Oceaneer Club Question

[tbck1993]

Yet another question for you experts:

I have a very clinging dd who will be 5 when we cruise (let's hope she grows out of it by then). I wondered if any of you have the same and how excited your child was when you tried to drop him/her off at the kids club? Is it just such a wonderful place that my dd will never want to leave? She does fine when I drop her off at school, but she's very shy toward new people and, although, none of us can see into the future and see how she's going to react, I just wondered if any of you had the same problem and how your child ended up liking the program?

(BTW, I also have a ds who'll be 8 and I'm sure I'll have to drag him away from the Lab and all the new friends he'll make.)

Thanks in advance

 

[plutospup]

We had the same concern. DD (4,5 & 6) was always shy around others at home, but always enjoyed the club & lab. She met new friends on each cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. I think her daycare experience probably helped, too.

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

You know, this is very much a "it depends." No one can truly answer this for you and your child may be fine or may cry terribly. Last week we saw many happy 5 year olds in my daughters Club group and several who cried so hard they nearly threw up. The good news is you will have a pager and they can page you to immediately come down. You might stay with your child and see how she does. She may also not want to stay at all. Despite lots of activities, my 5 yr old wanted most to be with us and hang out!

 

[tbck1993]

I didn't realize we could stay in there with her for awhile. That might help. Are there set structured activities or is it a free-4-all?

btw, thank you both.

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

You can stay all day if you want. And yes, the activities are structured all day long, in about 45-60 minute increments. And the kids move to the lab, and to the sports deck, and the theatre too. My 5yr went to see Nemo in the Buena Vista Theatre with her group. It is definately not a free for all.

 

[taeja71]

If you're participating on the thread for your cruise I'd try and find a fellow sailer your DD could play with. Or, once you get in the Oceaneer's club room find a cast member that could be her buddy. When there's free time in the club of course it can be chaotic, but the kids are all having a blast! I sure wish I was with my kids a little longer in the club. I missed seeing my kids have 'Tea with Wendy'. Picking up the kids from the Oceaneer club was a lot different from picking up the kids from preschool. They'd be screaming, Mom! We had tea with Wendy! Blah! Blah! Blah! Have a great trip!

 

[little_susan]

I also have a 'velcro' DD that age (actually she will be one month from 5 when we sail 1/16 and I am going to try to move her into the 5-7 group). I also have a 8yo DS and my plan is to move DS down into the 5-7 (he was actually held back a year in school so his maturity level and current friends are in the 7's anyway). I don't think there would be any chance of her leaving me if she couldn't stay with her DB, even though she goes to preschool and doesn't have a problem - but that's like her second family and when she started she went thru a rough patch at first that I really don't want to relive on vacation. I don't know if that sitch would work out for you but it is an alternative to think about. All kids are different and all parent's expectations are different. I only want my kids to go a couple of nights cuz I don't think they'll like the long dinners. I can let you know how it works out when we get back if you'd like! Good luck!

 

[scrapperjill]

I was real concerned about our daughter on our past crusie...but something that I think REALLY helped was having a buddy/friend that was close to her age to e-mail and be sort of a pen pal with prior to the cruise. We were able to meet some great people who were fellow dis'ers on the "cruise meet" board...who also had children close to our girls' ages and who also had concerns on the clubs and meeting new friends. As it turns out our daughter couldn't wait to find her new friend on the ship.... the closer we got to the cruise date the more questions she had for her...and the more she wanted to e-mail her and chat about what plans she wanted to do on the ship....They had a good time chatting back and forth for months prior to the trip...and sending pics to one another prior to the trip they knew who to keep an eye out for. Once we arrived at the terminal...both girls were looking....keeping an eye out for one another (of course we didn't think they would be able to spot one another until we were at the dis meet later that day..) but to our suprise they found each other there in the teminal...and a whole new friendship was born. The whole trip.....they had a blast being together in the club and getting to know eachother even better.

 

[tbck1993]

Wow!!! Thanks so much, everyone. little susan - yes, please let me know how it goes!

I feel so much better knowing there are structured activities planned and i will try to connect with fellow dis'ers with same age dd before going!