Should I be worried about my kiddos?

[Orator]

I've seen kids in Blu and they've all behaved much better than some adults. The crew really gives special attention to kids. With that said I would not bring an unvaccinated child aboard, but that's me. Your child, your comfort level.

[TeeRick]

20 minutes ago, ch175 said:

My kids (7th and 10th grade) were in school either part time or full time last year. We went out to eat in restaurants, traveled and stayed in hotels for baseball, went shopping, and lived life fairly normally. We took several vacations which required air travel.

 

Is there something about covid that makes it more contagious on a cruise ship or in foreign ports than it is in a school or in my home town? Especially when 90+% of the ship is vaccinated versus essentially 0 in the schools last year.

 

Sure, I would consider modifying activities in ports. Like maybe go to a beach or hiking ourselves rather than hanging out in crowded areas. But really, the risk to people under 18 is so low that I’m just not all that concerned especially if some additional thought is put into what we are actually doing when out and about.

ch175 thanks for answering my question.  Cruise ships with 95% vaccinated should be pretty safe from COVID I agree even for non-vaccinated kids.  But I personally would avoid crowds in port and any small indoor settings and have masks available.  As you point out.  Best of luck with your cruising. 

[Orator]

The reports of the Pfizer effectiveness against the Delta variation might be a game changer for some. 

[rodndonna]

11 hours ago, Unlvswezel said:

So I have 2 AQ rooms booked for the Edge on 7/24. We have taken our boys (14 and 5) on HAL twice and actually found the passengers to love on our boys. After reading some of the reports I’m worried about bringing my boys on board. We’ve never hit Celeb and I’m worried about the judgement, particularly in a post COVID cruise world. Any Celeb parents able to provide some encouragement?

 

TIA for suggestions and support!

 

The fact that you're asking tells me you're likely responsible parents and your kids are not the type to cause anyone grief - and if they did you would likely rein them in. If all parents were like you, I  don't think many would ever have a problem with kids on a cruise. Bring em!!

[ipeeinthepool]

1 hour ago, ch175 said:

My kids (7th and 10th grade) were in school either part time or full time last year. We went out to eat in restaurants, traveled and stayed in hotels for baseball, went shopping, and lived life fairly normally. We took several vacations which required air travel.

 

Is there something about covid that makes it more contagious on a cruise ship or in foreign ports than it is in a school or in my home town? Especially when 90+% of the ship is vaccinated versus essentially 0 in the schools last year.

 

Sure, I would consider modifying activities in ports. Like maybe go to a beach or hiking ourselves rather than hanging out in crowded areas. But really, the risk to people under 18 is so low that I’m just not all that concerned especially if some additional thought is put into what we are actually doing when out and about.

 

If cruising is so important you're willing to take the risk, good luck. If the youngest isn't yet 12, I'd still suggest waiting a few months until your child could be vaccinated.

Edited July 7, 2021 by ipeeinthepool

[ch175]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

ch175 thanks for answering my question.  Cruise ships with 95% vaccinated should be pretty safe from COVID I agree even for non-vaccinated kids.  But I personally would avoid crowds in port and any small indoor settings and have masks available.  As you point out.  Best of luck with your cruising. 

Thank you - I appreciate all you’ve contributed here and your thinking and thoughtfulness.

 

For what it’s worth, we are all vaccinated. But planning to stick to land vacations, at least for a while longer. Just not the right time for us to get on a ship now.

 

But for everyone else heading out on a cruise now - have fun and enjoy yourselves!

[lostchild]

I didn't know you could book kid into AQ cabins.  The reason we didn't book AQ cabin on our last cruise was because one of the cabins was our kid and my mom, and I thought kid was not allowed to be in AQ cabin.  AQ was about the same price as the Concierge room we booked for that cruise.   I thought I read somewhere that AQ rooms were adult only.

[mom says]

46 minutes ago, lostchild said:

I didn't know you could book kid into AQ cabins.  The reason we didn't book AQ cabin on our last cruise was because one of the cabins was our kid and my mom, and I thought kid was not allowed to be in AQ cabin.  AQ was about the same price as the Concierge room we booked for that cruise.   I thought I read somewhere that AQ rooms were adult only.

AQ are NOT adults only. But they are restricted to 2 occupants. So a family of 2 adults and one or 2 children would require 2 cabins, either connecting or with at least one adult in each .

Edited July 7, 2021 by mom says

[ItsADryHumor]

57 minutes ago, ch175 said:

Thank you - I appreciate all you’ve contributed here and your thinking and thoughtfulness.

 

For what it’s worth, we are all vaccinated. But planning to stick to land vacations, at least for a while longer. Just not the right time for us to get on a ship now.

 

But for everyone else heading out on a cruise now - have fun and enjoy yourselves!

The Delta variant doesn’t play. I have a friend in her 20s who is on a vent right now. I feel like the next school year, unmasked, will be a bumpy ride. 
 

