Can I leave a 4 yo in Gem kidsclub while we go on an excursion?

[drbabe]

We're first time cruisers on the Gem, 4/12 sailing. We want to take the older kids on day excursions to Kennedy Space Center and Atlantis, but feel the 4 yo will get exhausted or be bored. Does anyone know what the hours are for the kidsclub on Gem, and whether we must be on board while he is in it? Please don't flame me for this - he goes to nursery school and classes, does well everywhere. In Port Canaveral they can reach us on our cell, and we'll probably rent a car so we could rush back if necessary, but I don't know how they could reach us at Atlantis. Any ideas?

[smeyer418]

First of all on shore days the Kids program doesn't operate during the day, they do have group baby sitting for 5 per hour but I don't think it includes lunch time.

 

secondly most 4 year olds will enjoy the space center....

[Phamer55]

I'm interested in this too, because I know for a fact that Royal Caribbean does allow parents to go ashore in port and leave their kids in the kids club (Adventure Ocean). The hours on RCI ships are 30 minutes priort to the 1st ships excursion until 30 minutes after the last excursion ends. Basically, the hours are all day. During sea days, the kids clubs is closed for lunch and dinner (although some nights they do take the kids to dinner). As I'm considering an NCL cruise on the Pearl in 2010, I'm intersted in how the NCL kids program works.

[mkad1109]

First of all on shore days the Kids program doesn't operate during the day, they do have group baby sitting for 5 per hour but I don't think it includes lunch time.

 

secondly most 4 year olds will enjoy the space center....

 

Agreed on the hours, but I am not sure I agree with you on 4 year olds enjoying the space center. I found my older children could relate when we went (we weren't on a cruise at the time) whereas my younger children were bored--they were 4 and 5 at the time.....

[smeyer418]

I should have looked it up at the NCL website first

 

here is what it says about port play

 

The “Port Play” is offered from 9am-5pm and we accommodate those parents booked on Shore Excursions. Sign up is 8pm the evening prior to the desired “Port Play”.

 

but they don't change diapers....

[Rada_CMH]

You can leave your 4 year old at the Kid's club and go on a shore excusrion as long as he/she is no longer wearing diapers. The staff are very accomodating and take the kids to lunch so no problem at all. The 5$/hour fee will apply and you will have to sign her/him up in advance. Enjoy your trip - your kids will love the NCL kids program!

[GORDONCHICK]

We're first time cruisers on the Gem, 4/12 sailing. We want to take the older kids on day excursions to Kennedy Space Center and Atlantis, but feel the 4 yo will get exhausted or be bored. Does anyone know what the hours are for the kidsclub on Gem, and whether we must be on board while he is in it? Please don't flame me for this - he goes to nursery school and classes, does well everywhere. In Port Canaveral they can reach us on our cell, and we'll probably rent a car so we could rush back if necessary, but I don't know how they could reach us at Atlantis. Any ideas?

 

Your 4yo might surprise you at Kennedy. Ours was 3 at Johnson Space Center, and liked it. Though by the time we did the tram tour (after lunch and his normal nap time), he fell asleep, and we took turns carrying him into the different buildings when the tram made stops. He's now almost 7, and I can't wait to take him to Kennedy.

 

Why would you not take a 4yo to Atlantis? Just curious.

[drbabe]

two reasons. One, we're a family of 5 and we only get 4 wristbands with the hotel, so unless we can find someone on the same cruise who's got an extra band, or unless we want to pay the exorbitant single person rate for him, we leave him behind. Second, we'd like the chance to do all the cool rides, without having to watch him. Sounds pretty callous, but we're so indulgent of our kids with time and attention that I don't feel overly guilty to leave him in Kids Club. Anyone on the 4/12 Gem have fewer than 4 people at the hotel?

[tbogie]

What happens if you don't make it back to ship and your 4 year old is on the ship by themselves when it sets sail? I don't think I could leave my son behind on the ship and go on an excursion.

