Advice Needed on Zuiderdam Kids Program and Facilities

[chiachi2005]

My family is tentatively scheduled for an Alaskan Cruise on the Zuiderdam. Our group will have 4 kids in the 3-7 yr. kids program.

After spending lots of time trying to find out if Club HAL has toys in their kids' room, I was told there are no toys at all, only crayons and paper. I find this so hard to believe so thought I would try to find out from past cruising families if this is really true.

I really want to make sure my kids are not bored on the cruise-- they like scheduled activities but also just need free playtime as well.

Would appreciate any insight as to what is inside CLUB HAL for the 3-7 yr. age group.

[NelleS]

Bump.

[Megsie1000]

We haven't ever been on the Zuiderdam, so I can't comment on that Club HAL specifically.

We did go on the Rotterdam last year to Alaska and my two girls were 4 & 7 at the time, so they were in that same age range and were together in Club HAL.

I don't remember seeing "toys" per se, but what I can tell you is that my girls had an absolute blast. In fact, they begged to go to Club HAL every waking moment. Whatever they did in that room, it entertained them. They had different projects and activities, occasionally they watched movies, they had theme nights and contests.

We let their "free play" time be the swimming pool in the afternoons.

I think the lack of toys is probably HAL trying to get away from this being like a "daycare" and more like an enrichment sort of program, and I personally like that. The girls actually cried at the end of the week when they had to say "goodbye" to the counselors. They still talk about Club HAL and this was over a year ago that we went.

Make sure that all the kids are potty trained to avoid disappointment. They don't take kids that are not potty trained into the program.

Our 3-year old is now potty trained (Hallelujah!) so he will be able to go to Club HAL on our upcoming January cruise. Woohoo!

[chiachi2005]

Thanks for your helpful response. I definitely would appreciate the educational aspect of the kids' program but do recognize that my son likes to have time just to play on his own. He gets tired in constant large group settings. Do you know if they did any educational "talks" for the kids? On Island Princess, they will have a Park Ranger come in to do a special Ranger talk as part of the kids' program.

[osagegal]

We were on the Zuidy in Alaska this past July. My son is 9, so a little older than your children, but he had an absolute blast @ Club HAL. It really surprised me because typically he doesn't care for group activities, but he wanted to go every time they were open. I also know that when there were rangers visit the ship, they also visited club HAL and had special activities geared toward their age group. I don't think you have to worry about the kids needing alone time, Club Hal would go for only 3 hours at a time with long breaks between sessions, so if your kiddos were "grouped" out, just don't send them to the next session. Hope this helps!!!

[1of4]

I took my two kids, age 7 and 10 on the Volendam in August. I believe the Club Hal experience is similar no matter which ship. I too was worried but I shouldn't have been. Both loved Club Hal which was a surprise as our daughter is not a "group" person. both begged to go to Club Hal for the full time it was open. They did a lot of crafts, had many board games and books but no toys that I noticed. Since there were only 10 kids in the 3-7 program that week and all were 6 or 7 years old they were allowed to go into the 8-12 area and play the Wii and other games too. A park ranger came aboard in Glacier Bay and did a program just for Club Hal and gave the kids a nice goodie bag with badges, etc. The kids got exercise books from the Ranger that they have kept.

Other activities they participated in: ship-wide scavenger hunt, movies, pjamma party, and cooking their breakfast from scratch in the culinary arts centre. Every day the program was different and the kids just loved it. Our daughter also cried when we left on the last night.

The hours were 9:00 to 11:30; 1:00 to 4:00 (maybe 4:30 can't remember) and 7:00 to 10:00. I couldn't believe it but they wanted to stay right to 10 PM and I got blasted by my 7 year old once as I showed up at 9:45 which, in his opinion, was WAY too early!

One night the ship rolled a bit as we were crossing over to the inside passage and the Club Hal girls actually came to find us with the kids as all other kids had left as they were not feeling well. They knew where we were and instead of calling us they just brought the kids to us.

I can't say enough good things about Club Hal.

[kazu]

If you look at the HAL site, there is some info - here is some of it that might be helpful. There is more on the site.

My ds took her daughters and the youngest (who qualified for club Hal) really loved it. She wanted to go there all the time!

Club Hal is one of the Hal's best kept secrets IMO;)

From HAL: Club HAL® — Kids*: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, arts and crafts, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo, pirate treasure hunts or a farewell pizza party. Children in the Kid's age group must be toilet trained. Children in pull-ups or diapers are not allowed in the youth facilities, due to mandates from US Public Health. Exceptions to this rule cannot be made

[Megsie1000]

There was a Park Ranger on our Rotterdam Alaska cruise. I believe he spoke on the ship to everyone and also went to Club HAL.