Kicked off Mariner in St. Thomas

[Jacquelyn11]

We were just on the Mariner the end of May and loved Capt Johnny saying "Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning!" I wonder if the family that left heard "Good Bye, Good Bye, Good Bye!" on the way off! :D

 

I have two pre-teen boys that understand the rules are important and need to be followed. I have told them if I EVER catch them misbehaving on a cruise, like pushing all the buttons on the elevator, and they are reported it will be the LAST cruise they take that I pay for! This last cruise, neither of my kids seemed interested in the kids clubs, mostly because the 12-14 group was more "hanging around" and doing "girl-boy" things, and they were not interested. My son's amused themselves by riding the glass elevators, pushing buttons FOR folks, being an "elevator attendent". There were a couple of passengers that actually gave them tips! :o I even had a few passengers tell me how nice my sons were to help on the elevators! I also watched them on the elevators as they traveled and up and down, NOT stopping at every floor, so I knew they were not one of the kids "pushing all the elevator buttons!"

 

I know for alot of parents that both work it's tough to be the "parent" for your kids, but that is just what they need, guidance and dicipline rather than another friend.

 

Jacquelyn :D

[Iamthesea]

We were just on the Mariner the end of May and loved Capt Johnny saying "Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning!" I wonder if the family that left heard "Good Bye, Good Bye, Good Bye!" on the way off!

It would be interesting to know if the Captain did the "dirty" work, or if he had someone else deliver the news "I am sorry sir, but your family now needs to vacate the ship." :D

 

 

Like Obaybee...I see complaints and perhaps a law suit coming on because a vacation was taken away from this family. Wonder if they had insurance and if they could file for "interuption of vacation." :rolleyes:

[hdawson]

Why would unacceptable behavior be a covered insurance risk?

Don't think so.

[Babs66]

You have to wonder what the WHOLE story is... to get kicked off a cruise ship you have to do something pretty bad and if it was a fight why was only one family kicked off and not the other? Im sure that the kids did do something but Im thinking when security spoke with the parents they probably defended them to the end which ultimately got them kicked off. There are alot of parents that have the attitude it's not my kid's fault and how dare you.

[mbisson]

Another good reason to leave the kids at home

 

I'm confused. You've made several "leave the kids at home" type posts, yet I see you've taken your kids on cruises.

 

-Monte

[PartyHearty]

A lot of parents I am sure only think of thier kids as an exemption on thier income tax return.

 

Where I live preteens/teens (11-16) hang out and roam the streets at all hours of the night. One night my wife and I were coming home from somewhere and it was at least 1 or 2 in the AM and here are these 11-16 yr olds out and about like it was nothing. Where oh where were the cops to escort these children home. I would think that letting them stay out that late would be some sort of form of child abuse.

 

As has been said many parents just do not care enough to monitor thier kids. Then when it is too late they all wonder why the bad event occured.

 

My daughter is 21 now and we still try to keep an eye out for her well being as much as possible. And my late mother even when I was past 45 still would call to see if I or my wife or daughter was ok if she heard of something bad happening where we worked and would ask us to call her when we got home from visiting her and my father.

 

THAT is being a concerned parent. Not, here is 50 dollars, now go play in traffic!!!

[LDR]

I also teach, in a private school where there are lots of "princes and princessess". I have had parents tell me that their child would never

do anything like I just described to them. Frustrating! Another teacher(4th)

at this school got an angry email from a parent for a simple writing

assignment, bringing in a magazine from home. Well, the child brought

in an XXX that he found under Mom and Dad's bed. They said It was the TEACHER'S fault that this occured, how dare she, etc.! She had sent the email to advise them of the inappropriate situation! I could tell lots of tales like

this, but we all get the idea.

I have been on two cruises with my kids, and they have very specific rules

to follow on board. If they are late checking in, they sit in the cabin alone,

bad attitude, the same. I refuse to give in to bad behavior. Believe me,

we've seen our share of rowdy kids on board. No parents in sight.

