Lab and Edge

[LCoulter]

It looks to me like there is an overlap of ages between the Lab and Edge. DD will be 11 when we sail on Fantasy in 2018. How does it work with the overlap? Can we move her back and forth between the two clubs depending on what activities she is interested in? Or does she have to pick one?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It looks to me like there is an overlap of ages between the Lab and Edge. DD will be 11 when we sail on Fantasy in 2018. How does it work with the overlap? Can we move her back and forth between the two clubs depending on what activities she is interested in? Or does she have to pick one?

Oceaneer's Club/Lab is in the same place. A large facility, roughly separated into "Club" and "Lab" areas. The Club area has activities aimed toward the younger group (3-7), while the Lab has activities aimed toward older ones (8-12). Edge is ages 11-14.

Children that fall in the overlap group can participate in either area, as they wish.

 

[soniam]

I believe they can move back and forth. DS is 11, and this will be our first experience with this situation. When I checked in online, I had the option of allowing him to check himself out of the kids club too. I think tweens and teens are allowed to come and go to their respective clubs.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I believe they can move back and forth. DS is 11, and this will be our first experience with this situation. When I checked in online, I had the option of allowing him to check himself out of the kids club too. I think tweens and teens are allowed to come and go to their respective clubs.

Any child 11 and up and come and go as they please to whatever club(s) they are eligible for.

 

[LCoulter]

So can an 11 year old check themselves in and out of the Lab and Edge?

If that's the case, I have to give some thought to that. I do trust her, so maybe, with some rules. I don't want her to be one of the kids running amock all over the ship.

 

[soniam]

So can an 11 year old check themselves in and out of the Lab and Edge?

If that's the case, I have to give some thought to that. I do trust her, so maybe, with some rules. I don't want her to be one of the kids running amock all over the ship.

I believe that I specifically have to allow it for the Lab/Oceaneers Club. I don't think the kids club allows self-checkout without previous parental/guardian permission. There was a spot check box on the online checkin for it. I think the tween and teen clubs allow them to come and go though.

EDIT: We did decide to allow it; however, DS will have to text us or leave a note on the door telling us where he is going. I figure this is a little bit safer of an environment to allow some freedom. He can't just roam the ship though. He will need to be heading to another club, to the room, or to meet us.

 

[lanejudy]

So can an 11 year old check themselves in and out of the Lab and Edge?

If that's the case, I have to give some thought to that. I do trust her, so maybe, with some rules. I don't want her to be one of the kids running amock all over the ship.

For the Club/Lab, you CAN allow self-check-out for an 11-yr-old (I believe it's an option starting at age 8 maybe even 7). I believe they MUST have self-check-out privileges for Edge because there is no actual parental check-out from Edge.

If you require the child to remaining in secured programming until a parent checks her/him out, it's my understanding the child can only participate at the Club/Lab and will not be allowed at Edge even if 11 or 12 yrs old.

Many parents of kids in this age group prepare by setting limits and family rules. Some common ones: nobody in our stateroom, you do not enter anybody else's stateroom, you must contact mom/dad when you leave Edge, you may only return to our stateroom or join parents if leaving Edge, text periodically (every hour?) to let mom/dad know where you are, etc. With specific repercussions for not following the rules (self-check privileges will be rescinded). Other families have the child "earn" the privilege in the first few days on the ship. One caveat to this option is that many of the friendships are formed the first night and it can be hard to break into a group later in the cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[LCoulter]

Thanks for the tips. I am leaning toward giving her some freedom with rules.

 

[princessmommyx3]

We are just off the Wonder and my daughter is 12. We got her a wristband for the club/lab and gave her check out priveledges. She was also able to sign herself in/out of the edge as she pleased.

 

[bbel]

So can an 11 year old check themselves in and out of the Lab and Edge?

If that's the case, I have to give some thought to that. I do trust her, so maybe, with some rules. I don't want her to be one of the kids running amock all over the ship.

And 11 year old (or 12,10,9,8 and 7(with a waiver signed)) can check themselves OUT of the club/lab, if you give them permission at registration/any point throughout the cruise.
A child of any age (yes even 3 year olds) can check themselves IN.
You can give and take away the self check out a self much as you like/need throughout the cruise.

Edge has no check in or out system. All are free to come and go as they please.

The Counselors won't have an immediate knowledge of who is there like they do in the club/lab. for example, if you give them a call to see if your kid is there, they'll have to ask around/shout out. If you call the club/lab, they look up the name/room number and can tell you if they're there, where they are, the exact time they checked in and out.

 

[LCoulter]

What is the best way to keep in touch? I know they did or used to have the wave phone but I can't imagine having DD carry that around all day. DH and I can carry them around....if I remember correctly, there are two of them in the room that can communicate to each other and to the phone system on the ship?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is the best way to keep in touch? I know they did or used to have the wave phone but I can't imagine having DD carry that around all day. DH and I can carry them around....if I remember correctly, there are two of them in the room that can communicate to each other and to the phone system on the ship?

Yes, there's still the wave phone. You get 2 in your room. And you can rent additional ones at Guest Services (limited supply).

 

[lanejudy]

If your DD (and you) has a wifi-enabled phone, she can carry that and use the DCL app to keep in touch with you. Put everything in airplane mode, then just turn on the wifi. Ship wifi is free for use on the DCL app. She can keep in touch with you that way. Otherwise, she may need to carry the wave phone if you want her to keep in contact.

I believe the only way CMs will contact the parents (for an emergency) is via the wave phone, so you may want to carry that anyway.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

If your DD (and you) has a wifi-enabled phone, she can carry that and use the DCL app to keep in touch with you. Put everything in airplane mode, then just turn on the wifi. Ship wifi is free for use on the DCL app. She can keep in touch with you that way. Otherwise, she may need to carry the wave phone if you want her to keep in contact.

I believe the only way CMs will contact the parents (for an emergency) is via the wave phone, so you may want to carry that anyway.

Enjoy your cruise!

Or an ipod. It doesn't have to be a phone, since you're really only using an app, not the phone features.

The first time you drop off your 11 year old, confirm with the CMs that he has self-checkout. We gave our 12 year old self-checkout, but there was a mix-up and the box wasn't checked. He felt so stupid standing there, waiting for me to come and get him, while 9 year olds could come and go as they pleased. I was just glad I happened to be in the room when they called.

Yes, he can go to either. You don't have to sign up for Edge.

 

[cariann77]

Just back with an 11-year old. We put her in Oceaneer Club/Lab the first night and she hated it!! Allowed her to do the Edge after that, but the self-check out was definitely taken advantage of. We discovered that they were wondering the ship much more than spending time in the Edge. She did make some great friends and had a blast. (Tip: she was embarrassed by me popping my head in to check on her, but I soon accidentally discovered that I could spy on her from Currents bar ) I wished that I had brought her iPod for communication it would have saved me some stress. The first night, my husband said that she could stay to finish up whatever activity they were doing and she didn't return until after 1am. I was freaking out and put more restrictions on her after that.

 

[LCoulter]

That would be my DD, staying until 1am:-(

 

[sandydk]

Yep! We just got off the Dream and our 11-year-old son went back and forth between Edge and the Club/Lab. He had a blast!