Children/Teenager Dress Code

[MIAMIMEDIA]

The "dining with adults in mind" is actually geared more towards those parents who want to bring infants and toddlers into the specialty restaurants, where the cost and ambiance is more for adults than for kids who could not possibly appreciate the food and service that's involved with such a destination. If they allowed kids in those venues, it would most definitely change the atmosphere. Even you can admit that most infants and toddlers can be loud, disruptive and all the rest. There has to be some place on board a ship where grown ups can go without having to worry about sharing their time with a crying infant or a toddler who's not used to limits on behavior.

 

Totally agree! If you noticed my cruise history we did not cruise 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 during these times I was either pregnant or with a newborn. Then did not cruise until 2005 because I could not do diapers, strollers and toddlers on a ship. Speciality dining and a crying fusy baby do not mix. But my 9 year old and 11 year old can handle the experience. (They know all their forks;)) Fine dining and an upscale culinary culture is not foriegn to them. They like trying new cuisine. We are a family of foodies.

 

Come on... make my day and agree with me that my older kids (not toddlers) can handle Muranos. :p

[LaurieHoffman]

thank you for the information... We leave in about 2 months and this will be our first Celebrity cruise. Just got back today from a Carnival cruise and their dress code is way more relaxed and I do know this. I was worried about having to purchase a new wardrobe for my son but he dress pants and lots of collared shirts and I can even add a tie if needed. My daughter is easier.. she does have the dresses already that will work.

 

Thanks for asking this question

[Lois R]

Totally agree! If you noticed my cruise history we did not cruise 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 during these times I was either pregnant or with a newborn. Then did not cruise until 2005 because I could not do diapers, strollers and toddlers on a ship. Speciality dining and a crying fusy baby do not mix. But my 9 year old and 11 year old can handle the experience. (They know all their forks;)) Fine dining and an upscale culinary culture is not foriegn to them. They like trying new cuisine. We are a family of foodies.

 

Come on... make my day and agree with me that my older kids (not toddlers) can handle Muranos. :p

 

Hi,:) I don't normally ever reply to this type of thread but I do have a question...do you know that dinner in Murano's takes about 2.5 hours?

I am glad your kids are well behaved and "know their forks" but that

is still a long dinner for a 9 and 11 year old. They may be young foodies

but they are still young children.

Also, you are basically asking for your kids to be "the exception to

the rule", correct?

I have seen it before and the Maitr'd was put between a rock and

and hard place.....:rolleyes::eek:

 

And I am not writing this to be rude to you but just giving my thoughts.

[MIAMIMEDIA]

Hi,:) I don't normally ever reply to this type of thread but I do have a question...do you know that dinner in Murano's takes about 2.5 hours?

I am glad your kids are well behaved and "know their forks" but that

is still a long dinner for a 9 and 11 year old. They may be young foodies

but they are still young children.

Also, you are basically asking for your kids to be "the exception to

the rule", correct?

I have seen it before and the Maitr'd was put between a rock and

and hard place.....:rolleyes::eek:

 

And I am not writing this to be rude to you but just giving my thoughts.

 

Not rude at all. Yes my kids would be fine. They are comfortable dining at a restuarant with multiple courses. They have dined NCL Cagney's (3 1/2 stars for us) and RCCL Chops (5 stars for sure!).:p Usually dining in the main dining room (all courses) takes a while as well (almost 2 hours).

 

No, I am not asking for my kids to be an exception to the rule. If that is the rule I would not even ask the Maitr'd to accomodate us. I am just saying that Celebrity might need to rethink the rule and change the 12 yr old rule. Mosts parents with kids 8 and under would not even consider paying $30 for their kids to dine at a Specialty restuarant.

 

 

Hey just another reason to cruise with Celebrity again when all my kids are 12.

2013 is not that far away.

[Harley Granny]

So basically the thread is no longer about the proper dress of the children?

