pirate treasure hunt cruise for kids ?

[princess lovers mom]

has anyone done this cruise? I see that it lists the ages for up to 10 yrs old...has anyone sent an older sibling alone 11 or 12 and did they like it or is it too immature?

 

[Jsands72]

I can let you know in 3 weeks. We leave next week and my 5yr old son is signed up for one. I'll let you know when we get back.

 

[TruBlu]

My boys are signed up to go in June. The lower range is 4 years old, so I would think an older (than 10) child would feel very out of place. They may not let them go since they list that it is for ages 4 to 10. I know that adults are not allowed. If that is a deal breaker for you, you may want to call and find out before you think about it too much.

 

[princess lovers mom]

not a deal breaker by any means...just really looking for something extra for sisiters to do together ages 8 and 11...a lot of choices for the younger one, but not many that also would be for the pre teen......

 

[DLBDS]

My DD9 did this back in Nov./Dec. and she was the oldest one on the boat. She enjoyed it for what it was but I think she felt a little out of place. I asked her if she would want to do it again and she said she didn't think so. I think she had the been-there-done-that attitude. It's great for younger kids though. They have them pair up so no one is left out.

 

[princess lovers mom]

thanks DLBDS that's what I kinda thought.....

 

[kbuckley]

What do you mean adults can't go? Is it a ride where they're not gone long or something more?

 

[Ellester]

What do you mean adults can't go? Is it a ride where they're not gone long or something more?

The Pirate Cruise is a 2 hour cruise on a pontoon boat from one of the hotel marinas (our girls sailed from the GF). They go for a treasure hunt and have lunch while they are out.

Our girls were 5 and 8 1/2 and enjoyed it, but I agree that 10 would really be the upper end of the spectrum (especially for girls).

 

[thunderbird1]

not a deal breaker by any means...just really looking for something extra for sisiters to do together ages 8 and 11...a lot of choices for the younger one, but not many that also would be for the pre teen......

There is the new adventure AK (Bush something?). I don't remember the exact details, but I think it was for ages 6-14, 3 hours, in the afternoon.

It sounded fun to me (scouting for future trips), but the downside is it's quite a bit more expensive than the pirate cruise--something like $70 per child.

Mine (will be 10 and 4) will be doing one of the pirate cruises in September. I think my dd is looking forward to being "in charge" of her little brother. Hopefully that will distract her from the fact that she's surrounded by younger kids.

 

[auroraarielella]

What do you mean adults can't go? Is it a ride where they're not gone long or something more?

But yes, the kids go off on their own and discover treasure. You are issued a pager and a receipt. It is 2 hours. You hang around the dock, the resort, or whatever your level of comfort. There is a thread on the Restaurant board for helecopter parents who are concerned about this trip.

 

[thunderbird1]

There is the new adventure AK (Bush something?). I don't remember the exact details, but I think it was for ages 6-14, 3 hours, in the afternoon.

Bush camp! There's a link at the top of the Disboards under the news section.

Also, it occured to me last night that the DIS or allears or somewhere lists different ages for some of the cruises. I think the one at the GF was up to age 12? But that's not official, and could very well be incorrect. It would be strange to have different ages for 2 such similar cruises.

 

[Nienor]

I just arranged for my son to go on the Albatross Treasure Cruise. The limit on all the cruises seems to be ten. Only the Bush camp goes up to 14. But it's alot more expensive.

 

[klinkprincesses]

I haven't heard of this pirate cruise before now. My 4 yr old dtr would love it! Is my 3 yr old too young?

 

[auroraarielella]

The cruise is for 4 to 10. They seem to keep to that. My own experience:

When my five year old went on the pirate cruise at GF last year, there was a tiny boy crying. The mom was paying and telling him he was going to have fun. I think the cast members KNOW that parents will lie to get the child on the cruise, so one of the cast members bent down and asked the tiny crying boy how old he was.....You all KNOW the answer. A three year old doesn't KNOW to lie. The mom was still insisting he was 4. I don't really know how they resolved it, because they took them aside from the main group and he did not go on the cruise. Was it because he was crying too much or because he was 3? If he was not crying, and boarded as a "small <four> year old" as the mom registered him as, would they have done anything?

Someone may think their 3 year old is very mature - but Disney has the most experience with children. And remember they are in a strange place with strange people. Even some 4 and 5 year olds ( or 8, 9, or 10 year olds) can get shy/frightened to be left without their parents. I am not discouraging the cruise. I am saying keep to the age limits and know your own child's level of comfort with being dropped off.

 

[thunderbird1]

I think the age limits also have to do with child care licensing, at least for the bottom end of the range. There are different licensing and staffing requirements for different ages, so they can't legally take kids who are underage.

As for the upper end of the range, one thing they're trying to do is keep it fun for the littler kids. It's not as much fun if there are older kids who can beat the little ones because they're bigger and faster. Not that your 11 year old would, but that's the reasoning they gave me when I asked about an all ages or family cruise.

 

[prplcrzy]

There is also horseback riding at Fort Wilderness, but I think the minimum age is 9. You could check and see if it's changed. Will your 8 yo turn 9 by your trip?

Have fun!


Nancy

 

[java]

My 9 year old daughter just went on this with her 4 year old brother last week. While leading up to it- she was not thrilled with the idea- when she got there she was into it whole hog. There were plenty of girls - I would say she was one of the oldest- with maybe one older girl there. Most were in the 4-6 range I would say. She had a blast though. And they let better behaves do more things. In other words, there is a part where they get to put together a puzzle map- if they are misbehaving and not listening they don't get to do this. Of course I only heard about this because dd did get to do it as did ds- if they didn't I don't think I would have heard about it....