Nina says: &quot;If I don't have (my kids) I don't want to see anyone elses.&quot; The postings here indicate most people are actually more tolerant than she is. <BR><BR>People don't seem to mind SEEING kids, but they're not keen on constant kid noise or dodging them (and their equipment). <BR><BR>

That may be true. I plan my vacations for optimum enjoyment. As a matter of fact, my husband can't tolerate being on a cruise period. He only went on one with us and that was enough. He wants privacy and relaxation on vacation.<BR><BR>I don't understand why anyone who is going to complain about kids on cruises (especially a Disney cruise), would go on one that wasn't an adults only line, or didn't have a kids program. <BR><BR>I't reminds of a dinner with my sons baseball team at a pizza place. There were lots of little, loud boys. It was a family restaurant at 5:00. There was a man with his date who kept glaring at the kids. He was obviously perturbed by their presence. What kind of moron takes a date to a family restaurant at 5:00 in the evening and expects a quiet romantic evening? It works both ways.

yes,I have kids and 3 grands(all under 5), we would not spend thousands to watch them every minute as we would do at home much easier.<BR><BR>There are vacations, like weekend trips-condo rentals,that work better for very young children.<BR><BR>Parents are not watching their children every minute-babies are drowning, falling down stairs,etc. all the time because nobody was watching.<BR><BR>As for the carpets,of course, they crawled around my house and others-but I would never put them down in a dept. store or other places where the area is questionable. Ever walk around your cabin or hotel room barefoot and your feet are black,and those toys on the floor are going in their mouth? enough said.<BR><BR>We go on cruises when school is in session and very often there are babies on board, they and their parents are not smiling all the time!<BR><BR>The adult-only cruise is a good idea but I'll bet some of the oldies can be as cranky as the babies.<BR><BR>Have fun on your next cruise

Yes they can, and those wheelchairs can hurt your ankles every bit as much as a stroller!

Hello All, We mustbe the family everyone hates. We travel on 2-3 cruises a year with a 19mo and 4 yo.<BR>My oldest sone has been on 7 cruises and we never once had to take him out of the dining room, Although we usually only eat there once or twice a week. Out of respect for those who can't stand children, I take them to the outdoor cafe's , pizza parlors or the evening buffets to eat. We stay to ourselves and usually find other families to go around with. My children have always travelled and know what type of behavior is expected. If they act up they know its back to the room to color as I will not let them whine all day. Trust me, a few ground rules set early on, and they will comply. What kid wants to be sent to his room w/ Dad or Mom when there are movies and games and parties to go to.<BR><BR>I think its really the parents. (i'm not perfect..or anywhay close) but manners and behaving are top priority for me with my children. <BR><BR>I will say that nightime can be boring, vs a cruise with no choldren, but we've found ways around that. If you have two children, try to get 2 adjoining inside cabins. It will give you some extra space (and privacy :)<BR>). We also swich off going in at night with the kids. I schedule all my spa treatments for the nights I'm FREE. Hubby will jam away at the casino on his night. <BR>Not sure if my two cents helps, but please do not leave your kids behind. You will come away with wonderful memories and who knows. Your children may surprise you!<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B R>

&quot;Trust me, a few ground rules set early on, and they will comply.&quot;<BR><BR>Concur, but that's not common. And you seem to understand your conduct affects others...also uncommon.<BR><BR>What started all of this was a post wanting to bring a 3 month old on a cruise. The 3 month old was being bottled fed.

Well if it's the poster who wants to bring the baby on HAL, I'd say it's a moot point. I understand they don't allow children that young.<BR><BR>She'll have to find a cruiseline that allows infants, and anyone who can't tolerate infants would be best avoiding a line that accepts them.

I've got to agree with Parrotmom. I love my kids and wouldn't trade them for a million dollars, but when I pay A LOT OF MONEY to go on a cruise, or for that matter even to a nice dinner house, I also pay for baby sitters. When I pay for baby sitters, I don't want to hear other peoples kids making a ton of noise and fussing and running and being totally oblivious to other adults enjoyment. Kids have many many places to be kids, and I feel that as a parent I have an obligation to not impose my kids on people who choose not to have them.