Why are so many parents afraid to be parents?

[mbisson]

Why are so many parents afraid to be parents?

 

Probably because the courts often call discipline - Abuse (and no, I'm not advocating child abuse).

 

-Monte

[PhinsAndGills]

I like the sounds of the captain. Does anyone know is he planning to stay on the Mariner awhile? I'll be sailing in November.

[Iamthesea]

Why would unacceptable behavior be a covered insurance risk?

Don't think so.

hdawson - That's why I put the sarcastic face after the sentence. :D I wouldn't put it passed these people to try and file.

 

You have to wonder what the WHOLE story is... to get kicked off a cruise ship you have to do something pretty bad and if it was a fight why was only one family kicked off and not the other? Im sure that the kids did do something but Im thinking when security spoke with the parents they probably defended them to the end which ultimately got them kicked off.

Makes me wonder. How about this scenario - The children did something ...the parents are told the family has to leave the ship...they are escorted, by an official, out of their stateroom and into the elevator...father becomes angrier by the second and a fight ensues with the official, in the elevator!

[Tracey and Bryan]

I'm so glad to hear about RCCL taking action. I agree with the other posters comments about the kids on Carnival. I've seen a major difference in regards to some kids' behavior on the 2 different cruiselines. Believe it or not, I've even noticed a difference between some childrens' behavior coming from different departure ports i.e. "New Orleans vs. Miami" and also between "short cruises and long cruises". Has anyone else noticed this?

 

I certainly don't mean to offend anyone. Yes, I have children (now teenagers) and cruise with them. They know the ship's rules and our family's rules. Our rules are more strict than the cruiselines' (ha-ha). :)

 

I have a question for all of you. How do you all handle it when you witness other children (not with their parents) misbehaving on the ship? What about when their parents are present and not doing anything to stop them?

 

How about when they are doing disgusting things at the public eating areas like in line at the Windjammer? I've seen them pick up bread and then "change their mind" and put it back. :eek: I've seen them "do the nose thing" at the desert tables and then "choose their cookies" gross! :eek: How about them running out of the restrooms without stopping to wash first! :eek:

 

I'm never sure when to take action, so my rule of thumb has always been to "butt out" unless the children are doing something dangerous, then I don't hesitate to try and help whether the parents are present or not. I've seen kids running over older passengers! Some of have just kept running! I see a lot of dangerous activity at the pool area as well.

 

I don't understand why some parents aren't more careful with their "pride and joy". I know, I don't want my children to ever get hurt. So many things will end up happening to them in their life no matter how careful we are, so why take extra risk of not protecting them while we can? Oh well, I guess I'm preaching to the choir here. Sorry, I'll get down from my podium now. ;)

[HB Cruiser]

We have never said anything to any child about bad behavior until we were on the Explorer this past May. We were in the Solarium area about to enter the pool when there were three boys roughhousing each other in one of the hot tubs. There were two adults in the hot tub at the time and the man told them to get out of the tub and go to the "kiddie area" if they were going to to that. The boys started to say something to the man and I stepped in. I told them to read the sign, It states you must be 16 to be in the hot tub or the pool. They acted put out, got out of the hot tub, read the sign, and left the solarium.

 

I really feel most of them will listen to someone if that person takes the time to explain the rules to them. If they don't listen, then I will find an official to handle the situation.

 

We have taken our children on cruises and they were told what the rules were. I am not sure if all of them were followed or not because I was not with them 100% of the time. I am confident however, they did nothing to keep other passengers from enjoying their cruise because my children RESPECT others and others property. To me that is the problem today, RESPECT. Unfortunately, a lot of kids have no respect for anyone or anybody, even their own parents.

 

Sorry for the long post.

