Poll..... Should kids be allowed in the Haven at all?

In NO WAY do I think I am "responsible" for other people's children. But I assure you, if I am witnessing a child about to jump from a story above into a swimming pool, it would NOT be possible for this Mom to just sit back and relax and let him possibly break his neck, or worse. My friend broke their neck jumping into a pool from the roof of a one story house when we were in our 20's. He had to wear a Halo and screws in his head for months. Very scary scene.

 

 

 

I would assume that if the kid's parents were there supervising, the kid wouldn't be climbing over a railing a story up? Or perhaps they would?. I would never sit back and say "not my problem" as it isn't the kid's fault that his/her parents are negligent. Someone has to watch out for these poor kids.

No, the child was unsupervised. After I yelled at him to stop right there, do not jump, get back on the other side of that rail... the child ran back to his stateroom. A few minutes later, his father came stomping into the courtyard and said, "'My son says you yelled at him." To which I said, "You bet I did, he was trying to jump into the pool from the above deck." He was mortified. He immediately apologized to me and went back to his stateroom to reprimand his child. I know this because I could hear his raised voice all the way in the courtyard. His parents watched him like a hawk the rest of the cruise. At least the story has a happy ending, because I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't been there.

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No, the child was unsupervised. After I yelled at him to stop right there, do not jump, get back on the other side of that rail... the child ran back to his stateroom. A few minutes later, his father came stomping into the courtyard and said, "'My son says you yelled at him." To which I said, "You bet I did, he was trying to jump into the pool from the above deck." He was mortified. He immediately apologized to me and went back to his stateroom to reprimand his child. I know this because I could hear his raised voice all the way in the courtyard. His parents watched him like a hawk the rest of the cruise. At least the story has a happy ending, because I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't been there.

 

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Great job!!! And good job to the dad who at least acknowledged that you saved his kid from a potential serious injury!! Sometime you have to scare the crap out of these parents who don't get why kids need to be supervised on a cruise. I can't believe a kid dumped orange juice in the hot tub in the Haven? Doesn't sound worth the extra money unless you get a good week with good parents and respectful kids.

I have read several postings about unruly kids in the Haven, the pool being used as a baby sitter, diving, ball throwing and just being loud. This has always kept me from booking one myself. I would like to try one but I travel without kids (off season)and I don't want to deal with others bad behavior for the premium to be there.

 

It seems as everyone's kids on this board are the best behaved in the world:rolleyes:

 

Should the haven be for Adults only?

 

This poll is anonymous so your true feelings can be seen.

I see that you did not include a simple yes. Nor did you offer a choice of with adult supervision (the choice you gave is with adult supervision at all times). Your poll is therefore bias.

Basically, if you want to avoid kids, stay away from the mass market lines. However, don't expect to go on a ship with lots of water slides, a bowling alley or two and rock climbing walls, plus low prices when compared to the other lines and then find no kids.

If you want to avoid kids, book Princess, HAL or Celebrity during the traditional school year. Also, book the longer cruises (ten to fourteen nights) and you'll find a lot less kids.

Great job!!! And good job to the dad who at least acknowledged that you saved his kid from a potential serious injury!! Sometime you have to scare the crap out of these parents who don't get why kids need to be supervised on a cruise. I can't believe a kid dumped orange juice in the hot tub in the Haven? Doesn't sound worth the extra money unless you get a good week with good parents and respectful kids.

Yep, no way does NCL get money for Haven from me with these non-stop stories. It hasn't been that long since the family on BA who kept putting soap in the hot tubs. It's not NCL's fault people don't know how to behave or parent their children, but that doesn't mean I'm giving them my money.

NCL market is a family brand and as pointed out it includes the Haven.

As I said before if you want to avoid kids do not cruise NCL and supervised or not is irrelevant as a group of supervised kids can still be perceived to be noisy.

I'm booked in the Haven (again) on the Getaway for a cruise next month. You can say whatever you want but I can assure you that no "young person" is going to keep me out of ANY pool and the whole "this is a private..." bunch of BS from some kid is laughable and that's exactly what the adult should have done, too.

