Kids-Uh-Ohh watch out for flames

[gillmom2]

I have to start by saying I have never been on a cruise(yet) and -brace yourselves- I have two children. I have obsessively read this board since I found it. Everyone is informative, interesting, and sometimes weird. I happen to love it. I think that all of you who have found unruly children on the ships should write a letter to the company stating that you observed this behavior and that you went to the proper people and got no response or worse yet a statement like "what do you want us to do about it". My kids are 13 and 16, (14 and 17) when we sail. I want people to correct their behavior when they are rude or cause problems. I do not mean in the way of be seen but not heard, but if they call you foul names, run over you without saying I am sorry, etc.. My children are not perfect. I am not a perfect parent.:eek: Sometimes parents do not see that their children have caused problems. I want the staff to come to me and let me know. This does apply to all problems equally adult and children. Unless they receive these complaints in writing they do not have to address them. This is just one moms opinion!!! Thanks for listening!

[dougp26364]

There was a pole not to long ago about who cruised with/without kids. The people cruising with kids was a considerably larger percentage that last time I looked at it.

 

With that in mind, it might just be a very vocal minority that has a problem cruising with kids. IMO, take the kids and have a great time. Don't worry about what a few vocal people have to say about it.

[Epaul3]

I completely agree with you!! We have sailed twice with our kids. The first time they were 12, 15 and 17. Second time, last year, they were 14, 17 and 19 - and we also brought along my oldest son's fiancee, who was 21. I fully expect my children to behave themselves. But, as any parent knows, even the best kids can slip up and do stupid things occasionally. We can not correct the problems if we don't know about it. Teenagers don't want to stay with their parents the whole trip. They need their "space" as well as the parents. That's why cruises work so well for families. And, people shouldn't assume all kids are bad just because a few are that way. On our last cruise, my kids saw some other teens who were on their senior trip behaving horribly. Their parents said nothing. But my kids commented on how obnoxious those kids were. They were even bothered by the others teens behavior. I was proud they spoke up and didn't want to hang with those groups. There were lots of others teens on board that were much more well behaved and my kids made friends with them instead.

[davelly1]

I've cruised with my kids and we spend alot of time together as a family. Not 24/7, but I do not let my teenagers roam the ship until all hours of the night. We do not go to the casino or adult only activities, and leave my kids to do their own thing. If I do not know where they are and what they are doing, then they don't go. The rules on vacation are the same as at home. Just because you are on a ship doesn't mean that "bad" things cannot happen. My kids are 16 and 13. I've also noticed on these boards when the subject of kids come up that everyone writes "My kids are well behaved and never cause problems" or my 3 month old "never cries". Whatever. Kids are kids and babies are babies. Kids sometimes step out of line, and babies cry. The difference is if the parents take care of the problems and are considerate of the other passengers. Enough said.

[Retired not Expired]

There was a pole not to long ago about who cruised with/without kids. The people cruising with kids was a considerably larger percentage that last time I looked at it.

 

With that in mind, it might just be a very vocal minority that has a problem cruising with kids. IMO, take the kids and have a great time. Don't worry about what a few vocal people have to say about it.

 

You do have to understand a Poll taken on this or any board is not scientific nor accurate. The released information by the cruise lines for 2004 paints a much more accurate picture. Of nine million passengers last year, one million were children under 18. When you factor everything in, on average, for every couple that sailed with children, seven couples sailed without children. Of course, these figures change a lot when you take the time of year and the length of the cruise into it. Summer, school breaks, and cruises seven days or shorter and the percentage of parents with children goes up considerably, maybe even up to or greater than passengers without children. Cruises over eight days and when school is in session, very few children.

 

Yes, it is true some don't like to sail with any children and let it be known. Most, like me, don't mind some children on board and I even enjoy a few. Kids look at things differently than adults and some things are just so much better when we can see it through the eyes of kids. Speaking for myself only, my only problem is when a parent thinks I'm on vacation so I'll just turn the kids loose without any checks or when made aware that their child has caused a problem, blames the bearer of that news rather than the perfect angel we all know our children to be.

 

I believe there is room for both sides on cruises. We all need to be a little more tolerant. Those with children need to understand that sometimes our kids are not that perfect angel and do some corrective action. And those without children need to understand that even the best of kids can make a mistake, as can an adult. And for those kids that run wild and the parents do nothing to correct it, the cruise lines should put them off at the next port. That way, hopefully, all the kids won't be blamed for the action of what is most the time the action of a few. Notice I said most of the time as there has been a few cases lately where many kids were totally out of control.

 

I don't think most of you who come on here asking a question because you are concerned about how your children will be seen on a cruise have anything to worry about. The fact that you are concerned speaks volumes to me about you and your kids. Enjoy the cruise.

[Host Jacquelyn]

There was a pole (sic) not to long ago about who cruised with/without kids.

 

Here's the link!

 

You do have to understand a Poll taken on this or any board is not scientific nor accurate.

 

I agree with that! The results were interesting, though.

[gillmom2]

Thanks all. I do believe that it is my responsibility to watch over my children but I also think that if I recieve no information to the contrary from other passengers or staff I cannot fix something that I don't know is broken. I know it is risky to approach the parents of a child who is misbehaving. That is why I believe that it is the ship staffs responsibility to be a conduit between the parents and the other passengers. That is not to say that I will be right next to my children 24/7. When they are in the teen program I think that I should be able to do different activities. If they gave the parents pagers they could notify us immediately if there was a problem. They could put your beeper # on the childrens sea pass cards. Just a thought. I think family cruising is here to stay and that there are some options that are not being researched. That is why I thought if anyone who had a problem sent RCCL a letter they would or possibly would act in the best interest of all and try to alleviate the problems they are having. Just a thought I would encourage any others. Maybe we could come up with a list and send it to them!!!!:D

[Retired not Expired]

Here's the link!

