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Too many “adult exclusive “ areas!


Despegue
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Onboard the Disney Fantasy, It seems that most of the lounges, especially those with live music , are adults only.

we travel with our 2,5 year old son, who loves to dance and we can not get why on Earth he would not be allowed to have a drink and good time with us in the evening, or better said, If we book a VERY expensive ( read overpriced) cruise on Disney, we expect it to he a child friendly experience, and not one where in nearly all lounges and bars, we are banned from entering if he is with us. That is total nonsense.

 

can someone please explain the “adult exclusive “ rules and where CAN we have a drink and enjoy some music with our child?

 

ps. No, he will NOT go to the kids club in the evening, a vacation is family time.

 

ps. We are European, so maybe we have a completely different idea of a family vacation, but here we vacation together, also in the evenings, and involve our kids in the evening entertainment, including bars.

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There is a club/venue for family entertainment on each ship.  It has family karaoke, family oriented game’s, entertainment, etc….   Bar areas are accessible to parents and children before 9:00pm.  After 9 those areas are adult only.   Here in the US most parents don’t take little ones to bars.  

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Then in reality, Carnival and all other Cruiselines,  including Celebrity ( not known for it’s child friendly cruises) are more child friendly than the Mouse line. Ridiculous to be honest but alas, we will see what we decide.

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Before 9pm is when most of the family friendly activities happen. After 9pm, most of them switch over the adults only. In the USA we still suffer the affects of Puritan and Prohibition, so our cultural norms are to not have kids around alcohol. This will be the norm for Carnival, Celebrity and most other cruise lines when sailing out of the USA.

I'm just happy DCL allows liquor sales on Sundays.

Edited by ArthurUSCG
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SO...... I've only taken my kids on two different cruises- 4 day Dream on Disney (before Corona) and an 8 Day Magic on Carnival (After Corona). I found that for family togetherness time that you were looking for the Dream was far better.

 

If you look at it space wise you have to remember that Disney does not have a Casino which is a large area on the ship for 21 and older all the times- while Disney has a bunch of different adults only venues these are all smallish compared to a Casino. While overall I would assume Disney has more dedicated spaces for certain age groups, I suspect it isn't as large when this is considered.  As for finding activities that we could do as a family, I struggled a lot on Carnival on sea days to entertain them if they weren't in the Kids clubs . Disney , no so much.Some of this has to do with Corona and certain activities that we would do as a family being cancelled, some has to do with the length of the cruise, but looking back if you were looking for activities that you could enjoy as a family together I would have said Disney all the way.Anyway, I think if you are planning or looking at another cruise it might be wise to look at the cruise lines specific daily activities on the ship and look at what you want to do as a family. Also remember because of US traditional customs (mentioned above specifically drinking around kids), having your child in a bar space at night could be frowned upon by other guest even if not enforced by the cruiseline.

 

(FOR a note both cruises were a great time and IMHO the kids clubs (if you were interested in that sort of thing) where better on Carnival- or at least my kids enjoyed them more)

 

 

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One of the very bestest best things about DCL is that they have those adult-only spaces, and that they actually enforce the "adults-only" part!!! What I find ridiculous is the other lines allowing kids in bars, in the fancy, extra-charge restaurants, etc. When my son was young and we sailed DCL a lot, it was wonderful that there was so much for us to do together, and then so much for me to go do as a grownup while he had the absolute time of his life in the Oceaneer Club/Lab. As a single parent, I had precious little of the grown-up time. 

 

I miss DCL like crazy, but unfortunately they priced themselves smooth out of my budget... We can take 3 or even 4 cruises on other lines for what one Disney cruise would cost us. But kudos to DCL for recognizing that even if you're a parent, you still deserve and can appreciate some time away from them!!

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/10/2022 at 1:24 PM, ArthurUSCG said:

Before 9pm is when most of the family friendly activities happen. After 9pm, most of them switch over the adults only. In the USA we still suffer the affects of Puritan and Prohibition, so our cultural norms are to not have kids around alcohol. This will be the norm for Carnival, Celebrity and most other cruise lines when sailing out of the USA.

I'm just happy DCL allows liquor sales on Sundays.

