Warning - do not sail Celebrity with young children

[DaisyFire]

No, I don't think that's true - if you reread her OP, they went the first day, and a couple of days after that, and said they had a good time. It was the parents' concerns about their safety to not let them go back.

 

I stand corrected. :)

[Fouremco]

The OP seems to be obsessed with safety. We are mid 40s with no kids.

Perhaps if you had children of your own you would have a better appreciation of her concerns. Parenthood gives you a brand new perspective on life.

[Cuervosar]

Really? This is still going on?

 

Can we just re-name the thread: "Warning, Celebrity Cruises Might Be Unacceptable for Helicopter Parents With Bubble Wrapped Children Who Expect The World To Conform To Their Overprotective Socialistic Standards?"

[spookwife]

Perhaps if you had children of your own you would have a better appreciation of her concerns. Parenthood gives you a brand new perspective on life.

 

 

And I posted that my experiences give the impression that the staff is far more vigilant and aware of who has a legitimate reason to be anywhere near the kids club areas than many day care centers or schools. Helicopter parenting does nothing to produce viable productive members of society. Worrying overmuch is just a waste of energy

 

 

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[cathep]

Perhaps if you had children of your own you would have a better appreciation of her concerns. Parenthood gives you a brand new perspective on life.

 

Now this is REALLY out of bounds. How do you know they haven't tried and can't? How do you know they haven't lost a child? Whether it's the case that it's their choice or not, you're hitting below the belt here.

[Beanb41]

I think it is fair to say that Celebrity ships are designed a children friendly ships unlike some other lines which really cater for families and younger children. That said my experience after doing 6 cruises on Celebrity whenever we have seen children out and about the ship without parental control they have had a ration of 1 minder for two kids depending upon their ages. If the kids are older the ration may have been slightly less. The littlies were walked around the ship with minders holding their hands and on occasions when they supervised their evening meal in the buffet each child at the buffet stations were individually supervised. What happened in the Fun Factory I have no idea as it was a place I didn't visit. I am of the conclusion that youngsters under the control of Celebrity staff are better supervised than most under parental control. One cannot hold Celebrity staff responsible for poor parenting

[cruisequeen4ever]

I can understand your concern about only having 1 adult present with a group of children. I've only ever seen 2 or more youth staff with a group of children on ships. It does add a huge degree of safety and accountability to have a second staff member present. As for them not allowing your children to play with toys at Open House, I have to agree with the youth staff. I'm a teacher, and it is so frustrating when parents let their children start playing at Open House and Parent Conferences; my room is left a disaster for other parents to see and for me to clean up. They probably just wanted to keep the playroom neat and tidy. Celebrity doesn't market itself as a child oriented cruise line but does offer services for those who want them. If I were you, I would research the kids' programs on the various cruise lines before you book your next cruise, so you can find one that you feel comfortable using.

 

 

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[CABINET]

To those speculating about children on half term break being on a 14 day cruise I would point out that it is not unusual for children who go to private school to have a two week break for half term.

[upwarduk]

To those speculating about children on half term break being on a 14 day cruise I would point out that it is not unusual for children who go to private school to have a two week break for half term.

 

Also there are still parents who are willing to take an extra week, as out of holiday time prices are so much cheaper, even though they may be fined.

[villauk]

To those speculating about children on half term break being on a 14 day cruise I would point out that it is not unusual for children who go to private school to have a two week break for half term.

 

Also there are still parents who are willing to take an extra week, as out of holiday time prices are so much cheaper, even though they may be fined.

 

Yes, but if there are all these masses of children onboard that either go to private school or have been taken out of school for the extra week, is it not then surprising that X have had to combine groups together in order to produce a group of 11 in that age range? As I stated previously, I was not highlighting who should be at school and isn't ;).

[The_Big_M]

Wow! There are some seriously judgmental people on here. Hope I never end up on the same cruise as them.

 

OP - thank you for voicing your concerns.

 

How odd that you don't consider saying "Warning - do not sail Celebrity with young children" - especially when many have enjoyed the experience - even more judgemental.

[Adammara]

Just to point out that several of the schools (sorry Academies!) round here have a 2 week October break, others don't. Crazy!

[upwarduk]

Just to point out that several of the schools (sorry Academies!) round here have a 2 week October break, others don't. Crazy!

 

Sounds to me that someone at X hadn't looked at the bookings and therefore not realised that there were going to be extra children on board.

 

All down to money saving policies.

