Gratuities for 1 year old on Oasis?

[SRF]

this whole thread has gone in the expected direction.

 

But as a parent who took a one-year old on a cruise earlier this year and will cruise with a two-year old next year, let me answer the original question based on my experience:

 

Yes, you should absolutely tip the full amount. In fact, take enough cash so you can give extra to the crew who will be wonderful to your little one.

 

The crew will not only provide services to your baby, they'll go above-and-beyond. I would wager that our daughter received probably twice the attention we did from crew throughout the ship which made her trip really special and made ours better as well.

 

I understand the inclination, if you've never cruised with your child before, to think that somehow you're paying for nothing. But once you're on board and see how far the crew will go to make your little one happy, i think you'll see why they deserve their basic gratuity and likely more.

 

 

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bravo

[SRF]

Unfortunately, about a dozen bruise marks on legs over the years demonstrated that stroller drivers think they are at Le Mans, not on a ship.

 

Which is a factor of rude and stupid ADULTS.

 

And will probably be running into and hitting people with canes, walkers, and scooters when the get old enough.

[11madmic]

I see. Again, I'm fine with paying the underpaid and overworked staff. I can't say the same for the nickel and diming cruise line. In the awful event we would actually need a lifeboat, LO would sit on my lap and wouldn't take up any space. A 1 year old does not use nearly as many resources on the ship as an adult. She doesn't eat as much as an adult, doesn't take up space in the theaters or casino, cannot take up space in the pool, and the lovely nursery for which I'm very grateful, charges extra for taking care of her. I don't think a kid should travel for free, but I think a discount of some sort is reasonable to expect.

 

 

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Nobody forced you to go on a cruise with royal... geeze

if you dont like how it works, dont go, just stop complaining about it, there is nothing we can do.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Cruise lines market to families and kids. Don't like it? Pick one of the lines that doesn't allow small children. People are people, at any age you will find those that are poorly behaved and those that aren't. When pushing a stroller I watch for others but many don't look where they're going. There have been many threads with complaints about elderly in scooters, gawkers who block doorways, etc. Some will be rude and some will be considerate, it's a function of being in a social environment. That's life.

WOW - just WOW. The good old "if you don't like it...go somewhere else" line.

 

But it's great to hear at least one stroller-pusher wasn't playing dodgem cars with other passengers' legs aboard their ship.

 

These kinds of posts demonstrate plenty of people:

 

1) Have no clue about other people's firsthand experiences and only consider "their world"

2) Think they know (erroneously) what their kids see, hear, and know...based on their own adult experience only

3) Are so protectionist about what THEY want that they ignore the impact to anyone else's negative experiences - a world of "me me me " at everyone else's expense. Unfortunately, kids don't choose their parents.

4) Many crew members are aware of this issue, and a number of confided "strollers are a real problem - they've actually caused some serious injuries to other passengers". Based on a number of firsthand-witnessed incidents, those comments were volunteered by staff.

 

BTW - we have our own kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids to base experience upon, thank you. Six (ages 8-18) have cruised, while two have not (ages 2,3). None sailed prior to age 5 nor in strollers. None were permitted to roam on their own, nor disturb other passengers by their behavior or noise.

 

We've been at Main Dining tables frequently with other passengers' kids 6-15 years old as well. Not one problem. Yes...as hard as it might be to believe...cruising with kids can be done properly....including on Royal Caribbean. :eek:

 

So perhaps narrowing the scope...this really comes down to choices made by or behavior allowed by parents. Kids are very rarely the problem.

 

As for the gratuity thread topic...most seem to agree that this is a personal choice by the parent.

Edited September 22, 2017 by CRUISEFAN0001

[jgallagh1944]

Which is a factor of rude and stupid ADULTS.

 

 

 

And will probably be running into and hitting people with canes, walkers, and scooters when the get old enough.

 

 

 

I've yet to see any scooter or walker races in the hallways of a cruise ship that we were on, but I've frequently seen and heard out of control kids running and screaming through the halls late at night. I assume their parents are totally oblivious and unconcerned because they're either at a show or in the casino or lounge throwing a few down. What they don't see doesn't bother them even though it annoys other people trying to enjoy the cruise. I just figure the kids are a reflection of their parents.

 

 

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[CRUISEFAN0001]

I've yet to see any scooter or walker races in the hallways of a cruise ship that we were on, but I've frequently seen and heard out of control kids running and screaming through the halls late at night. I assume their parents are totally oblivious and unconcerned because they're either at a show or in the casino or lounge throwing a few down. What they don't see doesn't bother them even though it annoys other people trying to enjoy the cruise. I just figure the kids are a reflection of their parents.

Yup. Bravo for our post.

[sanger727]

Locking my kid in the house is sensory suppression in my opinion.