Not sure what cruise lines you've actually been on but we have done over 35 cruises on different lines and outside of the odd event,  or late night dance club (where age is restricted) kids are allowed all over the ship. Some may have adult only areas but certainly not as you suggest above when sailing out of the US or Canada! I guess Disney is the exception to this norm! 

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We booked an actually Kids friendly cruise line .

thank you all for the info, we will be sailing AidaPerla on a 14 day Caribbean cruise. The concept of Disney is just not acceptable for us, and I do think most European potential passengers. Their loss.

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Considering that at least 90% of a Disney ship is either family friendly or exclusive to kids, I have no problem with the remaining 10% or so of the ship being an adults only area. But then again, I'm a 50 something, American, who no longer travels with kids, and at times still enjoys Disney as an adult. Just my worthless 2 cents. 

 

With that said, I'm glad the op found something that works for their family. 

Edited by lastchamp64
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On 8/9/2022 at 2:23 AM, Despegue said:

we travel with our 2,5 year old son, who loves to dance and we can not get why on Earth HE would not be allowed to have a drink and good time with us in the evening, …


Thanks for a really good laugh

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/9/2022 at 3:23 AM, Despegue said:

Onboard the Disney Fantasy, It seems that most of the lounges, especially those with live music , are adults only.

 

To say there are too many 'adult exclusive' areas on any Disney Cruise ship is honestly not the case at all. The entire ship was designed for family with approx. 15% of the entire ship dedicated just to adults.

 

On the Fantasy that entire aft section called Europa is Adults Only and it is enforced. Those are adult bars and nightclubs therefore children are not, and should not, be allowed in those venues. All of the adult-exclusive venues are clearly laid out on the Disney cruise website.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/list/fantasy-ship,adult-exclusive/

 

For families at night we saw a huge venue called D Lounge. This is the family 'nightclub' on the ship that was running up through 11pm on the cruise we sailed. Mostly empty because all the adults were in the back, but it is that's your option to spend time in a 'nightclub' with your child.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/d-lounge-family-club/

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This. If OP was onboard when posting this, maybe instead/in addition of letting us know, they could also have made a visit to Guest Services. Crew is friendly and happy to help, and as most said here already, in no way anyone can reasonably think of being “gatekeeped” out of somewhere on a Disney cruise because they have a child. That makes absolutely no sense.

 

The only purpose of this rule is to set different areas and different atmospheres on the ship, so that who possibly don't like hearing babies cry as much as their parents, can relax and unwind after an exhausting day.

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We have been on 4 Disney cruises admittedly some years ago, so unsure if it’s changed, but we never found it an issue to have the children with us. We would have a drink, play bingo which they loved, dinner & show. Then a walk around the ship before bed around 10/11pm. 
 

But I understand the European way as I am too (British Cypriot) & our children went everywhere with us. We didn’t really do kids clubs either. 
 

We are in Cyprus at the moment & were out with family last night. The children were all running around having a blast till gone midnight.

 

Children are not hidden away here & that is a cultural difference. Mind you the U.K. that wouldn’t happen. So I understand the differences & just go with it. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/9/2022 at 2:43 PM, Despegue said:

Then in reality, Carnival and all other Cruiselines,  including Celebrity ( not known for it’s child friendly cruises) are more child friendly than the Mouse line. Ridiculous to be honest but alas, we will see what we decide.

Confused. Why are toddlers still awake at 9pm? Also, sitting and watching a toddler dance is cute for about 3 minutes, then it's just tiresome. It is not unreasonable to have grown-up only time after 9pm

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On 9/24/2022 at 1:13 AM, wineoclock said:

We have been on 4 Disney cruises admittedly some years ago, so unsure if it’s changed, but we never found it an issue to have the children with us. We would have a drink, play bingo which they loved, dinner & show. Then a walk around the ship before bed around 10/11pm. 
 

But I understand the European way as I am too (British Cypriot) & our children went everywhere with us. We didn’t really do kids clubs either. 
 

We are in Cyprus at the moment & were out with family last night. The children were all running around having a blast till gone midnight.

 

Children are not hidden away here & that is a cultural difference. Mind you the U.K. that wouldn’t happen. So I understand the differences & just go with it. 

