Fun Zone (Crown) /tips from parents

[Summersundance]

Hi fellow parents,

I have never cruised with my son, who is 3 1/2 before.

Can you provide info/tips about the Fun Zone (Pelicans).

I read they have a couple of dinner for the group. How does that work...do all the Pelicans go to a dining room with the camp supervisors? is it safe? how do they keep tack of so many children?

How about group sitting that starts at 10pm...is it required for them to wear pjs (this might seem like a stupid question..just wondering if needed to get some nice new pjs)

I am so curious to see how it works.. who about beepers?

My son is very social and adapts very well..it is me who I guess does not! :o

Thanks to all that can provide info...I have not been able to find much about the Fun Zone.

[Eskwire]

Hi, we took my daughter and niece last year (ages 4 and 5 last year).

 

When you board the ship, they already know you are travelling with your son so expect a kids patter in addition to the regular patter. If not in you room, just stop by the fun zone and they will give you a copy. It is the itinerary for the entire week.

 

On sea days they have activites from 9-12; 2-5 and 7-10 (the group babysitting from 10-1 isn't free, its $5 per hour). The activities are in 15 minute intervals so, for example, if you don't think your son would like the 9am activity, you can show up at 9:15, or 9:30 or whenever. You can take him in and out as you please. When you leave your son there you get a beeper and they will page you if there is a problem (there are courtesy phones all over so you don't have to run to the fun zone, you can call first). You have to sign out for the beeper and return it when you collect your son.

 

On port days I think the fun zone runs from 8 to 5. I don't know what the rule is about drop off if you want to leave the ship.

 

I never used the late night babysitting but I would guess pjs aren't required. I think people put the kids in them because most probably fall asleep. Don't worry about new ones...I don't think the kids care :D...but of course splurge if you want to!

 

My mom has platinum status and was invited to get a preview of the Crown in Brooklyn (we live in NY) last June before she left for the first time. She took photos of the Crown fun zone and said it was wonderful. I am looking forward to my trip in a few weeks on the Crown Dec 9.

 

The dinners are on the formal nights. They are very safe and take place in the horizon court. Then the kids are brought back to the fun zone and you pick them up there.

 

Have a great trip!

[Cruisin' Chick]

My daughter was 5 on her first Princess cruise (a Carnival vet by that time). Just remember:

1. You need to attend the orientation on the first day (as stated above, the kids' program packet will be in your cabin when you first get there). Sometimes they're persnicketly about starting the orientation on time (that happened to us on our first Princess cruise...the door was closed promptly so we had to come back to a later one)

2. If you may want to leave your child in kidsitting while the ship is in port, you need to sign up a day ahead of time. There's no charge.

3. You need to sign up a day ahead for the 10pm kidsitting. $5/hr. They can wear PJs in desired but not mandatory. If you feel your child will be snoozing by the time you come to pick them up, you may want to dress him for bed.

4. When there's the kids' dinner (in the Horizon Court on our cruises...one side is closed for a "private party"), you take your child to the dinner and sign them in. When the dinner is over, the kids are escorted to the fun zone for the next activity.

5. You'll need to sign your child in and out (for older kids, the parents can let them sign themselves out). You need to show a photo ID. You can leave a photocopy with the counselors.

[CassCruise]

Just FYI on our last cruise which was a b2b the group dinners were cancelled both legs due to precautions with the noro outbreak (although none of the children succumbed!)

 

They normally have one PJ party so a nice new pair would probably not go astray - we never sent the girls in pj's as we preferred to "scrub" them when they got back from kids club!

 

With the beepers they normally give them to the younger ones but are happily given to you if you request!

 

The first time we cruised on the Diamond my youngest was only 4 and really quite shy but it probably took her all of about 5 minutes to decide she wanted to stay and us to go!!!!!!!!!! We even ended up doing an excursion without them (something I was positive I would NEVER do prior:) ) ..... relax you will have a wonderful time.

[2boyzmom]

Just wondering if there is any "kids buffet" section. On NCL there was a section with chicken nuggets, hot dog, pizza and mini tables and seats. The kids loved it.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I've never seen a kids buffet section on Princess like they have on NCL. That is a really nice feature of NCL!

 

From what I've seen, no, most kids don't wear their PJs to the late night sitting. They can, but I think they might feel out of place. They usually just lay around and watch a movie.

[Summersundance]

Thanks so much for all the information. I feel that now I AM READY for the cruise...so looking forward to it! :)

Take care,