Parents-how about a little help to your fellow cruisers????

[wrp96]

The statement about sailing on Celebrity and a different class of parent seems to infer that the behavior will be somewhat better. As a teacher I have taught some very priveleged children and they are in many ways more snots than those who have not had everything handed to them on a silver platter.

 

Definitely agree with this statement. I attended a private high school (the most expensive school in my area), and while most of the people in my class were wonderful to each other, some of the students in the other grades had made an art out of being spoiled rotten and getting away with misbehaving. Let's see there was the student who had to be sent home on the first night of a 12 night college trip for multiple infractions, or the 7 marching band members who got sent home early from Paris for sneaking out and drinking, and the list goes on and on.

[idocdlw]

On our 12/25 Conquest cruise my DH and I would get up every morning around 6:00 and go up to the track to run. Every morning we would see kids (boys & girls) who were still out from the night before. The reason I know this is because I have two children and I know they do not get up at 6:00 a.m. to go hang out with their friends. In many cases these would be children we'd seen all over the ship the night before. At night we'd see kids about 13/14 years with younger children with them. It appeared that the older children were supposed to be watching the younger ones. Mix 14 yr old boys and girls and you can imagine just how well they were watching their younger siblings. These children weren't running in the halls, making noise but the fact that they were out, unsupervised, at all hours really bothered us. To me it's the same as letting your child run the street of a small town at night with people they don't really know. I have no trouble imagining how a child could simply disappear off one of these ships and their parents not realize for hours that they are gone. I wonder why there's no curfew for children on these ships.

 

Boitexan...right there with you on the curfew thing. Activities for those under 18 end at 1130 on most ships...hint, hint parents...time for beddy-bye for your lil' darlins! I'm a mom of a teenager and remembering what I did as a teen after "closing hours" is enough incentive to ensure that junior is where he should be when he should be! Besides...I'm much too young to be a grandmother!

[Big Spanker]

Our children are seasoned travelers and know what is expected of them. We travel with our children because we want to be with them on vacation. Sadly many people think that if they have paid the fare that they can do as they wish. A cruise ship is just a huge playpen with no way out. Note the first out of control brat on roller blades just might accidentally catch a hip check from me. Oops so about the elbow JR. arent those baby theeth? My girls are 16 & 17 and know how to behave. This is my first cruise on Carnival and I hope Poor parenting skills by slobs will not ruin it.

Carnival can adopt a new slogan or two:

"Unattended children will be captured and sold as slaves"

Or

"A slap is just a hug that stings"

 

Hey kids watch out on the liberty 3/26/2006:rolleyes:

[ala-kat]

AMEN picklebongo

[ala-kat]

windowr4me - come cruise with us, please!

[Big Spanker]

When do you cruise? Ha! I really am a nice guy. Just a note. see those Jackpine Savages running down the hall at full speed, spread out, use you beach bag or just get two wide and don't back down. This approach has worked well for my family. Make those little suckers grab the wall. Also drop your bag in the middle of the hall and pretend you are looking for your key to your room although your room is on the other side of the ship. My wife & kids and I did this in a Florida Holiday inn Crown Plaza and a bunch of High school band kids went the other way. Shake your finger at one piss ant and they usually scram. Order room service and keep the tray when they come a running down the hall, just step out. Oops! They will avoid your area no doubt. Have late nighters that want to keep you up? Set your alarm for 4:00AM and start banging the walls like youre newlyweds Screm like a banschee. And also slam your door evertime you go in and out of your room Say 6:00AM. Maybe forget a few things and have to open and close your door 3 or 4 times. Don't leave at all just start slaming your door. We had a couple move midway thru a cruise cause I got up to early. I know all the tricks.:D Don't let those fools ruin your cruise

[popcorngal]

I've always been partial to "Unattended children will be used as shark bait!" ;)

[momofzeke]

OP, you have very valid points, but unfortunately the parents who allow their kids to act this way will not acknowledge that their children's behavior is wrong, let alone ever do anything to correct it.

