RCL kids clubs on Allure/Oasis ?s

[sJv2011]

Please tell me everything you know about the kids clubs - types of activities/hours/late night hours? Cost?

I know my kid will spend as much time as she can in the kids club giving us plenty of free time.

 

[moericus]

Adventure Ocean is a free daycare center split into age groups: Aquanauts 3-5, Explorers 6-8, Voyagers 9-11. Some ships also have Baby/Infant programs that cost extra. Teens have their own "living room" area that is usually located near the Windjammer/main pool deck.

I recommend stopping by your child's appropriate age room shortly after settling into your room. I know my kids instantly get excited about the upcoming week just by seeing the A.O. room. They will register the child for easy drop off and pick up. I believe the rule is the adult picking the child up must be in the same stateroom as the child. I could be wrong and there could be exceptions, but... that's how it works with us. Ships without the RFID SeaPass card will usually give the kids a lanyard to hold their SeaPass card. RFID Cards can't be "punched" for the keychain holder and hardly anyone trusts the plastic card holders. Another thing I really like is they are firm on making the kids remove their shoes and wash their hands immediately upon entering the room. I'm sure that has saved a few of our cruise vacations from disaster.

The operating hours are separated into 3 hour blocks: 9am-11am, 2pm-4pm & 7pm-10pm. I've noticed these are pretty strategic time blocks to allow the staff to eat and for you to take care of your own kids' meals. However, some ships also offer dinner assistance. This service is either picking up the kids early from your table at the main dining room, or taking the kids for your entire meal with a short trip to closed-off section of the windjammer. The 3 hour blocks have worked great for us and are pretty natural for the kids. They are sad to leave but are usually still willing to go without too many tears or meltdowns. Child care after 10 or for longer hours is usually available for a fee.

The kids' activities include group games, free play, video game time, small crafts, and science workshops. The game I always see is like a Hot Potato/scattergories game. They have to catch a rubber ball from another kid, answer a question, then toss to someone else. Very simple game but they seem to love it. The crafts usually include making a pillow case and something small out of modeling clay. On a lot of cruises the young groups will host a "pirate" night where the kids get dressed up and learn a pirate song to perform on the Promenade. Easily one of my favorite cruise memories.

I imagine other cruise lines have good counselors, but I have really loved all the RCCL counselors so far. I've never seen one in a bad or distracted mood. And I've never walked in on a discipline issue which to me says a lot.

 

[starvenger]

I believe the rule is the adult picking the child up must be in the same stateroom as the child. I could be wrong and there could be exceptions, but... that's how it works with us.

My two times on the Allure we had gotten connecting staterooms for the 4 of us, and I didn't have an issue picking up the younger one (who was listed in the same stateroom as my wife), nor my wife with the older one. Unfortunately I don't remember if we needed to fill anything out to make that happen.

 

[Alexle2007]

We are on the Allure right now. The kids club is much smaller than DCL and it is basically a single group activity. DS has self-signer privileges and they have to leave earlier than those being picked up. On port days, it is only parent sign-out. The club ends at 10 pm unless you pay $7 for extended hours from 10pm-2 am. DS has enjoyed 3 times he has gone so far but says he likes DCL better.

 

[starvenger]

That is one of the significant differences when comparing DCL and Royal kids clubs. Adventure Ocean is smaller - on Oasis class it's probably the size of the Oceaneer Club, but because they put the kids into smaller groups it doesn't feel significantly smaller for the kids if that makes any sense. What they do notice is that AO tries to get the kids involved in the day's program - in Oceaneer there's a bit more freedom in that respect. I personally like a bit more structure with the programs, so I'm more of a fan of AO. My kids like Oceaneer better though.

 

[sJv2011]

All good to know.
We are scheduled to take DCL Magic this December but with school getting out later for break than anticipated, we are changing plans to take RC for Spring Break 2018 and maybe just do a couple days at Disney World for winter break.
We booked the Oasis, April 1 2018 and I know its going to be crowded so I'm hoping it won't be too overwhelming.

