How would you feel? Child accidentally left at kids club lobby during registration

[momofmab]

OP - you simply can’t rely on anyone else to watch over your child with the same diligence as you do. Any time you rely on a babysitter, teacher, nanny, etc. to care for your child, it’s a leap of faith to some extent.

 

The best defense against bad things happening to your child, is providing them with a sound (age appropriate) offense in handling various situations in your absence. Unless I’ve missed it, you haven’t said that your son was emotionally traumatized by having to navigate back to the cabin alone, so there’s no lasting damage there. He did what he had the confidence to do, and then immediately contacted you via his iPad (which was quite savvy on his part because he would have had to know how to get on the internet, a tricky feat for adult cruisers!) I think you should be thrilled with the confidence that your son had in handling this situation!

 

It’s unfortunate that you don’t feel you can cruise on RCL after this but if nothing else, this will serve as a learning experience for you and your husband on how to handle kids’ club drop offs on whatever cruise line you choose to do business with in the future.

 

 

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[nascarcruiser]

We were just off the Allure on Sunday and had a few issues with the kids cub that we have not had on any of our 14 other cruises on multiple lines so I am wondering what other people's thoughts are on the issue we experience and give a warning to other parents so it doesn't happen to them. So, here's what happened:On the first night my husband went to take our son to the Adventure Ocean club. Because it was the first night, they had sign up tables in the lobby area. My husband gave the crew member assisting him the information requested and thought that he had signed our son into the kids club. He didn't realize that this was just a registration table and the room our son needed to go to was further inside this hallway area. He walked away to go to the casino to meet me. About 30 minutes later our 9 year old called us from his iPad and said the kids club wouldn't let him in.

So, I went to the kids club to find out what happened and the crew member said my husband walked away so she tried calling our cabin and no one answered. So, she asked our son if he knew how to find his way to our cabin and he said yes. (This was our first night on the Allure and we were on deck 17, which you can only access from the rear elevators and stairwells- opposite of the kids club). So, he was told to go back to the cabin and wait for us. If we did not have the wifi package, there was no way for our son to contact us and we would have never known he was back in the cabin by himself. In addition, he got lost several times trying to find his way back to the cabin.

When I asked the crew member why they would let a 9 year old go back to the room by themselves, they said that they followed their policies. I guess I just don't understand why our son wasn't treated like a lost child and taken to guest services while they attempted to locate us. We told our son where we would be at but no one ever asked him this.

So, my question is whether everything thinks this is okay or not? It could have been hours before we knew that our son was not in the kids club.

First I see this as your husband's error especially since in another post you say your child had medical issues. Secondly at that age since children wander the ship without parents it likely didn't occur since the child said he could find his room to treat him like he couldn't. Should the staff had held on to him until you were found? Maybe but Dad should have been more vigilant as well.

[hazeleyes46]

Wow. Totally unnecessary. I guess all people that like to visit the casino are bad parents? Good to know. And for everyone asking, the kids club was open the first night. And this registration table I am talking about was literally INSIDE the kids club area doors. RCL ships are different to the NCL ships we are used to going on and I don't remember them having this "lobby" area inside. I appreciate the constructive criticism and suggestions but have no time for bashing, assumptions and attacks. I didn't think it was too much to expect the staff to simply ask if our son knew where his parents were. I now know that this is too much to expect of a RCL employee. We had a good time on the cruise overall but will probably not be back on RCL. Just our preference. This kids club also forced my son to sit alone at lunch the 2 or 3rd day when he went back to the kids club because they thought he had a peanut allergy. He told them he did not and the paperwork showed he did not. But he was still made to sit at a table by himself and eat lunch. All of these things were addressed with the manager on board.

 

Was your son in the kids club a lot after that first day? Did he enjoy it? I never had my kids in there at lunch time so it sounds like he had fun as he was in there at that time of the day.

[myfuzzy]

I would LOVE to hear the kids side of the story

[hazeleyes46]

I would LOVE to hear the kids side of the story

 

I agree as it seems he did go back there and even stayed for lunch a few days at least. Honestly when my kids were younger and went, I told them they had to stay with us the majority of the day, breakfast and lunch and then could go with their friends for dinner and the rest of the evening if they chose.

[gerif]

I would LOVE to hear the kids side of the story

Me, too. I thought they only gave them lunch if they were left onboard on port days while parents were off the ship.

[hazeleyes46]

Me, too. I thought they only gave them lunch if they were left onboard on port days while parents were off the ship.

 

I don't really know as my kids never went to lunch but they do have dinner in the windjammer if they want to go to that. My son liked to do that and then stayed the rest of the night many nights.

