Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Update on Splash Academy for Spring Cruises??

margie1221

By margie1221,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

euclidian_99

euclidian_99

Posted
Posted

Same here.. we sail in April and I see NCL just updated their sail safe web page with a March first demarcation for the new guidance but no word on anything splash academy related. Hopefully this means they will be saying something soon about it though... crossing my fingers, toes, eyes, and ears lol. 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
leveedogs

leveedogs

Posted
Posted

Today I used the chat feature on ncl.com.  The NCL representative said "there are no plans to re-open Splash Academy at this time."  I suspect they will need to see mounting pressure by customers, and particularly from potential customers that have not yet booked and may not book unless some type of drop-off kids program exists.  I wonder if the staff of Splash Academy were put to work elsewhere on the ship or simply furloughed and sent home.

 

If you think Splash Academy is a super-spreader opportunity, then what the heck do you think the kids will do in its absence?  Quarantine in their room with an iPad?  No, they will be playing in close proximity to the other kids near the pool, waiting in line next to each other for the water slides, and congregating on their own in various indoor areas.   And if you want to cruise without kids present then save up your money for a Viking cruise.

 

Lastly, if the expensive arcade is open but Splash Academy is closed we know the decision to close Splash Academy is about money, not safety.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
www3traveler Holiday Sharing Rare

www3traveler

Posted
Posted

My guess would be that they need to either re-call or hire new staff for Splash Academy.  Seeing as how, staff boarding ships now are doing two months of t raining before sailing again, the process for Splash is probably three months or more away-- just my opinion.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Redsky5292 Great Review Rare

Redsky5292

Posted
Posted

The thought never crossed my mind that Splash Academy would be closed, but I guess it makes sense since kids were not allowed to cruise until recently.  We are going on a cruise in July with our 9 year old Twins and our 10 year old nephew.  I hope it's open then, my husband and I want to take advantage of the spa 🙂 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mjkacmom

mjkacmom

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Redsky5292 said:

The thought never crossed my mind that Splash Academy would be closed, but I guess it makes sense since kids were not allowed to cruise until recently.  We are going on a cruise in July with our 9 year old Twins and our 10 year old nephew.  I hope it's open then, my husband and I want to take advantage of the spa 🙂 

Keep in mind 9 and 10: year olds will be is separate groups.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Trina Moo

Trina Moo

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Cilosgirl said:

Just to add I checked out the Sail Safe page on NCL and there is no mention of Splash Academy being closed. I am 25 days out and travelling with 1 kid and 2 teens and I have not received any notification.

Splash Academy has been closed since relaunch. NCL is not giving any timeline on when it might return yet.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mjkacmom

mjkacmom

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Cilosgirl said:

Just to add I checked out the Sail Safe page on NCL and there is no mention of Splash Academy being closed. I am 25 days out and travelling with 1 kid and 2 teens and I have not received any notification.

I think the teen club might be open.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MamaToMany

MamaToMany

Posted
Posted

I was just on Encore last week, and I can give a little information. Splash Academy was definitely still closed. Teen club is running and has events daily. There is “family free play” in the teen club and in SA,  but it’s not a drop off program. They simply have the space open and available for kids and parents to come play. There was plenty of youth staff on the ship, but they were filling different roles. I spoke with one of the youth staff and she said she had no idea when SA wound reopen, but they were hoping for some word about it soon. 
 

We are cruising with 3 teens and our 10yo on Bliss next month, and I REALLY hope there will be some mention of SA reopening before that. I’ll admit it doesn’t look likely though. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cilosgirl

Cilosgirl

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Trina Moo said:

Splash Academy has been closed since relaunch. NCL is not giving any timeline on when it might return yet.


I am aware of this through Cruise Critic. My question is how is NCL communicating this to the average cruiser not on CC or social media. I don’t see anything on their website and I haven’t received an email yet. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
leveedogs

leveedogs

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Trina Moo said:

Splash Academy has been closed since relaunch. NCL is not giving any timeline on when it might return yet.

 

I don't think this is accurate.  They announced SA shutdown on Jan 7th likely due to rising Omicron with its propensity to cause vaccine breakthrough.  We booked on 12/30 with the expectation of a drop-off splash academy for my two boys, aged 7 and 8.  One week later on Jan 7th I received the email that SA will be closed.

