Just booked on the Brilliance: are kids ever allowed in the solarium?

[PhoenixCruiser]

In totally agree. Not flaming the OP, but if there is a child in the Solarium when I am there, I will call the Pursers Desk or Security immediately and ask them to deal with the situation. On the few cruises where it was not enforced, it surely detracted from my enjoyment of the solarium and the cruise. It is intended for adults only and IMO that needs to be respected.

 

There are so many great places on these ships for kids that elephants really should not matter.

 

I agree! It would be nice if the age restrictions were respected.

 

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[negc]

I agree. The only problem is adults only means adults only at all times. The children have their place and we have ours. Some of the childrens activities do not allow adults. Please give us individuals without children the opportunity to enjoy our vacation without children interrupting our peace. We should have one quiet area besides our cabin. Thats just my opinion.

 

Please read the sign in the Radiance class solaria and probably on Vision class ships as well - it clearly and specifically states what times and under what conditions children are allowed to use the solarium and its pool. It isn't "adults only at all times"; there are limited hours when, if the weather is inclement" children are allowed. The times are quite limited. Certainly we can endure the presence of children during those few hours of the day. If the rules are violated, they should be enforced, but make sure you know and understand the rules before you head of to the pool crew to complain.

[cb at sea]

If the weather is bad, It's understandable to let kids in to swim. However, if their pool is open, that's where they should be. I, too, will ask a pool official to speak to parents about taking their kids out of the solarium on sunny "adult only" days. It's too bad anyone has to speak to these folks, tho.

[caviargal]

If the weather is bad, It's understandable to let kids in to swim. However, if their pool is open, that's where they should be. I, too, will ask a pool official to speak to parents about taking their kids out of the solarium on sunny "adult only" days. It's too bad anyone has to speak to these folks, tho.

 

 

Weather conditions do not change the rules. Kids should only be allowed in during posted hours, period. It is unfair to the adults enjoying the Solarium to be penalized because the weather is bad.

 

It is actually quite lovely to enjoy the sanctuary of the Solarium on a rainy day. Having kids in there would ruin that for the rest of us.

[whale-watcher]

Weather conditions do not change the rules...

Actually, on RCCL, they do...the solarium on the Enchantment was adults only for the bulk of our Canada/NE cruise, but was open to children on the last rainy sea day. We were actually called (by the purser's desk, I think) and informed of this rule change and invited to bring our kids to swim in the solarium. There were very few kids on the sailing, so perhaps that was the reason behind the rule change. My boys soon decided that they preferred the less serene atmosphere of the outdoor pools in spite of the rain and wind and fog (we are northern MN so it takes a lot more than that to keep them inside;) )

 

Also, in the Enchantment at least, the pizza and grill are unfortunately located in the Solarium, making a regular destination for families with kids, even on sunny days when they are not allowed to swim.

[negc]

Weather conditions do not change the rules. Kids should only be allowed in during posted hours, period. It is unfair to the adults enjoying the Solarium to be penalized because the weather is bad.

 

It is actually quite lovely to enjoy the sanctuary of the Solarium on a rainy day. Having kids in there would ruin that for the rest of us.

 

I don't know where anyone is suggesting that weather conditions change the rules. The rules ARE posted and they ONLY allow kids in the Solarium during limited hours and ONLY when the weather is bad. They aren't allowed in there all day long and when the weather is nice, they aren't allowed in there at all. Those are the rules and they aren't intended to penalize anyone, but merely to provide a little bit of enjoyment for the kids when the weather doesn't allow them to use the outside pools. If you can tolerate all those lounging towels, books and sunglasses taking up chair space, you ought to be able to co-exist with a few well-behaved children for one or two hours on rainy or cold days.

[CarolinaCheesehead]

You know, I think all areas should be open to everyone. I've been on several Carnival cruises with an Adults Only topless deck. The problem is there isn't a pool up there. I'm also not a confident swimmer so the childrens wading pool would really be much safer for me. I should be allowed there right. It wouldn't hurt anything if 1 adult sunbathed without a top in the childrens area since all areas should be for everyone.;)

 

Ok, truthfully I like the areas of seperation. On day 1 when everyone is touring the ship, show the kids the elephants. Let them say Hello & Goodbye. Then show them all the fun area that are just for them. I also have no problem with limited hours on inclement days. But I do expect the children allowed during that time to be respectful.

 

I am looking forward to being able to lounge in a pool and not worry about being splashed. I really don't swim well and when my face gets wet, I sink like a rock. Strange but true.

[xpcdoojk]

My understanding, is that when the weather is inclement they allow the children in there during certain hours. If your child acts like a quiet small adult nobody is going to say a word most likely at any time, but of course is that really likely?