Children are not "hidden away" in the US. There is a healthy respect for:

- not exposing children to adults drinking

- not exposing children to adult topics of conversation

- not bothering adults with your child's unruly (but quite normal) "running around" antics in the late evening

- not having children participate in gambling

 

The European's who have posted on this thread have been judgmental in their opinions. I most certainly love children, but they simply do not belong in every venue at every hour.

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On 8/29/2022 at 5:40 PM, Despegue said:

We booked an actually Kids friendly cruise line .

thank you all for the info, we will be sailing AidaPerla on a 14 day Caribbean cruise. The concept of Disney is just not acceptable for us, and I do think most European potential passengers. Their loss.

I suspect the loss will be for your fellow passengers.

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I'm also European, coming from Denmark. 

 

Been on two DCL cruises, both 7-days sailings on Fantasy. At the first one, my kids were 4 and 7 yo.

We had absolutely no issues entertaining them and no issues having family time.

Since their English skills were very limited at that point, they didn't go a lot to Oceaneers Club.

 

On that cruise, I think my ex wife and I only used adult areas once, where my parents watched the kids thanks to our connected rooms. I enjoyed that evening and totally get the need for adult areas.

I think my parents were really happy for those areas.

And now with the kids even bigger, I think I'll enjoy those areas next sailing also.

 

I don't feel like they take up an unreasonable area of the ship. And don't take any family time away from you.

 

At private gettogethers and family restaurants, yes, kids do "run around" and can be exposed to adults drinking alcohol. That's just a cultural difference and different beliefs on how to tackle alcohol. We shouldn't judge either one or the other view on that, but accept the culture we choose to visit.

 

On pubs, bars and night clubs, we definitely don't see kids. At least not where I go in Europe.

 

The Disney Cruse Line concept is perfect for my family and not trying it would be a loss 😉 

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At get together and family restaurants, there is no issue with alcohol as responsible adults will not drink to excess when children are in attendance.  However, bars are for the sole purpose of drinking and that is another matter entirely as the conversation topics, language, and adult type behavior is unsuitable for children.. imo. And I am no prude by any means. 

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On 10/5/2022 at 10:03 PM, Guppy99 said:

Children are not "hidden away" in the US. There is a healthy respect for:

- not exposing children to adults drinking

- not exposing children to adult topics of conversation

- not bothering adults with your child's unruly (but quite normal) "running around" antics in the late evening

- not having children participate in gambling

 

The European's who have posted on this thread have been judgmental in their opinions. I most certainly love children, but they simply do not belong in every venue at every hour.

My dcs are now 24 & 20 so it wasn’t my kids running around but other peoples! To be honest I don’t mind it but we weren’t in a smart place just a local taverna where it wasn’t frowned upon. 
 

I actually think it’s quite healthy to expose children to normal drinking behaviour ie a regular pre dinner cocktail & wine with dinner (adults only obviously). I think it demystifies the prevalent drinking culture we have in the U.K. but I know not everyone agrees. 

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On 10/5/2022 at 5:05 PM, Guppy99 said:

I suspect the loss will be for your fellow passengers.

The hell of a Costa cruise, is that the whole ship will be just like this couple: parents that leave their children to rove as gangs ship wide, while the adults drink themselves into a stooper. 

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My husband and I love to dance when we are cruising.  It is very dangerous to have little ones running around the dance floor when older people are dancing. It is unsafe for the dancers and for the children. I have been on many cruises where parents do not monitor their little ones and think it is cute when they run around the dance floor weaving in and out around the dancers.  

We love knowing that after nine we can dance without an obstacle course of small children.  And I do love to see a parent dancing with their child which is not the same as letting a child run loose on the dance floor.

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On 10/5/2022 at 4:54 PM, Guppy99 said:

Confused. Why are toddlers still awake at 9pm? Also, sitting and watching a toddler dance is cute for about 3 minutes, then it's just tiresome. It is not unreasonable to have grown-up only time after 9pm

I gotta say, I could never get my kids to be asleep by 9 pm.  No idea how parents manage, if a kid isn't tired how do you force them to sleep?  My grandson is often up till at least 9:30 or 10 (he just turned 3).  I see quite a bit that he will be out and about later on a cruise (just as he was at WDW).  I can't imagine not being able to take him into some areas as well, as there is no reason that we adults can't have a drink and he still be able to join us?  I am not looking to be clubbing, but being able to be out and about but still order drinks, etc.   

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