[Cruzin2paradise09]

two reasons. One, we're a family of 5 and we only get 4 wristbands with the hotel, so unless we can find someone on the same cruise who's got an extra band, or unless we want to pay the exorbitant single person rate for him, we leave him behind. Second, we'd like the chance to do all the cool rides, without having to watch him. Sounds pretty callous, but we're so indulgent of our kids with time and attention that I don't feel overly guilty to leave him in Kids Club. Anyone on the 4/12 Gem have fewer than 4 people at the hotel?

 

Hmmm. Here are a few thoughts. First, I think you might be surprised at what your 4 year old might like. Second, you might check around and see if the day passes are offered outside of the ship where you can get your youngest included.

 

My kids are five years apart and there have definitely been some "big" age gaps between them. There were things we couldn't/didn't do and our kids are and were fine with that. As parents, we did the parent swap on rides at the amusement parks and we made do. If we traveled as a family, we spent time together as a family.

 

I'm not attempting to flame you - you are certainly entitled to do as you wish, HOWEVER, you really need to think of safety issues when leaving your kid on a ship while the four of you go off traipsing around away from him.

 

Your comment above (in red, bold, underlined) is actually very selfish, as well as callous! How terribly unfair to your youngest child - I hope he never hears you verbalize that in his presence. (And I'm keeping a lot of thoughts to myself!)

 

Personally, if the excursions you've picked can't include your family as a whole, you may want to look at other excursions. JMHO.

 

Whatever you decide, it's your family and your conscience, not mine. Try to enjoy your family vacation.

[Ms belp]

Why were you quick to say, please don't flame me; unless somewhere, deep inside, you realized that's exactly what you thought would/should happen?

[e050377]

My 4 & 5 year old were bored at Kennedy Space Center. It was hot and really made the day impossible to enjoy. I think you should be able to enjoy time with your older children. If you already know it will be a rough situation for your 4 year old.

 

With saying all that I would plan for me to spend half the day with my older kids and leave them with my hubby and return to the ship to spend mommy quality time with my 4 year old in the afternoon. (Or send hubby back to ship) Just me, but I would love to have the best of both worlds and like the above poster I'd be worried about the ship leaving with just him.

[shanefm3]

Drbabe.

 

I am sure you didn't post your message so you could receive parenting advice. I am with you. Your 4 yr old will probably enjoy the kids club much more than the excursion and I certainly don't believe that by doing so that you deserve IN ANY way comments questioning your parenting skills or people infering child abuse.

 

Some people should just answer the question and shut up with the additional comments.

 

Have a great cruise

[momtothree]

Hmmm. . . I don't think I could ever leave my child, especially a four year old, on the ship while the rest of the family goes on an excursion in a foreign port. Too many things can happen. . . yes, I'm a worrier, but better safe than sorry. If this is a family vacation, then why not do excursions that the whole family can enjoy? Or, take another person's advice and you and your husband take turns. If you don't want to have to deal with the four year old, which is how you make it sound, let the poor little guy at home with grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, anyone! On our first cruise our youngest was four and the older kids were eight and eleven. We found plenty to do as FAMILY. That's what family vacations are for. Just my two cents.

[GORDONCHICK]

I didn't ask the OP the question for anyone to flame her. I was just curious because I thought Atlantis was very family-friendly. We have left our DS on board while in a couple of ports in particular. Jamaica being one. And we were very glad we did. If we are ever on a ship stopping there again, we will just stay on board. In Belize, we were very unsure of the port, after all it is a developing 3rd world country and ships hadn't been stopping there that long. We ended up on an excursion in a van with three other couples and we always on the go. We never stopped for a bathroom break (no one asked or mentioned it) though we all did use the facilities at the ruins. While I think our DS would be fine on that excursion now, not so much at 4.

 

We've always made sure we were back to the ship in plenty of time even with DS is with us. We didn't want to drag a child (who is normally very well-behaved) around in situations that weren't setting him up for success. He does fine on excursions now, but he's almost 7.

