Oceaneer's Lab Experiences?

[FLMOM2BOYS]

My boys will be 10 and 12 when we sail in September. I would love to hear what folks really thought of the Oceaneer's Lab -- did your kids love it, hate it -- was it crowded, too loud, or too much fun?

Also, when they "page" you, are there phone around the ship where you can call and see what they need or do you need to make a trip to the club each time.

While I'm asking...it seems that many people let kids the same ages as mine go off on their own - even signing themselves out. I trust my boys not to go into other people's rooms, etc. However, I know that not everyone has my children's best interests at heart, if you know what I mean. What have been your experiences with letting the kids "go"?

Can you tell this is my first cruise?

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

My daughter was 9 when we sailed. I wouldn't say that she "loved" the lab, but she enjoyed the time she spent there. She wasn't like some kids I read about who never want to leave. She went for specific activities and enjoyed the lab a few evenings when they had dance parties, etc. We let her sign herself out, but had her page us before she did. She was only allowed to go back to our cabin, not wander around the ship alone.

 

[gottaluvdisney]

I cruised with my friend and her DD9 and DS11. They both enjoyed their time in the Lab - they like the special scheduled activities the most. Like the Making of Flubber, I think the boy made a race car, the girl liked the Three Caballeros Pinata Party --things like that.


However, the boy really enjoyed his time playing basketball the most. He probably would have played all day/night there if we didn't keep showing him the navigators for the Lab. He did stay out late a few nights playing basketball (like until 1 or 1:30am) --and she was ok with that as we could keep the TV on in the room and see him. There is a camera pointed at the front of the ship and you can see the top of the basketball area.

 

[ksjayhawks]

our DS 11 really enjoyed the lab. We went over the navigator for it and highlighted activities that he wanted to do. He had sign out privileges--he had to tell the CMs where he was going--and had no problems at all. sometimes he and some of his new friends did not care for the activity so they would go up to the arcade, to the basketball court, or to get something to eat from deck 9. There were a few nights that he was out later than we were, especially when they had cool late night events-like pool and pizza, movies.

We had some simple rules-- no going into other cabins or letting anyone else in ours, let the cms know where you are going, meet up with us at agreed upon times. Never had any problems.

We were never paged, so don't know the answer to that one.

 

[tevagirl]

My DGS was 11 when he cruised last year and he went to the lab on the first day and never went back. He's a shy kid though. He did make some friends on the ship and loved the cruise. It all depends on the child. We did let him and our nephew (12) go off on their own. They had rules they had to follow (and threats if they broke them). We had to know where they were going, etc.
Again, I think it depends on the child.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

I can answer the part about the pager. It will beep twice when they need you . The pager has a display that gives you a brief message, i.e. she is crying and wants you to come, there has been a potty acident. (Hopefully you would not see this message!!) your child wants to have dinner with you rather than with the club, etc. There is no way for you to return a message with the pager, you will have to go to the club. For the kids with sign out priviledges they can send a message as to where the kids are heading when they leave the club. Hope this helps to calms your fears.

 

[bassoongirl]

On our cruise last February, my DD-12 and my DS-9 didn't like the Lab all that much, especially my DD. She felt it was too "juvenile" for her. She preferred to do her own things and spent a lot of time with us. We had hoped she would link up with a couple other girls her age, but it became difficult to get them together. However, she did have a great day at Castaway Cay with them! Kids ages 10-12 automatically have sign-out priviledges.

My DS liked the Lab more than his sister. I think that is because he hung out at the Lab with some boys he met through the DIS boards. He didn't spend a lot of time in the Lab -- he preferred to swim or go the arcade. We allowed him to have sign out priviledges, but he didn't use them very often.

We are cruising again next February and my DD is looking forward to going to the Stack. I know that will bring about a whole new set of issues! I am hoping that she will find a group of kids (her age) to hang out with.

Our kids never paged us, so I don't know how that works.

Have fun on your cruise!

Gayl

 

[JerseyMom]

My DS (9) said that the lab was o.k. There were some things he enjoyed but I can't say he loved it. I think Castaway Cay day was his favorite - he didn't get bored until around 2 or 3. Whenever we were paged, we did go immediately and pick him up. I suppose you could just call the lab, though, just to see what the story is.

 

[floridaminnie]

There are also phones around the ship that you can call the extension to the lab if you want.

 

[jcemom]

I'm considering booking a cruise in 2006 when the dates are released. However, my boys will be 12 and 13 then. Do you think there would be any way to get the 13 year old into the younger group along with his brother? He is very shy and I don't think he would enjoy being in the "teen crowd" alone--actually I KNOW he wouldn't. If not, I should probably wait another year so that they can be in the teen group together.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Our DD (who was 7 when we first cruised DCL two years ago,) did not like the Oceaneer's club. She was cooperative about going when DH and I went to Rockin Bar D (a couple of nights when we wanted to catch a show), but knowing how much she did not like it, we hardly ever sent her there.

The second year when she was old enough for the lab, she willingly went when they were making 'flubber', and even made a friend. However, the two of them together soon got bored, and preferred the arcades.

This year, she had sign-out privileges w/another friend (with whose family we traveled), and neither of them wanted to stay there at all. We permitted sign-out privs only if they were going to their staterooms or to the arcade.

I know there are a great many who mention that their children 'didn't want to leave the labs', and the DCL commercials focus on that, but I think the clubs/lab are overrated. (Hey, I'm not complaining. It's wonderful that the clubs/lab are there, and there are one or two nights that Mom and Dad might want some time together, but it comforted me knowing that my DD wasn't the only one who didn't like the clubs.)

 

[traycie2201]

jcemom, i had exactly the same question i've pm'd you with a copy of the reply i got from DCL it looks like it's fine to do it. happy cruising

 

[musicgirl]

When our ds was 11 & 12, he loved the clubs. In fact, he asked if he could back this year at 13 just before the cruise. BTW, he loved the stack.

He loved being able to go in and out at will. He knew that he needed to eat dinner with us and go to the shows with us. He also knew that if he messed up, this freedom would change!

If you have always given your kids guidelines about right and wrong, it will stay with them on the cruise.

The pre-teen age is a good time to let them start to spread their wings. They can not gain your trust in these matters if they never have the opportunity. DCL is a nice start.

Lorie