents were nowhere to be found? I assume you would delay the departure, but would you do so indefinitely?

I'm thinking of a hypothetical scenario where the parents are on a non-DCL shore excursion and somehow run into trouble where they can't get back in time and can't get word to the ship. What is the policy?

 

[DahliaRW]

I did it to walk around in the ports in Norway by myself (dd did not want to go and would have been miserable). I let them know I was going off ship, and what time I would be back on. They assume responsibility for the child for that time, and will take care of any emergency that comes up if there is one (which there wasn't, but if a child gets injured they will seek medical care). They also distract if child wants picked up (like they would if you were at Remy or Palo). Dd didn't ask to be picked up, I did tell her I was off the ship and she would be there for x amount of time. She was totally fine with it. I wouldn't do a non-DCL excursion that took me far from the ship or was all day, personal opinion, but on a DCL excursion or something close to the ship I was totally comfortable with it.

 

[wombat_5606]

Just this past June, cruise passengers were killed in a plane crash in Alaska. I can't imagine taking the chance to leave my children to fend with cruise officials or foreign personnel in the event of an accident like this, no matter what their ages.

There have been car accidents reported too, with or without death occurring. I just wouldn't want my children to hear about any accident that involved me from strangers and then having to deal with this on their "vacation".

 

[Quellman]

I would do it, based on age and if it were a short excursion or just getting off the ship to walk around for a bit. I wouldn't do a multi-hour sailing adventure to St. John's for example.

 

[Minniesgal]

I wouldn't do this with a 5 year old but older teens I probably would.

 

[1buckeyegirl]

We are thinking about doing this in November while we're in key west. I feel a little more comfortable since we will be in the U.S and my son is 11. The things we want to do in Key west are not kid friendly and we're only going to be off the ship for a few hours.

 

[eangel12]

I am with the "wouldn't leave my kids on the boat" party. Too many horrific scenarios running through my head.

I do have to mention this little story. Before kids, the hubby and I went on Princess cruise line. We did a snorkel excursion in Belize and noticed 2 children that were alone. (We booked privately) We inquired and found out that the parents booked the snorkel excursions for the kids and went on a scuba excursion by themselves. The boy was probably 8 and the girl 6. We snorkeled the reef then went to a tiny island for lunch. My husband and I told them to stay with us. We were HORRIFIED...and DISGUSTED. Found out on the ship that this is something done a lot. I don't even get doing this if it is a ship excursion, but a private???? We still talk about that day!

 

[lbgraves]

We did on our first cruise with DS5. We were just walking around the port on our own with DD3 and he had come with us at the first port. The entire time he asked when he could go back to the Mickey club and see his friends. We decided it was his vacation too and if he would rather be in the club than walking around in the heat that was fine. We have done it since then also. DD loved horseback riding and DS thinks they are gross so he stayed on the ship while DH, DD and I enjoyed a ride in one port. Both kids stayed onboard in 2012 while DH and I went on the St. John tour through DCL. After only 15 minutes on the ferry DH and I looked at each other and said thank goodness we left the kids on the ship.

 

[Happy100]

I think it depends on you and your child,family dynamics, the excursion length and probably the port you are in. My husband always goes on an excursion without us because our DS is too young. This leaves my DS and I left to do what ever we want to do together since I don't mind picking excursions I can do with him. Now my son is older so we can do some of the excursions that he was once too young for.