Disney Cruise Line Makes Changes To Kid’s Program
In December 2011, Disney Cruise Line rolled out several unannounced changes in the way that it administers its extremely popular kid’s program. The chatter that ensued was quite overwhelming, so we thought it might be time (now that the dust has settled) to take an objective look at what really has changed – for better or worse.
Disney Cruise Line has always offered one of the most comprehensive and extensive programming schedules for kids of all ages. In doing so, they traditionally allowed some degree of flexibility in the age categories, which was always much appreciated by parents who sailed with children who straddled age groups. Officially, the categories are and have been: Oceaneer Club/Lab (Ages 3-10), Edge (Ages 11-13) and Vibe (Ages 14-17).
The flexibility that existed at one time would allow 18 year-old teens who were still in high school or older developmentally challenged adults to participate in Vibe at the discretion of the counselors. From what we understand, one or more incidents may have led to a change in this policy. So, as it stands today, Disney is strictly enforcing the maximum age for Vibe.
However, there still appears to be some flexibility on the lower end. We are aware of situations where a 14 year-old has been allowed to downgrade to Edge and a 13 year-old has been allowed to upgrade to Vibe with parental waiver. One thing is clear, however, this choice must be made at the beginning of the cruise and it may not be changed.
That leaves an open question with respect to the Oceaneer Club/Lab. Although the guidelines state that the maximum age is ten, the “unwritten policy” has been that children up to the age of twelve were able to participate. We have seen guidance that leads us to believe that is still accurate. We are sailing at the end of February and will return with a full report on the implementation of the new guidelines.
If this were the only change, it would have caused a bit of a stir, but probably would not have received as much attention as it has among families. The change that seems to have elicited more concern among parents is the elimination of parents in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. According to the new guidelines, adults are only allowed into the secure space briefly for drop-off and pickup. Now, what “briefly” means is open to interpretation, but from passenger accounts it appears to translate into five minutes or less. Parents are also required to wear a badge during this time.
This change hits parents with children who are not potty-trained the hardest. Prior to this change, these toddlers were allowed to play in these spaces under parental supervision. Likewise, parents of children who require special assistance could also enjoy time with their children in these spaces. Now, they are restricted from using the space, which is what has caused the most uproar.
In order to offset the inconvenience of this new policy, Disney has added a daily open house where children and adults can participate in activities together. As a matter of fact, participating children MUST be accompanied by an adult. During this time, the opposite space (Club or Lab) runs the normal supervised program.
This setup has resulted in several complaints. First, the one secure space becomes overcrowded during open house. Second, children ages 3 to 10 are now vying to participate in activities within the same space. Third, times are not announced prior to sailing, so parents are unable to plan dinner or spa reservations with certainty. Finally, passengers have complained that the duration (3 hours) is too long. Our response – this is a work in progress and Disney will undoubtedly make adjustments that make sense for their passengers.
In the past, we’ve given Disney high marks for the flexibility in the kid’s program. Honestly, it really is what sets them apart from most other cruise lines. With this move, we’ve seen them move closer to Carnival or Celebrity in their implementation, so only time will tell if this will hurt their rating and popularity among cruising families.
Check back with us in early March for a complete first-hand account! In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.
Safety At Sea For Families – Lessons From The Costa Concordia
After covering the topic of safety at sea in depth in light of the November 2010 incident aboard Carnival Splendor, I never dreamed that I’d feel compelled to address this topic again just 14 months later. Well, unfortunately, serious safety related questions have arisen in light of the recent tragedy aboard Costa Concordia.
On the evening of January 13, 2012, Costa Concordia struck a solid object off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio. The twelve hours that followed will undoubtedly become legendary in a very short time, but we as cruise passengers must react to this tragedy with swift action today by changing some of our behaviors now.
I’m about to sail on my 32nd cruise and each and every time I step aboard, I wince when thinking about having to sit through yet another muster. Well, perhaps it is important after all. New passengers who boarded Concordia in Rome didn’t have the advantage of a general muster and organized safety briefing. Perhaps that exercise may have saved their lives that night – we’ll never know.
In accordance with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), cruise lines are required to perform a general muster of passengers within 24 hours of sailing from an embarkation port. In the case of Concordia, she has three ports of embarkation, so the decision was made to minimize the discomfort by performing a single muster for both Rome and Savona passengers on Saturday. That day would never arrive for some.