 

Just in case it is.....I haven't cruised at all yet but from the research I've done, those clothes will be just fine.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Softball20]

Softball and MiamiMedia.....Instead of cruising Celebrity and complaining that your kids feel left out of activities and you don't feel it fair, how about this as a solution.... try another line that caters more to your children. :rolleyes:

When my dh and I cruise to be together, we choose a different line than if we were traveling with children. Just makes everyone happier. If we go on RCL with lots of family, I don't complain that the children's pool area is loud with kids running and screaming or that the teens roaming the ship or taking up lounge chairs bother me.

AND....My Dh and I don't get a discount on RCL because we don't use the rock climbing wall or ice skate or disco. We don't get a discount if we don't want to see movies at the pool on Princess.

So why would your children get a discount if they can't do the activities you deem appropriate for them, but the cruiseline doesn't? If you look at it from another view, you might see your complaint is frivolous and easily solved. ;) As parents we often make choices when deciding vacation spots, resorts, movies etc. in favor of the kids and their enjoyment. It's easily done when picking out an appropriate cruise line too.

 

Really???? You are upset because your young teen can't use the spa services? Really? Really?

 

I wasn't complaining - just joining in on a point that I felt was well taken. We don't care for lines like RCL -- my kids don't even like them - and none of us would even think of cruising Carnival again. Those lines just aren't for us - the schtick or gimmicks of the rock wall, etc., do nothing for us. We -- which includes my two children - prefer the lines where we get better food and better service. These are the types of family vacations we choose as a family and those are the types of lines that work for us. Yes, we do make lots of choices for our family entertainment, and being able to enjoy nice cruises or resorts with my kids is among them. I would also submit that that is why they do enjoy good food, service, etc. as they have been exposed to it since they were little, both at home (we're major foodies) and out.

 

I have no problem with "adult areas" and I agree that kids don't belong in the casino. What I do have a problem with is this attitude that kids seem to be second class citizens. I am seeing it on so many threads. These amenities that are not specifically designated for adults (i.e, an adult pool, and adult only show, etc.) or otherwise prohibited by law, should be there for us all to enjoy, and all users, regardless of age, should respect the venue, fellow passengers, etc. I'm lucky that my kids were a bit older when specialty dining really started to take off as it was never an issue for us. I agree that these aren't the best venues for toddlers and very small children. I also completely agree/understand that there are some children that don't behave well in that type of venue or can't handle a long dinner, and I would hope that those parents would act appropriately. (and yes, we all know that there are does who don't). I do, however, have just as much problem with ill-behaved "adults" in any dining venue, which we have all experienced as well. A couple years ago the table of diners next to us in the MDR had tons of fun banging their spoons against their glasses for entertainment. They then took to playing "music" by running their fingers around the rims of their glasses. All of this only got louder and more pronounced if we looked their way and it happened several times during the week. Not one word was said to these "adults" by any member of the dining staff. My point here is that bad behavior can transcend chronological age and I just don't see how we can presume that kids, just by virtue of their age, are going to behave poorly.

 

Luckily for me, too, my kids haven't been turned away from a spa service, and really, we don't even use them that often. My older daughter loves to go for a massage while on board and I believe she was about 16 when she went for her first one -- a birthday present from us to be able to have a massage while on board. Because she was under 18, I had to accompany her to the spa and sign the release, but they were well aware of her age and had no problem with it. I think that both of my kids have done manis/pedis on board, and I think that my youngest would have been about 14 or 15 for her first one on board. Again, I brought her down and they were well aware of her age. They do them at home, it's not illegal, it's not a disruptive activity, so I'm just not sure why there should be a problem. I don't recall what lines these were on - probably Princess and or RCL, but I don't recall any issue.

 

Honestly, and this is why I just need to keep my thoughts to myself, what got me irritated with this thread was the first response to an innocent question about appropriate dress for a kid, wherein the responser added a gratuitous comment about being well behaved. I just didn't see that one had to do with the other, and it was yet another example of how it seems that it is automatically assumed that kids are going to misbehave.

