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Recent Drownings on Ships


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Just curious, or am I just not sensitive enough...with the rash of recent drownings on cruise ships, who is at fault? I personally would probably blame the parents for not supervising their own children, but you know there are money hungry lawyers who will say that cruise lines should have life guards. I have been on a few cruises and all too often find myself keeping an eye on children that I do not even know that appear to be unsupervised by the pools.

Just curious as to what others think about it....

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I agree, personal responsibility. So much today people are so willing to blame someone else. Maybe if they did what they should be doing (being a parent-not a friend, teaching the kids right from wrong, etc), it would be a much better place to be. Accidents will always happen and am sorry that people get hurt. But please, take responsibility for what you do.

 

OK, off my "soapbox". :)

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Just curious, or am I just not sensitive enough...with the rash of recent drownings on cruise ships, who is at fault? I personally would probably blame the parents for not supervising their own children, but you know there are money hungry lawyers who will say that cruise lines should have life guards. I have been on a few cruises and all too often find myself keeping an eye on children that I do not even know that appear to be unsupervised by the pools.

Just curious as to what others think about it....

 

Disney has lifeguards for their pools.:)

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We obviously don't know the details of who was supervising these kids, but I have said many times, cruise ship doors do not lock from the inside and it is very easy for a toddler/young child to wake up early and walk out the door while the parents are sleeping. As the parent of a child who was once a flight risk, magnetic alarms are a cheap piece of mind.

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I think it is the parents responsibility to supervise their kids when they are in the pool. (or anywhere else for that matter)

 

When I was little we swam at the local park and there were lifeguards, but our Mom was still there watching us. That was her responsibility. I was at least a teenager before I was allowed to go to the waterpark alone.

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To me it doesn't matter if there are lifeguards or not the parents should be watching their younger kids all the time when they are around a pool. It doesn't matter where it is, on land or a cruise ship. If they want time to themselves on a cruise then they need to put them in kids clubs where they are supervised or leave them at home with someone who will watch them.

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Just curious, or am I just not sensitive enough...with the rash of recent drownings on cruise ships, who is at fault? I personally would probably blame the parents for not supervising their own children, but you know there are money hungry lawyers who will say that cruise lines should have life guards. I have been on a few cruises and all too often find myself keeping an eye on children that I do not even know that appear to be unsupervised by the pools.

Just curious as to what others think about it....

 

There is ONE person at fault-- THE PARENT.

 

if the parents dont want to watch the kids. then the kids shouldn't go in the pool. it is that simple.

 

if going in the pool is required for this vacation then the parents need to either NOT cruise, or NOT ignore their children.

 

this is not a cruiseline problem and there should be no rule requiring lifeguards. if the parents had some personal responsibility for the beings they brought onto this earth they'd have both their boys alive and well. the parents are the only reason their kid is dead. harsh maybe, but come on. stop blaming everyone else already (CBS did a 3 minute story on this and didn't once say where or what the parents were doing. and that's insane. where the parents were should be the entire story).

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First of all, just know that my heart goes out to the family that just lost their son...my thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

With that said, parents need to take responsibility for their children...period. I really don't understand why one would go on a "family" vacation, then let their young children run loose. If going to the casino/sitting at a bar/couples time is what is important to you on a cruise, then shouldn't you leave your children at home? Or in the care of another responsible, adult family member? Why take a family vacation if you are not going to spend quality time as a family?

 

I understand children may want to spend some time with other children....that is what Camp Carnival is for, but young ones should not be running around a ship by themselves. Would you let your child run around your city/town by themselves?

 

Okay, off my soapbox...flame away!

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Even if a lifeguard was on duty, it is a parents responsibility to watch their children. My daughter was a lifeguard in our resort area and it is very difficult to watch ever person in the pool and pool area when it is crowded with people. She has saved many children due to carelessness of a parent with a toddler walking around and falling in. It is a lifeguards responsibility to keep the pool area as safe as possible, but not to watch each child. My heart goes out to this family. Regardless of fault, a child has lost their life. Very sad.

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How can so many people comment on a situation without facts? Of course it's the parents ultimate responsibility. However kids can drown right in front of you if you don't know the signs. It's a tragedy and until the facts are covered I'm not passing judgement.

 

 

Sent from my wonderful iPhone 5 using the fabulous Cruise Critic app.

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Just curious, or am I just not sensitive enough...with the rash of recent drownings on cruise ships, who is at fault? I personally would probably blame the parents for not supervising their own children, but you know there are money hungry lawyers who will say that cruise lines should have life guards. I have been on a few cruises and all too often find myself keeping an eye on children that I do not even know that appear to be unsupervised by the pools.

Just curious as to what others think about it....

 

What rash of drownings has occurred? Did I miss a thread?

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It is ALWAYS the supervising adults responsibility to watch the child. It is clearly posted that there are no lifeguards on duty. I think because of the small size of the ships pools and the number of people in them we tend to have a false sense of security. My DH and I have "helped" children on just about every cruise we have been on, we even had one little fella say to my DH "you won't let me drown will you." I am a daycare provider so we are kid magnets!

