Children on Ventura

[scrozuk]

thats a real shame -that you felt segregated.:(

I was on the fjords cruise at half-term with over 400 kids on board

I was travelling with my 75 yr old mum and three times at dinner we joined large tables of 8 which had a family with children on-we all had a great time chatting , there was a lovely atmosphere

 

 

That is exactly the point. We all hear about how kids get lambasted in most walks of life, but to segregate families away doesn't help children learn social skills. Of course I understand that some people don't want to sit at a table with children, I respect it though I feel they miss out, because of one thing about cruises that I've learnt :-

 

It doesn't matter what ship, what itinery, what part of the world you are on, it is the people that make the cruise for what it is, not just the ship!

 

When we were allowed to sit at a larger table (even got asked if that would be a problem ??), my children loved being able to chat to other people, and I think that was reciprocated..

 

But never mind. On another note, managed to get our memory cards unloaded today, took about 3 hours. Swear the wife has a side job being a photographer for Google Earth!! :-)

 

Scrozuk

[cottonbuddas]

When we were allowed to sit at a larger table (even got asked if that would be a problem ??), my children loved being able to chat to other people, and I think that was reciprocated.

 

Oh dear, I think it could be my fault they asked you if sitting at a large table would be a problem because it was for me. On the previous week's cruise we ate in the Baytree but only after (a) the four of us had all been put on the same table, and (b) we had a table for 4, not 10. Perhaps I hassled them so much they thought that everybody with children would want their own little corner of privacy - sorry :D

 

As you said it's good for the children to socialise but it's not necessarily fair on their victims. I didn't feel right allowing my 4-year-old to possibly ruin a formal dinner evening for the other guests, who might have expected adult behaviour and adult company. So we eventually got a table for four, and her head hit the tablecloth somewhere between the soup and the lobster. She then snored gently for a good half hour. She woke up just in time for the petit fours. Sweet and funny - yes. Acceptable behaviour for a gala dinner - no, but at least it was private.

[scrozuk]

I don't think you should blame yourself for this. You know, I think that you don't give yourself enough credit for your child. It's not like they were running around, screaming and being horrible.

 

I think on a ship this big, that there may be a couple of people who would object to having children sat with them at the dinner table, but I think for the other 99%, they would be more than happy.

 

My boys are now 11 and 10 (eldest celebrated his birthday on the way out, the youngest on the last night back!), and also saw families with even younger children, down to babies age, and didn't encounter any complaints about them. Think this might be because there were so few children on board.

 

We were in Saffron on the First Sitting, but to be honest, if I was sat at a table and you and your family were sat with us on a formal night, then I wouldn't have a problem if the little one fell asleep. It's the innocence of youth!!

 

We will be discussing this with P&O though as to what their policy is regarding family dining, cos it seemed that couples were all put together into groups, and families were separated. Our Head Waiter couldn't give us an answer.

 

Anyway, glad you survived N912.

 

Scrozuk

[snikrup]

Having worked on the Ventura as one of the childrens crew in the early days (ie second cruise in) I would like to know which member told you that it was Bedlam. I don't recall it been bedlam at all as there were so many youth staff!

[daiB]

Now snikrup we cannot be having this.

 

We cannot have the truth getting in the way of a good complaint.:rolleyes:

 

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[cottonbuddas]

Having worked on the Ventura as one of the childrens crew in the early days (ie second cruise in) I would like to know which member told you that it was Bedlam. I don't recall it been bedlam at all as there were so many youth staff!

 

So take it up with the group leader (or similar title). I wasn't on an early cruise myself so have no knowledge of what it was like. What I can say is that on the May cruise I was on, the children had a fantastic time even though there were nearly 500 of them - you really wouldn't have known there were so many aboard.

 

But I suppose there must be some reason why P&O now appear to be limiting the amount of children to more manageable numbers. ;)