The_Hall_Monitor

Cruise line policies vary widely -- some accept newborns, others say 1 year, others 3 years.<BR><BR>Is cruising with little ones a good vacation for the parents? How does it affect the cruise experience for other passengers?

Starfish

Do you really have to ask? <BR><BR>You must have been over on CC this morning, since a baby thread has started on the Hal board. <BR><BR>How does it affect the cruise experience for other passangers?<BR><BR>First off it depends on the cruise line. Disney is kiddie city, period.<BR>I would think a good majority have kids with them and are immune at this point in their lives.<BR><BR>Other cruise lines are not geared for babies and kiddies. <BR><BR>I think bringing infants is not only stupid on the parents part, but inconsiderate to other passangers. <BR><BR>Would you want a cabin next to someone with a baby? <BR><BR>A CRUISE IS NO PLACE FOR A BABY.<BR><BR>I don't even think infants belong on a Disney ship. <BR><BR><BR><BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

maryann

The railings are not close enough together to be safe-no restraints around the pools-what about cribs,highchairs?, No rooms are child-proof.<BR><BR>This sounds like a nightmare and no vacation for the parents(and grandparents) wait for 3 years old. <BR><BR>Everybody will thank you.

nina

My sister has cruised with my nephew twice, once when he was 16 mos. and a few months ago at 2 and a half. My kids and I were with them the last time. My sister thinks it's a great vacation with a toddler. It would certainly be easier at 3 when they can join the kids programs, but she'll go again then as well.There were many infants and toddlers on our Celebrity cruise over President's week. They gave the kids toys plus they splashed in little wading pools ondeck. The staff bent over backwards for the little ones.<BR><BR>They will provide a high chair, porta crib. There is babysitting available. Keep in mind that you will pay the full 3rd or 4th passenger rate on all but Disney.<BR><BR>I don't know why you wouldn't want a cabin next to a baby. Ours was next to my nephew. He sleeps through the night and we never heard a peep. The only thing we heard came from the cabin on the other side of us, they came in late, woke us up and the man had a hacking cough. I wish there were a family with a small child on the other side of us too.<BR><BR>I don't know what railings Maryann is talking about. I don't think a child has fallen through any yet.<BR><BR>The previous posters clearly have never taken an infant on a cruise so don't have a clue. They just don't want YOU to take your child. For them there are adults only cruises. If you go during a vacation week or summer, your child will have plenty of company.<BR><BR>Family cruising is a burdgeoining business. Even Crystal is instituting children's programs and children cruise free this summer.

ParrotMom

There are many cruisers, including myself who think the best place for infants and toddlers is at home with a doting grandmother. In all honestly parents need a time out from the constant care of little ones and a cryiing baby in the dining room doesn't make the most pleasant experience even with the most understanding cruiser..I am not anti-children.. One of my pet peeves is the &quot;killer strollers&quot; anywhere.lol... We had experience of being next to a table with little ones on a cruise and the parents were continually taking them up and out of the dining room because of crankiness..The father apologized and said &quot;never again&quot;, it was obvious that they were not enjoying their cruise. You are taking the small ones off their regular schedules of sleeping and eating and not all of them can swing withit..Yes, I've met lots of great little kids and I've also felt sorry for some of those mother and fathers who were pushing strollers day and night....The crew is very understanding and many of them miss their own children and they usually try to entertain the little ones with tricks or carry them around. Every parent thinks their children are just &quot;wonderful&quot; and will be &quot;no trouble&quot;.. and sadly it's not always true. We try to cruise before school is out and after they are back in school...yes, there are adult only cruises, but they are few and far between and I must admit I do enjoy some of the little ones and enjoy meeting people of all ages. Now all the rest of you can &quot;flame&quot; me..lol

nina

Parrotmom, points taken, but you are of course assuming that there is a grandparent willing and able to watch the little ones. Quite an assumption, this isn't always the case. Some people either want to take their children or don't have someone to leave them with for a week.

