A review of the Fantasy (August 11 7-night Eastern itinerary)

[Bonniec]

I hope you both will write Disney and let them know everything you said. Like one of you said, they can't fix it if they don't know. Unsupervised children acting wild is probably the one thing I am most worried about. My son is too shy and can't handle wild, rude children. I get very angry about it and tend to use the mom voice to kids whether they are mine or not. I'd obviously rather not have a confrontation but when they effect me or my own child, I can't just do nothing. It would bother me if the CMs did nothing.

He is taught to respect himself, and those persons around him. If he does something wrong, he is expected to make it right. That's it. Before anyone accuses me of being a Tiger mom, please understand that I/we serve up ample amounts of hugs and kisses and and laughter and "I love you"s and all kinds of (specific) positive reinforcement. But bad behavior is not to be tolerated, under any circumstances! My $2

I'd never call you a tiger mom. I feel 100% the same way. I'm a big believer in manners.

[Bonniec]

Can I ask another question, do kids run crazy in the concierge areas on any ships? This is one of the reasons why I am considering it.

[iheartcruising]

Originally Posted by Bonniec

Can I ask another question, do kids run crazy in the concierge areas on any ships? This is one of the reasons why I am considering it.

No. In my experience the concierge floor is pretty quiet. I only have experience with deck 12 on the Dream but I think it was quieter than other areas. HTH

[wishuponastarforever]

Amazing Trip Report. I'm glad you had a great time in spite of the servers and unsupervised children.

If more people complain to DCL after the cruise about the behavior of unsupervised children, perhaps a policy would have to go into effect giving the CMs onboard some latitude. I believe they do not have any authority and need some guidance from corporate. I agree there should be consequences to the offenders not to the other guests.

Thank you for taking the time to share all your valuable information.

[karaintn]

We have Fantasy cabin 6586 booked for April! I was so glad to read your review, but I'm confused about the ladder situation. We have 3 kids so we'll definitely be using the upper berth - our 8 yo ds will be up there. What do you mean that it was OK because your dd is a "little girl"? My son is old enough that I'm not too worried about a short/wobbly ladder, but was wondering if you could give a little more info.

Thanks so much for your thorough review, I really enjoyed it.

[dgmommie]

Originally Posted by SnackyStacky

As I mentioned, in stateroom corridors, if you look at the rugs, there are maps. If you're walking south to north, you're moving towards the forward of the ship. If you're walking north to south, you're moving towards the aft.

One of the CM's told me a trick she uses when we were onboard last month. It had something to do with the stars on the carpet - if I am remembering correctly, it was that the top of the stars point to the front of the ship always.

[SnackyStacky]

Originally Posted by karaintn

We have Fantasy cabin 6586 booked for April! I was so glad to read your review, but I'm confused about the ladder situation. We have 3 kids so we'll definitely be using the upper berth - our 8 yo ds will be up there. What do you mean that it was OK because your dd is a "little girl"? My son is old enough that I'm not too worried about a short/wobbly ladder, but was wondering if you could give a little more info.

Thanks so much for your thorough review, I really enjoyed it.

I asked if it was safe to use since it was just hanging off the upper berth. It didn't touch the floor. The stateroom hostess told me that because she's a little girl, it was safe to use.

Since she said engineering was aware of the problem, hopefully it's repaired before you cruise.

[Kman34]

Great trip report...We were on The Wonder last year and Novak was or bartender. He's a great guy and a fantastic bartender. We're so happy that he moved to the Fantasy since we're cruising on that ship in November.

Bummer about unruly kids, but that's what the bar is for

[jezebella]

We were on the same cruise. Spent every night at Skyline with Novak....so much so you'd probably recognize us. He's our favorite bartender ever after 10 cruises!!

We didn't have any service issues. Cami and Steve in the dining room were AWESOME. We let our 11 year old daughter go around the ship with her friends, but they were a pretty subdued bunch. Maybe some of the running around you saw was actually instigated by the Tween Club. I know they had several activities where they would send the kids off on scavenger hunts, and things around the ship.

