Do YOU cruise with children??

[Folgy]

Originally Posted by PT737SWA

I only cruise with children because other people bring them...

 

 

Ditto ;)

[Peggy13]

Yes we cruise with our 4 children - this summer's cruise will be their 4th!! Spoiled kids..with my daughter away at college now and another one going in in a year, we figure we are down to 4 cruising, but NO, my daughter says "as long as you guys are going on a cruise, I'm still coming". They love it.

[gigivic]

I understand the view of wanting to take your kids so that you can spend time together especially when both parents work. The problem is that some parents let the kids go without supervision. But the biggest problem is babies crying and the parents ignoring them. Others are not used to it as the parents are and it really spoils Their time. Some parents are not considerate and really could care less about other passengers just so as little Johnny is having a good time. I have 2 sons aged 21 and 31 so been there and done that. I don't think I would have taken them until they were teens anyway. They would enjoy it more and so would everyone else.

[island lady]

I would LOVE to be able to cruise with my kids....but RCI won't let me take them aboard!! ....sigh.... :(

 

Can't imagine why, as they are very clean, and thier litter box never stinks!! ;)

 

Guess I will just have to only bring along my framed pics of my sweet little furry faced girls for my dresser as usual.

 

Cheers!

[ruttie]

I love my boys and have taken them on cruises when entire extended family has gone but for me it just was not a relaxing enjoyable experience that i love when i am with them I spent more of my cruise running back and forth to check in check out etc... so we generaly reserve cruising to just the 2 of us:)

[Babs66]

I understand the view of wanting to take your kids so that you can spend time together especially when both parents work. The problem is that some parents let the kids go without supervision. But the biggest problem is babies crying and the parents ignoring them. Others are not used to it as the parents are and it really spoils Their time. Some parents are not considerate and really could care less about other passengers just so as little Johnny is having a good time. I have 2 sons aged 21 and 31 so been there and done that. I don't think I would have taken them until they were teens anyway. They would enjoy it more and so would everyone else.

 

I agree with you and I have a five year old daughter (who is no angel). There is nothing worse than parents letting their kids just run wild. It not only ruins other's vacation but it puts other kids at risk of getting hurt also. As I am one of those parents that DO leave a store when my child throws a tantrum (and just not threaten) I will NOT let my dd daughter run wild to ruin others vacation. Everyone paid to be on the boat just as I did and deserve the respect to enjoy their vacations.

[carumba7]

We also cruise with our youngest (8)! We are lucky that we have always been able to take her anywhere, anytime and know that she will be well behaved!

 

Voyager in April was amazing! We had late seating but she only dined with us one time. She didn't want to miss out on the fun at the kids club and late seating also gave us all a little down time in the late afternoon. Every night our table mates and dining room staff would anxiously await her arrival for desert. She felt special because a fuss was always made over her. She still has all the napkin figures they made.

 

Swimming with Stingrays and dolphins would not have been the same without experiencing it with her. But at the same time it was great that she wanted to play with the children in the kids-club so we could have a little quiet time to ourselves!

 

.

[dosp]

I only can relate to children and animals, so naturally I cruise with children.

 

Peace,

 

Micheal Jackson :eek:

[terri23]

I only cruise with children because other people bring them... :rolleyes:

 

I'm in this camp as well :p

[Onessa]

We cruise with our DD, and later this spring we will be cruising with DD and her DC (darling cousin) - both nine and both great kids.

 

Why many of us who cruise with our kids get a bit defensive on these boards is because so many posters (and adults in general) like to paint all kids with the same broad (and tainted) brush! There are kids on board who sometimes behave badly - there are also adults on board who behave badly. There are some posters who revel in starting or responding to threads that seem to have a single purpose - to bash kids and/or people who travel with kids.

 

Yesterday, my husband mentioned that our neighbor seems to have gotten a new dog - one that is just as obnoxious as his former (late dog). Now I could state that there are not any bad pets, just bad masters - similarly as many posters here indicate that the kids aren't bad, their parents are bad. And I could state that Mindy, the dog who lives with our neighbors on the other side, is very well behaved - similarly to posters who introduce a bash with the phrase "that while there may have been some kids who were ok, . . . . "

 

No, I won't say that no one should be able to have a pet since our one neighbor chooses not to train his dog (it barks for hours at a time, it is allowed to run freely around the neighborhood, it kills small critters to leave to rot on the sidewalks, it snaps at deliverymen, it uses everyone's yard as his restroom, well - it is just not a well behaved dog). Similarly, I would appreciate if those who have a bad experience with a child on a cruise, not come down on all of those of us who travel with kids. The sarcastic comments, the rude asides, the snap judgements are not appreciated (no matter how many smilies are pasted on).

