First a little background. Traveling were my Sister (early 40's), Myself (single mother late 40's) and my 9 y/o son. We are very experienced cruisers. Platinum (20+ cruises) status with NCL, also many cruises on Carnival, RCCL, Princess and other smaller lines. My son has cruised NCL 10 times. This was the 3rd time on the the Epic for my Son and I. All this is for a point of reference.

I felt the Epic's version of the "NEW" Splash Academy Kids Program was very disjointed and unorganized. I was recently on the STAR this past Summer with the New Splash Academy Program and it was incredible! So much so, I had to argue with my kid many a time when I would sign him out. Upon boarding, we went almost directly to kids club for the sign up. Got our Kids Daily for the Week, proceeded to Lunch in Taste. It's a nice relaxing way to begin the cruise and review the day and week ahead. Sometime shortly after lunch, i noticed in bold print CLOSING times for the Splash Academy (kids club). I was floored, never since I've been cruising with my son have I seen a closing during the day for the kids club on any NCL ship. I remember falling in love with the freestyle concept around 2005 or 2006 on NCL. I had cruised with my Son on Carnival and they closed at various times throughout the day and I enjoyed NCL and the ability for us to plan all the family and adult only activities and not worry about times. We new the kids club would be always open between about 9am-10:30pm. This always allowed up the opportunity to do various adult only activities as well as family activities depending on what was going on for the day.

I have to adamently say, I have NEVER, nor would I EVER leave my child in any cruise kids program from opening to closing. I almost can't believe this happens, but that is what Matt the Cruise Director onboard the Epic told me. I also discussed this with the Kids Club Manager as well. According to them, a number of kids were continually left all day and never fed during the sea days. My thoughts is, this may happen one time and then that family would not be allowed to place their kids in the program the rest of the cruise. Problem solved. Instead, The Epic cruise staff decided to implement this new closing procedure and penalize me, my family and other wonderful families for other peoples lack of parenting skills. Read more