[kitty9]

QUOTE

Do the kids go in the casino in Las Vegas?...do they play in a bar and drink liquor? There are always facilities that are not open to kids just because they are kids and they probably don't belong there.

 

THESE THING ARE ILLEGAL FOR KIDS! Swimming in a pool isn't. Eating in a speciality restuarant is not illegal... but my 11 yrs old can not eat there! My children have eaten in all the speciality restuarants on Royal Caribbean and on NCL but Celebrity requires them to be 12.:eek: If I want my kids to eat escargot, lobster, and filet mignon and can pay for it...they should be allow to do so.:)

 

Actually, there are no "laws" that prohibit minors from gambling on the high seas. Once they leave the territorial waters of a country, they can do anything they please. That's why some ships have 18 as the age for gambling. I suspect cruise lines have this "rule" about gambling in order to not have to subject the adult gamblers to having infants sitting in laps or toddlers pulling the handles of the slot machines.

 

BTW, your kids can have lobster, escargot and filet in the main dining room without having to pay more in the specialty dining room. No one prohibits kids from eating those things.

[kitty9]

Not rude at all. Yes my kids would be fine. They are comfortable dining at a restuarant with multiple courses. They have dined NCL Cagney's (3 1/2 stars for us) and RCCL Chops (5 stars for sure!).:p Usually dining in the main dining room (all courses) takes a while as well (almost 2 hours).

 

No, I am not asking for my kids to be an exception to the rule. If that is the rule I would not even ask the Maitr'd to accomodate us. I am just saying that Celebrity might need to rethink the rule and change the 12 yr old rule. Mosts parents with kids 8 and under would not even consider paying $30 for their kids to dine at a Specialty restuarant.

 

 

Hey just another reason to cruise with Celebrity again when all my kids are 12.

2013 is not that far away.

 

If you think Chops is 5* are you in for a surprise. I found Chops to be absolutely horrible on both visits (if I have a bad experience once, I like to give the place another chance to see if it was a one time thing). But alas, Chops was absolutely, totally and completely horrible, from the food to the service. First, one of our group did not come because she was quite ill. The maitre'd lectured me on how terrible I was not to inform him earlier and that he would charge me for her meal if I ever did that again (I found out 5 minutes before we left for dinner). Then the food we got was just plain bad---French Onion soup that was burnt to a crisp--the bread in the soup was black. The filet mignon was also burned black, although ordered medium rare. This was pretty much the same for both visits.

 

So like I said, if you think Chops is top notch, you're going to fall over after experiencing the specialty restaurant on Celebrity.

[Ma Bell]

Since you are going on Solstice you'll be happy to know that children are welcome in the Tuscan Grill, where they have filet and lobster, and also Silk Harvest both specialty restaurants. The only one that has an age restriction is Muranos.

[Ma Bell]

Double post.

[FlaMilkman]

For the past 7 years our family (kids ages 13, 11 and 10) takes one cruise per year. Three years ago we added my in-laws to the party. For the most part we have taken Carnival with the exception being Celebrity 4 years ago. The reason we love to cruise is that there is typically more for the kids to do on a cruise than on a land vacation.

In January it will be my father's 85 birthday and we will be a party of 12. We selected Celebrity because we believed that it was the best choice for all three generations. My kids are all old enough to understand that not everything in life is geared towards kids and vice versa. I am highly confident that they will have an amazing vacation even if they can't use an adult pool or eat in a specialty restaurant. I doubt they will feel slighted at all.

[xcomet]

So well said!!!!

Ill second that!

[xcomet]

For those who have kids and have traveled on Celebrity recently to the Caribbean: (Actual recent experience)

 

I have a teenager and small kids. (Ages 13, 11, 9) Are Khaki pants and a collared shirt, for boys, on regular nights OK? Are NICE dark sneakers for boys OK? NOW girls... How about sundresses and nice sandals on regular nights?

