Oceaneers Club question

[Jillikins]

Does the club for kids over 3 (Oceaneers, I think) cost money when you leave your kids there? We are planning a shore excursion in Grand Cayman and are considering leaving the kids in the club that day due to the short time we are in port. If there is an hourly rate, do you also tip the staff?

 

[tweis]

Does the club for kids over 3 (Oceaneers, I think) cost money when you leave your kids there? We are planning a shore excursion in Grand Cayman and are considering leaving the kids in the club that day due to the short time we are in port. If there is an hourly rate, do you also tip the staff?

The lab/club are "free" and I'm pretty sure tips are not accepted. However, several people have commented about leaving treats for the staff.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The lab/club are "free" and I'm pretty sure tips are not accepted. However, several people have commented about leaving treats for the staff.

Correct, kid's club CMs are not a tippable position. Some people leave treats (candy, magazines, something to be shared) for the club CMs.

 

[Jillikins]

Thanks so much! I'll definitely bring something for the staff. Do you give it to them every time you bring your kids in, or at the end of the cruise, or beginning?

 

[Jillikins]

Also, one more question - does Oceaneers require reservations, or is it just strictly drop-in care?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Also, one more question - does Oceaneers require reservations, or is it just strictly drop-in care?

No reservations. Just come when they want.

 

[Beth D]

You will want to check hours. They should be in recent navigators. I'm not sure they're open full time during port days. I know they are when at sea.

 

[TotallyTink]

You will want to check hours. They should be in recent navigators. I'm not sure they're open full time during port days. I know they are when at sea.

On the Dream this past August the Oceaneers Club was open full time when we were in port in Nassau but was closed when we were at Castaway Cay. The kids club area on the island was open instead.

As others said, the use of the kids club is included in the cost of the cruise and no reservations are necessary. I never felt compelled to bring a treat as a tip for the CMs at the club. There are a bazillion kids in the club, so they aren't providing personal care like they would be doing in the nursery.

 

[apathetic]

A lot of times it is open house. So your kids can go there, but you can't drop them off. I think they have a policy that you can't leave your kids while going ashore. If something happens, there is almost no way to find you. Plus, they allow a certain number of staff to visit the ports. Even if you are only going for a short port visit, if the ship is there 8 hours the ship staff will be greatly reduced.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

A lot of times it is open house. So your kids can go there, but you can't drop them off. I think they have a policy that you can't leave your kids while going ashore. If something happens, there is almost no way to find you. Plus, they allow a certain number of staff to visit the ports. Even if you are only going for a short port visit, if the ship is there 8 hours the ship staff will be greatly reduced.

There is no policy about leaving your kids in the clubs while you are off the ship. People do it all the time.

If you are on a DCL sponsored excursion, they can reach the excursion guide.

If you are on a private excursion, you will be out of reach.

 

[lanejudy]

A lot of times it is open house. So your kids can go there, but you can't drop them off. ...

If it's open house at the Club, secured programming is at the Lab and vice versa. You will always be able to drop your child off at one or the other. Once open house is over, the kids will be allowed access to both regardless of where you dropped them off. Club/Lab hours are generally 9am - midnight, possibly earlier -- if you have an early excursion scheduled, speak with someone at the Club/Lab about what time you can drop the kids off that morning.

 

[EricaG]

Yup, we left our (then) 6 year-old on the ship in Nassau for a few hours; no excursion but just walked around a few hours and he did not want to come with us (having been to Nassau once before).

Each kid is different, but we knew he was comfortable with the club, he knew that we would be gone for a couple of hours, and we trusted that the Counselors could handle any unexpected serious situation just as well as we could!