GarlicBread

1 hour ago, flhokie said:

As someone else stated, she will not be able to sail. Cruiselines are very strict on not allowing women to sail after they are 24 weeks pregnant and babies can't sail until 6 months or a year--depending on itinerary (except Disney). 

 

I sailed at 14/15 weeks pregnant and had to provide a letter from my doctor saying I was ok to cruise (no complications, etc.) and how far along I was. 

I dont know why people have mentioned it twice in this thread but Disney are also 6 months to sail, (or a year for transatlantic, Panama and Hawaii sailings) and has been for nearly 5 years now...

Christmas had come early for Mr Walker. He'll be loving it! 

58 minutes ago, rimmit said:

While they are expected and encouraged to do group activities it is not required.   However,  typically peer pressure and seeing the other kids having fun doing the activity causes almost every kid to give in and do the group activity.  I am not sure how they are running the newer AOs on the amplified ships where the 6-12 year olds are all in one room now.  From what it seems,  it looks a lot like how Disney runs it.   Throw everyone into a big room, and have scheduled activities.  You can participate or not and they don’t care.   
 

We like organized activities personally as it discourages just sitting on the iPads and video games for the entire duration they are in the Kids program.  On Disney if your kids just wants to play the iPads there for 8 straight hours no one will interfere or bother them.  In the Old AO program while that is a remote possibility they really encourage participation in group things.  With the new design on the new ships I am scared they have gone the Disney route regarding group participation.

 

has anyone who has been on the Oasis post amplification have experience on how it is run now with the 6-12 years olds all in one room?  

Thanks, I've worked in the clubs on both lines so I know how they work. 

I know Nav is a free for all, I wouldn't work there because after Disney, that's what I didnt like. Oasis is still more structured, remember, a lot of ships combine 6-11s all the time and have done for a long time, because they only have 2 rooms and one of those is for aquanauts. 

Sure if they dont want to do the activities they dont want to, but all the ships I've been on, there is limited if not no other options. Maybe coloring, maybe a bit of lego, but like I said, not a free play free for all zone. On my last ship, my manager said once activities started (in all rooms including aquanauts), anything else was to go away, if they didnt want to join, they could sit and watch, and they weren't the only manager I've had whose said that. 

(Apart from quiet port days, they're usually toys, movies a bit of craft, more child led.)

On 12/5/2019 at 8:25 PM, Honeybflygirl said:

They would never be bored with each other. They don’t even need activities. We booked this cruise SO they could be together. I don’t want them to be apart for that time, even if they would be fine. But I do understand what you’re saying for other kids. These 2 are on the same level.

You wont know until you get onboard. As it can change cruise by cruise. So probably best to prepare them not to be together.

Some managers have a blanket ban on group changes, even if a kid has a birthday on a cruise. Some will only move up and/or down within a few months of that age. Some will move within a year. It doesn't matter of they're on the same level or not, your kids or other kids. 

If they do allow a move then it's not done and dusted, if they arent suited to that age group they will move them back to the right group. 

You say they dont need activities, but adventure ocean is an activities based programme, not a free play free for all, so they will be expected to join in, which is why there are age groups...

But the good news is they can absolutely for sure be together everywhere else around the ship, especially if they dont need the activities that adventure ocean offers. 

On 11/24/2019 at 2:01 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Was that during guest hours.  They quite often have it closed for staff events. 

This.

I was just a lowly 2 stripe but have done a lot of those that apparently even the captain can't do. But not in "operational hours". 

I'd be on the flowrider at least once a month, through crew sessions or just from knowing the right sports staff who will often open it up for friends. 

2 hours ago, gerif said:

And even if they can, how do you quickly get back to the ship? They are not going to cancel the excursion for everyone else to get you back to your child in case of an emergency. Maybe I’m overly cautious and grandchildren are now adults but I wouldn’t have left them on the ship unless there were other relatives onboard. I’ll never forget a post several years ago on the family boards - family was going on an excursion and leaving toddler on board. At the last minute the father decided not to go. Toddler suddenly spiked a fever out of nowhere, went into convulsions and needed to be airlifted off the ship. Fortunately, it was fine in the end but that man was so grateful he opted to stay with his child. 