 

Thanks

 

Hi,

I just came off the Oasis( RCL close to Celebrity I think)

and my kids were shocked at the dress of the adults in the MDR, never mind the kids. My son 13, wore khaki pants and a golf type shirt on casual nights with grey tennis shoes. On the formal nights , dress pants , long sleeve collared shirt and a tie, with dark vans.

My girls wore sundresses, skirts and tops , with sandals, except on formal nights . They wore dressy dresses and heels but they are 16 and 18.

We saw plenty of cute little girls wearing sunday dresses, and sundresses with sandals. And I must repeat , the kids were dressed better than the adults.

Although, there isnt supposed to be shorts or jeans in the dining room, I would say that 50 percent of folks were dressed that way.

Hope this helps!

[Ma Bell]

The Oasis and Solstice are two completely different experiences.

[xcomet]

The Oasis and Solstice are two completely different experiences.

 

Thanks Ma Bell,

but she asked about dress code, I personally think that is similar

[Ma Bell]

No, Oasis is much more casual. You don't see adults dressed like that on Celebrity. There may be an occasional one, but for the most part people are well dressed.

[MIAMIMEDIA]

I just had to respond because I was bothered :mad: by the inferences....

It is not about the ingredients at the Specialty restaurants, it is about my family eating TOGETER. So that my children share that experience with my husband and I.

You missed the point I was trying to get across about equal access. :eek:

I do not plan on telling my kids, "BTW... you can not go the Specialty restaurant because of an over 12 policy." They will be grateful to be on a family vacation, on such a beautiful ship. We will just not eat there until they are old enough to share the Specialty Dining experience (Murano) as a family. They will not be slighted. You can not miss what you do not have. We are grateful just to be healthy and together!

Finally, Thanks to all of those who clarified the dress code.

I hope you all enjoy your vacations.:D

[eandj]

I just had to respond because I was bothered :mad: by the inferences....

 

It is not about the ingredients at the Specialty restaurants, it is about my family eating TOGETER. So that my children share that experience with my husband and I.

(You were the one who brought up the.. if I can pay for it, my childeren should be allowed to eat filet, escargot, lobster etc. Nothing about togetherness there.)

You missed the point I was trying to get across about equal access. :eek:

 

I do not plan on telling my kids, "BTW... you can not go the Specialty restaurant because of an over 12 policy." They will be grateful to be on a family vacation, on such a beautiful ship. We will just not eat there until they are old enough to share the Specialty Dining experience (Murano) as a family. They will not be slighted. You can not miss what you do not have. We are grateful just to be healthy and together!

 

 

.:D

 

You're hitting the point in your last paragraph that we were kind of pointing out. That just because there are some rules on Celebrity that you don't agree with, doesn't mean they should be changed. There are reasons for them. Nor should you feel this "restricted" feeling you said you have. But instead find other ways to make your family vacation enjoyable. Not eating in one particular venue together really isn't going to kill the cruise.

 

I'm sure you and your family will have a great time on the Solstice. By the way, take your kids to Bistro on 5 if you want a different dining venue. And some very good food. Or have a picnic up in the Lawn Club area. And yes, head to Tuscan Grill restaurant for their lobster and steak.;)

[eandj]

Thanks Ma Bell,

but she asked about dress code, I personally think that is similar

 

Celebrity is indeed less casual in the evenings to RCL. People for the most part, tend to be more "put together" on Celebrity ships. ESPECIALLY during non school vacations periods when there are many fewer families cruising.

[junglejane]

Celebrity is indeed less casual in the evenings to RCL. People for the most part, tend to be more "put together" on Celebrity ships. ESPECIALLY during non school vacations periods when there are many fewer families cruising.

 

I agree that Celebrity is less casual than RCL (based on my recent Mariner cruise). I don't think it has anything to do with fewer families, though. The families were not the slobs or dress-code offenders in my experience.

