Steakhouse and an almost 2yo

[TravelerMK]

My wife and I plan on going to the Steakhouse on the Pride on our cruise this September. We will have our little one with us. He'll be 10 months old at the time of the cruise. Our plan is to book a 9:30 reservation, put him to bed at his normal bed time of 8:30 and then wheel him down to Camp Carnival at 10PM when late-night babysitting opens up. If he wakes up we'll keep him quiet until 10PM or take him outside the restaurant until he falls asleep again.

 

We've been taking him out with us since he was 4 days old (we stopped for burritos on the way home from his first pediatrician appointment). We've gone to all manner of restaurants... buffets, fast food, fast casual, upscale casual, and upscale. We've taken him outside whenever he's gotten fussy or loud--which, fortunately, is not very frequent. We don't wait, we just take him out when he starts and wait for him to calm down. It usually doesn't take long at all. In one case, he was asleep before I even got to the door. I held him while he slept through the rest of our meal with 2 other friends in a very loud restaurant.

 

This one made me smile :)

 

Ah the good old days, when my dear son was 10 months old and slept in every restaurant (I really don't intend any sarcasm here, just my great experience). Now that he's 2.5, everything is different. I'm not sure when it changed, maybe around 1.5? Enjoy it while you can! :D And maybe you'll get lucky and he'll stay easy!

 

Mindy

[schittenden]

This one made me smile :)

 

Ah the good old days, when my dear son was 10 months old and slept in every restaurant (I really don't intend any sarcasm here, just my great experience). Now that he's 2.5, everything is different. I'm not sure when it changed, maybe around 1.5? Enjoy it while you can! :D And maybe you'll get lucky and he'll stay easy!

 

Mindy

 

Sadly, he doesn't sleep in every restaurant and is usually awake if we go out at lunch time or a usual dinner time. That's why we're shooting for the 9:30 reservation, it greatly increases our chance of success and gives us the ability to drop him at Camp Carnival to sleep during most of our meal.

[Swampbabe]

I didn't see anyone talking about being "joined at the hip" to parent. The OP simply asked if she could take her toddler to steakhouse--she doesn't have the option of Camp Carnival or a babysitter. My daughter is off to college next year--she's the tail end of four kids and I'm a very involved mother. What will I do? I've already booked my first solo cruise--I'll be in the Western Med while she's in her second month of classes at college. She won't have to come home every weekend (well, unless she chooses to).

 

 

 

I've never vacationed without DD other than a few times I added a few days to a business trip when I was traveling to China or Europe. I travel too much for business without my family--I want to vacation with them! Even when I didn't travel for business, we still vacationed with the kids. Some people can and want to vacation without their children; I don't happen to be one of them. Like you, I wouldn't enjoy myself.

 

 

 

Unbelieveable. Judge much?

 

My post really wasn't directed at the OP, more like at Mr. Pete. I should have made that more clear. And for the record, my husband and I never vacationed without our children. Didn't want to and didn't have anyone to watch them anyway.

 

Having said that, I also understood that there would be places where it wouldn"t be appropriate to take them. Being a good parent simply means using your head and being cognizant of what is going on around you.

[TravelerMK]

Sadly, he doesn't sleep in every restaurant and is usually awake if we go out at lunch time or a usual dinner time. That's why we're shooting for the 9:30 reservation, it greatly increases our chance of success and gives us the ability to drop him at Camp Carnival to sleep during most of our meal.

 

I do get it, we work our lives around our son too - how can it work for him (prevent meltdowns) and us! This usually means takeout and Netflix! LOL!

 

At 10 months, we took our son to an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, the place was fabulous, but we found it to be a lot of work and a lot less of a vacation than we had hoped for. The DAYS by the beach and pool were awesome though! Nights were spent in our room - early.

 

:) Mindy

[BeachChik]

Cruise critic is a place to exchange information and opinions. I don't know why the Carnival boards have to be so harsh and combative. :confused:

 

The wide range of opinions expressed in response to the OPs post has provided a wealth of information! If someone from Carnival actually follows this post, they may be replacing those nice, super sharp steak knives with plastic ones! :p We are a fiesty bunch.

 

I wasn't being combative. I was simply saying that the cruise lines rules allow it. Whether someone thinks its wrong or doesn't like it doesn't really matter as long as the customer is following the cruise lines rules, which they would be.

 

I don't even have children so its irrelevant for me. But if I wanted to vacation where there are no children I would do an adults only resort. Cruises are family style vacations. Their fare was paid also and they have to right to the same venues as everyone else.

 

My issue is more with people making up rules to suit them when it is the opposite of the actual rules.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

My post really wasn't directed at the OP, more like at Mr. Pete. I should have made that more clear. And for the record, my husband and I never vacationed without our children. Didn't want to and didn't have anyone to watch them anyway.

