Please don't bring non-potty trained kids in the pools!

[chengkp75]

Splash parks (no standing water) also seem like they are included in the exclusion ONLY because there are other water features nearby (like slides with standing water). I guarantee there is no difference in how Disney filters their water for their toddler splash park than how Carnival filters their splash parks. The difference is the Disney splash parks don't have anything else in them...just the splash park, no slides, etc. Carnival should have a dedicated splash pad area for kids, and then put the slides separately...wouldn't have been that hard for them to do.

 

I am less concerned with people taking little ones in the splashpark area on the ship than the pool. The swim diaper will keep everything contained if something were to happen and the clean up would be limited to a very small spot if it DID leak out.... I don't really mind people bending that rule honestly....

 

And I can guarantee you that Disney does in fact have different filtration, chlorination, and sterilization in their toddler splash area if it is designated for children with swim diapers. Disney is not immune to USPH regulations, and the baby only splash areas (swim diapers) have to meet both construction and operation differences. These are inspected every time a USPH inspection is made, typically twice a year. If they didn't meet these requirements, most likely the ship would fail the inspection and be detained from embarking passengers.

 

Google USPH VSP and look for the VSP 2011 Manual. Go to Annex 13.8 and you will find the 8 pages of regulations just for the baby only pools. If you look at the construction manual, section 31 will list the 4 pages of construction requirements.

 

Whether Carnival feels the cost of separating a baby only pool area and meeting the requirements is cost effective, is as I've said, a business decision of theirs, based on their demographics.

 

So, since there is no standing water (and this is changing, because RCI has had problems with kids burning their feet in the baby only areas, and USPH is looking at this, and has given RCI approval for a 2" standing water depth), that makes a dirty diaper okay? The water from the sprays that gets on the child and runs down past the diaper is okay? I guess USPH sees it differently.

[Scoobygang]

Well I have 2 kids and yes accidents do happen. I remember my 8 year old threw up near or in a pool on the Magic and they had to close the place down. Poor kid felt soooo bad because he didn't feel it coming, it was genuinely one of those I'm so exicited I might barf (and he did) kinda accidents 😖 BUT these parents are just being selfish!! Kids that are not potty trained are not allowed in any of the water activities (pool, slide etc) EVEN if they are wearing swim diapers. Swim diapers are not allowed as well. So as a parent of an 18 month old toddler that loves he water, I think that sucks! I mean maybe Carnival should come up with a small splash area designated for toddlers and small children. Disney is the only cruise line, that I know, has one of these and it makes SOOOOO much sense. I mean I wouldn't want to swim in feces and I wouldn't put my child in the water either because it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the cruisers. However, I do think it's unfair that I have to pay FULL price for my toddler yet he's not allowed (with good reason) to have some water splashing fun on board, :confused:

[BNBR]

So, since there is no standing water (and this is changing, because RCI has had problems with kids burning their feet in the baby only areas, and USPH is looking at this, and has given RCI approval for a 2" standing water depth), that makes a dirty diaper okay? The water from the sprays that gets on the child and runs down past the diaper is okay? I guess USPH sees it differently.

 

 

So now standing water is ok? And by the way, there are sprayers in the baby area on the Oasis. The 2" of water in the baby area is so much different than the 2 inches in the non-baby area?

 

Can you not see that the rules are bending and changing right in front of you? Heck, it's your example... Hard to stand by the firm science when they loosen their own rules and make exceptions....

[JMKreno]

 

Carnival does not make the rules about the children in the pools, the USPH makes that rule, Carnival has to enforce it to meet USPH requirements and be allowed to embark passengers in US ports. And also by USPH rules, it is clearly marked (mandatory signage, verbiage and size) on all ships.

 

Pools, yes, splash parks, no. In fact, the CDC/USPH outlined newer guidlines if I am not mistaken a few years ago outlining that as long as a splash pad does not circulate with other water (standing or pool) swim diapers can be allowed. Why do you think Disney can do this, but others can't? They are more family focused than anyone so they cater to this crowd and actually follow the regulations. Carnival likely could do the same but likely there is a cost or just aren't bothered enough with it.

