Cruising with small children....why?

[Paula_MacFan]

Some cruise lines seems more suited to children and families. I would hope families would gravitate towards those lines (Disney obviously, Carnival, RCI, etc). Some upscale lines seem more suited to older passengers, which I would expect to be more child-free voyages. I have a kid and a grandkid, but SOMETIMES I like an 'adult only' environment. If I go on a voyage expecting an adult only environment, and kids are running amok and/or there are screaming babies, I will be upset or disappointed. So I can see where the OP is coming from to a degree. I too have seen tired/cranky kids in environments where they clearly didn't want to be/shouldn't have been in the first place, but the selfish parents took them anyway. Doesn't mean I'm 'anti-kid' or 'anti-family' -- just my .02

[kkelle17]

We will be in the Epic in December with our 10 month old. Beware everyone, me may ruin your cruise...lol

[OneStrangeGuy]

We will be in the Epic in December with our 10 month old. Beware everyone, me may ruin your cruise...lol

It's NOT my kids that are the problem. It's all the other peoples kids! :rolleyes:

Edited October 28, 2012 by OneStrangeGuy

[euro cruiser]

Some cruise lines seems more suited to children and families. I would hope families would gravitate towards those lines (Disney obviously, Carnival, RCI, etc). Some upscale lines seem more suited to older passengers, which I would expect to be more child-free voyages. I have a kid and a grandkid, but SOMETIMES I like an 'adult only' environment. If I go on a voyage expecting an adult only environment, and kids are running amok and/or there are screaming babies, I will be upset or disappointed.

While I understand what you are saying, and can sympathize, the real issue is your expectations and whether or not they are realistic. Unless you sail on a line that by policy is child-free, you set yourself up for disappointment if you expect something that the environment is not set up to deliver. It may happen, but if it does not you have no one to turn to but yourself.

[Yvonne]

I, personally, wouldn't cruise if I had to take an infant along. I would prefer to wait until the child was at least 5 years old. I've seen other couples trying to comfort an infant on a cruise, looking frazzled, and I am just thankful I'm not in their shoes.

 

We are hoping to go on a Disney cruise in another year or two, with our daughter and her husband and their two children who would be 5/8 or 6/9 when we do. They will be able to enjoy, and actually remember, the cruise.

[Katana_Geldar]

Personally, I think a cruise is possibly one of the best vacations you can take with kids. What with kids club, baby sitters and adjoining and family rooms, there's a lot going for it.

 

They may not remember it but you'll have the memories and the photos.

[lovevacadays]

I brought my kids when they were 4 and 5 because we did a family cruise with 2 sets of grandparents, 3 nephews, a family friend with his daughter and wife. All told, 18 of us. We are now looking at doing another one next year with my step-brother, SIL, their 3 kids and our 2 kids. Ages will be 5-15 and they act well.

To me, a vacation is a cruise, going to Arkansas to "mine" for diamonds, or heading to the beach for a couple of days. I prefer taking the kids to places they will learn about different people, different cultures and see things that they do not get to see everyday.

We make it a learning experience, and believe me....DS remembers EVERYTHING.

 

Wow, off topic but that picture is amazing. You should enter it in a contest

[ntengwall]

I can totally see your point but we did take our two boys on a Royal Caribbean cruise when they were 3 and 5 and they had a blast (as did we). We brought the other grandmom with us as a dedicated babysitter and it worked well. We still got to go out at night and they boys still got to enjoy their days on the ship.

 

I can only speak for myself but ANYWHERE but home doing dishes and laundry is a vacation and worth taking--even if the kids come with you :) And especially if you make provisions to ensure you get your alone time while on the ship. Plus RC has an amazing kid's club that my boys loved so that helped a lot.

[lady_cruiser]

I am really sorry to see someone pi$$ed in your corn flakes! Really what does it matter to you and what do you really care about what others do on their family vacation. All you are doing with this thread is getting something stirred up for people to talk about.

Well I guess it worked because you seem to be very peed off. I took the OP's question exactly as what it was worded as. Just a simple question to understand why some people do things that other people wouldn't ever think of doing.

 

I would never dream of going hundreds of feet in the air and hang from a rope while gliding through the trees like Tarzan but I appreciate people telling me why "they enjoy it." How how would I have known it if someone didn't ask the question "why?" to begin with.

 

I cruise during the fall when not many kids are onboard and have seen dozens of kids from a couple of weeks old to young teenagers and I always wonder why cruise with kids when the parents can have some adult time (adult conversations included) without them.

 

Now some of the people here put it in prespective for me; family time with grandparents, in-laws, neices and nephews etc.

 

If it were not for the OP's question I wouldn't have thought of it that way.

[Bookish Angel]

I definitely did not want to haul strollers and all of the young child items. We cruised for the first time when my daughter was a teenager and that went pretty well.