 

Having said that, I also understood that there would be places where it wouldn"t be appropriate to take them. Being a good parent simply means using your head and being cognizant of what is going on around you.

 

 

I see--I didn't get that. I completely agree you should thoughtfully make decisions as a parent--I've never been one who believed everyone else thinks my child is as amazing as I think she is (she IS amazing, BTW!). There are places where it's not appropriate to take a child--Serenity, casino, most bars, some of the comedy shows, etc. and there are published restrictions for those places. But, the steakhouse isn't listed as an adults-only venue. People can say all they want that the lack of a children's menu and the atmosphere dictate that, but there's really no restriction (and, again, I didn't take my DD there until she was 8 :o)--it's up to a parent to make that decision for their child. I don't really understand why people keep insisting the steakhouse is for "romantic dinners." We've always taken family there. YMMV. :D

[schittenden]

I do get it, we work our lives around our son too - how can it work for him (prevent meltdowns) and us! This usually means takeout and Netflix! LOL!

 

At 10 months, we took our son to an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, the place was fabulous, but we found it to be a lot of work and a lot less of a vacation than we had hoped for. The DAYS by the beach and pool were awesome though! Nights were spent in our room - early.

 

:) Mindy

 

When we were in Vegas, we took turns down in the casino. One of us would stay with him and the other would go play. Sometimes we'd trade off during the night (me in the room from 9-11, and her in the room from 11 on), and sometimes we'd trade off nights (me in the room tonight, her in the room tomorrow). We make it work for us. We've made it a point to make sure he is a part of our life.

[Andoria]

This one made me smile :)

 

Ah the good old days, when my dear son was 10 months old and slept in every restaurant (I really don't intend any sarcasm here, just my great experience). Now that he's 2.5, everything is different. I'm not sure when it changed, maybe around 1.5? Enjoy it while you can! :D And maybe you'll get lucky and he'll stay easy!

 

Mindy

 

 

When my son was 10 months old, he was a smiling, happy baby. At 2.5 he was the poster child for birth control.

[LetzCruze]

When my son was 10 months old, he was a smiling, happy baby. At 2.5 he was the poster child for birth control.

 

Now that is funny!

 

Saw this today and immediately thought of this thread.

 

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3pxjuo/

 

[Swampbabe]

When my son was 10 months old, he was a smiling, happy baby. At 2.5 he was the poster child for birth control.

 

That would also be my second child. First one was a breeze, the second one not so much. It's all part of God's plan, really. If you had the rotten one first you wouldn't have any more and the human race would cease to exist :D

[LaJollaCruiser]

What you think is irrelevant in this case. The steakhouse allows kids so people are free to bring them if they want to.

Great logic. So: because children are allowed and there are no rules posted about screaming children, then it is perfectly alright for the allowed children to yell and scream and throw food, etc.? Sometimes common sense should have some value, not just what is "allowed".

[bplazo]

At least most parents have common sense and know that their child would not enjoy someplace like that and will do what is best for them and people who like a nice quiet meal.

[floridalady]

I totally agree.

Let me tell you what just happened to us on our cruise a few2 days ago.

We booked the steakhouse for our anniversary.Another couple were there also celebrating their anniversary.There was a table with maybe 6-8 adults at another table.

And in front of us a couple with their 3 or 4 year old son.

He was throwing toys and books on the floor and across the table.He was screaming at his parents and screaming at the waitress for her name,where's his dessert,etc.

The parents did not tell him to stop.I was angry at that.When my kids were little if they had a tantrum we would leave a restaurant.It happened once and then we went to kid friendly places until they were older.

 

I felt the parents were inconsiderate.

Some people whether it is Carnival or Cunard are celebrating something when they gtry a specialty steakhouse.It is wrong to disturb others no matter what the age of the child or adult.Respect and consideration are things that seem to be disappearing.

My 2 cents after losing 100 dollars at the specialty restaurant.

 

When we book a table at the steakhouse (or any nice restaurant) where we are planning a quiet adult evening and the table is close to a family with small children, we decline. If they have another suitable table, ok. If not we leave. We are much better leaving then than two hours later in total disgust.

 

We are paying for a special meal in a special setting. If that is not what we are going to get, we would rather not waste the evening and our money.

 

If everyone did this, these establishments would take positive action to maintain the ambiance of the restaurant. The Steak House is not marketing to the Camp Carnival set, because that is not where they will make their money. I agree that it is open to all, but when any customer becomes disruptive they should be told to leave so that other customer's can still enjoy their evening.

 

I'm afraid we have all endured meals where other customers allow their children to hang over the back of your chair, wander around your table and cause an uproar in a restaurant. Even when children are well-behaved, we dread to possibility of a horrid meal because of this new 'norm.'

