Adventure Ocean is one of the biggest perks of a Royal Caribbean cruise, but many parents wonder whether the kids club ever limits access. The short answer is yes, but usually only for the youngest age group.
Infants & Toddlers (the Nursery)
For babies and toddlers, time is limited by default. The Royal Babies & Tots Nursery operates on a reservation-only system, and you typically book two hour slots. These reservations usually must be made the day before, and space fills quickly. Because the nursery has strict staffing ratios, this is the area most commonly affected by high demand.
Older Kids (Adventure Ocean)
For children in the standard Adventure Ocean age groups (usually ages 3–11), time is generally unlimited. Kids can sign in and out freely during open hours, and most families never encounter restrictions.
However, Adventure Ocean can limit access during unusually busy sailings. This can happen when:
- The ship has a very high number of children onboard
- Adventure Ocean reaches maximum capacity for safety
- Demand outpaces staffing ratios
In these cases, the team may temporarily enforce time limits so every family gets a chance to use the program. When this happens, parents are normally given a set block of time, often around 3 hours, and then asked to pick up their child. If there’s a line or a waitlist, you can get back in line to check them in again as space opens.
This type of restriction is rare for older kids and is most commonly seen in the nursery, not the main AO spaces.
What Parents Should Expect
Adventure Ocean tries very hard not to turn families away. Most cruises never see time limits for older kids, and when they do, staff communicates clearly and fairly. For babies and toddlers, the 2-hour reservation system is the norm, so plan ahead and book early.
