The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘family cruise’

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.

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.

1. 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)
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

If you choose to cruise with a child under the age of 3, you’ll want to consider the availability of babysitting or other supervised activities when deciding on a cruise line.  The availability of these services varies widely amongst cruise lines and can even vary by ship or time of year. 

In order to help you in your decision making process, we’ve put together the top 7 cruise lines with babysitting and supervised activities for children under 3.  UPDATED October 2011!

Queen Mary 2 Play Zone

1. Cunard Cruise Line - Surprisingly, Cunard takes the number one spot.  Staffed in the British tradition, nannies and youth counselors care for infants and toddlers from ages 1 to 6 in their Play Zone/Nursery.  They will change diapers, feed and care for your little one during scheduled daytime and evening hours, which vary by itinerary (generally 9AM-Midnight with closure from Noon-2PM and 5-6PM except the first and last days).  Also offered is evening group babysitting, which allows mom and dad to have a night out on the “town”.  The best part…there is no limit on the number of hours your child can spend there and it’s free!  Your tiny tots under 1 year old may play in the Play Zone too when accompanied by a parent or guardian (2012 itineraries will require parental supervision for children under 2 years of age).
2. Disney Cruise Line – Babysitting for infants and toddlers from 12 weeks to 3 years is available in the Flounder’s Reef Nursery (or It’s a Small World Nursery onboard the Disney Dream) from 9AM until 11PM each evening  (5PM-11PM on the first day) at a cost of $6/hour for the first child and $5/hour for each sibling (two hour minimum).  There is an activity area as well as a quiet area for napping infants and toddlers.  Nursery staff does change diapers if you provide them with supplies.  You may reserve up to 10 hours in advance of sailing (18 hours for 7-night sailings, 28 hours for 10-12 night sailings and 35 hours for 14-night sailings). Additional hours must be booked onboard on an as available basis.  This is the only cruise line that offers babysitting for infants under 6 months of age.
3. Carnival Cruise Line – Camp Carnival is unique in that it offers daily activities for toddlers beginning at age 2 and the youth staff will change diapers.  Free activities continue throughout the day (generally open at 9AM on sea days and 15 minutes before arrival on port days) until 10PM.  There are also breaks during the day to allow for supervised free play by younger toddlers and infants (6-24 months).  After hours group babysitting for children aged 6 months to 11 years is available from 10PM to 3AM every evening for $6.75/hour (plus 15% gratuity) as part of the new “Night Owls” program.  Several different parties are also offered during the cruise for fees ranging from $13 to $33 (plus 15% gratuity). There is no limitation on the frequency of visits and participation, making this the most comprehensive program for two year old toddlers.
4. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – RCCL (along with its sister, Celebrity Cruises) is the only major mass market cruise line to offer in-cabin babysitting.  From 8AM-1AM each day, you may reserve a private babysitter (two are required, but you pay a flat fee) who will care for your children in the comfort of your own cabin for $19/hour (for up to three children in a family). They will feed, change and entertain.  This is the perfect situation for late night fun while the kids sleep soundly in their own bed.  All children must be at least one year of age, although, I’ve heard of numerous (successful) accounts of families rounding up when they make their reservation.  Another option for young children is the Royal Babies (6-18 months) and Royal Tots (18-36 months) programs, which are limited in scope and require parental participation. Oasis Class ships, along with Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas,  also have an onboard nursery that offers full services for children aged 6-36 months.  The fee is $8/hour and hours of operation vary according to each day’s itinerary (generally 10AM-Midnight on sea days with a closure from 4-5PM and opening 30-minutes prior to arrival on port days). The nursery is not open for babysitting on embarkation day. Reservations are first-come, first-served and you can only pre-book up to 20 hours. Additional hours are released on a space available basis.
5. Celebrity Cruises – In-cabin babysitting is offered under the same terms as RCCL’s program.  In addition, Celebrity offers Toddler Time, which designates varied hours each day as free play time in The Fun Factory for children under 3 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Fun filled treasure chests, containing lots of infant and toddler friendly toys, can also be signed out and brought to your room for the entirety of the cruise.
6. Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL is the other cruise line that offers daily supervised activities for toddlers beginning at age 2.  However, diaper changing is not available.  You will be left with a pager that will summon you should their diaper become soiled.  Group babysitting for children aged 2 and up is also available from 10PM to 1AM each evening and while in port for $6/hour for the first child and $4/hour for each additional sibling.  The only activity area for children under the age of 2 is the Under 2 Zoo, which is basically a conference room (on most ships) with a dozen or so well worn toys where parents can play with their kids and meet other families. No real activity programs or babysitting is available for little tikes under the age of 2, making this one of the least appealing programs for infants.
7. Crystal Cruises- In-cabin babysitting is available for infants starting at 6 months, subject to availability.  The fee is $10/hour for one child, $15/hour for 2 children and $20/hour for 3 children.  There is also a children’s playroom available to children under 3 year old when accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Children’s programs and activities may be limited outside of peak summer and holiday seasons.
   