 

Some things are tailored for children and families and some things are tailored for adult time. No one here is being a 'child hater,' it is about respect for each other. There are so many activities on Carnival that are designed for the kids to enjoy, can't there be something left for the adults?

[songbird1329]

My daughters were 7 and 8 when we took our secobd trip to Disneyworld. There's a very nice seafood restaurant -- Fulton's -- in Downtown Disney. My daughters were used to nicer restsurants and I didn't anticipate a problem. But after a very full day in tge parks . . .well, my sister wound up taking the kids back to the hotel while the rest of the adults finished dinner.

 

Sent from my SCH-I800 using Tapatalk 2

[katiel53]

I decided to remove what I wrote as some people just don't get it.

[Scrapenthusiast]

I planned on taking her iPod touch and her brothers iPad, then coloring books and crayons.... hopefully that will keep her busy

 

thanks for your replies

 

I say go for it! I would not let anyone's comments deter me from going to enjoy a nice meal with my family.(children included) Sounds like you have a great plan, and I would at least give it a shot. If she does get cranky before the end of the meal, you can always step out with her as needed. Have a fantastic cruise!!!:)

 

Latisha

[AKCoachie]

:rolleyes:

 

I say the reason they have seafood is because not everyone wants steak. Just spent all winter and spring in Omaha and frequented many of it's finest steakhouses. One thing that I noticed was that there was usually no kids menu and the kids who were there, were enjoying a great meal. No bother to me. Some ate apps or salads only, some whole steamed lobster, one ordered a 55.oo porterhouse and took most of it home, (maybe for dad), I didn't notice any of the many kids being unruly or ruining any one's meal. Maybe I was just lucky. I will let the parents decide if any meal excursion is right for their kids, and hope that they are considerate enough of others to make an un-selfish decision based on the individuals.

[dave_k63]

I planned on taking her iPod touch and her brothers iPad, then coloring books and crayons.... hopefully that will keep her busy

 

thanks for your replies

That would make the rest of the diners in the steakhouse very happy.

[Gailerina]

This is the time when I would love to know what the parents of the child were thinking

[mek]

Again, I wouldn't take a child that young to the steakhouse, but I'm not going to dictate to the OP that she can't! That said, if I went to the steakhouse and was led to a table next to a family with a toddler, I would quietly and politely ask to be seated elsewhere, but I wouldn't be upset that a child was there--I just wouldn't want to sit next to them.

 

You think the parents wouldn't notice that in a heartbeat? No matter how "polite" about getting up and moving away from their table?

 

Sorry, but I agree with the first part of this post. If people have the right to bring children into a specialty restaurant,(which I'm not disputing), then I have the same right to request to not be seated next to them. In most restaurants, it's not difficult to see if a table has children and to request not sitting there before you actually are seated, so nobody should have hurt feelings.

[maritaysa]

I had reservations at the Steakhouse on the Magic for the first night of our cruise thinking that I could bring DD after she fell asleep. I cancelled. Good thing since her schedule was completely off since it was her first time cruising and in another time zone. We went with anytime MDR dining and went to the Italian Restaurant instead for the week. She did well there and in the MDR. We made sure we asked for bread and ice at the get go and she was good until the main course was over. Dessert was eaten in our cabin because DD was done being in the MDR. My Mom and I will be cruising with her this weekend and we will probably do the same thing. When DD starts to lose her mind, I no longer am having a good time. I also don't want to annoy other cruisers.

[susie8862]

I had reservations at the Steakhouse on the Magic for the first night of our cruise thinking that I could bring DD after she fell asleep. I cancelled. Good thing since her schedule was completely off since it was her first time cruising and in another time zone. We went with anytime MDR dining and went to the Italian Restaurant instead for the week. She did well there and in the MDR. We made sure we asked for bread and ice at the get go and she was good until the main course was over. Dessert was eaten in our cabin because DD was done being in the MDR. My Mom and I will be cruising with her this weekend and we will probably do the same thing. When DD starts to lose her mind, I no longer am having a good time. I also don't want to annoy other cruisers.

 

I am looking at that precious little face as your avatar and find it extremely difficult to believe she would give you a hard time...lol...:o:o:o She is sooooooooooo cute.

[bplazo]

That would make the rest of the diners in the steakhouse very happy.

 

We were out to dinner last week and a child about three was on the floor and playing with toy cars and making alot of noise. Very irritating and dangerous, however, there was another little girl who just sat eating her dinner. It is the clueless parents that are the problem and ruin it for parents who have wonderfull children.

[ib4cruzn]

Wow! A blast from the past!

 

Bottom line these days is folks are gonna do whatever they want regardless.

 

 

Sad, yes, but true.

[maritaysa]

I am looking at that precious little face as your avatar and find it extremely difficult to believe she would give you a hard time...lol...:o:o:o She is sooooooooooo cute.

 

Thank you....she has her moments! :p