Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters.
Cruisers love to debate the behaviour of children on ships, and one topic that commonly comes to the surface is that of curfews. Most cruise lines have curfews that dictate that kids of certain age, generally 17 years or younger, can’t stay out past a certain time without an adult, generally about 1am.
It often comes under question how strongly these rules are or aren’t enforced, but a recent letter from Carnival Cruises has gone viral after a cruiser received a letter informing them that their 14 year old son was spotted out after curfew.
The letter reads: “Your child, Mr Claudo Sarmiento Barra, 14 years, has violated our curfew policy for minors. As outlined in our guidelines, and reinforced during the safety briefing, unless accompanied by someone 21 years or older from their travelling party, all guests, 17 years and under, must be clear of all public areas by 1:00AM.
“We understand that our younger guests are eager to explore and enjoy the ship, however, the curfew is a mandatory policy. If your child violates this policy again during this cruise, a fine of up to $500 will be imposed. A third violation will result in disembarkation from the ship, for all in the travel group, and placement on our no-sail list.
“We know these consequences are rigid, but we take this matter very seriously.”
While the punishments may seem harsh, most cruisers appear to be in agreement, with many even calling for an earlier curfew.
Here’s what cruisers had to say.
Sheila Fry-Higgins said: “I agree with this totally. I believe that the 1am curfew is more generous than it should be. The kids do not need to be out unaccompanied by an adult that late.”
AJ Cannon agreed: “Should be 12am curfew and they need to add for kid channels or more movie options so they have something to watch while in the cabin. But I get the 1am since thats how long O2 is open.”
Terri Whitworth said this level of enforcement is necessary: “The cruise lines have to have rules. When a cruiser gets woke up by banging on doors, running down the halls. Yes! If should be enforced. Parents are responsible for their children.”
Some even called for the curfew to apply to more passengers. Curtis Pete Ellison said: “Hell, I think the curfew needs to extend to 25 years and under. So I totally agree with Carnival.”
Elsewhere, cruisers continue to complain about the lack of cruise options out of Melbourne.
Rowan Humphries said: “As much as we would love to cruise from Melbourne we’d only do it if Royal Caribbean ships were able to so as we love cruising with them.”
David Bowker wrote: “Carnival just presume everyone will fly into a port to take a cruise but not everyone can fly. It wasn’t even that long ago that 3 ships were home-ported in Melbourne.”
John Gercken added another take: “Much as I’ve loved cruising down to Tassie many times, most people want to cruise to warmer places, particularly if you know Melbourne weather and Melbourne is one day longer in each direction to reach ports in Fiji, Vanuatu and New Cal.
“Plus cruise lines want to encourage visitors from other countries and Port Phillip doesn’t have the appeal or foreign recognition of Sydney Harbour.”
Please keep those comments coming!
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Joshua Gul, a 55-year old Buderim man was enjoying what should have been a relaxing cruise out of Brisbane, when things took a disastrous turn.
3 boys 8 10 and14 in a cabin next to us with mom off to a different cabin. They wrestled all night and threw food and knives overboard .Holland didn’t do much to quiet them down.
Yes, cruising for me is for relaxing and refreshing. Children make it less peaceful in the first place, but those children who do not have responsible parents who go to their rooms and keep their children there in the evenings make cruising much less pleasant for all others. My grandson has traveled and cruised with me since he was 11 (he is now 20), and we have always attempted not to be a nuisance to any other guest. But then he has been reared to be quiet and respectful, or ‘absent’ as appropriate, when in ‘adult’ situations. A little better parenting would likely make such rules unnecessary. There are cruises that cater to children and provide programs that allow more relaxation and adult only time for parents. I avoid those cruise lines. Perhaps, rules like Viking’s “no traveler under 18” rule, would eliminate the need to have to enforce a curfew policy. Of course, I was frustrated when my well mannered 17 year old could not travel with me on Viking.
Cruising is for chumps. Over rated, over priced, hidden secret charges that you ‘have to pay’, little brats running rampant, parents drunk, stoned (or both) since setting foot onboard. If you really must divulge in cruising, then Viking would be the only option. No little turds banging on your cabin door at 2am.
Carnival is on OUR banned ship list. Went on one of their cruises and kids were out of control. Just got off a Celebrity cruise, with quite a few kids on board and none were a problem. Hence, next cruise has been booked on Celebrity. Curfews should start no later than 11pm.
I just recently went on a cruise and had young kids knocking at my door constantly until my daughter scared them and told them that if they come back she will be more scarier or we will get security and their parents will find out. They stopped. It’s not hard to teach your kids to do the right thing. Rules are there for a reason.
Absolutely fair! Parents seem to think that by taking their children on vacation – the parents themselves are on vacation! Once you have them they are Your responsibility!
Our last Carnival cruise, there were 5 juveniles running up & down our hallway; yelling & screaming. It was about 11:30 pm. Granted, not over curfew, but this was a “residential” hallway (nothing but cabins). I called Guest Services & they told me “well, it’s their cruise to enjoy too!” WTF? Those kids are not the ones paying you Carnival! Agreed, under 21 should be 1 am, but under 16 should be 10 pm!!!! And enforce it!
I think kids should be not seen or heard after 9pm. I think we’ve all had horror nights with kids running amok, completely unsupervised with no accountability whatsoever. The corridors and cabin walls are not exactly soundproofed…mind you, the same should apply for constant door bangers, how difficult is it to close the cabin door yourself, rather than let it slam?
I’m glad that they are doing that , my last time I was on cruise was 4 years ago and I was disappointed as I went on the cruise to get away from screaming kids running up and down pressing the lift buttons and riding then up and down with out supervision, children should be not allowed to run around and when they are in lounge areas sit with there families
Absolutely fair. So sick of parents going on holidays from parenting. They should also be barred for life.
Of Course kids should be banned from ships when they are roaming around after curfew. Stupidity of parents allowing this should mean they would also be banned. Safety besides Stupidity comes into affect and managing all of this by the Ship’s Crew is simply not on.