Kids in Clubs while parents on Port Adventures?

[DisneyWishes14]

OP, it really depends on your comfort level. If you want to try it, perhaps pick an excursion that isn't too long and, I would recommend, booking it through DCL as you will be guaranteed to be back on the ship before it departs.

On a personal note, I wouldn't have even considered it until our last cruise. We did back-to-back 9-night Norway, followed by the 11-night Norway, Iceland, Scotland cruise. My DS7 LOVED the kids club and spent every waking minute allowable in there. But, I also wanted him to see all of the ports as this was most likely a trip of a lifetime and we may never be back to any of these countries. He did GREAT in all of the ports, but after we did an 8-hour bus tour in Iceland followed the next day by a boat tour, he had kind of had it. He really wanted a sea day, but we were headed for Akeyuri and another bus tour. The night before he was really complaining about it and I really couldn't blame him. It was a lot for a 7-year old. My DH and I talked it over and decided if he was still not up for it the next day, he could stay in the club (we didn't tell DS this!). By that point, he had spent at least one or two hours (sometimes more) every day for the past 14 days in the kids club. We knew the CM's and absolutely trusted that they would take care of him and that he would be super happy to be there. They also feed the children lunch and dinner, so I knew he would be fed and fine. Did I want to do this? No! I really wanted him to see the area around Akeyuri. I kept having flash-forwards to when he is 40 saying something like, "I can't believe you took me to Iceland and left me on the ship!" I also kept thinking back to our port day in Geiranger when we saw a couple rushing their two young children off the ship about 45 minutes prior to all aboard saying to them, "You really should see this port! It's really beautiful!" I just imagined the kids were in the club all day and they missed this spectacular place (the inspiration for Arendelle!) Anyway, to make a really long story short, my DS didn't make a peep the next day and went on the tour with me and DH. That being said, if you feel comfortable leaving your child in the kids club, I can assure you they will be well taken care of!

 

[wombat_5606]

Are you stating your desire to "not die" is greater because your kids are in a kids club on a Disney ship rather than at home with Grandparents?

Read my post #48 first, then let me know if you have any questions.

 

[MissMet]

I have no problem leaving my son behind on the ship at 12 months old or 12 years old. If I can send him off to sleep-away camp or put him in daycare, why not leave him in a place he'll enjoy more & will be safe for a few hours? I'd rather him happy & content on the ship than with me & miserable. And if something's going to go wrong with my excursion, I'd rather him not be involved & safe with perfectly capable professionals. If you're gonna think worse case scenario- I'd rather him in the nursery where they have everything he could possibly need than in a hospital waiting room being looked after by a nurse or worse yet, in a hospital bed. Really, you could see the "danger" any way you look at it. If you're thinking realistically, they're much safer staying on board without us than getting off the ship with us.

I'm sure not everyone will agree with me, but that's parenting. We have to do what we feel is best for our kids & not care what others think of our parenting choices.

 

[hardis5]

PP's state what if's or worst case scenarios. If we all factored in what if's or worst case scenarios in our decisions, nobody would ever leave their bunkers (and for certain would not be on a cruise ship to start with). Disney arranged excursions offer little risk (yes, car, truck, bus accidents can happen) but they are generally as safe as you can get and guess what - even on an excursion, Disney more often than not still has the ability to contact the tour company given urgent need (consent for medical service in my eyes) is required.

IMHO one cannot be afraid of the worst case in every decision and one has to weigh in the probability and not possibility of their being a problem. Personally, given the child was ok with I would have no issue leaving them in the care of well trained CM's in the safe confines of the kids club where they would be naturally enjoying themselves while we did the same on the excursion.

 

[SoozCruise]

This question gets the same variety of responses as "Do you let your child check herself out of the clubs/walk around the ship alone?" There is a large parenting spectrum that spans the "more oversight" folks to the "free-range" folks, and you are the only one who can decide where on that spectrum you fall for a particular situation and your particular child. Our nine-year-old stayed in our cabin during our Palo brunch this spring; we were comfortable with that and so was she. If we were on a cruise this week, we could not choose that option because she has separation anxiety right now and we would find a different way to handle things if there were something we needed to do without her. (She is another of those kids who has grown bored of the Lab at age 9+. Next year, when she will be of age for Edge, will probably be a whooooole different story!)

 

[MommyP]

I've done it. We were a little too apprehensive to walk around Puerto Vallarta with two blonde hair, blue eyed cranky, attention attracting toddlers especially the week after a Carnival tour bus excursion was hijacked (2012) but we definitely wanted to explore a little. I'm not sure I'd go on a long excursion (or non DCL excursion) and leave them for hours but like I said we left them onboard in the kid's club safe & sound while we walked around and had a nice kid-free lunch in port. There was no issue but yes something could have happened but I don't have time to worry about the what ifs......

 

[Plaid Princess]

That being said, I probably wouldn't take a plane or helicopter sightseeing excursion with my kids on the ship because the risk is a bit higher.

You're safer in a plane than a car. By a huge percentage. Just FYI.

 

[DahliaRW]

You're safer in a plane than a car. By a huge percentage. Just FYI.

In a passenger jet, yes, but a little cessna, probably not.