Partying

[bvhboat]

I am so tired of reading questions like this, it is a cruise, people are on vacation. people will be drinking. Some people save all year for their one week of fun. If you don't want to see it then rent a condo somewhere and don't leave it

 

Like!

[kingoftheicedragons]

I've now been on seven Carnival cruises, and I have never seen any sort of "party" life on Carnival. Carnival has really become more of a family line. And on some cruises, particularly a 5-day on the Fascination, the average age was well over retirement age. If you're going during the summer, the average age will probably drop a little bit. I've seen and had more issues with drunks on land at festivals, fairs, outdoor concerts, etc., then I ever have on Carnival.

[charw20]

Thanks so much everyone, like I said before if there are a lot of drunk people just wanted to be prepared!! :) as for the people sick of questions like this......don't read them....;)

[MrPete]

We don't drink and our children, ages 4, 10, 12, & 15, haven't ever been around the party scene. We are booked on the Carnival Fascination. I don't really want our vacation to be the time my kids see sloppy drunk party people all over. I can't really remember from when I cruised before if there was a lot of it. I am not saying whether people are to party or not.....just curious of what they could possibly see??

 

Just like a wedding, where even "free" booze is flowing, you don't really see a party scene. You see people having fun. But there's always that one that overdoes it.

 

That is what you may see in board, but usually only in the wee hours of the night, and usually in the adult venues.

 

Your kids won't even know what drunk behaviour is. To them, it they're watching, it will just look like stupid behavior, but only if they are doing stupid things.

 

But I have to assume you would see it too, and direct them somewhere else. It really is just that simple. It's not like you're watching TV.

 

And as they get older, they will see more and more stupid behavior from others. Your job is to make sure they can see its out of the ordinary.

 

Don't worry about what might be. Worry about your plans when something happens. That's where your parental talent will come into play.

[dburdan]

If seen, use it as a teaching opportunity.

[cruizinisthebest]

We don't drink and our children, ages 4, 10, 12, & 15, haven't ever been around the party scene. We are booked on the Carnival Fascination. I don't really want our vacation to be the time my kids see sloppy drunk party people all over. I can't really remember from when I cruised before if there was a lot of it. I am not saying whether people are to party or not.....just curious of what they could possibly see??

 

They will see all kinds of people doing things that people do on vacation. Some drinking. Some not. Some sunbathing. Some not. Lots of eating, relaxing, swimming, talking to one another, planning their day in the morning, talking about their day at night. Shows if you take them. A casino that they can't go in. Gift shops, and much more. I'm not really sure you can avoid them seeing people drinking or drunk unless you go on a vacation where alcohol isn't present. You can take them to the beach or stay in any hotel and there's a good chance someone will be intoxicated. We do drink on ocassion and will be bringing our kids for the first time in August. Having cruised before, I don't expect them to see anything they can't handle. But if they do, we will explain and keep it moving. Most people have sense enough to keep things in check, no matter what type of vacation. But there's always a few fools who overdue it. I avoid them myself and certainly wouldn't want my kids around them. But the average cruisegoer is not going to frighten your kids. Go and have a good time.

[cruizinisthebest]

I think 1 of the biggest Partys was kids night, The 11pm to 3am Night Owl Party..Those kids were partying hard...:D

 

I have to say on one cruise, can't remember which, the teen club was hoppin'. I actually wanted to stroll through as the music was much better and you knew the crowd was simply having fun. The vacation is for everyone who pays to go. Do what you love and don't worry about anyone else!

[JP4GA]

We have been on several cruises and have yet to run into or see drunk behavior.

 

Go in with a positive attitude and just know how to steer your kids attention away from things you don't want them to see, or use the situations to your advantage to teach a life lesson.

[zanem]

We have been on 6 Carnival cruises and 4 of those were shorter cruises, 3-5 days. One of those was a chartered music cruise on the Inspiration and even that one wasn't bad as far as people drunk.Only remember seeing 2 people that were in bad shape. WE usually cruise with our children and grandchildren ( kids ages now are 4, 8 and 10) We do tend to stay near the kids slides when we are outside though, so there are a lot of families in that area. Kids should be fine.

