NYCdreamer

Thinking about booking 10 or 12 night Mediterranean trip with Oceania to celebrate my parents' birthdays in August.

My parents would like all their children to join them and that means 3 additional families and my single brother.

Our clan has an infant (but an angelic one who never cries), a very well behaved 4 year old (who gets complimented all the time for her behavior; she can sit through a 2 hr dinner no prob.), and a well behaved 9 year old.

Do you think the other passengers on Oceania Nautica will frown on bringing kids onboard even if they're well behaved?

We cruised before with my then 2 year old daughter but she didn't want to do any of the kids' programs, and my sister will keep her baby at all times, so lack of Kids programs is not an issue for us.

I think my parents will really love Oceania but if we're all stressed about what other passengers think of our kids being onboard, then we won't enjoy the vacation.

I read a post here about people who call the security when encountering ill behaved kids. I'm not sure if they don't like the sight of children or just peeved with some kids who are out of control.

I'd appreciate your feedback on this... Thank you.

katybird

Aug. is 6 months away. How old will the angelic baby be by then? They get pretty active towards 1 year.He/she might even be walking. I would be prepared to have meals in my cabin, no matter what cruise line.

NYCdreamer

My niece will be 7 months in August, so she won't be mobile. My sister may choose to eat in her cabin anyhow.

But I saw many families dine with their babies in NCL - and I don't recall any screaming babies (lucky for us, yes).

clarasong

We were on a long cruise, second seating (after 8 p.m.) and a family came each night with mama, papa, grandparents, etc., and two year old twins who screamed thru the entire meal...family was oblivious. Shortly before we went mad, we were moved to a different dining room. Point being, go for the early dinner or eat in the Lido., where it wouldn't be so disturbing, then I am sure you are okay.

kfusto

Oceania offers open sitting for dinner so there are fixed times. I know they are also adult oriented and that is exactly why some people choose them.

There are too many instances with out of control kids these days on most lines. Some have established special security simply to deal with the problem. In my experience, it is not the sight of kids, but the sight of kids being destructive, disruptive and worse that causes problems.

Personally, I think a one year old is a tough age to bring on any cruise, but especially one to the Med and especially on Oceania where I can only imagine many have chosen to cruise on them simply because they are not kid friendly.

Tango

I know this is completely off what you were asking but it might be fun for your family.

There are many canal cruises through France where you can rent an entire "barge" with a chef, etc. You get off in small French towns and ride bikes, tour castles, etc. It is very low key but still getting lots of family time, plus the food and the atmosphere are supposedly excellent. We are considering this in the next few years for our family.

Hope this helps. And, I am with you. They need to come up with a cruise line for those who want both elegance and to keep their kids with them! I have a 4 year old who we would love to take...oh well! Someday!!!

patandhank

NYCdreamer - my husband and I were just on the Nautica Sep/Oct 06. I agree with the majority of the posters that it's not that people who travel Nautica hate children, it's that it is sometimes hard for the children to behave themseleves because of what comes natural to them - wanting some activity and needing a set schedule. Of course there are people who pick the cruise because it is known not to cater to children. On our cruise, there was one family with an infant and a daughter about 9 years old. We never saw the infant except for when she was in a stroller on shore. I truly believe that they ate in their stateroom all the time and unless you have a penthouse suite or above, room service menu is fairly limited. The 9 year old appeared well behaved, but I would imagine it was a difficult trip for her with absolutely no other children on board at all. No activities/facilities for children whatsoever I will tell you. The majority of the age group is late 40's -to late 70's. Pool area on deck is not the noisy, splashy area normally found on large ships with a lot of families. If you look at www.cruisecritic.com and go to the Oceania forum/board you will see there was an entire thread on this very issue that might give you some insight. Feel free to e-mail me if you want more info

Arizona07

If children are allowed, I can't see why anyone would try to dissuade you from taking a family cruise.

Cruising is part of the "real world". I've seen very many more well-behaved children on cruises than on planes. Why is it any different?

Take whatever cruise you want to take, and hope you all have a great time.

CruiserMike

I'll try not to be nasty and give you the view of one who does not want children, of any age, near me when I'm trying to relax.

Every parent thinks their child is an angel.

Parents who have children have gotten so used to them behaving in an out of control mode that they no longer notice that their children are annoying to others.

I do not appreciate even one 'tenny weeny' high-pitched childs 'scream of delight' or 'scream for attention'.

