Can 12 year old ,10 and 6 dine alone in MDR?

[AKCoachie]

Newbie question, we are planning on dining one night in the Steakhouse on the CCL Magic. Is it OK to send our kids to dinner on their own? Interested in others opinion on this one. Of course we know that there are other options. The kids would probably prefer to grab a couple of sushi rolls, a pizza or something from the buffet. Just asking...

[cruzeluver]

Fair question I don't think I have ever seen asked here. I'm thinking your best bet would be to ask once on board to get the best possible answer.

 

Also, be prepared to have your parenting decisions questioned by the holier-than-thous who will ridicule you for allowing them to dine unescorted, even though they know nothing about you or your children.

[mikesteg]

We saw a young boy (~11) dining on his own every night on CCL Miracle. That was even in Your Time dining, though that ship was seating people with the same staff each night when possible. We eventually invited him to our table since that was kind of ridiculous. (The parents being MIA for a week, not the kid ... who was well behaved.)

 

That said, I don't see that typical kids that young would enjoy the extended dining experience on their own.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is a question I have never seen asked before.

 

I agree -- I would ask the dining room manager once on the ship what their policy is.

 

What happens if your children finish dinner before you do? Are they suppose to go back to the cabin?

[paul929207]

I too have never seen this question posted.

 

Regardless of what is said here and what you decide to do, talk to the maitre 'd before sending the kids to dinner alone.

[aohkay]

Seems a bit young IMO.

[ducklite]

I think it depends on your kids, but I'm not sure most kids should do this. If you are seated with others, in my opinion it would seem like you were expecting them to mind your children. I know I'd be uncomfortable with it if I was your tablemate.

 

I'd just take them to the buffet and get them fed before you go to your dinner.

[6rugrats]

I have no idea why they couldn't do this. Highly doubt the staff would kick them out. You know your own children; mine would have much rather eaten pizza from the buffet, followed by an ice cream chaser, or ordered room service.

[perlk]

One question about dining with kids. I don't have any, and I'm not terribly fond of other people's kids. Can one request a table in the MDR away from families with children? Or do they ask you this? I don't have any time dining, I have an 8:30 reservation.

[MCC retired]

Once was on a cruise ,Early Dining , where ajacent table had 3 kids around the OP's kids ages .Their parents were on Late seating (by their own doing :eek:) .

They were tolerated and closely watched by the head waiter . They were served quickly every night , then vanished before they became too disruputive.

[AKCoachie]

Thank you all for your honest thoughts,we would first have to see what the chemistry at our table is like. If we felt comfortable, and the kids, I would mention the possibility. If it really made anyone, other than "a holier than thou, who can't be pleased anyway" feel uncomfortable, then i'm sure the kids would pick up on it, as would my wife and I, and we would make other arrangements. They may not even wan't to do this anyway. I just want to be aware of options, opinions and rules. I will certainly mention it to the dining staff in the event that this matter progresses.

[AKCoachie]

BTW, the kids will be aware of these opinions and I would like them to consider, as with all of their other actions while on board, how their behavior and actions affect others.

[Andee]

It isn't something I would have felt comfortable doing because, IMHO, it involves asking someone else to be responsible for my children. At 6, my children (brilliant though they might have been) would have needed help reading a menu. They got along with each other pretty well most of the time, but I couldn't have said that they never got into a minor squabble in public that might have required "the look" from Mom or Dad. And, on occasion, something got spilled at the table that might have required adult help to clean up.

[paul929207]

One question about dining with kids. I don't have any, and I'm not terribly fond of other people's kids. Can one request a table in the MDR away from families with children? Or do they ask you this? I don't have any time dining, I have an 8:30 reservation.

I don't think there is any facility for such a request in advance. Once on the ship if you find there are disruptive children nearby, you can ask the maitre 'd to change your table.

 

You don't indicate the cruise line, when your cruise is or the itinerary you are sailing. Many have lots of families and it could be difficult to find a table that is not near so children.

[perlk]

I'm going on RC Liberty of the Seas on Jan 16 to Western Caribbean. And thanks for the info!

