Timing of Day 1

[DopeyDame]

What does the timing of the sail away/activities on Day 1 typically look like. (Magic from Miami, in case that matters)
We're trying to figure out when to do kids club on the first day, but I don't want the kids to miss sailing away from port. At the same time, I understand it's helpful for the kids to go to kids club on the first day. Should we just do after dinner for kids club? Or before sail away? (We'll also have a 12 year old who can do kids club and edge)

 

[dcassetta]

The clubs will not be in secured programming until after sail away. The whole family can explore the clubs and Edge.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Yes. on the first day, the kids clubs are "open house" which the whole family can explore. Sail Away party typically happens right before first dinner seating.

 

[DopeyDame]

Oh perfect - thanks! So just confirming that means we don't need (and can't make) any kids club reservations on boarding day.

 

[dcassetta]

There may be reservations available in the evening, but not before the first dinner seating.

 

[tj48103]

Oh perfect - thanks! So just confirming that means we don't need (and can't make) any kids club reservations on boarding day.

I believe you can make some in the evening that would not be open house. Sailing away happens around 5pm. Stop into Edge and they will have the schedule for that nights activities posted on the whiteboard. Then you can see if there is something your son would like to be there for that night. They do icebreakers that first night where he can get to know the other kids.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Something to look for when sailing out of Miami - the coast guard has a small boat with a few police welding assault rifles (I don't know my rifles but it looked like a kick b$tt model). Depending on your kid, it might be cool or it might be scary. Personally made me a little scared.

 

[TestingH2O]

On our spring break sailings, the first reservations are at 4:00.

 

[Frozencleo]

We sailed on the Magic in November, and left the dock about 5:00. We had first seating for dinner, and booked the kids in the kids’ club after that, but honestly, they would have been fine going the next day too. The only thing that was different as far as I could tell, was all the kids got a DCL string backpack, but we ended up with about three per kid (they went every day of the five night cruise), so clearly they were handing them out a few days into sailing. With the way they have it set up now, with the kids joining a specific group and rotating around, I’m not sure making time for them to go the first night is super important.

 

[lanejudy]

Going to the kids' space on the first evening is more important for Edge and Vibe, where they do ice breakers and plan activities and pretty much that's when the kids make friend connections. It's not as big a deal to do the Club/Lab the first night.

 

[dcassetta]

On our spring break sailings, the first reservations are at 4:00.

Based on this, please disregard my previous statements about early dinner. In the past, they did not start secured programming so early.

 

[TestingH2O]

Based on this, please disregard my previous statements about early dinner. In the past, they did not start secured programming so early.

I thought that was interesting as well. The first day spots are only 1.5 hours instead of 2.5. I'm guessing that they are trying to have more slots so every kid has a chance to go on the first day.

 

[KatieKepic]

We just sailed on the magic out of Miami. The first kids club spot was at 4 pm and it was open house before that. They had a character (Jessie from Toy Story) out during open house. There currently isn't a sail away party but we left the port a little after 5. The show the first night was Tangled but it was offered again the 2nd night as well on our sailing. Kids club spots were 1.5 hours the first night. The first night on ours had pluto's pj party where pluto came and each child got a pillow case. You can always ask the kids club staff which activities are which days to make your decision that way. That's what we did an it worked out well.