Cirque with a toddler?

[autrucheplume]

Just curious - has anyone ever taken a toddler to the Cirque show? Did you have to pay full price for them? (I assume yes.) I have read that you can take toddlers/kids to specialty restaurants and order from the ship's kids' menu and then don't have to pay for them, but I am assuming this doesn't apply to Cirque. We will be on Epic, if that matters.

 

Thanks!!

[SissasMomE]

Just curious - has anyone ever taken a toddler to the Cirque show? Did you have to pay full price for them? (I assume yes.) I have read that you can take toddlers/kids to specialty restaurants and order from the ship's kids' menu and then don't have to pay for them, but I am assuming this doesn't apply to Cirque. We will be on Epic, if that matters.

 

Thanks!!

 

I would not take a toddler to a show that people are paying extra money to see. It's just not a good idea.

[3DBeach]

I would not take a toddler to a show that people are paying extra money to see. It's just not a good idea.

 

I personally wouldn't either.

 

 

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[Sparkygirl]

We took my 3 year old to the Cirque show on Breakaway, we went the first night as we had the unlimited dinning plan. She loved the show! We asked for the booth seats so that she was seated between the grown ups in our party. It was a blast for us, her and the crew members serving our dinner. Our server remembered our daughter when he saw us the next morning in Garden Cafe. My daughter isn't a picky eater and loved the meal that was served.

[Rocket_man]

I wouldn't either, and I hope the kid is very well behaved or I sure wouldn't be happy dining in a specialty restaurant with little kids in there.

[elruth]

I agree with the other posters. I don't think you should take a toddler to any show or to dinner when the other patrons have to pay for the entertainment or meal.

[autrucheplume]

I agree with the other posters. I don't think you should take a toddler to any show or to dinner when the other patrons have to pay for the entertainment or meal.

 

Thanks for your feedback everyone - my daughter is incredibly well behaved, and I would never take her somewhere that would ruin someone else's experience. If she were to have an off night, I would immediately leave with her - luckily, I am not a rude person, so I would never want to upset anyone else.

 

Does anyone know the answer to my original question?

[autrucheplume]

We took my 3 year old to the Cirque show on Breakaway, we went the first night as we had the unlimited dinning plan. She loved the show! We asked for the booth seats so that she was seated between the grown ups in our party. It was a blast for us, her and the crew members serving our dinner. Our server remembered our daughter when he saw us the next morning in Garden Cafe. My daughter isn't a picky eater and loved the meal that was served.

 

Thank you for the feedback!! I'm so glad she/you enjoyed it!! That's a great idea about booth seating.

 

My daughter is really well behaved and I think she'd love the show, so we're considering it for one of the nights :)

[happy cruzin]

Thank you for the feedback!! I'm so glad she/you enjoyed it!! That's a great idea about booth seating.

 

My daughter is really well behaved and I think she'd love the show, so we're considering it for one of the nights :)

 

For what it's worth - I think the show on the Breakaway is more "toddler friendly" than the one on the Epic - due to the animal theme.

I found the Epic show to be quite loud - constant whistle blowing and loud "yelling" etc, with it's circus theme - which was not at all the case with the show on the Breakaway.

[rbrugler]

I have yet to read a post by a parent that said that their toddler was fussy, loud and threw a lot of food. They are all incredibly well behaved, and the parents promise to immediately take them away if they have an "off night."

[cruiseseal]

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're not on adult-only cruise, you should expect kids everywhere that they're allowed to be, including specialty restaurants. If you don't like that, choose an adult-only cruise, simple as that.

 

I would agree that if kid is throwing a tantrum, they should be taken out, but some minor issues, like talking loudly on occasions, or complaining, or laughing, and so on, is pretty much expected. That said, what about a single mom, or father, who go on a cruise with their kids, should they be deprived of the full experience they paid for? It's not my case, but I would give parents some slack, they already have a tougher time than anyone else without kids.

 

Remember, the reason you are paying lower price on your cruise and have more cruise options, is because families with kids can also participate. That's why adult-only options are less common and more expensive on average.

 

Personally, if I am going on a cruise with kids, I will definitely take them everywhere they are allowed to go, rather than sticking them in some room for the whole day, I want them to experience everything.

[SissasMomE]

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're not on adult-only cruise, you should expect kids everywhere that they're allowed to be, including specialty restaurants. If you don't like that, choose an adult-only cruise, simple as that.