 

I don't mind that others cruise with young children as long as they are age-appropriately behaved and the parents are doing their job to ensure a reasonable set of standards such as obeying rules for adult-only areas, child safety, etc.

[rvsullivan]

I definitely did not want to haul strollers and all of the young child items. We cruised for the first time when my daughter was a teenager and that went pretty well.

 

I don't mind that others cruise with young children as long as they are age-appropriately behaved and the parents are doing their job to ensure a reasonable set of standards such as obeying rules for adult-only areas, child safety, etc.

 

Wow are you asking a lot!!! You actually want someone to take responsibility for their actions?? LOL.

 

Nice post!!!

[rjp_1986]

I don't have children and I'm annoyed by badly behaved children, but there's an easy answer. People bring their children along because it's a FAMILY cruise for them. Everyone goes on vacations for different reasons and they go on different types of vacations. I don't think a cruise is anymore inappropriate than a land vacation. I don't plan to stop cruising when I have kids and I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable going on vacation without my children. It's all about balance, doing what's right for your family and knowing when it's time to take a fussy or tired child elsewhere.

 

Some people love spending time with their children and would give up "adult time" any day of the week to spend time with their kids. I know I feel that way with about my nephew.

 

I took my 4 year old last year and I'm planning another one when she is 6. Cruises are the same as any other vacation, and i think it's rude to not take a child on a vacation. Granted you may not be as relaxed as someone cruising solo, but you give up those rights when you become a parent. I know when she is grown, I will have my time to "fully" relax, but right now i get to do the 50/50 (relax 50% off the time and run around playing with my daughter the other 50%). It's the joys of patent hood and i wouldn't give that up for anything!

[crusinmama06]

Why did my girls start cruising as infants? Why are they going on their 13th cruise this month?

 

Look at page ONE and what Partman said. His wife died 18 days later. You never know how long you have on this Earth. Why wait?

 

No, my girls may not remember every detail of every cruise (although they do seem to remember a good majority of them starting in the toddler years).

 

But that doesn't matter because I DO.

 

If I die tomorrow - I have lived a wonderful life with my girls up until this point. I haven't wasted the past decade WAITING for some obscure number to start having these fabulous experiences with them - I have ALREADY BEEN LIVING these spectacular experiences with them.

 

And for that I am truly blessed :D

Edited November 3, 2012 by crusinmama06

[kkelle17]

Why did my girls start cruising as infants? Why are they going on their 13th cruise this month?

 

Look at page ONE and what Partman said. His wife died 18 days later. You never know how long you have on this Earth. Why wait?

 

No, my girls may not remember every detail of every cruise (although they do seem to remember a good majority of them starting in the toddler years).

 

But that doesn't matter because I DO.

 

If I die tomorrow - I have lived a wonderful life with my girls up until this point. I haven't wasted the past decade WAITING for some obscure number to start having these fabulous experiences with them - I have ALREADY BEEN LIVING these spectacular experiences with them.

 

And for that I am truly blessed :D

 

Well said :-)

[Cruisin' Chick]

Well I guess it worked because you seem to be very peed off. I took the OP's question exactly as what it was worded as. Just a simple question to understand why some people do things that other people wouldn't ever think of doing.

 

I would never dream of going hundreds of feet in the air and hang from a rope while gliding through the trees like Tarzan but I appreciate people telling me why "they enjoy it." How how would I have known it if someone didn't ask the question "why?" to begin with.

 

I cruise during the fall when not many kids are onboard and have seen dozens of kids from a couple of weeks old to young teenagers and I always wonder why cruise with kids when the parents can have some adult time (adult conversations included) without them.

 

Now some of the people here put it in prespective for me; family time with grandparents, in-laws, neices and nephews etc.

 

If it were not for the OP's question I wouldn't have thought of it that way.

 

 

I may be being picky, but I don't know of any cruiseline that would allow an infant less than six months of age to be on a cruise.

 

And here's an answer to your wondering: many of us adults will have plenty of adult time while our kids are enjoying spending time in the kids' program.

[circuitrider]

I may be being picky' date=' but I don't know of any cruiseline that would allow an infant less than six months of age to be on a cruise.

 

And here's an answer to your wondering: many of us adults will have plenty of adult time while our kids are enjoying spending time in the kids' program.[/quote']

 

Our son's first cruise was on Disney, and he was 12 weeks old at the time (had his 3mo birthday on the ship). Maybe rules have changed, I dunno.

[SnorkelBabe]

I've never understood the idea that one shouldn't take a child on a vacation that he/she won't remember. Do you play with your under 6yo? Buy them toys? Take them out for ice cream or to the zoo? Why bother? They won't remember that either.