 

 

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To be fair. There's a huge area in between 'locking your kid on the house' and a cruise in which they can experience the world. I'm not personally against kids cruising, but from the value standpoint. It's much more affordable to take small children on a road trip (in which they could see many of the same things) where they can sleep in the hotel room for free with the parents and get inexpensive kids meals. I get the bitterness towards paying full price for a small child when they are cheap to free most places. But that's how cruising works. There are plenty of other options to create memories with your child than a cruise when they are too small to really take advantage of what's included - sit down dining, kids club, pools, etc.

 

 

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[CRUISEFAN0001]

To be fair. There's a huge area in between 'locking your kid on the house' and a cruise in which they can experience the world. I'm not personally against kids cruising, but from the value standpoint. It's much more affordable to take small children on a road trip (in which they could see many of the same things) where they can sleep in the hotel room for free with the parents and get inexpensive kids meals. I get the bitterness towards paying full price for a small child when they are cheap to free most places. But that's how cruising works. There are plenty of other options to create memories with your child than a cruise when they are too small to really take advantage of what's included - sit down dining, kids club, pools, etc.

Another great post. Yes...the full price for the cruise is indeed "how cruising works". The gratuities, however, can be adjusted.

[BNBR]

I've yet to see any scooter or walker races in the hallways of a cruise ship that we were on, but I've frequently seen and heard out of control kids running and screaming through the halls late at night. I assume their parents are totally oblivious and unconcerned because they're either at a show or in the casino or lounge throwing a few down. What they don't see doesn't bother them even though it annoys other people trying to enjoy the cruise. I just figure the kids are a reflection of their parents.

 

 

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I've seen more puking, chair hogging, loud, rude, obnoxious, littering, door slamming, smoking on balconies, drunk and out of control adults than I have seen children running through the hallways unreasonably annoying everyone. But I guess the sights and sounds of children playing doesn't exactly ruin my vacation, so maybe I don't recognize how bad the problem apparently is.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

I've seen more puking, chair hogging, loud, rude, obnoxious, littering, door slamming, smoking on balconies, drunk and out of control adults than I have seen children running through the hallways unreasonably annoying everyone. But I guess the sights and sounds of children playing doesn't exactly ruin my vacation, so maybe I don't recognize how bad the problem apparently is.

Gee...I wonder how their kids behave or will turn out as they get older...

[jgallagh1944]

I've seen more puking, chair hogging, loud, rude, obnoxious, littering, door slamming, smoking on balconies, drunk and out of control adults than I have seen children running through the hallways unreasonably annoying everyone. But I guess the sights and sounds of children playing doesn't exactly ruin my vacation, so maybe I don't recognize how bad the problem apparently is.

 

 

 

There's no excuse for adults who can't control themselves or who intentionally violate ship rules. The "sights and sounds of children playing" is great in a playground; late at night in a cruise ship hallway, not so good. All I ask is "where are the parents and have they no consideration for other guests on the ship?"

 

 

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[gerif]

 

 

BTW - we have our own kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids to base experience upon, thank you. Six (ages 8-18) have cruised, while two have not (ages 2,3). None sailed prior to age 5 nor in strollers. None were permitted to roam on their own, nor disturb other passengers by their behavior or noise.

 

We've been at Main Dining tables frequently with other passengers' kids 6-15 years old as well. Not one problem. Yes...as hard as it might be to believe...cruising with kids can be done properly....including on Royal Caribbean. :eek:

 

So perhaps narrowing the scope...this really comes down to choices made by or behavior allowed by parents. Kids are very rarely the problem.

 

As for the gratuity thread topic...most seem to agree that this is a personal choice by the parent.

When our kids were toddlers, we couldn't afford much in the way of vacations, certainly not cruises which were much more expensive back then. When they had babies they could afford cruises but had to take the little ones along - I was working and not about to use MY vacation time to keep their kids (sorry, I felt I deserved a vacation of my own - selfish, yup). So, do they stay home or go camping until the kids were older or get to enjoy the vacation they wanted and could afford to take?

 

As for tipping for the littles, I definitely did not read that the majority felt parents should tip as they wanted - that's just being cheap and you know it. If anything, they should tip more.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

When our kids were toddlers, we couldn't afford much in the way of vacations, certainly not cruises which were much more expensive back then. When they had babies they could afford cruises but had to take the little ones along - I was working and not about to use MY vacation time to keep their kids (sorry, I felt I deserved a vacation of my own - selfish, yup). So, do they stay home or go camping until the kids were older or get to enjoy the vacation they wanted and could afford to take?

 

As for tipping for the littles, I definitely did not read that the majority felt parents should tip as they wanted - that's just being cheap and you know it. If anything, they should tip more.

All quite understandable, and of course, personal choices. In our case, we regularly interact and have our kids and grandkids even stay with us as their parents have their own travels sometimes. We love this time with them, and they tell us they welcome the time with us too.