 

I would agree that if kid is throwing a tantrum, they should be taken out, but some minor issues, like talking loudly on occasions, or complaining, or laughing, and so on, is pretty much expected. That said, what about a single mom, or father, who go on a cruise with their kids, should they be deprived of the full experience they paid for? It's not my case, but I would give parents some slack, they already have a tougher time than anyone else without kids.

 

Remember, the reason you are paying lower price on your cruise and have more cruise options, is because families with kids can also participate. That's why adult-only options are less common and more expensive on average.

 

Personally, if I am going on a cruise with kids, I will definitely take them everywhere they are allowed to go, rather than sticking them in some room for the whole day, I want them to experience everything.

 

Certain things are just common sense. I never would have taken a toddler to a venue where 1 - people are paying to see a show; 2 - you have to sit with others at the table; and 3 - it is just not age appropriate. I get people think they are entitled to do whatever they want. It's a common theme. As a parent, you should know better. :rolleyes:

[ColinIllinois]

By the time a well behaved toddler has an "off night" the child has already disturbed the performers and the patrons. It is a small intimate venue and as others have said not a good idea. Think of others.

 

No one is hating on kids. It's just one of those compromises one must make while vacationing with a toddler.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Sparkygirl]

My 3 year old (3 weeks after her 3rd birthday) did not disturb anyone during her dinner at cirque. I am surprised everyone is so against a child attending. She was glued to the performance and loved every minute of it. She ate the meal brought for her and sat in her seat between her dad and I the entire evening. We sat in the back in a booth and near the door. The only thing she did do at the very end after the show and as we were leaving and talking with our server was take the round pillow in the booth and recreate a portion of the show.

 

 

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[thatjoeguy]

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're not on adult-only cruise, you should expect kids everywhere that they're allowed to be, including specialty restaurants. If you don't like that, choose an adult-only cruise, simple as that.

 

I would agree that if kid is throwing a tantrum, they should be taken out, but some minor issues, like talking loudly on occasions, or complaining, or laughing, and so on, is pretty much expected. That said, what about a single mom, or father, who go on a cruise with their kids, should they be deprived of the full experience they paid for? It's not my case, but I would give parents some slack, they already have a tougher time than anyone else without kids.

 

Remember, the reason you are paying lower price on your cruise and have more cruise options, is because families with kids can also participate. That's why adult-only options are less common and more expensive on average.

 

Personally, if I am going on a cruise with kids, I will definitely take them everywhere they are allowed to go, rather than sticking them in some room for the whole day, I want them to experience everything.

 

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're paying for an expensive meal or show, you should be able to enjoy it without interruptions from children or adults. Loudly talking or complaining, by children or adults, can ruin a show. I also wouldn't advise taking a toddler to see Legally Blonde on the the ship, for the same reason I wouldn't recommend taking them to a land-based Broadway show, as the interruptions would be annoying there as well. The last symphony I was at had a grandmother take her granddaughter out about halfway through the show. Since they were sitting right behind me, they managed to ruin quite a bit of the show.

 

A single parent can use the child care services on-board if they want to participate in an adult event.

 

All that said, I think older kids would probably enjoy the show, though the show on the Epic had some PG-13 aspects.

[luddite]

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're not on adult-only cruise, you should expect kids everywhere that they're allowed to be, including specialty restaurants. If you don't like that, choose an adult-only cruise, simple as that.

 

I would agree that if kid is throwing a tantrum, they should be taken out, but some minor issues, like talking loudly on occasions, or complaining, or laughing, and so on, is pretty much expected. That said, what about a single mom, or father, who go on a cruise with their kids, should they be deprived of the full experience they paid for? It's not my case, but I would give parents some slack, they already have a tougher time than anyone else without kids.

 

Remember, the reason you are paying lower price on your cruise and have more cruise options, is because families with kids can also participate. That's why adult-only options are less common and more expensive on average.

 

Personally, if I am going on a cruise with kids, I will definitely take them everywhere they are allowed to go, rather than sticking them in some room for the whole day, I want them to experience everything.

 

Pretty much.....no.

[cruiseseal]

I don't see how restaurants on a ship are any different than restaurants on land. If you're paying for an expensive meal or show, you should be able to enjoy it without interruptions from children or adults. Loudly talking or complaining, by children or adults, can ruin a show. I also wouldn't advise taking a toddler to see Legally Blonde on the the ship, for the same reason I wouldn't recommend taking them to a land-based Broadway show, as the interruptions would be annoying there as well. The last symphony I was at had a grandmother take her granddaughter out about halfway through the show. Since they were sitting right behind me, they managed to ruin quite a bit of the show.