Thankfully, most cruise ships departing from North America conduct a general muster prior to sailing, even during heavy rain or other inclement conditions. However, in the event that it does not occur prior to sailing, there a a few things that you can do to prepare yourself. It may even be a good idea to perform these few simple steps even if your muster does occur prior to departure.
- Check your cabin to be sure that all lifevests are present and in good condition. If you have children, their lifevests should be weight appropriate. Any issues should be immediately addressed with your cabin attendant. (Note that on the world’s largest ships, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, lifevests are not kept in cabins)
- Review the map on the back of your cabin door. Not only will your muster station be clearly marked, but the evacuation path will be highlighted. Make it a priority to memorize this path and any alternates as you begin exploring the ship.
- Take 5 minutes to do a trial run. Walk from your cabin to the muster station, then to the lifeboat embarkation area. Note any landmarks that would help you to navigate this path in the dark. Having a small flashlight is an essential item for your packing list.
- Make a plan for your family to follow in the event of an emergency. We cover this topic more extensively in our book – Cruising With Kids.
Keep in mind that your muster station may be a lounge or other public area. Not only should you familiarize yourself with this location and the various entrances and exits, but also familiarize yourself with its location relative to your lifeboat and other lifeboats.
Costa Concordia was an unusual situation in many respects. Within a few short minutes of impact, the ship began to list. By the time the order to abandon ship was given, the ship was listing so badly that launching the lifeboats became a rather difficult process. So, what do you do when your lifeboat is unavailable? Luckily, there are canister launches that inflate upon hitting the water, so a lack of lifeboats is rarely an issue, although in extreme circumstances there may be a shortage of usable launches. Ships are required to have enough capacity for all passengers and crew plus 25%.
In the past, we’ve always advised passengers to follow the instructions of the crew. Unfortunately, this event has us revisiting that mantra. While crew instructions are typically accurate and based upon the most updated information from the captain, the chaos on the Concordia proved that perhaps we as passengers need to be partly self-reliant, as well. For example, if the ship is listing at 20%, returning to your cabin might not be a wise idea, despite what a crew member may tell you. Lifeboats are only designed to launch up to a 20% list. I guess what I’m saying is that we need to utilize common sense. Lifevests are always available at your muster station, so you will not be without one should you not retrieve it from your cabin.
Never wait to react. Take precautions and always put safety ahead of comfort. Having said that, do not overreact. Know your surroundings. Before sailing, you should research your route, becoming familiar with water temperatures and conditions. Also, pay close attention to the daily report from the bridge and other posted information regarding route and weather conditions during your cruise. Having this information in the back of your mind might be useful in the event of an emergency. Many passengers jumped from Concordia in an effort to swim to nearby land. For some, the cold waters were unexpected and deadly. It is never a good idea to jump into the sea unless it is a last resort.
Remain clam, listen closely for information updates and don’t be afraid to consult seasoned cruisers who might be able to provide valuable information. Thankfully, tragedies such as this are infrequent. However, they do remind us of the things that we take for granted. Crew members train for these emergencies each and every week. Cruising is safe, but the risks can’t be ignored. Prepare yourself and your family for potential emergencies and you’ll feel much more confident and in control if and when an emergency situation arises.
What If I Can’t Afford A Disney Cruise?
Yet another reader recently commented on our much controversial Norwegian Jewel Review that we posted almost 18 months ago. Surprisingly, it continues to be the number one article in terms of views each month and it also continues to elicit heated, and sometimes angry, comments. In this instance, we moderated the comment due to its vitriolic tone and its direct attack on a specific group of individuals, so it isn’t available for the public to read (sorry – this is a family-friendly website). However, some of the observations made by the writer has led us to finally address head-on the notion that “You get what you pay for” and the frequent complaint that “I can’t afford a Disney cruise”.
We’d like to believe that the quality of a cruise and the level of service provided by the crew are directly related to price. While I believe that is a fair generalization, I’ve sailed on the best and the worst cruise lines - the cost of the best isn’t always justified and the hidden costs of the worst is shocking. This leads to one of the most frequently asked questions – which cruise line is the best value? Well, that is quite simple with respect to families – Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruise Line. Hold on one minute – how can Disney, the most expensive of the mass market lines, be the best value? Simple, they provide an amazing product, along with amazing service, at a price that is less than luxury or upscale lines, such as Cunard or Crystal.
One of the biggest misconceptions with respect to Disney Cruise Line is that their cruises are not affordable. To that, I say, nonsense! You just need to be patient, have a good travel agent, or simply follow us on Twitter. We tweet all of the significant promotions available to the general public before they sell out. For example, we’re booked on the Disney Wonder for a prime week at the end of February. Our Deluxe Outside Cabin for four cost us a whopping $1,965 total, plus we get a $100 onboard credit. You’ll pay more than that on most other mass-market lines.