 

Let's all agree to try to work out solutions for dealing with problem pax - no matter what their age. If someone is making excessive noise during sleeping time, report them to the ship's staff - if enough of us make it known that this is an issue that is important to us, the lines will listen. If someone who should not be drinking, is drinking - report the situation to the ship's staff. If someone is blocking a stairwell or monopolizing the elevator, politely point out the situation to the offenders - if they do not allow you to pass or continue to behave poorly, report the behavior to the ship's staff. If the lines know that we will not put up with bad behavior from other passengers, they will make rules that will address the situation and will make enforcing the rules a priority. The lines listen to the pax when they feel that their profits are at risk.

[goodml]

I really like the way you said that Onessa and I agree.

 

Some will say that they do report these instances and it's ignored. I say keep reporting until something is done. If enough people take the initiative changes can be made and as you say, the lines will start listening. We were in a tiny inside cabin with our two kids on the Sovereign a few years back and there were four young women in the cabin directly behind us and it was so wild in there that we called guest relations at 4 in the morning. We found out the next day that three other cabins had called as well and that they moved them from their cabin in the middle of the night. Not sure where they put them because we never saw them again but hopefully they weren't making someone else nuts the rest of the time.:) Long story short, I think they will listen.

 

I also travel with kids but I am extremely intolerant of bad behaviour regardless of age. I have no problem reporting it if a chat with the person or persons doesn't help the situation.

[Folgy]

Yes, Onessa

 

Good points for sure. I am afraid though for some of us the *bad dog syndrom has tainted too many of us on a cruise and it becomes too easy to look around and just say 'good grief' look at all these youngsters.Expecting the worst. Sad , yes it is.

I cannot go up to a mother who is ignoring her screaming baby in a highchair during dinner and say' please M'am your child is diruptive , is it possible to quiet him/her down...thankyou'. Believe me I have seen the waiter get his head chewed off for requesting less.

[goodml]

True Folgy, the baby screaming in the dining room is a problem. I'd like to think most parents would take them out when that happens but I suppose some do not.

[mlmmdjm]

OK bear with me I am new to cruising. I am currently planning my first. My question is what does DH stand for? I assume it has something to do with spouse, but for the life of me haven't been able to figure that one out. I hope to be a veteran cruiser ASAP. Happy cruising all...

[cruiseky]

DH = Dear Husband

[island lady]

OK bear with me I am new to cruising. I am currently planning my first. My question is what does DH stand for? I assume it has something to do with spouse, but for the life of me haven't been able to figure that one out. I hope to be a veteran cruiser ASAP. Happy cruising all...

 

That's ok, took me a little bit to figure it out when I first started posting!

Welcome! :)

 

Also: DS = Dear Son, or in my case cruising with: Dear Sister.

DW: Dear Wife.

DD: Dear Daughter.

 

One I would love to add: DC......as in Dear Cat. Hate having to leave my little furry faced childeren home when I cruise....sigh....

 

Cheers!

[cruiseky]

mlmmdjm, I wish that I would have been brave enough to ask. I spent countless hours trying to figure some of them out!:D Welcome to the boards and welcome to cruising!!

[mlmmdjm]

:p Thank you for answereing my "silly" question. Some other boards are not so friendly. I look forward to my first of many trips, and appreciate the help.

[crzngrl]

No. I don't cruise with my son, but I wanted to...

 

Last year we had a group cruise planned that I had to cancel last minute b/c I was told a few weeks before that my son would not be welcome in the room that I had book (a year earlier) and that I would have to pay full cruise fare for him, even though he was only about 3 months old. The rest of the group went without me... I'm still foaming...

 

Did anyone else have a similar experience?

[fkwok]

I thought this poll would create A LOT of responses, but wow.

 

My wife and I are taking my BIL, his wife and 2 kids, his MIL and my MIL (what was I thinking?!) on the VOS in 9/05 for a 5 day Bermuda cruise.

 

We have been on two previous cruises and we also take another week off for Disney World for our 8 yo birthday.

 

Both my and I work long hours each day ( like all working parents) and we use it to re-connect with our 8 yo daughter though a little parental guilt is involved.

 

We also use these trips as a reward for her good grades in school. We spend lots of time after work with her doing homewwork and projects. She also spends most of her summer in a day camp where she studies math and english in the mornings.

 

I also agree stay at home parents also want a break from their kids to connect withtheir SO's, but I couldn't imagine a vacation w/o my entire family..minus my MIL. LOL

[beachchick]

No. I don't cruise with my son, but I wanted to...

 

Last year we had a group cruise planned that I had to cancel last minute b/c I was told a few weeks before that my son would not be welcome in the room that I had book (a year earlier) and that I would have to pay full cruise fare for him, even though he was only about 3 months old. The rest of the group went without me... I'm still foaming...

 

Did anyone else have a similar experience?

 

All I can tell you is that I know that RCI charges the same fare for pax, regardless of age. If it's a 3rd or 4th pax in cabins that can accomodate that many, then lower rates often apply, but these rates are the same whether the 3rd pax is 3 months or 90 years old.

