Did I choose the wrong cruise line?

[doogal]

My DH, my 2 well behaved younger children and myself will be sailing on

the Galaxy in March. Me and my DH really enjoy and value great food and

service. The Galaxy had a great itinerary, the perfect sail date and a super price. I thought wow this is going to be great. Good food, good price and great destinations. Well let me tell you after reading some of the posts on the CC boards ( and I am sure you know specifically which ones I mean) I am starting to think I chose the wrong cruise. If being 40 something with young children and picking a cruise because it was a great value makes a an evil one from the darkside of "Mass Market", then I will wear my title proudly. I just hope we don't encounter this "hostility" on our cruise.

[tuggers]

I'm sorry if some posters have turned you off! Sometimes we get a little over the top on these boards.

I, for one, have no problem with well behaved children.

I do have a problem with parents who don't parent and allow children to run wild. But that can happen anyplace and not just on a cruise ship.

Yes, the crowd is going to be a little older on an X ship, and it is going to be a whole lot more relaxing. X has great food and the service is the best you will ever find in a mass market cruise line.

I find the majority of people will talk to children and interact with them onboard. I know I always do. On my last cruise in December there was a lovely couple with two children that I ate breakfast with one or two mornings. The kids were great and we always spoke when I would encounter them on the ship. They were in the children's program and loved it, but had breakfast and dinner with their parents.

I think you will all have a great time. Galaxy was a fun time when I did a TA from Rome on her.

Welcome to Celebrity!

[Cachecara]

I haven't read those posts, so I am in the dark as far as that. But I have had X experience and I think you will have a wonderful time. I have seen many families in your age demographics on X and can't see what the problem would be and from what I have heard X has a great children's program. :)

Go and have fun! No matter what cruiseline one goes on or for that matter anywhere anyone goes--respect and politeness should always be the norm--and it sounds like you value those things.

[Pisces11]

The percentage of people who reply on cruise critic or even belong to cruise critic are a minute percentage of people who cruise. It would be a huge mistake to assume that a small percentage speak for everyone. Secondly, I think you are taking out of context what some people have expressed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with people looking for a cruise ship that is mostly adult just like there is nothing wrong with people wanting a family orientated cruise ship.

After our last cruise on the Summit, where we got to hear a child cry at the table next to us at the late dinner seating without taking the miserable child out of the room, it leads me to wonder why a parent would think that everyone in the dining room wanted to listen to this child scream every night rather than listen to people talking at the table. I have also seen children running wild, ram into people using walkers and canes with parents nowhere in sight. I think the problem arises with parents not with the children.

I'm sure your children are well behaved and all of us have seen children like this on cruises. Take things you read on this board with a grain of salt because sometimes people overreact a lot. Have a wonderful cruise and let us know how the cruise went with your children.

[urkidn]

We are also in our 40's travelling with a child. I like the fact that there are not as many children on board because those who are there, get a lot of attention in the kid's program. We were on Century two years ago and our son loved it. Sometimes when I would drop him off, he was the only child there but that didn't bother him at all, he still had tons of fun. There were a few nights at dinner when he couldn't wait to be excused from the table to go back. We will be on Zenith next month and I have no doubt he will have a great time there as well. You will always find some people with little or no tolerance for children whether it's on the flight down, on the ship, on a tour, etc. but generally speaking, most people are friendly. I remember watching my 7 year-old sitting in the hottub with 4 seniors chatting away like he was one of the gang, they certainly didn't look bothered by his presence.

[usha]

I'm with Tuggers on this one. I really enjoy well-behaved kids a lot, but can't stand seeing kids running wild because their parents can't be bothered with supervising them on vacation. I'm sure you'll love your cruise on Galaxy.

[Arubalisa]

Well, on the bright side, at least you did not ask if you had chosen the wrong ship. ;) There has already been a book written about the Galaxy aboard this forum. :D

 

IMHO, you have not chosen the wrong line or ship for that matter. I have had a few people email me regarding my review of our 12/22/06 sailing aboard the Galaxy at http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=24967 We were a family of 10 people, 4 of who were children- ages 10 - 17. I saw more ill-behaved and bad mannered adults than children.

 

One woman I forgot to give special mention to in my review, held up the entire buffet line one lunchtime. She helped herself, by reaching under the glass, grabbing with her HANDS, a huge bunch of romaine lettuce out of the bowl right under the eyes of the salad maker. He of course did not say a word, but simply threw the remaining romaine in the garbage and went in the back to retrieve more fresh greens.

 

I do not think that you will find that type of hostility on your voyage. In addition, depending on what ages your children are, they should love the kid's club. It is our dd's number 2 reason for cruising. :) Number 1 she will tell you is spending time with her family. :D

 

If you have any futher apprehension, you can also always come over to the family cruising forum http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

[Drew B]

The issue isn't about kids per se. The OP has picked up on a trend by many people in this forum where they feel that everybody else ought to behave in the same way and value the same things in a cruising experience as they do. That goes for the issue of kids, dress codes, alcohol smuggling, whatever! This forum (or at least a sizable portion of the people on it) most definitely does NOT subscribe to the "live and let live" maxim!

