Pools?

[TCROMW1013]

I would be interested in opinions on the pools on the 7 day cruise. We have booked for November 29, 2003 and I am a little concerned. Just how crowded do these get? I have two little water rats (ages 8 and 12) and I think they will be upset if the pools are too crowded to use.

Thanks for your input.

 

[floridaminnie]

If you go early in the morning when it opens, you will have the pool to yourself, plus it will be nice and clean. If you go in the afternoon when everyone is getting ready for early dinner, you will also have the pool to yourself, but it won't be as clean. We also went to the Mickey pool during our day at Castaway Cay after we did everything we wanted to do at the island and had it all to ourself. DD really enjoyed that. When it's crowded, parents don't watch their kids. The teacher in me came out and I had to yell at kids in the Mickey pool and the Goofy pool.

 

[lctinkerbell]

Normally the pools are quite crowded. The best thing to do is have your bathing suit under your clothes while just getting on the ship. Then go in when your all set with getting in your room, etc. I tried going in the pool around 2 and it was really crowded people were splashing all around and kicking. I think they'll get enough swimming at the islands like Castaway Cay. I love to swim too but the deeper pool was the busiest. The mickey pool is very shallow but not as busy. I wish it wasnt sooo busy....

 

[izzinmac]

They can be crowded on days at sea, but you can minimize that if you get there early in the day and leave by late morning/early afternoon. Also, days in port are good times to use the pools. Have them take there suits with them on departure day. The pools are almost empty from boarding time to the lifeboat drill. If the weather is decent, and you have spare time, that is a good time to use the pools.

We are going on the same cruise dates, and the ship will be decorated for Christmas. We went on the same dates two years ago on a 4 day Wonder cruise, and it was a great time to travel. As I recall, the child population was somewhat lower on that cruise since most were back in school after the Thanksgiving break. So that could help keep pool crowds down.

 

[inkkognito]

When you are on Castaway Cay, take your little water rats all the way down to the end of the family beach. It's quite a hike, but it's worth it. Most people set up "base camp" as soon as they see the beach, so the area at the end doesn't get populated till much later, and even then it's rarely crowded. They will be very close to the kids activity "island" and also to Castaway Jo's game room so they can have some fun (pool, foosball, basketball, and the like) when the beach gets more crowded or if they just need some time out of the sun. When hubby and I decide not to go to the adult beach, that's where we set up. As an added bonus, there are some hammocks nearby that don't get taken till pretty late because people don't know that they're there, and the kids can look at the ship from the telescope at Heads Up bar.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[TCROMW1013]

Thanks for all your help. Izzi - hope to meet you on our cruise.