Kids club wasn’t actually kid-friendly, we won’t be back. Ever.

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 5

Review summary

This is my second and last time sailing on holland. My complaint is mainly about the cold shoulder my child and I received while onboard the kloningsdam and visiting the kids club. My son is highly intelligent and very active and energetic. While at the kids club for a short time while I used to spa services, he participated in a few art activities at kids club. When I picked him up after about 1.5 hours later, I was told by the room leader that he was “too disruptive, and distracting to other students while the teacher was trying to explain instructions to the group”. I asked for her to give an example of what she meant and what did he do specifically, and she said “well he just talks talks talks talks talks” the whole time throughout every activity. She said this is his first “warning” and if he continues to act this way he will be “banned for 24 hours” from the kids club. I responded this is who he is, this is his personality and I don’t know that he can change and stop talking that much at his age, she responded “well practice makes perfect” and she walked off. For reference my child is six. He does have an expansive vocabulary, is an extrovert and he likes to connect with others. He’s not a mean spirited kid, and he doesn’t hit or hurt other kids… but yes, he is chatty and talks to himself and others throughout an activity. I found it extremely offensive and unprofessional for her to offer her “talks talks talks and practice makes perfect” admonishments in front of my kiddo and even worse to say that practice makes perfect—-projecting an unrealistic standard of perfection onto a six year old. We have three days left on this cruise and now instead of feeling relaxed and accepted, I feel stressed out and we feel like pariahs, we feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at the kids activities. For as much money as I’ve spent on this trip, I expect staff to be experiences and trained to work with a wide variety of kids, ages, and behaviors. Please expand your knowledge of neurodiversity as well, if you’re offering a kids club in 2024. Consider having brief self-directed activities that kids can play independently, if they choose , and consider offering a quiet room for kids who might be overstimulated or need to gather and regroup themselves. Having a two strikes and you’re out approach is unduly harsh and demoralizing for both parents and kids on vacation.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska

Juneau, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska

Cruise Glacier Bay

Ketchikan, Alaska

Disembarkation

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