[myfuzzy]

Before bashing....In MY opinion and only MY opinion....it seems like this family uses the club for a baby sitting service while they spend time in the casino or go ashore and leave the child to his own means. It gives me that impression BECAUSE...mother in casino, while father "haphazardly" signs child up for club and takes off back to the casino. Its a shame, that a cruise is a wonderful FAMILY vacation and should at least spend quality time together and using the club as a "me" time for the child and not the other way around.

[setsail]

The OP is not sailing royal anymore

[spookwife]

Before bashing....In MY opinion and only MY opinion....it seems like this family uses the club for a baby sitting service while they spend time in the casino or go ashore and leave the child to his own means. It gives me that impression BECAUSE...mother in casino, while father "haphazardly" signs child up for club and takes off back to the casino. Its a shame, that a cruise is a wonderful FAMILY vacation and should at least spend quality time together and using the club as a "me" time for the child and not the other way around.

 

 

you forgot her complaint that one parent had to stay aboard NCL because her child has 'medical issues' which, BTW was never even vaguely explained. she wanted to know if Royal had the same requirement.

[myfuzzy]

Ya gotta admit, that this thread was more interesting than some programs on TV

[maryjaden]

Ya gotta admit, that this thread was more interesting than some programs on TV

 

Certainly agree with you!

[Eslader]

OH, so being the perfect parent, she couldn't tear herself away from the slots to take her kid to the club and make sure he was settled in either.....Shame on both of them

 

 

That's going too far. One parent is plenty to shepherd a kid around. You don't always need both to protect him. This is a cruise ship, not a war zone.

 

as it seems, the OP was obviously comfortable with leaving their son on the ship while in port so i'm not sure why any of this is even an issue for them

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2627844

 

Well now that's rather illuminating, isn't it...

[John&LaLa]

No, I disagree. As a teacher, we would NOT allow a 9/10 year old to walk anywhere alone if they were in the wrong place.

Especially if new to the area.

 

 

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I'll have to disagree with you on that.

 

On the first day of school many years ago, our First grader was not on the list for after school care, so they told him he had to go home. No one is perfect, and the Guest Services Manager should not be fearing for their job. That's ridiculous.

 

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[rimmit]

Many kids roam around neighborhoods at the age of 7-8 on a bike. And yes, this is current. Not back in the 80’s. There is no policy stating that a 9 year old cannot wander the ship alone.

 

The crew was unaware that the child was supposed to be in the program, therefore he just assumed he was a wandering child trying to get into the program, but could not based on the fact he had to be signed in by an adult. If the child said he was not lost, then why would a 9 year old be treated like a lost child. This is coming from a father of a 3 year old and 7 year old, that both participate in the program. If the child said he was lost or was significantly younger, than in that case it should be handled differently.

 

 

However, if you treated every roaming 9 year old on a ship as a lost child, the staff of a ship would spend there time locking down 9 year olds and walking them to guest services ALL DAY!!

[S.A.M.J.R.]

OP asked what we think, here's my .02...

 

DH primarily at fault. AO staff could have handled things better. As a parent (and I've dropped off kids at NUMEROUS locations at various ages including on a ship), I'm going to make sure my child is at least heading the right direction before leaving. In the case of the OP, my child would be beside me while I'm filling in forms. I would not leave if the child is still standing by the registration/sign in table. "Hey, DS, go on in".

 

Whether you agree with it or not, 9yos are allowed to wander the ship alone. OP's son is left at the registration table. AO staff try to contact the cabin and don't get an answer. They ask if he knows how to get back to the cabin and is told "yes". Could they have asked if the boy knows where the parents are? Sure. But I'm guessing not many kids know that answer, and there's also no guarantee the parents are at the place they said they're going to, or have moved somewhere.

 

If I was the DH in this scenario, I would be so upset with myself, not with AO staff.

[DrD]

Well the OP is my kind of woman. If I did that with my kids my wife would've killed me. She wouldn't have bought by BS story about blaming RCCL and known right away that I was being impatient and figuring if I just walked off someone would take care of the kids. Her husband has it made in the shade for sure.

[myfuzzy]

Well the OP is my kind of woman. If I did that with my kids my wife would've killed me. She wouldn't have bought by BS story about blaming RCCL and known right away that I was being impatient and figuring if I just walked off someone would take care of the kids. Her husband has it made in the shade for sure.

 

You can see WHO wears the PANTS in that family

[allison0523]

you forgot her complaint that one parent had to stay aboard NCL because her child has 'medical issues' which, BTW was never even vaguely explained. she wanted to know if Royal had the same requirement.

How exactly was that a "complaint"? I simply asked a policy question out of curiosity. Now, its a complaint? Very interesting.