BorderLady

ParrotMom ... you said it all!<BR><BR>I'll bet that for every parent who says &quot;My kid is never a problem&quot;, there would be 20 people in the near vicinity who'd say &quot;You've gotta be kidding!&quot;<BR><BR>Nature gives parents selective deafness (otherwise they'd go bonkers) ... so they're USED to kids fussing and whining. They shreik, too, both in delight and anger. Parents honestly don't hear it, I think. At least, not all of it.<BR><BR>The rest of us hear it, though. Trust me.<BR><BR>

Lew

There are a number of issues to this question.<BR><BR>1. What is the policy of the cruise line. Each is different. Some will not accept passengers under a set age.<BR><BR>2.What is the demographics of the passengers on your cruise. <BR><BR>3. Are you in tune with what others around you desire, or are you only in tune with your needs.

nina

That's all true, but more and more familys are cruising. Cruising puts everyone in close quarters, maybe some people don't like smokers, or very loud adults. Too bad, they are cruising too and you have to put up with them.<BR><BR>From my family's standpoint, we wouldn't cruise without children. The childrens' programs are wonderful and the cruiselines really cater to them. It's the perfect family vacation. The very fact that previous adult only oriented lines like Crystal and Seaborn are jumping on the kids program bandwagon should tell you something. If cruiselines want to stay in business they have to cater to kids, and they are.

nina

Lew that's very true. That's why I would never take kids on HAL. It's just not as kid friendly as other lines. If you choose the right cruiseline, your kids will have fun and you won't annoy the antikid brigade.

bigu

I guess i always kinda thought that being a parent meant occasionally making a sacrifice. Just seems like people wanna drag a poor baby along with them everywhere (movies...theatre...restaurants)becuase they dont think &quot;a little thing&quot; like HAVING A CHILD should stop them from going on with the carefree life they had before kids. Im not saying you shouldnt take kids .period. on a cruise...just wait till they're old enough to appreciate it. it MAY mean putting your childs interests first.

maryann

OK now we will hear from NINA.<BR><BR>For every pro there will be a con.<BR><BR>Nothing wrong with that-it;s just everyone's opinion.<BR><BR>I agree that it is not fair to the child. What do you mean that you don't know what I mean about railings-look around they are everywhere. And do you want your children crawling on the floors/carpets, who knows when they were cleaned,ugh! or are you going to hold them for 7 days or keep them strapped into something all the time!<BR><BR>I would take them somewhere for the weekend-strange rooms,restaurant all the time,never on the floor and see how they do before you commit yourself or others to a baby that hates it and lets everyone know.

ParrotMom

I've just come back from a musical review at a regional theatre..and although it was suitable for famiilies and young children I didn't expect to hear TWO INFANT crying.. I swear to you..One family sat near us (four children including the baby) and they allowed the baby to climb up and down the stairs during the performance.. I swear to you this happened.. Let's face it...it's not the childen..it's the parents...right.. Yes, not everybody has a grandparent to babysit and family cruising is very popular from Grandparents to the little ones.. I and other cruisers aren't child haters..really..I have two myself..lol But I would not choose to go on a Disney ship or when there is school vacation. As an instance we were on a ship when a little boy started urinating in the jacuzzi..as we were about to enter.. the mother told us to &quot;tell him to stop&quot;.... is she kidding!!!oron the same cruise a mother put her chaise in the adult pool to watch her children play in the water...there was a kiddie pool not that far away... It's the same in restaurants... I don't want to be seated near a family of little kids.. what a grouch...and I know I'm alone.. Question.. why don't mothers request their kids sit in their seats in restaurants and I don't mean McDonalds.. and let them roam around while people are dining..it drives me crazy..lol

Starfish

ParrotMom,<BR><BR>You are not alone!

gocats2002

If you have to ask how having your children along may affect the experience of others, you should think of other types of vacations where you don't have to even think about that question. <BR>We changed our vacation and entertainment style depending on the needs of our children, and were never lacking of fun vacations. We spent many vacations with family, where others enjoyed being with the children and we could keep them on schedule. We'd visit in the homes of our family around the country; we'd rent condos in different locations, including the beach, Whistler and Puerto Vallarta. It was hardly a sacrifice.

gail

To Parrotmom regarding big &quot;killer strollers&quot;. We have come to refer to these as SUS's - or sports utility strollers and believe there is a direct correlation between size of SUV a parent drives and size of stroller they choose. (Why would someone need 2 cup holders on a stroller?)

