Zip lining - leaving child onboard

[aunursa]

My DW has expressed how much she would like to experience a zipline tour. I'm thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean shore excursion. My concern is leaving our 10 year old DD onboard the ship. We left her in Adventure Ocean twice before when we left the ship for a few hours for massages on shore. But this adventure takes place in the heart of Belize 37 miles from port -- and it involves some risk. If one of us were to suffer an injury during the excursion and we had to remain in Belize, what would happen to my daughter?

[ToddlerMom]

I wouldn't leave my child on the ship while I was 30 something miles from the ship. Honestly if I wanted to zipline, I'd go and leave DH on the ship with DD. Then the next day he could leave the ship to play golf or something and I'd stay with DD.

[cantwait2cruize]

My DW has expressed how much she would like to experience a zipline tour. I'm thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean shore excursion. My concern is leaving our 10 year old DD onboard the ship. We left her in Adventure Ocean twice before when we left the ship for a few hours for massages on shore. But this adventure takes place in the heart of Belize 37 miles from port -- and it involves some risk. If one of us were to suffer an injury during the excursion and we had to remain in Belize, what would happen to my daughter?

 

Zipline when your daughter is older....they grow up very fast.

[crusinmama06]

I left my kids onboard when we were in Belize because the tour we were doing (ATV jungle tour) wasn't something the kids wanted to do and the kids wanted to stay onboard in Adventure Ocean (and I grilled AO about it before I left them)

 

However, I still had a group of family/friends still onboard the ship in case something happened to us for back up. It was the one and only time we had left them onboard, ever.

 

I know I was a nervous wreck the whole time (but that's me, I worry ;)) And when we got back, the kids took one look at me and said "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HEEEERRRREEE GOOO AWAYYYY!" :rolleyes:

 

Well, ok, thanks! Glad they missed me! :eek:

 

AO told me there would be no way to get ahold of me if something happened to the kids while we were gone -- they do not accept cell phone numbers.

 

It's all a matter of comfort level. Usually, the argument is that many of us leave our kids every day in a day care and we drive to work. Some are comfortable with it, some are not. That work isn't in another country and you aren't ziplining on a tiny line - but ya know. ;):D

[Shanafan]

It would NEVER cross my mind to leave my child alone on the ship. I would book a cruise WITHOUT them before I would go to a foreign country and leave them. What if something happened and you COULDN'T make it back to the ship? What should your child do?

[aunursa]

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback.

 

I think that for peace of mind, we'll choose a Roatan zipline, which is very close to the port.

[aunursa]

It would NEVER cross my mind to leave my child alone on the ship. I would book a cruise WITHOUT them before I would go to a foreign country and leave them. What if something happened and you COULDN'T make it back to the ship? What should your child do?

 

Lisa,

 

That's fine that you would never even think of leaving your kids onboard. But the fact is the kids clubs operate all day during port days (kids are not left alone on a ship) specifically because many parents do feel comfortable leaving their children in the crew's capable hands while they explore the port.

 

The cruise line lists emergency contact information for each port in the daily planner. If we're a few minutes away, it would be simple to contact the ship and/or local authorities to arrange for my child to be escorted to us.

[Maryscooking]

Lisa,

The cruise line lists emergency contact information for each port in the daily planner. If we're a few minutes away, it would be simple to contact the ship and/or local authorities to arrange for my child to be escorted to us.

 

Are you sure this is something they would be willing to do though? In previous discussions of this topic, I've never heard anyone mention that as a possible option. Its hard to imagine that ship staff would be willing to escort your child off a ship and where? To a hospital somewhere? What I have heard is that if the parents are left behind in port, staff from AO basically babysit your child in your stateroom until you can get back to the ship.

 

Maybe a 10 yr old would be more understanding of this situation (I don't really know though), but I know my five yr old would NOT get why mommy and daddy didn't come back to get her. She would be scared.

 

Or God forbid she was injured or sick on ship and we couldn't be contacted. This is just how *I feel* but if I came back from some great excursion in the jungle, and found out that my kid had been in the sick bay all day with food poisoning or a broken arm or head injury (cases I have read about), I would feel terrible for not being there.

 

They grow up fast and your child will be old enough to go ziplining with you before you know it.

[mitsugirly]

Just wondering...does your 10 year old not want to zip line too? Why not take them with you? (Just asking, maybe they are afraid of heights or just don't want to or whatever, so just wondering). :)

[crusinmama06]

Or God forbid she was injured or sick on ship and we couldn't be contacted. This is just how *I feel* but if I came back from some great excursion in the jungle, and found out that my kid had been in the sick bay all day with food poisoning or a broken arm or head injury (cases I have read about), I would feel terrible for not being there.

