Is the thermal suite/hydro pool still adults only?

[constructiondude]

When I sailed on the Westerdam most of the spa facilities were off limits to children and despite some whining by a few Moms/Dads, it was strictly enforced.

 

Can I expect to see that on the Oosterdam? Or all HAL ships for that matter?

 

I got no problem sailing with children but I've heard the children often take over the pool areas, even the one designated for adults and so I guess the spa is the last remaining oasis.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Constructiondude:

 

Here's our experience, based on one HAL cruise:

 

We've only been on HAL's Zaandam, and we used the Thermal Suite at the Greenhouse Spa. Teens between the ages of 16 and 18 may use the spa if they are in the company of their parents/guardians. Anyone younger may not use the Thermal Suite. Zaandam does not have a hydrotherapy pool, so I can't address that part of your question. We purchased a week's pass on our cruise, and only saw adults using the Thermal Suite. There were never many people in there at all, because you do have to pay a fee to use those facilities, and it's not cheap. As I recall, we paid $80 per person for the week's pass.

 

There was no issue regarding the aft pool on our Alaska cruise; most days it was just too darn cold and windy by the aft pool to swim there!

 

Karin

[kryos]

When I sailed on the Westerdam most of the spa facilities were off limits to children and despite some whining by a few Moms/Dads, it was strictly enforced.

I could be wrong on this, but isn't there a daily fee to use the thermal suite/hydropool? If so, I doubt many parents are gonna wanna pay that fee for the children.

 

If this is the same thing my cabinmate used, it costs something like $20 a day to use those facilities. The price alone should keep the kids out.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Vic The Parrot]

I was on Noordam last week, and it looked like the "adults only" aft pool was no longer in existance. Kids in the pool, and also the main lido pool area.

 

Hope this isn't a new trend

[watchdiva]

We used the thermal suite/hydro pool area every day on our two HAL cruises (Zuiderdam and Westerdam). Most of the time we rarely saw anyone else there, let alone kids:eek: . It's well worth the money - lovely surroundings (thermal suite "beds" are the best), calm and quiet.

[GPoll189]

Maybe you guys can help me! As you can see from my post and my signature I have sailed on HAL since a very young age. I can never remember the aft pool being off limits to children and my last cruise in 2001 on the Rotterdam there were plenty of kids in the aft pool. Is there a new regulation that has gone into effect in the last 5 years that prevents children from swimming in the aft pool.

 

As I can remember the lido pool sometimes get very crowed during sea days especially when the weather is not good. So there needs to be extra room for passengers to swim and relax and that is were the aft pool comes into effect. If I am a parent and I am on the Aft deck I want my children there so I can watch them and see if they have any problems swimming. I agree that older passengers need to have some relaxation also but give children a break they are children. At any age we all need to have fun.

 

As for the question about the spa usually children are not allowed in there and also most of the things that they have in the spa are not healthy for children to be in unless they are there with an adult. I am talking about the Sauna and Steam room. But I can also see where the T-Pool and therma spa can also be unhealthy for children to be in.

 

I am 27 and I am sorry I have sailed HAL since I was 4 I am sorry if I am more on the side of the children than you old passengers even though most of you are not that old. HAL is changing and we all know that. That all happens when a corparation wants to make more money. If you really don't want to be around kids then take a cruise just for adults there are many of them out there just look for them.

 

In closing I just want to say that I will agree with you on the children that misbehave and run a mock on the ship but they are not the ones to blame, there were brought up that way and their parents did not show them how to act like correct boys and girls. The children that open doors for elderly passenger, have manors, don't splash in the pool are few and far between now adays with the invention of the TV and video games. But we have to praise these children and their parents about how well behave they are when we see them.

 

Geoffrey

[ekerr19]

I was on Noordam last week, and it looked like the "adults only" aft pool was no longer in existance. Kids in the pool, and also the main lido pool area.

 

Hope this isn't a new trend

 

Hey Vic!!! Welcome back - did you get my email?? Hope all is well and I hope you enjoyed the ship as much as we did this past summer. :)

 

We haven't been on a cruise in ages where people respected the "adults only" rule for the aft pool... also, we've never seen any kids in the hydro-therapy pool.

 

As people who cruise often with teens, I can tell you, we wouldn't take them in the hydro-theraphy pool - and I don't think most parents would either. Just my two cents.

