Verandahs and small children?

[TheWescotts]

We booked a stateroom w/ verandah because it was cheaper than an oceanview. We have a 3 year old, who is a climber. She is concerned with our DD climbing up on the chairs and falling over the edge...more like very fearful of this.

Is this a common concern, and/or a rational one? Will they remove the furniture if we ask? I would like to be able to have the door open some, but not at our child's safety and wife's piece of mind.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We booked a stateroom w/ verandah because it was cheaper than an oceanview. We have a 3 year old, who is a climber. She is concerned with our DD climbing up on the chairs and falling over the edge...more like very fearful of this.

Is this a common concern, and/or a rational one? Will they remove the furniture if we ask? I would like to be able to have the door open some, but not at our child's safety and wife's piece of mind.

It would be up to you how much you monitor your child, however, the latch for the door is high up and very difficult for a child to open. And the door is heavy, making it also a bit more difficult for a child to manage.

About keeping the door open, DCL asks that you not prop the doors open as it interfers with the local environmental systems.

I'm fairly sure they would remove the furniture from the verandah if you ask, but there is a chair and table within the room that could also be moved, and you wouldn't be able to sit and enjoy the view from the verandah.

 

[disney1990]

Yes, you can have furniture removed from your verandah. The lock is high and the door is very heavy. I know you are concerned, but remember, no child has ever fallen off the balcony of a Disney cruise ship.

 

[TheWescotts]

, but remember, no child has ever fallen off the balcony of a Disney cruise ship.

that is good to know.

 

[sweetiee]

We booked a stateroom w/ verandah because it was cheaper than an oceanview. We have a 3 year old, who is a climber. She is concerned with our DD climbing up on the chairs and falling over the edge...more like very fearful of this.

Is this a common concern, and/or a rational one? Will they remove the furniture if we ask? I would like to be able to have the door open some, but not at our child's safety and wife's piece of mind.

The room we have has a clear panel verandah. They assured us safer because it isn't climbs me like railings. We are going to really talk safety before boarding!

 

[CanuckTraveller]

In addition to the doors being very heavy, we also have a rule that the boys do not go on the balcony without a parent, nor do any toys go on the balcony. I don't want a hot wheels car flying overboard and them climbing over to get it . I think most parents worry about this on their first trip with a balcony, but it should work out fine. Just keep the door locked when you are not out there.

 

[Scillycruisers]

We had a white wall balcony on our first cruise and DS 4 could not see over unless he stood on something so the rule was no looking unless we were holding him. Because of this we got a clear wall for our next cruise, so no need for standing on chairs or table. Both times we did not allow him on the balcony without us - there was no way he could open the door himself and get out without us noticing. There are no rails on the balcony to climb up, just the chairs and table and they will remove those if you ask. You will be fine.

 

[Izzysdad]

We just got back from a NYC cruise this summer with our 28 mos old daughter and she also is a climber. She saw the water and only wanted to look out at the water and never tried to climb up higher on the chairs.

 

[TheWescotts]

Thanks for the rational calming advice everyone!!!

 

[Magic3forme]

Our son would climb too. He could not open the latch to unlock the door -- too high, and he could not open the door. ( there are times when I cant open the door!!)

The first thing he did was climb on the mini table, he wanted to see. ( but after that, we just turned the table upside down) --- if that didnt work I would have moved the table, but he was fine.

he was more interested in the club, than the balcony!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Not sure leaving the door open is the best idea unless you are prepared to watch your kid like a hawk. It's fine if you're willing to watch the kid and not let them outside unsupervised - they likely can't open the door by themselves, but you've mentioned your intent is to leave the door open. I don't think DCL wants the doors left open though. They also ask that nothing be left outside on the verandah other than the furniture that is already out there.

You could possibly bring the furniture into the cabin if you have room.

 

[Tgrgrl]

I had all those fears too before cruising this Summer with our 4 year and 14 month old girls. Everything the above posters stated is true and we had a great time! The only room hazard we experienced was when our 4 year old fell out of the drop-down bed from the ceiling and landed on her head. Somehow she flipped herself over the bedrail. Luckily she was fine and slept on the couch bed the rest of the cruise.

 

[DisneyMomto3Boys]

In addition to the doors being very heavy, we also have a rule that the boys do not go on the balcony without a parent, nor do any toys go on the balcony. I don't want a hot wheels car flying overboard and them climbing over to get it . I think most parents worry about this on their first trip with a balcony, but it should work out fine. Just keep the door locked when you are not out there.

I like your rule!! I am going to enforce this rule about no toys. Good thinking!!

 

[Happy100]

I completely understand your fear. We to had it with our 4 yr old.

Once you get in your cabin and if you don't think the door is too heavy for your 3 yr old to open it and you are not convinced the lock will always be in the locked position than I would remove the Chairs and table. The doors are very heavy. I even have to put my back into it to open them. I always kept the door locked unless I was out there.

Try not to worry too much and have a great trip!!!

 

[kcashner]

The best thing I can say is that since 1998 there has never been a guest go overboard unintentionally on any DCL ship. There was one instance of a teenager jumping overboard while the Magic was in port, but that's another story.

Levels of protection:

First, parents need to supervise children.
Next--HEAVY door with lock at adult shoulder level, rails are outside the plexiglass on clear wall balconies so there is no place to get a foothold on the railings. Top of railing is about 4 feet high--way too high for a child to go over without climbing.

DCL will remove furniture if desired. Ask stateroom host.

Warning--I did read one post about a child being able to scoot around the balcony dividers on the Dream and get onto the neighboring balcony. I can't address this personally as I've never been on a Dream balcony, but it was posted.

 

[snl2106]

When we did our first cruise it was a concern for us as well. DD was 4 at the time. She stood on the chair once to see and was told not to do it again we would help her. No problems since. She preffered we sat out there with her anyway. Her and I would sit there in the morning Id drink coffee and she her milk and we would watch as we came into port. Have a great cruise

 

[Nette]

The best thing I can say is that since 1998 there has never been a guest go overboard unintentionally on any DCL ship. There was one instance of a teenager jumping overboard while the Magic was in port, but that's another story.

Levels of protection:

First, parents need to supervise children.
Next--HEAVY door with lock at adult shoulder level, rails are outside the plexiglass on clear wall balconies so there is no place to get a foothold on the railings. Top of railing is about 4 feet high--way too high for a child to go over without climbing.

DCL will remove furniture if desired. Ask stateroom host.

Warning--I did read one post about a child being able to scoot around the balcony dividers on the Dream and get onto the neighboring balcony. I can't address this personally as I've never been on a Dream balcony, but it was posted.

This isn't true on the Dream class ships. The "rails" are sort of split and sandwich the plexiglass. It's a small lump on the inside of the glass, but enough to freak me out.

But as other poster's have said, the door lock is up high, and the door is VERY heavy. AND it makes lots of noise opening (a big suck and a whoosh sort of) so you will definitely hear it if your child turns out to be HeMan or SheRa.