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Contributor Level:
Deck Hand
Unsupervised children
I have been reading lots of forums on line and the subject of unsupervised children has come up. This concerns because I am a parent and grandparent and I am shocked that anyone would allow little ones to run around by themselves in an environment like massive ship with thousands of strangers on it. Apparently they get in the adult hot tub and pool area, and there are no parents watching them. I know it is not the norm, but if it happens at all it is a safety and liability issue for the cruise lines as well as annoyance for other passengers who paid to have fun also. I would like to hear what anyone else has experienced.
24 Answers
Contributor Level:
Purser
I have 2 small children (4 and 2) and we will be going on our first family cruise in the spring. I know my kids are nuts sometimes, and I worry that they will get on other cruisers nerves, so I can't even imagine letting them be unsupervised!
I know that some parents think of a cruise ship as a contained environment, and to a certain extent, it is. But just being on a cruise ship doesn't make it safe. As sick as it is to imagine, pedophiles take cruises too. And there are a lot of little nooks on ships. Parents that let their kids run around unsupervised are not only adding a possible annoyance to other cruisers (not to mention any injuries they might cause/receive by being wild), they are opening them up to all sorts of unsavory characters that might be lurking around.
Or maybe I'm just a paranoid mom. Either way, my kids won't be unsupervised.
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Thanks for suggesting this topic! So many parents want to take a VACATION from being parents! They dump their kids off at the kids club then next thing you know kids are running wild down those LONG halls!
Many kids run up to the Lido deck and cut in front of adults.
Kids grab a cookie, put it down, grab another one, then put it down to find the one with the most chocolate chips!
I understand kids being on ships, but parents need to ensure they are well behaved and don't run wild.
If another adult approaches a parent about little Timmy being in the hot tub for hours on end, or about little Sammy running down the halls, the parent should immediately correct the child instead of being mad at the other adult.
In conclusion, that is precisely why I prefer Holland America Line. More adults and fewer kids.
For the record, I have sailed on NCL, R.C., Carnival Fascination out of Jacksonville and on Celebrity Solstice.
Parents should control their kids.
Follow me on Twitter @scottlara1961
Scott Lara, Jacksonville, Florida
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
On our 2009 Splendor cruise, the teens were running loose on the ship. I observed 2 lads spitting off the balcony as if it was a contest, then cheering when they hit their target. The bartender yelled at them, but it was too late.
As we were leaving our luggage out to be picked up before disembarkation, these same teens were seen running up & down the corridors, checking for any unlocked luggage that might have packed liqour. We kept our door ajar so we could keep an eye on it until the stewards came to officially pick it up.
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
I have two young children and am constantly watching them! I couldn't imagine letting them run around either! I actually have never experienced it on any of my cruises. I have experienced teenagers being unruly but not so much with the youngsters. They are usually put in their place by the crew pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most ships also have an adults only area if you are looking for a quiet spot.
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24 Answers