Kids in spa?

[TheHappyWanderer]

Have any of you who have been aboard the Oosterdam had the experience of children in the spa? We're aboard now and I was so looking forward to using the thermal suite & therapy pool. I bought the weeklong pass and was very surprised on the first two days to find children in both areas. When I asked the spa manager if these areas were to be adult-only areas, as advertised, and like on every other cruise ship I've been on, he told me that on this ship children 14-18 could be anywhere in the spa as long as they were accompanied by a parent. Well some of these kids were definitely not 14 and there was not a parent in sight. I told him I didn't want to be there w/children and so asked for my money back. I'm just plain disappointed because that's my favorite area of the ship to go relax.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Happy Wanderer:

 

I would go directly to the onboard hotel manager and discuss the situation with him, and ask him to take care of it. My 17-year-old daughter has been permitted to accompany me and her grandmother in the thermal suite onboard, but not to go by herself. The rules for the Greenhouse Spa and Fitness Center clearly state that "guests 14-17 years must be accompanied by an adult." Guests younger than 14 are not permitted in the thermal suite, nor hydropool, nor the fitness room, to the best of my knowledge. They may have access to some beauty and spa treatments (no massage), but then only with adult supervision. The thermal suite is a designated adult area, and minors should not be in there by themselves. I sure as heck wouldn't want my child unsupervised in an adults designated area, and would never let my children be there without me, period. This is a new one to me, too. Please let us know what the hotel manager tells you, thanks.

[kryos]

Well some of these kids were definitely not 14 and there was not a parent in sight. I told him I didn't want to be there w/children and so asked for my money back. I'm just plain disappointed because that's my favorite area of the ship to go relax.

I'm shocked that any parents would spend the money for their kids to have a thermal spa pass. But, I guess if they are willing to spend the money, Steiner will take it.

 

I don't know what you can do about it. If those kids have paid passes, then they have as much right in there as anyone else onboard. At least Steiner gave you your money back ... that something.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Old As Dirt Mom]

I'm shocked that any parents would spend the money for their kids to have a thermal spa pass. But, I guess if they are willing to spend the money, Steiner will take it.

 

I don't know what you can do about it. If those kids have paid passes, then they have as much right in there as anyone else onboard. At least Steiner gave you your money back ... that something.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

Rita, perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think HAL wants those kids in the spa, either. I think this is poor management and supervision on the part of Oosterdam's spa manager. Unaccompanied minors in an adult spa? We're talking trouble, for everyone. And the kids didn't pay for the passes, their parents did, and agreed to abide by the rules in doing so. If I were Happy Wanderer I would go directly to the Hotel Manager.

 

Karin

[Jemima]

How do you know their ages? Some teens look younger than they are. My daughter has always looked much younger. She's now an adult, but people often think she is a young teen.

[C&K 2007]

Its just another case of parents with more money than brains. I have no problems with kids being on board, it would just be nice that they show respect for the areas that they are not allowed to be in. I have sailed with my two daughters ages 14 and 12 and they never once asked to go into the adults only pool ( why would they want to) I guess some people feel they paid for it and damn it they are going to use it,,,, no matter what anyone else feels about it, fellow passengers or staff. Again if parents kept an eye on their kids, Im sure the boards on here would not be so full of sad stories about kids running amuck on the ships. Its just a matter of time before one falls overboad and then look out, sad but true, or that might be what the parents want to see happen, as it seems they dont really care anyways.

[bepsf]

Does the HM really have any say-so over what happens in the spa?

 

If its not a safety issue, I have my doubts...

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Does the HM really have any say-so over what happens in the spa?

 

If its not a safety issue, I have my doubts...

 

Isn't the hotel manager responsible for overseeing all concessionaires, in this case, Steiner? Isn't that duty part of the hotel manager's job description? Isn't the Steiner spa manager obligated to follow the rules and guidelines set down by Holland America? So why wouldn't the spa manager be answerable to the captain and hotel manager, as HAL's senior staff onboard?

[bepsf]

Isn't the hotel manager responsible for overseeing all concessionaires, in this case, Steiner? Isn't that duty part of the hotel manager's job description? Isn't the Steiner spa manager obligated to follow the rules and guidelines set down by Holland America? So why wouldn't the spa manager be answerable to the captain and hotel manager, as HAL's senior staff onboard?

 

As far as safety is concerned - I'm certain that they are answerable to the Captain & HM.

However when it comes to who gets served/who doesn't/who pays what, I have the feeling they might not be.

(I could be wrong of course - That's why I asked the question...)