[Nightlockkk]

All the drunks really do is dance... oh wait maybe that's just me... lol This will be my 7th cruise coming up in 10 days and drunks on cruise ships are like they are on land.. except I've never really seen any fall all over the place crazy though. Like a lot of people said, you mostly see the very intoxicated people getting back on the ship after port. Haha

[pbmsmile]

like!

double like!

[skittl1321]

I have never been on the Fascination and don't know what itinerary she has, but I am not a drinker, and not a partier. I have never seen sloppy drunk people on board. We spend a lot of our day inside playing trivia though, so I've also never seen the Hairy Chest Contest, but I do still know that happens- so maybe there are drunks around too?

 

Usually there are two pools and one is quieter than the other. Drunks are obviously not going to be hanging around the kids club. I think a lot of the bad behavior also happens at nightclubs at night, and we aren't there.

 

 

There will probably be a lot of people who are -drunk-, but not more than 1 or 2 who are exhibiting behavior you don't want your children around. Exception: spring break, and some of the really cheap 3-4 day cruises. If you go on an 8-day, you are going to have more sedate passengers than shorter cruises. If you go Baltic, you'll do better than Bahamas.

[allie3490]

It's always funny to see how the parents that try to shelter their kids from real life situations - in this case alcohol - are the ones whose kids are the first ones to go rebel and drink their heads off at the first chance.

[maggie cruises]

We don't drink and our children, ages 4, 10, 12, & 15, haven't ever been around the party scene. We are booked on the Carnival Fascination. I don't really want our vacation to be the time my kids see sloppy drunk party people all over. I can't really remember from when I cruised before if there was a lot of it. I am not saying whether people are to party or not.....just curious of what they could possibly see??

 

kudos to you...our 4 kids have never been around the party scene either! All are well adjusted, socially fit yound adults, adults and tweens.

 

you are not hiding them from life...you are raising them with an excellent value system!

 

don't listen to those who will now post that "you have to let them experience it all"

 

and btw..my kids travel.... solo...on school trips...and with us......it works, trust me!

 

my advice is to keep it a family trip and to discourage the making of "new best friends"..aka..as total strangers and their parents.....and just enjoy the time with your 4 kids as it goes by way too quickly and before you know it....the eldest will not be able to travel with you..not because he/she doesn't want to, but because college, coaches, part time minimum wage jobs, etc...will beckon!

 

as for me and mine, we stick together and have a great trip and don't let others interfere with it. we also get to bed by 11pm. we also have started cruising the Med, which in and of itself brings out a better level of pax and we are sailing all different line nowadays, Carnival being our last choice.

[maggie cruises]

It's always funny to see how the parents that try to shelter their kids from real life situations - in this case alcohol - are the ones whose kids are the first ones to go rebel and drink their heads off at the first chance.

 

absolutely incorrect!

[Gilgo Surfer]

It's always funny to see how the parents that try to shelter their kids from real life situations - in this case alcohol - are the ones whose kids are the first ones to go rebel and drink their heads off at the first chance.

 

Total nonsense.:cool:

 

To the OP. This is a legitimate concern. If you have the extra $ to shell out I would certainly consider Disney. ( My sis swears by them with her little ones). If not I would just do my best to keep them in a family environment and away from the partying element which of course is not appropriate for small children.

[Havingfun2010]

A cruise ship is designed for drinking. Where ever you have drinking, someone will be drunk. Everyplace you go on the ship, someone is selling you a drink. You can't hide from this on a ship. Any cruise line, including Disney.

 

A cruise ship has many different nationalities and types of people. They will hear language you will not like. It will happen.

 

A cruise ship will have all types of clothing, or lack of clothing at the pools. This will happen. Some curltures see nothing wrong, others think it's the worst. It will happen.