[sail7seas]

Thank you all for your honest thoughts,we would first have to see what the chemistry at our table is like. If we felt comfortable, and the kids, I would mention the possibility. If it really made anyone, other than "a holier than thou, who can't be pleased anyway" feel uncomfortable, then i'm sure the kids would pick up on it, as would my wife and I, and we would make other arrangements. They may not even wan't to do this anyway. I just want to be aware of options, opinions and rules. I will certainly mention it to the dining staff in the event that this matter progresses.

 

 

I didn't understand your question to imply you would be sharing a table with others assigned at random. I thought with you being a family of five, you would get a table for six for just you.

 

Do you think it would make the 'assigned' person feel responsible for your children if they were there and you were not? Would they have to help them in ordering their dinner, read menus to the younger ones etc? Would you have some expectation of this 'stranger' while you were away from the table?

[bplazo]

Personally, I think that your children are too young to go to the MDR on their own especially the six year old. I would decide later on in the cruise if you even want to go to the specialty restraunt because you just might enjoy the MDR.

 

On one cruise, my husband and I were just too tired to dress up on formal night and decided just to get room service. However, my daughter and her friend both sixteen liked to get dress up and they went to the MDR by themselves. We did stop by around dessert to check up on the girls.

[RoofingPrincess]

The kids' programs usually have at least one night when the kids dine as a group with their leaders in the buffet restaurant.

Why not just ask about it the first day onboard, and then make your steakhouse reservation for that night?

[AKCoachie]

I did not mean to confuse. I have no idea what the seating arrangements will be. On the one hand it might be nice to meet others at dinner,(as a family), other hand, relaxing to be seated at a table with just our family. we plan on dining together all but this one night. We have 8:15 seating. The seating time was the only dining request we made. We will most likely try the Italian specialty restaurant one night. If so, and we have a private table, I will inform maitre'de so they can give our table away. I am a first time cruiser and I was under the impression that the tables were larger than 5. It makes sense that there would be tables of various sizes. I am still not sure if this means Carnival will assign us to one with just our family. As far as reading the menu, our ten or twelve will be capable of reading, explaining, or assisting their precious little sister, if this is the option we chose. The only expectation of any stranger that I have is show some respect/courtesy to others. Same expectation I have for myself and kids. That being said, that is why I'm interested in other's opinions.

[sail7seas]

I think it wonderful your six year old can manage a formal multi course dinner starting at 8:15 P.M.

 

Hope you all have a great cruise.

 

[AKCoachie]

We are limited by some scheduling,we want to go to steakhouse on the night of our Cozumel shore excursion. It is the third night. Again, after 2 nights in the MDR and listening to these opinions, we will make a better more informed decision.

[serene56]

Might I suggest making a reservation for 7:15.

Get the kids to the camps at 7pm and make your way to your reservation.

 

No way would I want to send the kids that young to the dining room alone with out an adult.

Even eating at the buffet for a 6 year old with no adult.

 

Something else to consider-- by taking that late seating the kids will have a lot of down time-

Camps are closed from 5 pm til 7pm with activities really picking up at 8pm.

 

So you see, while you are at dinner the kids will be missing out on those activities. and will have nothing to do between 5 and 8 (except get ready for dinner as most of the other kids will be at the early seating

[Colorado Kat]

I would guess the kids would prefer the buffet. If they want the Formal Dining room, as long as they are well behaved, nobody should have a problem with that.

 

Sometimes the kids's clubs all eat dinner together in the buffet.

[Colorado Kat]

One question about dining with kids. I don't have any, and I'm not terribly fond of other people's kids. Can one request a table in the MDR away from families with children? Or do they ask you this? I don't have any time dining, I have an 8:30 reservation.

 

Perlk - Usually the families with kids choose the early dining times. I don't think it will be an issue for you.

[6rugrats]

I didn't understand your question to imply you would be sharing a table with others assigned at random. I thought with you being a family of five, you would get a table for six for just you.

 

 

I did not mean to confuse. I have no idea what the seating arrangements will be. On the one hand it might be nice to meet others at dinner,(as a family), other hand, relaxing to be seated at a table with just our family.

.

 

As a family of five, I agree with sail7seas; I think you'll be at a table with just your family. That's been our experience, and if the kids had shown up alone, I don't think anyone would have paid any attention to this.