[kryos]

Maybe you guys can help me! As you can see from my post and my signature I have sailed on HAL since a very young age. I can never remember the aft pool being off limits to children and my last cruise in 2001 on the Rotterdam there were plenty of kids in the aft pool. Is there a new regulation that has gone into effect in the last 5 years that prevents children from swimming in the aft pool.

I'll be honest. I've heard on these boards many times that the aft pool is off-limits to children, but I've yet to see any signage onboard that states that. Of course, I generally cruise during times when there are not that many children onboard, so maybe the signs are only pulled out when there are a lot of kids on a particular sailing.

 

Frankly, despite the fact that I don't enjoy cruising with children, I must say that barring kids from recreational facilities onboard makes no sense from a HAL marketing standpoint. HAL is specifically trying to attract the family market with their new children's facilities and advertising program. Why, then, would they then turn around and bar children from something like one of the swimming pools? Makes absolutely no sense.

 

My take on this is that if you are an adult who prefers to relax at the pool without a bunch of children running around, then either take out a pass to the thermal spa and use that pool, or simply do as I do and choose your sailings carefully so that they coincide with time periods when there are usually few children onboard. Otherwise, deal with the kids. Their parents pay fare for them too, so they certainly have as much right as us adults to enjoy all the age appropriate facilities the ship has to offer ... and that includes the aft pool.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[GPoll189]

kyros,

 

I completely agree with you on that

[jtl513]

kyros,

 

I completely agree with you on that

 

And I STRONGLY disagree. If any area is designated as adults only, then keep your kids OUT. :mad: I have three daughters (now grown) who were raised to be quiet and well behaved, but there are many places I like to go where they simply don't belong, and any places designated adults are just that! :mad:

[GPoll189]

But you don't understand what I am saying the previous poster before my last post said that there are now signage pertaining to the off limits of the aft pool to the children aboard. And if you read my previous post I remember 5 years ago children were allowed to use either pool when ever they wanted. And if you looked at my first post I asked all the poster if there is a written law (either on ship board contract, signage at the pool, or in the daily program that prevents children from swimming in the aft pool) I would be happy to see that. However if it is a unwritten law than really it can't be justified to be followed.

 

I understand your feeling that everyone usually goes on ships to relax and enjoy the peacefullness aboard the ship but children should not be penalized just because they are children. I know that near the jacuzzi there are a list of rules for the use of them and on that they state an age but is there some list of rules that they have for the use of the pools either at the mid lido deck or on the aft of the ship.

 

I completely would agree that if there is a sign saying that it is off limits then it should be off limits but if there is no such sign then it can't be enforced and children can swim where ever they want but under the supervision of their parents. Even children in there teens should always be watched because something can always happen and swimming is always different.

 

I am sorry if I offended you but I have sailed HAL since I was 4 or 5 and I feel HAL is very much for families with children and I don't want future parents to be turn off of HAL because of the very few bad apples. I am not saying any of you in this great forum are but give children a chance. I know I will when I have children and when I get older and my children have grand children and I don't want to be around children any more but have to I will still look at them as the gift of g-d and the future generation to protect their parents and other older people they look up to.

 

Geoffrey

[kryos]

And I STRONGLY disagree. If any area is designated as adults only, then keep your kids OUT. :mad: I have three daughters (now grown) who were raised to be quiet and well behaved, but there are many places I like to go where they simply don't belong, and any places designated adults are just that! :mad:

If HAL was giving kids free sailing in the cabin with their parents, then I might actually agree with you. But parents are paying a hefty price for their kids to sail with them, and for that money, those kids should have access to all age appropriate venues onboard the ship. After all, if HAL is gonna market to families ... saying how wonderful a family cruise is and how people should seriously consider it for their next family vacation ... then HAL has to realize that parents are gonna want to do things with their kids while onboard the ship ... including swimming. If the Lido pool is crowded, why shouldn't mom and dad be able to take the young ones back to the aft pool to swim? Of course, understand that I am assuming the children are capable of behaving themselves.

 

Maybe have a rule that there is to be no running, yelling or splashing at the aft pool ... it is maybe designated a "calm" area ... but there is no reason whatsoever that children should be barred from it.