 

So for the poster, if you are not ready for your kids to see the world and withness and be around other cultures, than a cruise ship is not the place for you. However, if you want them to experience traveling, other countries, and have a taste of other cultures, than take the chance, and let them witness it. It won't hurt them to see. It only hurts to do.

[Gilgo Surfer]

Don't listen to people who tell you " cruise ships are designed for drinking"

 

Cruise ships are designed for you to have a wonderful time with family and friends.

[i5trucker]

We don't drink and our children, ages 4, 10, 12, & 15, haven't ever been around the party scene. We are booked on the Carnival Fascination. I don't really want our vacation to be the time my kids see sloppy drunk party people all over. I can't really remember from when I cruised before if there was a lot of it. I am not saying whether people are to party or not.....just curious of what they could possibly see??

 

Please don't come on a Carnival Cruise, I don't want to be with a bunch party poopers and little kids. There is a cruise line that caters to you called Disney.

[cruizinisthebest]

There's alcohol on Disney!! :p

 

I think there is alot of flame fanning with this thread. Perhaps this is the way of this board. People could take offense to the OPs question and to some of the responses.

 

Overall I think folks need to stop being so judgmental. Drinking as a responsible adult doesn't call into question your "value system." Being concerned with what your kids see doesn't make you a stuffy or snotty person, either.

 

People raise their kids and live their lives how they choose. If the OPs kids come across anything that confuses or bothers them, as a parent you explain, use it as a teaching moment, don't linger or make judgmental statements, and move the heck on. Cruising, just like any other vacation where people sacrafice their hard earned money to enjoy, is for everyone that's on the ship other than the staff whose working. I once saw a woman who had a heart attack on board and was traumatized. So this notion that drunk folks are scary monsters is ridiculous. Worry about your own family and enjoy and don't be so quick to deem people who drink bad overall. Nobody is perfect. Not not even if you don't drink. :rolleyes:

[babyher]

A cruise ship is designed for drinking. Where ever you have drinking, someone will be drunk. Everyplace you go on the ship, someone is selling you a drink. You can't hide from this on a ship. Any cruise line, including Disney.

 

A cruise ship has many different nationalities and types of people. They will hear language you will not like. It will happen.

 

A cruise ship will have all types of clothing, or lack of clothing at the pools. This will happen. Some curltures see nothing wrong, others think it's the worst. It will happen.

 

So for the poster, if you are not ready for your kids to see the world and withness and be around other cultures, than a cruise ship is not the place for you. However, if you want them to experience traveling, other countries, and have a taste of other cultures, than take the chance, and let them witness it. It won't hurt them to see. It only hurts to do.

 

I wouldn't say that a cruise was designed for drinking, but drinking certainly is an element of cruising for some. With that can come the possibility for certain behavior that the OP may find objectionable for her kids to see. Of course this can also be said for a lot of land based vacations places also.

 

On 6 cruises I have never seen anything really over the top as far as drunken behavior. But it certainly has been known to happen.

 

You stick close to the family friendly areas, stay away from the adult "hot spots" and you should be OK

[djwood24]

just keep them from running around the ship and spilling my drinks and all will be fine....

[roosterlamp]

:eek: Bring the blind folds.............nothing would shock me. Seen all kinds doing all kinds of things. Good luck!

[ronandannette]

Word to the wise...if your itinerary includes Grand Turk (and I think it does), avoid Margaritaville in the afternoon. This, much more so that any isolated incident that might occur on the ship, is probably the kind of atmosphere you're concerned about. I'd also advise re-boarding at the ports earlier, rather than later as that's when the people who have gotten sloppy drunk generally tend to come staggering back.

[charw20]

Thank you so much everyone again for your responses. I am very surprised how many are judging on here because I just wanted to be prepared for what my children may see. I tried to be very specific that I didn't care whether a person chose to drink or not, just wanted to be prepared. I am not at all trying to shelter my kids like others think. Once again thank you to the ones especially that just gave me an insight of what they may see so I can prepare them. :)