Question about Small World Nursery

[James G]

My wife and I would like like to try to book at Palo and will be having our twins with us, they will be 22 months at time of travel. We aren't sure how they will handle on their own, away from family. Normally someone from the family watches them. We are thinking of booking a 2 hour [practice] session at Small World a day before to see how they do before our reservation. If for some reason they don't do well during the practice session is there any cancelation fees if we end up have to cancel our Palo reservation and their real Small World Nursery reservation during the time our of Palo reservation? Also if we have to get them early, lets say 15-20 mins after we check them in they just aren't having it and we have to go back and get them, will be be charge any fees for them not staying the full 2 hours?

On a side note, let's say they end up doing well and our 2 hour reservation is coming close to being over and we are having a great time, are we able to extend their nursery stay by phone or do we have to go back in person and see if they are able to stay longer?

Thanks

J

 

[NephieRN]

I don’t have the answer to your questions as we never cancelled or extended but I just wanted to encourage you to take them the very first day to the open house at the nursery so they can explore the space and meet some of the staff with you present. Our 2 year old had never been watched by anyone except myself, my husband, and our parents so I was skeptical if the nursery would work so we did not prebook any time. That first day we stayed there for around 30 minutes getting to know everyone and the space. Not long after we left she was begging to go back and play. She went everyday for an hour or two at her request. To this day (almost a year later) she still talks about the nursery and how much she loves and misses Miss Diann.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My wife and I would like like to try to book at Palo and will be having our twins with us, they will be 22 months at time of travel. We aren't sure how they will handle on their own, away from family. Normally someone from the family watches them. We are thinking of booking a 2 hour [practice] session at Small World a day before to see how they do before our reservation. If for some reason they don't do well during the practice session is there any cancelation fees if we end up have to cancel our Palo reservation and their real Small World Nursery reservation during the time our of Palo reservation? Also if we have to get them early, lets say 15-20 mins after we check them in they just aren't having it and we have to go back and get them, will be be charge any fees for them not staying the full 2 hours?

On a side note, let's say they end up doing well and our 2 hour reservation is coming close to being over and we are having a great time, are we able to extend their nursery stay by phone or do we have to go back in person and see if they are able to stay longer?

Thanks

J

Regarding the Palo reservation, this is from the DCL website:

When Guests have not cancelled a dining reservation at Palo at least 24 hours prior to the reservation or do not arrive at the restaurant to honor their reservation, the reservation is considered confirmed and 100% of the per person cost is applied to the Guests' folio.

And for Small World Nursery:

Cancellations may be made without penalty 4 hours or more before your reservation time. No-shows will forfeit the entire cost of care for the time reserved while Guests who call to cancel fewer than 4 hours before their reservation time will forfeit half the cost of care.

As to the ability to extend the time and leaving early, I don't know.

 

[lklgoodman]

Whether or not they could stay longer would depend on if they have 2 openings for them or not for that time. They only allow a certain number of children in there at a time. Taking them early on during the cruise is good advice.

 

[KT2038]

Hi I am a youth activities counselor. I have very rarely had children that we couldn’t settle or distract in some way. Unless they are extremely upset we wouldn’t call you to come and get them, especially if we know you are at Palo or off the ship.
If you cancel during your time period you will still need to pay some of the fees. You can call and see if there are spaces available over the phone, since they are already checked in you don’t need to come and re-sign them in.

 

[Quellman]

If Palo is taking longer, let the server know, and they'll contact the nursery for you. No worries.

 

[gotomu212]

Wanted to add our little one was feeling bad Palo night (not illness but really rough seas) and there was no problem cancelling both Palo and the nursery with an hours notice and said they always let people cancel when they are ill or have childcare issues.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

The youth activity counselors on the ship are really fantastic. Our first night we put our 2 year old in the nursery and our 4 year old in the kids club to go to Remy. About ten minutes in we got a notice that our 4 year old wanted to be picked up. The front desk called down to let them know we were at dinner and while we were a little nervous throughout, they assured us it happened all the time and it would be fine.

Sure enough when we went to pick her up she was playing tag with a cast member and was super happy! And our two year old LOVED the nursery. The fact that they will go together will likely help--I know both of my girls were nervous about being separated, so we're really looking forward to them being able to be together in the kids club this time.