Babies in the Dining Room

[kimwilly]

Sorry, below is the post I intended to add to the one above.

posted 10-07-03 12:48 AM
Why would a person want to bring along a baby on a cruise ship??? You would think that you would want to get the full benefit of all the ship has to offer. And you certainly cannot do that with a baby with you. I would hope you would not bring a baby in the dining room or to the nightclubs and heaven forbid the evening shows. And why would you have a baby out on the deck in the hot sun. So what else would there be to do but sit in your room.

Carnival Imagination 09/02
RCCL Majesty of the Seas 03/04

[Shellyb]

You really think people bring their babies along just so they can say "Look what we made". Gimme a break! How about they bring them because they love spending time with their children! Imagine that!

By the way, I totally agree that parents should remove children immediately if they are screaming or crying or being obnoxious. Most parents I know are on top of the situation better than that!

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Rhapsody May 23rd 2004

[stretch]

Of course you can bring your "toddlers" into the dining room, but they will refuse to serve them med-rare.
Stretch

Barcrawlers on ice, stirred not shaken!

Carnival Celebration 08/97
Carnival Fantasy 02/99
RCI Explorer 05/02
RCI Brilliance 04/03 The Barcrawler Legend Begins
RCI Brilliance 03/04 The Return of the Barcrawlers
Celebrity Summit 06/10/2005
Barcrawlers in Alaska

email address: [email]Stretchcrawler@yahoo.com[/email]

[bmgaritty]

Stretch,
You made me chuckle!

Shelley,
I 100% agree!

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[Folgy]

Shellyb quote:
------------------------------------------
You really think people bring their babies along just so they can say "Look what we made". Gimme a break! How about they bring them because they love spending time with their children! Imagine that
--------------------------------------------


I guess thats why on the cruise ship they get dropped off with babysitting and Adventure play ground most of the time [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

In all fairness ..This does not mean every parent does this.

[Shellyb]

Actually babies aren't allowed in Adventure Ocean. Some of the parents with older kids said they had to beg their kids to leave A.O. because it was so much fun. I agree however, a family vacation means spending time together.

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Rhapsody May 23rd 2004

[happysinglemom]

I totally agree on the family vacation perspective. I am frustrated that I will have to send my son to AO so that I can work out in the gym - but I think he will be fine for a couple of hours. But a baby? No - I would not even bother to cruise with a baby, or a toddler. Kinda like taking an infant to the beach - what's the point?

Adventure of the Seas will be our maiden cruise!
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[luvthec]

We were on the Enchantment several years ago and had a 4 week old baby at a table next to ours that howled every night at dinner. It was like nails on a chalkboard. After the 4th night of this, I asked the head waiter to please do something. He said there was nothing he could do, it was there vacation too! There were no tables to be moved to so we were stuck.

A miracle I ever got my DH back on a ship.

Kim

NCL Dreamward 05/85 - Bahamas
NCL Sunward 06/86 - W. Carib
Enchantment of the Seas 03/00 - E. Carib
Vision of the Seas 3/02 -Mexican Riviera
Voyager of the Seas 4/04

[y14]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by stretch:
Of course you can bring your "toddlers" into the dining room, but they will refuse to serve them med-rare.
Stretch

Barcrawlers on ice, stirred not shaken!

Carnival Celebration 08/97
Carnival Fantasy 02/99
RCI Explorer 05/02
RCI Brilliance 04/03 The Barcrawler Legend Begins
RCI Brilliance 03/04 The Return of the Barcrawlers
Celebrity Summit 06/10/2005
Barcrawlers in Alaska

email address: [email]Stretchcrawler@yahoo.com[/email]
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Stop trying to cook the babies. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]


Rhapsody
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Monarch of the Seas
Disney Wonder

[y14]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Folgy:
Shellyb quote:
------------------------------------------
You really think people bring their babies along just so they can say "Look what we made". Gimme a break! How about they bring them because they love spending time with their children! Imagine that
--------------------------------------------


I guess thats why on the cruise ship they get dropped off with babysitting and Adventure play ground most of the time [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

In all fairness ..This does not mean every parent does this.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We do want to spend time with the kids. Its not our fault they don't want to be with us. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] Maybe, just maybe, they figure that's the safest place to be--away from Stretch and his grill! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] Either way, we do get to spend quality time with them. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]


Rhapsody
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Monarch of the Seas
Disney Wonder

[Folgy]

y14

LOL, You most certainly have a good sense of humor [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Most here want my liver with fava beans about now (never mind a side course roast baby [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Bookit]

Wasn't it W.C. Fields who said, [I]Boil them in oil?[/I] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Bookit

[k2]

Getting back to the question...
Mega- There are not supposed to be any diapers or swim diapers in the pools. Make sure to bring plenty diapers because if you run out, there are none on board to purchase! Bring the stroller for eavening deck walks, our kids loved them! Most people enjoyed seeing our kids at night in the dining room. I will say though, good parents are not selfish when traveling with kids. It is not fair to anyone (most of all the child) to keep a fussy kid (at any age) out and about. I would not think twice about bringing my baby... your paying for it, so enjoy it! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Grandeur 5/99
Enchantment 10/01
Navigator 11/03
Voyager 11/04

[camella]

We took our daughter on a cruise at 7 months with the stroller, but did not have the stroller in the dining room. They had a high chair for her. But at 3 months, you should consider bringing the bassinet, that way you can just place it in the chair. Good luck and don't let anyone intimidate you...it's your vacation too and you paid just as much money as they did to enjoy. Usually the dining room staff is more than happy to accomodate you.

