Holiday cruises should be filled with festive cheer and family fun. However, many families have reported aggressive behaviour towards their kids on cruise ships this year.
Reports have been aplenty in cruise communities online of parents who have felt their kids have been treated aggressively or demeaningly by other passengers.
Kirsten Smith went on a December cruise with Royal Caribbean and described the treatment towards her “very polite” two-year-old child as a very mixed bag. Furthermore, as an experienced cruiser, Ms Smith felt this treatment to be a new phenomenon onboard.
What happened onboard
“It was 50/50 for us. Either people were fantastic or disgusting. It’s our 15th cruise and my daughter’s fourth. Never have we ever experienced this before.
“People were being rude toward our two-year-old. They gave her filthy looks when she would be polite and say hi to them.
“She’s very polite, has great manners. And whilst we had a couple of tantrums, she’s a very well-behaved kid and just wants to have fun. We were told by one woman to ‘put our child on a leash’ when she was walking back to our room minding her own business.”
Ms Smith said she also noticed this behaviour directed towards other kids on the cruise ship, something she was baffled by given the supposed family nature of the cruise.
“There were altercations against parents over getting milk in the buffet at breakfast. People were yelling at parents telling them children shouldn’t be allowed on cruises. There were even children being spoken down to at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony because children were excited. Mind you, it’s a kid’s event.”
More positively, Ms Smith said the staff were nothing short of incredible to her child, and guest services were receptive when she brought the issue to them.
The general sentiment of cruisers appeared to be that they had no issues with children on cruises and many even felt adults are generally the larger problem.
However, this hasn’t stopped the reported behaviour from creating nerves in those with cruises booked and some other cruisers from casting blame on lacklustre parenting.
Parents left nervous for cruises ahead
Reports of such behaviour have left some parents nervous to take their children on cruises. Especially those with children with certain disabilities or conditions.
Fran Neilson wrote: “I hope adults are more understanding for our cruise departing this Friday. We have one child, he will be looking for friends and things to amuse himself.
“He is nine and is autistic and has ADHD. He can get loud, fidgety, dysregulated and emotional – not at the same time luckily. So He isn’t the best at just sitting quietly at meal times so not looking forward to the looks, stares or nasty comments that may come at those times.
“We have put off doing our first cruise for so long. Fingers crossed we have patient and compassionate fellow cruisers.”
Blaming the parenting?
Some cruisers have pointed the finger towards parenting ‘falling short’.
For example, Caroline Hale reported seeing what she viewed as inappropriate behaviour from children in the main dining room.
“One morning at breakfast in the dining room there was a three or four-year-old climbing all over the chairs and in the window well. When his pancakes arrived he had a major meltdown over the presence of berries on his pancakes. Mum was with him.
“Seemingly unbothered by his gymnastic and then apologised for berrygate – saying it was all her fault. All the while this kid is dropping the ‘F Bomb’ about it. Whilst this particular kid may have had other issues, the parenting fell short.”
The rise of no-kid cruises
These complaints arrive at a time when the Australian cruise landscape has just been bolstered with the arrival of Virgin Voyages, a cruise line that doesn’t allow children.
Similarly, cruise lines such as Viking Cruises have a significant presence in Australia and also do not allow children.
But Disney Cruises has arrived with families with children offering.
Related Posts
-
Around 70% of Royal Caribbean cruisers said they believe a child's behaviour is the responsibility…
-
Cruise passenger arrivals have helped the NSW visitor economy surpass the $50 billion mark in…
There is definitely a problem!!! why else would there be such a plethora of ‘CHILD FREE CRUISES’ these days? We have never seen such a division between ‘ADULTS ONLY’ cruises and regular cruises, this is a new concept but sadly needed.
All parents like to think their kids are angels, but the truth is sometimes they can be monsters. Also, theses days, if you chastise your children you are “wrong”, if you don’t you’re still “wrong”. Every body has an opinion on the matter, but nobody has any answers, and yes,, sometimes others kids can be very annoying – just move away, if possible
Cruise lines like Oceania are also great if you don’t want to put up with other people’s children. While they don’t have a “no children” policy, they make it clear that there are are no child minding facilities, no child play areas, etc. So if you bring children on board, you look after them.