 

This drowning incident just breaks my heart because you know the family is devastated these accidents happen in the blink of an eye. I do not know the details of this incident but you can do everything right and it still turn tragic.

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And Disney cruisers indirectly pay for them in their rates. How often does a lifeguard need to do a save? The parent should be there watching their own kid.

Why aren't any Disney cruises listed under your name?

 

Because I have never cruised Disney. My youngest child is 33 years old.

 

Next question.

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I agree with you... one cruise, we got on one of the glass elevators and a kid was sitting on the floor, drinking a soda, riding up and down... Where were his parents????

 

When my son was 2, the glass elevators were the best thing ever. I had to ride up & down with him several times...:) (no biggie, no complaints, no one wasn't able to get on the elevator & get off where they wanted...)

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When my son was 2, the glass elevators were the best thing ever. I had to ride up & down with him several times...:) (no biggie, no complaints, no one wasn't able to get on the elevator & get off where they wanted...)

 

And there is the difference. "You" were with your son. Very admirable. :) This child was by himself, just enjoying riding the elevator... Who knew where his parents were.

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There hasn't been a rash of drownings on ships.

 

Tell that to CBS!! Smh Once again the "news" media twisting and/or making up facts and people believing EVERYTHING they say. This is why I despise the "news". Do your own research people.

 

I'd also like to add that I'm very very sorry for these boys' parents. I can't imagine how they feel and we don't know details (though I may hop on over to the NCL message board) so I won't crucify the parents either (I'm sure they'll have a lifetime of regrets and shoulda/coulda/woulda's). However, I did notice this past August (first cruise since becoming a mommy) how many children were unsupervised in these pools and I found myself watching the children too because no one else was. People do have a false sense of security on these cruise ships and you cannot be like that when you have children onboard with you. If my daughter wasn't at Camp Carnival she was by my side or in her stroller constantly!!

Edited by ShanteS
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And there is the difference. "You" were with your son. Very admirable. :) This child was by himself, just enjoying riding the elevator... Who knew where his parents were.

 

Exactly. (We also waited until he was 2, so that he could enjoy Camp Carnival.)

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Twice I have pulled little kids from a pool. My boys were swim team club memberss and twice when I was a stroke judge little kids have fallen in near me.

 

Important to note that neither time did the child cry out...watch the video on how to recognize drowning..it is NOT at all like what most think.

 

Also important to note that both times the parent criticized the child and scowled at me. No thanks.... nothing. (embarrassed maybe?)

 

Once on a cruise a child about 4 was screaming for her mom and I looked for her parents and finally took her to an officer. She did not know her last name and the officer immediately called in reinforcements. As we walked, the little girl found her mother and I explained that she must have exited the pool from the opposite side and lost track of where her family was sitting at a table. The mom started berating the little girl. I left after I quietly told the mom that it was her job to keep track of the child. I got a big send off with a bad word.

 

Very, very sad for the family and those who are aware on the cruise!!

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Disney has lifeguards for their pools.:)

 

Disney added lifeguards only recently after a child drown on one of their ships.

 

It is ALWAYS the supervising adults responsibility to watch the child. It is clearly posted that there are no lifeguards on duty. I think because of the small size of the ships pools and the number of people in them we tend to have a false sense of security. My DH and I have "helped" children on just about every cruise we have been on, we even had one little fella say to my DH "you won't let me drown will you." I am a daycare provider so we are kid magnets!

 

This drowning incident just breaks my heart because you know the family is devastated these accidents happen in the blink of an eye. I do not know the details of this incident but you can do everything right and it still turn tragic.

 

 

I totally agree with everything, especially the false sense of security. Even I had the inital "how does that happen" reaction because it is such a small area with so many people around.

A lot of people posted in other threads about how drowning doesn't look like we expect it to which I think is a good point and also plays a roll here.

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How can so many people comment on a situation without facts? Of course it's the parents ultimate responsibility. However kids can drown right in front of you if you don't know the signs. It's a tragedy and until the facts are covered I'm not passing judgement.

 

 

Sent from my wonderful iPhone 5 using the fabulous Cruise Critic app.

 

The OP wasn't referring to a specific event so I thought the discussion was in general and not one specific occurrence so no facts. I think if the kids want to be in the pool that the parents need to be in the pool with them or at least sitting on the side watching them closely rather than in a lounger back from the pool. Yes some accidents happen no matter what but a lot of people do get a false sense of security on the ships with the pools being so small, some may have had a couple of drinks which cause them not to pay enough attention and some may just not be the best of parents and assume someone else will look out for them. It is sad that children do drown in such a crowded area.

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Mom and Dad had 3 kids and a beach house. No lifeguards at the beach and you can bet your behind that my mom watched all of us like a hawk. There was no laying back on a lounge chair with eyes closed catching some rays while we played "drowned" in the water. I am not saying that is how it happened with these precious boys I'm just saying that my mom had an eagle eye on us and that was for many many years as we practically lived at the beach in the summer.

 

I now wonder if she felt better when I figured out there was critters in the water and I didn't want to go in for a long time (I'm youngest)...lol

 

I'm in NC and last nite our news said the boys were 4 and 6. I can't imagine letting them in the pool alone at that age.

Edited by JustCruiseMe
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