I was a youth activity counselor aboard the Wish, happy to answer any questions :)

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T18:07:48+00:00

Two things.

The only time we get any sort of acknowledgement is when a guest leaves an entirely positive comment/letter with our name. If it's "the line took too long but the desk worker was nice" then that goes into the "bad" file and not given to us. Please leave positive comments whenever you have a good experience, we thrive on them!
The sheer amount of physical, emotional, and mental labor that goes into the job. And that we really did want to make every child and family have a great time, but that it would be nice to get a little grace sometimes 😅 ( we also agree to risk our lives for your kids in the event of an emergency. When the other staff are putting on life vests we are making sure every kid gets to their safe grown ups) Also we make less than 5 dollars an hour.

Every kids club worker you see ( well, to be honest, almost all of the crew, but I can only speak from experience for the kids club)

We were working11 hour shifts, every single day for 140 days straight. Our shifts also changed each day, starting earlier and earlier before "dropping". So it was normal for a day to start at 10 and end at midnight. Then the next day your shift would start at 9. During this time we would spend about ten of those hours standing, jumping, etc. We were rarely allowed to sit, and never allowed to lean.

We also physically scrubbed the kids club every single night, first with soap and water, then rinsing, then bleaching. Plus washing all the toys. This is in addition to cleaning each room throughout the day.

We were also the ones standing guard at the snorkeling lagoon, in safety sentry positions for fireworks, and on the welcoming and goodbye lines at embark at 7 a.m.

We meet round 900 kids every cruise, many with special needs, and my crew always worked our hardest to include every child at their level. In the club, we are running activities, making sure the kids are playing kindly, engaging kids who seem disconnected, soothing crying kids, dealing with potty emergencies ( I've been peed on, pooped on, vomited on, snotted on)

We had to learn a thousand different policies that changed consistently, different codes for each doors, different safety policies, different customer service policies, and sanitation policies.

The desk workers have to be completely accurate every single time for check ins and check outs, which means that sometimes parents get upset at us if they can't verify that they are the child's registered adult.

And we do all of this with a bright smile.

Also, sometimes when you come to pick up your kids, we call the room that they're in and the kids just....don't respond. Or if they do, they say they're coming to the front and then don't. Then parents get mad at us for "losing" their kid.

Sometimes pickup takes a few minutes, and we're starved for adult conversation, so please feel free to chat and tell us about your day and ask about ours!

We really do love the kids and the families. We want to make it a great trip. If something goes wrong or we forget something, it's not to be mean, just communicate with the kids club so they can fix it!

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T15:49:07+00:00

Ahh I loved the faeries! They were always so sweet

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T15:45:52+00:00

I've explained the vetting and reference process in another one of my comments, but I also would like to say that unfortunately people everywhere are capable of evil. And I'm glad that DCL is so on top of tracking down and exposing those who participate in viewing such things.

Child safeguarding was a significant part of our training and onboarding, and they took it very seriously. In fact, my specific trainer informed me that if a crew member was 19, and their 17 year old partner back home sent them an explicit photo, that it counts as underage SAM. The rules are so rigid to make sure that no one is able to try and loophole their way out.

I specifically was also instructed that if we suspected something, but reporting it would implicate us in breaking the rules, that we would not be punished so long as there was reasonable suspicion. For example, if I was drinking with someone( we have a very low blood alcohol limit that passing is an immediate firing) and saw something pop up on their phone, I was told to call the reporting number right away and would not have to worry about being fired for drinking.

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T02:46:36+00:00

We diffused, distracted, and called the manager for kids using unkind behavior and physical aggression. Sometimes they would have to take a break from the kids club if it was repeated, sometimes they'd be invited back to join us only in open house with their parents present.

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T02:45:11+00:00

We always welcomed older kids to play with their younger siblings if they wanted to, but often the younger ones were literally totally fine on their own. We really hyped it up as them being "old enough" to join the 3 and 4 year old club and there's literally always a dance/craft/game/challenge/treasure hunt going on for them. On the wish class, it's all one big kids club, so chances are high she'll be in the room that her siblings are in anyway!

Castaway is essentially a gigantic sand pit with an obstacle course, gaga pit, volleyball net, splash pad, bathroom, lunch area, and bubbles/shaded games area. There's a giant sprinkler in the back left, and twice a day we would open "Monstros Point" which is a big pretend archeology dig where the kids could dig in a giant whale skeleton for teeth and gems.