[tunseeker1]

two reasons. One, we're a family of 5 and we only get 4 wristbands with the hotel, so unless we can find someone on the same cruise who's got an extra band, or unless we want to pay the exorbitant single person rate for him, we leave him behind. Second, we'd like the chance to do all the cool rides, without having to watch him. Sounds pretty callous, but we're so indulgent of our kids with time and attention that I don't feel overly guilty to leave him in Kids Club. Anyone on the 4/12 Gem have fewer than 4 people at the hotel?

 

What do you mean you only get 4 wristbands? You get a wristband with each person you book the excursion for.

 

If you are going to do a private excursion I don't think that they will let you leave a child onboard. I remember that people were complaining that you had to have your excursion booked before you make reservations for the kids club so they could check to make sure they could get in touch with you if something happens.

[GORDONCHICK]

What do you mean you only get 4 wristbands? You get a wristband with each person you book the excursion for.

 

If you are going to do a private excursion I don't think that they will let you leave a child onboard. I remember that people were complaining that you had to have your excursion booked before you make reservations for the kids club so they could check to make sure they could get in touch with you if something happens.

 

That was not the case on our Celebrity or Princess cruises. It may be line dependant. I know NCL requires reservations for children on port days, and charges for it.

[drbabe]

Before I even read these posts, the guilt got to me. We booked another room at the Comfort Suites, thus getting 4 more wristbands, so the 4 yo will come with us. It's true, I really did feel it was not appropriate to leave him on the boat without us in my heart of hearts. We'll also take him to the KSC with us. ANyone on the GEM 4/12 sailing need wristbands for Atlantis? It's a LOT cheaper than the excursion - something like 1/3 the price!

[Smellytoes]

two reasons. One, we're a family of 5 and we only get 4 wristbands with the hotel, so unless we can find someone on the same cruise who's got an extra band, or unless we want to pay the exorbitant single person rate for him, we leave him behind. Second, we'd like the chance to do all the cool rides, without having to watch him. Sounds pretty callous, but we're so indulgent of our kids with time and attention that I don't feel overly guilty to leave him in Kids Club. Anyone on the 4/12 Gem have fewer than 4 people at the hotel?

 

Don't worry. There will be enough of us from the ship, at the Atlantis Resort anyway, that can help watch him so you don't miss out. I understand exactly what you're saying. It happened to me in Disney World once when DD was too young for a lot of the big kid rides.

[mkad1109]

Before I even read these posts, the guilt got to me. We booked another room at the Comfort Suites, thus getting 4 more wristbands, so the 4 yo will come with us. It's true, I really did feel it was not appropriate to leave him on the boat without us in my heart of hearts. We'll also take him to the KSC with us. ANyone on the GEM 4/12 sailing need wristbands for Atlantis? It's a LOT cheaper than the excursion - something like 1/3 the price!

Just a note, you handled this very classy. Personally, I think some of the folks offering their value system in the guise of "advise" were way off base and rude (I wonder if they teach their children to judge others as a value...:rolleyes: ). We parent the best we can and the best for the children involved. Congratulations on finding the right thing for your family.

[Number9]

Before I even read these posts, the guilt got to me. We booked another room at the Comfort Suites, thus getting 4 more wristbands, so the 4 yo will come with us. It's true, I really did feel it was not appropriate to leave him on the boat without us in my heart of hearts. We'll also take him to the KSC with us. ANyone on the GEM 4/12 sailing need wristbands for Atlantis? It's a LOT cheaper than the excursion - something like 1/3 the price!

 

Hi Drbabe,

 

Could my husband and I buy 2 of your extra wristbands for the Atlantis Resort? If so we will book a room and then we will have enough for the 6 of us.

 

Clare

[Number9]

Hi Drbabe,

 

Could my husband and I buy 2 of your extra wristbands for the Atlantis Resort? If so we will book a room and then we will have enough for the 6 of us.

 

Clare

 

If you haven't already sold the extra wristbands and would like to do so,you may contact me at CRM0808@aol.com.

 

Thanks,

Clare:D