Kids on HAL

[lv9777]

I just finished reading quite a few negative posts about children on HAL cruises. I'm wondering if we made a wise choice to try HAL for our next cruise. We are a couple in our forty's with two preteen children. We didn't want a party ship and we are traveling with my parents, so we thought HAL might be a good option. Now I'm worried. While my children are well trained, they are still children. :eek: We are cruising over the Christmas holiday. Are there usually quite a few children? Should we book a more child friendly line?

[CleoT]

I'm with you on this. I, too, have two children, sailing with both sets of grandparents, and we're not the "high energy" or party crowd. HAL seemed to be the perfect fit.

 

I was really upset yesterday by two seperate threads of people pushing their rude comments, but I think they really are in the minority.

 

You sound like us. We're very conscientious about how our children behave in public. They are still kids, but they're generally very well behaved. Moreso when they were younger, we'd receive comments from fellow diners at any given restaurant that they were surprised how well our kids behaved. Now that they're older and it's expected that they act accordingly, we don't get it as much. But we still are constantly on them about their behavior. And now that they're preteen, it seems sometimes we have to remind them more now than a few years ago. ;)

 

That being said, we're loud and rowdy at home. We don't have such a strict policy at home because we want them to understand the difference between public and private. I still feel, after reading these posts, that my kids are more than prepared to sail HAL.

 

My dad, now he's the one I'm worried about, because if someone gives him grief about wearing a polo shirt to the mdr on regular nights he'll have no problem putting them in their place. :eek:

 

I'm not worried anymore. I think we will all have a great time. I loved our Princess cruise, but my in-laws really enjoyed HAL and wanted us all to experience the line. I hope you and your family have a great time! :)

[Cruisin'Lady]

you have nothing to worry about. Your kids will have a fun time! We cruised with our pre teen dd just before the Christmas break cruise last year. There was only 2 other kids her age during that trip and she had a blast. The cruise people were expecting over 200 kids when we got off so during Christmas season there are plenty of kids.

 

That said..if your kids are respectful and curtious they will not have a problem with anyone either. Dont worry about the negetivity that some posters show here about kids. They do not speak for the majority of wonderful people that travel on HAL. Happy cruising!:D

[startwin]

Don't let the postings on here get to you. There are quite a few people who post on CC - which is a tiny, tiny percentage of the number of actual cruisers - who insist on pushing their own agenda, opinions and keeping the cruiseline to themselves. HAL would be horrified!;)

 

It is true that HAL usually attracts the older crowd on longer cruises, but we (being older!) have enjoyed cruises where there have been quite a few youngsters onboard and watched them having a great time. HAL seems to have a good childrens programme too.

[Linda&Vern]

We've been on two HAL Christmas cruises. I'd rather have the kids than some of the rude, grumpy adult guests! The kids always seem to be having a great time. Kids will be kids, but they've never taken away from our cruise experience. Go and enjoy. It's a wonderful way to spend the Holidays. If we didn't miss our adult kids and grandkids so much we would always cruise at Holiday time.

[maxout]

My children have had great times on Hal and have been more than accepted and well taken care of. Don't let the few grumpy "Pedophobes" we have on here dissuade you from a great experience for them and you!

 

There are those that if you handed them a gold bar, would complain it's too heavy.

[esther e]

May I give you my view, as a senior citizen with grown kids and 5 grandkids? I think the biggest problem with kids on a cruise ship (and I'm not including all kids) is the parents who "are on vacation" so therefore are not going to keep an eye on the kids. None of you sound like this and that's wonderful. However, we have been on ships where the kids are out of control and the parents look the other way. When we were rearing our kids none of our friends (or us) had this attitude. Today's parents are much more relaxed and unfortunately don't care about anyone but themselves. (And I making this statement as "generally".)

 

If I were on a ship with kids, I would hope they'd belong to all of you. You sound reasonable.:)

[Roz]

I don't have children, so I don't have a dog in this fight. That said, I've never been bothered by children on any of my HAL cruises, nor have I heard any anti-child sentiment expressed by other passengers. I don't know what posts you're referring to, but I'd just ignore them. I hope you and your family have a good time on your cruise.

 

Roz

[kalliekae]

May I give you my view, as a senior citizen with grown kids and 5 grandkids? I think the biggest problem with kids on a cruise ship (and I'm not including all kids) is the parents who "are on vacation" so therefore are not going to keep an eye on the kids. None of you sound like this and that's wonderful. However, we have been on ships where the kids are out of control and the parents look the other way. When we were rearing our kids none of our friends (or us) had this attitude. Today's parents are much more relaxed and unfortunately don't care about anyone but themselves. (And I making this statement as "generally".)