MJ will be 7 years old and she is pretty social and other than being at the pool or "playing" bingo with us on DCL, she chose to be in the kids club. That may change this time around with all of the extras on board . . . guess we will find out

 

[TEM1234]

I just got back from Oasis of the seas on Sunday. Anyone you list when you sign your child up can pick up. My father got my kids a couple of times. When the ship is at sea, there are times the club is closed, but during port days the club was open most of the time. If the kids were still signed in at 11 or 5 they were taken to the windjammer for dinner. They also met outside the dining room at 6:40 so you could sign them into club, they were escorted back to their rooms and you could finish dinner in peace. There was a late night club that operated from 10pm-2am for at $7 an hour fee (but we didn't use it- my kids were done by 9 or 9:30). The nursery (ages 0-2) was available at $6 an hour until 6pm and $8 an hour then until midnight. You could reserve 15 hours in there for the entire cruise up till day 3. Then the morning of day 3 you could book as much as you wanted. We used our hours to secure the evening times, as they were the most popular and they only had 8 spots per hour.

My two oldest (ages 5 and 6) LOVED the club and begged to go each day. They did games, sang songs, did crafts. They painted the kids faces a bunch of times, and there were two shows that the kids performed for the parents. The older kids had a parade around the promenade one night. My youngest (3) was not as enthusiastic and sometimes wanted to stay with us, but he was always laughing and having fun when we came to pick him up. They all came to know all the staff members by name and would greet them as they saw them around the ship. They knew my kids too, and would call them by name. My older was in the Explorers room and the other 2 in the Aquanauts. They got their own cruise compass in the room each night and each session had a theme. There were a BUNCH of kids in the Explorers room (sometime 40 or 50 kids) but it also seemed 'organized chaos' and the staff members could (and did) get everyone quiet almost instantly with a special chant. There seemed to be a good mix of structure and free fun. There was also a science and art lab that the older kids got to use. The younger room had a lot less kids (the most I ever saw in there was 15-20) and I saw them reading books to the kids several times when I picked up.

I was pleased with the Club, (especially that my kids wanted to go so we could get some adult time) and we will continue to sail with them in the future.

 

[sJv2011]

Perfect! Sounds like its going to be right up MJ's alley and we will get a good amount of adult time too!

 

[tee11]

I just got back from Oasis of the seas on Sunday. Anyone you list when you sign your child up can pick up. My father got my kids a couple of times. When the ship is at sea, there are times the club is closed, but during port days the club was open most of the time. If the kids were still signed in at 11 or 5 they were taken to the windjammer for dinner. They also met outside the dining room at 6:40 so you could sign them into club, they were escorted back to their rooms and you could finish dinner in peace. There was a late night club that operated from 10pm-2am for at $7 an hour fee (but we didn't use it- my kids were done by 9 or 9:30). The nursery (ages 0-2) was available at $6 an hour until 6pm and $8 an hour then until midnight. You could reserve 15 hours in there for the entire cruise up till day 3. Then the morning of day 3 you could book as much as you wanted. We used our hours to secure the evening times, as they were the most popular and they only had 8 spots per hour.

My two oldest (ages 5 and 6) LOVED the club and begged to go each day. They did games, sang songs, did crafts. They painted the kids faces a bunch of times, and there were two shows that the kids performed for the parents. The older kids had a parade around the promenade one night. My youngest (3) was not as enthusiastic and sometimes wanted to stay with us, but he was always laughing and having fun when we came to pick him up. They all came to know all the staff members by name and would greet them as they saw them around the ship. They knew my kids too, and would call them by name. My older was in the Explorers room and the other 2 in the Aquanauts. They got their own cruise compass in the room each night and each session had a theme. There were a BUNCH of kids in the Explorers room (sometime 40 or 50 kids) but it also seemed 'organized chaos' and the staff members could (and did) get everyone quiet almost instantly with a special chant. There seemed to be a good mix of structure and free fun. There was also a science and art lab that the older kids got to use. The younger room had a lot less kids (the most I ever saw in there was 15-20) and I saw them reading books to the kids several times when I picked up.

