Noordam Kid's Club

[SusieCruisie]

Can anyone tell me if the kids club has video or computer games in the 7 year old category? Thanks :)

[RuthC]

I wish I could say for certain, but cannot.
I did wander around up there and found several rooms. There was one that had little kids in it, one for teens, and another that had what looked like video/computer games. I don't know what age groups that was for.

[mommybunny21]

I too am curious about this as my 6 year old would rather engage in the 8 yr old activities than the little kid activities. i doubt we'll get an answer as it seems no one travels with kids on HAL-no one can ever answer specific questions I have re kids.

[jhannah]

Of those who travel HAL ships with early elementary children, there is probably an extremely small percentage who frequent this forum. Therefore, first-hand answers will be understandably hard to come by. From what I've seen scoping out the Club HAL area, the video game center is for middle school age and higher.

[AlohaPride]

I too am curious about this as my 6 year old would rather engage in the 8 yr old activities than the little kid activities. i doubt we'll get an answer as it seems no one travels with kids on HAL-no one can ever answer specific questions I have re kids.

Mommybunny, your questions have been answered many times. In fact you made this same statement on this thread - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=393547

If those answers weren't good enough, maybe you could list your specific questions here and we could try again to answer them.

[mommybunny21]

NO ONE has answered the question I just posted.Please STOP saying my questions have been answered.

[jhannah]

NO ONE has answered the question I just posted.Please STOP saying my questions have been answered. The link to HAL's website provided in the other thread spells out the levels, and video games are only listed for the older kids.

Programs Available

Club HAL® - Kids*: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, ship tours, arts and crafts, charades, Uno®, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo 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.

Club HAL® - Tweens*: Tweens, ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend.

The Loft and The Oasis*: Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, dance lessons, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos. When there are more than 100 children on board, a HAL Talent Show is offered. (The Oasis is not available on all Vista-class ships)


That's coming from HAL. What more can be said here?

[AlohaPride]

Can anyone tell me if the kids club has video or computer games in the 7 year old category? Thanks :)

Hi Susie!

As far as video games for 7 year olds, the HAL website says:

Programs Available

Club HAL Kids: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, ship tours, arts and crafts, charades, Uno®, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo 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.

Club HAL Tweens: ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend.

The Loft and the Oasis: Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, dance lessons, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos. When there are more than 100 children on board, a HAL Talent Show is offered. (The Oasis is not available on all Vista-class ships)

*On the Prinsendam, youth activities are offered for ages 5-17. All other ships offer youth activities for ages 3-17.


Daily Programs
Times vary based on age group, number of children on board and staffing:

Sea Day - Morning, Afternoon and Evening Activities

Port Day - Evening only


Important Notes
A limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available at no charge. These must be reserved in advance at the time of booking. An international children's menu is offered at dinner and includes a variety of appetizers, salads and soups, and standard items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and chicken, plus chef's specials like beef tacos, grilled cheese, fish and chips or spaghetti.

This is all found at http://www.hollandamerica.com/onboard/kidscruise

[AlohaPride]

NO ONE has answered the question I just posted.Please STOP saying my questions have been answered.

And your specific question about video games was answered.

no one can ever answer specific questions I have re kids.

Then stop saying ALL your questions have been basically ignored. You have had questions answered.

Again, if you have more specific questions, maybe if you post them in numerical order we can try again to answer those.

[mommybunny21]

No it has not. I am asking PARENTS who have had children in the program if they have been able to jump programs. That is our question. Obviously the program is laid out in many places but it does not answer the question if a 6 year old can engage in another program. So Aloha Pride- did your 6/7 year old engage in the older activities?? i really don't appreciate people who have no answers misrerpresenting my question.

[middle-aged mom]

No it has not. I am asking PARENTS who have had children in the program if they have been able to jump programs. That is our question. Obviously the program is laid out in many places but it does not answer the question if a 6 year old can engage in another program. So Aloha Pride- did your 6/7 year old engage in the older activities?? i really don't appreciate people who have no answers misrerpresenting my question.

Hello, Mommybunny:

I am a parent of a 7-year-old, and we traveled recently on Zaandam. There were 140 children onboard ages 3-17. The rules were spelled out for us during an introductory meeting the first evening. So here is the bottom line:

The Club HAL programs are divided into three age groups: 3-7, 8-12, and 13-17.

With 140 children on board, they were NOT permitted to jump programs. The age grouping was strictly observed. Children were allowed to go down to a lower age grouping if parents wanted siblings to be together, but younger children were NOT permitted to move up to an older group. My daughter's age group was occasionally allowed to use some of the video arcade equipment when the older kids were not using them, but by and large, the video games are reserved for the older kids ages 8-12.

We were pleased with the Club HAL program. HAL's website offers extensive information regarding the program:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/onboard/kids.do

Now, if on your cruise the numbers of children are very small, the Club HAL director may choose to be more flexible, I don't know. Perhaps the groups would be merged together. I would suggest that you call HAL ship services at 1-800-541-1576, and ask them to tell you how many children will be on your cruise.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful cruise.:)

ps Oh, and SusieCruisie, I hope I may have answered your original question as well.

[AlohaPride]

No it has not. I am asking PARENTS who have had children in the program if they have been able to jump programs. That is our question. Obviously the program is laid out in many places but it does not answer the question if a 6 year old can engage in another program. So Aloha Pride- did your 6/7 year old engage in the older activities?? i really don't appreciate people who have no answers misrerpresenting my question.

**edit**Middle-Aged-Mom handled it better...**edit**

Now off to Cats and Coffe Cups

p.s. MAM, didn't you post this in the other thread too?

[middle-aged mom]

[quote=AlohaPride

p.s. MAM, didn't you post this in the other thread too?[/quote]

Yes, dear, I did. The first thing you learn as a mother is that nobody, but nobody, listens to you the first time.:) Aloha nui loa, dear AlohaPride. I like you very much.

Karin

[AlohaPride]

Aw, thanks, MAM, I like you too!! :)

[SusieCruisie]

Hi Guys! Whoa! What did I start here! Thank you all for the quick replies. I did indeed go to the HAL web site and read the way they categorize the groups. I was still wondering maybe they allow the 7 yr olds to play at certain times, even though it was not listed. Also, on our last cruise, they had computers set up with games. I kind of wanted to hear 1st hand from parents who knew for sure either way. Thanks again :)