No Kids Cruise

[halos]

I think the issue comes up when people say "I don't like kids".

It's not that you have to love vacationing with children, its the right to dislike a whole group. Would you be offended if someone said "I don't like cruising with seniors, they move too slow, they talk too loud, or whatever?.

 

I think you make way too much out of this subject.

You don't need 'rights' to dislike kids.

 

I am new to this board, but wanted to add in my two cents. Of course I LOVE my kids immensely, but DH and I are paying a fortune for babysitting and daycare so that we can go on our next cruise (not everyone has ideal "grandparents", oh how I wish...) so the idea of a "no kids" cruise appeals to me too.

 

It's nice to be a couple once in a while instead of just 'so and so's mom and dad'. :)

I hope you have a great time. :)

[Leo Jay]

We prefer to avoid the height of the summer when there might be a large number of younger or college-aged kids, but a couples-only cruise actually seems kind of creepy to me... can't put my finger on it.

 

Anyway, I actually have found most of the kids to be pretty cool, and generally respectful and responsive the few times I've had to call them on doing something they shouldn't have been doing. For the most part, they just do what normal kids are supposed to do -- run around excitedly, laugh, splash in the pool, etc. A bit annoying if you're a curmudgeon, as I occasionally can be, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're misbehaving.

[Leo Jay]

i would love a no kids cruise. Also would like a no smoking cruise. I know it will not happen but it just wishful thinking. I even would be willing to pay extra for these cruises as I know I would have a great time.

Pam

 

These do exist. Not on CCL of course, but if you're willing to pay more, there are options.

[Hunding]

These do exist. Not on CCL of course, but if you're willing to pay more, there are options.

 

 

Check out Oceania. There are no activities on board per se for children, and this line's cost and itineraries tend to dissuade "family" bookings. There are only two, small smoking areas on Oceania's vessels, one inside the Horizon Lounge, in the rear, on the port side; and the other outside, in the front starboard corner of the pool deck. That's it. Passengers are warned: If you are caught smoking anywhere else on the ship, you will be forcibly debarked at the next port.

[Leo Jay]

Check out Oceania. There are no activities on board per se for children, and this line's cost and itineraries tend to dissuade "family" bookings. There are only two, small smoking areas on Oceania's vessels, one inside the Horizon Lounge, in the rear, on the port side; and the other outside, in the front starboard corner of the pool deck. That's it. Passengers are warned: If you are caught smoking anywhere else on the ship, you will be forcibly debarked at the next port.

 

Wow! I wonder if the Oceania board has any threads where pax are debating the enforcement of that one! I may have to make some popcorn before I give that a read!

:D

[cathyoo]

I think you make way too much out of this subject.

You don't need 'rights' to dislike kids.

 

 

 

It's nice to be a couple once in a while instead of just 'so and so's mom and dad'. :)

I hope you have a great time. :)

 

I'm afraid you may have the wrong impression. The only point I am trying to make is why an "adults only" subject has to turn into a b&t&h fest about kids. They definitely seem to be the group that everyone can take potshots and not be considered politically incorrect.

[halos]

I'm afraid you may have the wrong impression. The only point I am trying to make is why an "adults only" subject has to turn into a b&t&h fest about kids. They definitely seem to be the group that everyone can take potshots and not be considered politically incorrect.

 

 

I just don't understand the sensitivity. I have kids...I like kids (to a certain extent) I certainly love my own more than life itself, but it doesn't offend me when peoole say they don't enjoy the company of children.

To each their own. What's the big deal?

I stand by the fact that you make too much of it. it becomes a b-fest when people jump on other people who say they'd like an adult only cruise.

[terri910]

I think it's just that so often, that sentiment is accompanied by some reference to kids as always being obnoxious and bratty, and that's what many parents find offensive.

I think every child is obnoxious and bratty at least a few times his life.

 

Parents just hate to admit it...*LOL*

 

The fact that so many parents refuse to realize/recognize/believe/acknowledge this makes it difficult for everyone else -- especially parents who do realize it. I can't tell you the number of times I wondered if we were scarring our children for life because we accepted the possibility of our sons being less than angels when all their friends' parents were always defensive of any hint that their own children might have been less than perfect. I'm not joking, it was the hardest thing to do, to not be like those other parents. But, now that they're grown and I see what sort of adults they've become, I can say it was worth it.

