zia100

I would love to do a Dubai cruise! I don't think its advertised aggressively advertised here in the states otherwise it would be on my radar! The long flight is an added factor when we only just so much vacation days to work with.

Also on the same sailing. See you on board! As it is new, i’m Sure copies of fun times, shows available would be handy for future cruisers. 

My kids go to a project based learning school that recognized the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. We will take math with us, they will write about the trip each day. We take a world map and map where we have met people from. Long repo trips are great because ethe crea generally is less busy and they are from ALL OVER. They are more than happy to talk about where they are from and what makes it special, if you ask. So they will have a social studies project on board.

 

And my DH has been deployed for 6 months. This is his reintergration trip. We NEED this as a family. So to be honest, I would not care what the school had to say for this one.

Bravo! You do what you need to for your family! I take my kids out of school for similar family needs and yes, I've been "shamed" for it. Like your kids, mine too bring their math with them, they read. Zero electronics be it on a ship or at home. Kids can learn, travel AND keep up their grades and honestly, its the parents' choices to decide what works and not work for their kids. Its not for others to assume judgement.

With your questions, my kids have been sailing NCL since 6 months and been going to the Kids club as soon are they were old enough. So the kids club is a hit or miss. Usually a hit. Please dont quote me on the exact times. But the day typically starts at 9am with "free play". Based on the number of kids, they can mix the age groups but they are mindful of not putting the oldest group with say the youngest. After the an hour of free play, then comes the "scheduled activity". If there aren't enough kids AND the kids are having fun as they are, then they may push the timing back or cancel it completely. Often it can come to the kids voting. They close for lunch and then repeat for the afternoon and break for dinner and then again for the evening. Most often, the evening activity doesn't get cancelled as more effort was put towards this one. e.g. a pirate party.. or game night etc.

Personally speaking, my kids have always liked kids club and the only thing that may make them dislike it - are the other kids. If there is a rough kid or something that makes them uncomfortable, then obviously that would affect their experience. The counselors can also be occupied trying to settle a child or children down so the others may get bored - this is where I'm sure you'll notice the staff to passenger ratio.

I did notice that if a child - or a number of children want to do something else - within reason like wanting to color they are happy to accommodate.

I hope this helped.