I can’t wait for my 11 year old to be able to get vaccinated. The vaccine won’t keep us from getting COVID, but it will keep us from becoming seriously ill. 

[Unlvswezel]

1 hour ago, mom says said:

AQ are NOT adults only. But they are restricted to 2 occupants. So a family of 2 adults and one or 2 children would require 2 cabins, either connecting or with at least one adult in each .

That’s exactly what we did. Two AQ rooms next door to each other.

[phoenix_dream]

Pre-pandemic, there were never any issues with well-behaved children that I ever noticed, and I sailed with my now 34 year old son many times on Celebrity when he was young.

 

That said, the pandemic is still here.  While there is no excuse for anyone treating anyone rudely at any time, the fact that an unvaccinated child may be running around the ship does not sit well with many people (including me, honestly).  And many people will likely also judge you (internally or externally, who can say) for potentially risking the health of your unvaccinated young child by cruising with him/her.  So I would expect you will in fact get some sour looks, but hopefully no one being unkind.

Edited July 7, 2021 by phoenix_dream

[rucrazy]

20 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

the fact that an unvaccinated child may be running around the ship does not sit well with many people

Here Here!

[bEwAbG]

1 hour ago, stinkyenglishteacher said:

The Delta variant doesn’t play. I have a friend in her 20s who is on a vent right now. I feel like the next school year, unmasked, will be a bumpy ride. 
 

I can’t wait for my 11 year old to be able to get vaccinated. The vaccine won’t keep us from getting COVID, but it will keep us from becoming seriously ill. 

 

I think some people are still sticking to old information about it not being a big issue with kids, but the variants do change the equation.  The Delta variant is highly transmissible, and the next variant may be even less forgiving.  The virus will continue to mutate in order to survive.  It's run through the most vulnerable populations in the U.S. and now most of the most vulnerable populations either have already gotten it or have been vaccinated against it, which is great.  But, that means the virus is going to do its best to seek out the unvaccinated, and there are no guarantees that individual cases won't be bad. 

 

An article yesterday in the Washington Post noted that all of the deaths in Maryland (a little over 100 people) for the month of June were unvaccinated.  The unvaccinated also made up 95% of new cases and 93% of hospitalizations.  Obviously everyone is going to determine their own level of acceptable risk, but a coworker's neighbor, who is a doctor, is not allowing their kids to socialize with unvaccinated people indoors yet because he thinks the risk is still too high.

[rucrazy]

3 minutes ago, bEwAbG said:

An article yesterday in the Washington Post noted that all of the deaths in Maryland (a little over 100 people) for the month of June were unvaccinated. 

We read that article unvaccinated younger people seem to be making up a very large count of the cases, and yet the rate of vax is becoming stagnated imo 

[Cachecara]

Just curious, but if you are unvaccinated, won’t you be restricted to certain activities, such as swimming pool etc? 
I would think restrictions would interfere with a 5 yr olds fun— no pool, no shows.  

[phoenix_dream]

3 hours ago, mom says said:

AQ are NOT adults only. But they are restricted to 2 occupants. So a family of 2 adults and one or 2 children would require 2 cabins, either connecting or with at least one adult in each .

Agree.  There is a limit of two people, but no limitation on children.  That said, I sail AQ frequently and there are not very many children in Blu, but on occasion I have seen a few.

[docsneeze]

We have a 3 y/o and will not cruise with him now due to Covid variant and vaccination issues.  We are hopeful to cruise in summer of 2022 when the vaccine will likely be accessible to the younger age groups. However, this would be an easier decision if ALL adults accepted the science and got vaccinated as recommended.  Herd immunity could be achieved sooner and we wouldn't have to worry about a very limited number of unvaccinated children.  Several pediatric specialists have questioned whether we should even consider vaccination in the younger age groups as long as 80% of adults were vaccinated.  Nevertheless, as parents we are always considerate of our fellow passengers and do the utmost to teach our child to respect others, particularly with respect to the peace and quiet they crave on a vacation.  Besides, I don't know of any group that craves peace and quiet MORE than the parents of young children!!!

[Bluewake]

11 hours ago, Babr said:

It seems to me your question is about unsolicited affection from strangers who find your children adorable, and the perhaps the judgment you fear is from asking those adults to refrain from hugging them. Did I misunderstand your question?

 

If indeed that is the case, I’d think twice about sailing right now. I say so because of a recent news story about kids who returned from a church camp in Texas with 125 infected, at least 3 of which so far have been identified as the Delta variant. Six of those cases were in people who were fully vaccinated. We are not in a post Covid world.  Your children may very well be exposed to the virus in the course of travel whether strangers hug them or not.