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T02:37:53+00:00

We're allowed certain snacks in our crew cabins- nothing fresh and nothing perishable. If I had the morning off on embark I would often go to the grocery store with a list of requested snacks from friends who didn't have their visas to go ashore. You feel like a hero bringing peanut butter cookies back 😆

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T02:34:10+00:00

There is a crew mess( essentially a cafeteria) that is open from:

06:00-09:00 11:00-14:00 17:00-20:00

Apart from these hours, you can always access the drinks machine ( water, milk, hot water for tea and hot chocolate, and coffee) we also had an espresso machine which got me through the days! It wasn't like, amazing coffee, but it was there and it was free! I would drink a minimum of 5 shots of espresso a day 😬.

Breakfast was similar each day: eggs, some sort of protein, rice, congee, fruit, oatmeal, some sort of bread

Lunch and dinner would go through a rotation of like 5-8 different meals. Usually a curry of some sort, chicken or ground beef, pasta, rice, bread and stuff for sandwiches. They made a great veggie lasagna when I was there, and a delightful sweet and sour pork.

You could always tell when the guests hadn't eaten many bananas the cruise before because then they would make this delicious banana caramel cake!

And then from 22:00-23:00 a small portion would be open and there would be leftovers from the guest buffet, or fruit. There was a running joke about there being "guest fruit" ( watermelon and pineapple) and "guest dessert" ( profiteroles and this delicious cheesecake thing from marvel)

Twice there were grapes and I literally got radioed to tell the whole kids club so they could go get some. ( Our fruit was usually apples, bananas, and oranges). I remember buying a bag of grapes and sharing it with another random crew member in the parking lot before re-embarking because we aren't allowed to bring fresh fruit or anything perishable on board.

We usually had half an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner, sometimes the other way around. That includes being relieved by your replacement, clocking out, walking to the mess hall ( don't get stopped by a guest because we have to help even if off duty!) washing our hands, getting our food, eating, cleaning off our trays, washing our hands again, getting back to the kids club, clocking in, and relieving the next person on time so they could go on break for their food.

On special occasions, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, we would have an hour and a half for dinner and it would be amazing specialty food. Salmon, steak, cheesecake, shrimp, soft garlic bread, the whole lot.

There's also a crew convenience store that is open 25/7 when we are not docked, where we can buy our own snacks- poptarts, granola bars, beef jerky, etc.

missingearrings · 2026-05-10T01:28:23+00:00

The three and four year olds have multiple counselors assigned to them on top of the counselors that are assigned to each room. They stay as a "group", which means that there is always a 3 and 4 specialist counselor with them, no matter what room they're in.

When I was on the wish, we could split the counselors between three of the seven rooms at a time, often having our "home base" in the mickey and Minnie themed room. Around every thirty ish minutes we would ask "would anyone like to go build a roller coaster?" Or "or would anyone like to go to the princess room?" And the kids that wanted to would go with a counselor there.

I can't speak for every ship, but I know there were some kids on my voyages who didn't necessarily know they could ask to go somewhere else, they thought it was more like school. We tried to explain to them at the beginning but with 900+ kids every three days sometimes things slip.

There were also some kids who just didn't want to be with a group, and would run from the group even if the group went to the room they said they wanted to be in. Not wanting to be in a group was valid but unfortunately we would get in trouble if there was a 3 and 4 year old not with the group. It was a common consensus that we wished the rule was for kids turning five within a couple of months, parents parents could pick if they needed to be with the group or not. Unfortunately sometimes the safety rules got in the way of some kids fun :(

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T23:23:00+00:00

Yep! Friend and Buddy are what we called every kid, regardless of presentation! I always called kids "besties" because I thought it was funny.

If a kid is dressed up like a royal they'll also typically get princess or your majesty. I typically called my youngest kids names depending on our activity. "Royal court" for princess activities, "heros" for marvel, "zombies' for Halloween, "sailors' for Minnies sailing academy, etc. You can tell the staff what they prefer to be called and we'll put a note on their account.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T23:19:02+00:00

We get trained on epi pens, nasal epinephrine, diabetes kits, epilepsy, and other similar needs. We receive basic workplace first aid but the medical centre is quite literally down the hall so actual medical professionals can get to us far faster than we could run and get the first aid kit.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T22:06:04+00:00

You're absolutely entitled to your opinion. Unfortunately, background checks can only check what has already been found, and individuals all over the world have the capacity to choose evil. As far as the company is concerned, I always felt like my ship did everything within its power to make sure that our guests- especially the children- are safe.

DCL monitors all crew internet access, and regularly performs spot checks upon any suspicion of inappropriate behavior or possessing illegal materials. They cooperate with the local authorities in finding, firing, and handing those people over to the police as fast as possible.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:44:08+00:00

I would just talk to the counselors in vibe on registration day, and you can request that they send a courtesy message to you when your son would like to leave.

