MissCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hi there, this will be our first time with RCCL this spring- have cruised with Disney and loved it. We have a 10 year old son, he is quite impulsive (ADHD/Aspergers) so I worry about him wandering off or getting lost in kid's area. How secure are the kids clubs? Are they in an enclosed area? Does someone have to let them out? I know kids in that age range can be allowed to check themselves out but I couldn't do that. I want to relax and let him have fun but I need to feel like he is safe in order to relax!! Thanks for any input! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 They are enclosed and someone needs to let them out for the under 9 age group. However, on the Liberty, I don't recall a gate like those used in the 6-8 group that my son was in. However, it is in an enclosed room with a single entry/exit point. You would need to give consent before your son could check himself out, so you don't need to worry there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 The ones we have used all have an electronic entry/exit door of some kind that should keep him from getting out without being checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakeDownCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hello, I'm going on Allure in April with my wife, 6 yo 2 mo son, and 3 yo 10 mo daughter. Will I be able to get my son into the 3-5 club with my daughter so they can spend some time together. Even though the activities might not be perfect for him I think they will have more fun together vs. going separate (especially for the younger one's benefit). I've heard you can go down but not up with the clubs. I called RCCL and they said most likely it will work out but I had to check on the ship. Does any have any experience with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 The ones we have used all have an electronic entry/exit door of some kind that should keep him from getting out without being checked out. Same here in my experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hello, I'm going on Allure in April with my wife, 6 yo 2 mo son, and 3 yo 10 mo daughter. Will I be able to get my son into the 3-5 club with my daughter so they can spend some time together. Even though the activities might not be perfect for him I think they will have more fun together vs. going separate (especially for the younger one's benefit). I've heard you can go down but not up with the clubs. I called RCCL and they said most likely it will work out but I had to check on the ship. Does any have any experience with this? When the groups get small (like late at night), they tend to be combined but I would not bet on that being the case a majority of the time, unless you are sailing on a cruise with very few children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakeDownCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Matt, love the website and podcasts, I wish you would reply faster though that was almost 60 seconds after my post! Just kidding! I'm a frequent Disney cruiser that is giving RCCL a try for the first time since kids. Do you know if we can talk to someone and request that he stay in the 3-5 club for the whole week with his sister if they aren't jam packed with those age groups of kids or would it have to be a case by case daily attempt. On Disney they let our son hang in the nursery when he was just out of the age range for it and stay with his sister a few years back which was nice. He got to be king of the little tikes for a few hours. Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 James, it can't hurt to ask as they seem to be very flexible especially if you give them a reason. They were even willing to move my son up to the next level to experience something new as he had been in the Explorers group so often over past cruises, although he opted to stay. Note, though, that they won't want him moving around from day to day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I'm a frequent Disney cruiser that is giving RCCL a try for the first time since kids. Do you know if we can talk to someone and request that he stay in the 3-5 club for the whole week with his sister if they aren't jam packed with those age groups of kids or would it have to be a case by case daily attempt. On Disney they let our son hang in the nursery when he was just out of the age range for it and stay with his sister a few years back which was nice. He got to be king of the little tikes for a few hours. Never hurts to ask, but I'd be prepared to have them separated. The programming are age specific, but you have nothing to lose by asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I think it largely at the discretion of the "head" of the club when you are on board and will depend a lot on how busy they are overall, etc. We have asked on two different occasions and both times they were able to accommodate a "crossover". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakeDownCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Thanks for the responses everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Thank you for the responses- I like the idea of an electronic door. We'll be on the Independence, anyone know if that is the case there? Thanks! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 And re: frequent Disney traveler we are "in the same boat" ha...haven't booked yet b/c I am still teetering btwn Dis and RCCL- hate to let go of all we love about Disney (family shows etc) but RCCL seems to have a lot to offer kids in a different way. Any opinions welcome :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Yes, Indy is definitely one with an electronic system. Its basically a counter probably four and a half feet high or so, with a "gate" that is electronically locked. The staff pushes a button to open the gate and let kids in or out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Done both, if price were equal we would do Disney everytime. price is never equal though and so we almost always do Royal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakeDownCruise Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 The only way to book Disney now is off season far in advance with an onboard booking discount. If you do that the price is higher but close. Some of the peak time prices on Disney are incredible. I am a believer in Adam Smith's invisible hand, so good for them if they can get those prices. It really does amaze me that Disney Fantasy for the same date I picked in April on Allure is $9300 for 4 people in a smaller verandah. That's almost triple what I paid for Allure! Being a newer cruise geek I find the competition, pricing and strategies of all of the big players in the industry really interesting. So much is changing all of the time. But now I'm getting off topic! I'll be sure to let folks know how my first Royal cruise since 2009 goes! WAAAYTOOO, bcarney and Matt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissCruise Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Great! One more paranoid mom question - does the lock for verandah door latch up high like on Disney so it's hard for kids to open? High railing? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 I didn't notice any difference between the railing heights and locks on the balcony doors between the two cruise lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 Dont recall the disney doors, pretty sure RCI typically has a handle at "mid-door" level that has to be turned to open the door. Think that is basically standard across the fleet. I think a small child would have a hard time with turning it (its not really a door handle, more of a large bar that has to be pulled) but i know our son was able to do it by the time he was 10 or so. He would sneak out onto the balcony to read a book without "waking us". Railing heights probably about 4 feet or so ? My 5'3" wife can see over easily so it cant be up at 5' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.