The total from that Texas church camp is, I believe, now nearing 150.  The thinking that children do not contract or transmit Covid would seem to either be wishful or misguided. According to Johns Hopkins University researchers, in the past couple of months, about 23% of the new Covid cases in the US have been among those under 18.  There are various reasons for this rate rise such as children not having access to vaccinations, changing mask policies in schools, etc.  I don’t recall if Celebrity intends to treat unvaccinated children differently than unvaccinated adults but it would seem unwise to do so. Just my opinion.

[TeeRick]

9 hours ago, Bluewake said:

The total from that Texas church camp is, I believe, now nearing 150.  The thinking that children do not contract or transmit Covid would seem to either be wishful or misguided. According to Johns Hopkins University researchers, in the past couple of months, about 23% of the new Covid cases in the US have been among those under 18.  There are various reasons for this rate rise such as children not having access to vaccinations, changing mask policies in schools, etc.  I don’t recall if Celebrity intends to treat unvaccinated children differently than unvaccinated adults but it would seem unwise to do so. Just my opinion.

We will continue to see the percentage of unvaccinated children who are COVID positive or with COVID disease increase over time.  So this does not bode well for those of us cruising over the next few months with unvaccinated kids on board.  Running free.  No masks.  Delta around.

1) Kids make up a high percentage of the unvaccinated in the US so are susceptible to the virus

2) Kids that can be vaccinated (12+) are not being vaccinated to any great extent by parental choice

3) It appears that the virus is more severe/deadly/contagious in kids by media accounts-  but probably this is an artifact of the numbers as close to 70% of adults in the US have at least one shot so now numbers are highly skewed toward the unvaccinated populations like kids.

4) The Delta variant is more infectious placing all of the unvaccinated at risk (kids and adults).

5) Vaccine EUA for kids 2-11 might come by October.  But will parents get their kids vaccinated before cruising?

 

I believe this post is highly relevant to the safe cruising topic currently and this particular thread and is not in violation of the no science policy.  

[docsneeze]

24 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

We will continue to see the percentage of unvaccinated children who are COVID positive or with COVID disease increase over time.  So this does not bode well for those of us cruising over the next few months with unvaccinated kids on board.  Running free.  No masks.  Delta around.

1) Kids make up a high percentage of the unvaccinated in the US so are susceptible to the virus

2) Kids that can be vaccinated (12+) are not being vaccinated to any great extent by parental choice

3) It appears that the virus is more severe/deadly/contagious in kids by media accounts-  but probably this is an artifact of the numbers as close to 70% of adults in the US have at least one shot so now numbers are highly skewed toward the unvaccinated populations like kids.

4) The Delta variant is more infectious placing all of the unvaccinated at risk (kids and adults).

5) Vaccine EUA for kids 2-11 might come by October.  But will parents get their kids vaccinated before cruising?

 

I believe this post is highly relevant to the safe cruising topic currently and this particular thread and is not in violation of the no science policy.  

Will parents get their kids vaccinated before cruising?  YES, YES, and very infrequently no.  The parents likely to take their kids cruising will understand the risk as their health and welfare is most important to us.

[TeeRick]

36 minutes ago, docsneeze said:

Will parents get their kids vaccinated before cruising?  YES, YES, and very infrequently no.  The parents likely to take their kids cruising will understand the risk as their health and welfare is most important to us.

I hope you are right honestly.  But the cruise lines that get a lot of revenue from families with kids (not Celebrity) are hedging their bets.

[sanger727]

20 hours ago, ch175 said:

 

 

Is there something about covid that makes it more contagious on a cruise ship or in foreign ports than it is in a school or in my home town? Especially when 90+% of the ship is vaccinated versus essentially 0 in the schools last year.

 

 

In school you don't, play, and eat with the same group of people 24/7. Lots of enclosed spaces with little to no social distancing. Also taking children into ports with low vaccination rates. I wouldn't be AS concerned with them catching covid and getting sick. But if you have to take any pre or mid trip covid tests, I would be a lot more concerned with children testing positive for covid due to being unvaccinated. 

 

If you kid tests positive while at home or in school, they will get sent home but probably not a huge deal. If your kid tests positive mid vacation, your vacation is suddenly over and have to pay to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. 

Edited July 8, 2021 by sanger727

[Fouremco]

The Ottawa Citizen reported late yesterday the findings of a study conducted this Spring before the third wave that revealed children and youth, not older people, had the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country.

 

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/children-and-youth-had-highest-rates-of-covid-before-third-wave

[TeeRick]

5 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

The Ottawa Citizen reported late yesterday the findings of a study conducted this Spring before the third wave that revealed children and youth, not older people, had the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country.

 

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/children-and-youth-had-highest-rates-of-covid-before-third-wave

Thanks for posting.  Interesting article and study.

[rucrazy]

5 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

before the third wave that revealed children and youth, not older people, had the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country.

That could be because adults and seniors could make those decisions for themselves,

while the young people need the consent of the parents or guardians who may not be paying attention