Unbeliveable Aboard Westerdam

[Himself]

I am not a swimmer and do not go in pools too often. Some of these posts make me glad I don't go in them too often.

Himself

[kryos]

[quote name='Adk~Cruiser']My mother always said "manners are taught, not bought". It's my opinion that people from many income levels simply do not understand common courtesy and respect as they were not shown it or taught it within their own family. To me it is more a symptom of society as a whole rather than the symptom of any one class or another.[/QUOTE]
But who's to say this is a breach of manners? A boat filled with families may have several mom's with their infants in the pool. They paid a fare for the infant, many of them will argue, so why shouldn't the baby be allowed in the pool?

I don't see this as a breach of manners at all. I see it more as not knowing what the past traditions were, since they were never exposed to them. Also, if lots of people are not "dressing to the nines" on formal night, then who is to say that those who wear a nice casual type outfit are not exercising good manners. "Hey, I see plenty of people dressed like me" ... is what they can rightfully argue. Hell, if there are a few old foagies who click their tongues because one is not decked out in a ball gown, do you think that casual dresser is gonna lose any sleep over it?

People will behave as the situation demands. If someone sees others doing something (of course, I mean something that is clearly not outrageous) ... such as popping a swim diaper on the baby and then setting him in his floatie in the aft pool, they are going to naturally assume that this is fine. If the ship's rules say no children in the first three rows of the show lounge and you walk in there with your kids and clearly see a slew of kids in those front rows, are you gonna tell your kids no? Clearly the cruiseline has a rule here that they are not really enforcing. Perhaps they are not enforcing it because it's an antiquated rule?

Like I said ... it's all about change. The actual price of cruising is much cheaper today than it was ten years ago. Because of that, a lot more people are choosing to cruise over taking a land-based vacation. Those people have different expectations for their vacation, and those expectations may not jive with what you expect. In short, if enough people have those different expectations, then the cruiseline will be forced to bend to their will. In short, if you don't like it ... it's you who will have to go elsewhere.

Sucks, I know. :(

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

[quote name='bonnyweed']That said, ain't no way I'm getting in that cruise ship spa!
[/QUOTE]
LOL ... I'm with you! Seriously, I've found two situations with being out on the pool deck on a sea day. Either it's unGodly hot or it's chilly. I've yet to find a happy medium out there.

So, since there are so many fun things going on inside, I just spend my time there. I only venture out on deck sometimes to have a drink at the bar and watch the ocean go by.

Besides, I'd be afraid to put on a bathing suit out there. I'd be afraid the officers on the bridge might take one look and announce a "whale sighting" over the loudspeakers. :(

Blue skies ...

--rita

[HeatherInFlorida]

[quote name='kryos'] I only venture out on deck sometimes to have a drink at the bar and watch the ocean go by.[/QUOTE]

And at night, Rita ... it's so beautiful and often so quiet out there on deck at night.

[QUOTE]Besides, I'd be afraid to put on a bathing suit out there. I'd be afraid the officers on the bridge might take one look and announce a "whale sighting" over the loudspeakers. :(
[/QUOTE]

I always have to be careful with this as well. But not for the same reason. I realize that the officers might well be overcome by my sheer beauty and exquisite shape and take us off course. That simply would not do.

ROTFLOL:D with TIME!!!

[bplazo]

Just because someone pays a fare for an infant does not mean that the baby is going to be able to enjoy all the activities on the ship. Will they be able to gamble at the casino, drink alcohol at the bar? Run on the treadmill? When you bring an infant or toddler on a cruise you must realize that their activities will be limited.

[Time2sail]

"So what we all have to figure out is how to get the money into the "right" hands ... i.e., ours;) "

The LOVE of money is the root of all evil; money is not evil nor is having it. So, I would just LIKE to have money and I think I would be the "right" person,too. I sure know how to spend it already.:)

Where is Grannynurse? The guy removing and wringing out his bathing suit in the pool got us really going:D Forgot all about the original poster after that.

[sail7seas]

[font=Comic Sans MS][b][quote][/b][font=Verdana]Those people have different expectations for their vacation, and those expectations may not jive with what you expect. In short, if enough people have those different expectations, then the cruiseline will be forced to bend to their will. In short, if you don't like it ... it's you who will have to go elsewhere.

