Why does everyone hate cruising with Kids? What would make it better?

[01 Cobra]

Yeah, I'm crazy, it was so entertaining I actually sat here and read this entire thread!! Wow, so many stories and varied opinions. This is great. Thank goodness for free speech!

Just for the record, my son is 6 in 2 weeks. He's been on two cruises and his third is this summer. Well behaved but spoiled. One thing I love about him is that he is a huge tattle tale. So much so that he tells on himself. So I always know when he's been acting up...he has this uncontrollable need to tell me. Even though he admits when he's done something wrong it doesn't save him from punishment. I was raised by a southern woman who said spare the rod, spoil the child. So, I DON'T spank but keep in mind that I love my parents and I have no scars and I'm a well balanced adult....but what's well balanced??? another topic. I do however punish...I'm very creative, I even bought a few books to help me think of ingenious things to do to make him rethink his behavior. I don't use time outs.

He spends a lot of time with us on cruises and goes to the kids programs in the evenings. Like I said, he's spoiled, only child...nevertheless, we don't hesitate to remove him from the dining room if he's misbehaving. We do like to take him though, especially on formal night so we can have pictures taken of the family all dressed up in formal wear. We are normally seated with another family with a child.

Before we had him, we pretty much decided we didn't want to ruin the atmosphere for others with a kid that was misbehaving. We aren't perfect, but we try. BTW we are 33 and 32 if that matters.

We use the pools designated for children on the ship when we cruise. And it's really wierd because there is hardly anyone ever at the childrens pool area. We (meaning with son) only use the main pool while in port when almost everyone leaves the ship.

We never take him to places that are adults only on the ship.

I've read a lot of the "advice" given in this thread and believe me I'm taking it to heart. I'd hate to find my kid at the pursers desk or customer/security desk, I'd be so embarrassed!

I hope everyone enjoys their cruises and just so you know, we have chosen late April and early May as our cruise dates of choice and you'll find us on the Triumph this year!

P.S. I read one post about an adult knocking down a child in the hall without saying sorry. I find this sickening. I would hope that it was an isolated incident. I dare not say how I might react if I saw someone knock down my child with disregard.

[Pandora06]

This reminds me of a cruise that we took in 1997
There was a huge family aboard. Our first experience with them
was in the first hour at the buffet, when one of the boys jumped in
line and then started complaining about how it was the worst buffet
he'd ever seen on a cruise ship. Of course, there was nothing wrong
with the buffet the kid was just acting up.

They had a large group of kids with them. It appeared that it was
Grandma & Grandpa and their children and grandchildren. It was obvious
that Grandpa had money, and the children were allowed to do whatever
they wanted. They ran thru halls screaming, pushing people and just being obnoxious.

One night during the entertainment they were throwing knives blindfolded
and one of the kids ran across the stage in the middle of it. It was an
extremely dangerous thing to do and they were grabbed and the entire
audience began clapping. By then the entire ship had had enough of them. It was the last time they acted up.

Since then we have referred to them as the Michigan boys. The girls were all named Mary something... Mary Margaret, Mary Anne, Mary Lou, Mary Jean, Mary Beth, Mary Jane... you get the idea. There seemed to be about 6 girls and 8 boys all probably between 8 & 12.

I'm assuming grandma's name was Mary something and they were all in line for a possible inheritence.

Anyone else ever come across them?

In 6 cruises this is the only time we ever ran into problems. Next time I'd be smart enough to turn them in, but this was our first cruise and we weren't sure how to handle it.

[Raysfun]

Don't mind kids but one night on the Mariner, a mother and father had there kids in the Scooner Bar around 10;00PM and they were just running around all over the place. They just sat at the bar and drank like there was nothing going on.

[Catnip]

That family sounds like my worst nightmare on a cruise ship!!! It makes you wonder if those kids act like that out in public, what in the world must they be like at home?????:eek:

Time to call SuperNanny!!!!! :D

[dylan02]

RE:[quote name='always on vacation']I think it is a parenting issue, not a kid issue.