 

Tim

[cruisin from florida]

I'm like you. If safety or property damage seems to be an issue, I'll butt in. With issues in the dining room, (touching food and putting it back) I might gently say something. Kids go through a "brain-on-the-pavement" stage and I can imagine kids doing something like that without realizing it, and if someone said something to them I think they might be apologetic and put the food back on their plate. If it's kids being rotten on purpose and safety or proerty is at risk I'd probably try and notify a staff person rather than have a confrontation. It depends on the age of the child, too. If there's an unattended 10 year old in the elevator pushing all the buttons, I'll say something. His 16 year-old brother? I might not.

 

I teach high school, and their brains do fall out from time to time. When that's the case, if the tone we use assumes they didn't mean to do whatever they just did, they will often apologize and act sheepish. If we take the tone that they are rotten kids who do rotten things, they'll get defensive real fast.

[PiperMcB]

I teach Pre-kindergarten at a public school. It never ceases to amaze me how many parents don't know how to parent! I had one tell me that she didn't have a bedtime for her child because she didn't like being told what to do and she wasn't going to tell her child what to do. (The child fell asleep in class every day.) A few months later, the same parent told me she had almost had a wreck on the freeway because her child just piped out, "You know what I like best about Ms. McB's class? The rules!"

 

I've also had parents ask me to tell their kid not to hit their brother, to eat their dinner, not ask for things in the grocery store because "they listen to you." Yeah, they listen because I expect them to and because I expect them to follow directions the first time they are given! Am I a mean teacher? No! My principal says I have one of the most loving attmospheres in a classroom she has ever seen. I truly care about my kids. BUT I do my best to be firm, fair, and consistent.

 

Okay--off the soapbox :D

[Tracey and Bryan]

I'm like you. If safety or property damage seems to be an issue, I'll butt in. With issues in the dining room, (touching food and putting it back) I might gently say something. Kids go through a "brain-on-the-pavement" stage and I can imagine kids doing something like that without realizing it, and if someone said something to them I think they might be apologetic and put the food back on their plate. If it's kids being rotten on purpose and safety or proerty is at risk I'd probably try and notify a staff person rather than have a confrontation. It depends on the age of the child, too. If there's an unattended 10 year old in the elevator pushing all the buttons, I'll say something. His 16 year-old brother? I might not.

 

I teach high school, and their brains do fall out from time to time. When that's the case, if the tone we use assumes they didn't mean to do whatever they just did, they will often apologize and act sheepish. If we take the tone that they are rotten kids who do rotten things, they'll get defensive real fast.

 

I agree, the tone we use makes all the difference.

[muskrat897]

I was on a CCL cruise during the summer several years ago. Kids were randomly dialing rooms and waking up guests in the middle of the night. They also would order room service and fling their leftovers, plates and all, down the hall. Gross! I called the purser several times and was told there was little they could do while at sea as they didn't have a brig!:( Now I cruise with RCL.

[Ocean Boy]

I agree with you the parents were just as much at fault as the kids.I am sure they were warned at least once before the captain put them off. I'll bet the family thought the captain was just bluffing about being put off the ship. I guess they found out the expensive way,he wasn't kidding. The other cruiselines should take note of RCI policy on this.

Depending upon what the offense was, I don't think a warning is a necessity. As far as I'm concerned if someone is doing anything destructive to the ship or doing something that did, or could, cause physical injury to another then they can walk the plank and not look back.

 

I've been aboard Mariner. I don't understand how you can walk aboard her and have anything but respect for that incredible creation. You become intentionally destructive.... see ya.

[deborahjo]

I thiok if the family got kicked off for not following the rules they got what they deserved. I as we all pay for our vacation and it is no small amount. I think we should not be subjected to misbehavior.

 

I am sure they were told more then once before being removed. I know when the Carnival Paradise was smoke free you did not get warned you were just removed. There was not explaining. But I believe here they more then likely did.

 

Sorry but I say thnak you for helping my vacation more enjoyable.