 

 

 

I agree with that! The results were interesting, though.

 

I agree the results were interesting and was a little surprised that more of the people that think one child on a cruise is one too many didn't make a post, but then again, maybe they noticed who the original poster was. LOL I guess some don't like to make as big of a wave when they see the Coast Guard in the area.:D

 

I also am realistic enough to know that with the cruise lines adding more and bigger ships to the fleet, they must attract more families to fill those ships. And this will only lead to more of these conflicts between the two sides. The cruise lines will have to walk a tight line on this, but walk that line, they must. If a child is causing major problems on a cruise and after a warning, the parent does nothing to correct the problem, that family must be put off to keep the adult only type cruiser. But, of course, an adult cruiser doing the same must be treated the same. They also must not go overboard (To pun or not to pun) with this if the child just makes one mistake. Many times we adults get upset with a child and that's all that happened. That child made one mistake.

 

I'm not perfect. I'm a short, fat, old man who is set in his ways. And until I'm the lovable, adorable, and perfect person that the whole world wants to be next to, I can't expect all those around me to be perfect. Things happen on cruises as well as elsewhere in life. It's how we all react, those with and without children, on whether it is an incident or a problem. Happy cruising.

[MrsPete]

With that in mind, it might just be a very vocal minority that has a problem cruising with kids.

 

I think this vocal minority has had trouble with kids in the past, and they're looking for it. I have seen kids staggering around having had too much to drink (which is a problem, but being drunk in and of itself doesn't affect other passengers -- drunk and rowdy, that's another story), but I have not personally observed kids doing anything harmful or disrepectful to other passengers. I am sure that these things happen, but I don't think they're widespread.

 

My kids cruise with us. They love it, and they are exceptionally well-behaved. They are with us or in the kids' club 100% of the time, so I know they're supervised. They're reaching the ages that we'll give them more freedom, but we'll still watch them carefully. I agree with the original poster that IF they're misbehaving, I would want to be told. I would immediately punish them.

[Dolphin-dan]

I have to start by saying I have never been on a cruise(yet) and -brace yourselves- I have two children. I have obsessively read this board since I found it. Everyone is informative, interesting, and sometimes weird. I happen to love it. I think that all of you who have found unruly children on the ships should write a letter to the company stating that you observed this behavior and that you went to the proper people and got no response or worse yet a statement like "what do you want us to do about it". My kids are 13 and 16, (14 and 17) when we sail. I want people to correct their behavior when they are rude or cause problems. I do not mean in the way of be seen but not heard, but if they call you foul names, run over you without saying I am sorry, etc.. My children are not perfect. I am not a perfect parent.:eek: Sometimes parents do not see that their children have caused problems. I want the staff to come to me and let me know. This does apply to all problems equally adult and children. Unless they receive these complaints in writing they do not have to address them. This is just one moms opinion!!! Thanks for listening!

 

Just please keep them under control, which I am sure you will do. :)

[hstrybuf]

I'm not perfect. I'm a short, fat, old man who is set in his ways. And until I'm the lovable, adorable, and perfect person that the whole world wants to be next to, I can't expect all those around me to be perfect. Things happen on cruises as well as elsewhere in life. It's how we all react, those with and without children, on whether it is an incident or a problem. Happy cruising.

 

I like the way you think! We'd love to see you on a cruise any time! :)

[setsail]

Write letters to the company? What for, the company did not raise these kids to behave as they do. Write the parents, they are the ones responsible for the childrens actions.

[dougp26364]

You do have to understand a Poll taken on this or any board is not scientific nor accurate.

 

What! A cruisecritic poll isn't 100% accurate? My world has just been crushed. LOL

 

Of course you are correct. I was only thinking in context of the flames I've seen on these forums. I wasn't actually thinking in terms of reality.

 

1 million of all passengers are children huh? Sure did seem like most of them were in the pool on the 3 night Mexican Baja cruise we were on last January then. ;)

[Folgy]

[hstrybuf]

Folgy, for real? How wonderful!! :D

[Folgy]

I just got them home a hour ago after a mile of paper work and lineups. We were successful candiddates. They are a riot running nuts all onver my office,

 

 

I am such a proud parent :) (Today they can missbehave all they want ;) . I will set down some rules tomorrow :rolleyes:

[PhoenixCruiser]

Congratulations Folgy :D :D

 

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[Retired not Expired]

What! A cruisecritic poll isn't 100% accurate? My world has just been crushed. LOL

 

Of course you are correct. I was only thinking in context of the flames I've seen on these forums. I wasn't actually thinking in terms of reality.

 

1 million of all passengers are children huh? Sure did seem like most of them were in the pool on the 3 night Mexican Baja cruise we were on last January then. ;)

 

There's your problem. Thinking in terms of reality. You should know by now that cruises are thought of in terms of dreams and for this board....well, I won't go there. I tried thinking about that once and had to stop.......It hurt:D :eek:

[MszKitty]

Awwww....Folgy....they are too darn cute! :)

 

I know that they will not replace the love you had for your beloved kitty, Tommy, but I'm sure they will bring you much joy.

[Folgy]

[1corona4u]

 

Awwww....congrats! They are adorable!!!!:)

[barbgazz]

Congrats Folgy on your new family. They are adorable and I'll watch them any time you want to cruise, lol.

[Folgy]

[Folgy]

Barbgazz , LOL ........The minute I laid down on the couch today I had two little fubabbies snuggled into me

 

 

*GLEEM*

[Angel in FL]

Bless You, Folgy! May those two little flubabies bring you much joy, laughter and

happiness. They are lucky to be part of your family:D . Enjoy them!