I couldn't agree with you more on this issue. From the time my son was 1 week old we have taken him everywhere as my parents did with me. I am 24 and have been places most adults have not because my parents were fortunate enough to be able to show me the world. And I will do the same and more for my son, there is no reason to leave him home, he is our world and we would be lost without him. We will be sailing on Feb 19 on Voyager my son is now 2 and acts better than mosts adults. We have taken him to top notch resturaunts and never had a problem. My opinion is that it's the way the child is raised. I don't let my child get out of his highchair until we are all finished with dinner and that has been a rule from day 1. He will sit thru dinner, there won't be any buffet lines for him---he will eat filet mignon and everything else off the adult menu---especially since contrary to what most people think there is not a big price break for kids. The price I am paying for him to cruise is the price that 2 adults can sail in an inside stateroom. So I don't think it's fair to give him peanut butter and jelly and hot dogs off the childs menu, when he doesn't eat that junk at home. I think they don't give you a break b/c they don't want alot of kids, but It won't stop me. Maybe I'm just lucky with him that he is very well behaved, but I still think it's up to the parents to control their children.

[dylan02]

[quote name='FinelyCruising']Good one john....my guess is there are rude people everywhere, just gotta take the high road![/QUOTE]



There are children everywhere too...get over it!

[beachchick]

I think it's most likely they don't give a price break for small children because each child takes an available berth and space in the life boats. There are only a certain number of pax allowed on any given ship. Therefore, RCI is going to charge the same for all pax, regardless of age. I believe they do occassionally offer discounts specifically for children. Considering that RCI's add campaign is very family friendly, I don't think it's because they don't want children onboard. (Although I suspect that small children don't bring too much casino or booze revenue. LOL.)

beachchick

[smeyer418]

You know sometimes its the on lookers who are causing the problem. Our son was a partiarily procosous(sp) baby. He walked at eight months. I know I know- couldn't happen. We went to the pediatrician and said he is walking and the ped looked at us and I am sure said to himself "yuppy parents" so he said put him down and off the bare ass kid went chugging out the exam room and down the hall( I still see that picture in my head 20 years later) and the doctor turns to us and says "yes he walks"...but that is not the point of this story. Because he walked and was absolutely mindless about chugging down whatever we had a harness with an eight foot strap attached made for him so we could since he hated being held let him chugg away with some degree of control. It was done not to make him look like a pet but so we could control him without him squirming and sceaming in our arms all the time. Of course some person tis-tisk us for it. My point here is if the parents are controllling the kid and you disagree(absent physical abuse) MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Kids like adults are the same- there are good ones and bad ones. personally I have run into many more rude adults(i.e. chair hogs), than misbehaving kids.

[Melissa at Mohair Meadows]

01Cobra you can cruise with me anytime.

[FinelyCruising]

[quote name='dylan02']There are children everywhere too...get over it![/QUOTE]

Not quite sure how this fits :confused:

[01 Cobra]

[quote name='Melissa at Mohair Meadows']01Cobra you can cruise with me anytime.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Melissa!

[PhoenixCruiser]

[quote name='FinelyCruising']Not quite sure how this fits :confused:[/QUOTE]


FC, I was wondering the same thing :confused: :confused: :confused:

###

[Lamar Cheeks]

As the father of four, I feel somewhat qualified to say that if your kids behave at home, school, church and in the neighborhood, they'll behave on a cruise ship. You have to set down rules and immediately ground 'em for a violation.

Problem, as I see it, is for kids from baby age to seven or eight ... those are the ages when any kids are hard to watch. As cruising parents, you should be prepared to have them in your sights all the time. Personally, I think kids that age and below are tough to take on cruises, or to places such as Disney World, too, but that's an opinion for another board, I suppose. Reason I say that, at about that age they can go on snorkeling expeditions and can walk longer distances without complaining (or saying "can you carry me?'') ... it's a blast when they final get old enough to put on the fins and go see some fish, for instance, as we did in Cozumel last year.

Since I have kids on the cruise, I have no problem telling other kids who are using adult-only pools or jacuzzis to scram. I suppose you could tell an attendant, but I have no problem doing it myself.

I think, in general, people with kids are less bothered by others' children ... where people without children are bothered by kids. I try to keep that in mind when my ragamuffins are with us.

[Catnip]

Lamar,
Sounds like you're one good, responsible parent that has a handle on the parenting thing. Way to GO! ;)

[Lamar Cheeks]

Thanks, Catnip.

My kids think I'm too strict.

But I always tell 'em, "Hey, you live in Minnesota, and you get to go on cruises ... and to Disney World ... and Hilton Head ... how many other kids get to do that?"

"And I always fork over 25 bucks (but never any more) to get your hair braided?"

and they say "But why do we always have to drive?'':confused: :confused:

[Catnip]

hee-hee-hee! :D
Maybe you should teach a parenting class..........more parents should learn from your good example!
I bet you don't have to call SuperNanny, or Nanny 9-11 to come over to your hosue...........those shows are unbelievable!