Edited by leveedogs
Link to comment
Share on other sites
leveedogs

leveedogs

Posted
Posted

We had the opportunity to cancel without penalty after the email.  But by this point everyone in the family was excited about the trip and work schedule had been shifted.  My boys were sad to hear about Splash Academy being closed as they have good memories of the program from 2 and 3 years ago when we took the same cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
leveedogs

leveedogs

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Cilosgirl said:

I am aware of this through Cruise Critic. My question is how is NCL communicating this to the average cruiser not on CC or social media. I don’t see anything on their website and I haven’t received an email yet. 

 

You will get an email at some point.  I suspect they have not made the decision yet on your sailing.  Falling cases, less pressure from CDC, and more pressure from disgruntled parents would help with reopening.  The post above from MamaToMany suggests that the youth staff are still on the ship, just re-tasked.

I encourage you to get on NCL.com chat feature or email and make it known that you booked with the expectation that you can use a drop off kids program and that without it you are considering cancellation.  If you are going regardless and would feel bad exaggerating then indicate that without SA you will likely be spending less money on specialty dining, drinks, casino, etc. as you will be too busy watching kids.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
euclidian_99

euclidian_99

Posted
Posted
11 minutes ago, leveedogs said:

 

You will get an email at some point.  I suspect they have not made the decision yet on your sailing.  Falling cases, less pressure from CDC, and more pressure from disgruntled parents would help with reopening.  The post above from MamaToMany suggests that the youth staff are still on the ship, just re-tasked.

I encourage you to get on NCL.com chat feature or email and make it known that you booked with the expectation that you can use a drop off kids program and that without it you are considering cancellation.  If you are going regardless and would feel bad exaggerating then indicate that without SA you will likely be spending less money on specialty dining, drinks, casino, etc. as you will be too busy watching kids.

Yep having SA closed is a big factor for us on if we will go or not... having the drop of time for my wife and I to have some date time is one of the main factors for us going since we don't have much opportunity for that normally. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
euclidian_99

euclidian_99

Posted
Posted

FYI we just spoke with a Norwegian Cruise Line representative via the chat window on their website and were told Splash Academy is not an option until potentially June 1st at the earliest.... passing along the informatio ... don't know if other have heard same or not.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
jstewartgt

jstewartgt

Posted
Posted

I just received the same information(6/1) and we have not received any emails for our upcoming cruise this weekend.  Was really hoping with Spring Break coming up they would be reopening since every other line has as far as I know.

 

This is not going to set us off on the right foot I'm afraid.  I get changing ports and activities, but this has a pretty big impact on many.  We can make it work as ours are a little older, but I'd bet they lose a lot of families long term over this.

4 hours ago, euclidian_99 said:

FYI we just spoke with a Norwegian Cruise Line representative via the chat window on their website and were told Splash Academy is not an option until potentially June 1st at the earliest.... passing along the informatio ... don't know if other have heard same or not.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lionkingrichard

Lionkingrichard

Posted
Posted

They may not even think it is worth it to open soon.

 

Last week on the Dawn the Teen club(open) had 21 teens during school vacation week and only 9 registered. 4 showed up first night and it sounded like none came back.

 

There were 9 preteens on the whole ship of 1200 passengers.

 

We spotted 2 kids together at Dinner and everyone was pointing and staring! Just kidding!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Redsky5292 Great Review Rare

Redsky5292

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, Lionkingrichard said:

They may not even think it is worth it to open soon.

 

Last week on the Dawn the Teen club(open) had 21 teens during school vacation week and only 9 registered. 4 showed up first night and it sounded like none came back.

 

There were 9 preteens on the whole ship of 1200 passengers.

 

We spotted 2 kids together at Dinner and everyone was pointing and staring! Just kidding!

The spa is going to lose a lot of money if parents don't have a place to drop their kids off...

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
oteixeira

oteixeira

Posted
Posted
34 minutes ago, Redsky5292 said:

The spa is going to lose a lot of money if parents don't have a place to drop their kids off...

But think of all the extra drinking those parents will need to do.  Easily surpass the free drink a day limit, right??  :)

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...