 

Please note that on land at MOST splash play areas, water is RECYCLED and often not sanitized as well as they should be (if at all sometimes...) On ships, they are not allowed to use chlorine or other methods of sanitation in the FRESH WATER splash pads and I can guarantee they are not storing water in reservoir tanks and recirculating that water. In fact, Carnival Splash pads are probably BETTER for toddlers than land based pads because 1) the water is very low if not completely drained (just wet) 2) isn't likely recycled meaning that any fecal/nastiness would likely get washed away almost immediately. No non-potty trained kid at 18 months is going to go down a big slide alone so the risk of contamination is quite low in other areas.

 

So if someone wants their little one in the splash pad and they keep them there in a swim diaper I don't think that's horribly selfish....it's like the speed limit. i have a road where the limit is 45 but it's 4 lanes wide, with median, and goes 2 miles through the middle of nowhere connecting 2 parts of town. The road could EASILY handle 65, which most people go, but the police LOVE pulling people over on this stretch (with convenient built in motorcycle sized bump-outs designed to specifically obscure motorcycle cops) because the speed limit is 45. It's only 45 because it connects 2 residential "zones". This is one of those areas I have no guilt going faster, same with the splash pad, the risk isn't really there for those areas and I think the rules SHOULD BE REVISED to match land-based splash pads.

[First and Ten]

Well I have 2 kids and yes accidents do happen. I remember my 8 year old threw up near or in a pool on the Magic and they had to close the place down. Poor kid felt soooo bad because he didn't feel it coming, it was genuinely one of those I'm so exicited I might barf (and he did) kinda accidents BUT these parents are just being selfish!! Kids that are not potty trained are not allowed in any of the water activities (pool, slide etc) EVEN if they are wearing swim diapers. Swim diapers are not allowed as well. So as a parent of an 18 month old toddler that loves he water, I think that sucks! I mean maybe Carnival should come up with a small splash area designated for toddlers and small children. Disney is the only cruise line, that I know, has one of these and it makes SOOOOO much sense. I mean I wouldn't want to swim in feces and I wouldn't put my child in the water either because it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the cruisers. However, I do think it's unfair that I have to pay FULL price for my toddler yet he's not allowed (with good reason) to have some water splashing fun on board, :confused:

 

this is a good post....why I say that is you think its unfair with the current set up. You have expressed an opinion and think it should change. Can I ask a question. If you decided to still go on Carnival, would you follow the rules? If so, your position is much different than another poster who said "if I don't like the rules, I will lie to get around them" (paraphrasing)

Edited August 10, 2016 by First and Ten

[WpgCruise]

However, I wouldn't blame you one bit for not getting quarantined - who would? And if you tried your best to be careful about spreading and an accident happened, it just is what it is.

 

O.K. then, thanks for playing but there are no prizes for you.

[vacin8r]

Look, the pro-rule people have valid points. It is tough on CC at times, because it is easy to make the assumption that the venn diagrams of those who complain about kids in the pools, kids in the buffets, kids in the dining room, kids in the steakhouse, kids on the lido, kids in the piano bar, kids walking past the casino, kids in the nightclub, kids alone on the ship, kids on the ship period all mostly align. I respect the desire for being as healthy as possible. Many also believe that responsible parents can give their kids a good time and know if they can handle a pool without a good chance of an accident. I would also bet most problem are from situations where the parents know when the risk is high, and still buck the system. That's where the norovirus story is a good analogy. Here's to hoping whatever issues anyone has with others on their cruises, we can all still have a good, healthy time.