[BNBR]

There's no excuse for adults who can't control themselves or who intentionally violate ship rules. The "sights and sounds of children playing" is great in a playground; late at night in a cruise ship hallway, not so good. All I ask is "where are the parents and have they no consideration for other guests on the ship?"

 

 

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I said I've seen MORE issues with adults than kids running through hallways. I actually can't even think of a single time I've been annoyed with kids running down the halls while in my cabin. A little noise in the hallway for a second or two is hardly something I pay attention to... it's a cruise ship. I agree that everyone should be well behaved, but we also need to be realistic... it's a cruise, vacation, people (of all ages) are excited, sometimes a little more obnoxious than usual. Especially on a mass-market line like Royal, I don't pay much attention to it or let it bother me much.

[BNBR]

When our kids were toddlers, we couldn't afford much in the way of vacations, certainly not cruises which were much more expensive back then. When they had babies they could afford cruises but had to take the little ones along - I was working and not about to use MY vacation time to keep their kids (sorry, I felt I deserved a vacation of my own - selfish, yup). So, do they stay home or go camping until the kids were older or get to enjoy the vacation they wanted and could afford to take?

 

As for tipping for the littles, I definitely did not read that the majority felt parents should tip as they wanted - that's just being cheap and you know it. If anything, they should tip more.

 

I've found camping with the kids much more enjoyable as a "family" trip than cruises. We do both. But you can't beat getting out and really doing stuff with the kids at a campground - at least when they are younger. I guess as they get older and participate in the cruise activities, that pendulum may swing a bit towards cruising :)

[gerif]

All quite understandable, and of course, personal choices. In our case, we regularly interact and have our kids and grandkids even stay with us as their parents have their own travels sometimes. We love this time with them, and they tell us they welcome the time with us too.

Not that I didn't like having them visit but until I retired last year I had a high pressure job that often required very long hours and weeks of travel. I treasured my vacation time.

[gingersvp]

WOW - just WOW. The good old "if you don't like it...go somewhere else" line.

 

But it's great to hear at least one stroller-pusher wasn't playing dodgem cars with other passengers' legs aboard their ship.

 

These kinds of posts demonstrate plenty of people:

 

1) Have no clue about other people's firsthand experiences and only consider "their world"

2) Think they know (erroneously) what their kids see, hear, and know...based on their own adult experience only

3) Are so protectionist about what THEY want that they ignore the impact to anyone else's negative experiences - a world of "me me me " at everyone else's expense. Unfortunately, kids don't choose their parents.

4) Many crew members are aware of this issue, and a number of confided "strollers are a real problem - they've actually caused some serious injuries to other passengers". Based on a number of firsthand-witnessed incidents, those comments were volunteered by staff.

 

BTW - we have our own kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids to base experience upon, thank you. Six (ages 8-18) have cruised, while two have not (ages 2,3). None sailed prior to age 5 nor in strollers. None were permitted to roam on their own, nor disturb other passengers by their behavior or noise.

 

We've been at Main Dining tables frequently with other passengers' kids 6-15 years old as well. Not one problem. Yes...as hard as it might be to believe...cruising with kids can be done properly....including on Royal Caribbean. :eek:

 

So perhaps narrowing the scope...this really comes down to choices made by or behavior allowed by parents. Kids are very rarely the problem.

 

As for the gratuity thread topic...most seem to agree that this is a personal choice by the parent.

 

"If you don't like it go somewhere else" - Yes and no. All the mass market lines actively market and cater to families with small children, providing extra services for families with babies. Diaper delivery, stocking purees and formula, nurseries, etc. So, yes families are going to travel with small children because it is precisely what lines like Royal want. If you really don't like them that much, there are definitely other options out there for you.

 

You have an opinion about what benefit a toddler can gain from traveling, but it is precisely that - an opinion. If you feel that way about toddler travel, then what matters anything that you do while a child is that young? Children are shaped by their life experiences. My 2 year old clearly delighted and enjoyed in her Alaskan adventure. We, as a family, also enjoyed having her there.

 

As far as strollers go, the cruise lines permit them and so we bring them. I actually spent quite a bit of time researching lightweight, smaller strollers to find something that would be easier to navigate in a more confined space. But I will circle back on my earlier point that it is not only parents with strollers that are rude and inconsiderate in tight spaces. Dealing with the young is a function of society. These children have, as you pointed out, paid their fares just like any other passenger on the ship and have every right to be there and enjoy themselves - at any age.

 

My husband I both work full time. Vacation, for us, is a chance to spend time with our 3 children. We are fortunate enough to have family that is active in our childrens' lives that would happily keep them while we travel. However, we enjoy or kids and want to include them in our experiences. We pick family friendly cruise lines because they ARE appropriate for our mixed bag of ages (15, 11 and 2). I do not care to leave them behind. We can afford to bring them along. Heck, we could even afford to pay a nanny to come along also but we don't. Instead we spend that time with our children.