 

If your cabin wasn't one that was listed as able to accomodate another person, then they would say no; if the ship's manifest was already at maximum allowed by the Coast Guard, then they would say no (the Coast Guard lists "souls" onboard, and each one counts toward the total).

 

Obviously (for your stated dates), when you booked the cruise, your son wasn't a consideration (when booking, I mean). Sounds like you booked a cabin that wouldn't accomodate another pax and that RCI applied their standard rate charges to add your son into a cabin that would.

 

You might be upset about this, but it wasn't something that RCI did to you specifically. It's their standard practice. All I can say is that it might have been easier if you had called RCI or your TA well in advance to find out how RCI would list and charge for your son.

 

RCI's attitude seems to be that any person who counts toward the maximum allowed number will be charged as a full fare. I can see their point. Many parents say that their small children shouldn't have to be paid for because they don't use as many services, etc. The fact is though that even infants use resources onboard. The cabin steward still has to take care of their needs, and you should see the waiters and other staff members fuss over the little ones getting them special things and making them happy. As for fare, it's true that an infant is unlikely to eat steak for dinner, but the same infant is also unlikely to contribute to onboard revenue (alcohol, shopping, spa services, bingo, casino, excursions, etc.). It may be that RCI figures it evens out in the end.

 

I am sorry it was a problem for you, but now you know for the future. And again, before someone decides to flame me, no I am not saying leave the kids at home. I've never said that. I am simply trying to explain RCI's practices as I've seen them (and I could certainly be wrong about the "whys" of how they determine fares).

 

beachchick

[Tatka]

No. I don't cruise with my son, but I wanted to...

 

Last year we had a group cruise planned that I had to cancel last minute b/c I was told a few weeks before that my son would not be welcome in the room that I had book (a year earlier) and that I would have to pay full cruise fare for him, even though he was only about 3 months old. The rest of the group went without me... I'm still foaming...

 

Did anyone else have a similar experience?

 

It's the same on all cruise lines (not only RCCL). Sometimes some cruise lines

offer deals for the children(rarely!), but even then you have to book them at the same time as your booking not later.

[mergle55]

We have always cruise with our kids, my daugher who is now 17 and my son who is now 15. We have taken them on 4 cruise in last 2 years. However in September we are taking our first cruise kid free. I am not sure I am ready for this, after all the years I have been traveling I have never travelled without them, ( we have even taken them to Las Vega, they love it). So this next cruise should be a real experience.

[terri23]

We cruise with our DD, and later this spring we will be cruising with DD and her DC (darling cousin) - both nine and both great kids.

 

Why many of us who cruise with our kids get a bit defensive on these boards is because so many posters (and adults in general) like to paint all kids with the same broad (and tainted) brush! There are kids on board who sometimes behave badly - there are also adults on board who behave badly. There are some posters who revel in starting or responding to threads that seem to have a single purpose - to bash kids and/or people who travel with kids.

 

Yesterday, my husband mentioned that our neighbor seems to have gotten a new dog - one that is just as obnoxious as his former (late dog). Now I could state that there are not any bad pets, just bad masters - similarly as many posters here indicate that the kids aren't bad, their parents are bad. And I could state that Mindy, the dog who lives with our neighbors on the other side, is very well behaved - similarly to posters who introduce a bash with the phrase "that while there may have been some kids who were ok, . . . . "

 

No, I won't say that no one should be able to have a pet since our one neighbor chooses not to train his dog (it barks for hours at a time, it is allowed to run freely around the neighborhood, it kills small critters to leave to rot on the sidewalks, it snaps at deliverymen, it uses everyone's yard as his restroom, well - it is just not a well behaved dog). Similarly, I would appreciate if those who have a bad experience with a child on a cruise, not come down on all of those of us who travel with kids. The sarcastic comments, the rude asides, the snap judgements are not appreciated (no matter how many smilies are pasted on).

 

Let's all agree to try to work out solutions for dealing with problem pax - no matter what their age. If someone is making excessive noise during sleeping time, report them to the ship's staff - if enough of us make it known that this is an issue that is important to us, the lines will listen. If someone who should not be drinking, is drinking - report the situation to the ship's staff. If someone is blocking a stairwell or monopolizing the elevator, politely point out the situation to the offenders - if they do not allow you to pass or continue to behave poorly, report the behavior to the ship's staff. If the lines know that we will not put up with bad behavior from other passengers, they will make rules that will address the situation and will make enforcing the rules a priority. The lines listen to the pax when they feel that their profits are at risk.

 

 

Tainted brushes? Barking dogs? Rude asides? "Yes" or "no" would have sufficed :rolleyes:

[Onessa]

Hey, why limit yourself to one word when you can you two (or 200)! There are so many lovely words out there, I feel compelled to use as many of them as I can.