[chengkp75]

Pools, yes, splash parks, no. In fact, the CDC/USPH outlined newer guidlines if I am not mistaken a few years ago outlining that as long as a splash pad does not circulate with other water (standing or pool) swim diapers can be allowed. Why do you think Disney can do this, but others can't? They are more family focused than anyone so they cater to this crowd and actually follow the regulations. Carnival likely could do the same but likely there is a cost or just aren't bothered enough with it.

 

Please note that on land at MOST splash play areas, water is RECYCLED and often not sanitized as well as they should be (if at all sometimes...) On ships, they are not allowed to use chlorine or other methods of sanitation in the FRESH WATER splash pads and I can guarantee they are not storing water in reservoir tanks and recirculating that water. In fact, Carnival Splash pads are probably BETTER for toddlers than land based pads because 1) the water is very low if not completely drained (just wet) 2) isn't likely recycled meaning that any fecal/nastiness would likely get washed away almost immediately. No non-potty trained kid at 18 months is going to go down a big slide alone so the risk of contamination is quite low in other areas.

 

So if someone wants their little one in the splash pad and they keep them there in a swim diaper I don't think that's horribly selfish....it's like the speed limit. i have a road where the limit is 45 but it's 4 lanes wide, with median, and goes 2 miles through the middle of nowhere connecting 2 parts of town. The road could EASILY handle 65, which most people go, but the police LOVE pulling people over on this stretch (with convenient built in motorcycle sized bump-outs designed to specifically obscure motorcycle cops) because the speed limit is 45. It's only 45 because it connects 2 residential "zones". This is one of those areas I have no guilt going faster, same with the splash pad, the risk isn't really there for those areas and I think the rules SHOULD BE REVISED to match land-based splash pads.

 

Wow, you are wrong on so many points here. If you cared to look at the VSP that I quoted, you would see that in addition to not recycling water with another pool (separate water supply), the baby only pool must have a turn-over rate 12 times as high as the pools, must have a higher chlorine content than the pools, must have a UV sterilizer that the pools do not have, and must have an auto shutdown of the water sprays if any of the filtration or sanitizing system fails. Why does Disney do this? Because they invested in having a special pool area, just like RCI does on their Freedom, Oasis, and Anthem class ships, but not on their other classes of ships.

 

All ship's pools, splash areas, water slides, etc., can be operated in two ways: flow through and recirculation. Salt water RWF's (recreational water facilities, to save typing) may be used in flow through, where sea water is pumped directly into the pool, and the excess overflows back to sea. This mode can only be used when the ship is more than 12 miles from shore. When the vessel is less than 12 miles from shore, a flow through RWF must be either changed to recirculation mode, or drained. Fresh water RWF's are all on recirculation, all the time. Baby only RWF's must be potable water, they cannot be salt water, so they are recirculated.

 

Who told you that they are not allowed to use chlorine on ships? That is just not true. As per the USPH rules, all RWF's, when in recirculation mode must have a residual halogen (chlorine or bromine) level, especially the baby only RWF's. All pools, whether fresh or salt, whether a swimming pool, a wading pool, children's pool, or "interactive RWF" (water slide) must be between 2-5ppm chlorine at all times. As I stated above, the baby only RWF's on Disney and RCI must be 3-10ppm.

 

And I can also guarantee you that there are water tanks for the pools, called buffer tanks. They are not the full volume of the pool, but the water from the skim gutter goes back to the buffer tank, and the pump takes suction from there, through the filters, through the chlorination and acid injection pumps and monitors, and back to the pool. The buffer tank allows for evaporation of the pool water, splashing on deck, etc., and even salt water pools, when full, the buffer tank will have an automatic fill up of fresh water whenever the buffer tank gets low.

 

So, in fact your argument that the ship's splash pads should be changed to meet the shore based ones is a step backwards. Did you see my post where the CDC says that 80% of land pools would fail their inspections, while most cruise ship pools receive minor infractions, usually regarding record keeping, on every USPH inspection? So which would you rather have your kids swimming or splashing in? The ones that fail a sanitation inspection, or one that meets the highest sanitation standards in the world. And believe me, the EU's ShipSan program, and the WHO's ship sanitation program are not much different from USPH.