[SnackyStacky]

Originally Posted by Kman34

Bummer about unruly kids, but that's what the bar is for

TESTIFY!

Originally Posted by jezebella

We were on the same cruise. Spent every night at Skyline with Novak....so much so you'd probably recognize us. He's our favorite bartender ever after 10 cruises!!

We didn't have any service issues. Cami and Steve in the dining room were AWESOME. We let our 11 year old daughter go around the ship with her friends, but they were a pretty subdued bunch. Maybe some of the running around you saw was actually instigated by the Tween Club. I know they had several activities where they would send the kids off on scavenger hunts, and things around the ship.

Could be! If that's the case, they need a counselor to go out with those kids and supervise. Or set the rules before they leave the clubs.

[SoThisIsLove]

Our experience with the unsupervised children had no affiliation with the kids club. (thank goodness!). Our broken dishes experience happened at aprox 230 am and the other was in the pool at approx 9pm. The children in the kids club were always supervised appropriately for their age level. I think a lot has to do with parental behavior as well. Many adults were rude too...many had no elevator etiquette, pushing their way into an elevator when others were waiting first and having no regard for the capacity of the elevator and small children they are pushing into or even worse sticking their bottoms in front of.....or even worse....after the matinee of one of the shows, a parent had her 2 kids go up on the stage for pictures in front of the curtains.....the lighting director of the show kindly announced that for the safety of the children and upcoming performances please do not stand on the stage....this mother continued to keep her children on the stage until she got the picture she wanted...even though the announce ent was made TWICE!.....or the parents that speak rudely or condescendingly to crew members because they feel they are there to serve them....like a gentleman at Castaway Cay who stopped a waiter on the beach and asked him for soda....the crew member was kind enough to tell the man that there is a drink station near the BBQ in which the soda was free and that if he were to get his family soda he would have to charge him....so instead of a thank you, what was the man's response??? He told the waiter...not asked him....told him....to go get his family the soda from the free drink station and bring it back to them at the beach! That's what his job is....isn't it? I was floored! This is a grown man speaking to another grown man....a peer! I felt so bad..,,the waiter went and got the drinks for the family and the man did not give him any tip! Unbelievable! The last time I checked my cruise documents I did not see personal servant in the list of included services! Of course my 5 year old saw the drinks coming to the chair and she wanted one....but I loudly told her we are capable of walking to the drink station ourselves....and we did! The waiter smiled at me as he walked away. Children learn what their parents teach them and sometimes people differ in their beliefs, I guess??? To me respect and courtsey are the same no matter where I travel or who I encounter... Many people feel they have paid a lot for their vacation and expect certain things....which I understand....but rules apply to EVERYONE and respect and courtesy should be shown to EVERYONE...no matter how much they paid for their cruise or what position they fill onboard the ship to help make your cruise special!

[SnackyStacky]

Originally Posted by SoThisIsLove

Our experience with the unsupervised children had no affiliation with the kids club. (thank goodness!). Our broken dishes experience happened at aprox 230 am and the other was in the pool at approx 9pm. The children in the kids club were always supervised appropriately for their age level. I think a lot has to do with parental behavior as well. Many adults were rude too...many had no elevator etiquette, pushing their way into an elevator when others were waiting first and having no regard for the capacity of the elevator and small children they are pushing into or even worse sticking their bottoms in front of.....or even worse....after the matinee of one of the shows, a parent had her 2 kids go up on the stage for pictures in front of the curtains.....the lighting director of the show kindly announced that for the safety of the children and upcoming performances please do not stand on the stage....this mother continued to keep her children on the stage until she got the picture she wanted...even though the announce ent was made TWICE!.....or the parents that speak rudely or condescendingly to crew members because they feel they are there to serve them....like a gentleman at Castaway Cay who stopped a waiter on the beach and asked him for soda....the crew member was kind enough to tell the man that there is a drink station near the BBQ in which the soda was free and that if he were to get his family soda he would have to charge him....so instead of a thank you, what was the man's response??? He told the waiter...not asked him....told him....to go get his family the soda from the free drink station and bring it back to them at the beach! That's what his job is....isn't it? I was floored! This is a grown man speaking to another grown man....a peer! I felt so bad..,,the waiter went and got the drinks for the family and the man did not give him any tip! Unbelievable! The last time I checked my cruise documents I did not see personal servant in the list of included services! Of course my 5 year old saw the drinks coming to the chair and she wanted one....but I loudly told her we are capable of walking to the drink station ourselves....and we did! The waiter smiled at me as he walked away. Children learn what their parents teach them and sometimes people differ in their beliefs, I guess??? To me respect and courtsey are the same no matter where I travel or who I encounter... Many people feel they have paid a lot for their vacation and expect certain things....which I understand....but rules apply to EVERYONE and respect and courtesy should be shown to EVERYONE...no matter how much they paid for their cruise or what position they fill onboard the ship to help make your cruise special!