[ala-kat]

windowsr4me - LOVE your suggestions. May have to try one or two of them. No doubt you are a nice guy. What part of WI are you from? Have a good friend in Darlington and absolutely LOVE WI. Beautiful state all the way around.

[blyle]

I am also a teacher and like everything else the kids of today are different. Some parents have not learned how to be a parent and not a friend. Last week at a pizza place a child acted up and the dad took him to the bathroom. No problem when he returned. I turned to the dad and said I am so glad that you did not tolerate the bad behavior and nipped it instead of threatening and doing nothing. He was shocked.

The behavior on cruise ships should have improved after all the things that have happened lately. Perhaps parents feel it is their vacation and the ship is safe. WRONG.

We now cruise off season so that we can avoid some of the problems. I see it everyday and don't need to see it on my vacation.

[Big Spanker]

My brothers wife is from Darlington. Her parents used to own a bar there called the First Ward Inn. We live outside Madison in Waunakee, WI

Eat Cheese or die! Ha!:)

[ala-kat]

Hit several bars there, but the only name I remember is 'Legends'. It was in 'staggering' distanst from where I was staying.... and the fried cheese curds OMG.

[NeptunesGoddess]

The statement about sailing on Celebrity and a different class of parent seems to infer that the behavior will be somewhat better. As a teacher I have taught some very priveleged children and they are in many ways more snots than those who have not had everything handed to them on a silver platter. I'm surprised that cruise ships haven't instituted a curfew on ships also and I think it would be warranted given behavior I have witnessed and experienced.

 

On many of the pricier ships there are far fewer children because parents with 2-3 kids are virtually priced out of that market, hence fewer problems, but I don't think it has anything to do with class.

 

Here Here! I was reading through the thread and low and behold someone mentions that "class" issue again. About how well-behaved children come from a different "class". I was gonna let it slide this time because I have said in other threads over and over again about how behavior has nothing to do with socio-economic standing. I am glad someone else said it and I had to add my kudos in agreement.

[MrPete]

We often read here what adults start doing when they read and see practically nothing is enforced, unless it hits their bottom line.

 

Now, what do you think a child would do, seeing they can "do anything"?

 

It is definately the parents responsibilty, but these lines should wake up, as we do need hall moniters, unfortunately!

[TinaLee]

One rule I haven't seen mentioned here, which I think everyone needs to enforce if they are traveling with children, is that NEVER, under any circumstances, may you enter someone else's cabin. If they need to run down to change, you wait in the hallway! That's been the rule for our daughter from her first cruise (at age 5 - and she's now almost 20).

 

And I agree with the earlier poster who said her children commented on the bad behavior. On our cruise last spring break, my daughter and her friend commented more than once "what is UP with these kids... don't they have parents?" - at the ripe old age of 19!

 

My daughter would comment that so-and-so's mother was letting her stay up to see the sunrise, could she join them? My reply... "sure, I'll wake you up at 5 am" - LOL! NEVER HAPPENED!!

 

The latest I think she ever stayed out - at age 17 or so - was 2 am, when the teen area closed down and she went for pizza with a group of friends... and how do I KNOW where she was? Because we went looking for her when we got back to the cabin and she wasn't there yet! I also insist on meeting the kids she hangs out with - AND their parents. We've made very lasting friendships with the parents of some of the kids she's met and hung out with in the past! (Hi Pam)

 

I'm not saying my child is an angel and can do no wrong, but I promise you this - I know where she is and what she's doing, so if she does something wrong... I'll be the 2nd or 3rd to know about it - and THAT keeps her in line if nothing else does!

 

:)

[MKC529]

Bonniemari,

 

Yours is by far the best post I have seen on the subject!! Bravo!

 

Are you sure you weren't on the 1/1/06 Liberty?? :rolleyes: We were and our experience was nearly identical to yours!

 

I was appalled at the number of kids I saw that were totally on their own for the week.

 

We were traveling with our two girls (7 & 11) and they were never out of our sight except for the two times our 11 yr old participated in Camp Carnival scavenger hunts.