 

If I were on a ship with kids, I would hope they'd belong to all of you. You sound reasonable.:)

 

 

Well Said!!!!

[CleoT]

May I give you my view, as a senior citizen with grown kids and 5 grandkids? I think the biggest problem with kids on a cruise ship (and I'm not including all kids) is the parents who "are on vacation" so therefore are not going to keep an eye on the kids. None of you sound like this and that's wonderful. However, we have been on ships where the kids are out of control and the parents look the other way. When we were rearing our kids none of our friends (or us) had this attitude. Today's parents are much more relaxed and unfortunately don't care about anyone but themselves. (And I making this statement as "generally".)

 

If I were on a ship with kids, I would hope they'd belong to all of you. You sound reasonable.:)

 

Very well said.

 

And I hate to be rough on my generation, but I have to agree with your "generalization". I think it's why I can be sensitive sometimes. I see how some kids are being raised and I know the parents' ways are a black eye on our generation. I am fortunate, though, to live in a small town which still holds true to the values I was raised with, so my kids have the added benefit of other well-behaved children around them. For the most part. ;)

 

To the OP, I'm sorry I jumped on your thread like I have. I was just feeling the same way you did and didn't want to post a new thread just like it. Hope you don't mind. :)

[lv9777]

Thanks for the encouragement. We are keeping our booking on HAL and I feel better after reading the responses to this thread. Unfortunately, being a parent means never being "on vacation" unless the kids are with the grandparents. ;) No matter what cruise line we are on, I expect and enforce that my children be respectful of others. However, there are adults who are often annoyed by the sounds and activity of children. Hopefully this group is the minority on our cruise. I would assume that if you did not want to be disturbed by children you would generally not cruise during school break.

 

CleoT when are you cruising? We are booked on the Eurodam Dec 18. I'm hoping there are several preteen kids and a good kids program because my children are quite social.

[E-500]

With your approach and attitude you will have a great time and so will the kids. On 12/18 there will be lots of kids their age. No worries!

[mechcc]

I read some of those posts and really do not understand people who go on a main stream cruiseline and then complain that there were children on the ship. However, in the case where the O'dam used the midship pool as the adults only and the aft pool as the family pool - HAL should take the blame on that one. As that designation is different than what is normal on HAL's ships and therefore, there should of been more of a presence of the crew in educating all passengers at both pools.

 

My children are grown but I love seeing children having a good time on a cruise. The only time I have been annoyed has been when parents thought the no children rule in the adult pool and casino did not pertain to their child. Those situations were corrected by the crew quickly and certainly were not the children's fault.

[CleoT]

Thanks for the encouragement. We are keeping our booking on HAL and I feel better after reading the responses to this thread. Unfortunately, being a parent means never being "on vacation" unless the kids are with the grandparents. ;) No matter what cruise line we are on, I expect and enforce that my children be respectful of others. However, there are adults who are often annoyed by the sounds and activity of children. Hopefully this group is the minority on our cruise. I would assume that if you did not want to be disturbed by children you would generally not cruise during school break.

 

CleoT when are you cruising? We are booked on the Eurodam Dec 18. I'm hoping there are several preteen kids and a good kids program because my children are quite social.

 

We're sailing on the 1/2/11 sailing. We've got a few posters on our roll call who will be bringing kids, so we're excited. Too bad we aren't on the same cruise as you.

 

When we went on our cruise last year and the kids stayed at home with the grandparents, I called them at every port, even did homework once over the phone. I didn't have to but I missed them. I thought we'd get on that boat and forget we had kids for a week. Not quite. ;)

 

OTOH, both sets of grandparents will be on our cruise and they've both offered to watch the kids at night if we want to go off on our own or do something that's less family oriented. I call this having my cake and eating it too! ;)

[mechcc]

We're sailing on the 1/2/11 sailing. We've got a few posters on our roll call who will be bringing kids, so we're excited. Too bad we aren't on the same cruise as you.

 

When we went on our cruise last year and the kids stayed at home with the grandparents, I called them at every port, even did homework once over the phone. I didn't have to but I missed them. I thought we'd get on that boat and forget we had kids for a week. Not quite. ;)

 

OTOH, both sets of grandparents will be on our cruise and they've both offered to watch the kids at night if we want to go off on our own or do something that's less family oriented. I call this having my cake and eating it too! ;)

 

 

Lucky you! Have a wonderful family cruise.:)