Wonderful. I have only seen 2 children on an Oceania cruise and they were a Chief Officer’s family. Definitely seen and not heard.
Sorry but if you have kids, take them on a cruise ship that caters for kids and shut them up if they start annoying people.
I don’t have any children and I am not prepared to have my holiday ruined by other people’s badly behaved brats.
We took our children on cruises back in the day when parents put boundaries in place about how to behave in public places , a win win for all . Now when we go cruising it’s like a free for all feeding time at the zoo in the meal areas because many parents do not parent !! Some kids are delightful due to their parents having put the time and effort into creating confident, relaxed and respectful children who are a pleasure to be around. Unfortunately a lot of children don’t have the role models that they need to have in order to function well and calmly and interact happily in their own lives, spoilt, abusive or downright out of control behaviour is not giving them the social skills they need in life in order to thrive later on in life .
You see it all on cruises, believe me !! Childless cruises from now on for us … every one deserves to enjoy their holiday!! Guess I will be labelled a “ Karen “ but so be it . Respect is all but gone in the world now .
I am a teacher with a 43 year career and have seen many changes both in and outside of the classroom(all of which are resulting in a record and previously unheard of extreme world wide shortage of teacher’s). Yes, parents are stepping aside from their parenting duties in exchange for a laissez faire attitude, blaming all but themselves for their easily teachable , and impressionable charges, unfortunate mishaps. This is not a recent trend, but has been worsening over the past 25 years., to such a degree that the only persons not liable for the child’s poor behaviour is the child and the parent. Teachers are helpless, as all accountability except for the teacher’s, is noted, and are leaving the field in droves due to feelings of ever increasing helplessness and the fact that they, world wide are grossly underpaid for such abuse.
Parents, our children are our future, surely you can afford to spend some positive time ensuring that your children are likeable, responsible human beings. Yes, it is tiring, yes you are working and holding down many other jobs, but aren’t they worth that short 20 years you will put into creating a person who is able to responsibly hold down a job, live a life with friends and self respect. I can honestly tell you, that the proudest moments of my life are when my adult children are recognized as respectful, likeable, responsible members of society. How about it? Dig deep, it’s hard, I know. But they are so worth it!
if kids behaved themselves even on a family cruise line, this wouldnt happen and even though its family orientated, it doesnt mean they can act like they rule the boat. its not a kids behaving badly cruise. parents just send their kids off to run rampant while the adults huddle together. i have personally seen this.
We choose children free cruises. Parents may love their children, we do not. Running around all hours, screaming, at dinner they were running around the dining room getting in everyone’s way this is at 10 o’clock at night. Go to the buffet or put them to bed. Jumping into the swimming pools when there are no jumping signs because the pools are not big enough and one left poop in the pool, which had to be emptied and clean. People shouldn’t complain if they are on a family cruise.
THis is not just on Cruises Its even in hotels , Kids screaming in the passage and lobby and at the restants , NOt to mention the Pool , I know they having fun but some screams are bold and I get whiplash looking up from my book all the time , thinking the kid is in trouble when in fact he is just messing around
Not all children misbehave on cruises, most of the time parents don’t parent their children and the minute anyone is critical of the children’s behaviour, the parents have a meltdown, blaming everyone else instead of taking responsibility for a child misbehaving, many parents especially around dining areas and near swimming pools ignore their responsibility on watching what their children are doing, the fault definitely lies with irresponsible parents who seem to think that everyone else should be looking out for their child’s behaviour, kids don’t know any better, parents should, but they prefer to accuse others of being uncaring. I am a long term cruiser and have taken my own children and my grandchildren on many cruises, when they were young they spent most of their time in the kids club, they loved most of their time playing with other children of a similar age. I have noticed recently parents want to have their children with them either in the dining areas or the pool areas, the kids love to explore the dining areas especially in the buffets, who wouldn’t as a child it’s great fun but unfortunately they don’t have the skills to manoeuvre around the tables with overflowing plates of food, much of the food gets thrown out because kids will grab stuff that takes their fancy and then leave it and go and get more stuff, some parents might think 3 and 4 year old have the necessary maturity to look after themselves. Take kids on cruises it’s a fantastic holiday, but you have to take responsibility for them, sadly many parents don’t seem to have the necessary skills to act responsibly towards others, this doesn’t apply to all parents unfortunately the ones it does apply to create a bad impression.
