Toddlers on wine tours - RCI

[NursePilot]

Hello All. My husband and I are going on a Christmas cruise next month with our 2-yr old daughter. Anyone know if you can bring a toddler on wine tours on RCI? We've tried to book online but it wouldn't let us due to her age; it assumed she'd be a drinking guest! Thank you!

[6rugrats]

I would think it inappropriate to bring a two year old on a wine tour; there's nothing for them to do and it could be disruptive for the other guests.

 

Many of the wineries near our home don't allow children in their tasting rooms due to the drinking age laws.

[queenL]

Hello All. My husband and I are going on a Christmas cruise next month with our 2-yr old daughter. Anyone know if you can bring a toddler on wine tours on RCI? We've tried to book online but it wouldn't let us due to her age; it assumed she'd be a drinking guest! Thank you!

 

We aren't drinkers so, I don't know for sure but I'm thinking that they won't. I also have a 2 yr old and when I checked our upcoming cruise on the Oasis, they won't even allow her in the "Vineyards" restaurant and winery. You must be 21. They don't allow them in casino's, night clubs or any other adult environment so I would imagine they wouldn't allow them on a tour of that nature either. If you don't get your answer here, why don't you give RCL a call and ask?

[AShann]

Hi, RCI's age requriements: The minimum age to sail is 6 months on most itineraries, but is 12 months on all Transatlantic, Transpacific and Hawaii cruises.

 

Its shouldn't be problematic due to age, but many of the cruiselines discourage infants/toddlers because they don't have the appropriate amenities for them.

 

You'll probably have to call them directly to sort it out, here's the contact info for RCI http://*****/cruise-research/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-cruise-lines/

 

Hope this helps :)

[NursePilot]

I would think it inappropriate to bring a two year old on a wine tour; there's nothing for them to do and it could be disruptive for the other guests.

 

Many of the wineries near our home don't allow children in their tasting rooms due to the drinking age laws.

 

Well, although you are certainly entitled to share your opinion, you didn't answer the question; I wasn't asking if it was appropriate or not. We've been on many wine tours that allow children; it would obviously depend on the tour.

[NursePilot]

Thank you queenL and AShann for your feedback; I'll give your suggestions a try. Much appreciated!! Happy cruising!!

[newbiecruiser09]

If you do call RCI, please come back and let us know what they say. I;d be interested to know. Most of the wineries around here don't allow kids for tastings but do allow them to tour the facilities (if they have that kind of tour). Would like to know how RCI is handling it.

[ruready]

Interesting question. I have seen kids at wineries in Central CA when my husband and I go and visit. They usually sit outside in the patio/park area of the wineries and run around and play and have picnics with their family. Maybe it would be the same for a wine tour booked through a cruise? Hmmm!!!! It would be interesting to hear what the cruise line says.

[beachchick]

Hi, RCI's age requriements: The minimum age to sail is 6 months on most itineraries, but is 12 months on all Transatlantic, Transpacific and Hawaii cruises.

 

Its shouldn't be problematic due to age, but many of the cruiselines discourage infants/toddlers because they don't have the appropriate amenities for them.

 

You'll probably have to call them directly to sort it out, here's the contact info for RCI http://*****/cruise-research/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-cruise-lines/

 

Hope this helps :)

 

That's the minimum age children can go on the cruise and is unrelated to the age minimums on various excursions. Some have minimums of 21, some 18, some 16, some 12, and so on down the line. So, yes it may very well be more than problematic due to age. If the excursion has an 18 or 21 age minimum, then a 2-y/o won't be allowed on the excursion, even though they are quite welcome on the cruise.

 

Interesting question. I have seen kids at wineries in Central CA when my husband and I go and visit. They usually sit outside in the patio/park area of the wineries and run around and play and have picnics with their family. Maybe it would be the same for a wine tour booked through a cruise? Hmmm!!!! It would be interesting to hear what the cruise line says.

 

Most of the wineries in our area have outdoor picnic/sitting facilities with open space for customers to enjoy and which make great "get out the energy" areas for the children. It's a great way to encourage families to spend more time (and buy more wine!) at the wineries. In fact, many have picnic items available for purchase right at the winery (e.g., local cheese and bread; bottled water and soda; fresh fruit bowls).

 

However, things would likely be different on a ship-sponsored excursion. They may only want adults who will be tasting to take the seats available on whatever transportation they use, and they likely wouldn't allow time for running around and playing at the various wineries because they'd be on a pre-determined schedule. You're right that the only way to know is to call and ask.

 

NursePilot:

 

What does the website say on the specific excursion in question? Is there an age minimum listed? If so, it won't matter whether you try to book it online or by phone because they will not bend the restriction. If not, then your best bet is to call and ask. As helpful as we'd like to be, we can't know if your daughter will be allowed on your specific excursion on your specific ship and itinerary. I have to wonder if the reason that you weren't able to book your daughter online wasn't just that the computer assumed that she would be a "drinking guest," but because they only allow passengers who are old enough to be drinking guests to take the excursion.