 

It's not "couldn't" be contacted, it's "wouldn't" be contacted ;). I was told directly by AO on Indy that they assume medical responsibility of your child the second you walk off the ship. That's the papers we sign when we enroll them into AO and then step off the ship.

[aunursa]

Just wondering...does your 10 year old not want to zip line too? Why not take them with you? (Just asking, maybe they are afraid of heights or just don't want to or whatever, so just wondering). :)

 

She has cerebral palsy and is afraid of heights. If she were allowed to join the excursion as an observer, that would be the ideal choice.

[aunursa]

Are you sure this is something they would be willing to do though? In previous discussions of this topic, I've never heard anyone mention that as a possible option. Its hard to imagine that ship staff would be willing to escort your child off a ship and where? To a hospital somewhere? What I have heard is that if the parents are left behind in port, staff from AO basically babysit your child in your stateroom until you can get back to the ship.

 

I will need to discuss with the staff onboard what would happen in various scenarios before we book.

 

Or God forbid she was injured or sick on ship and we couldn't be contacted. This is just how *I feel* but if I came back from some great excursion in the jungle, and found out that my kid had been in the sick bay all day with food poisoning or a broken arm or head injury (cases I have read about), I would feel terrible for not being there.

 

Based on the feedback I have decided against the Belize tour. The Roatan zipline excursion is only 3 hours -- presumably it's near the port.

[Shanafan]

My DW has expressed how much she would like to experience a zipline tour. I'm thinking of booking a Royal Caribbean shore excursion. My concern is leaving our 10 year old DD onboard the ship. We left her in Adventure Ocean twice before when we left the ship for a few hours for massages on shore. But this adventure takes place in the heart of Belize 37 miles from port -- and it involves some risk. If one of us were to suffer an injury during the excursion and we had to remain in Belize, what would happen to my daughter?

 

I responded to your initial question....If one of us were to suffer an injury during the excursion and we had to remain in Belize, what would happen to my daughter?

 

Perhaps I misunderstood but you asked what would happen if you didn't make it back to the ship and your daughter was left alone on the ship. Obviously she is not ALONE as there are thousands of people on the ship, but what if she were left ALONE assuming she is traveling with her parents and her parents are left somewhere else? Personally, I would not put myself in the situation you described. 37 miles away is not like 37 miles away in California (or anywhere in the US for that matter) You could be on winding dirt roads for 37 miles and it could take hours to get there. What if the tire blows on the way back and you miss the ship?

 

Obviously I understand what Adventure Ocean is and I am sure it works out well for parents of children who want to go explore an island for a few hours. You specifically asked what would happen to your daughter if you didn't make it back. Unless you have family who would care for her in the event something should happen to you, I wouldn't even think about doing something so far away. But that is just my personal opinion.

[Shanafan]

Lisa,

 

That's fine that you would never even think of leaving your kids onboard. But the fact is the kids clubs operate all day during port days (kids are not left alone on a ship) specifically because many parents do feel comfortable leaving their children in the crew's capable hands while they explore the port.

 

The cruise line lists emergency contact information for each port in the daily planner. If we're a few minutes away, it would be simple to contact the ship and/or local authorities to arrange for my child to be escorted to us.

 

37 miles away in Belize is not a few minutes away. I could be wrong, but I have never heard of a child being escorted TO their parents in a foreign country.

[crusinmama06]

Aunursa, your cruise is coming up soon. Do me a favor, ask them those questions and then post what they say when you get back please. :D

 

I wasn't asking them if the port agents would be able to remove a child from a ship and meet up with the parents in an emergency situation.

 

I was asking if AO could contact the parents in an emergency and was told no. I asked how I would know if there was an emergency and they told me that my "sea pass would be flagged when I would try to re-enter the ship" and security would meet me at the gangway, they would then update me on the situation and take me to where I needed to go to meet my child -- being the ship's medical center or to an outside hospital.

 

I was assuming that if my husband and I were both injured, our family would take over. So now I am wondering what happens in that situation, so please ask and post it when you get back. Even if you decide NOT to take the excursions, I would still like to know. :D

[aunursa]

Aunursa, your cruise is coming up soon. Do me a favor, ask them those questions and then post what they say when you get back please. :D

 

I will do that.