[Lamar Cheeks]

First rule of strict father: Very little TV. Is huge wasteland. Keep 'em busy with other stuff.

Wife and I did go on a cruise solo three years ago, and had the kids stay with relatives ... and the first thing we thought was "Gee, the kids would really have fun on a cruise! And we sure miss 'em!"

Since then we've scouted out good prices for cruises, in the lower berths, with pullmans, driven to the ports, and had a heck of a time.

[01 Cobra]

Lamar,
Hope we are lucky enough to run into you and your family on a cruise sometime!!!
My son is 6 and he's been in swim lessons for a little over a year now. We bought him the snorkle gear to practice with in anticipation of excursions on our next cruise.
Vacation wouldn't be the same without him.

[katiel53]

My first cruise was in 1980 on a now defunct cruiseline. It was from New York to Bermuda and Nassau. We had an inside cabin, across from the suites. The ship had to have passengers tendered to Bermuda, and they tendermen were on strike, so we ended up going to Nassau for 2 days. The family across from us had 2 suites, one for parents, one for the kids.(boys 12 & 14 maybe) When we got to Nassau, the parents got off and never came back on until we were ready to depart. The kids however, caused more trouble than anyone could imagine. They had parties with drinks that their parents brought on. Lots more than I care to go into on here. When the parents came back on, someone from the ship went to talk to them. Their attitude was, we PAID FOR 2 SUITES and we can do whatever we want. I think that attitude, albeit, not always paying for suites, still reigns today. I have a son and I did take him on cruises but he had good manners. From the time he was a baby, he was taken out to dinner etc and he knew he couldn't carry on or be rude. (Not that he knew that as a baby, but he learned manners.) I think the problems on ships today, is that parents don't feel the need to be responsible for their children. I know that's been mentioned many times. If you look at posts on Celebrity, which is the line we are usually on, you will see criticisms of children running wild. If parents usually have dinner at 5 or 6, why would you expect a young child to wait until 8:30 when he/she might be going to bed if at home? I think young children need to follow as much of the home routine even if on vacation. As far as older kids, I don't think they should just be let loose either. The pushing of elevator buttons or rushing into elevators before people get off is rude. There are courtesies for everyone, and I follow them and wish others did too. Thanks for letting me rant, and I hope you have a great cruise.

Katie

[ORANGEinINDY]

I think Lamar, while admirable, is more the normal parent. Children like his are the ones we don't really notice and therefore don't complain about. Just as the squeaky wheel gets the grease, the unbehaved children are the ones that we remember. And that minority are the subject here. It may be helpful to tell parents (and Kids) when they are doing a good job like this.

I have already mentioned, I dont mind seeing the kids act up, if the parent is making a reasonable attempt to teach them that it is unacceptable behavior, after all thats how they are going to learn. It's the parents that seem to think that "hey, I'm on vacation, too" and take a vacation from parenting. If that's their attitude, then actually TAKE the vacation and leave the kids at home. If you're going to have a family vacation, be a family.

Now, where do I buy those bagpipes before my cruise?

[MaryEllen1952]

Sadly the reason most people don't want to cruise on ships with many kids is the PARENT'S FAULT. Children are not inherently bad mannered; they learn traits from their parents.
I have had many people do cruises who state at the dinner tables the children are allowed to do anything they want and the parents just sit by and watch with no action.
I actively seek cruises and times of the year to take vacations to avoid kids for this very reason.
When parents start taking an active role in teaching children adequate manners then less people will have aversion to traveling around them.

[weezer64]

There is no doubt that it IS the parent's fault.

I have a good friend who has a child the same age as my DD (5). Do you think her son has ever been to my home??? No, sadly the "family" has never been invited because of her ill-behaved child and my fear of what will happen to my breakables!!! (the breakables that MY children wouldn't dream of touching - the ones I can leave out in the open)

I wanted to invite my two friends on this cruise with us - each of them have children my DD's age - one has well behaved children, the other has the child described above, Justin. I didn't invite EITHER as not to hurt the one friend's feelings having to explain.

