Can you tell me about the children's activities and babysitting on the Disney cruise ships? Our children are 9, 6, and 4 so we need different things for each of them.
As you probably already know, one of the big differences between DCL and other cruise lines is the attention given to children's activities. This isn't just "day care at sea," it's genuine children's programming, with age-appropriate activities for everyone from toddlers to teenagers. Almost an entire floor of the ships is designated for the children's activity centers and the cast members who care for the kids are absolutely top-notch. With the exception for Flounder's Reef, the programs below run from 9 a.m. to midnight and are free of charge.
The age categories are as follows:
Children under 3 stay at Flounder's Reef, which is a nursery designed for babies and toddlers with plenty of cribs and a "soft" play area. There is a fee (6$ per hour for the first child; $5 per hour for each additional) for Flounder's Reef, which is only open for certain hours a day--although those hours do correspond to the time when parents most need sitting, i.e., the hours they might be off the ship enjoying shore excursions or the evening, when they may want to relax over dinner or take in a show without the youngest members of the family along. You need to make reservations for Flounder's Reef and it's a good idea to make them early in your cruise, because space is limited.
Kids 3-7 belong in Disney's Oceaneers Club, a terrific play area that has a model of Peter Pan's pirate ship and costumes for dressing up, plus computer stations. Little ones have special games and activities, many of which involve the Disney characters, such as storytelling with Wendy Darling. A special daily activities sheet keeps parents informed on fun programs that are coming up, both in the Club and all around the ship.
Kids 8-12 are across the hall in the Oceaneer's Lab, which has interactive labs, video games, computers, and music and movie stations. Activities can be as wild as a belly-flop contest out in the Goofy sports pool or as mentally stimulating as a class in how to draw one of the Disney characters.
If your kids are 12 or under, you're given a pager when you drop them off at any of the centers so you can always be reached quickly if a problem arises.
Finally, teens 13-17 have their own coffeehouse, called Common Grounds, which has a lounge and coffee bar, large screen TV, and game area. Special shore excursions let teens bike and kayak all over Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, or party on a catamaran in Cozumel. On board they can learn how paint an animation cel, take part in a mystery game where they "eliminate" fellow players, or shoot their own digital movies. Teens have a lot more autonomy--there's no sign-in or sign-out process, and they love the freedom to come and go as they please.
The counselors in the children's areas have three suggestions to help you use the programs to maximum benefit:
First of all, try and get the kids involved early. Being on board the ship the first night or two is so exciting (and so overwhelming) that parents sometimes hesitate to put the kids immediately into the programs: big mistake. Dropping them off on day three of the cruise is sort of like making them the new kids in school--friendships have already formed among the "regulars" who are savvy to the system. Better to jump right in the first night.
Secondly, don't overuse the programs. If you leave the kids in the programs for six straight hours, that's just too much. There are many activities both on board and in the ports of call which are designed for the whole family to enjoy together. Use the children's programming when you most need it, i.e., if the parents and older kids are set to snorkel at one of the ports of call, children's programming allows younger children to stay behind on the ship. Or if you've scheduled a special parents' night out at the adults-only restaurant, Palo, let the kids eat with the gang in the Oceaneer Lab or Club.
Finally, check your activity sheet each day to make sure the kids are there for the primo activities. Kids even enjoy spending some time in the program on the island of Castaway Cay, where the Oceaneer's Club has a large sandy play area set up complete with a whale skeleton just waiting to be excavated by young marine biologists. You can leave them happily digging under the counselors' attention and slip away for an hour or two at the private adults' beach, Serenity Bay.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
