Kids in CL?

[Host Kewlguy]

You've been on more cruises then I have, so you may have it been done differently, but I have rarely seen any kids in the solarium at all, and can only remember two occasions they got in the pool/hot tub (and they were promptly removed both times, not sure if someone complained but they were out of there within a minute or two) The few times I have seen a kid in there it was by a table near the entrance to the solarium in a corner, and I only knew they were there because I walked by them in that direction.

 

I've been on ships where there is a sign that states it is an adults-only area, so I did not realize kids were allowed in there at all.

Well, on the Vision Class ships the Solarium is loaded with kids since that's where the pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers are served. Oh, and french fries too.

[Puffinater]

This thread has a sign that indicates you must be 16+ to be in the Solarium. The sign is from the Oasis. Maybe it varies from ship to ship?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1293077&page=3

[FLSteve11]

Well, on the Vision Class ships the Solarium is loaded with kids since that's where the pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers are served. Oh, and french fries too.

 

That certainly could be true, I have not been on a Vision class in 9 years *grin*

 

I wonder if it changes from ship to ship. They definitely had signs up on a few ships right by the entrance (one of those stand-up signs) stating it was an adults on area. Is it just more enforced on some ships, as they clearly adventise it as as adults-only retreat. (but then again, that might just be for some ships and not all. Adding in the Monarch/Majesty do not even have one)

[marci22]

It is exactly the point. Everything you say about CL members without children applies to those with them. They too, can enjoy a drink somewhere else, where children were already allowed, they would just have to pay for it. What if an almighty suite guest feels that they want to go to the disco, but can't bring their child? Should we then change that venue to family friendly also? While we're at it, the casino, the Solarium? Why not the entire ship? Also, the CL perk WAS family friendly. All day, just not during cocktail hour.

 

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

Well Adam Goldstein is the one who decided the 'almighty suite guests' could have children in the CL, so why don't you email him? Oh right, you did already. :rolleyes:

 

So nothing more to say, for now. It will work, or it won't. Why keep complaining about nothing?:confused:

[insulationbabe]

On both the Freedom and the Jewel - on different occasions, I have seen two young teenage girls get comfy on two lounges and before they could open their suntan lotion up - they were escorted out

Also a family came in, sat at a table - then mom and dad proceeded to the hot tub and the kids sat at the table - within minutes the kids were spoken too, pointed to the hot tub - parents were informed and out they all went.

It's bad enough you can't get into a hot tub on the main pool area for piles of kids, jumping in and out and yelling and laughing - not a relaxing atmosphere, so we don't cruise during school breaks anymore or holiday times and we use the solarium - so now we will have them in the concierge - geez - we raised four boys and have grandchildren - I don't hate kids - I just want to enjoy some peace and quiet - so the solarium is the place to be:)

[booze brothers]

No. I wouldn't hesitate to do so and have done so even in the windjammer.

 

If I see a kid at any buffet who touches a cookie (or anything else) without taking it, I tell them that because they touched it, it's theirs. So take it now because no one else wants it since your hands have been on it.

 

Yes, I'm blunt. But they take what they touched. :D

 

Gina

 

LOL, gotta love ya Gina !!

[mommabean]

LOL, gotta love ya Gina !!

 

I know...I'm harsh. I just can't stand it when parents let their kids put their grimy little paws all over other people's food. :eek: And seriously, telling the kids' parents isn't going to help because if the parents cared, the kids wouldn't be messing around the food unsupervised in the first place.

 

And yes, I love children and have raised 4 of my own. ;) I was strict. And I didn't allow them to go to buffets or public food self-serve areas without me or my husband until they were plenty old enough to be trusted to know proper manners and sanitary behavior. :)

 

For that matter, I never would have wanted to take my kids into a concierge lounge so I could have a free drink that came with my suite, even if the kids were allowed.

 

:)

 

Gina

[mommabean]

On both the Freedom and the Jewel - on different occasions, I have seen two young teenage girls get comfy on two lounges and before they could open their suntan lotion up - they were escorted out

Also a family came in, sat at a table - then mom and dad proceeded to the hot tub and the kids sat at the table - within minutes the kids were spoken too, pointed to the hot tub - parents were informed and out they all went.

It's bad enough you can't get into a hot tub on the main pool area for piles of kids, jumping in and out and yelling and laughing - not a relaxing atmosphere, so we don't cruise during school breaks anymore or holiday times and we use the solarium - so now we will have them in the concierge - geez - we raised four boys and have grandchildren - I don't hate kids - I just want to enjoy some peace and quiet - so the solarium is the place to be:)

 

I think this is exactly how most of us feel.