Exactly. (I know it's going off topic a little, but that's discussion for you). The staff cant call you from the nursery/ao phone (it only works for ship numbers) I always left my phone in my cabin, but even if I took it to work, I cant call international numbers, then you have to track down the people with the authority and ability to get you a satellite phone. There was one time a parent left their number and they couldn't get through with the number they left.  (it wasnt life threatening but the kid needed parents there asap) luckily they were on a RC shore ex and with they were able to radio to shore and get in touch with the local company who arranged a taxi to get the parents back in less than an hour, not ideal but better than waiting for the 6 hours of the excursion. 

14 hours ago, Ashland said:

You can also give them (The Royal Babies & Tot's staff) your cell #...that is the best option and one that we have used.

You can, but like I said, no guarentee they will get a hold of you. 

Google is your friend for photos and videos of the nursery just search any of the oasis ships, they're all pretty much the same. 

Hours are limited at the start of the cruise to ensure that everyone get a chance at booking something so go on the first day to register and book hours. 

When dropping off, you need to drop off anything the kid will need. They'll ask you what requirements you have, naps (when and where: crib/cot), snacks, bottles...they'll provide food, but you can provide your own if it's in a sealed packet. 

If you drop off on a port day and dont go on an excursion through royal, there's no guarentee they can get a hold of you. If you drop off and stay on the ship, they'll give you a ship phone so you can call them and they can call you at any time. 

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

During the day it is $6 per hour.  Evenings are $8 per hour.  Free if a parent stays so the child can play while supervised. 

Parents cannot go in the nursery. 

On allure the free area i completely separate from the drop off nursery. 

19 hours ago, WeMissSeaView said:

Royal does not serve “baby” food, so you must bring your own food for a six month old.

Actually this is wrong. They will puree any food you want for your baby in the windjammer and the MDR, so yeah, they do serve baby food, but some people prefer to bring their own...

15 minutes ago, BSocial said:

Your son sounds like a nice, helpful big brother, checking on his sister while you were off the ship. 
 

I haven’t heard this (new?) policy before. In fact, I thought there were past threads on leaving teens on board, where CC members stated teens could remain onboard,  Which ship were you cruising on when this occurred ?

 

Maybe @GarlicBread will read this and chime in. They have worked in the kids area previously.

I have to say, I really dont understand it! I feel some information is missing...

How old is the teen? And which ship? I missed it if they said...unless the teen is registered for AO, it's highly unlikely (I've never heard of an unregistered kid going into AO, apart from when the only guardian onboard is in the medical centre and has verbally agreed)  theyre going to take them in. For ships on the computer system you cant register anyone over 12 anyway without an override. 

Now, if the teen is 11/12 and registered for AO and also attending teens, and they decide to check into AO on a port day, then they cannot leave until someone over 18 picks them up. No child can leave AO when the ship is docked without anyone over 18 and on the pick up list coming to get them, even if parents have given permission for them to sign themselves out. 

Obviously the info here is one sided, apparently the teen did/said nothing, but they were the only one of a group put 'in jail', no crew go after someone because they want to, AO have enough to deal with on a port day, they don't chose to have any extra kids. 

As for the policy side, I'm not 100%, im not onbaord so can't comment on how it is right now. But, theres always comments/complaints when crew don't follow policies, and then when they do....

1 hour ago, njkruzer said:

Guess I don't know how to make it work. 

If it still works, you connect to the internet but don't log in, then go to youtube and it works. 

(I did a mini contract the beginning of September, as crew we cant log into guest internet, but we can connect to it, and use youtube (but this trick doesn't work with the crew internet...), so I know it worked not long ago, and after the new app came in) 

On 10/21/2019 at 4:33 PM, Biker19 said:

Can you try viewing any YouTube video WITHOUT logging into a VOOM account (just connected to the ship's WiFi)?

Early September it worked. After the new app was in use. 

Official answer,  no. But there is a tiny chance,  but depending on numbers and people onbaord, and be prepared to pay for a trial in the nursery so the staff can see how potty trained,  how good communication is and how good rule following is. They have the final say.  Adventure ocean is an activities based programme. 

Harmonster of the seas! 

Quantum and oasis class, no. 

Other, yes. 

29 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I doubt that will happen unless they go to guest services and get a new card issued.  Everything in Royals literature states that the guests age for the duration of the cruise is based on the first day sailing.

It does. The teen staff have a manifest with dates of birth on, they are alerted to the ones that turn 18 within the cruise, before the cruise even starts, and the teens are told the day they go and get their wristband or whatever that ship is using for the teen club. teens have to show their card everytime they enter so yes, they do know even without a new sea pass card, but what do I know? I only worked there lol! 

