Never have sailed on Holland - Seeking Some Advice & Opinions

[caviargal]

caviar girl,whats your problem.kids have a right to be there,you dont like them,obviously.i came accross alot like you on the oosterdam last week.were you never one!!!!!

 

Sure was a kid and cruised very young and my parents did not let me run wild on cruise ships so they could be off having a good time.

 

I prefer to sail with adults and do my best to plan it that way.

 

Good news about the Oosterdam; now I am really excited to be cruising on her in April:D.

[dorisdoris1]

very funny:)

[Schplinky]

Doris: It's ok not to want to cruise with kids. Some people love kids but it's not uncommon for folks not to. If one doesn't enjoy other people's children. it should be ok to say so. We don't mind children but we do mind the parents who either won't supervise their kids or who presume we're all a part of the village raising their kids.

[dorisdoris1]

i agree kids shouldnt be allowed to run riot,it just amuses me that in these politically correct times the only thing its ok to do is snarl at kids,and make your feelings obvious,something that none of us would dream of doing at ,say,a wheelchair user, someone with special needs,a same sex couple,a verticallyh challenged,a hard of hearing person etc etc etc.my experience on hal was appalling for people who are so bloody old andgrumpy and intolerant and who think that because they are old they can say whatever they like in a very loud voice about anybody under theage of 100 whom they dissaprove of.rant over,ihave learnt my lesson,a a39 year old with 3 kids who are very well behaved shouldnt sail on hal!!!!!

[Schplinky]

Speaking as half a same-sex couple, I can assure you that there are many who would not want to cruise with us. There are threads from time to time on the various board sof CC where a gay group is on a ship (but has not chartered the whole ship) and folks are "warning" others of the fact, under the guise of being helpful. They claim that it wouldn't bother them but they want others to know in case it matters.

 

I don't think most people actually mind kids, it's bad parenting they mind. I have been on ships of all stripes and have either seen parents oblivious to their kids running allover or they are yelling full blast at their kids like it's their own private living room. I wouldn't choose that any day and I don't think that's something to aplogise for. I don't think it's politically correct to say we don't like sailing with children/bad parents and we don't say it often but since you brought it up, we've been honest. That's all.

[kakalina]

I don't think most people actually mind kids, it's bad parenting they mind.

 

 

Well put.

 

Virgil

[wizard-of-roz]

My 2cents: We were on an NCL cruise, last November. Children, children everywhere and not a parent to spare or in sight!!!!!

Screaming/yelling/crying/running/jumping and just plain driving the rest of usnuts......we went off to venues that did not include the families (as much as we could!)

It was a most unpleasant experience and really did effect ours and many others cruising pleasure.........

I adore children. However, I found myself discipling these "no neck" monsters and even giving their parents information as how much their children were disrupting everyone else!!!! It really took away from that "feel good" feeling that most cruises give us! And, If I'm going to do Social Work, I want to get paid for it!!!!!!!:(

I am truly looking forward to a ship without children. If I want that "family feeling" and I bring my children along....I'll do Dizzney!

[dorisdoris1]

schplinky,would agree with every word,really.and,to those who object to any race,creed colour,sexual preference,well each to their own,however ignorant.just find people shouldnt put any person in any catagory and be rude,thats all.my kids were good,folk still showed thir displeasure,in lifts,at meals,anywhere,and,for the record,though i am sure you rise above it many times in your relationship,i beleive when nobodys hurting anybody else,then they shouldnt be judging either.

[dorisdoris1]

wizzard of roz.sorry you had a bad time,but truly we dont all parent the same.maybe it was a cheap family deal,i dont know,but i assure you i payed through the nose to take my well behaved kids,and some passengers really went out of thir way to be objective,thats just not nice.

[Schplinky]

schplinky,would agree with every word,really.and,to those who object to any race,creed colour,sexual preference,well each to their own,however ignorant.just find people shouldnt put any person in any catagory and be rude,thats all.my kids were good,folk still showed thir displeasure,in lifts,at meals,anywhere,and,for the record,though i am sure you rise above it many times in your relationship,i beleive when nobodys hurting anybody else,then they shouldnt be judging either.