 

jc

[crusin_claymate919]

no one bothered me when me and my younger sister went in there this past summer. she's 11 and i'm 15. hopefully you won't have a problem :)

[DonnaC1]

I think that when an area is designated 'adults only', it should be respected. When my sister and I went on a Disney cruise in January, we looked forward to the adults-only pool because we knew there would be kids everywhere else (hey, it's Disney) but we wanted somewhere we could go when we just wanted to relax in peace and quiet. A group of 8 adults grabbed some loungers beside us, one of the couples had their young child with them. I overheard the mother say "Oh, this area is adults-only" and her husband replied "Well, I'm sure nobody would mind if one child was in here". I thought that was pretty presumptuous, they obviously didn't want to have to leave their friends, so they just assumed the rules didn't apply to them. Very annoying!

[wrp96]

Believe me, the adults only solarium rule is enforced on the Brilliance and other Royal Caribbean ships. And I'm the adult that sits there and applauds and says thank you to the deck patrol when it happens.

 

I understand opening up the solarium for families for selected hours when there is bad weather, but that is the only exception. I've actually never been on a cruise where they've needed to have those hours, but I would understand if they did. But at the same time, I don't want to see any children in the solarium except at those hours as that is one of the few completely child free areas on the ship during the day.

[HLester3]

Thank you for everyone's opinions. (I am getting my flame resistant suit on now) The reason that the kids want to go in there in the first place is that it looks so different and exotic than what they have on the top deck. For instance, we have been on the Disney cruise and they have an adult only pool. That pool is almost identical to the other pools, so there is really no reason why a kid would want to go in. You are comparing apples to oranges when you say that they have their own pool why aren't they happy with that.

 

However, after spending over $12,000 on a cruise, I think that they should give the kids at least an hour every few days to go into the solarium. I want to spend some time in there, but I go on vacation to spend time with my kids. So I will be relegated to the main pool area. I am sure that it is nice, but I specifically chose this ship because I thought the solarium looked so tropical. I am sure that my son will have a good time on the upper pool decks, because he will want to spend time with other kids.

 

I know I am not going to change anyone's mind. I just wish there was some kind of happy medium.

[wrp96]

Just because you paid $12,000 for a cruise doesn't mean your kids have a right to go every where on the ship. I pay a ton of money for my cruises but I'm not allowed to go into the kids club, the teen night club, or the kids pool. And I would never think that was the case. Do you use the I paid $12,000 argument to try and get your kids to be allowed to drink or be allowed to play games in the casino? You as a parent should accept that there are just certain places that kids aren't allowed, even on cruise ships. And no amount of money being paid can change that.

[whale-watcher]

But what about kids eating in the lounge when they are not using the pool? On the Enchantment, the solarium grill is the only place where pizza and burgers were regularly available, making it a regular destination for kids and teens. While this was not much of an issue on our cruise, as there were only very few kids on board, I can imagine that it is a MAJOR issue during Caribbean sailings...are kids expected to carry their food elsewhere to eat? Princess had a similar odd layout, with the ice cream bar located in the adults only solarium.

[mrstrod]

I am a mom of 2 younger kids (6 & 3) and I don't think I would ever consider taking them in an area marked adults only. Honestly, if I took my kids to the adventure camp and then went to the solariam pool , I would totally tattle on anyone who had brought their kids in. (And I do believe that this is why sometimes it's enforced and other times it's not. Sometimes people tattle and sometimes people don't).

If I had wanted to be around kids, I would have kept mine with me and gone to the outdoor pools with them. I'm not saying this to pick on the OP, but lets face it - the kids didn't pay all that good money for the cruise, the adults did - so why should we have a little peace and solitude?

[crusinmama06]

However, after spending over $12,000 on a cruise, I think that they should give the kids at least an hour every few days to go into the solarium. I want to spend some time in there, but I go on vacation to spend time with my kids. So I will be relegated to the main pool area. I am sure that it is nice, but I specifically chose this ship because I thought the solarium looked so tropical. I am sure that my son will have a good time on the upper pool decks, because he will want to spend time with other kids.

 

I know I am not going to change anyone's mind. I just wish there was some kind of happy medium.

 

Sorry, you had my support for the limited hours during inclement weather, but now you just took your argument one step further. It doesn't matter how much you pay. I pay just as much of you (and numerous times I might add) for my family (including two little girls ages 1 and 6) to go on cruises. But I would NEVER make the argument that because I paid so much, my kids have the priviledge to use the adult only areas of the ship.

 

The spas look really "lush" too. But I can't imagine anyone making the argument that their child should be allowed to go for an adult only steam bath.

 

Yow have to understand and respect that not everyone wants to be swimming in a pool with children. They want a different kind of vacation experiece than you or I.