 

Our oldest daughter dubbed DH and I "kid magnets" because of the all the kids our girls became friendly with that seemed to "adopt" us for the week... they were obviously craving attention. One morning I asked one little girl (age 9) where her parents were and she said "I don't know... I'm suppose to meet them for dinner". This was 10am!!

 

Sweet kids but I really started to resent having other people's children hanging around constantly. I mean - hey, we were on vacation too!

[Kittybork]

Bonniemari,

 

One morning I asked one little girl (age 9) where her parents were and she said "I don't know... I'm suppose to meet them for dinner". This was 10am!!

 

That's so sad. I really hope she meant lunch instead of dinner. You have to wonder sometimes why people have children.

[jckvpa0]

Yeah Goingcrusin I know I'm wasting my breath-but I felt better getting it off my chest-hoping the part about child predators just might sink in and save one child.

 

 

This is my biggest concern also, how parents don't understand that this is a floating hotel I'll never get. Actually it's worse when you think about it, many people seem to par take a little more than normal on cruises. I have gone to concerts & sports events & you see parents escorting children to the bathroom, why do they think this is not necessary on a ship? To me there are many more dangers on a ship than anywhere else you could think of!

[jckvpa0]

First I will say that we have been cruising with our children since they were 5 & 8, and only our second cruise was on Carnival. We always go a week that is school vacation in the Northeast, so there are alot of children. Bonniemari, I recommend that next time you want to cruise on a vacation week, go on Celebrity. A different class of parents raise a different type of child. Hopefully, Cruisecritic will not pull this post. When my younger son was only about 7 or 8, he was at the pool and wanted to jump in, but first turned to the woman sitting on the edge next to him and asked her if it was OK because he might splash her. My children may not be angels at home, but they have been taught how to behave in public since they were babies.

 

 

Your children are not angels at home :eek: !!! Well than what class are you!

[halos]

Here Here! I was reading through the thread and low and behold someone mentions that "class" issue again. About how well-behaved children come from a different "class". I was gonna let it slide this time because I have said in other threads over and over again about how behavior has nothing to do with socio-economic standing. I am glad someone else said it and I had to add my kudos in agreement.

 

I also agree whole heartedly. In fact, I think it's more of a problem for the privileged kids who seem to get everything handed to them on a silver platter.

[dznymom]

We have been cruising with our kids for years and I just have a couple of comments. RCCL has a curfew of 1AM and it definitely helps. It helps the parents that are afraid to set limits and it helps Security by giving them a rule that they can enforce. ALL CRUISE LINES SHOULD HAVE A CURFEW. My kids have a curfew on every cruise (and it is different depending on their age) and breaking it means it backs up one hour the following night. If it's midnight and you come in at 12:05, then tomorrow you will be in by 11 or else! If you miss it by a lot, then tomorrow you are in the cabin after dinner, period. It's only happened once.

 

I agree with the poster that said it only takes a few bad apples to make it seem that all the kids are out of control. There is a definite pack mentality that I have seen on a few of our cruises. On our Glory cruise, some of the older teens would meet in the Teen area and then they would walk around in groups of ten or more. I mean, they would walk round and round the ship for hours, stopping for sodas or to hang out in different spots for short periods of time. They would laugh loudly and horse around a bit. I am sure it was intimidating to people to see this loud group over and over again, and even though they weren't doing anything really bad, they were annoying. The younger set seems to prefer riding the elevators for hours on end. I would think it's a fairly simple thing for any staff member to shoo them away, but I don't see it happening.

 

Also, WHY oh WHY, do the kids programs allow kids as young as 9 to check themselves in or out? The counselors always thought I was a pain in the neck when I left instructions that my kids did NOT have that privilege. It was no big deal for me to check them in and out (I mean, it's a ship - how hard can it be to take the few minutes to do that?) When they were preteens they were either in the Kids Program or at a specific activity like a movie or show. I always knew where they were, and if they were somewhere else, bummer for them, because I always found out. Back to the cabin, goodnight.

 

On of the things that frightens me on ships is the romances these kids can get themselves into very quickly. By the second night, many of the young teens are already paired off and making out in all kinds of places. By the end of the week, they think it's true love, and who knows what is going on? If I had daughters, I would be really worried about them being taken advantage of, and if they get into alcohol, which is much easier than you would think, it's even scarier. (Note: I realize this sounds sexist, so save your breath.)

 

Something I do as a parent is to WAKE THE LITTLE DARLINGS bright and early every morning out of consideration for our Cabin StewarD. Plus it gives me sadistic pleasure to wake their butts up :D

[Safetyal]

Have late nighters that want to keep you up? Set your alarm for 4:00AM and start banging the walls like youre newlyweds Screm like a banschee. And also slam your door evertime you go in and out of your room Say 6:00AM. Maybe forget a few things and have to open and close your door 3 or 4 times. Don't leave at all just start slaming your door. We had a couple move midway thru a cruise cause I got up to early. I know all the tricks.:D Don't let those fools ruin your cruise

 

:confused: What about your polite neighbors that may be on the otherside? Is it possible that you may be the noisy ones ruining their cruise?

[chrly]

I have 2 DD's (ages 3 and 9)...they are not angels, but they do know the rules. I agree with the other posters on not letting your kids run around the ship. On our last cruise both DD's were either with us, family or at Camp. Under no circumstanses (sp?) was my 9 yo DD alowed to roam the ship. On our next cruise in 2008 the ground rules will be laid out before we even get on the ship. It is very scary to think that they might be taken. Anytime we are out in public myself or my DH are with them. I definately do not understand what parents who let their kids run free are thinking...Is it more important for them to have a good time or what? That's enough of my rant. I just feel that if you are going to be a parent you need to take responsibility for your kids...if not don't have them.

[mtl kid]

Where does the blame really lie? When will parents get it that their job is to parent and not to be their kids ­BEST FRIEND. Like every other paying customer you are allowed to have a good time but not at the expense of other paying customers. The adult pool is just that an Adult pool and not a pool full of sreaming and unruly kids. Hot tubs are for adults not a small pool where you could park your kids for a few hours while you take a snooze in the adult section. Toddlers with diapers do not belong in any pool. Teany boppers should not be hijacking a disco at 3.00am in the morning, every morning.

I have always sailed with my 15 year old son and I could honestly say we try our best. One night we allowed our son to have a late nite at the disco because the staff said they would have their own section to hang out in. Well let me tell you that my wife and I would pass by the disco every 15 to 20 minutes just to keep an eye on them. Even though we were dead tired at 1.00am we made it a point not to go to bed till he came back. He did not know we were keeping an eye out for him, funny thing is that out of about 20 kids there was only 3 sets of parents doing the same thing we were..which was keeping an eye out for our kids from a distant. Well let me tell you we knew which kids he was allowed to hang out with ealy on in the cruise and we would bump into the same parents we spotted that night outside the disco and joke with each other inquiring what time we the parents got to bed the night before. The apple does not fall far from the tree. If the kids are spoiled rotten look no farther that the parents

...........AMEN.............!

[Shelley9962]

Children on vacation CAN be a nightmare, particularly when they are yours. There were some random minor incidents of misbehavior with my own kids on our trip... one time I caught them running down a hall and they were restricted to the room for a time being and given a lecture (mind you... my kids are 17 and 14!) As a group though, I monitored closely and they were rather well behaved. They were not drunken on the stairs, like another group of teens I saw.

 

The thing that amazed me most was the parent who allowed her approximately 8 and 6 year old to sing a song with really raunchy lyrics in the Firebird Lounge while she videotaped them and the grandparents looked on! Even the group of teens my girls were with was appalled by this parents behavior. (We must be doing something right!)

 

I am thankful that we had later seating for dinner on the cruise -- I guess early seating with all the little kids was an absolutely zoo, with kids crying and whining and no evidence of table manners.

 

And yes, my children were in the room every night by 1 am, at the latest, and most nights just after midnight. I didn't have much of a vacation checking up on them all the time, but I'm a parent and that is what I chose to do when I decided to have children in the first place.

 

Until parents remember that they are parents first and friends second, discipline is going to suffer greatly... regardless of race, nationality or socio-economic status.