Is there places where a kid can fall off the boat

[Skyw]

OK I know I am paranoid. Are there any places that I need to really watch out for with a 3.5 year old? Or would he have to be Tarzan in order to fall off the boat?

 

[outahere]

OK I know I am paranoid. Are there any places that I need to really watch out for with a 3.5 year old? Or would he have to be Tarzan in order to fall off the boat?

Maybe a grown up Tarzan..... the only decks which are not completely enclosed are decks 4 and 10. They have railings that are about 4 feet high, but have plexiglass below the top rail so you can't climb on them. If you have a verandah cabin, the railings are the same set up, but there is a table and chairs, which could be climbed on. My advice would be to not let him on the verandah by himself. Other than that, you should be fine. I have never heard of a child falling off any cruise ship, just stupid adults!

 

[Skyw]

I have never heard of any kids falling off yet either. We have a window instead of a balcony, because I was paranoid. My son is active. thanks for the info.

 

[DrCavin]

Only report I have ever read was a kid jumped off while in port on a dare...

They were suspicious when he tried to board the ship & it showed he had not exited the ship yet.. hmmm why are you wet?? *hehe He was confined to his stateroom for remainder of the cruise!!

 

[professorandmom]

I used to claim that since kids don't drink, they won't fall overboard. Now that we have the famous naked "couple" recently, kids aren't having sex either so they will likely stay on the ship.

That said, the water is below some high railings on many decks. Absolutes are not possible on a ship

Barb

 

[jrabbit]

Note to be an alarmist but a very small risk that was pointed out a few years back.

On deck 4 forward when walking around the promeade deck you go "inside" while walking around the outside of the ship up in the "work" area (and you go from the Port to Starboard side of the ship) - where the anchor chains and docking ropes are there is a "small" hole where the anchor (I think) chain goes through that a child could fall through. It's a very small risk.

The area is roped off - that keeps the adult and most teen ager's out of the area - smaller children / toddlers would just walk under the rope and be in the work area. I assume that all parents would keep ahold of their children when walking through this area - as the hallways are skinnier than the outside walkway/deck and people use this deck for running.

 

[HillPete]

First of all, you are not paranoid. I had the same concerns. Like the above posters said, the most dangerous decks are 4 and 10. I avoided those decks like the plague (even when my kids weren't with me ). The couple of times we went up to 10 we each took hold of a little hand and held on super tight. I'm sure we were a bit extreme, but you can never be too careful, right?

--H

(this is meaningless, DS4 wanted to put a 'sticker' on my email)

 

[Stinasmom]

I posted this pic somewhere before, but it illustrates just how high the railings are...
I am 5 feet tall and could barely reach over!

I, too was cautious about having a verandah when our DS was 4 and 5. He will be 7 when we sail again so we went with a verandah. I was worried about him pushing a chair or table up to the rail to see over. Realistically, it is a very, very, low risk, but I understand your concern.

I have jogged deck 4, but don't remember seeing anywhere where a small child could fall through. They would have to stray quite a ways off the path and it seems unlikely they'd even be on this part of the path without an adult.

 

[cobbler]

Anyone have any pics of deck 4 or 10??

 

[dahuffy]

Anyone have any pics of deck 4 or 10??

They pic above your post is Deck 10.

 

[misseulalie]

We had a verandah and DD3 climbed on the chair. I was only a few feet away, but if I decided to run to the bathroom or answer the door. That is all it would take for her to fall over

 

[Hygiene99]

Anyone have any pics of deck 4 or 10??

Deck 4 @ the Panama Canal...

 

[metrowon]

We had a verandah and DD3 climbed on the chair. I was only a few feet away, but if I decided to run to the bathroom or answer the door. That is all it would take for her to fall over

We you awake that last night in the 15-20' seas? Was that awesome or what? Did you see the pools topside, with the water splashing out? Metrowon

 

[outahere]

We had a verandah and DD3 climbed on the chair. I was only a few feet away, but if I decided to run to the bathroom or answer the door. That is all it would take for her to fall over

I know it kind of defeats the purpose of having a verandah, but you could ask your room steward to remove the furniture out there. That way there would be nothing to climb on.

 

[KimberlyC]

Verandah's are like bathtubs. That's the best analogy I can think of. If you don't want to risk your young child potentially drowning (not even the slightest risk) you don't leave them alone even for a second when they are on the verandah just like you wouldn't leave them alone in the bathtub. Don't let them climb and don't answer the phone or the door or otherwise allow yourself to be distracted. Then the verandah won't be an issue.

 

[Bibbidi]

Personally the idea of a verandah sounded really nice, until I got thinking about my very eager 3 yo and the fact that she would most definitely try to get a "better look". So in an abundance of caution and so that I can truly relax when in our room, we booked an inside stateroom.

 

[flexsmom]

The "idea" of the veranda bothered me at first, but the reality of it did not. As many other threads have addressed, the doors are.....difficult at best to open, even for an adult. Between the lock being above my head and the weight of the door, it's not easy. The railing is high, and yes, while there are chairs/table, if you keep the door closed and locked and only take your kids out there while you are there, it would be extremely unlikely for anything to happen. Yes - if you leave the veranda and leave your child alone, then of course there's a danger - just like letting your child cross the street alone or as another poster said, like taking a bath alone.

I always have a weird dream before a cruise about this - and I always feel 100% better as soon as I'm in the room and try again to open the door and have to tug and pull! Then I sleep easy the rest of the time!