[allison0523]

Well the OP is my kind of woman. If I did that with my kids my wife would've killed me. She wouldn't have bought by BS story about blaming RCCL and known right away that I was being impatient and figuring if I just walked off someone would take care of the kids. Her husband has it made in the shade for sure.

When did I blame RCL for my husband making a mistake and walking away? I kind of find this thread entertaining now. To see the varying degrees of reading comprehension and understanding from adults. Some clearly never read most of my post. I was simply asking if people thought RCL handled it properly. I don't think it was too much for them to ask him if he knew where we were. That's what I do if I encounter a lost or accidentally abandoned child (seeing as most parents don't intentionally abandon their children). Apparently, we do and are well known on these threads for leaving our children unattended while going to the casino and running around foreign countries. Really eye opening. I have learned so much about myself and my family from complete strangers. Now, if someone can give me the winning lottery numbers I could really abandon my child by hiring a super hot Manny to take care of him while I jetset around the world!!!! If you need my email to send them privately, let me know. Or better yet, I am willing to meet in person. I really don't want to share that kind of information with the world because then I would get less money for myself.

Anyways, now that we have that covered. I said before that we probably won't sail RCL again because we find other cruise lines better for a variety of reasons. It's just our preference and is not due to this one experience.

Also, we made sure the first day to tell our son how to get back to the cabin and he did what he was instructed to do. And I don't remember if that was a port day or not that he had lunch but they asked when I checked him in and he said yes. The only time we got off the ship was in Labadee and we were all together. Anyone else have any questions you would like me to address?

[ObstructedView2]

We were just off the Allure on Sunday and had a few issues with the kids cub that we have not had on any of our 14 other cruises on multiple lines so I am wondering what other people's thoughts are on the issue we experience and give a warning to other parents so it doesn't happen to them. So, here's what happened:On the first night my husband went to take our son to the Adventure Ocean club. Because it was the first night, they had sign up tables in the lobby area. My husband gave the crew member assisting him the information requested and thought that he had signed our son into the kids club. He didn't realize that this was just a registration table and the room our son needed to go to was further inside this hallway area. He walked away to go to the casino to meet me. About 30 minutes later our 9 year old called us from his iPad and said the kids club wouldn't let him in.

So, I went to the kids club to find out what happened and the crew member said my husband walked away so she tried calling our cabin and no one answered. So, she asked our son if he knew how to find his way to our cabin and he said yes. (This was our first night on the Allure and we were on deck 17, which you can only access from the rear elevators and stairwells- opposite of the kids club). So, he was told to go back to the cabin and wait for us. If we did not have the wifi package, there was no way for our son to contact us and we would have never known he was back in the cabin by himself. In addition, he got lost several times trying to find his way back to the cabin.

When I asked the crew member why they would let a 9 year old go back to the room by themselves, they said that they followed their policies. I guess I just don't understand why our son wasn't treated like a lost child and taken to guest services while they attempted to locate us. We told our son where we would be at but no one ever asked him this.

So, my question is whether everything thinks this is okay or not? It could have been hours before we knew that our son was not in the kids club.

 

It seems as if your husband made the mistake, not Royal Caribbean.

 

You stated that your husband didn't realize the registration table was just that, a registration table, nothing more.

 

And hubby didn't even ask anyone to confirm things before walking away, sheesh!

 

Bottom line is this:

Your husband should've asked simple questions & waited with his son until he was secure.

 

 

:(

[allison0523]

OPs defensiveness just reaffirms the fact that she came here seeking only confirmation of her feelings.

 

Yes, the AO employee could have done better. Yes, dad could have done better. OP doesn't really care.

Did you actually read any of my follow up posts?

[myfuzzy]

To the OP

 

I have followed this thread with interest on how a company handles certain situations. It seems in this case your DH was totally at fault BUT luckily you have a son with a secure head and common sense on his young shoulders. You asked a public forum on our opinions and we gave them to you. You ask a hundred parents how they would react in a certain situation and you will get a HUNDRED different answers back. You seem very defensive on some answers. I don't know what your future cruising plans are...but good luck, happy cruising, and count your lucky stars you have a son as mature as he is for his age.

[spookwife]

pretty sure the consensus was.. Royal did nothing wrong. they asked your kid if he knew how to get back to his cabin. he said yes. therefore they had no further obligation to him. are they supposed to assume he's lying or incapable of getting back there on his own?

 

a single 9 year old wandering around is NOT uncommon, unusual or cause for staff to get all in a tizzy.

[MargieWY]

Anyone else have any questions you would like me to address?

 

Yes! Is your husband still in the dog house?