I was pleased with the Club, (especially that my kids wanted to go so we could get some adult time) and we will continue to sail with them in the future.

Thanks for this review! I hope you are still reading, because I have a question: you mention that there is a nursery? When I read the description of the Quantum class, it sounded as if there was no nursery, just a play room (toddler can attend with a parent for 45 minutes) - is this different on the Oasis class? TIA!

 

[TEM1234]

Thanks for this review! I hope you are still reading, because I have a question: you mention that there is a nursery? When I read the description of the Quantum class, it sounded as if there was no nursery, just a play room (toddler can attend with a parent for 45 minutes) - is this different on the Oasis class? TIA!

I've never been on Quantum. I also didn't think there was a nursery on there when I read about it (that's the reason we haven't gone on there yet). There also wasn't a nursery on the Freedom class when we went (but I know they redid their Adventure Ocean- maybe they added a nursery). The Oasis class (at least Oasis and Allure) definitely have a nursery. I have used it with 3 of my 4 kids. They also have inroom babysitting on Oasis class (but not for under 1 year olds). Oasis Class (oasis and allure for sure) also have a huge kids playroom that you can take under 5's into to play with no time restriction. They have ride on toys, and toy houses, and mini slides, and a bunch of other toys.
When we met with cruise consultants and they realized we had 4 small children (6,5,3 and infant) they said to wait on Quantum, as the Oasis class was so much more family friendly. (and the free carousel on the Boardwalk is pretty cool too)

 

[tee11]

I've never been on Quantum. I also didn't think there was a nursery on there when I read about it (that's the reason we haven't gone on there yet). There also wasn't a nursery on the Freedom class when we went (but I know they redid their Adventure Ocean- maybe they added a nursery). The Oasis class (at least Oasis and Allure) definitely have a nursery. I have used it with 3 of my 4 kids. They also have inroom babysitting on Oasis class (but not for under 1 year olds). Oasis Class (oasis and allure for sure) also have a huge kids playroom that you can take under 5's into to play with no time restriction. They have ride on toys, and toy houses, and mini slides, and a bunch of other toys.
When we met with cruise consultants and they realized we had 4 small children (6,5,3 and infant) they said to wait on Quantum, as the Oasis class was so much more family friendly. (and the free carousel on the Boardwalk is pretty cool too)

THANK YOU!!! This is just the information we needed.
We will pass on the Anthem/Quantum then!
I was so confused on whether there is a nursery or just a tot/parent program!
Also I'm completely unfamiliar with their large fleet!
Now I know I have to look at Oasis and Allure!
Yes, that's our age range, too, oldest is 5 now, will be 6 later this year, youngest is 1. Again, thank you for clarifying this!

Now I just need to know, if I can just book online, and then transfer to a travel agent, for onboard credit, or whether I need the travel agent to book for any credit...

Oh, and which deck (s) did you prefer, or might be best, with little ones on Oasis class? These ships are gigantic!
Thanks!!

 

[TEM1234]

We love the central park balcony cabins. They are cheaper than oceanview (we usually get two connecting) and then after kids go to bed we can sit on the balcony and listen to the music and just chill- it's very relaxing. We were higher up on the last cruise and got some noise coming down from pool deck (it wasn't super bad though)- we were on 11 I believe (it's bad I can't remember from last month!). It was nice to bring kids down quickly from adventure ocean and get them to bed because they stayed up so much later than usual. The nursery will even put your baby in pj's and put them to bed- they have cribs. So my husband would pick her up and bring her back and lay her right down. Most nights she didn't even wake up. There were a couple nights when they had a crying baby they weren't able to get her to sleep though. Before that we stayed on 8 and it was super peaceful on the balcony.

I don't know about transferring (but with two rooms, you do get two sets of onboard credit!).