 

I think I'd have gone to the Spa Manager first...

[Old As Dirt Mom]

As far as safety is concerned - I'm certain that they are answerable to the Captain & HM.

 

However when it comes to who gets served/who doesn't/who pays what, I have the feeling they might not be.

(I could be wrong of course - That's why I asked the question...)

 

I think I'd have gone to the Spa Manager first...

 

Happy Wanderer did go to the Spa Manager first. Also, wouldn't unaccompanied minors in the adult thermal suite/hydropool areas be a health and safety issue?

 

I don't have the 100 % answer, either. I asked Happy Wanderer to report back to us, if she could, because I'd like to know the outcome myself. She found the situation distressing enough to post here while actually still on her cruise, and I'm trying trying to help her out. I could be wrong. (Shocking concept, I know, but it does happen that I am occasionally "talking through my hat"). I only know that it's best to try to rectify a situation like this right away while one is still on the ship, and to go through the appropriate channels of authority.

 

OK, that's enough brain activity for me for one afternoon, back to mindless drudgery.......

[CherylsCaribbeanTravel]

I'll share my experience on the Z a few years ago.

 

About the 4th day of our cruise the thermal spa was over-run with young teens. I have no idea their age, but I'd guess between 13-17.

 

What we came to find out was that ALL of their parents hadn't purchased the spa passes. One young man had a pass and was letting all his friends in with his card. As you know, the thermal suites are limited in number and this just didn't sit right as each lounger (6 total maybe?) had not one, but two teens sitting on it!!

 

The spa manager was very helpful asking them to leave, but the one boy was allowed to keep his spa key. You guessed it. The next day they were all back. I can only assume that the spa manager took the pass at that time because they never returned; but it was a bit of an annoyance.

 

Certainly not necessarily HAL's 'fault'; but if the policy truly states that no one under 18 is allowed without a parent; I feel that HAL has the right to enforce it's own policies by only giving keys to those over 18.

 

Cheryl :)

[bepsf]

Happy Wanderer did go to the Spa Manager first. Also, wouldn't unaccompanied minors in the adult thermal suite/hydropool areas be a health and safety issue?

 

I don't have the 100 % answer, either. I asked Happy Wanderer to report back to us, if she could, because I'd like to know the outcome myself. She found the situation distressing enough to post here while actually still on her cruise, and I'm trying trying to help her out. I could be wrong. (Shocking concept, I know, but it does happen that I am occasionally "talking through my hat"). I only know that it's best to try to rectify a situation like this right away while one is still on the ship, and to go through the appropriate channels of authority.

 

OK, that's enough brain activity for me for one afternoon, back to mindless drudgery.......

 

MAM--

I missed the part where she'd gone to the spa manager already...

...but you're so right - best to nip it in the bud while aboard.

I sure hope HW gets this resolved to her satisfaction!

Back to the drudgery too...(Sigh)

[kryos]

Rita, perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think HAL wants those kids in the spa, either. I think this is poor management and supervision on the part of Oosterdam's spa manager. Unaccompanied minors in an adult spa? We're talking trouble, for everyone. And the kids didn't pay for the passes, their parents did, and agreed to abide by the rules in doing so. If I were Happy Wanderer I would go directly to the Hotel Manager.

I would agree with you. It is very poor management and the parents should never have been allowed to purchase passes for their kids. However, the bottom line is that Steiner accepted their money and therefore can't, in all fairness, bar the kids from the spa. Unfortunately, money is the name of the game and Steiner wanted those greenbacks that the parents were paying. So, in a nutshell, Happy Wanderer is out of luck. Thankfully, Steiner refunded the cost of her pass so she didn't have to deal with the kids. But, if this is a precursor of things to come ... the need for more and more onboard revenue ... sounds like there may be a lot of kids running around in the spa in the coming years. After all, you can't accept their parents' money and then not grant the kids equal access to the facilities. That wouldn't be fair either.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Rita, perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think HAL wants those kids in the spa, either.

LOL ... I'm sure HAL gets a cut of all Steiner onboard revenue. Don't be so sure they don't want the kids in the spa. If mom and dad are willing to pay, neither HAL nor Steiner probably has any problem with it.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Its just another case of parents with more money than brains. I have no problems with kids being on board, it would just be nice that they show respect for the areas that they are not allowed to be in.

We've had this discussion before ... and I will say the same thing as on all those other threads about kids being places they shouldn't be. Who says they shouldn't? HAL has made a decision to market toward the family cruiser ... to encourage families to come onboard with the kids and have a really great time. They print brochures showing laughing kids having a ball on the ship and circulate these through their travel agent network.