[piratesprincess]

Took a Windjammer years ago (before it went south) and they were 16 years and up. We enjoyed it tremendously. I like to schedule my cruises when school is in session also so there are fewer kids on board. I love children -had some great ones of my own - but prefer to not vacation with them. I will say that the children's programs seem to be better and better at keeping them occupied. The last couple of cruises we were on, I barely noticed any frustrated parents holding a crying kids that are overwhelmed by the change in schedule, the distractions, etc. I don't understand cruising with little kids...they are too young to understand and adapt well to the environment. But then I didn't understand people vacationing with little kids in Vegas and there were lots of them. OMG...I'm sounding like an old fart! :)

[piratesprincess]

Took a Windjammer years ago (before it went south) and they were 16 years and up. We enjoyed it tremendously. I like to schedule my cruises when school is in session also so there are fewer kids on board. I love children -had some great ones of my own - but prefer to not vacation with them. I will say that the children's programs seem to be better and better at keeping them occupied. The last couple of cruises we were on, I barely noticed any frustrated parents holding a crying kids that are overwhelmed by the change in schedule, the distractions, etc. I don't understand cruising with little kids...they are too young to understand and adapt well to the environment. But then I didn't understand people vacationing with little kids in Vegas and there were lots of them. OMG...I'm sounding like an old fart! :)

 

Note -while we were on our childless cruise, our kids were taking a vacation with their grandparents and touring all the Texas Historical sites. More age appropriate and a great learning experience for them. We also did vacations especially for the kids...bought a 6 flags seasonal pass and spent a week going to every roller coaster and ride in all 6 flags. We didn't cruise w/ our boys till they were much older.

[piratesprincess]

I just don't understand the sensitivity. I have kids...I like kids (to a certain extent) I certainly love my own more than life itself, but it doesn't offend me when peoole say they don't enjoy the company of children.

To each their own. What's the big deal?

I stand by the fact that you make too much of it. it becomes a b-fest when people jump on other people who say they'd like an adult only cruise.

 

True....I love kids and I love lots of people who smoke but in a perfect "Princess" world I would cruise w/ no kids and no smoking. The fact that both exist on cruise ships doesn't stop me from going or from enjoying myself.

[Kurbanfan]

I don't understand cruising with little kids...they are too young to understand and adapt well to the environment. But then I didn't understand people vacationing with little kids in Vegas and there were lots of them. OMG...I'm sounding like an old fart! :)

 

I totally agree! Vegas is the killer for me too. That I totally don't get. I would just stay home.....

[lagbunch8]

This is a kewl idea, but unless I have my kids with me, I really don't notice them.

 

 

Me too. But, I do have a very high tolerance for kids lol. I have 6. The only time it bothered me was on my Freedom Med cruise. There were NO adult only areas on the pool deck. NONE.:eek: I thought I was getting a 12 night break from kids but, it turned out it was just a break from my kids. The ones I can control!

 

I would love a 70's or 80's cruise. All the shows and music could be to that time. Or even a 20's cruise. Sign me up for that.

[lagbunch8]

I totally agree! Vegas is the killer for me too. That I totally don't get. I would just stay home.....

 

Yeah Vegas I don't get either? :confused: Vegas tried to market itself as a family destination but, it didn't really fly.

 

I know I will get flamed for this (like I care lol) but, I think *some* parents take the kids along to lessen the guilt of taking a "me" or "me and you" vacation. That way they can say it was a family vacation. Like the people that take their kids on cruises but leave them at the club all day and night. They get to go to the casino and bars and the kids get the club. That's a "family" vacation to some.

 

There is no shame in a couples vacation. DH and I do that and then we also take "family" vacations. If we vacation as a family then we spend time together as a family. Our youngest were 5 before we took the kids on a cruise and it was Disney. Our kids have only sailed on Disney so far.

[mamasue]

First the age can't be 25, the DW isn't 25 yet and we've been married 5 yrs on saturday.Now as far as kids go.

 

I don't care if there are kids on a cruise or not, but i would like a tranquilizer gun with a strong fast acting sedative that has no lasting side effects. so if a child is misbehaving then we can simply calm the child down so we can resume any activity that we were doing prior to be disturbed. :D .

 

or a carefull screening process where only the kids that are truely well behaved are allowed on the cruise. which would be almost everyone on these boards who has kids because everyones kids are always well behaved.