 

And the USPH/CDC are not quite "government funded pool scientists", but generally every one is a PhD in infectious and contagious disease and epidemiology. I did not mean to denigrate BNBR's family, and clarified my statement in my next post. There is a very large difference between someone who knows how to install equipment that follows what an epidemiologist defines as best practices to prevent infectious outbreaks. I am a blue collar professional, but I defer to the experts when it comes to things like diseases.

[Sugaree5335]

I can kind of see both sides of this. A kid who isn't potty trained at all (or a sick kid who is potty trained for that matter) shouldn't be in or around the pool. Honestly, the thought of traveling more than necessary with a kid that isn't potty trained is my probably my personal version of hell. But I get that not everyone feels that way or has the option of leaving the little ones behind.

 

But, I don't think anyone is arguing that a child who is completely non-potty trained should be allowed in the pool.

 

It seems that there is a grey area that we're getting caught up in where the kiddo is 99% potty-trained. My kid (who won't be going on my next cruise) is in that area right now. He's mostly there during waking hours. We haven't had an accident in a while now. A few weeks maybe. But I still put him in a swim diaper when we go to the pool (which is allowed in my town), just in case. And I always have extra clothes in the car if we're out and about. Again, just in case. We've never had an incident, but I'd rather be safe (safer) than sorry. If I were taking him on a cruise today, then I'd probably let him play in the splash pad area. I'm not a huge fan of cruise-ship pools anyway, so that's not really a consideration.

[JMKreno]

Wow, you are wrong on so many points here. If you cared to look at the VSP that I quoted, you would see that in addition to not recycling water with another pool (separate water supply), the baby only pool must have a turn-over rate 12 times as high as the pools, must have a higher chlorine content than the pools, must have a UV sterilizer that the pools do not have, and must have an auto shutdown of the water sprays if any of the filtration or sanitizing system fails. Why does Disney do this? Because they invested in having a special pool area, just like RCI does on their Freedom, Oasis, and Anthem class ships, but not on their other classes of ships.

 

All ship's pools, splash areas, water slides, etc., can be operated in two ways: flow through and recirculation. Salt water RWF's (recreational water facilities, to save typing) may be used in flow through, where sea water is pumped directly into the pool, and the excess overflows back to sea. This mode can only be used when the ship is more than 12 miles from shore. When the vessel is less than 12 miles from shore, a flow through RWF must be either changed to recirculation mode, or drained. Fresh water RWF's are all on recirculation, all the time. Baby only RWF's must be potable water, they cannot be salt water, so they are recirculated.

 

Who told you that they are not allowed to use chlorine on ships? That is just not true. As per the USPH rules, all RWF's, when in recirculation mode must have a residual halogen (chlorine or bromine) level, especially the baby only RWF's. All pools, whether fresh or salt, whether a swimming pool, a wading pool, children's pool, or "interactive RWF" (water slide) must be between 2-5ppm chlorine at all times. As I stated above, the baby only RWF's on Disney and RCI must be 3-10ppm.

 

And I can also guarantee you that there are water tanks for the pools, called buffer tanks. They are not the full volume of the pool, but the water from the skim gutter goes back to the buffer tank, and the pump takes suction from there, through the filters, through the chlorination and acid injection pumps and monitors, and back to the pool. The buffer tank allows for evaporation of the pool water, splashing on deck, etc., and even salt water pools, when full, the buffer tank will have an automatic fill up of fresh water whenever the buffer tank gets low.

 

So, in fact your argument that the ship's splash pads should be changed to meet the shore based ones is a step backwards. Did you see my post where the CDC says that 80% of land pools would fail their inspections, while most cruise ship pools receive minor infractions, usually regarding record keeping, on every USPH inspection? So which would you rather have your kids swimming or splashing in? The ones that fail a sanitation inspection, or one that meets the highest sanitation standards in the world. And believe me, the EU's ShipSan program, and the WHO's ship sanitation program are not much different from USPH.