 

However, the OP should realize that the people here represent a miniscule portion of the people you will find aboard the ship. Moreover, any "hostility" you encounter on the internet is much less likely to occur face-to-face, even if you encounter the same people on the ship who may confront you here. Yes, if your kids behave horribly or you show up on formal night in a tank top and cut-off shorts carrying a bottle of bourbon from your cabin, you will get some dirty looks. If you are basically a decent, respectful person going about your day and minding your own business, chances are excellent that nobody will cause you any distress.

[excitedofharpenden]

"Objects in the mirror appear nearer than they really are". We had two children as part of our Cruise Critic group on Galaxy in 2004 and they both had a wonderful time. I'm sure you all will too. Enjoy your cruise:)

 

Phil

[newmexicoNita]

My DH, my 2 well behaved younger children and myself will be sailing on

the Galaxy in March. Me and my DH really enjoy and value great food and

service. The Galaxy had a great itinerary, the perfect sail date and a super price. I thought wow this is going to be great. Good food, good price and great destinations. Well let me tell you after reading some of the posts on the CC boards ( and I am sure you know specifically which ones I mean) I am starting to think I chose the wrong cruise. If being 40 something with young children and picking a cruise because it was a great value makes a an evil one from the darkside of "Mass Market", then I will wear my title proudly. I just hope we don't encounter this "hostility" on our cruise.

spring break plus cruising equals kids and yours will be just a few of those that will be on this sailing. I am the first to admit I have seen kids on ships that probably belong locked up in their bedrooms, I have seen parents who think everyone loves their little Johnny and Suzie and grandparents who think the world revolves around these little ones. I have seen kids in casinos until the parents are asked to leave, seen little ones in the late night lounges and in the shows way past what should be their bedtime and seen them running up and down the halls. These kids parents need to be disciplined, That being said, in 20 plus cruises I have run into very few kids that were out of hand. Sure some might think pushing the elevator buttom 2 or 3 times is fun; maybe they want to use the hot tubs even if the policy is no one under 16 in them or kids should only use them when accompanied by an adult. Kids are kids, even we were kids at one time, just can't remember when. LOL

 

There are those who prefer to cruise when the kid population is almost zero, that is ok as well and doesn't make you a bad person. I have to admit I prefer a ship that is not over run with kids. What do I do? I make sure we cruise when they are or should be in school. BTW, now I will get off my high horse but first will admit the worst kids I have ever seen have been kids on Celebrity. I don't know why. NMNita

[theduffys]

On all of our past cruises there have been children and the vast majority have been fairly well behaved. Personally, the worst I have ever been subjected to are traveling soccer teams in motels. The adults sit in the lobby and drink and flirt while the kids run wild. We have even checked out because of the noise. Of course that option is not available on a cruise ship but, I have never been that upset on one.

[Rev22:17]

doogal,

 

My DH, my 2 well behaved younger children and myself will be sailing on

the Galaxy in March. Me and my DH really enjoy and value great food and

service. The Galaxy had a great itinerary, the perfect sail date and a super price. I thought wow this is going to be great. Good food, good price and great destinations. Well let me tell you after reading some of the posts on the CC boards ( and I am sure you know specifically which ones I mean) I am starting to think I chose the wrong cruise. If being 40 something with young children and picking a cruise because it was a great value makes a an evil one from the darkside of "Mass Market", then I will wear my title proudly. I just hope we don't encounter this "hostility" on our cruise.

 

No, sounds fine. The key words in your post are "well behaved" coupled with your apparent fondness for good food and service. And in March, it's bound to be school vacation somewhere so there will be other families with school-aged children aboard -- especially if you booked the ten night cruise (one week plus the weekends, with travel on the last weekday before and the first weekday after) rather than the eleven night cruise (Monday of one week to Friday of the next).

 

Norm.

[Host Anne]

We have been sailing on Celebrity ships with our daughter since she was about ten (she's now 20). We have had some of the best cruises on Celebrity ships with her and we've all gained wonderful memories. I do not think you've selected the wrong line. Celebrity is great for families (One of our all time favorite waiters - we just had him again this year - was fantastic with our daughter - a teen at the time -- and a 2-year old at the table next to us - he made the cruise fantastic).

 

Go have a great time! I am sure you and your entire family will enjoy Galaxy! Come back and let us know how it was.

 

ENJOY!

[CajunLiner]

Doogal, which cruise are you going on in March? The only reason I ask is because my husband and I will be on Infinity from March 25 - April 8 and we will be in port with Galaxy in Aruba. How old are your children? Oh by the way, I forgot, our 2 children, ages 12 and 11 will be with us on this cruise. We will be going to the Butterfly Farm and then to the beach, previously mentioned by Arubalisa.

 

To answer your question, no, you have not chosen the wrong cruiseline. We have cruised twice on Galaxy with our children, and have not encountered any problems with fellow passengers. Our children love the Fun Factory and stay there most of the day. We do make them eat dinner with us most nights, and we have never encountered any problems here, either. Our children are pretty well behaved, as well. Both times on Galaxy, there were less than 20 children on board, so you pretty much never saw the kids on board.

 

Hope you have a great time, and if y'all are on the cruise at the same time as us, maybe we'll see y'all in Aruba!

 

Donna