Unfortunately a lot of people me included are a bit sick of FERAL children along with their very entitled parents and makes it bad for all.
Just a note to the feral ones
WE ARE SICK OF YOUR ATTITUDE
I understand people being upset with children as they have paid large sums of money to have a relaxing time. We took the family on a cruise and our grandson (13yr old) went barging through the “adults only” area and when people showed their dissatisfaction the mother was quite offended that anyone would speak to her son in that manner. It all comes back to the parents and the control they have over their children.
I personally will not travel on Tye Royal Caribbean Cruise as I know there will be tons of kids. Si I welcome the Adults only Cruise ships. Yes there’s a lot to be said about some parenting as they do let their kids run riot with no respect for other diners. Guess there’s always two side to the stories.
I’m a cruiser, don’t have an issue with well behaved children. Parents shouldn’t assume that we want children all over us. We do appreciate quiet times. Some children can be loud & ask inappropriate questions.
Perhaps alter your meal times when it is quieter and less busy. I have seen many children at nightly shows – there’s crying, fidgeting & inability to understand the show so activities that engage these children would be best suited. Children need other children to play with so looking for a cruise that suits children with plenty of activities would be more suitable.
Personally, i don’t like children and look forward to many more cruise lines being child free.
I wish the same went for restaurants and flights.
As a multi cruiser older person with children and grandchildren I much prefer cruises with very few or no children
Unfortunately now too many parents let their uncontrolled poorly behaved children ruin other people’s holidays. It is not the responsibility of staff or fellow passengers to try and control the bad manners,
running, yelling, tantrums and selfish behaviour of too many of the kids we now see on cruises. I have witnessed an older lady being knocked over by a teenager who was part of a group running through a lounge area -the parents were no where to be seen
I think there will be a lot of cruisers who will swap to Viking and Virgin cruises to get away from kids
Parents who wish to sail with their younger children should remember that a lot of us oldies have done our parenting and wish to now enjoy our old age on cruises and travel without the constant noise and disruptions that unfortunately now occur when there are kids on board without any parental control
We have friends that were on a cruise over Christmas and New Year and they said they would never do that again. Parents didnt chastize their children to misbehave. The said the eating areas were the worst places as kids didnt have any manners at the table.
Huge cruise ships with thousands of Passengers including Children is not my idea of a holiday. Therefore I choose smaller, Adult only cruise lines. Problem solved.
Japanese cruises with children are a delight. Japanese children are polite and well mannered. I have been on various cruise lines where children have been present and it cannot be nice. Some, and I stress, some of the parents go on cruises to have a good time and that is not a problem. We all go on cruises to have a good time. Except they just allow their children to run wild. They run around everywhere not looking where they are going nearly knocking elderly people over. They go to the buffet and put their hands into the food not hesitating to swap food back after they have already picked it up. They go to shows and run up and down the aisles and the parent doesn’t say anything just ignores their child even when the child has a melt down. So I can understand why people complain. I took my children on holidays when they were young and I was at great pains to ensure that they were under control, so I object now to parents that can’t be bothered to control their children.
Children on cruses are a problem to other cruisers.
Parents let their kids run while why they drink in the many bars or the pub / music hall.
The kids are really not the problem – THE PARENTS ARE THE PROBLEM.
The kids have heaps of activities such as pools, climbing wall and the rest which is where they should be expending their energies NOT by running wild at 10PM and later while their parents are in the bars! No security to be seen as they are presumably in the drinking areas waiting for trouble from cruisers who have drunk too much.
Particularly so on RCCCL – Quantum – recently in Australia
Comments based as a cruiser with RCCL and others for many, many years.
The problem is not the kids it’s the parents who are afraid to discipline just incase their children report them to Child protection.