 

And the USPH/CDC are not quite "government funded pool scientists", but generally every one is a PhD in infectious and contagious disease and epidemiology. I did not mean to denigrate BNBR's family, and clarified my statement in my next post. There is a very large difference between someone who knows how to install equipment that follows what an epidemiologist defines as best practices to prevent infectious outbreaks. I am a blue collar professional, but I defer to the experts when it comes to things like diseases.

 

Excellent post. This is what I was waiting to see. You are not an "Expert of the CDC" but a well informed individual with some extensive knowledge. You were an Engineer and that is the information I personally needed. Can't argue with that! :)

Edited August 10, 2016 by JMKreno

[chengkp75]

 

No one on this thread seems to be an "expert" working for the USPH, yet the topic continues? If so, please speak up now! This is simply viewpoints on a topic coming from each person's point of view, life experiences, and information we've all learned on our own.

 

 

Either way, it doesn't matter. I agree that non-potty trained kids shouldn't be in pools (as well as inebriated adults, elderly with incontinence, sick passengers, etc..etc..) and people should follow those rules, but the splash pad rules probably should be revised to match other lines and the recommendations from the CDC/USPH to match those on land. that's my opinion and why I will probably turn an eye on people doing that...

 

Well, I was a Chief Engineer on cruise ships for 4 years, and was trained by the USPH/CDC in the application of the VSP. When you work on a cruise ship that calls at US ports, the VSP affects nearly every aspect of your working life, and following procedures must become "muscle memory" or the ship will not only fail inspections, but cause some serious outbreaks of infectious diseases.

 

I don't get where you feel that the splash pad rules are different between lines. There are different rules for differently constructed RWF's, and because Disney and some RCI ships have invested in these, they can follow the different rules, within those specific areas. I believe even BNBR stated that RCI only allows swim diapers in a small area of the splash zone, so there are two sets of rules on the same ship.

 

And again, you want to replace a strict requirement for pool sanitation with a less strict one? USPH for state/local?

[BNBR]

Wow, you are wrong on so many points here. If you cared to look at the VSP that I quoted, you would see that in addition to not recycling water with another pool (separate water supply), the baby only pool must have a turn-over rate 12 times as high as the pools, must have a higher chlorine content than the pools, must have a UV sterilizer that the pools do not have, and must have an auto shutdown of the water sprays if any of the filtration or sanitizing system fails. Why does Disney do this? Because they invested in having a special pool area, just like RCI does on their Freedom, Oasis, and Anthem class ships, but not on their other classes of ships.

 

All ship's pools, splash areas, water slides, etc., can be operated in two ways: flow through and recirculation. Salt water RWF's (recreational water facilities, to save typing) may be used in flow through, where sea water is pumped directly into the pool, and the excess overflows back to sea. This mode can only be used when the ship is more than 12 miles from shore. When the vessel is less than 12 miles from shore, a flow through RWF must be either changed to recirculation mode, or drained. Fresh water RWF's are all on recirculation, all the time. Baby only RWF's must be potable water, they cannot be salt water, so they are recirculated.

 

Who told you that they are not allowed to use chlorine on ships? That is just not true. As per the USPH rules, all RWF's, when in recirculation mode must have a residual halogen (chlorine or bromine) level, especially the baby only RWF's. All pools, whether fresh or salt, whether a swimming pool, a wading pool, children's pool, or "interactive RWF" (water slide) must be between 2-5ppm chlorine at all times. As I stated above, the baby only RWF's on Disney and RCI must be 3-10ppm.

 

And I can also guarantee you that there are water tanks for the pools, called buffer tanks. They are not the full volume of the pool, but the water from the skim gutter goes back to the buffer tank, and the pump takes suction from there, through the filters, through the chlorination and acid injection pumps and monitors, and back to the pool. The buffer tank allows for evaporation of the pool water, splashing on deck, etc., and even salt water pools, when full, the buffer tank will have an automatic fill up of fresh water whenever the buffer tank gets low.

