Short, summer cruise. Big mistake

If you cruise with your kids, please dont be offended. Its just no longer for us as we once did.

Never, ever, ever will we book a short cruise in the summer. Just got off another RCL cruise. Had to be 1000 kids on board. And the cheaper and shorter cruises definitely draw a different sort of crowd. And also although it was reported like some of the recent brawls on a ship, we too had an assault between a girlfriend and boyfriend in "The R Bar" which drew blood. And it was really woman who was punching.

The MDR? might as well be the Windjammer. People in bathing suits and board shorts. Loud. The opposite of how it once was. Overrun with kids? Violence? Ships now merging with aspects of theme parks? We are not used to this sort if chaos on ships. We are moving to only longer cruises and to Celebrity which provides a more traditional cruise experience. We're going to try it anyway.

Hey we once cruised with our kids. But now we would like things a bit quieter! And yeah cruising has changed a lot. Mostly for the worse, sadly.

Lesson learned. We had never once all these decades of cruising had gone in the summer. Big mistake for us.

22 Answers

We had similar issues with a cruise on Symphony, the week before Christmas in '21. We were then on Oasis 91 Days later, and none of the same issues.

2 new general rules of thumb for us when booking:

1) Never EVER booking in the 2 weeks surrounding Christmas again, unless it is on Celebrity

2) Never Booking Mega ships in the weeks surrounding any holiday.

With Celebrity, the Edge Class ships are fantastic. Was on the Edge in January of 2020 for 7 days, which was our last pre-covid cruise. Our first one back was on the Apex for 12 days this past January. We're booked for a 18 day B2B in November of 2023 on the brand new Beyond.

Another choice would be the newer ships on Princess (Discovery, Enchanted, Sky). They have the Princess Plus option, which gives you drink package, wifi and gratuities for 50 bucks a day. On Carnival and Royal, it's over 100 for the same.

love these answers and that no one is taking offense! i can't stand to be on a ship with kids. your best bet is to always go on a higher end cruiseline when school is in session and go for a longer time. and out of the country is always a good idea! all brilliant reasons to have a wonderful trip!

ok. its cool. and i agree with you 100% it wasn't just the kids. there were just so many of them. it was chaos yes. but it was also the sort of people who hop these cheap cruises now. it was simply a mistake on our part to book it. a mistake that won't occur again

Unfortunately thats the truth these days

Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you...sort of a general reply to observations about unruly people who probably aren't used to cruising or how to act in public. Possibly because they have so many frustrations and a general lack of responsibility everywhere else. So it stands to reason that their kids are the same. Doesn't matter, I can pick and choose where, when and how I cruise...or do most other things as well..one of the real advantages of retirement. Along with picking and choosing who I associate with, since I no longer have to put up with ANYONE I don't like in order to earn a living,, or just get from one day to the next. Unfortunately, abusive types are everywhere, including cyber. They're easy to dispose of. One finger will do it.

no idea what on earth you're talking about or who you're even replying to.

Freedom of the Seas. 4 nights

Mebbe I'm just cynical...the world being what it is...I'd like to think you're right...but I doubt it...welcome to the brave new "entitled" world....

We always go after summer (Sep Oct Nov) or Spring (Mar Apr) less kids and people too. But since the lockdown it seems people are just unruly everywhere (not just cruises) Hopefully this will flatten now that lockdowns are over

Just my 2 cents

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