 

So, how on earth can HAL encourage families to book a cruise on a HAL ship and then say, "but wait ... kids can't be in the aft pool, can't be in the spa, can't be in the Crow's Nest, etc.?" Sorry, can't do it.

 

In short, I wonder if the "old" rules even apply anymore. Maybe kids can be in the aft pool now and that's why the deck people turn their heads to it. Maybe Steiner is more than welcome to sell a thermal suite pass to a teenager if mom is willing to pay for it.

 

If that's the case, then I'd be careful when judging where kids can and can't be ... because perhaps with the exception of the casino and without parental supervision up to a certain time in the lounges ... there really is no place else onboard the ship where they can't go.

 

Maybe the new strategy is going to have to be us adults making the changes ... not the families. If we don't want to share the spa or the aft pool with kids, then perhaps it is us who are going to have to pick our cruises and cruise seasons a bit more carefully.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[island lady]

Hmm...that's wierd.

 

Doesn't HAL have a kids area? I would think they would prefer the atmosphere there designed for little ones their age.

 

I can't imagine us "old folks" wanting to go to the kid's zone for a "relaxing time" and infiltrate their turf.

 

But then again, perhaps we should. We could play waltz music and make them sit still and relax very quietly for hours at a time. :rolleyes: Paybacks?

 

Cheers! :)

[cruznon]

If this is the new thermal spa policy....whoa. What adult wanting a peaceful spa experience would want to buy a pass?

[RuthC]

Why isn't the Lido pool enough for kids? And then the aft pool for adults? That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

Makes sense to me. Where is this idea that kids have the same rights as adults coming from? They're kids. They don't have the same rights that grown-ups do.

They have to wait their turn just like we did! :D

[hammybee]

So, how on earth can HAL encourage families to book a cruise on a HAL ship and then say, "but wait ... kids can't be in the aft pool, can't be in the spa, can't be in the Crow's Nest, etc.?" Sorry, can't do it. Blue skies ...-rita

 

And yet, Disney has managed to do this and do it well. The cruise line has to want to do it and then empower their crew and officers to make sure adult only /or accompanied areas are as intended.

 

It really is this simple.

 

Given the cost of this discretionary service, the OP should accelerate the situation while onboard.

[pms4104]

The bottom line is the bottom line, fiscally speaking. And just maybe, little by little, the cruise experience is evolving into "anything goes". Gotta get the heads in beds, fill the acbins, tally the revenues ... and policies be damned. Doesn't sit well with me ... and I would hope that HAL, even tho it wants to attract family units, will retain some sense of dignity, propriety and professionalism.

[seasideny]

Personally - I love kids and can imagine a time when a parent - grooming their teen to be a responsible adult - would bring their teen into the spa to relax and bond. BUT I would not want to be in the spa with unaccompanied teens. I work in a middle school and I know the accusations they are capable of making to poor unsuspecting people.:eek:

[cruznon]

Ruth,

You're such a wise woman!!!!:)

[kryos]

And yet, Disney has managed to do this and do it well. The cruise line has to want to do it and then empower their crew and officers to make sure adult only /or accompanied areas are as intended.

I'm certainly no expert on Disney ... but aren't their ships much larger than most HAL vessels? I know they have an adults-only restaurant, but what other facilities on a Disney ship are not open to children? I know Disney doesn't have casinos on their vessels, so I would imagine the only other areas not accessble to children would be the bars, right?

 

From my understanding, Disney has always been a family cruise line ... so I can't imagine children being barred from that many facilities.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[hammybee]

I'm certainly no expert on Disney ... but aren't their ships much larger than most HAL vessels? I know they have an adults-only restaurant, but what other facilities on a Disney ship are not open to children? I know Disney doesn't have casinos on their vessels, so I would imagine the only other areas not accessble to children would be the bars, right?

 

From my understanding, Disney has always been a family cruise line ... so I can't imagine children being barred from that many facilities.

 

Blue skies ...--rita

 

Believe it or not, HAL has been a family cruise line longer than Disney Cruises has been around. Disney does a good job with adult only venues, pool, bars, clubs and portions of their private island.

[peaches from georgia]

.... Disney does a good job with adult only venues, pool, bars, clubs and portions of their private island.

In other words, the family cruise market can still flourish even when adults are given some private spaces on the ships. If Disney can do it there is no reason HAL can't, too. It's just a matter of enforcement. Sounds like a good compromise to me.