 

So, in fact your argument that the ship's splash pads should be changed to meet the shore based ones is a step backwards. Did you see my post where the CDC says that 80% of land pools would fail their inspections, while most cruise ship pools receive minor infractions, usually regarding record keeping, on every USPH inspection? So which would you rather have your kids swimming or splashing in? The ones that fail a sanitation inspection, or one that meets the highest sanitation standards in the world. And believe me, the EU's ShipSan program, and the WHO's ship sanitation program are not much different from USPH.

 

And the USPH/CDC are not quite "government funded pool scientists", but generally every one is a PhD in infectious and contagious disease and epidemiology. I did not mean to denigrate BNBR's family, and clarified my statement in my next post. There is a very large difference between someone who knows how to install equipment that follows what an epidemiologist defines as best practices to prevent infectious outbreaks. I am a blue collar professional, but I defer to the experts when it comes to things like diseases.

 

I highly respect your comments. You are clearly passionate and interested in the subject.

 

That said. Your statement that the ships system is even better than the land based system is kind of the point I'm making... Children can use land based splash pads, very safely, but somehow an even safer one on the ship is "off limits" and dangerous? That doesn't make sense to me.

[chengkp75]

Excellent post. This is what I was waiting to see. You are not an "Expert of the CDC" but a well informed individual with some extensive knowledge. You were an Engineer and that is the information I personally needed. Can't argue with that! :)

 

As Chief Engineer on a cruise ship, I was responsible for maintaining the pool equipment and operating the filtration/sanitation equipment to USPH standards, and was the one responsible if our operations, maintenance, or records were not up to snuff and we received deductions on the USPH inspection. No, I am not an expert on infectious diseases, I am as close as there is to an expert on the VSP.

[chengkp75]

I highly respect your comments. You are clearly passionate and interested in the subject.

 

That said. Your statement that the ships system is even better than the land based system is kind of the point I'm making... Children can use land based splash pads, very safely, but somehow an even safer one on the ship is "off limits" and dangerous? That doesn't make sense to me.

 

Your statement that kids can use the splash pads on land "very safely" contradicts the findings of the CDC. The only reason the land pools are allowed to continue operation is because the CDC has no jurisdiction over the land pools. And you continue to misunderstand, that the USPH requires even stricter requirements for a RWF that allows swim diapers than they do for any other ship's RWF. I have no problem with having a baby only RWF, and allowing children in swim diapers in them, but the rest of the RWF's, and on many ships all the RWF's, do not have these stricter requirements, so the children in swim diapers should not be allowed.

 

Here's another article on the same CDC report, that shows that water parks showed 66% of them have e. coli, 70% of municipal pools, and 49% of private clubs.

 

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-contaminated-pools-fecal-matter-20130516-story.html

 

Do you feel your children are "very safe" in these conditions? The CDC doesn't think so.

[BNBR]

And again, you want to replace a strict requirement for pool sanitation with a less strict one? USPH for state/local?

 

I think he has said exactly this. And I agree. Yes, the rules should be modified and some restrictions removed. I simply will not agree with you that State and Local regulations are not adequate. The USPH is seemingly overkill and unreasonable.

 

The Oasis does have a small splash zone for babies, correct. It's totally inadequate and horribly designed, but that's besides the point I think.

[BNBR]

Your statement that kids can use the splash pads on land "very safely" contradicts the findings of the CDC. The only reason the land pools are allowed to continue operation is because the CDC has no jurisdiction over the land pools. And you continue to misunderstand, that the USPH requires even stricter requirements for a RWF that allows swim diapers than they do for any other ship's RWF. I have no problem with having a baby only RWF, and allowing children in swim diapers in them, but the rest of the RWF's, and on many ships all the RWF's, do not have these stricter requirements, so the children in swim diapers should not be allowed.