Unfortunately, the parents may think their child is a little angel but, while their sitting at the pool scoffing their cocktails, the kids are running riot & annoying the hell out of other passengers. Same in the restaurants, the parents may well be used to their kids’ tantrums but other people are on a cruise to enjoy themselves NOT be driven out of their minds by screaming kids.
If only the parents were polite enough to remove their child & take it back to the cabin during said tantrums, but they’re not. They want all of us to suffer!!
Some parents go on holiday from parenting whilst cruising !!
If there is an adults only pool area that doesn’t cost extra, I’m there.
In the restaurants, it’s very hard to get away from them unfortunately.
Always looking for adults only cruises or at least adults only areas, that don’t cost an arm & a leg.
Replying as grandparent. It is to be expected that there will be children on January and other school holiday times but there are the various Kid’s Clubs so they can get away from us. Pre schooler care seems to vary and there doesn’t anymore seem to be the in cabin evening supervision.
For one’s own holiday book an adult only ship or for travel with the family the parents on duty during the day and grandparent volunteer to look after them at children’s 5pm meal time and onwards into evening and then early night in the adjacent cabins.
Disney USA has run special interests cruises including autistic maybe they would consider in Aus
There is a time and a place for children, I think that they need to have more adults only, as many adults work hard and when they want to go on vacation they don’t want to hear Screaming kids, and I am one of them who don’t want to hear it. Let’s face the facts children will be children they get tired they get cranky they can’t get their way they get cranky, they run all over the pool area, so it’s not fair to say that they shouldn’t have fun because they should however again I stay they should have separate cruises one where children go on with their parents and those that only adults are allowed on. I think that will solve many problems.
even though i can see her reoprt,and agree about the Xmas tree- there are MANY MANYincidents where young children are allowed to run free, ON BOARD, have you ever seen the pools or Buffet, when they should be supervised by responsable adult. As my boat club sign says” We are happy to have children but our staff and other patrons are not babysitters=please be responsible for your childern. Thank you”=
If cruisers don’t want children a onoard book on a cruise line like Virgin and Viking, where no kids are allowed onboard, we have been on many cruises with RCI and have never found children to be a problem,we have found some adults to be rude and arrogant mainly because they are full of p××s a d bad manners or very hungover
We recently had a similar but opposite experience on Celebrity Solstice. A group of 16 – 20 yo gradually getting drunker and noisier near the pool. Many people left the area and a few complained to the staff who’s response was that it was nothing to do with them and they couldn’t do anything anyway.
Whilst I have no problems with children on cruises, it appears that parents need to take control. I have experienced fantastic kids but then I have also seen @&$%# kids
Remember parents it is a confined space for kids so adjust accordingly
I find that once patents are in a public restaurant Cruise situation they cease keeping their kids in check absolutely no discipline Tantrums are common It’s not
up to other people to look after or put up
with your kids I would never go on a Cruise with kids Kids today are too spoilt
I found in most cases it’s not the childs fault it the lack of discipline and routine from the parents, who are trying to be friends instead of parents
Never going on another cruise if there are kids on board.
Modern parents need a swift kick in the behind as far as I’m concerned.
I took my 12yr old and there were no problems. The staff were amazing with her as was the passengers who were delighted with her. There were a few ” oldies ” that turned their nose up at her but I just told my grand daughter, ” you just ignore those rude people. She had a great holiday.
Unfortunately some parents (not all) allow their kids to run riot on some cruise ships (I have noticed it more on Carnival) and the older kids well we will say 10 years up 15 just do what they want taking up chairs at the bars and of course we cant forget the lifts like pressing every button and no one inside.
Nothing can exceed the rudeness and bad manners of the elderly.
Every cruise ship that I have travelled on, and that is quite a few, has a designated children’s area, where children only are allowed and particularly catered for. Choose your shipping line before booking and follow the advice of your travel agent.
Children on cruises are now much more visible in adult spaces like the dining room and some are hard to cope with.
Meal times and menus don’t suit some kids and long dinners don’t work at home so why do parents think it will be ok on a cruise to take kids to dinner after 7 pm.
I cruised this year for the holidays but will think hard before I do it again.