 

I agree with you and will also say that it's one thing for someone to prefer to avoid cruises with lots of kiddies aboard and another thing altogether to be rude to you and your family once they encounter you. The former is just a matter of shopping for what one prefers but in the latter case, when folks are unkind simply because you are on "their" ship when you have every right to be there, that's just appalling.

[wizard-of-roz]

And, Schplinky: If you promise NOT to scream/rant/rave/touch every item (with your fingers) in the buffet/push all the buttons on the elevator/run up and down the halls....etc., etc, etc. I'd cruise with you anytime/anyplace....

[Schplinky]

And, Schplinky: If you promise NOT to scream/rant/rave/touch every item (with your fingers) in the buffet/push all the buttons on the elevator/run up and down the halls....etc., etc, etc. I'd cruise with you anytime/anyplace....

 

I can promise on the touching and running but I reserve the right to rave. We'll deal with elevator buttons on a case by case basis.

[dorisdoris1]

me too!!!!:) :) :) :) :) can i push the buttons with the hand thats not holding my large wine glass though?

[wizard-of-roz]

Anyone who can hold on to a wine glass/foo foo drink/or one of those obnoxious (ship) glasses (of which I display proudly, in my dining room), whilest pushing buttons in the elevator has won the golden ticket to our cruiseship!!!!!! :D

[caviargal]

I agree with you and will also say that it's one thing for someone to prefer to avoid cruises with lots of kiddies aboard and another thing altogether to be rude to you and your family once they encounter you. The former is just a matter of shopping for what one prefers but in the latter case, when folks are unkind simply because you are on "their" ship when you have every right to be there, that's just appalling.

 

Nicely put, Schplinky and I agree completely. There is no excuse for rudeness without cause in any situation.

 

I unfortunately have had too many cruises disrupted by kids behaving badly, despite planning as well as I could to avoid school holidays. I have come to the conclusion that I simply have to avoid certain lines now as well :( if I want to cruise at all.

 

I have on occasion called Security to manage certain issues (foul language and banging on doors late at night, diapers in the pool, cannon balling children) which they do reluctantly when it comes to children as some parents will simply not be told where there kids are allowed to be or how they should behave.

 

I have also complimented parents when I observe well behaved children, especially in the dining room where some simply do not want to sit through a long dinner.

 

Roz, I will be seeing you aboard the OS in 7 weeks:D.

[wizard-of-roz]

Thanks, Caviargal-is it only 7 weeks???-Yippppeeeee!!!!!! :p

I must tell you guys the story of a young couple, with two children, who were sitting next to us, in the dining room, at dinner. Their oldest child (a 4 year old boy) kept crying and stating that he was so tired....he said, "I just want my blanky and I want to lay down!" He stated, in a very teary voice......his very young and gently speaking mother layed his blanket on the floor, against a wall....and, the tiny little fellow layed down on his blanky, stuck his thumb in his mouth and fell fast asleep. The mother looked at me, I returned the look at her, with a huge "thumbs-up" to her for having the good sense to let the little guy just do what he (so beggingly) wanted to do! The other child was an infant, who slept easily in a stroller!

I appreciate wanting to travel and shlepping the children along, when you have no better choices.....but, these dear little ones have no clue about dinner hours and change of times and beds. They just want a sense of normalcy/love and "down time" when they're exhausted! ;)

[NanDarien]

Thanks to you all for the info on HAL. Am going for my third cruise, which will be my first on HAL, in March, and now am convinced I will love it. Will be part of a male couple with a "mother-in-law" and we find cruising with older, wiser travelers to be a wonderful experience. Couldn't agree with you more, Roz, about NCL. One time was one time too many. Loved RCCL, though, and would travel with them again.