I do not want to quietness of a pleasant dinner ruined by the noise of a baby or child. I do not want children running aro8und me as I try to relax in a quiet atmosphere. I sail Oceania, many times, because I know what to expect. And I do not expect children. I'm not a curmedgeon, I just want peace and quiet.

I do not like screaming children on airplanes, in restaurants and especially in confined locations such as small cruise ships.

I think it is a gross sign of selfishness for parents to even think of bringing their 'adorable' children on what they obviously know, certainly based on the fact that you even raise this question, is an environment wherein most will be annoyed.

The fact that there even appears in view, no less at dinner, a baby or child, is enough to ruin the atmosphere and ambiance.

You can be sure that if I were aboard the ship when you showed up with your brood I would be the first to let you know the instant any of them disturbed the peace. And I would feel justified in making sure you knew just how inconsiderate I thought you were.

If your parents want all their children to join them then go on a Disney cruise or to Chucky Cheese's or MacDonald's and have a catered party along with the hundreds of other screaming kids that everyone is prepared for.

As for seeing many babies aboard NCL, that's why I do not sail NCL. Just because there are a wealth of people with no consideration for others is no excuse for you to behave that way.

You sound like you might be very nice and intelligent and, if that is the case then do what is right and leave the children at home or go on a cruise where everyone expects to have floors strewn with food, spitting up and diaper bags displayed everywhere. Don't put me at risk for a ruined vacation.

Now, obviously I did not live up to my initial comment about trying not to be nasty, but maybe you'll understand just what the MAJORITY of small ship, Oceania type cruisers will think of your plans.

wow

Wow! What about teens? Any teens "allowed" on Oceania? What about obnoxious people on cell phones? I wld rather sit next to a kid anyday if I had a choice b/t a kid or an adult on his/her cell phone "screaming for attention"!!

Arizona07

NYCdreamer,
I do hope that you book this cruise, and that CruiserMike is in the cabin next to yours.

Your remarks, Mike, are extremely discriminatory. You are not a curmudgeon - you are a bigot. I have never seen such views in a public forum.

kfusto

While I would have expressed it differently, I also prefer to sail on cruises where is a high degree of probability that there will be no kids or teens. That does not make me a bad person. It simply means that I prefer to vacation in an adult enviroment.

I have had too many cruises adversly affected by the behavior of kids and teens onboard. One of the ways to avoid that is to book lines like Oceania who by design are adult oriented.

IMO, families who wish to feel welcomed with open arms are better advised to book with lines and ships that lay out the welcome mat. Otherwise, I imagine they will be disappointed.

wow

Mike is certainly entitled to express his opinion but IMHO he did not have to be, by his own admission, so nasty. And, to get upset over the mere sight of a diaper bag is just plain ridiculous.Honestly, I don't know how Mike manages on a daily basis if such trivial things can send him into such a venomous rant.

AliH1

We are booked with Oceania for a September sailing and I'd be really surprised to find kids on board, as the entire program and description seems to be "adult oriented". There doesn't seem to be a single mention of services or activities that would lead me as a parent, to book with Oceania for a "family holiday".

As for Mike's comments, they are pretty harsh! I've had dinners ruined by loud-mouthed ill-behaved adults just as often as by a crying child!

Alison

CruiserMike

Wow & Arizona, I understand and appreciate your views, but you are just wrong. I am not a bigot, my remarks are not discriminatory, and I too don't like cell users, especially in the movie theatre. And when I see people with a Bluetooth headpiece walking down the aisle in the supermarket, or the street, I almost feel like trailing after them and listening in. The world today is just overflowing with people who think of no one but themselves and, worse, who are so wrapped up in the wonder and cuteness of their offspring that they lose all sense of reason.

As for the subject here...Oceania is designed for adults. If you want to believe that people can and should be free to go with their little monsters where they want and the heck with others, then how about on Regent, or Seaborn, or Windjammer, or Sea Dream? How about dinner at Le Cirque, or the fanciest poshest restaurant in your town or Washington, DC? How about the movies?

As for trivial, I've seen people changing their babies diapers in public, once on the end of a bench I was sitting on. You may think it elitest but when I go to an upscale location to get away from the every day cares and annoyances, and seek to indulge myself in carefree luxury and peace and quiet, I do not want to have someone negate my efforts with screaming brats who dribble food out of their mouths while their parents make airplane noises as they fly the dripping spoon into their widely open mouths. How's that for a word image?

Let's get this straight. Kids are nice, they are necessary for the future of mankind, everyone likes them, to some degree, but that does not mean they are welcome everywhere.