I would not enjoy myself on a cruise having to deal with an unruly child, period. I am a teacher's aide and I've seen firsthand that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I had a little boy (4) comment in class that he "sure would like to feel so-and-so's boobies" TO HER FACE! - this same little boy physically attacked kids every now and then, even drawing blood once. When the boobie comment came out I had a fit and questioned the teacher on WHY she wasn't doing more. Imagine this little girl who heard it - their parents having to explain why this boy wanted to do this, UGH. She said that the parents don't care - but since I was so insistent she called them. They pulled their child out of the class (thank GOD) and accused ME of "picking on their child". :eek: They took ZERO responsibility on the matter and even coddled the boy during the conference. I also blame the teacher here too........I would be more of a ZERO TOLERANCE teacher - she just throws her arms up and says "why bother? it'll do no good."

Back to my DF's boy - Last week at the mall she refused her son's request for a toy. He pushed and pushed and she kept saying no. When he saw she wasn't caving in he stopped in his tracks and refused to move. Mom kept walking and when she she got far enough away to where he had to YELL to be heard - he yelled, "you're a f*****g b***h!!!" (he's almost 6 years old) :eek:

Imagine all the looks from mall walkers.....what did she do? Grabbed his hand without a word, cried in the parking lot, and after school allowed him to go to the Monster Truck show with his dad. :confused:
She makes a ton of excuses about WHY she caves in to him after misbehaving - the dad works a lot of hours and they need their "special time", there are 3 other siblings younger than him and she feels guilty that he doesn't get to spend alone time with her or DH, maybe he has ADD.....the excuses go on and on. I HAVE told her that the behavior will only get worse as the years go on and that it's important to nip it in the bud now. Deaf ears.......... :rolleyes:

(and btw - just WHERE is he learning this language???)

Now a story about MY son - 15 years old. He's always been a very well behaved boy BUT there is always an opportunity to teach and even on vacation we insist on the best behavior. We were in Orlando in the fall and in a decent restaurant. My son being 15, is at the "I'm cool" stage. So when the waitress came and offered him more soda he said, "Yeah.", not "yes please". When she brought him another....not a thank you. SO.....DH corrected him immediately and kept correcting him until he got it right. By the end of that vacation he was the polite boy that I was proud of.

There will always be opportunity to learn and a vacation should NOT be a vacation from manners and respect. And you can rest assured that next February on the Navigator - MY family will be the one in the dining room with the children sitting tall in their seats asking the server if they could "please" have more soda. I don't think anyone will have a problem sitting next to us............

It's my DH I'm more worried about embarrassing me! :cool:

[parrothead60450]

I would have to say that I too can not tolerate children running loose, however, fortunately, I have not seen this to be much of a problem. RC apparently has a fantastic kids program that keeps them busy. During my cruise last week, the little ones that I ran into were for the most part, wide-eyed and enthusiastic, and in general having a great time without causing any problems.

EXCEPT, I enjoy hanging out at the cigar bar after dinner, for a stogie and a nice glass of port. However, this time there was a pack of 17 or so year olds that decided to call the place home. To begin with I can not stand a certian type of kid. You all know the one I am talking about, his hat is to the side and he is wearing a pair of blue jeans that is literally 15 sizes too big. Well, one of these punks was the leader of the "pack". They kept hanging out running around, trying to bum cigarettes, trying to get people to buy them drinks, and in general making quite a nuisance of themselves. I blew it off for the most part as after asking me for a smoke once and I said no, ne never bothered me again. Thenone night he grabbed a chair, moved it in a position blocking the way to the door and put his feet up on the bar stool. I got up went to him and said, excuse me, you can not blook my path to the exit. He stood up, I grabbed the chair and moved it back to where it had been before. THen I left. The next night the bartender apoligised to me.


All in all, the kids are good, unfortunately, just like anything else, it is the bad ones that stick out in everyone's memory. I always give them some leaway, but won't hesitate to say something to them or their parents when they go to far. And by all means, don't sweat the petty stuff and have a geat cruise.

Also, I like the people that say they go out of the way to compliment a family when their children are behaving well. Positive reinforcement does indeed go along way, and I am sure that it passes right down to the children when you say something to the parents.

[ORANGEinINDY]

Parrothead; It's good advice everywhere "Don't sweat the petty stuff"...
...I always finish it with "...and don't pet the sweaty stuff"

It's always hard for me as well when you see someone who wears his pants around his thighs and can't figure out which way the bill on his hat is suppose to point. (Heck, my father made me take my hat OFF indoors, particularly in a restaurant)

Remember when Elvis and the Beatles were considered RADICAL...in hindsight they were pretty wholesome, love-your-mother kids. I hate to think where we'll 'evolve' in another 30 years.(We're running out of places to pierce)

[mferranti]

There are two ways to travel.

First Class

[U] or[/U]

with children