As to those "pool space hogs" or whatever you call them mentioned earlier: if they aren't around that pile of stuff they left on their spot to mark it for their appearance hours later, GETS MOVED, by me. "Gee, I dunno. It was lying over there when I got here. Have a nice day."

NCL market is a family brand and as pointed out it includes the Haven.

 

 

 

As I said before if you want to avoid kids do not cruise NCL and supervised or not is irrelevant as a group of supervised kids can still be perceived to be noisy.

Will a supervised kid be jumping off the balcony into the pool and pouring random substances into the hot tub?

I do sail NCL despite knowing full well it's getting a lot of families who can no longer afford DCL. But I also buy a week pass to the 18+ thermal suite, and stay in the solo studio area, which is also 18+ (except when people let their related kids in to touch a bunch of the lounge pastries before they put them back in the display--have seen it personally). I would definitely pay for an adults-only Haven experience or an adults-only ship. I don't see the harm in putting this info out there in case NCL has people looking at market info on social media sites. I was surprised at how close this poll is running.

I see that you did not include a simple yes. Nor did you offer a choice of with adult supervision (the choice you gave is with adult supervision at all times). Your poll is therefore bias.

 

Basically, if you want to avoid kids, stay away from the mass market lines. However, don't expect to go on a ship with lots of water slides, a bowling alley or two and rock climbing walls, plus low prices when compared to the other lines and then find no kids.

 

If you want to avoid kids, book Princess, HAL or Celebrity during the traditional school year. Also, book the longer cruises (ten to fourteen nights) and you'll find a lot less kids.

I have wanted to try Haven but never have yet, due to what I have read. So therefor I have little bias as all I wanted was an opinion from a large pool. I wrongly assumed that one of my choices "yes with adult supervision at all times " was the basic "Yes" as that is what NCL spells out. I now know I should have made an extra choice "Yes let them do what ever they want"

I also realize I should have refined it even more to those that have actually stayed there.But despite that, the outcome was surprising to me.

I have sailed the above lines you mentioned off season and I never like to do short cruises.My next NCL is 40 nights. I do have a short one on MSC in a few weeks but it was gift.

Last year we did 21 day B2B med on the Jade in February, and there were kids, and I would not have wanted to be in the Haven with them.

I'm here in Haven now. I posted earlier this week about the child who thought the courtyard was their own private one...

The kids this week have been - kids. They have played in the pool (with parents either in there or nearby). They have made kid noises...

But on the whole it's been not intrusive, and still relaxing in the courtyard.

Only thing I've avoided this week has been the m&m and jelly baby jars on the sideboard in the courtyard. The kids all just run up and dig their hands in to get some [emoji33] But, we have our own bowls in our cabin so I'm not missing out [emoji12]

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I'm here in Haven now. I posted earlier this week about the child who thought the courtyard was their own private one...

 

The kids this week have been - kids. They have played in the pool (with parents either in there or nearby). They have made kid noises...

 

But on the whole it's been not intrusive, and still relaxing in the courtyard.

 

Only thing I've avoided this week has been the m&m and jelly baby jars on the sideboard in the courtyard. The kids all just run up and dig their hands in to get some [emoji33] But, we have our own bowls in our cabin so I'm not missing out [emoji12]

 

 

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Ha. May want to name which ship (if you are willing) so other Haven folks can avoid disease this week. :)

Ha. May want to name which ship (if you are willing) so other Haven folks can avoid disease this week. :)

Gem... We are on our last day, so if anyone was going to get sick I think it would have happened by now. [emoji849]

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Will a supervised kid be jumping off the balcony into the pool and pouring random substances into the hot tub?