Techydude

Here is a question since you brought up SUV's. Why are the drivers of huge SUV's inversely proportional to the size of the SUV. Meaning, the largest SUV's always seem to have a driver the size of Tatoo on Pleasure Island. Is it the same with these SUS's?<BR><BR>They never seem to be able to handle the vehicle.

Loves_A_Laugh

Undersize drivers of oversize strollers.<BR><BR>Under-age, too!<BR><BR>Seems the Lido deck is a favorite spot for perfecting driving skills. 4 year olds (midget wannabe Dale Earnharts) entertaining the 2-year old cheerleader. Keeps them out of mom's hair and on everyone else's bunions.

ParrotMom

Just checked NCL and they have programs starting at 2 year old...but how many parents or kids would think to enroll their children. Remember sharing a breakfast with a mother (so help me, I couldl't possibly make this up)..and her son and daughter came to the table and she wanted to know &quot;what time they went to bed..it seems they went to the disco---these were not older teens) and the mother said that her children didn't need a &quot;program&quot;.. Meanwhile both of the kids ordered almost every breakfast item and turne up their nose when it arrived. The next day it was announced no one under 18 was allowed in the disco...and don't you just love it when you find kids on the elevators pushing buttons... On the other hand I know a couple who took their daughter on a cruise and could't get her off the ship she just loved the special programs and didn't even want to eat her meals with them..she was having a ball. Nina..it's not that we don't like or love kids...but in truth it's the parents who let their kids loose on the other cruisers trying to enjoy their time away and unstress. They believe the ship is a safe place to let them run loose perhaps this is what we object to...parents leaving the discipline (heaven forbid) to others..Oh yes.. I have seen childen who were enrolled in programs going on &quot;treasure&quot; hunts... and having a ball and the little ones with patches, pails and scarves on candy treasure hunts.

nina

Maryann, Do you even HAVE children, because honestly, you sound like you don't have any idea. I love people who think parents and their kids should remain quarantined at home until a certain age. Oh my god, they might crawl on the CARPET! That would be horrifying I know.<BR><BR>First of all, I see so many arguements that don't make sense. Why do people assume you are taking children off their regular schedules on a cruise? Why do they think you can't let your child nap and eat at their usual times, because it really is done quite easily.<BR><BR>Why do people think the baby isn't enjoying themselves? The toddlers and babies I saw were having so much fun playing in the baby pool, just being with their parents which I suspect not all of them get to do on a daily basis (maybe mom works?). And anyway, if parents waited until their kids could remember or appreciate a vacation, they could stay home for years.<BR><BR>I still don't know what Maryann is talking about with the railings. Maryann, this may come as a surprise to you, but parents have to watch their toddlers every minute, whether they are home in their child-proofed house or on a cruise ship. I have to laugh at this notion of toddlers and infants wandering or crawling around without supervision. It just isn't happening.<BR><BR>Hall Monitor isn't considering taking a young child, she just wants to stir up a debate. Isn't that right Hall Monitor?<BR><BR>Small children don't belong in movies, theatres or fine restaurants. On a cruise ship there are kids programs, babysitters, alternate dining and room service so that everyone can enjoy a cruise.<BR><BR>If a family has the means to vacation every year, or several times a year, why should they wait until &quot;the baby can appreciate it?&quot;, that would be a very long wait. Call me selfish, but I have traveled with my kids from 3 months on. When I look at the photos of their smiling faces and hear them talk about their vacations, I really don't think it was a hardship on them or anyone else.<BR><BR>And when my husband and I vacation alone, we steer clear of cruises, resorts with kids programs or anyplace else that caters to kids. If I don't have mine I don't want to see anyone elses. It really is quite easy to avoid children on vacation with minimal effort.