My parents, frequent Princess cruisers, just invited our family to join them for a cruise at Chritmas. We were thrilled with the idea as we have never cruised! Mom and Dad headed to the travel agent yesterday to book 4 cabins ( one for them, one for my sister, and two for my family which includes our 2 sons ages 14 and 17)on a Princess cruise to the Caribbean leaving Dec 21. Much to their disappontment the cabins were available but they found out that the quota for the kids was filled. A ship that holds 2600 passengers only allows 175 children between the ages of 13 and 17...What is that about? Princess suggested that they waitlist for the kid spots? Is that a realistic approach? Any suggestions to make this a merry Christmas would be appreciated. My parents are sooooo disappointed!

THis sounds like a wonderful idea limiting kids.<BR><BR>There is nothing worse than then roaming the corridors and crowding the stairs bored stiff.<BR><BR>Hope all cruise lines adopt the same policy.<BR><BR>Sorry guys.

Princess has a limited number of children on board so their children's programmes are not over crowded. This way they are able to give the children the attention they.... deserve? Demand?<BR><BR>Because Christmas is the busiest time of the year to cruise, the space has probably been booked for quite a while.<BR><BR>The only thing you can do is look at another Princess ship with a different itinerary or a completely different cruise line.

Hooray for Princess!! That's why we have booked our cruise with them. Not everyone wants to be surrounded by children. There are enough cruise lines out there to accommodate children. Try Disney.

While it sounds interesting in concept, what happens if a family group of, say, 8 people with 4 kids is turned away because they hit the 175 limit? <BR><BR>I, for one, wouldn't be very happy splitting up the group for some arbitrary maximum like that.

As I recall, the original post asked for suggestions "to make this a merry Christmas". Unsolicited opinions about limiting the number of children are neither helpful or considerate. <BR><BR>I would suggest trying another cruise line or consider an all-inclusive this year and start planning the cruise for next year.

Well Ladiice, without knowing the people, their likes, dislikes, finances<BR>and etc. it would be kind of hard to tell them how to have a merry christmas.<BR>On the other hand, I'm sure they could come up with a lot of things to be thankful and grateful for if they would just stop and think.<BR><BR>Re/ kids being limited on cruise ships,<BR>the poster did ask what that's about.<BR>It's simple--kids are limited in number so the kids and adults can both have an enjoyable cruise, which they both deserve.<BR>It's not good to have several hundred kids running around a ship with no parental supervision and nothing for them to do. Maybe it's inconsiderate in your opinion, but not to many of us.<BR> The poster could try Carnival or Royal Caribbean, as them pack as many on as they can cram aboard.

Correction--meant to say In the last sentence " as many as they can cram aboard"--just wanted to correct myself before the "spelling patrol" caught me.

I have sailed Princess and I have to say that I have never seen a "kid problem" with kids running around the ship, acting disaproriately, etc. . . <BR><BR>After sailing Radiance this summer to Alaska where there were tons of kids who were out of control, running around, knocking on doors at midnight waking people up, etc. . I am very thankful that Princess limits kids.<BR><BR>I am so sorry that this affects you but for many of us, having quotas on the amount of children ensures that the ship doesn't have problems.<BR><BR>By no means am I saying that your kids would be out of control but I am thankful that there restrict how many kids.<BR><BR>IF you are still interested in going, choose another line. I believe Princess is the only one that restricts the amount of kids.

We sailed on Princess last <BR>thanksgivng. When we booked our cruise in May we were wait listed for our daughter for a few days.I guess we were lucky we were able to go. We had to book an inside though.I don't know why there aren't more quads outside. Any way there were lots of kids on the ship and there wern't too many problems.Some people must forget that they were kids once too. I think kids learn to behave correctly by taking them places and learning how to act in a social inviorment.

Sarah, the reason that you never had problems with children is because Princess does have the limitation on number of children. I think it is a great idea. <BR><BR>Libby, if your parents and you really want to bring the kids that bad, maybe consider a different ship (or better yet a whole different cruiseline). Carnival and Disney tend to cater to families and kids. <BR><BR>Many people specifically select Princess because they do not like to see kids all over the place. Many older couples (I assume your parents fall in that category) choose Princess exactly for thsi reason.<BR><BR>Perhaps your parents' travel agent assumed that they were liek most other people their age, and suggested Princess.<BR><BR>Again, in order to have a meery chirstmas, either don't take the kids and celebrate with them before or after the cruise, or change your plans.<BR><BR>There is absolutely nothing wrong with Princess limiting the number of kids on the ship. I wish that more cruiselines did that. In fact, it would be a great way to advertise. Imagine reading,"Only 100 children on board" or better yet, "Noone under 18 years of age."

Princess has had this policy for a very long time. It is nothing new.