Questions...

[Tangoray2]

Hi, I hope someone can help me, this is my first time cruising(4/21). I have a couple questions:

1) How do you manage kids on the cruise (4-1/2 & 8-/12) in regards to being tired. I have read some personal navigators and somethings start pretty late. I'm afraid my kids won't make it past 9p.m. I originally booked dinner for 6p.m. But know I am reconsidering and changing it to 8:30, I understand there are buffets all around. This way they can eat before the show, do the show at 6:30 and put them in kids club for about an hour and a half.
2) Anyway of booking early for couples massage on Castaway, spa services on the ship, wine tasting, etc. (any other adult activity)
3) Does the cruise offer in room babysitting?
4) Do cell phones work on the ship?
5) I'm confused...you have an early dinner and on debarkment day you leave the ship early. Can anyone explain?

I think that is it for right now. I hope someone can help me.
Thanks, Carol

 

[albiats]

Not sure about managing kids that are tired, mine is an adult now and she'll have to manage by herself.

Could be some confusion about buffets being 'all around'. There is a breakfast and lunch buffet on deck 9 at Beach Blanket Buffet. It is not available after lunch, except for the children that are in the Clubs and they eat as a group. There are fast food snacks at Pluto's Dog House and at the Pizzeria and room service is available.

You can't book anything early on the ship unless you're in a Cat 1 thru 3 suite with the Concierge Service, or with an optional American Express package and you've paid for the entire cruise with your Amex card. You can make reservations onboard starting at 1 or 1:30pm, the time and location is written in your Navigator. Ask for one during your checkin at the Port or at the latest, as soon as you board.

They don't offer in-room babysitting but group babysitting is available at Flounder's Reef on deck 5. It's available by sign-up and you may not be able to use it every evening, it's assigned according to how many request it. You sign up and give them your first choice time(s) and they contact you when all applications have been processed.

Cell phones work on the ship ONLY when you're within a mile or two of land, unless you have a Satellite Phone.

If you have Main Dining at 6pm, you'll also have early breakfast on the last morning. Immediately after breakfast and as soon as the ship clears customs, you can leave. The late breakfast people are expected to be finished and everyone is expected to leave the ship by 8:30am so they can begin getting ready for the new cruisers that will begin boarding by 12:15 or 12:30.

Hope that helps.

 

[Michelle]

Hi Tangoray2, and welcome to the Cruise Board.

You may be very surprised at the stamina your kids have with all the fun stuff going on in the kid's programming. The 4-year-old will be in the the 3-4 group in the Oceaneer Club and they do put mats out every night and put a movie on around 10:00 or so, so if the little one gets tired he/she can go to sleep.

The 8-year-old will be in the Oceaneer Lab and he/she will have plenty of fun stuff to do. My 8-year-old is normally in bed by 8:30 or 9:00 but on the cruise we let her stay up pretty much later and let her sleep in the next morning.

KEEP your early dining! You will be done with dinner by 7:30, the kids can go off into the programming or can watch the later show with you, which will still be over by 9:30. With late dining the meals last until 10:00 or so, and that is too late for most kids to be eating.

Have a great time!