 

I do sail NCL despite knowing full well it's getting a lot of families who can no longer afford DCL. But I also buy a week pass to the 18+ thermal suite, and stay in the solo studio area, which is also 18+ (except when people let their related kids in to touch a bunch of the lounge pastries before they put them back in the display--have seen it personally). I would definitely pay for an adults-only Haven experience or an adults-only ship. I don't see the harm in putting this info out there in case NCL has people looking at market info on social media sites. I was surprised at how close this poll is running.

Hmmmm,,, do you really think that there is any market to fill at 4500 passenger ship with solo sailers who hate kids? I think not.

Hmmmm,,, do you really think that there is any market to fill at 4500 passenger ship with solo sailers who hate kids? I think not.

BirdTravels, didn't Renaissance Cruises try the adults only back in the late 90's?

Folks are acting like there are unruly children on each and every cruise, each and every week and on each of the ships, which is not true. If you don't want to take the chance of unruly children being in the Haven, don't book the Haven. If you book the Haven and you witness unruly children (and I mean unruly, not just children being children that some on here seem to object to), go talk the with Hotel Director and voice your concerns.

 

BirdTravels, didn't Renaissance Cruises try the adults only back in the late 90's?

Carnival did as well late 70s,actually it was singles 18-35. I could have sworn I went with Gramercys???? It was on the Festival and on the Mardi gras.

Carnival did as well late 70s,actually it was singles 18-35. I could have sworn I went with Gramercys???? It was on the Festival and on the Mardi gras.

I'm here in Haven now. I posted earlier this week about the child who thought the courtyard was their own private one...

 

The kids this week have been - kids. They have played in the pool (with parents either in there or nearby). They have made kid noises...

 

But on the whole it's been not intrusive, and still relaxing in the courtyard.

 

Only thing I've avoided this week has been the m&m and jelly baby jars on the sideboard in the courtyard. The kids all just run up and dig their hands in to get some [emoji33] But, we have our own bowls in our cabin so I'm not missing out [emoji12]

 

 

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I read through this thread since I am booked in the haven for the first time in a couple of weeks (I will be one of the ones with a big red "U" on the door). I don't have kids but I do travel quite a bit and I can't imagine that the potential for unruly kids (or adults) is different here than anywhere else you may go on vacation. I go to Vegas a couple times a year--kids aren't allowed to be hanging out in casinos but they do.

Either way I'm definitely not letting it ruin my trip.

Admittedly, the many hands in the m&m jar did gross me out a little....! :D

I read through this thread since I am booked in the haven for the first time in a couple of weeks (I will be one of the ones with a big red "U" on the door). I don't have kids but I do travel quite a bit and I can't imagine that the potential for unruly kids (or adults) is different here than anywhere else you may go on vacation. I go to Vegas a couple times a year--kids aren't allowed to be hanging out in casinos but they do.

Either way I'm definitely not letting it ruin my trip.

 

Admittedly, the many hands in the m&m jar did gross me out a little....! :D

Great attitude.

I'd bet if the candy jar was at the bar, adults would be putting their hands in it as well to get the candy.

Admittedly, the many hands in the m&m jar did gross me out a little....! :D

I never saw bare hands (adults or kids) used in the Haven but that may have had something to do with the fact that every child that I saw in the Haven (including mine) was accompanied by an adult.

If kids are unsupervised/unaccompanied by an adult, their behavior usually changes. That pretty much sums up the debate.

If parents are attentive to their child's behavior, there is a "slim to none" chance of a problem for other guests.

If parents are not attentive to their child's behavior, there is a "more than likely" chance of a problem for other guests.

Great attitude.

 

I'd bet if the candy jar was at the bar, adults would be putting their hands in it as well to get the candy.

Exactly true. Not everyone is concerned about germs. As a bartender, I can remember when snacks just sat on the bar. Ever watched "All about Polly" lol

But the most relevant part of Trixie Bells post was that she was in Haven currently, with kids PLAYING and it did mot seem to destroy her entire vacation:p

Hmmmm,,, do you really think that there is any market to fill at 4500 passenger ship with solo sailers who hate kids? I think not.