And to further annoy Arizona, if that child were in the cabin next to me and woke in the middle of the night and started screaming (which I assume Arizona was meaning to happen based on his comment) I would be knocking on the door and wall and awakening the crew, at all hours of the night until the screaming stopped. And it is very obvious that Arizona recognizes, simply by wishing for the proximity of our cabins, that the baby would be screaming out loud sooner or later with nothing that anyone could do about it.

My wish for Arizona, on a more civil level, would be for his next door cabin wall sharers to be a newly wed couple whose bedboard abutted the shared wall.

I love humor!

Arizona07

Monsters come in all sizes, Mike.

We cruised on HAL to the Mexican Riviera in December, and although Holland America is also adult-oriented, there were many children & teens on board. (I also prefer fewer children.) But I found it a great deal more offensive to look at the "adults" who were inappropriately dressed, loud, and by any standard, totally obnoxious.

So I'll take a well-behaved child over that any day - at least you can reason with a child. Try telling a 55 year old man that jeans are inappropriate at dinner.

kfusto

Arizona, I can tell you that in my experience, when adults are behaving badly, the ships staff has no problem resolving the issue. When it comes to kids, they hold back because then they also have the wrath of the parents to deal with and it can get ugly.

So there are two sides to this story and our viewpoints are based on experiences, at least mine are.

CruiserMike

Arizona, I agree on your comments about adults. I just love 250 women in leotards or miniskirts. I love 250 to 300 pound men with beer guts that hide their cummerbunds at formal nights. And I too see the gregarious, loud, brutish and ghastly behaviour of those 'adults'.

But, as KFusto points out, adults can be dealt with easily. It is less convenient, even frowned upon, to throw a 6 moonths old or 4 year old in the brig.

But we confuse the issue. It is not whether I prefer, or choose between, adults acting badly, or babies and children acting their age. It is in fact that I do not want to pick either. I do not want either on my luxury cruise ship, nor at the table next to me at a nice restaurant. This is not about a choice of evils. No one has the right to violate the rules, decorum, ambience and expectations of a venue when it is common sense, or should be, that a particular venue is adults only. Period.

I don't tell a stroke victim to be glad he doesn't have cancer nor a breast cancer survivor to be glad it wasn't brain cancer. I don't want to be told that adults behaving badly are worse than screaming brats with clueless parents.

lia_b

CruiserMike, my goodness, you must have a had a bad childhood. I certainly understand the frustration of dealing with parents who let their kids do whatever they want without concern for those around you but to be upset at the sight of a diaper bag. Those are major issues. I guess there are no children in your friends/family group.

Anyhow, concerning the OP’s question, last year we traveled with my brother and sister in law and their nine month old on Disney cruise. Of course Disney was extremely child friendly, however there were so many logistical problems, aside from the unfriendly passengers involved that you have to be aware of and mentally prepared for upfront. Diapers and purified water for the baby were hard to come by. Even though my sister in law took what she thought was enough, she was running low on the last day. By the way, this took up a lot of luggage space. The caribbean ports we visited required us to take taxi’s to sightsee, not child seat friendly. Some taxis had no ac and the baby became very cranky. The baby was upset by the unfamiliar sorroundings, keeping them up at night. I can’t see Europe being that easy to navigate. My father-in-law was in a wheelchair the last time he visited Italy and was upset by the lack of handicap accesibility. If you can handle all the logistics, suggest a more family oriented line. Even Celebrity and HAL may be more tolerant in the summer.

I am considering booking a Med cruise with my family and I would lean more towards Celebrity and Princess before I do an adult’s oriented cruise.

CruiserMike

Lia, no, I had a good childhood. But you misread my intent on mentioning the diaper bags. I was merely trying to plant the image of a mother who, at any moment, might reach into it, whip out a new one, and proceed to change the baby right there. Why else carry a diaper bag...I know, his food, water, sun hat, SPF cream, Oils, booties, changes of clothes or bibs, sweaters for the chill plus it's a handy carryall. OK.

But the rest of your note was good. And I am amazed that Disney, who caters to kids, should not have planned better.

On the handicapped access, unfortunately most of Europe is that way. We just did Eastern Europe on our own and that's probably worse. I am amazed how many older people, and in wheelchairs and walkers, we see on cruises, bus tours, etc. I give them a lot of credit and expect I'll be the same way. Nothing will stop me. But, it is a fact, that if your have a disability or cannot navigate easily you will not be able to partaker of many tours and activities.

Not to denigrate anyone but in our litigious society I would not be surprised one day to see a Disabilities Act lawsuit filed against the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the town itself.