[MandyGirl]

Not just kids out of school, but don't forget the huge rise in homeschool statistics in the last decade along with the online schools. I now tutor students online and their online schools are where they have much more flexibility to do their schooling online from anywhere with Internet access, and it's no longer "butts in seat time" as we used to call it in the old days. Some have even greater flexibility where they do not have to be logged in at a certain time each day but are more work at your own pace within semester guidelines. So the perception in the past that school breaks are at a certain time, plus schools moving to year round programs offering different breaks, makes that school calendar of the 1980s look different now. I know our Scottish friends just had a two week break and were at our home in Texas visiting us October 11-16. Both kids out of school for two weeks.

 

As a former HS math teacher and certified principal PK-12, along with some time teaching at the college level, I'm a huge proponent of the world being our greatest classroom. The opportunities provided on cruises are abundant. As a parent, I have loved the 100+ nights we have spent onboard with our young children exposing them to different cultures around the world. Cruiselines have the manifest well in advance with birthdates to adequately prepare for each sailing regardless of when traditional school breaks occur. Just because people see kids on cruises when they think they should be in school does not mean they are right - the educational model does not look the same as when my generation was in school back in the 80s and 90s. Just something to keep in mind when onboard or behind a screen commenting.

[villauk]

Sounds to me that someone at X hadn't looked at the bookings and therefore not realised that there were going to be extra children on board.

 

All down to money saving policies.

 

Not just kids out of school, but don't forget the huge rise in homeschool statistics in the last decade along with the online schools. I now tutor students online and their online schools are where they have much more flexibility to do their schooling online from anywhere with Internet access, and it's no longer "butts in seat time" as we used to call it in the old days. Some have even greater flexibility where they do not have to be logged in at a certain time each day but are more work at your own pace within semester guidelines. So the perception in the past that school breaks are at a certain time, plus schools moving to year round programs offering different breaks, makes that school calendar of the 1980s look different now. I know our Scottish friends just had a two week break and were at our home in Texas visiting us October 11-16. Both kids out of school for two weeks.

 

As a former HS math teacher and certified principal PK-12, along with some time teaching at the college level, I'm a huge proponent of the world being our greatest classroom. The opportunities provided on cruises are abundant. As a parent, I have loved the 100+ nights we have spent onboard with our young children exposing them to different cultures around the world. Cruiselines have the manifest well in advance with birthdates to adequately prepare for each sailing regardless of when traditional school breaks occur. Just because people see kids on cruises when they think they should be in school does not mean they are right - the educational model does not look the same as when my generation was in school back in the 80s and 90s. Just something to keep in mind when onboard or behind a screen commenting.

 

Again, not the issue as to whether the kids are off officially or not, would X need to be combining age groups if there are so many kids onboard, and it only resulted in a group of 11?

Edited October 29, 2016 by villauk

[waterbug123]

Even though I agree with some of the points you have made, the OP said there were 11 children in the group in her post and the age range was 3-8 yrs. So for all we know her 2 could have been the youngest with the other 9 children being 8 year olds. Unless one specifically asks the children or their parents their age, no one has any idea how old the other kids are as it's an age 'range' (obviously the X staff would know). We also have no idea if there were any 3 year olds present, just in the same way that we don't know if all the other children were 8yrs ;). A 4 yr old and a 5yr old could quite easily be in Reception class at a UK school, not pre school or daycare.

 

All true, it does depend to some degree on the actual breakdown of ages within the group. However, my comment about 15 children and 1 adult wasn't a direct reply to the OP's particular situation; it was in response to someone making a general comment that 1 adult should easily be able to handle 15 kids, which isn't categorically true, IMO, for all the reasons you stated. And again, even if it's 15 8-year-olds who are all playing and getting along nicely on their best behavior, it only takes one emergency situation and the value of always having 2 adults immediately present becomes crystal clear. :)

[dkjretired]

We should all keep in mind that throughout this whole thread, we do not know the other side.

[NordicPrince]

IMO taking young kids on cruises is just asking for trouble.

 

Leave the kids home with a friend or relative. Somebody will watch them. They'll survive without you. When you get home the kids may appreciate you more.

 

Adults deserve adult time too.

 

There are many other times during the year for child enrichment. There's a reason Disneyworld and theme parks and museums exist. Maybe just try taking your kid to a park or the beach or the zoo or fishing. The idea is to spend normal time with them.

 

Sorry if you think it's an old fashioned view.

[texasgirl29]

IMO taking young kids on cruises is just asking for trouble.

 

 

 

Leave the kids home with a friend or relative. Somebody will watch them. They'll survive without you. When you get home the kids may appreciate you more.

 

 

 

Adults deserve adult time too.