[aunursa]

37 miles away in Belize is not a few minutes away. I could be wrong, but I have never heard of a child being escorted TO their parents in a foreign country.

 

Sorry for the confusion -- see my post numbered #6. Based on the initial feedback I have eliminated Belize as a possibility. I am now considering the Roatan zip line excursion, which appears to be next to -- or very close to -- the cruise port.

[Paumavista]

I know most of you are very concerned about the reaction of the child to these unforseen circumstances....ie parents not returning as planned - I can only speak from the position of someone who has cared for MANY MANY children from newborn thru teenagers who are placed in my home (at all hours of the day/night) unexpectedly and under some terrible circumstances - I will tell you that as a "professional parent" - (like professional childcare workers) most children will be just fine with good care. I think most parents would be amazed at how well and how quickly their children "adjust" to unexpected situations with good care.

 

I was also the mom that agonized about leaving my crying 4 year old at pre-school (how long would he cry, how much would he miss me and how often would he become dispondent over the fact that I had left him.....) - well I'm the headstart teacher now.....and I can tell you honestly - NOT VERY LONG (you actually probably haven't left the building before he was distracted).

 

Now I know that as a parent you will worry, and agonize over any possible unforseen situation/circumstances - but in all my experience I can honestly tell you that YOU will worry, miss them, and agonize over the separation alot more then they ever will.

 

Have a good trip and know that the workers caring for your children LOVE kids and have a passion for what they do - they will do everything that needs to be done in caring for them until they are back in your care.

[MyTempered]

Take your daughter zip-lining too! When my daughter was barely 7, I took her to Mexico. I was a single parent at the time, so it was just the two of us. We did a day-long excursion that included rapelling, zip-lines, kayaking, and swimming in a cenote. She was the only kid in the group, but she LOVED the entire day, especially the zip line! And she was exhausted when we got back to our room and went to bed early. :-) Now, 4 years later, she still talks about that day.

[mitsugirly]

She has cerebral palsy and is afraid of heights. If she were allowed to join the excursion as an observer, that would be the ideal choice.

 

Take your daughter zip-lining too! When my daughter was barely 7, I took her to Mexico. I was a single parent at the time, so it was just the two of us. We did a day-long excursion that included rapelling, zip-lines, kayaking, and swimming in a cenote. She was the only kid in the group, but she LOVED the entire day, especially the zip line! And she was exhausted when we got back to our room and went to bed early. :-) Now, 4 years later, she still talks about that day.

 

 

I was going to suggest the same thing. We took our 3 year old zip lining with us and was going to ride tandem with her, but she is brave and up for anything and INSISTED on doing it herself. She had a BLAST!!

 

However, the OP posted that her daughter has cerebral palsy and is afraid of heights...so it is probably something that she would not be willing to do with her. :)

[aunursa]

I have received a reply from the RCI Shore Excursion Coordinator. In this situation the ship's shore excursion manager would contact the captain, and it would be up to the captain to decide what procedure to take, based on the situation.

 

And the zipline tour is located 40 minutes from the pier. Obviously the excursion is for a different zipline course from the one located near the pier. If my DW wants to go ziplining, my DD and I will accompany her and she can go solo -- or we can go one at a time.

[scubababy]

We've done 3 Med/Greek cruises with our 8 year old daughter. These are port intensive long cruises. She "begged" to stay on board instead of "looking at rocks" on each cruise. So, we left her on board for part of the day in Scotland (we took a taxi to explore, and my husband parents stayed closer to town) for one cruise. She stayed on board the 2nd cruise in Barcelona (she's been there before) while we walked around Las Ramblas. Last cruise, she stayed on board in Athens (again, been there before). We did our own tour with a taxi driver, and he took us about an hour outside of Athens to see some Temple ruins we wanted to see.

 

I never felt uneasy leaving her in the hands of the kids programs. She normally loves going everywhere we go, but after days and days of touring, they need a break. And, everything worked out great for both of us.

 

Once the kids got to know each other in the kids clubs, they would plan the day they were all going to stay on board together instead of touring.

 

I know I'm in the minority here, but I did not feel uneasy at all doing this.

But, I pick ports that are "safer" to do this, and that we have easy access to get back to the ship. Would I have left her on board for our Holy Land tours - no way.

[chipmaster]

If someone is really worried about having an accident because the activity itself is dangerous and there really is a probability of murphy entering the equation and doing it in a foreign land. Duh, skip it. Ziplining is available everywhere these days. Yeah going to be different and less exotic than doing it a few hours from home, but why risk it???