 

And, your approach that we are "me, me, me" by bringing along our toddler is just as "me, me, me" by saying we shouldn't. At the end of the day though, we are purchasing a cruise, from a cruise line that actively wants us there.

[LMaxwell]

Indeed. Kids old enough to actually know and enjoy their experiences gain lasting value in travel.

 

Then again...there's 2 places strollers don't belong...Las Vegas and cruise ships. But that won't stop the "it's all about me" folks.

 

LOL, we don't listen to Emeralds

 

;);)

[LMaxwell]

Cruisefan

 

My 4 year old has been on 9 cruises. Yup, that's right. Money well spent in our opinion. We have amazing memories from all over California Coastals, New England, and multiple Caribbean cruises. He loves ships and always asks when the next one is. Locking my kid in the house is sensory suppression in my opinion. What better way to learn about the world than to see and experience it! In New England he learned what a lighthouse was. He played in fall foliage, which we don't have in south Florida. Enjoyed his first fresh blueberry muffin, which opened his tastes to new foods. The novelty of it encouraged him to try new things. In California he was able to experience the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we don't have one as nice near our home. There is so much more to a cruise than shoving my kids in a stroller and dragging them along for the ride.

 

There is nothing better than watching the world through the eyes of your child. YOU may not revel in that because you don't like kids/ want them around you. But that does not negate everyone else's experiences.

 

He loves to look back on the photo albums and ask questions about each trip. He may not have specific memories from those early trips, but he remembers being happy with his family and that's what we find most important!

 

I'm sorry that you've had such negative experiences with children.

 

 

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Our son is 2, about to go on his 5th cruise, we live in South Florida also, and I echo your sentiments. Well said.

[Sunkissed Mommy]

To be fair. There's a huge area in between 'locking your kid on the house' and a cruise in which they can experience the world. I'm not personally against kids cruising, but from the value standpoint. It's much more affordable to take small children on a road trip (in which they could see many of the same things) where they can sleep in the hotel room for free with the parents and get inexpensive kids meals. I get the bitterness towards paying full price for a small child when they are cheap to free most places. But that's how cruising works. There are plenty of other options to create memories with your child than a cruise when they are too small to really take advantage of what's included - sit down dining, kids club, pools, etc.

 

 

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I was being extreme with "locking my kids up" but as you said... we have choices. Driving 23+ hours to New England is not how I envision vacation. Nor is 40+ hours of driving to California. lol. Cruising is way more appealing for my family. We're 30mins to an hour from two ports and so we choose to travel this way more frequently. We're okay with the price to cruise. If we weren't, we'd find other options. To each their own!

[CRUISEFAN0001]

LOL, we don't listen to Emeralds

 

;);)

Me neither.... :cool::cool::cool:

[juju2454]

WOW - just WOW. The good old "if you don't like it...go somewhere else" line.

 

But it's great to hear at least one stroller-pusher wasn't playing dodgem cars with other passengers' legs aboard their ship.

 

These kinds of posts demonstrate plenty of people:

 

1) Have no clue about other people's firsthand experiences and only consider "their world"

2) Think they know (erroneously) what their kids see, hear, and know...based on their own adult experience only

3) Are so protectionist about what THEY want that they ignore the impact to anyone else's negative experiences - a world of "me me me " at everyone else's expense. Unfortunately, kids don't choose their parents.

4) Many crew members are aware of this issue, and a number of confided "strollers are a real problem - they've actually caused some serious injuries to other passengers". Based on a number of firsthand-witnessed incidents, those comments were volunteered by staff.

 

BTW - we have our own kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids to base experience upon, thank you. Six (ages 8-18) have cruised, while two have not (ages 2,3). None sailed prior to age 5 nor in strollers. None were permitted to roam on their own, nor disturb other passengers by their behavior or noise.

 

We've been at Main Dining tables frequently with other passengers' kids 6-15 years old as well. Not one problem. Yes...as hard as it might be to believe...cruising with kids can be done properly....including on Royal Caribbean. :eek:

 

So perhaps narrowing the scope...this really comes down to choices made by or behavior allowed by parents. Kids are very rarely the problem.

 

As for the gratuity thread topic...most seem to agree that this is a personal choice by the parent.

 

I see you played pot meet kettle as you sem to thnk it is al about you you you, the irony

:rolleyes:

[juju2454]

Me neither.... :cool::cool::cool:

 

 

I don't listen to diamond plus

[Merion_Mom]

I would rather see a child in a stroller than a dog in a stroller.

 

:eek: :o ;p ;) :D

[CRUISEFAN0001]

I don't listen to diamond plus

Cha Ching. :D