 

Another thing I've always wondered ... and remember, I don't have kids ... but there is, I believe, some sort of a rule that kids cannot be in the disco after a certain time. What's with that? I can understand kids (teens I'm talking about) shouldn't be allowed in the disco unsupervised after a certain hour, but why on earth can't they stay as late as they'd like if mom or dad are with them? If the kids are in there with their parents, why shouldn't they be able to enjoy the ammenities of the disco ... listen to the music, dance, enjoy their "mocktails," socialize? I don't understand why HAL says all kids must be out of the disco by a certain hour. What's better ... to have the kids in the disco, under the watchful eye of mom and dad ... or have them being sent back to the cabin, while mom and dad maybe stay in the disco? Now the kids are wandering the ship totally unsupervised with a great potential for getting into mischief. Doesn't make any sense to me.

 

All I am saying here is that HAL is trying to put themselves out as a "family" vacation alternative. Well, either you are or you aren't. If you don't want to encourage kids to use the full facilities of the ship, then don't portray yourself that way. Stick to marketing to couples, the retired set, whatever. Don't go out of your way to attract families. But if HAL truly wants to portray themselves as a family cruise line ... especially with the larger, Vista class ships, then they have to realize that families want to do things together while on vacation. They don't want to just send their kids to the Kids Club all day long ... in effect mom and dad taking one vacation, while the kids take another. Banning children from a host of facilities onboard the ship does not foster a family vacation atmosphere, and HAL can't have it both ways. If they want to be a family-oriented line, then they should welcome kids with open arms and ban them only from facilities that are clearly for adults only ... such as the casinos and the bars.

 

Just my humble opinion ... and one from a person who does not have kids, and does not prefer sailing with hoards of them on any cruise ...

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[GPoll189]

I think that the disco is something completely different, than the pool subject. In the disco there are not only the children's parents in there but other passengers and some of them might not have there two sense with them and this is not very protective for the children to be around these types of people. I am not say that other passengers can't drink but it is not good for children to be around this. Just as a protective idea I think they put that curfew on children in the disco.

 

Children have there own disco parties in the club Hal experience and also they can be in the disco until the curfew. Also being in the medical field children need their sleep and 11 o'clock, or 12 o'clock when ever the kick children out of the disco is late enough for children. You don't want to have cranky children the next day if it is a port day or something that is interesting for the children to cover the next day.

 

There is plenty of stuff for the children to do on a ship as you state but somethings need to be kept for the adult children (older passengers), but it is still in the best interest to stay way from the disco in the later hours of the day. Sorry for my disagreement on this

 

Geoffrey

[kryos]

Children have there own disco parties in the club Hal experience and also they can be in the disco until the curfew.

Okay, I wasn't aware of this.

 

By the way ... when I said children, I meant teens ... 15, 16 and older. Of course, I wouldn't expect parents to have young children up all hours of the night on the ship, and for them the curfew in the disco would probably be quite appropriate.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[jtl513]

Maybe have a rule that there is to be no running, yelling or splashing at the aft pool ... it is maybe designated a "calm" area ...

 

Yeah .... riiiiiiiiight! Fat chance of that rule being enforced either.

 

I'm not against letting kids enjoy the ship. I object to parents who break the existing rules, or let their kids break the rules, and make up feeble excuses like the Lido pool is "too crowded" for their little darlin's. On the Noordam in June there were two young boys being totally obnoxious in the aft pool, with no apparent parents anywhere in sight. Do you think a "calm area" rule would have had any effect on them or their parents? I don't.

 

I'll compromise with you: let HAL designate certain hours of the day as adults only for the aft pool, so that those who want to swim without juveniles around can do so at least part of the time. But whatever rules are set up, enforce them! :cool:

[GPoll189]

but my main post and my first one is in the 5 years I saild on HAL has there been a "rule" written that states children should not be allowed in the Aft pool area is so I will retort my previous post but from what I hear there is nothing that states this in writting

[jtl513]

but my main post and my first one is in the 5 years I saild on HAL has there been a "rule" written that states children should not be allowed in the Aft pool area is so I will retort my previous post but from what I hear there is nothing that states this in writting

 

I'm about 99% sure that the Noordam has an "adults only" sign posted, which was being ignored. How about it Vic or constructiondude, do you know for sure?

[JeriNP]

I don't know about anyone else, but why would a responsible parent want their kids in the disco with a bunch of tipsy, smoking adults? Sorry, but kids of any age don't belong in bars, no matter the "marketing strategy".