 

Here's another article on the same CDC report, that shows that water parks showed 66% of them have e. coli, 70% of municipal pools, and 49% of private clubs.

 

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-contaminated-pools-fecal-matter-20130516-story.html

 

Do you feel your children are "very safe" in these conditions? The CDC doesn't think so.

 

You mentioned that you trust the experts... but in this case, you have to select which expert to trust. The CDC is certainly not against swim diapers in pools nor do they advise against having public pools. In fact, your own LA Times resource suggests e coli is making it into the pools from ADULTS. It also gives advice on how often to change swim diapers. This doesn't help your case that children shouldn't be allowed to walk around a splash pad on a ship with a swim diaper....

 

I swim in public (hotel pools) from time to time and allow my children to play in these pools and splash pads. Just like billions of other parents. The local inspectors seem to think these pools and water structures are safe and I agree with them.

 

If you think all public swimming pools are unsafe and should not be used, then I think we have just about finished the topic. Not in a bad way, but both points are made abundantly clear and it's time to move on.

Edited August 10, 2016 by BNBR

[chengkp75]

You mentioned that you trust the experts... but in this case, you have to select which expert to trust.

 

I swim in public (hotel pools) from time to time and allow my children to play in these pools and splash pads. Just like billions of other parents. The local inspectors seem to think these pools and water structures are safe and I agree with them.

 

If you think all public swimming pools are unsafe and should not be used, then I think we have just about finished the topic. Not in a bad way, but both points are made abundantly clear and it's time to move on.

 

I trust the experts recognized around the world, the CDC. Just like with all other aspects of the VSP (food safety, potable water, HVAC, lighting, pest control, and on and on), the USPH requirements are stricter than nearly every state and local health code, and those state and local inspectors will agree. Because of these strict requirements, despite the media coverage, only 4% of noro outbreaks in the US are on cruise ships, and food borne diseases like e. coli and salmonella are virtually non-existent.

[Elaine5715]

Pools, yes, splash parks, no. In fact, the CDC/USPH outlined newer guidlines if I am not mistaken a few years ago outlining that as long as a splash pad does not circulate with other water (standing or pool) swim diapers can be allowed. Why do you think Disney can do this, but others can't? They are more family focused than anyone so they cater to this crowd and actually follow the regulations. Carnival likely could do the same but likely there is a cost or just aren't bothered enough with it.

 

Please note that on land at MOST splash play areas, water is RECYCLED and often not sanitized as well as they should be (if at all sometimes...) On ships, they are not allowed to use chlorine or other methods of sanitation in the FRESH WATER splash pads and I can guarantee they are not storing water in reservoir tanks and recirculating that water. In fact, Carnival Splash pads are probably BETTER for toddlers than land based pads because 1) the water is very low if not completely drained (just wet) 2) isn't likely recycled meaning that any fecal/nastiness would likely get washed away almost immediately. No non-potty trained kid at 18 months is going to go down a big slide alone so the risk of contamination is quite low in other areas.

 

So if someone wants their little one in the splash pad and they keep them there in a swim diaper I don't think that's horribly selfish....it's like the speed limit. i have a road where the limit is 45 but it's 4 lanes wide, with median, and goes 2 miles through the middle of nowhere connecting 2 parts of town. The road could EASILY handle 65, which most people go, but the police LOVE pulling people over on this stretch (with convenient built in motorcycle sized bump-outs designed to specifically obscure motorcycle cops) because the speed limit is 45. It's only 45 because it connects 2 residential "zones". This is one of those areas I have no guilt going faster, same with the splash pad, the risk isn't really there for those areas and I think the rules SHOULD BE REVISED to match land-based splash pads.

 

Chief answered this better but why can Disney charge twice as much for cruise fares? Because they can and have these amenities to pay for.

[peajay84]

After reading all this I may never enter another pool or hot tub ever again. :eek: