How I Helped My 3-Year-Old Settle Into Kids Club on a Cruise

Because “just drop them off” isn’t always that simple…

We’ve just returned from two weeks on P&O Cruises’ Arvia with our baby and 3-year-old, and while our baby mostly clung to us like a koala 🐨, our eldest finally embraced kids club 🎉 and we had two hours a day where she burned off some energy while we got to drink a coffee ☕ while it was still hot.

Here’s exactly what helped us settle her at kids club — and what I’ll absolutely do again next time.

👶 Before the Cruise: Set Expectations Early

If you’re cruising with a toddler for the first time, my biggest tip is this: start the kids club conversations before you even board.

A couple of weeks before the trip, I started casually mentioning “the playroom on the ship.” I kept it low-pressure, because I don’t know about yours but my toddler can smell a sales pitch miles off 👃.

• 🖼️ Show them pictures of the room on the cruise line’s site
• 🎒 Pack a tiny “cruise bag” with a comfort toy, water bottle, stickers
• 🗣️ Keep it fun and low-pressure — no big promises

That sense of ownership made a big difference.

🛳️ Embarkation Day: Visit Together

Most cruise lines run an open house at the kids club on embarkation day. You can go inside, meet the staff 👋, and let your child explore with you.

If you can, don’t skip this — it turns the club into a place they’ve already visited, not a big unknown.

🧸 Bring a Familiar Comfort Item

For some children, it helps to send a small comfort item — a little teddy 🧸, a sticker on their name tag, or a favourite bottle.

🕒 Start Small

We didn’t go for the full session straight away. I booked a slot and told her she could try it for just 15 minutes ⏱️.

I hovered by the window (parental equivalent of checking your phone every 3 seconds 🙃). When I popped my head back in, she was getting her face painted 🎨 and promptly told me to “Go away, Mummy.” I took it as both an insult and a win — and gave her another half an hour.

👋 Create a Goodbye Ritual

Toddlers love routines. Keep drop-offs predictable and short:

• 💬 Same phrase every time: “See you soon, jellybean!”
• 🥖 A tiny promise: “I’ll bring a bread roll when I come back!”
• 👋 Quick wave, no long explanations, no lingering

The first few times, she was a little clingy. After a couple of days, she walked in on her own 👣.

🎉 Celebrate Every Win

Even ten minutes counts — we treated every attempt as a win 🙌. By day 4 she stayed for full sessions and proudly showed off her giraffe face paint 🦒. She came home with a folder of drawings and crafts that she was so proud of.

💛 What Helped Specifically on P&O’s Arvia

• 🏠 Smaller space: the Splashers room felt cosy, not overwhelming
• 🤝 Friendly staff: used first names from the start and were consistently kind
• 📅 Flexible sessions: easy to plan short drop-ins
• ✨ No pressure: I always felt welcome to come back early if needed

🧠 Final Thoughts

“Just drop them off” is rarely that simple — especially with small humans and big feelings in a brand-new place. Sometimes they settle on day 1, sometimes day 10… and sometimes not at all. And that’s okay.

On this cruise we found a rhythm that worked; I’ve also had trips where we never made it past the doorway. If your little one isn’t ready, try again another day… or go get ice cream 🍦. Either way, you’re doing brilliantly.

🎥 Want to See the Full Cruise Review?

I talk more about the kids club experience (and everything else!) in our full Arvia family cruise review on YouTube:

👉 Watch the Arvia Family Cruise Review

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