 

I absolutely agree that parents are entitled to a little adult fun - send the kids back to the cabin with the grandparents...or, and here's a novel idea these days, SACRIFICE YOUR HAPPINESS AND COMFORT (because, as a parent, that is part of your job) and watch your kids instead of partying all night long. If what you truly want is a family vacation where you're together 24/7, sharing everything, don't do things your kids can't participate in as well...like hanging out in the disco/bar/casino.

 

As for the pool rules, I've seen parents dip diapered babies into the pools right under signs prohibiting diapered babies in the pools. I've seen toddlers peeing in the hot tubs ("Mommy, it's a big bathtub!"). I've seen kids in water way over their heads while Mom and Dad sip big umbrella drinks out of coconuts. I've seen young teens doing cannonballs and soaking people who are trying to relax nearby. Adults don't insist on being included in the children's programs - why do some parents insist that their children have the "right" to be everywhere adults are? (My daughter didn't seem to have trouble grasping the concept that some places were just for kids and other places were just for adults.) One ship solved the problem by simply making their aft pool uniformly deep (>5 feet) with no stairs in or out, just one ladder...parents took one look and brought their kids right to the main pool.

[kryos]

I'm not against letting kids enjoy the ship. I object to parents who break the existing rules, or let their kids break the rules, and make up feeble excuses like the Lido pool is "too crowded" for their little darlin's. On the Noordam in June there were two young boys being totally obnoxious in the aft pool, with no apparent parents anywhere in sight. Do you think a "calm area" rule would have had any effect on them or their parents? I don't.

My guess is that when parents pay good money for their children to cruise with them ... and the parents don't want to stay at the Lido Pool because it is "too crowded," they will be "dammed" if they are gonna move the family back to the aft pool and then tell the kids they can't swim in it. And, frankly ... I don't blame them. If I had a kid, and the Lido Pool were a zoo ... I would do the exact same thing.

 

Now, what you are talking about with the two boys misbehaving ... that's an entirely 'nother issue. Those boys were not supervised. You say their parents were nowhere to be found. They should have been immediately ejected from the area at the first sign of misbehavior. What I am talking about is a family ... or a mom or dad ... wanting to enjoy the aft pool, and wanting their kids to enjoy it with them ... in a non-intrusive way. What's wrong with that?

 

Your suggestion for family "swim time" hours is a fine one ... and maybe that is the best solution. At least it would be better than simply banning children from a facility that their cruise dollar entitles them to use ... for no other obvious reason than the fact that other adults onboard the ship don't want children in that area. Sorry, but that's simply not fair. Those children are fare-paying passengers too ... and if adults don't want children ... yes, even when they splash, yell, and laugh loudly ... on their cruise, then those adults should act it by carefully choosing their itineraries and sailing dates. Those children, believe it or not, are very ... very easy to avoid. I've been doing it now for several years.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[onthegogirl]

last December we sailed on the Zaandam. The aft pool was designated adults only. (No signs). Mommy arrived with two young boys. She reclined with her book while the little darlings jumped in and out of the pool, engaged in splashing contests and drove everyone else away. Mommy never even noticed. The HAL staff did nothing. This is the type of behaviour that upsets us. Not well behaved children who are properly supervised. Any suggestions how this could have been handled?

[jtl513]

... simply banning children from a facility that their cruise dollar entitles them to use ...

 

By your logic, NO area of the ship should be off-limits to children at any time, including the Thermal Suites, hydrotherapy pool, bars, etc., as long as Mommy and Daddy are with them.

 

... those adults should act it by carefully choosing their itineraries and sailing dates.

 

Last June was the first time in many years that we have not cruised while school was in session. We had little choice because certain itineraries simply aren't available in the off season. Because it was 10 days, and in Europe, requiring more expensive plane fare, few young kids were on board. But cruising in the off-season means we usually get stuck with less-than-the-best weather.

 

Those children, believe it or not, are very ... very easy to avoid. I've been doing it now for several years.

 

Funny, I seem to run into them an awful lot. Obviously your tolerance level for rule breakers, be they children or adults, is much higher than mine.

[djallar]

I was on Noordam last week, and it looked like the "adults only" aft pool was no longer in existance. Kids in the pool, and also the main lido pool area.