Sucks, I know. [/font][b]:([/quote][/b][/font]




[font=Comic Sans MS][b]I disagree. When it comes to health and safety of other pax, cruise lines and fellow pax do not have to accept disgusting hygiene of some people. They will have to learn that their fellow pax will not tolerate and do not have to put up with exposure to their kids' poop. Why should we? Little Johnnie's mom may think he poops ice cream, but we know better!!![/b][/font]
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[Landlubber54]

[font=Arial Black][color=blue]While baby poop distracted many of us (me included) the OP's point had more to do with common courtesy (remember the cell phone or walkie talkie in Pinnacle?) than hygiene. The problem is that by paying for a cruise, many feel they have earned the right to impose their will on others with impunity. It's a sad fact of society and it crosses all lines of class, race, religion, sexual orientation and shoe size. :rolleyes: [/color][/font]

[kryos]

[quote name='bplazo']Just because someone pays a fare for an infant does not mean that the baby is going to be able to enjoy all the activities on the ship. Will they be able to gamble at the casino, drink alcohol at the bar? Run on the treadmill? When you bring an infant or toddler on a cruise you must realize that their activities will be limited.[/QUOTE]
Don't laugh, but ...

When I was on the Zuiderdam last summer, I was traveling with a couple of friends who were "gym freaks." I had to find this woman one morning to give her a message, so I wandered into the gym (a place I would ordinarily never set foot in). :)

On one of the treadmills there is this woman ... she's got one of those papoose things on her back and she's running ... with what looked like a very contented baby bouncing happily away.

Guess you meet all kinds on a cruise ship, huh?

Actually, I thought it was kinda cute.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

[quote name='sail7seas'] Little Johnnie's mom may think he poops ice cream, but we know better.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but swim diapers would contain it, right?

Would there be a hygiene issue if baby had them on?

Of course, I agree ... mom shouldn't have changed his crappy swimsuit right there. She should have taken baby inside.

I'm just talking generally, though ... if a baby had a "swim diaper" on, would there be a hygiene risk to the other passengers?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Time2sail]

The difference between a regular disposable diaper and a swim diaper? The swim diaper will not swell up in the water (absorb, expand or whatever word you choose).

A swim diaper doesn't absorb anything--kind of like a plastic bag. So, everything just goes into the pool water if they are not tight around the legs or stomach of the baby. It would be gross for me to remind everyone what is loose and what babies have after vaccinations, colds, allergies, change in sleep patterns or foods.

Don't want to get scientific so just read the package disclaimer on a package of swim diapers the next time you are in the store. When they first came on the market, they were advertised differently than they are now. That was misleading so that had to stop.

[xpcdoojk]

[quote name='kryos']Yeah, but swim diapers would contain it, right?

Would there be a hygiene issue if baby had them on?

Of course, I agree ... mom shouldn't have changed his crappy swimsuit right there. She should have taken baby inside.

I'm just talking generally, though ... if a baby had a "swim diaper" on, would there be a hygiene risk to the other passengers?

Blue skies ...

--rita[/QUOTE]

Umm, that is why they have the rules about kids being potty trained before they are allowed in the pools, at least they do on RCI and Celebrity. Do we really want to find out if the swim diapers contain it? , now if the put the child in a dry suit... maybe... :D although I have never seen one for infants!

jc

[Adk~Cruiser]

[quote name='Landlubber54'][font=Arial Black][color=blue]the OP's point had more to do with common courtesy ... many feel they have earned the right to impose their will on others with impunity. It's a sad fact of society and it crosses all lines of class....[/font][/QUOTE]

Thank you LandLubber... that is exactly what I was trying to say and you said it better. :)

[anngie]

Shouldn't people who work for the cruise line enforce the rules about not allowing babies in diapers or untoilet trained children in the adult pool? They would not hesitate to enforce other safety rules like no drinking glasses or bottles in the pool.
Other passengers should not have to be security guards.

[K&RCurt]

The problem with expecting the ship's crew enforcing ANY behavior rules, is that the folks who are around the pool are usually Service Staff not ship's officers. The service staff's primary concern is making people happy, bringing drinks and not have anyone complain about them. I saw plenty of middle aged folks in the Lido pool and hot tubs with drink glasses and beer mugs. Is a beverage steward going to go yell at someone to not drink in the area...I think not! More drinks = more tips!

I know I'm in the minority but I'm kind of wierd when it comes to where I swim. I MUCH prefer a pool with plenty of chlorine (which can handle killing the microbes in baby doo doo) vs. swimming in a lake, river or ocean. There is currently an ad running on TV for a bottled water that features a guy dressed as a bear. He is referencing a "clear mountain stream". He says "Do you know what those salmon DO in that stream?...they SPAWN!" I feel the same way. I just get the heebie jeebies thinking about swimming amongst fish pee / poo / whatever in a body of water w/o germ killing agents being controlled. YES I know how diluted anything in the ocean is...doesn't matter I still "know" it's there. I guess I just have the oposite issue of bonnieweed!