That a way to go!!!

gottago,<BR><BR>You are one heck of a person.<BR>What a way to go !!!!!!!! <BR><BR><BR><BR>

Let me see if I have this right gottago, You don't believe that a cruiseline that prides itself on having great kids programs and playrooms, kids menus, kid sized robes in the staterooms and that advertises itself as an ideal family vacation is an appropriate place for parents to bring their children on vacation? This is the case with Disney, RCCL, Carnival, Celebrity, and Princess.<BR><BR>That's almost as absurd as saying you don't think that people should bring their kids to Disneyworld.

I think Gottago is saying the same thing as Nina, actually -- sometimes, they simply don't want to be bugged by their own or anyone else's kids. The difference is that Gottago appreciates that other people have the right to go on vacation without being bugged by anyone's kids! <BR><BR>It's been my observation that by the second or third day, kids are UNDER-whelmed by the experience and start to get bored and fussy, then everyone wishes they were back home with regular playmates.<BR><BR>Also -- the idea of &quot;giving them good memories&quot;. Fact is: the brains of children under 5 are hardwired for &quot;here and now&quot;. I'll bet 30 days after a cruise, if they are given a choice of another cruise or a Happy Meal, they'd take the Happy Meal! <BR><BR><BR>

Interested Bystander, I understand and agree that people don't want to be bugged by other people's kids while on vacation, that being the case, why would you choose a vacation that you know is going to cater to families? That makes no sense to me.<BR><BR>In a poll I read in T&amp;L's Family Vacation magazine last year, cruises were voted the NUMBER 1 family vacation, followed by Disneyworld, Dude ranches and ski trips. Obviously many families choose a cruise for their vacation. Why would anyone who doesn't want to be bugged by kids choose a vacation that is so popular with families? That is what I don't understand.

You say: &quot;Why would anyone who doesn't want to be bugged by kids choose a vacation that is so popular with families?&quot;<BR><BR>Here's from a cruise advice column: &quot;Bringing your children or grandchildren? Choose a line with lots of other kids, such as Carnival or Disney Cruises, or go during school vacations. If you'd rather not be bothered by kids, choose the opposite.&quot;<BR><BR>That's exactly why many adults cruise off-season, choosing Seabourn, Crystal, HAL and others such as that. Not because they hate kids. They just don't want the noise and skirmishes.<BR><BR>What else can they do? Where are their rights for &quot;quiet enjoyment&quot;?<BR><BR>One can only hope the parents will realize their particular family is just a very small part of a larger community (especially on the more mature-oriented lines) and will assure their kids are &quot;good neighbors&quot;.<BR>

Interested, I agree with you 100%. That's why when we cruise (which is only with kids), we choose Disney, RCCL and Celebrity, and are considering Princess for our next cruise because it gets high marks for it's kids programs. We ONLY cruise during vacations, because in our case, the more kids the merrier.<BR><BR>I have to believe that if people cruise right after a school vacation, or on a less kid-friendly line like those you mentioned, that they aren't going to run into many, if any kids.<BR><BR>The people with kids don't want to cruise with an adults only crowd anymore than the adults want to cruise with them, believe me!

I just returned home from a baby-free cruise vacation. We decided to leave her home since my mom volunteered. We had 14-18 foot seas and my husband was so seasick he wanted to die. I was SO GLAD we left her home so she didn't have to live through the rocking and rolling and lerching the ship was making. I would have felt AWFUL if she had been sick too!<BR><BR>A good reason to leave children at home, if at all possible. If you still want to go, definitely go with a kiddy friendly ship.

Fascinating thread.... I think that everyone is basically expressing variations of a theme that is the same for ANY public outing with children, which boils down to the following: Children do need to learn about places away from home, and it behooves parents to give them social enrichment-- but there are places and situations where children will not act appropriately to their surroundings, and parents must respect other people's desires to NOT be exposed to it. &quot;Adult-oriented&quot; cruises, just like any other entertainment venue (movies, theatres, restaurants, etc.), are not set up to give kids things to do that are geared to their interests and attention span. And parents should steer clear of such venues. &quot;Family-oriented&quot; entertainment venues are sure to have lots of kids involved, so adults looking to get away from the li'l rugrats should steer clear from these. Simple.<BR><BR>If we can all learn to respect each other, and to accept responsibility for our actions, we can all get along-- even on a cruise ship. Agreed?