 

Hope this isn't a new trend

There were no signs on the Maasdam showing the aft pool as "Adults Only"...there were signs saying "No Diapers", however.

[jtl513]

My guess is that when parents pay good money for their children to cruise with them ... and the parents don't want to stay at the Lido Pool because it is "too crowded," they will be "dammed" if they are gonna move the family back to the aft pool and then tell the kids they can't swim in it. And, frankly ... I don't blame them. If I had a kid, and the Lido Pool were a zoo ... I would do the exact same thing.

 

Rita -

 

You've twisted around my original objection to kids using an "adults only" pool into denying them rights that they should have.

 

MY objection was on the basis of breaking the ship's rules, and would object just as strongly if adults were using a pool designated for children only. Or if adults were hogging games in Club HAL or some such thing.

[GPoll189]

But all of you are not getting my pool, if it is a unwritten law or practice that is formed by the group of people in this forum that the aft pool is off limits to children then really it is not. I am just looking for proof that what you guys are saying about the aft pool only being for adults is written somewhere. It sounds like this whole thing about the aft pool being off limits is a folk law because people who have been on the ships have said there is no place saying that the aft pool is off limits to children.

 

Another thing I agree that children who are not potty trained should not be in the pool at all. But remember some adults do uriante in the pools. You can't tell me that you didn't know that.

 

As for the children I hate it when people prejudge them because they are children. Some children are angles and follow the rules to a tee but other don't and that all falls on how they were raised. I know my counsin who are 7 and twin 5 year old girls. Go around and hold doors open for passengers, say thank you when something is said about them or given to them. It is all on the way the parents raise these children.

 

What some parents think when they go away is that a vacation is a vacation away from the children and they allow the children to do what they want, but if you take the children you need to be ready to lay the law down show them how to behave like good respectful passengers.

 

There are written rules about children not be allow in the disco at night and this is monitored by the HAL personal. There are written rules about children not be allowed in the Spa, and the Spa personel monitor that. But it sound like there is know written rule about children in the Aft pool so that is why the HAL personel don't do anything about it.

 

As soon as someone can give me proof or someting in writing that says the aft pool is off limits that is when I will come off my soap box. You can't take something way that is there for everybody to use just because you want to be away from children. And I have proff that 5 years ago the aft pool was allowed to be used by children. Just show me the proof.

 

And if it seems that I am on the children's side is that I am because they get the bad end of the stick anytime they go on HAL just becasue of the mentality of some of the passenger that travel on HAL. I know it, have experienced it and can relate to them from my experience. I am getting tired of people saying that HAL is not for children. It is so for children.

 

Noordam age 4, and now 27

Neiuw Amsterdam 5, 11, 15

Rotterdam 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Ryndam 15, 16,

Westerdam 8, 13, 16

Massdam 15, 17

are just some of the cruises and ages I was on these ships.

 

Geoffrey

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Gpoll and Rita:

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, because as a parent I support your point of view; however, the official rules that we were given are quite explicit. We will be cruising with HAL again this December with our family, and we will abide by the rules as they are given us. We are conscientious parents, and do not let our children run around without direction or supervision. We have to share the ship with everyone.

 

 

We took our first cruise this summer on Holland America's Zaandam. We travelled with our two daughters, ages 17 and 7 and time of travel. The first evening onboard, we attended an orientation session for CLUB HAL, and received a printed brochure with guidelines for the youth program. All the rules are spelled out quite succintly. I suppose the enforcement of these rules depends on the ship's staff. I quote directly from the brochure, which I still have with me:

 

"Swimming Pools - There are no scheduled CLUB HAL activities in the pools. Please note that the Seaview/Aft pool is for adults only . Children should use the Lido pool under the glass dome. Children must be accompanied and/or supervised by their parents at all times while in or around the ship's pools. There is no lifeguard on duty at any time.....

 

....Guests under the age of 16 are not permitted into the gym, jacuzzi, or steam rooms....

 

.....The disco turns into an adult only lounge and is limited to those guests 18 and older after 11:00 pm.....

 

.....Passengers under the age of 18 are not permitted to gamble or go into the casino.....

 

....The legal drinking age onboard is 21 years.....

 

....All children are welcomed to attend the evening show in the...Lounge, if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Guests under the age of 18 are not permitted to sit in the first row of seats in the Lounge...."