Okay, so you missed out on that special promotion or simply were not interested in those voyages – now what? Well, try Carnival Cruise Lines. While the quality and service doesn’t compare to Disney, the kid’s program is quite extensive and the facilities (including Waterworks and mini-golf) keep families entertained. A family of four can regularly sail for a week with Carnival for less than $2,000. That is affordable for most families, not to metion a good value for your money.
On the other hand, we consider any money spent with Norwegian Cruise Line to be a bad investment. No, we aren’t snobs, nor do we expect to receive 5-star service for a 3-star price, but we do expect NCL to compare favorably to Carnival Cruise Lines, the other mass-market cruise line within NCL’s price category. From a family persepctive, they fail miserably on that front.
So, if you’re looking for value, my recommendation is to wait for a super sale on Disney Cruise Line, or alternatively, give Carnival Cruise Lines a try. While the situation has improved slightly with the launch of Norwegian Epic, NCL continues to provide a mediocre product, albeit at a low cost, at least initially. If any of our readers who have sailed both Carnival and NCL would like to put together a head-to-head comparison, I’d be happy to post it. Until then, I’ll stick with my assessment and recommendations as it relates to NCL.
Bon Voyage!
Disclosure
Finding The Perfect Christmas Tree
We had lots of snow early this year in the Northeast, but we’re not expecting any measurable snowfall in New England during the annual tree hunting season. Going in search of the perfect Christmas tree is always a joy, but even better when you have to trudge through 6 inches of snow, right? We really will miss the snow again this year – oh well, I guess that means no puddle on the floor from melting snow.
Our local tree farm has new owners who have promised to begin planting lots of new trees – exciting! In what we can only assume is a new world record, it took us only five minutes to find a tree this year - the sparse offerings made that feat possible. Ironically, this may also be the nicest tree that we’ve had in years – a little pudgy, but beautful nonetheless.
When looking for a tree, we try to find a symmetrically round tree without any bald spots. Last year we had to scale down to fit our new ceiling height, so this year we thought we’d expand outward rather than upward. There is something to be said for a short, pudgy tree – stability. A few years ago, our tree was so big that it tipped over, partially landing on our oldest son. Don’t worry, all was well and we had a good laugh. Hopefully our selection this year won’t have to be anchored to anything.
Pricing and the perfect tree are always the subject of debate. Inevitably, the perfect tree always seems to win out, to the dismay of my wallet. I’ve failed to mention that many tree farms, only accept cash or check, so fair warning, come prepared with at least $50, because most tree farms no longer allow you to tag trees and return later to cut and collect them.
If you’re brave and doing your own cutting, make sure you bring a well sharpened saw, or be prepared to hack away at the sticky stump for a while. You’ll need someone to hold the tree and guide it to the ground as you get near the end. If you have young kids that need entertaining, try to make short order of it or enlist the help of a nearby family or one of the kind helpers. Most farms have carts, so be sure to grab one if you are going long and far for the perfect tree. Dragging can lead to broken limbs and dirt or snow in your otherwise perfect tree.
Having the tree bundled is quite an interesting task to watch. If you’ve selected the right tree, it will struggle to fit through the bundler. That is a sign of a full, rotund tree that will compete with Santa for girth. This year, it took three people to get the tree through the bundler – ah, a job well done. Now comes time to pay and partake in snacks and hot cider – my favorite part of the trip. Of course, this is encouragement to haul your tightly constrained tree to the car and tie it down for the trip home. Once you get the kids settled into the car, mount the tree on the roof like a trophy. If you’re one of those lucky folks with a pickup, we’re jealous! We use heavy twine (which we always bring with us) to wrap the top and bottom twice, through and over the tree, then cross tying the two sides. Make sure that the doors are open when you do this. Don’t laugh, the first time we did this we opened the windows, not even thinking we wouldn’t be able to open the doors afterward…lesson learned. Folks with SUVs or Minivans may be tempted to stuff the tree inside. Don’t do it – you’ll be cleaning the sticky, messy remains well after the tree is gone.
When you arrive home, immediately cut the bottom branches to fit it in the stand. We use these branches to make a wreath or spray. Experts recommend making a fresh cut to the trunk, but we’ve always felt that if the tree is cut fresh and put into water with an hour it isn’t necessary. Most experts also recommend a flat cut, but we disagree. We always cut it at a slight angle (approximately 5-8%) so that if the trunk rests against the bottom of the base, there will be an unobstructed surface to absorb water. Never make a “V” cut and never compromise the stability of the tree. Mounting the stand while the tree is lying on the ground makes the process a bit easier.