[kimmydrn]

My husband & I used to have the same mentality during our cruises...."why would anyone bring a baby on a cruise"? Since our last cruise we've been blessed with a son and now I totally understand why one would bring a baby on a cruise. For me, I do not want to fly with the baby and I wouldn't want to be separated from the him for any length of time so bottom line either I take him or we don't vacation. I do totally agree with being a responsible parent. Even if we take him out to dinner & he starts to get fussy we bring him outside immediately. So all of you w/children & are cruising....BE RESPONSIBLE!!!

[Family of 14]

This thread reminded me of our church service Easter Sunday.

There we were, people packed like sardine's up in the balcony and the sanctuary. Our minister calls those type of Sunday's CEO Sunday's (Those that come to church on Christmas Easter Only [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]).

Anyway, just as our minister was starting up his sermon about Jesus in the tomb...coming back from the dead, a baby starts to wail in the balcony. It was getting harder for us to hear the sermon because of the distraction and noise. Finally, our minister stops his sermon, looks up toward the balcony and says "nice set of lungs your baby has...enough to wake the dead." At that comment, the congregation broke up in laughter. The mother, who was in the process of leaving with the child anyway, turned around and acknowledge the minister with a smile and took the baby out. Responsible parenting!

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Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[just4kixx]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] parothead ... good one!

A

'95 Carnival Sensation
4/28/97 RCCL Sovereign of the Seas
7/01 Celebrity Horizon
6/02 Norwegian Sea
6/22/03 Disney Wonder
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... till 6/20/04 Rhapsody of the Seas

[happysinglemom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kimmydrn:
For me, I do not want to fly with the baby and I wouldn't want to be separated from the him for any length of time so bottom line either I take him or we don't vacation. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I certainly agree with this - just that for me, I made a different choice. No traveling. Not till either the child was old enough, or I could be separated. And since I never felt comfortable being separated from my child [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img], we did not have any real vacations for several years. And frankly, it was really of no consequence. I was much happier being with my kid than away from him. Getting a bit off topic here I know (sorry), but just wanted to point out that different people have different priorities, and generally do whatever works the best for them. I traveled all over the world long before I got married, so by the time I had a child, traveling was the furthest thing from my mind. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Adventure of the Seas will be our maiden cruise!
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[jnwilson]

I'm sure this suggestion will cause much disagreement but DH & I would like to see those with children under twelve automatically have early dinner seating. At least at early seating, maybe they are not completely exhausted and so starved for dinner that all they can do is be cranky and unhappy.

[ducklite]

I think it's an excellent idea. So often I hear from parents of younger kids who have gotten late seating and want early, this way it would be guaranteed for them [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Anne

[bmgaritty]

I think we all can agrre that any child that is a disturbance should be removed from the dining room.

Requiring early seating?? I think parents know best regarding dining times for their children. For West Coasters, late would be much more appropriate with children. They would be eating at their normal dining time.

Just a thought.....

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[ducklite]

I have to respectfully disagree--here's why...

Breakfast and lunch are served on East Coast time, regardless of the time zone you are from. So a child who ate a 1:00pm lunch is going to be cranky and fussy by 8:30pm, or falling asleep on their plate. It's not only more fair to other diners, but simply more fair to the children as well!

Shore excursions and onboard activities are on loca time as well. By the second day of the cruise, most people's internal clocks are set for local time.

That said, they should also cater the kids activities around the earlier dining time as well.

Anne

[bmgaritty]

Sorry Ducklite,
I've known West Coast families that keep their children (and themselves)on West Coast (PAC)time or as close as possible. Think about it....

Breakfast in the lido at 9:30- 10:00, Lunch at an alternative dining area such as Lido or JRockets at around 2-300. Dinner at Late seating. Works for both West Coast adults and children.

Children are kept on schedule and happy!

I know when I travel with more than a three hour time change my clock is not set for local time until the 3rd day. Used to live in Boston and travel to CA monthly for meetings - been there done that...

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[ducklite]

Perhaps an alternative would be to seat all families with younger children in one area of the dining room?

I know when my son was younger I prefered sitting near people with other kids his age so that if he became fussy or fidgety ,it wasn't as noticable, or was looked at more sympathetically (although if he kept it up for more than a few moments we would leave)

Now that our son is a young adult, we prefer to sit in an area without children.

We visit a very nice resort every year that has this policy, families are seated in a seperate part of the dining room, and it seems to work very well.

Anne

[bmgaritty]

Ducklite,
That's an idea.

when my duaghter becomes fidgety we remove her from the dining room. It has happened only once in a restaraunt.

I guess it all depends on how much parenting people do. I was at Chili's for lunch the other day and could not believe what parent allow thier children to do. Running up and down the aisles, throwing food , yelling- it was disgusting. If I went on a cruise to be in that atmosphere forget it.....

I guess we can all agree that any obnoxious behaviour should be removed from the dining room.

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