But honestly unless you end up with a bad outfit I don't put ziplining even 37 miles away from port up there as terribly high risk. If you are worried don't do it, if you arent' do it.

 

Leaving kids on the ship is almost a seperate topic. Whats really the worst thing, one of you has to come back and leave the other, probability is small. Even more remote is that you both get left behind. Ship staff won't be happy, what are they going to do, throw the child overboard, nope. Clearly there would be mitigating circumstances why you both didn't get back, unless of course if you are one of the many bozos in the tropics who drink and lose track of time :D

 

 

The last few cruises, we left our kids on board. Some ports were foreign lands where I could have thought of higher risk things happening, not risk activities but things unraveling. I have/had full faith in the lines that they are responsible and in the case of emergancy aren't idiots. Thus, if they support kids club in port, and if that is what makes sense we always use them.

[Mom2B&Z]

I know most of you are very concerned about the reaction of the child to these unforseen circumstances....ie parents not returning as planned - I can only speak from the position of someone who has cared for MANY MANY children from newborn thru teenagers who are placed in my home (at all hours of the day/night) unexpectedly and under some terrible circumstances - I will tell you that as a "professional parent" - (like professional childcare workers) most children will be just fine with good care. I think most parents would be amazed at how well and how quickly their children "adjust" to unexpected situations with good care.

 

I was also the mom that agonized about leaving my crying 4 year old at pre-school (how long would he cry, how much would he miss me and how often would he become dispondent over the fact that I had left him.....) - well I'm the headstart teacher now.....and I can tell you honestly - NOT VERY LONG (you actually probably haven't left the building before he was distracted).

 

Now I know that as a parent you will worry, and agonize over any possible unforseen situation/circumstances - but in all my experience I can honestly tell you that YOU will worry, miss them, and agonize over the separation alot more then they ever will.

 

Have a good trip and know that the workers caring for your children LOVE kids and have a passion for what they do - they will do everything that needs to be done in caring for them until they are back in your care.

While I do see your point and agree with the premise of your post, I do think a child going to foster care or being left at daycare/preschool versus being left on a cruise ship is a very different situation. Yes my children are used to having other people take care of them, but not in a foreign country, on a cruise ship, 4000 miles from home and anyone who might know them. In the situation where DH and I were hurt and had to stay on shore, my children would be alone on a cruise ship for goodness knows how long, expected to somehow install their own car seat and booster, make it to the airport and fly 4 hours home. The best case scenario would be for my parents to fly to either a port of call or the city of disembarkation and meet the kids. Logistically this wouldn't be easy to arrange, we travel over Christmas/New Years when flights are a premium and weather can be a huge issue. This is why they are not left alone on a cruise ship! IMHO this situation is preventable.

To the OP, I do think your idea of doing a zipline closer to the ship or having your daughter come along as an observer are two very viable options.

[SBAnt]

I know most of you are very concerned about the reaction of the child to these unforseen circumstances....ie parents not returning as planned - I can only speak from the position of someone who has cared for MANY MANY children from newborn thru teenagers who are placed in my home (at all hours of the day/night) unexpectedly and under some terrible circumstances - I will tell you that as a "professional parent" - (like professional childcare workers) most children will be just fine with good care. I think most parents would be amazed at how well and how quickly their children "adjust" to unexpected situations with good care.

 

I was also the mom that agonized about leaving my crying 4 year old at pre-school (how long would he cry, how much would he miss me and how often would he become dispondent over the fact that I had left him.....) - well I'm the headstart teacher now.....and I can tell you honestly - NOT VERY LONG (you actually probably haven't left the building before he was distracted).

 

Now I know that as a parent you will worry, and agonize over any possible unforseen situation/circumstances - but in all my experience I can honestly tell you that YOU will worry, miss them, and agonize over the separation alot more then they ever will.

 

Have a good trip and know that the workers caring for your children LOVE kids and have a passion for what they do - they will do everything that needs to be done in caring for them until they are back in your care.

 

I agree with this completely. Kids are amazingly resilient, and as long as they're healthy and safe and pampered by the staff, most will be fine. Having grown up traveling a lot with my parents and going to sleep-away camp in another state via airplane before I was 10, I enjoyed my time away from my parents.

 

On the other hand, I worked with kids for a decade, and there were some who needed their parents available on a moment's notice (I kept those cell numbers close at hand). If the child in question is sensitive to her parents' absence, then being left "alone" on a ship, even in Adventure Ocean, may be upsetting and will be inconsolable if she wants mom/dad and they're unreachable.