[eandj]

I guess I explained that wrong. When we cruise during the school year and especially on longer cruises, the demographic is different with an older mean age. Older people, (and I count ME in that as late 50's) tend to cruise X with "traditional" in mind. And that can mean dressing up for dinner more than the "younger" adults who are happy with the casual 24/7 approach. Neither is too right or too wrong in the right situation.;) We just notice the change.

[Onessa]

You're hitting the point in your last paragraph that we were kind of pointing out. That just because there are some rules on Celebrity that you don't agree with, doesn't mean they should be changed. There are reasons for them. Nor should you feel this "restricted" feeling you said you have. But instead find other ways to make your family vacation enjoyable. Not eating in one particular venue together really isn't going to kill the cruise. . . .

I read Miamimedia's op on this thread differently -- she wasn't saying that she was planning to openly flaunt the rules or even necessarily complaining that rules existed. While we all understand that rules exist, we probably have all wished that some rules could be changed. Miamimedia was looking for some folks to understand that "fine dining" is something that her family enjoys and that the rule barring her kids from Muranos is something SHE would like to see changed.

 

If the negative responses to her statement had been more along the line of "gee, we like having one dining spot that is adults only" rather than "do you realize just how long a dinner at Muranos lasts?!" and question the poster about allowing their kids go in the casino in LasVegas -- perhaps she would have let it lie (lay :confused:).

 

There did seem to be a bit of a backlash to a reply to a post that was off-target. If I were the OP, I certainly would have expected that since I was asking a realtively simple question (expectations evening dress for tweens/teens on casual nights) -- I would get a few courteous replies, not implications that my children may or may not "behave" whist in the MDR.

 

BTW - I have a 14YO DD and our family (including her) have actually sailed on X, and there are some spots that I agree should be off-limits based on age -- I don't always agree with the cruiseline as to what areas/activies those are, but I do concur with their right to make and enforce those rules.

[MIAMIMEDIA]

I read Miamimedia's op on this thread differently -- she wasn't saying that she was planning to openly flaunt the rules or even necessarily complaining that rules existed. While we all understand that rules exist, we probably have all wished that some rules could be changed. Miamimedia was looking for some folks to understand that "fine dining" is something that her family enjoys and that the rule barring her kids from Muranos is something SHE would like to see changed.

If the negative responses to her statement had been more along the line of "gee, we like having one dining spot that is adults only" rather than "do you realize just how long a dinner at Muranos lasts?!" and question the poster about allowing their kids go in the casino in LasVegas -- perhaps she would have let it lie (lay :confused:).

 

There did seem to be a bit of a backlash to a reply to a post that was off-target. If I were the OP, I certainly would have expected that since I was asking a realtively simple question (expectations evening dress for tweens/teens on casual nights) -- I would get a few courteous replies, not implications that my children may or may not "behave" whist in the MDR.

 

BTW - I have a 14YO DD and our family (including her) have actually sailed on X, and there are some spots that I agree should be off-limits based on age -- I don't always agree with the cruiseline as to what areas/activies those are, but I do concur with their right to make and enforce those rules.

 

 

Exactly!!! You totally understood everything. Bless you!;)

[eandj]

 

 

BTW - I have a 14YO DD and our family (including her) have actually sailed on X, and there are some spots that I agree should be off-limits based on age -- I don't always agree with the cruiseline as to what areas/activies those are, but I do concur with their right to make and enforce those rules.

 

Exactly.

 

Perhaps if the OP hadn't spent two pages arguing that her children should have "equal access" since she is paying the same amount for them, and complaining that X doesn't allow spa treatments for minors or have a kids' specific pool or that her children should be "allowed" to eat whatever, I would have caught her "point" much sooner. Family togetherness is a far cry from complaining about the ship rules for four+ posts. Especially if it's their ship of choice.:rolleyes:

 

Longboysfan comment early on re children's behavior had nothing to do with what they wear on the ship. It apparently hit a raw nerve in the OP and others. As I said earlier, the Op will find many fun venues that are family friendly and has no need to complain or ask Celebrity to reason it for her.