Originally Posted by SnackyStacky

The responsibility to fix this issue is on our society, in my opinion. This one I can't fault Disney for. I brought it up more as a way to say: "Be ready for this."

[SnackyStacky]

Originally Posted by SoThisIsLove

Our experience with the unsupervised children had no affiliation with the kids club. (thank goodness!). Our broken dishes experience happened at aprox 230 am and the other was in the pool at approx 9pm. The children in the kids club were always supervised appropriately for their age level. I think a lot has to do with parental behavior as well. Many adults were rude too...many had no elevator etiquette, pushing their way into an elevator when others were waiting first and having no regard for the capacity of the elevator and small children they are pushing into or even worse sticking their bottoms in front of.....or even worse....after the matinee of one of the shows, a parent had her 2 kids go up on the stage for pictures in front of the curtains.....the lighting director of the show kindly announced that for the safety of the children and upcoming performances please do not stand on the stage....this mother continued to keep her children on the stage until she got the picture she wanted...even though the announce ent was made TWICE!.....or the parents that speak rudely or condescendingly to crew members because they feel they are there to serve them....like a gentleman at Castaway Cay who stopped a waiter on the beach and asked him for soda....the crew member was kind enough to tell the man that there is a drink station near the BBQ in which the soda was free and that if he were to get his family soda he would have to charge him....so instead of a thank you, what was the man's response??? He told the waiter...not asked him....told him....to go get his family the soda from the free drink station and bring it back to them at the beach! That's what his job is....isn't it? I was floored! This is a grown man speaking to another grown man....a peer! I felt so bad..,,the waiter went and got the drinks for the family and the man did not give him any tip! Unbelievable! The last time I checked my cruise documents I did not see personal servant in the list of included services! Of course my 5 year old saw the drinks coming to the chair and she wanted one....but I loudly told her we are capable of walking to the drink station ourselves....and we did! The waiter smiled at me as he walked away. Children learn what their parents teach them and sometimes people differ in their beliefs, I guess??? To me respect and courtsey are the same no matter where I travel or who I encounter... Many people feel they have paid a lot for their vacation and expect certain things....which I understand....but rules apply to EVERYONE and respect and courtesy should be shown to EVERYONE...no matter how much they paid for their cruise or what position they fill onboard the ship to help make your cruise special!

Let me also add that I LOVED the way you handled that arrogant tool at Castaway Cay!!! I'm sure it didn't get through to him, but that was perfect.

[GoHabsGo]

Originally Posted by SoThisIsLove

Children learn what their parents teach them and sometimes people differ in their beliefs, I guess??? To me respect and courtsey are the same no matter where I travel or who I encounter... Many people feel they have paid a lot for their vacation and expect certain things....which I understand....but rules apply to EVERYONE and respect and courtesy should be shown to EVERYONE...no matter how much they paid for their cruise or what position they fill onboard the ship to help make your cruise special!

Amen!

[Joanna71985]

Great review! I'm looking forward to sailing on the Fantasy in Oct