 

The price of your cruise does not matter.

[Travelgrrl]

Just to clarify; I've never seen the Solarium opened up to children during typically warm weather cruises (Mexican Riviera, Caribbean), even when the weather is inclement that day.

 

It is open at regularly scheduled times on those cruises that typically have inclement weather as a matter of course, such as transatlantics or Alaska cruises (not sure about Mediterranean, which is what the OP asked about).

 

Everyone who is arguing whether kids should be allowed in adults only places is getting off track. The original question was: on a Med cruise, do they have regular times for such, as they do on Alaska cruises? If anyone would care to share their experience in that specific regard, that would be helpful to the OP.

 

In more than a dozen RCI cruises, I haven't seen children in the solarium who were not shooed out (and generally, I haven't even seen them try), with the exception of those ships where the kids run in and out for pizza and burgers. They don't seem to tarry, even to eat at the little tables.

The exception is our 2 'cold weather' cruises where they had special wooden signs placed at the entrance, clearly stating the departure, during limited times, for children to use the area. Seems like a happy medium.

 

(So if you wake up in St. Thomas and it's raining, you might not want to expect that the Solarium will be accordingly available for the tykes!)

[Art Explorer]

Sorry, but I believe you crossed a line when you tried to justify your opinion by quoting how much you paid for the cruise! Money in no way excuses you from following the rules!:mad:

 

I don't want to sound like I'm flaming you, but here's my take on your situation: I understand the layout of the ship can cause a temptation for the kids (no applause for the designers there), but why should every child be allowed in because that's what they want? I respect that as a parent you want to give your child a memorable experience, but in the bigger scheme of things, don't you want to also teach your child to respect the rules? Life is full of them, for adults as well as children (Ever get a speeding ticket? An added fee for making a late payment?). I'm sure there will be plenty of other memorable experiences he will have from your trip. You might have to put up with a little attitude from his disappointment now, but you'll be teaching him the bigger lesson of how to function within the limits!:)

[xpcdoojk]

Just because you paid $12,000 for a cruise doesn't mean your kids have a right to go every where on the ship. I pay a ton of money for my cruises but I'm not allowed to go into the kids club, the teen night club, or the kids pool. And I would never think that was the case. Do you use the I paid $12,000 argument to try and get your kids to be allowed to drink or be allowed to play games in the casino? You as a parent should accept that there are just certain places that kids aren't allowed, even on cruise ships. And no amount of money being paid can change that.

 

Actually, on my HAL Rotterdam cruise of last December in South America, there were zero children on board. My buddy and I had the arcade to ourselves, and we actually went into the kids club to play nintendo and playstation. Unfortunately, we were too stupid to play those games well, and we usually ended back in the arcade dumping quarters into the video head to head racing games.

 

jc

[pinkrosesdeb]

We LOVE the solarium pool specifically because there are no children allowed. We raised 2 and are on our own now. We love the quiet. Still love kids but don't want to be with them all the time.

[PhoenixCruiser]

I want to spend some time in there, but I go on vacation to spend time with my kids.

 

Yes, you might want to spend time with your kids, just don't force them on folks who don't.

 

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[HLester3]

You have all misunderstood my argument. I am not going to be in the solarium with my son because I paid the money! I just think that it should be open for 1 hour every 3 or 4 days so that everyone can expeirence it.

 

I did not say that I paid $12,000 so I should use it against the rules. I am saying that I do not agree with the rules!

[Alexis]

I just booked us for a Mediteranean Venice cruise this morning. Partly on seeing the Solarium on the Travel Channel Alaska cruise on the Radiance. On the TV they showed a small child swimming in the pool, and my 4 year old was very excited to swim in the pool with the elephants. I was reviewing the deck plans and I read that the Solarium is adult only. Is it different on the Alask cruises since it is so cold? My son will be so disappointed if he can't see the elephants.

 

Thanks!!

 

Your son can "see" the elephants. Take him in to get him a snack. Then take him out again if there are no signs posted saying he can stay.

That way he will get his wish and the adults will get theirs and everyone will be happy. ;)

[xpcdoojk]

Your son can "see" the elephants. Take him in to get him a snack. Then take him out again if there are no signs posted saying he can stay.

That way he will get his wish and the adults will get theirs and everyone will be happy. ;)

 

Alexis, you had better quit being so reasonable! You will get a reputation!:D ;) Reason has no place in these discussions! :D

 

jc

[Alexis]

Alexis, you had better quit being so reasonable! You will get a reputation!:D ;) Reason has no place in these discussions! :D

 

jc

 

Hi jc, LOL

Smack me up the side of the head. :o

Thanks, I needed that. :D