Question about Adventure Ocean

[Jasper8282]

Hello everyone!  I'm new here and this is my first Royal Caribbean cruise.  I'm going with my wife and 3 year old son on Oasis of the Seas in February.  
We fully plan on utilizing Adventure Ocean.  I had a few questions though.

First one is, how does the Adventure Ocean staff get in touch with me or my wife if there are issues or something comes up where they have to talk with us?

The second is, how often do people leave their children with Adventure Ocean during excursions?  I know it happens, but can I hear some real examples of how things went for you and your little one?  Preferably if they were around 3-4 years old like our little one.

Lastly (for now), does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale that offers shuttles that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? 

 

[Matt]

Welcome to the message boards.

I just posted this article, which should answer your questions: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/09/14/royal-caribbean-kids-clubs

33 minutes ago, Jasper8282 said:

how does the Adventure Ocean staff get in touch with me or my wife if there are issues or something comes up where they have to talk with us?

If you have a 3 year old, you can ask for a phone when checking them in.  Otherwise, they'll call your stateroom phone and leave a message.

If it's an emergency, they'd page you over the ship's PA system but that's very rare.

You can always use any house phone around the ship to call AO and ask the staff how it's going.

34 minutes ago, Jasper8282 said:

how often do people leave their children with Adventure Ocean during excursions

We've done it a few times. The first time was scary, but it was also so liberating. We really embraced it.

[Jasper8282]

Thank you SO much Matt!

I keep missing the Monday chats to ask these.

[smokeybandit]

Fort Lauderdale hotels tend to cost an arm and a leg if you're sailing over the winter

[RCIfan1912]

We are always given a phone because our son is autistic, he plays just fine with all kids. But like I said because of that they give us a phone but the phone kinda wonky. They will ring our cabin phone after trying the wonky phone first. The only time they call us though is when he wants to leave, never any issues and its an amazing program or service Royal provides.

[dustfsu]

My kids will be going on their first cruise. Can just one of us go register them or do both me and my wife have to?

[RCIfan1912]

22 minutes ago, dustfsu said:

My kids will be going on their first cruise. Can just one of us go register them or do both me and my wife have to?

My wife goes and does it on her own. 

[Crown&AnchorEsq]

Any parent or  guardian can register the children, but you will want to make sure that you confirm who has the ability to pick them up.  They will only release children to the contacts listed on the original registration.  You can add just about anyone during registration but its more difficult later on.  

[Mrs. Thomas]

On 9/17/2024 at 6:57 PM, RCIfan1912 said:

We are always given a phone because our son is autistic, he plays just fine with all kids. But like I said because of that they give us a phone but the phone kinda wonky. They will ring our cabin phone after trying the wonky phone first. The only time they call us though is when he wants to leave, never any issues and its an amazing program or service Royal provides.

I don't mean to pry, but how old is your son? My son is 12 and considered high functioning autistic along with ADHD and Tourette's. There will be plenty of people to hang onto him, but there may be a day or two that he wants to play and get a break from his older sister . How good are they with kids like mine? Are there any tips I may need to know?

[RCIfan1912]

2 hours ago, Mrs. Thomas said:

I don't mean to pry, but how old is your son? My son is 12 and considered high functioning autistic along with ADHD and Tourette's. There will be plenty of people to hang onto him, but there may be a day or two that he wants to play and get a break from his older sister . How good are they with kids like mine? Are there any tips I may need to know?

Um he is 11 and he is high functioning also. He has his moments but nothing too bad. He calls if he has had enough. He sometimes has issues with being teased. The programs are excellent though. They are entertained very well and there are rules to follow. 

[Mrs. Thomas]

20 hours ago, RCIfan1912 said:

Um he is 11 and he is high functioning also. He has his moments but nothing too bad. He calls if he has had enough. He sometimes has issues with being teased. The programs are excellent though. They are entertained very well and there are rules to follow. 

We've had the issues with being teased too. Sounds like my son will have a good time then. He's looking forward to playing video games we don't own.  We only have about 2 games. My only concern is that he's about 5'4 and loves to play with kids younger than him, mostly because they accept him for who he is and just want to have fun. He doesn't realize his own strength sometimes. I really wish they would have the 9-12 in a different area than the 6-8.

[RCIfan1912]

I think he will like it and you will get a phone if there are any issues. We have never gotten a call from the program counselors for behavior, just from him when he wanted to leave. Sometimes its because he was having issues, sometimes its because he wasn't into the activity and sometimes just cause he wanted to go. I just learned this on our last cruise that you can leave kids in the program in port so you can enjoy the port on your own. I didn't even know that was a thing through 10 cruises. We actually did this in Sydney Canada last year. I was kinda weary of the idea but it was just fine. He was great with the idea. We have a 3 year old too that was just diagnosed the same but he goes with us everywhere. Would not leave him on the ship. 

In September we have a 5 day Bermuda cruise by ourselves and the kids are staying with the in laws on their suggestion. THANK YOU IN LAWS! Kids will  be in school anyway. In late May we have our first back to back with the kids, Halifax and then Bermuda.