 

Gina

[mommabean]

Well, on the Vision Class ships the Solarium is loaded with kids since that's where the pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers are served. Oh, and french fries too.

 

Come to think of it, I would imagine the solarium on Radiance can no longer be for 16 and over :( since that is the location of the new Park Cafe.

 

Gina

[booze brothers]

If your tripping over strollers I would think you spent way too much time in the CL.

 

Come on, now that's really a silly statement.

[pcur]

Am I the only person who would tell a child doing something like that with food to stop it? It can be done nicely and quietly without upsetting any of the adults involved. I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren and I have no problem reminding a child of his or her manners...be they my children or someone else. I certainly wouldn't just sit there fuming in silence. I don't think it takes a village to raise a child but it is nice to have the village around when needed. :D

 

No, you are not the only one. I'd be talking to the parents of a continously crying baby, and I'd be talking to the Concierge about children handling food with their bare hands. The Concierge can talk to the parents about that one.

 

I'd give the crying baby about 5 minutes, and the grabby food-handling child no slack at all.

[FLSteve11]

No, you are not the only one. I'd be talking to the parents of a continously crying baby, and I'd be talking to the Concierge about children handling food with their bare hands. The Concierge can talk to the parents about that one.

 

I'd give the crying baby about 5 minutes, and the grabby food-handling child no slack at all.

 

As a parent of a younger child, I would be perfectly fine if you spotted her grabbing foods with her bare hands and trying to put it back and corrected her. Some places are appropriate for using your hands to take food (if tongs are not provided for "finger goods") but otherwise they should be served or tongs used. I think worrying about parents reactions in general is overblown. There may be some self-centered or insecure parents out there who may get upset, but most would not mind their children being corrected when they do something wrong. So long as it is done politely.

 

The crying child, I would go through the concierge. Since the parent cannot just pick up their drink and leave (against policy), it should go through them to smooth the way.

[CptSticky]

This has been a fascinating thread up until now, but I sense emotions getting a little hot so I think I'll check out for awhile. I've only been on two cruises since the change and only have had two children in the CL. They were not a big disruption. Personally, I would prefer no kids (raised 5 and 10 grands, but what's that got to do with it). I was a little upset with Adam over the change, but then it doesn't really matter to me now being as I have no more Royal cruises booked (he took all the ships away from the west coast). So, there is no CL on my next four cruises. I'll see how the new policy is going when I come back to Royal sometime later.

[LBcruzman]

No, you are not the only one. I'd be talking to the parents of a continously crying baby, and I'd be talking to the Concierge about children handling food with their bare hands. The Concierge can talk to the parents about that one.

 

I'd give the crying baby about 5 minutes, and the grabby food-handling child no slack at all.

 

Really, you would talk to the parents of a crying baby instead of quietly talking to the concierge or quietly leaving? Why? To start a confrontation?

 

If parents actually stayed in the CL while their child continuously cried and the Concierge did nothing about it, I would either talk to the Concierge or leave. If I left I might talk to the Concierge at another time or make a note on my comment card or talk to the Loyalty Ambassador. But confront the parents? While on vacation? What do you get out of that?

[LBcruzman]

My take on this issue is that there really doesn't seem to be a lot of first hand info regarding out of control kids being reported on CC since the policy change. Most first hand comments seem to be ....there were a few kids but everything was fine.

 

Most of the vehement complaints on here seem to be coming from D+ cruisers who haven't even experienced the policy change.

 

Royal Caribbean seems to have several objectives going forward. One, to become THE Family Friendly Cruise Line beating out Disney.

 

Two, to get more fully paid Suite Guests by giving them more perks. Rather than give upgrades to D+ for the Suites, they want to entice Families to book the Suites and spend $$$$. 2 adults in a Suite spend X amount of $. Two adults in a Suite with kids spend X amount of $ plus more $. I know this because we have booked suites with just DH and me and with DH and me and kids. And we always spend much more money with the kids. (And we spend a lot onboard either way).

 

Thirdly, I think RCI is trying to get older loyal guests traveling without children or grandchildren to try Celebrity or Azamara, where kids are infrequent guests because it does not have quite the.....shall we say excitement that Royal Caribbean has?

 

For point of reference, we are D+. We all earned the status by taking the sailings. Kids as well as DH and me. The more I hear so many D+ on here complaining and talking of complaints to the Cruise Line about this new policy the more I believe it will give the Cruise Line just one more reason to keep the CL's for Suite Guests only. It's only a matter of time.

 

If you are invited in as a guest and then complain, well what do you think management will do?

[marci22]

For that matter, I never would have wanted to take my kids into a concierge lounge so I could have a free drink that came with my suite, even if the kids were allowed.