   Royal Tots Playtime

Our top pick for a 2-3 year old is Carnival Cruise Line as a result of their willingness to change diapers and no charge activities on port days, not to mention the ability to obtain group sitting until 3AM!  For infants under one year, Disney Cruise Line wins the competition hands down, providing the most comprehensive babysitting options.  Finally, in the aged 1 to 2 category, we’d have to go with Cunard Cruise Line due to it’s unlimited complimentary nursery and toddler program (this will change in 2012 when one-year-old children require parental supervision).  Although, if it’s in-cabin babysitting that you’re looking for, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line or Celebrity Cruises is the way to go.

No matter which cruise line you choose, be sure to confirm the availability of the program for your sailing.  Sign up immediately upon embarkation (or in advance if allowed) and partake in the various family activities that many of the cruise lines offer.  The Family Treasure Hunt was one of the highlights of our last cruise!  Cruising with little ones is possible if you choose the right cruise.

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

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 Take a peek inside!

 Table of Contents

 Preface

 About Cruising With Kids

 Ports of Call

 Cruise Line Reviews

 Ship by Ship Recaps

 Special Tips & Secret Cabins

 You will find:

 *Family friendly cruise line reviews
 *Extended ship profiles
 *Family favorite shore excursions
 *Cruising tips for families of all ages
 *Cruise line tips and ‘secret cabins’
    …and more

Summary

Our guide provides straight-forward, no-nonsense information coupled with candid reviews based upon over 20 years of cruising experience. Not all cruise lines or ships are ideal for every family. Recognizing this, we perform a detailed review from a family-friendly perspective of ninety-seven ships across the seven major cruise lines.

You certainly have many choices when planning a cruise; however, most guides are produced for a broad audience of cruisers. Cruising as a family requires special considerations. Although the selection process is similar to that of other cruisers, families need to employ different criteria when selecting nearly all aspects of a cruise. We walk you through the selection process, discuss pre-cruise planning and then take you on board with tips and tricks for making the most of your cruise vacation. This guide is a must read for anyone who is planning to cruise with kids.

*Pre-order now and save $5 off of the cover price! Books are in stock – orders placed by Noon Monday-Friday will ship the same day. Allow 2-7 business days for delivery.

Customers residing outside of the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands may order our guide on Amazon.com.

Be sure to visit our new Cruising With Kids website for more family cruising resources, as well as up to date information on our guide!

Well, let’s start out on a positive note – our new book, Cruising Family Style – A Guide to Cruising With Kids, is going to change the way that families think about and research cruise vacations. We’ve packed it with detailed cruise line reviews, ship profiles with charts and helpful port recaps, in addition to lots of suggestions and tips that will give readers an advantage over their fellow passenger. These tips alone will be worth the cost of the publication.

On the downside, we are running about 6 weeks behind schedule. When we began this endeavor, we targeted the publication to be approximately 200 pages, which grew to 240 pages after writing began. We anticipate the book will actually come out to be over 300 pages once we are finished. We are not willing to sacrifice quality of content, so the release date will be pushed back to late January, 2011. In order to accomplish that goal, we will keep our posting to a minimum in the next several weeks.

Thank you for your continued support! Be sure to subscribe to our e-mail alerts to receive a discount code for our book!

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