 

My kids are a huge part of my life. I cannot imagine leaving an under 6yo at home while the rest of us take off on vacation. I would be miserable the whole trip, missing her like crazy. When our kids were little, my husband and I got plenty of adult conversation and alone time in the evenings after the kids were asleep, no need to leave them with a babysitter for a week for that.

 

As far as Disney, there isn't a lot that's more adorable than a 3yo dressed as her favorite princess, getting a hug from her favorite princess. Or watching her stare in awe at all those dancing dolls in Its a Small World. If we'd waited till my youngest was six to go to Disney, we'd have completely missed that stage.

[puts down popcorn]

 

If you don't want to cruise with your young kids then don't. Easy. If you don't want to cruise with other people's young kids then it gets more complicated as you can see ;)

 

[picks up popcorn again]

That's easy, too. :) Find an adults-only cruise. Most cruise ships allow children on board, and even go out of their way to attract families by providing kids clubs. Those who don't want to cruise with other people's kids have no standing to deem cruise ships inappropriate for kids, when the cruise lines obviously don't.

[Doug R.]

I agree with the OP. I know enough to not even begin to tread on the illusions of parenthood. It's not about the kids. It's about the parents. What the kids enjoy, or what others enjoy, or what anybody thinks is appropriate or well spent money, the parents live in a dream world and will be offended at any question of what they do as absolute perfect parents and fellow travelers. I think a cruise experience before the age of about 10 or so is a waste of money.

 

Even more soggy cornflakes!:rolleyes::D

[RoofingPrincess]

That's easy, too. :) Find an adults-only cruise.

Easier said than done. Adults-only cruises are nearly impossible to find, at least at a reasonable price... maybe some of the luxury or boutique lines do it, but I haven't been able to find any of the mass-market or slightly upscale ones leaving from US ports that do.

Edited November 6, 2012 by RoofingPrincess

[calliopecruiser]

Easier said than done. Adults-only cruises are nearly impossible to find, at least at a reasonable price... maybe some of the luxury or boutique lines do it, but I haven't been able to find any of the mass-market or slightly upscale ones leaving from US ports that do.

 

I discovered that P&O Cruises have adult-only ships.....They are a UK line, but do offer transatlantic and transpacific cruises that leave from US ports.

[GORDONCHICK]

This might help some:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1460

[rjp_1986]

Why did my girls start cruising as infants? Why are they going on their 13th cruise this month?

 

Look at page ONE and what Partman said. His wife died 18 days later. You never know how long you have on this Earth. Why wait?

 

No, my girls may not remember every detail of every cruise (although they do seem to remember a good majority of them starting in the toddler years).

 

But that doesn't matter because I DO.

 

If I die tomorrow - I have lived a wonderful life with my girls up until this point. I haven't wasted the past decade WAITING for some obscure number to start having these fabulous experiences with them - I have ALREADY BEEN LIVING these spectacular experiences with them.

 

And for that I am truly blessed :D

 

Great post!!!!!! Thank you for that!

[GTO-Girl]

At the Past Guest party on our last cruise (Oct-Dream), they recognized the YOUNGEST cruiser who just turned Platinum.......HE WAS 5 YRS OLD...:D

 

We loved it!!!!

[fergusonvt]

Unfortunately we didn't discover cruising until our son was 18 but he went on our first cruise with us. We always took him on land based vacations and he remembers all but the very earliest. Many people don't have family they can leave young children with and in my opinion that doesn't mean they shouldn't take a cruise. Lets face it, no matter where you are you still have to look after your children but it's so much nicer on a cruise ship.

 

That being said we book cruises now when most children are in school.

[Travelcat2]

What's funny is when people mention misbehaving children. Let me tell you, I've run into far more adults who misbehave on vacation then children do. And that is worse because you would think adults would know better.

 

.

 

There is something about this argument that makes me crazy. Misbehaving children and misbehaving adults have absolutely no relationship to one another. If an adult is drunk or misbehaving, a crew member can ask (nicely or forcefully if necessary) for the person to stop their behavior. If they do not, they can be escorted to their cabin.

 

Has anyone seen the results of an adult nicely asking a child to stop doing something that is annoying other passengers? The parent goes ballistic. Even if you ask politely tell the parent that their child is doing something (kicking the back of your seat on an airplane, putting their hands in the food on the buffet, etc.), the parent pretty much glares at you. Their children are perfect and can do not wrong.

 

I am not against children of any age sailing with family on a cruise. But, I do have one question and would really appreciate a well thought out answer rather than getting blasted for asking. Why are so many children allowed to run (or walk) around the ship without supervision? A cruise ship is like a small city -- strangers everywhere..... yet, children are permitted to do what they wish without supervision. Sometimes children are in groups but really do not know each other personally. The trouble they could get into is endless . . . after all, there are hundreds of cabins that may not have parents in them where they can go on their own. It seems to me that being on a cruise ship gives a false sense of security.