 

Many of the wineries in our area do not allow young children because of the environment (i.e., perceived as adult-only). Young children can be disruptive, and I've seen parents allow their children to run around and become tripping hazards to others, so it can be a concern. Some of the wineries have large gift shop areas in their tasting room and don't want to worry about little hands damaging things. Others don't allow it because they don't have space for any additional bodies as some tasting rooms are tiny. Others don't allow it for safety reasons if the tasting room is within the working winery areas. And children may not be allowed at wineries due to local laws, so that may be an issue depending on where you will be. Of course, I'm not at all saying you would allow your daughter to be a problem, just explaining why some wineries don't allow children and why it may not be allowed on some (or all) ship excursions.

 

beachchick

[6rugrats]

Well, although you are certainly entitled to share your opinion, you didn't answer the question; I wasn't asking if it was appropriate or not. We've been on many wine tours that allow children; it would obviously depend on the tour.

 

You will always get poster's opinions when you ask a question on these boards. Since when is accurately answering the question posed by the OP a requirement to post on any of the forums here?

 

I have no idea why you wouldn't have called the cruise line in the first place and asked this, if you did not want posts from people here.

[queenL]

That's the minimum age children can go on the cruise and is unrelated to the age minimums on various excursions. Some have minimums of 21, some 18, some 16, some 12, and so on down the line. So, yes it may very well be more than problematic due to age. If the excursion has an 18 or 21 age minimum, then a 2-y/o won't be allowed on the excursion, even though they are quite welcome on the cruise.

 

[/i]What does the website say on the specific excursion in question? Is there an age minimum listed? If so, it won't matter whether you try to book it online or by phone because they will not bend the restriction. If not, then your best bet is to call and ask. As helpful as we'd like to be, we can't know if your daughter will be allowed on your specific excursion on your specific ship and itinerary. I have to wonder if the reason that you weren't able to book your daughter online wasn't just that the computer assumed that she would be a "drinking guest," but because they only allow passengers who are old enough to be drinking guests to take the excursion.

 

 

 

beachchick

 

 

Excellent point. Nursepilot your siggie says that you are on the Rhapsody. If that is correct, I looked on RCI's website for that particular sailing. If you are talking about the Hawkes Bay Aquarium and Winery Museum or the Wineries of Hawks Bay excursions those show a minimum age of 18 to participate. You can see for yourself at their website. If you pull up the excursions for your sailing, there is a minimum age listed for every tour in the bottom left hand corner.

 

Happy sailings though! I'd love to take that cruise myself! Will you pack me in your suitcase? :D

[NursePilot]

Hey Everyone, thanks for the responses so far. As some people have already mentioned I have also been to wineries where kids were welcome and some where they are not. It obviously depends on the winery and what clientele they are looking for.

 

RCI makes it easy in some cases, it just flat out says minimum age is 18 years. However there are other excursions, such as the Hawkes Bay Aquarium and Wineries that states minimum age of 18 but in the written description says that the wine tasting is only available to guests 18 and over. The Wineries of Hawkes Bay tour is different as well, it says that children will be given juice, even though it states a minimum age of 18. This is what caused the confusion.

 

Unfortunately here in Australia the RCI office is not open on weekends, I will be calling them as soon as I have the time (and the office is open!!).

[NursePilot]

You will always get poster's opinions when you ask a question on these boards. Since when is accurately answering the question posed by the OP a requirement to post on any of the forums here?

 

I have no idea why you wouldn't have called the cruise line in the first place and asked this, if you did not want posts from people here.

 

6rugrats,

 

I value posters' opinions otherwise I wouldn't have asked for them. My point was that there's no reason why a child can't be taken on a wine tour if they're appropriately supervised outside the tasting room/area. We live in Australia so calling RCI back in the States during business hours can be problematic; the Aussie RCI booking agent couldn't help us because we booked online. See our dilemma? Anyway, there were private wine tours that allowed children given they were supervised accordingly.

[NursePilot]

If you do call RCI, please come back and let us know what they say. I;d be interested to know. Most of the wineries around here don't allow kids for tastings but do allow them to tour the facilities (if they have that kind of tour). Would like to know how RCI is handling it.

 

Newbiecruiser09,

 

Yes, we tried calling RCI is Australia where we live but they couldn't help us because we booked online?!!? We found some private wine tours that allowed children as long as they were appropriately supervised, etc. Hope this helps :)

[Gablin]

Good luck! My grandchildren were allowed to visit a Bacardi rum factory (cruise line sponsored tour) with their parents and me about five years ago. The cost for them was much lower than for adults and they received several paper tickets which could be exchanged for lemonade, sodas, etc.

I hope it works out for you.