 

A single parent can use the child care services on-board if they want to participate in an adult event.

 

All that said, I think older kids would probably enjoy the show, though the show on the Epic had some PG-13 aspects.

I don't agree that paying for an expensive meal (although cover fees in specialty restaurants are hardly expensive), somehow entitles you to a specific experience that you have in mind. Maybe my idea of a restaurant experience is getting drunk and laughing like a donkey, and your stern demeanor messes with my good time. BTW, I've been to many very expensive restaurants where adults did just that.

 

Same goes for the show. If the show has an official rule that everyone is quiet, then yes, it makes sense that a child who is making noise should be removed, the same standards apply to both children and adults. There are not such thing as unwritten rules, people make up all kinds of unwritten rules, but they never agree on any of them. These rules and norms change all the time and are generally discriminatory toward some minority. If majority of restaurant customers brought kids, then people might start complaining about various adult behavior that kids shouldn't see.

 

Going back to shows or similar, until you take a child to shows, you won't know how they will behave, a child may behave well on 90% of shows, and behave poorly on the rest. Same goes for adults, they're just less likely to misbehave, because they are adults and have better self control. Depriving a child of culture and entertainment until they behave completely like adults is completely unreasonable. Children need to learn through experience, be in situations where they have to behave, to act in a certain way. That's how they learn. Granted, parents should be sympathetic to others, and solve the problem once it starts, but they can't avoid adult environments altogether, if they are to raise well adjusted, cultured and educated children. You live in a world with kids, and you have to interact with them, and if you want to avoid them and their occasional non-adult behavior, then you have to go somewhere where kids aren't allowed.

 

As another example, I can also argue that I don't like people smoking in a casino, and because I pay a lot of money to a casino, I should be entitled to a smoke free experience. However, that's not in the rules, neither is how a person should smoke. Some people do it nicely and turn away, others blow smoke in your face. I can argue til I am blue in a face that there is an unwritten rule that you shouldn't smoke if majority at the poker table are non-smokers, but if it's not a written rule, casino won't do anything about it, except maybe politely repeat my request.

[cruiseseal]

Certain things are just common sense. I never would have taken a toddler to a venue where 1 - people are paying to see a show; 2 - you have to sit with others at the table; and 3 - it is just not age appropriate. I get people think they are entitled to do whatever they want. It's a common theme. As a parent, you should know better. :rolleyes:

I think your definition of "age appropriate" is highly subjective.

[kkelle17]

Wow, why can't people just answer the question and not give unwanted advice. She did not ask if she should take her toddler to the show. That is her choice alone!

[NoMoreRain]

Wow, why can't people just answer the question and not give unwanted advice. She did not ask if she should take her toddler to the show. That is her choice alone!

 

Not exactly....this vacation has been ten years in the making and thousands of dollars for my family. We reserve the right to enjoy this show without a squalling child.

 

I have kids myself so I understand the desire to include them....however....you have to ask yourself if this is really something they will comprehend and enjoy? If the answer is yes, are you willing to remove them immediately if they become a nuisance?

 

Every parent thinks their child is well behaved. It's the definition of well-behaved that is a subject for debate.

 

Like a wise man says "Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD!"

Edited January 7, 2015 by NoMoreRain

[ainecaine]

Both my daughters enjoyed the cirque show on the epic. They were just gone 3 and 4 at the time. We paid for premium seats for all of us and had a table at the front to ourselves with 4 seats. The girls ate off the kids menu but I felt the cost was for the seat and show. My kids are and always have been well behaved in restaurants.

They loved the show and were entranced for the whole thing.

 

Go for it, I'd say.

[ainecaine]

The kids will be paying as much as every other adult there. So have every right to be there.

[DMH15]

I don't have kids.

 

If the cruise line allows kids, then by all means bring your child.

I would not mind sitting near you. I live to see the joy in children's eyes as they experience something wonderful.

 

There are as many ill-behaved adults out in public as kids. Probably more. Has anyone else noticed how there are always an extremely loud person or two in the restaurants lately? Not to mention the guy who sat at the table next to me at breakfast yesterday and blew his nose by honking like a duck into his napkin.

 

OP, sorry I cannot answer your question. But I wanted to reply to this thread anyway.

[luddite]

Wow, why can't people just answer the question and not give unwanted advice. She did not ask if she should take her toddler to the show. That is her choice alone!

 

Well, no.

[mrswright]

My daughter was almost 5 when we took her and it was fine. There were plenty of families with small children. I don't recall if we paid full price for her or not. She found it to be very entertaining..

 

 

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