[CHRIS3169]

First, Is no one a mom out there???? My goodness, as a mom to THREE children I am just trying to survive at the moment. I really feel sorry for this mom, trying to have a little fun with her child by taking the child swimming. I really have to say everyone needs to lighten up some! As a mom, I am doing the best I can, though I can guarantee this is not always RIGHT!:)

The swim diapers may not be the best option for catching "everything" but as a mom I thought that was what I am supposed to put on my babies! Every pool I have been to says everywhere your infant MUST be in a swim diaper.
So, stay away from me because I take my children swimming!:) I try to make sure "everything" is timed right so no accidents happen in the pool, but they are kids with bodies all their own.

By the way, if there is supposed to be an older client base on HAL, what about their diapers?????


Relax everyone, your cruising!!!!;)
Christy

[Time2sail]

"I try to make sure "everything" is timed right so no accidents happen in the pool, but they are kids with bodies all their own."


Babies don't have accidents; they are doing what is natural and normal. An accident is something unintentional--No one blames a baby for doing what they are supposed to do. I don't know of anyone who dislikes a baby because they are untrained or even a toilet trained child who has an accident.

I happen to love and adore children:) Their parents annoy me occasionally.

[anngie]

I sailed on the Westerdam in December and thought the aft pool was adults only. I understand that the cruise line personnel in the area are service people but what if there were an emergency of some sort? I'll bet that some qualified person would appear pretty quickly. I knew someone who worked aboard a ship as a musician and even he had to go to CPR classes and they had mock inservice drills where someone fell over board.
I don't mean to be an old fogy but little babies in floaters don't need to be in the adult pool. They and their mothers need to be in the children's pool.

[xpcdoojk]

On RCI, a more family oriented line than HAL, infants or toddlers that are not potty trained are not allowed in any pools, so keep your nasty little poopalooza out of the pools! :D

I like children, and toddlers, but they do not belong in a public pool, get a room with a bath tub. I think they will be happier there, and I know I will be. :D

jc

I don't mean anything bad by calling them poopalooza, but it is a quote by the famous RCI forum curmudgeon Folgy. In other words it is a term of endearment! :D

[anngie]

At the risk of sounding like someone who dislikes kids, nothing could be further from the truth. I love kids and babies but I did my time in the baby pool with mine. I had three children of my own and have grandchildren but still don't think babies in diapers or untrained little ones belong in the adult pool on a cruise,a motel or in a community pool.

[dakrewser]

[quote name='CHRIS3169']First, Is no one a mom out there???? My goodness, as a mom to THREE children I am just trying to survive at the moment. I really feel sorry for this mom, trying to have a little fun with her child by taking the child swimming. I really have to say everyone needs to lighten up some! As a mom, I am doing the best I can, though I can guarantee this is not always RIGHT!:)

Relax everyone, your cruising!!!!;)
Christy[/QUOTE]

I'll relax and enjoy if you and the other pax will simply follow the rules. Is that so much to ask?

[AmyinVail]

Christy,
I'm a mom! I've learned to pick my battles wisely on this message board. Trying to win the battle about children (any topic) on this board is a task not worth attempting. You're surrounded quicker than the bingo table on a HAL ship on senior night!! :D

[HeatherInFlorida]

[quote name='AmyinVail']Christy,
I'm a mom! I've learned to pick my battles wisely on this message board. Trying to win the battle about children (any topic) on this board is a task not worth attempting. [b]You're surrounded quicker than the bingo table on a HAL ship on senior night!![/b] :D[/QUOTE]

That's nice, Amy. You're not going to make a lot of friends with that kind of commentary.

Ever tried winning a battle about what you consider "old people" (which I think is pretty much anyone over 55, maybe 50) being obnoxious, rude and generally annoying?

I didn't think these boards were about "winning". I thought they were to talk about cruising which is something we all enjoy. From time to time we don't see eye to eye on a subject. But remarks like the one you make above is just insulting and has no place here.

[AmyinVail]

See what I mean? LOL It can be written that mom's think their kids poop is ice cream, that younger families who can now "afford" to cruise are somehow less thoughtful than the way it used to be......but I write that bingo is popular on a HAL ship and I'm somehow "insulting" and out of line? ROFLOL I've read it all, now.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Oh, Amy ... did you even read my post? You completely missed the point.

I was trying to explain that it's just as hard for us "old" folks as it is for you. No one is safe here.

You did not say "Bingo is popular on a HAL ship". You said "You're surrounded quicker than the bingo table on a HAL ship on senior night!! "

I think most of us can see the difference between those 2 remarks.

And for the record, never did I even suggest you were "out of line". I said you were insulting.

And, somehow, I really don't think you're ROTFLOL. Neither am I.