[cruisin from florida]

I have no way of knowing if any warning was issued... But we are headed out with 3 teens in a couple of weeks. If our boys do ANYTHING that would lead to our being notified about it, that would be the END of their being allowed out and about without a parent. Period. And if I have to "babysit" my 14, 16, or 17 year-old full time to make sure they are behaving properly, it will be the LAST cruise we ever take them on, that's for sure. The expression "hell to pay" comes to mind.

 

Of course, all this will be made totally clear to them BEFORE we get on the ship, and reiterated before they head out for their activities. My guys do understand the relationship between privileges and responsibilities. I don't think we'll have any problems. But if we do, it will be a one-time event.

[Larryhnj]

Not that I dont love children (ours are grown and married) but that is why we cruise only when the majority of the kids are in school. Sure glad that we can do that. Not everyone can.

 

Larry

[MAO]

I have sat here and read almost every post...surgery prevents me from doing much else today. I'm daring to comment, as there are some pretty strong opinions:eek:

 

I have a 15 year old girl who has been taught right from wrong, treating others with respect ("treat others as you wish to be treated") treat others belongings w/ care, be polite (please and thank you) think before you speak and the list goes on. I model those specific behaviors in my everyday life and in my profession as a nurse. I hold doors for people, say please and thank you etc.. I have seen my daughter model all of these positive behaviors also!

 

However, as any other human being I have "lost it" with some ridiculous driver, rude sales clerk or in my own haste have portayed behaviors I have later regretted. Teenagers being young under developed adults (for lack of better term) are still learning . When anyone is learning something they often make mistakes and hopefully learn from those mistakes. Which would be where the consequences come in. I'm all for having consequences for anyone's behaviors, but just for a minute let's remember we are all human beings and all make a wide variety of mistakes. I certainly am not a saint. And thankfully i have learned and for the most part show others respect and care in my treatment of them. As I hope my daughter will do.

 

This family/ these teenagers skrewed up! There was a consequence! Hopefully they all learned from their mistakes;)

IMHO MAO:)

[anankae]

You show me a bad child and I will show you a bad parent

The problem is not that the parents take up for the child and defend their behavior................ they never taught or expected the proper behavior in the first place.

You've obviously never had the pleasure of being the parent of a behaviourally challenged child. My son, now 19, was hyperactive and attention deficit. It was a lot easier dealing with him than dealing with the intolerant and ignorant (and sometimes abusive) people who could not deal with him.

 

Please don't make blanket assumptions about parents and children.

[heartofamerica]

You've obviously never had the pleasure of being the parent of a behaviourally challenged child. My son, now 19, was hyperactive and attention deficit. It was a lot easier dealing with him than dealing with the intolerant and ignorant (and sometimes abusive) people who could not deal with him.

 

Please don't make blanket assumptions about parents and children.

 

Not to sound pithy, I realize ADD was only recently "discovered", but how come kids in the 50's and 60's who we just called "hyper", still were able to act in a non-destructive manner? I don't doubt it's difficult raising a kid who is hyper, but it seems more and more folks are using ADD as a cop out for their kids behaviour.

[3dogmom]

Not to sound pithy, I realize ADD was only recently "discovered", but how come kids in the 50's and 60's who we just called "hyper", still were able to act in a non-destructive manner? I don't doubt it's difficult raising a kid who is hyper, but it seems more and more folks are using ADD as a cop out for their kids behaviour.

 

Thank you, just more excuses for bad behavior!:rolleyes:

[kenandlaura06]

Probably because the courts often call discipline - Abuse (and no, I'm not advocating child abuse).

 

-Monte

 

I would strongly disagree. I think that parents do not discipline their children because it is a lot easier to say yes or to back down, than to do the difficult task of sticking to one's word. Example, how many times have you been in a store and heard a parent say, "Johnny, do that one more time and we will leave."? And then Johnny does it one more time and what does the parent say? "Johnny, do that one more time and we will leave."! Parents need to set consequences and rules and stick with them! That is what I have to do as a teacher!