This is because once they turn 18 they are classed as an 'adult' which, if anything happened with and 18 year old around teens makes royal liable. 

Nope. Even if someone turns 18 halfway through the cruise, they can only go for half the cruise. They day they turn 18, bye bye! 

Depends on how many kids onbaord but you usually get 16 hours at the start. You can use those however you want (there is no rule about only 2 hours at a time). This is just to give everyone a fair chance of nursery time. Usually after the 2nd day they open up the left over available hours to everyone so there is a chance to get more. 

They are pretty much the same as Disney. they both follow USPH for cleaning and food handling. They both have cameras everywhere. They both have sleeping areas. They both follow the same ratio 1:4.

Royal require extra training g for their nursery staff. Royal also ask all their youth staff have related degrees and experience. (Disney only ask for experience.) Royals staff tend to be older and many of them have children themselves. 

If you want to see what they look like, there are many videos and picture out there if you search it. 

6 hours ago, rimmit said:

 

I doubt it’s changed as well however,  I don’t exactly think this is a huge money maker.  At least compared to the other options of what the space could be used for.

 

The nursery on the Anthem holds a maximum of 12 babies.  At 6 dollars an hour during the day at max capacity you are looking at  72/hr or in the evening at 8/hr of 96/hr of revenue.  On smaller ships they can hold a max of 4 babies.  That is 24-32/hr of revenue.  An hour on the anthem barely covers what a specialty dining for two would be and on smaller ships wouldn’t even cover one meal at a specialty restaurant.  And the nurseries often do not run at max capacity.

 

The nursery is such a low money maker it didn’t even get installed on some ships despite the ships when they went in for dry dock were scheduled to get a nursery.  

 

You could argue that that the parents are out and about spending money on the ship and thus increasing spending that way,  but I suspect the number crunchers found that the nurseries were not the most effective use of the space, hence why some ships were never retrofitted with a nursery despite there being plans to do so.  

I wasn't necessarily talking about the nursery itself. Like the poster below you said, parents will go to the casinos, bars, nightclub, where babies cant go. That makes them a chunk of money from the parents that otherwise wouldn't go, and then the $8 an hour on top of that. Some families only cruise on ships if theres a nursery...

And there are very few ships that have a capacity of 4 (I can only think of 1), even on the small ships there is a capacity of 8. And they obviously are worth it to the company as over the years they have added them into ships during dry dock. They majority of ships now have them. And many are full a lot of the time to the point there is a waiting list...

But by your argument you could say the same for all the kids clubs as they bring in $0, and things like the sports courts, flow riders, ice rinks....

1 minute ago, Christianbrian1 said:

Thank you!

I highly doubt its changed in the last 3 months. Too much of a money maker for royal. 

Two separate rooms:

1. Drop off nursery with an hourly fee, no (non-nusery staff) adults allowed in. 

2. Free open play playroom where children need to be supervised by their own adults. 

Both open 9am-10pm, nursery drop off available later with pre-bookings. 

Hope this helps. 

22 hours ago, A2Mich said:

 

Same here.  We will be on Harmony and wondering about the usefulness of them.  We have 3 kids, who will be 15, 13, and 6 at the time.  Thinking they might be good for the kids so that they can’t lose them as easily as a card.  Curious if the WOW band can be used as an ID for the little one when she’s in AO (not sure if they have a band reader in AO fir this purpose).  

You still have to have your sea pass card with your name on to pick up at AO. 

A potty trained 3 year old will be in aquanauts in adventure ocean.  

You have to fill out an initial registration but there is no booking system, first come first served. 

3 sessions a day 9am-12pm, 2-5pm, 7-10pm.

On port days they will take them to lunch. On sea days they are closed 12-2. Every day there is the option for dinner, where they go to the windjammer for pizza and fries (check onbaord for details as it can vary ship to ship)

No sleep time in aquanauts (that's the nursery for under 3's and non potty trained kids) it's an activity based program.

After 10pm they are open till 2am (or when the last child leaves) and costs $7 an hour. For this age it will probably be movie/chill time. 

13 hours ago, Ashland said:

Well "technically" not how it worked when we were on Harmony...Perhaps you experienced something different when you were and used the Aquanauts program.

"Technically" Didnt use the aquanaut program.

Worked the aquanaut program. 

On many ships 👍

You must have got the one harmony cruise it was different...or they've changed it in the last 3 months...which I doubt. 

So tell me, what session did they run during this time, what craft, science, games did they do? Guarentee you none, because it's a break from the programming!