[wizard-of-roz]

NanDarien: Have a wonderful cruise......and, when it's over....come back and write about it.....so, we can all enjoy your experiences with you! :p

[Golfette]

Boy, you guys on HAL are really nice. You try to see & rationally discuss all sides of a question. If Doris had been posting on the Princess Board, she would have been drawn, quartered & hung out to dry. I salute your patience and courtesy even if I don't have it myself.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Boy, you guys on HAL are really nice. You try to see & rationally discuss all sides of a question. If Doris had been posting on the Princess Board, she would have been drawn, quartered & hung out to dry. I salute your patience and courtesy even if I don't have it myself.

 

 

I could be wrong, but I think several of the posters on this thread are also frequent Princess cruisers......I think we like to chat and discuss things a lot here on this forum, and nastiness tends to derail the conversation......

 

And for what it's worth, I have cruised twice with my children on Holland America, and our family has encountered only kind and friendly cruisers. We've never been made to feel like 2nd class citizens on HAL, by anyone, either crew or fellow travellers......everybody's there to enjoy a vacation.......Holland America cruisers are cruisers wot have class!:p That's what HAL stands for, you know, Helpfulness And Love!;)

[dorisdoris1]

on the constellation last year i was unfortunatley locked upin my cabin by 9 every nite because of the kida need to sleep,thats life,thats being a responsible parent.on hal this year,despite the kids being older and wanting to be in club hal,i still only made it to ten oclock,because the rest of the ship apart from the casino was as dead as theproverbial dodo!!!!as i have said,different srokes for different folks.kids are kids,dont blame them,blame the adults,and not in a loud superior voice unless the 2 yesr olds a lager swilling,foul mouthed pyromaniac on crack.lighten up a little,we are all humans and shouldnt judge by the fact that you see a stroller,until the behaviour is bad.some people take one look and the face says it all,and the childs asleep.

[wizard-of-roz]

We, personally, love Princess. I'm new to HAL this April. (I want to cruise on every ship line that's out there!)

My goal is to become the "Cruise Ship Maven!" How inspirational is that? ;)

The boards are the boards. If you are open to discussion; they discuss....some a little more heated than others. And, Doris, darling.....you can get heated!!!!!

We love children. I'm the first one to lend a helping hand to a child in need. It's ALWAYS the parents who need to re-think their parenting skills before taking their children out in public. :eek:

[dorisdoris1]

wizard of roz,i know,i do get a little hot under the collar,only,i truly hate injustice and discrimination,its the only thing that makes a red mist descend!!!!might pop on the princess boards now for a littleheated debate:D :D :D :D been a pleasure talkin to ya,and schplinky!!!!:) if you dont haer from me,send out a search party,i will have been made to walk the plank(in economy,obviously cos i m sooooooo common xxxxxxxx

[bombshell]

Thought i'd just add another 2 cents worth to this thread... Myself and my friend are in our early 30's and travelled on HAL last year for the first time (due to the itinerary being exactly what we wanted). We found the ship, the staff, the cabin, the food, the other passengers and basically everything absolutely awesome. The age group we thought would be older than ourselves, but we were pleasantly suprised that there were others in and around our age group too. Everyone socialises well - including the younger 20's and older up to 60's age groups. We thought there was a few activities to join in with, and did so, although next time we're getting up earlier to do more of them! Having been so impressed by our cruise with HAL (on the Noordam) we have promptly booked another one for this year! Departing in April for the Panama Canal we both can't wait after having such a great time last time.... even if it is an older crowd for the longer sailing we don't care, its what you make it anyway!

I would recommend you go for itinerary first, then choose your ship... but would thoroughly recommend HAL in my experience. ENJOY!

[wizard-of-roz]

Bombshell: "Attagirl!" I am over 40+ and if the people I'm around are decent/kind and have a modicum of interest that I do.....let me at um!

I've been with some 20 year olds, who were absolutely the most boring people I've ever been with! And, then with a couple who were both 93 who were such a delight, I actually searched them out on one of our RCCL cruises! We had so much fun together!

Doris: There's nothing common about a woman with your spirit! :p