 

 

 

There are many other times during the year for child enrichment. There's a reason Disneyworld and theme parks and museums exist. Maybe just try taking your kid to a park or the beach or the zoo or fishing. The idea is to spend normal time with them.

 

 

 

Sorry if you think it's an old fashioned view.

 

 

I cannot explain to you how offensive this is. Not old fashioned, just offensive. Children are people, and more importantly, members of a family.

 

But then again, apparently you think you are a prince.

 

 

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[richsea]

We should all keep in mind that throughout this whole thread, we do not know the other side.

 

Don, this entire thread has become absolutly bizzare! Very entertaining.

[norwegianwood57]

IMO taking young kids on cruises is just asking for trouble.

 

Leave the kids home with a friend or relative. Somebody will watch them. They'll survive without you. When you get home the kids may appreciate you more.

 

Adults deserve adult time too.

 

There are many other times during the year for child enrichment. There's a reason Disneyworld and theme parks and museums exist. Maybe just try taking your kid to a park or the beach or the zoo or fishing. The idea is to spend normal time with them.

 

Sorry if you think it's an old fashioned view.

 

Not old fashioned at all. Many of us feel exactly that way. So it should not come as a surprise at all. We do our best to avoid all the school holidays but as you see on this thread, it is impossible to avoid all the holidays or parents just plainly seeing a cheaper cruise being more important than their kid going to school.

 

I am very glad that the original poster had the courage to post that Celebrity is not ideal for children. I am also happy with so many of you that have said that cruises in general are not for children. Unless on a special ship with special amenities, like Disney etc.

 

Please keep this topic polite, so as not to give any reason for it to vanish.

[Charles4515]

We should all keep in mind that throughout this whole thread, we do not know the other side.

 

 

 

I am sure there is another side.

 

It appears to me that OP got peeved when they would not let the children play with the toys at the open house on day 1 and it escalated from there. Then the OP comes up with reasons to toss out payback with the "Warning" post. Which I think is mostly bogus. With all the thousands who have cruised on Celebrity with children how come none have made the OP's particular complaints? Have we ever heard of or seen a child get out of the Fun Factory? I think what we have is a case of I will show them.......

 

 

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Edited October 29, 2016 by Charles4515

[Bocker3]

I cannot explain to you how offensive this is. Not old fashioned, just offensive. Children are people, and more importantly, members of a family.

 

But then again, apparently you think you are a prince.

 

 

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Offensive?? Really?? :rolleyes:

 

Why can't people simply disagree with people instead of throwing out how "offended" they are over someone else's opinion. he didn't say that children were "evil" or not "people". He simply seems to feel that cruises are a good way for adults to spend time together. Perhaps you don't agree with this and that is perfectly fine, but stop with the "being offended", as nothing offensive was said (which may be why you "cannot explain how offensive it is").

 

Mike

[Thorpeys]

Hi everyone,

 

It's interesting reading everyone's views on this subject.

 

It is apparent to me now the massive cultural differences in childcare and safeguarding practice between the UK and Florida.

 

It has been a big lesson learnt and something I will ensure I check next time. Although Celebrity did not provide me with any policy to tell me what their ratio was or how they safeguard children and I have still not been able to find this on their own website. I was told that the policies were not available for people to see.

 

I'm really pleased that this doesn't appear usual Celebrity practice and people have experienced higher levels of staff on their cruises. Just to clarify a few points... the reception desk of the Fun Factory was not manned at any point when I visited. The doors were not locked and I was told by the youth manager they were not allowed to lock the door.

 

In conclusion to this post I started I hope it provides sufficient information in what you may experience on Celebrity and helps you make an informed decision whether to take children onboard.

 

Personally we will not be taking our children again on Celebrity and in future now we realise the US does not have the same standards as the UK we will make sure the questions are asked prior to sailing.

 

Enjoy your future cruises, whether they are with or without children!

[warmwinds]

Maybe times have changed, but when we started taking our daughter on cruises at age 8 it was the most wonderful experience (she went at 8, 11, 14 and 17).

 

She learned to dress to the nines (yes, times have changed), honed her table manners, expanded her world of food exponentially (we told her she could order anything she was curious about, if she didn't like it we would eat it and she could get something else - waiters were thrilled that this 8 yo was ordering - and enjoying - frog's legs, escargot, oxtail soup and on and on - what a great way to find out what you like and what you don't like (for adults, too). Got to see the world in the bargain.

 

And of course, she loved the kids' clubs - had a wonderful time - I wonder, if asked, if the OP's kids would honestly say whether they had more fun there with others their own age or hanging out in a bar with Mom and Dad?

Edited October 29, 2016 by warmwinds