 

No I don't hate kids, infact I love them. I will miss mine when the DW and I go on our cruise but for 8 nights mommy and daddy, get to be husband and wife. sometime i plan on bringing the little ones (2,3,4) on a cruise but we will go durring a break in school so there will be tons of little people acting like kids do. My kids aren't perfect they listen most of the time, but who knows how they will react to being on a huge flashy ship with nothing but water areound surrounded by 100's of kids and 2000 adults they have never met before.

 

 

Rednecks, I love your comments !!!!:) My daughter is now 28 and we live in opposite ends of the world (she visits many times a year!!)

But from this whole thread, you have put your point over the best!!!

[babyher]

Rednecks, I love your comments !!!!:) My daughter is now 28 and we live in opposite ends of the world (she visits many times a year!!)

But from this whole thread, you have put your point over the best!!!

 

 

 

I agree :)

 

Or Camp Carnival could give out little Pez dispensers of Ritalin . You don't mind sailing with a couple hundered kids if they are as zoned out as Courtney Love backstage at the MTV Awards :)

[ShedQueen77]

I totally agree! Vegas is the killer for me too. That I totally don't get. I would just stay home.....

 

I don't understand Vegas for kids either. My son was just talking about it the other day and said he hoped we never planned on taking him there until he was old enough to "play cards and win money". After all, he says, isn't that the only thing to do there? :)

[SnorkelBabe]

I think every child is obnoxious and bratty at least a few times his life.

 

Parents just hate to admit it...*LOL*

Yes, that's why I used the word "always" in the post you quoted, and admitted in another post that mine weren't perfect angels, either. In fact, my 10yo was being quite bratty just this morning. ;)

 

I completely agree with you that too many parents these days seem to tune out their kids and either not notice their behavior or not care enough to correct it. I feel sorry for those kids.

 

But there are also people who just plain hate kids and are annoyed by them no matter what they are doing, and it's easy to spot who they are. My BIL is this way. He will complain and glare at kids in restaurants who are doing nothing more than talking at the same volume as the adults in their (and our) group. :confused: It's pretty clear that it's his issue, not bad behavior on the part of the kids he's annoyed by.

 

Please note, only one person in this thread gives me that vibe, and it's not you, terri.

[missabbi]

The first cruise my family and I went on (DH & 2 teenagers) was during spring break. The Triumph was loaded with kids and teenagers....we had a blast!

 

I don't mind unruly kids, drunks, chair hogs...etc. I am on a cruise and as long as they aren't touching me or invading my personal space...I'm good. :D

 

I take the stairs, so the elevator button problem never affects me.

[nrdsb4]

It's not that you have to love vacationing with children, its the right to dislike a whole group. Would you be offended if someone said "I don't like cruising with seniors, they move too slow, they talk too loud, or whatever?.

 

I read that here all the time...usually by someone who claims to be "offended" that others would dare to say that they don't want to be around children. They go on and on about how it's not fair to be critical of a large group (children), and then go on to bash all elderly people. It's called hypocrisy.

[ShedQueen77]

Originally Posted by terri910

I think every child is obnoxious and bratty at least a few times his life.

 

Parents just hate to admit it...*LOL*

 

 

Oh how I wish it was just a few times in their lives! LOL

[trock]

I agree :)

 

Or Camp Carnival could give out little Pez dispensers of Ritalin . You don't mind sailing with a couple hundered kids if they are as zoned out as Courtney Love backstage at the MTV Awards :)

 

 

As long as they don't dress like Courtney Hole, er .. I mean Love;)

[babyher]

As long as they don't dress like Courtney Hole, er .. I mean Love;)

 

yea ....or walking around moaning "Kurt"

 

 

That would be annoying especially when trying to eat *LOL*

[trock]

yea ....or walking around moaning "Kurt"

 

 

That would be annoying especially when trying to eat *LOL*

lol.. more like.. i killed kurt...

[cathyoo]

I read that here all the time...usually by someone who claims to be "offended" that others would dare to say that they don't want to be around children. They go on and on about how it's not fair to be critical of a large group (children), and then go on to bash all elderly people. It's called hypocrisy.

 

That's nerve... I know we ALL got to this point through some type of childhood and I sincerely hope we ALL get to be pain in the ass elderly people on someone's cruise.