No. But fortunately, I didn't say anything like that. I said I'd pay for an adults-only experience and that I didn't see the harm in stating that opinion. You invented the rest of the details above.

On our E Med trip in July 99% of the kids were polite and well behaved.

The only exception was one family with 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls, ages 8-12ish) when they were ALWAYS in the Haven pool most of the time unsupervised.

When their parents weren't around they ran around...played tag on the wet pool deck, jumping from the side of the hot tub into the pool...I finally said something to them, and they did stop, at least while I was around. The pool attendant nor the consierge (who could clearly see them from his desk) ever said a thing...all it would have taken was a wet spot and slip to crack a head open.

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When we were in the Haven on the BA back in June there were a good amount of kids there. We did not see any misbehaving. They were in the pool and the hot tubs and were not being loud. There was no running around or any pool toys.

I am all for kids being kids but allowing kids to be unruly and running around is wrong. When parents say that they paid to be in there with their kids so did everyone else. Whether or not they were an upsell the adults were the ones who paid the $ not the kids running around risking hurting someone else or themselves. Isn't that what the kids clubs/area are for? That is where you can leave your kids and have someone else keep them occupied, not in the haven. You can't be on the outside deck getting sun or in your cabin and have your kids go off on their own in the pool/hot tub area without supervision. When we were in the haven there was a family there that the grandmother was either in a wheelchair or walking with a cane (she had a drain in her knee), what if there were kids running around and cut her off or ran into her?

I have 2 girls(17 & 22) and we have taken several cruises as a family and done many other family vacations. Kids are not always perfect but you have to as the parent know when to BE a parent. Everyone around you is on vacation and to some if not most it is to get away from the stress in life/work and relax and having kids screaming and running around in an area that is not appropriate for it is not right. Everyone is entitled to the quiet just as much as you all want your kids to be kids but there is a place to meet in the middle. Just pay attention to what your kids are doing and be considerate of others.

Oh and I was one of the unsavory upsells for my cruise. I still spent a pretty penny for my cruise for me and my husband. We also paid full suite price on the POA with our girls and last year we had 2 mini suites for the 4 of us so this was our first time upselling. Even though we loved the Haven (even bought the Haven Cruise Next Certificate)I am now rethinking trying it again for all of us because if we got lucky this time around with it being heaven instead of hell I doubt lightning will strike twice for us and for that much $ I am not thinking it is worth the chance. With all these recent stories of bubbles being put in the hot tubs and kids running all over the Haven it is sounding more like the pool deck than the Haven to me.

On our E Med trip in July 99% of the kids were polite and well behaved.

The only exception was one family with 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls, ages 8-12ish) when they were ALWAYS in the Haven pool most of the time unsupervised.

When their parents weren't around they ran around...played tag on the wet pool deck, jumping from the side of the hot tub into the pool...I finally said something to them, and they did stop, at least while I was around. The pool attendant nor the consierge (who could clearly see them from his desk) ever said a thing...all it would have taken was a wet spot and slip to crack a head open.

 

 

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jewelmick that is probably what it is going to take for the "they are only being kids" cheerleaders to change their tune. The kid trying to jump from the second floor into the pool would have been a airlift off the boat for sure. Didn't an adult on another cruise line try that a year or to ago and not make it?

The attendant and concierge not saying anything blows my mind. Because it is dangerous, not just kids having fun.

What are other areas in the Haven like? The restaurant, hallways, suites (at night)? Is there also this problem with unruly, unsupervised children?

What are other areas in the Haven like? The restaurant, hallways, suites (at night)? Is there also this problem with unruly, unsupervised children?

The restaurant and hallways were quiet for us but we had well behaved kids on our cruise. Didn't hear any noise while in our suite except for a draining water sound coming from above us. Which was odd because there were cabins above us and we could hear it while in bed. So I guess you could say it was quiet enough to hear that. LOL

We did have kids gathered late at night by the stairs outside the Haven entrance on 15 though. It became more popular as the week went out as a hangout at night well past midnight and as late as almost 3AM the last night. :eek: