Solarium now 18+

[Ret MP]

9 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

I noticed you tend to take language literally but the Solarium on Royal Caribbean has always been a no child space since my first RC cruise in 1995. A peaceful, quiet area for relaxing and no children. Where the hot tubs at the main pools would be filled with little ones and pretty unusable the hot tubs in the Solarium were usable. The dictionary definition of Solarium does not change what the Solarium has been historically defined as on RC and how it has been used on Royal Caribbean. So in Black and White the Solarium on Royal is how Royal had defined it not some dictionary. 

First:  I don't need a history or diction lesson or lecture about what the Solarium is or was.  I'm fully aware. The dictionary definition of just about everything is the basis of the word's existence.  It too can be updated.  But, in this case, it is what it is.

 

Devil's Advocate:  The Solarium can be everything you describe if the proper AND ENFORCED rules are in place.  I've observed many kids sitting around the other pool(s)/venues reading books, I assume, on their devices, not bothering anyone.  Maybe they would like a quiet zone too.   There are many mature and behaving children.  There are many adults who aren't well-behaved and mature.  And, by the way, RC's definition, historically, has been a 16 and over venue, now it is an 18 and over place.  Proof positive that historically things are subject to change and history does not have to be an impediment to change.  I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed folks talking very loudly, you can hear them clearly from one side of the Solarium to the other, on their phone's speaker phone discussing everything from business to breaking up with their SO.  Very frustrating, at a minimum. Not only do I think the new rule is a good one but it needs to be extended to cover misbehaving/annoying adults.  The person sitting at the bar with a laugh that can be heard over the noise in a steel plant.  

 

My personal thoughts:  Once again, I'm in favor of the recent change!  And, I'm not advocating for anything else.  I offered my thoughts and the fact that it is an internal dilemma for me, period. 

[LobsterStalker]

14 hours ago, Ret MP said:

This is a dilemma issue for me.  While I don't appreciate the company of young ones much anymore.  Which means that I welcome this change. I also think that if parents pay for a cruise, they should be able to have their children accompany them to venues that aren't considered adult, R-rated for example.  The word Solarium doesn't, at least for me, suggest a special place void of children or even noise.  

 

Again, I'm happy to see the change.  But, I can see the other side of this.

But it's not called the "solarium" it's called  the "ADULT Solarium"

 

Cheers

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

 

My personal thoughts:  Once again, I'm in favor of the recent change!  And, I'm not advocating for anything else.  I offered my thoughts and the fact that it is an internal dilemma for me, period. 

Royal can make any change it desires including if they want to allowing all children in the space. I don’t see any dilemmas. As for the recent age change I am agnostic. I didn’t see any major issue with 16. I don’t think that 18 will be a major issue. As long as they maintain an adult space it will be good.  

Edited September 28, 2023 by Charles4515

[BND]

12 hours ago, Ret MP said:

As I said, I'm glad this has happened.  

 

Nope, if you don't have a child registered in the kid's zone, whatever it is called, you can't go in, it's called security, and I'm very happy they do.  Apples and oranges!

 

Yes, I'm all for the Adult only, 18 and above.  But, I'd be Okay with a strictly enforced <LOL like that would happen, policy/rule of well-behaved children, however they would word it.  As long as there is no running around, jumping around, yelling, screaming, crying, and/or well-supervised, I'd be good with it.  I love well-behaved children and enjoy being around them for a short while.

 

THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"  If I wanted complete absence of children, I'd cruise on Virgin, et al.  

 

 

"Well-behaved" is very, very subjective.  Absolutely nothing wrong with adults only which it is and has been.  They only moved the age to more appropriate for "adult" to 18.   The other issue is loungers in the Solarium.  I don't get the mentality that kids have to be EVERYWHERE adults are. Have some parents never heard of delayed gratification and looking forward to something that you'll be able to do in the future?  

 

If you want to attend drag shows among other themes, then by all means go on Virgin.  This is not about an adult only cruise. It's about having ONE location onboard that is for adults.  BTW, please go watch some YT videos on Virgin and let me know what you think.  Virgin is really geared towards the younger adult and party crowd.

Edited September 28, 2023 by BND

[Billy Baltic]

1 hour ago, LobsterStalker said:

But it's not called the "solarium" it's called  the "ADULT Solarium"

 

Cheers

Where?

[Billy Baltic]

2 hours ago, Ret MP said:

Not only do I think the new rule is a good one but it needs to be extended to cover misbehaving/annoying adults

Agreed. If someone wants to talk so loudly that the whole place can hear them, there’s a more appropriate place for them than the solarium. Similarly if someone wants to use a phone hands free. 

In the older ships in particular, it’s a small space and one clown can ruin the area for everyone. 

[RD64]

There is nothing wrong or discriminatory about having one adult only space - Royal and the other mass market ships are trying to be all things to all people. Let the adults have this one thing.

[Ret MP]

2 hours ago, LobsterStalker said:

But it's not called the "solarium" it's called  the "ADULT Solarium"

 

Cheers

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

I don’t see any dilemmas. As for the recent age change I am agnostic. 

You may not and obviously don't.  This is my dilemma, while I support the change, I also see the other side and it was something I had to work out in my own mind to agree with the change (not that my opinion matters, it was only part of a discussion, something this board and others are all about), which I agree with, or support the other side.  I obviously went to the side of agreeing with the change.  

[LittleJoefromKokomo]

1 hour ago, BND said:

"Well-behaved" is very, very subjective. 

Hahaha! You are 110% right.

Some people consider it ok for their little angels to run around screaming, jumping in the hottubs and splashing water everywhere, including in other peoples drinks. For them their children are well behaved or at least just "being children"

Some adults are not better, some people consider dress shorts and poloshirts to be "well dressed" for formal nights in MDR while other mostly of the top tier in the loyalty program thinks they have the right to skip every line on the ship just beacuse of their status and became upset and complain about "rude" people when questioned...

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, BND said:

"Well-behaved" is very, very subjective.  Absolutely nothing wrong with adults only which it is and has been.  They only moved the age to more appropriate for "adult" to 18.   The other issue is loungers in the Solarium.  I don't get the mentality that kids have to be EVERYWHERE adults are. Have some parents never heard of delayed gratification and looking forward to something that you'll be able to do in the future?  

 

If you want to attend drag shows among other themes, then by all means go on Virgin.  This is not about an adult only cruise. It's about having ONE location onboard that is for adults.  BTW, please go watch some YT videos on Virgin and let me know what you think.  Virgin is really geared towards the younger adult and party crowd.

Well behaved is something I said would have to be well worded.  For example, No Running is not subjective, No jumping is not subjective, No yelling can be determined by complaints, No crying is not subjective, and No devices playing music is not subjective, just as a few examples of non-subjective rules/policies. BTW, that would help with some of the adult issues too.   

 

BTW, I don't have a problem with "Adults Only", and I've said over and over again that I agree with this new policy.  The rest is just the Devil's Advocacy and a little inner dilemma. 

 

You obviously haven't read many of my many many posts about Virgin.  I don't like what I've read about Virgin (think Pineapples and other things you mentioned).  My comment about Virgin was for those who want adult only. 

 

BTW, I don't agree with kids in bars and casinos.  Yet, very little discussion about that, eh, at least lately.  

[Scottdalfonso]

6 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Well behaved is something I said would have to be well worded.  For example, No Running is not subjective, No jumping is not subjective, No yelling can be determined by complaints, No crying is not subjective, and No devices playing music is not subjective, just as a few examples of non-subjective rules/policies. BTW, that would help with some of the adult issues too.   

 

BTW, I don't have a problem with "Adults Only", and I've said over and over again that I agree with this new policy.  The rest is just the Devil's Advocacy and a little inner dilemma. 

 

You obviously haven't read many of my many many posts about Virgin.  I don't like what I've read about Virgin (think Pineapples and other things you mentioned).  My comment about Virgin was for those who want adult only. 

 

BTW, I don't agree with kids in bars and casinos.  Yet, very little discussion about that, eh, at least lately.  

Kids aren't in Casinos...if they are its simply passing through. I have never seen a kid hanging at a casino on land or sea. The bars I'm fine with, as long there are tables or a spot for them to sit. Not a big fan of kids sitting at the physical bar, BUT on a ship I think that rule is ok to be loosened

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, Scottdalfonso said:

Kids aren't in Casinos...if they are its simply passing through. I have never seen a kid hanging at a casino on land or sea. The bars I'm fine with, as long there are tables or a spot for them to sit. Not a big fan of kids sitting at the physical bar, BUT on a ship I think that rule is ok to be loosened

On Independence of the Seas, last October, a family of 5 or 6 in the Playmakers bar, both parents were obviously very much under the influence, and the kids were totally unsupervised, they were running around the bar grabbing people sitting on stools to hang on while making fast turns as they ran and they would run from Playmakers through the casino, and back again, over and over again.  This went on for hours.  Not only was it a distraction and uncomfortable for those enjoying the venues, but they witnessed their parents get sh*^-faced and act like fools.  What they witness in the privacy of their own home is one issue but what they witness and how they act in a public bar is another.  I for one, complained to no avail.  That's why I say, a lot, UNENFORCED rules.

 

This is just one example that they DO, IN FACT, disrupt the casino.  Yes, there is a rule that kids can only walk through the casino, but this example is an example of another rule/policy that isn't enforced, as I've stated many times.

[Mum2Mercury]

3 hours ago, LobsterStalker said:

But it's not called the "solarium" it's called  the "ADULT Solarium"

 

Cheers

I don't think so.  I didn't remember the Solarium's name being Adult Solarium, so I checked: 

- Royal's webpage calls it just the Solarium (of course, it also says ages 16+).

- I googled several ship's deck plans -- most said Solarium Pool.  

- I googled Royal Caribbean Solarium Pool signs -- I didn't get much, but I did see a decal I remember from the glass doors leading to the Solarium, which says "You Are Entering An Adults Only Area" -- it does not say Adult Solarium.  

In short, I find no evidence that it's called The Adult Solarium.  

[moposh]

16 hours ago, BND said:

There are limited loungers in most of the solariums, especially on the smaller, older ships.

I am rarely able to find a lounger.

[moposh]

Frankly, I was surprised when I saw the minimum age was 16 as I thought it was adults only, which would be 18 and above.  I think it's a good change.  I have a 17-year-old daughter.  She went in the solarium on a previous cruise at 16.  I think she just went in the hot tub.  

[vacationlover_mn]

Personally, I am happy about this change!  And, for those worried that there aren't other quiet places for the 16/17 year olds to hang with the parents...  I've been on several ships from mid-size to mega, and there are always a few peaceful places, with nice views, to hang out at.  One example-> on Odyssey, Solarium was PACKED!!  So, DH and I wandered around, and found a nice, peaceful spot on one of the other decks with an ocean view and maybe 2 other people (napping).

[Ret MP]

53 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

And, for those worried that there aren't other quiet places for the 16/17 year olds to hang with the parents... 

Again, devil's advocate:  And the same can be said about adults trying to get away from kids.  There is always a place/way.  

[BND]

1 hour ago, moposh said:

I am rarely able to find a lounger.

When we really want one, DH goes up by 7 am and I join him shortly after.  That's usually on a day we have nothing else planned except to relax and read.  We then grab breakfast in the WJ  and bring it back to our seat.  We'll do the same for lunch and usually leave by 2 or so.  But, that's typically only a couple of days at most per cruise.  Otherwise, if we go after 3, there's usually seats opening up.  We need shade as DH had melanoma years ago and I burn very easily so that makes it even harder sometimes.  I watched a woman one time who had two loungers reserved, one in the shade and one in the sun and she moved back and forth.  She was alone all day.  I wanted to go tell her to pick one as there were people walking around looking for a seat.  On EN in April, we didn't go to the Solarium at all as the roof was never opened and it was unbearably warm in there all the time.  

[Charles4515]

13 minutes ago, BND said:

2 hours ago, moposh said:

 

When we really want one, DH goes up by 7 am and I join him shortly after.  That's usually on a day we have nothing else planned except to relax and read.  We then grab breakfast in the WJ  and bring it back to our seat.  We'll do the same for lunch and usually leave by 2 or so.

We do something similar. In our case we get up at 7 and get a couple of loungers then one of us goes to the buffet but the other remains until they come back then the other takes their turn at the buffet. We don’t bring the food back. Same for lunch. Starting later it is almost impossible to get loungers in the Solarium. 

Edited September 28, 2023 by Charles4515

[vjmatty]

Interesting change, when you consider that the problem has been with lack of enforcement by allowing littler kids to run, scream and splash.  The 16-17 year olds weren’t the problem, at least not the kind who want to be in a quiet place. Rowdy teens would rather be outside with the loud music and pool party atmosphere. Not with us boring quiet adults….those that want to be with quiet adults are the readers and otherwise quiet 16-17 year olds. This new rule will do absolutely nothing to solve the current problem. 
 

As for RC being only family oriented because they have water slides etc, sure that’s true of the larger, newer ships. An excellent idea would be to have only a few of the smaller older ships be adults-only. Win-win. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[gammite]

I remember when we had kids tables where kids ate and adults ate at the main table.

 

I also remember when kids were to be seen and not heard and it was unheard of for adults to be "partying" around minor children.

 

Clearly things have changed.

[Billy Baltic]

22 minutes ago, gammite said:

I remember when we had kids tables where kids ate and adults ate at the main table.

 

I also remember when kids were to be seen and not heard and it was unheard of for adults to be "partying" around minor children.

 

Clearly things have changed.

And at one time smoking was considered harmless and women weren’t allowed to vote but thankfully the world has moved on from that era. 

[motheroftwocats814]

Yippeee..Now let's hope they enforce it.

Enforcement varies ship to ship I have seen.

Our Allure sailing there were kids in there. And not going to the bistro.

I mean in the pool, on the loungers etc.

FINALLY staff member came over and told them to leave. Mother was mad that the staff dared to kick her angels out.

On our Voyager cruise not a young one even dared enter. LOL

[motheroftwocats814]

On 9/27/2023 at 11:13 AM, mkmaj said:

I'm personally very irritated by this. We are sailing in 5 weeks and I was very much looking forward to quiet reading time with my quiet reader 16 year old. It feels like my whole cruise plan has been sabotaged.

Seriously?