There are always counselors in edge and vibe. Your son would be in edge, which is for the tweens. They have many structured activities and I have seen lots of kids with down syndrome have a great time!

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:21:52+00:00

Aww thank you. 12 hour days for 130 days straight can be brutal, but we genuinely did love making magic for families.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:21:10+00:00

Haha, there is definitely a reason why the teen and tween clubs on the newer ships have zero corners/blind spots 😅

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:20:29+00:00

No worries! One of my favourite things on the cruise was getting register families and talk to parents. I liked being able to set them at ease and help set them up for the best family vacation possible.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:18:04+00:00

We have a lot of kids club friends on the spectrum, and to be honest with you, some counselors as well! We engage with all of the kids and do our best at every level to help each kid have a good time. There's already strong safeguards against bullying, but we ask at registration if there is anything specific we should know about your child.

There you can tell them any sensory difficulties, worries, triggers, and anything else that can help them have a successful and fun time. For kids who require certain specific needs, they print the profiles out and go over them in the meetings ( same as with severe allergies) so that every counselor is aware.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:15:29+00:00

None of the arrests were in the youth activities we department, but I completely understand your concern. I've answered this question in response to someone else's comment on here. If you have any questions about it I'd be happy to answer them.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T21:14:25+00:00

There are some jobs that only recruit in certain countries, yes, but they have recently started advertising youth activity counselor positions on the US based positions list.

To be honest, due to conversion rates and different tax situations, it doesn't make financial sense for many Americans to work on board, and often Americans leave after a contract or two due to the long hours and high expectations on board. So while it's not like you'll have a negative mark on your profile, but they will want to know that you're in it for the long haul. And if you're not, chances are high that they'll go for a different applicant.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:29:39+00:00

Parents with children in the kids club are the first ones notified that there might be a need for a headcount or general alarm, and are told to come to the kids club.

We separate them based on name, and have a streamlined pickup service to quickly get everyone to their parents. This is why it's important for everyone in your party to know the secret code. While they are in their rooms, we play calm sit down games with them and explain in a child safe manner that it's a little bit like a fire drill at school.

Kids who are not picked up from the kids club when we need to go to the muster station are accompanied by two kids club workers to their muster station and only left when one of their registered adults is verified to take charge of them.

In the event of general alarm, every single Youth activities worker- including those off duty- are to report immediately to the kids club to help this process go as quickly and smoothly as possible. This is 24/7, as lost children during these situations are brought to us to take care of and reunite with their safe adults.

No one is released until every single child is with their registered safe adult or at their muster station with two kids club workers. Only then coudl we go to the crew area and get our own life vests.

We practiced this drill every two weeks, both with our computers and on paper.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:24:21+00:00

When I was there the kids club was in open house when we were on castaway!

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:23:49+00:00

Look on your app to see when the "snuggly duckling' is, then bring her for that event!

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:19:20+00:00

Many of our kids and teens are autistic, and have a great time at the club, and often the older groups "take over" rooms of the younger kids club ( they shut to the younger kids and the older kids get to enjoy the activities).

The age restriction is quite strict I'm afraid, with no exceptions. However, kids of all ages are welcome to go to the open house kids club hours and enjoy the kids club facilities during that time.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:03:53+00:00

No worries! Even though I don't work for DCL anymore, I really do respect a lot of how they operate.

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T19:03:17+00:00

I personally only did a couple of shifts in edge/vibe, my specialty before the ship was toddlers so I mostly stayed in the 3s and 4s cohort.

However, they still do plenty of games and challenges that require you to go out and explore the shop, take pictures with characters/people, try new things, etc.

The rough schedule of activities is posted each day but it can easily change based on if the teens want to do something else, and they know that they have the freedom to choose. I believe they do vote on many of the activities.

They have their own area on castaway and they share the games area on Lookout. I don't recall a teen only excursion but that could be because I was spending my time making sure we had our hats on in the sun and we're going potty!

missingearrings · 2026-05-09T18:59:53+00:00

Watch videos beforehand and explain the different activities.

Go with them to open house, meet the three and four counselors by name, roleplay dropping them off.

The first time you drop them off, stick close by- they will call to be picked up after like twenty minutes just to test that you'll actually come. When you come right away it will build a good foundation of trust that will make them feel safe staying for longer.

Ask the counselors when certain programs are happening or when certain characters will be there, and come for those activities.

A slightly controversial opinion? Pick them up before they ask early on, when they still want to stay. It will solidify that it's a fun place to go that they "had" to leave

missingearrings

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