 

But lots of people do. Disney may not have a concierge lounge on their ships, but Club Level at their onsite hotels provides a concierge type lounge with food and drinks (including alcohol). Those lounges are full of kids. Why? It's a family vacation.

[mommabean]

But lots of people do. Disney may not have a concierge lounge on their ships, but Club Level at their onsite hotels provides a concierge type lounge with food and drinks (including alcohol). Those lounges are full of kids. Why? It's a family vacation.

 

NO. Why? Because it's Disney.

 

Gina

[marci22]

NO. Why? Because it's Disney.

 

Gina

 

Well it does seem that Royal is trying to be MORE like Disney rather than LESS like Disney, doesn't it?

 

And I don't have any small children, and I don't necessarily like to drink with them in close proximity, but I can understand the point of view of those suite parents, and I can understand why Royal is attempting the change. So these various people are all invited CL guests, and if anyone wants to turn down the invite, they can.

[booze brothers]

Sure going to miss reading this thread, lol

 

We'll be on the Allure this Sunday and will report back how the kid situation is in the concierge.

 

Let me see, If we get there at 4:30 and leave at 8:45, we should get a pretty good idea, LOL:D;):rolleyes::D;)

[Debde]

Really, you would talk to the parents of a crying baby instead of quietly talking to the concierge or quietly leaving? Why? To start a confrontation?

 

If parents actually stayed in the CL while their child continuously cried and the Concierge did nothing about it, I would either talk to the Concierge or leave. If I left I might talk to the Concierge at another time or make a note on my comment card or talk to the Loyalty Ambassador. But confront the parents? While on vacation? What do you get out of that?

 

Thank you!!! I so agree.

How many of us have raised children and been in a place where all we did was do our best to stop our child from crying or-if possible, have the common sense to remove ourselves without having a stranger approach us first. pcur-Weather we agree on things or not, I still respect all the help you have been to cruisers here and enjoy your posts but to approach a parent with a child that is crying, I'm thinking this would not go well.

[roe2ship]

It seems by the posts that the issue certainly is that the CL lounge should be an adults only venue.

Perhaps you did not read all 44 pages. Half of this discussion has brought out the conclusion that any kids present in the CL are out of control, yelling, screaming, crying, using grimy paws handling food, etc. Some posts here are complaining about kids on cruises in general. Why does it have to get to that level?

 

Come on, now that's really a silly statement.

Really....sometimes silly statements deserve silly responses.

[Cruising89143]

We can all sit here going back and forth but RCI has made their decision and in the end RCI is going to do what is best for their bottom line regardless of what some of their customers want or think. Right now they feel that filling suites is more important than making some happy by not allowing children in the CL. I don't see AG changing his mind unless RCI's bottom line is affected in a negative way over this change and I don't see that happening. RCI learned that when they made the change with bumping Diamond out of the CL. It caused a major uproar here on the boards but it was still business as usual. RCI is still filling ships and at many times with prices higher than their competition.

 

Personally I feel for the Concierge as this has placed them in an awkward situation. Either way they lose. I would not hold back on my gratuity if they have helped me during the week with my needs but that's just me.

 

I will see how things work when we are on board the Allure in January.

[Jborosara]

I have older kids - all very well behaved - but when we were on the Liberty - in a suite for spring break last year, the rule was kids were not allowed in the CL - so we didn't go, even though we would like to have gone....almost felt like we were being penalized for having children in our family suite....

 

i agree with the change - it's not about kids, per se - it's about how they behave and the concierge should ask the parents of any disruptive children to remove them....then everybody wins.

[Bakincakes]

Well it does seem that Royal is trying to be MORE like Disney rather than LESS like Disney, doesn't it?

 

And I don't have any small children, and I don't necessarily like to drink with them in close proximity, but I can understand the point of view of those suite parents, and I can understand why Royal is attempting the change. So these various people are all invited CL guests, and if anyone wants to turn down the invite, they can.

 

 

Maybe if RCI got honest about it and advertised themselves as "The Disney Wannabee" then pax would know what to expect from them?

 

Truth in advertising and all that.....;)

[Bakincakes]

I have older kids - all very well behaved - but when we were on the Liberty - in a suite for spring break last year, the rule was kids were not allowed in the CL - so we didn't go, even though we would like to have gone....almost felt like we were being penalized for having children in our family suite....

 

i agree with the change - it's not about kids, per se - it's about how they behave and the concierge should ask the parents of any disruptive children to remove them....then everybody wins.

 

 

If your kids were "older" there wasn't a choice of going without them for a quickdrink and snack?

 

I am assuming that you weren't with each other 24/7 and that you were all off doing something separate from each other at some time during your cruise.

 

Of course it does matter what "older" means.