Now you’re ready to stand it up, fill the base to the rim with warm water and let it drip dry. If you plan on storing it longer, you should put it into a sheltered area to protect it from drying winds.You should do this outside if the tree is wet or if you haven’t prepared the area where it will stand, in advance. Once inside, get it in the perfect spot and cut the netting. It should unfold quickly, perhaps to reveal some remaining surprises inside. When placing a tree, be sure to test its tendency to tip by giving it a little push or pull. Once you’ve determined its most likely path should it tip, rotate the tree to ensure that path is toward the wall.
Fill the tree base to about 1/4 below the rim with warm water. You will need to water the tree every day for the first week. Thereafter, you should check it every other day. We do not add anything to the water and most experts recommend just plain water.
We’ve provided some tips based upon our experiences and opinions, but for more, The University of Illinois has an excellent comprehensive list of tips as does the National Christmas Tree Association. Most importantly, enjoy the time with your family and have fun!
This post is part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby. If you’ve enjoyed our photos, be sure to check out other great photos at Delicious Baby.
Disclosure
Christmas Tree Buying and Preparation Tips – Part Two
This is an updated repost from a series that we did last year.
So, you’ve decided to get a real tree…great! You have two options, buy a pre-cut tree at one of your local garden centers or cut your own tree at a tree farm. You won’t have to look around too hard to find pre-cut trees, independent garden centers as well as major retail chains sell them. Most trees farms also cut a select number of trees for their customers. These trees may be fresher than those you find at the retail centers.
Purchasing a pre-cut tree can still be made into a family activity, because half the fun is finding the perfect tree. Many people have the perception that by choosing and cutting their own tree, they will have a more extensive selection. Well, that is true, but it isn’t the major reason why I’d recommend cutting your own.
Pre-cut trees often travel long distances before arriving at their destination. Along the way, they will suffer from dehydration and be subject to drying winds on an open trailer, shortening their remaining life and impacting their natural beauty and scent. If you do decide to purchase a pre-cut tree, you should look for a garden center that sources the trees locally and keeps the trunks submerged in water. Often times, the large retail outlets compound the problems caused during transportation by leaving the trees bound and dry. Of course, the best place for a pre-cut tree is your local tree farm, although we find that most don’t store them properly either.
Before buying a pre-cut tree, test it’s freshness by pulling on and gently shaking the branches or gently banging the tree against the ground on it’s stump. If there is more than light needle loss, move on. You may find some areas of dry brown needles – this is okay, as long as it is limited. Also make sure that the bottom portion of the trunk in straight, otherwise it will not sit properly in the stand and will likely tip over at some point.
Timber...
By cutting your own, you don’t have to worry about any of those problems! Most farms will help you cut the one that you choose (and carry it back). This is definitely the best option if you are looking for extensive choices and a fresh tree.
They'll Help You Cut
They'll Help You Haul
You should choose a farm based upon its proximity to your home. The shorter the distance, the less exposure the tree will encounter on your trip home. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure that they offer the species and sizes of trees that you want. Most farms offer a half-dozen or so species and generally sizes will range from 5-9 feet, with taller trees in shorter supply. If you have a favorite, call in advance or check on their website to make sure they offer that type of tree this year and confirm their current size ranges. Because farms often rotate their growing, not all species may be available every year in the size you are seeking.
You can find a list of Christmas tree farms at the following websites or in your local newspaper.
National Christmas Tree Association
The least expensive tree, the Scotch Pine is sturdy, but has “sharper” needles. The White Pine has softer needles, but isn’t suitable for heavy ornaments. We like the Douglas Fir with its soft needles and sweet citrus scent or the Blue and Norway Spruce with their sturdy branches and fragrant pine scent. Because characteristics vary widely, before you decide on a tree, be sure to review the NCTA species information to ensure you choose the most suitable tree for your family. When you arrive at the farm, be sure to get a map or a verbal explanation of the layout. Species are often sectioned, so you can go directly to that area if you’ve already chosen what you like best.
Now that you’ve chosen what you want and where to get it, you’re ready for the big day out! In our final part, we’ll walk you through the process and give you the tips you need to keep your tree looking and smelling fresh throughout the holiday season. Don’t forget you’re camera!
Disclosure
