1/16 4 Night Wonder

[logan1_2000]

Saturday 1/15: Driving from Atlanta, spent the night at the Hampton Inn Titusville at Exit 215 of I-95. Wonderful, clean, just a few months old, comfortable beds--two Queen sized in the room, not two doubles, which is much much better. Very helpful front desk took messages for us from friends that came in hours before we checked in at 10 pm. This is a great exit with a cracker barrel next door for affordable meals for the family, and a wal mart super center on the other side of the highway for everythng you might not have packed.

Sunday 1/16: WINDY. Like 30 mph gusts and 20-24 mph the rest of the time. Met up w/ some friends for breakfast at the Grills overlooking the water, found it on Dave's DCLTribute in the map of the port. Our friends had been there for happy hour, had not known it was open for breakfast--the portions were huge the prices were affordable and the pace was leisurely. Would have just had the complimentary b'fast at the Hampton if DW had not had friends living on Merritt Island, but this was a nice find.

Arrived at the Port 10:45 or so, and despite all I had read about rearranged drop off, we still pulled right up to the curb alongside the terminal with everyone else, then pulled across and parked and I never saw any tent for luggage drop off. Though for all I know, in those winds the tent had blown away earlier (not kidding, the SUV was rocking from the wind while parked).

Walked though the Castaway Club line right up to the front and got the next window, which was nice considering there was a decent line of 30 or 50 in the regular line at that point. Found it interesting that the nice but bewildered woman checking us in told us to take our KTTW's up to deck 9 for stickers for free drinks. We had no idea what she was talking about, unless she was still confused about the sodas, all these months later. Took advantage of signing DS, 8, up for the lab in the terminal--that line dragged and DW said was in two different stages, while I was in the boarding line. Next time will just go ahead and wait for on board registration, though having the sheet to fill out from the registration desk was helpful, since I could fill that out and have it completed when I arrive at the lab next time. When we took DS to the lab the first time that day, there was no one there (everyone wasted time on line in the terminal, apparently).

Boarded at 11:45 a.m., couldn't get to stateroom until 1:15 (our corridor to 7132 was open at that time, others still blocked until 1:30). The wind made ping pong on deck w/ DS laughable. Had an issue when we were second on line at the Spa, and when it opened we just wanted to make DW's appointment. 3rd DCL cruise, had never been to the spa yet. They pointed us to a tour--we just said "can we just make our appointment, we know what is offered" we were told to go on the tour and make the appointment at the end. Imagine our surprise when we go to the end and other people were in front of us, making appointments, who had not been on the tour. That's wrong--we said we just wanted to make an appointment and we were 2nd on line. Did we get the time we wanted? We'll never know--DW wanted to try the alpha capsule, and it was broken the whole cruise.

7132--free upgrade from 7502, a cat. 8 to a cat.5. Nice to have any free verandah. 7132 has a solid wall, but is not a larger verandah and in fact might be slightly smaller on one side from the curve. Would not want to pay for a Cat. 5 or 6 and get the solid wall. Also 7132 did not have the "steamer trunk" for storage. Jhony our stateroom host was terrific, towel animals from 1st day. Our Bon Voyage package was waiting for us from the time we got there, and I think the Castaway club towel and two pins was there soon after if not just as early. We brought on water bottles that were already chilled, carried in an insulated bag, so the in room "Cooler" was perfect; learned from earlier cruise that the coolers take a loooong time to make room temperature drinks cold.

Okay, its late--more about seasickness, chilly temps, and simple pleasures to come soon.

 

[cypress_star]

I hope things get better as you type, doesn't sound like it was too great so far


Can't wait to hear more though

 

[logan1_2000]

Sunday, 1/16--As George Costanza once said, "The seas were angry that day my friend", and pretty quickly after departure we hit seas that must have been 12-16 feet or so, and the ship was rocking. We had to hold handrails getting to Triton's, found our tablemates, found that there wasn't much in common there in terms of age of the children in the party or anything else, but they were a bit of an extended family enjoying a Disney Cruise for the first time. The herb crusted cod was excellent, but DW was green around the gills and had stopped eating, admitted she was feeling ill from the motion, and excused herself to go buy dramamine and go to bed. And to think from wonderful experiences on past cruises she said don't bother on two prior occasions when I asked her if she wanted me to get her some pills, inlcuding once at the Exit 215 Wal Mart that morning. She told she later heard, on the way to the stateroom, that the Guest Services desk was giving out seasickness pills. I can't verify that, but she did feel like she should not have had to pay $11 for her box, that they should have told her. Not sure if I agree with DW or not on that one, if inded the "give outs" were happeneing at all.

This meal, on the Triton's menu, was for us the best selection of desserts of the entire cruise, so real shame DW didn't want us to bring her any. DS and I split creme brulee and cherries jubilee, my fave. He and I enjoyed Hercules, and I give credit to the cast for hitting their marks in rough seas. One piece of the scenery rolled a bit off to the side of the stage and it caught one muse's eye, but nothing more. Since 1st DCL cruise I have been very impressed with the talent level of the performers, and considering the other entertainment outlets for the Disney company, I'll bet they can attract better talent (like, wow 'em here and end up on a Disney cable series, maybe on to ABC from there...). Wasn't let down this trip. Impressed at the updating of the quips and barbs for Hades and his comic relief duo, kept it topical with new lines from when I last saw the show two years ago to reflect more recent headlines.

After the show, tough to make it up the aisles from the ship's movement, and one larger woman took an awkward spill sideways into a seat and because of the angle, was wedged in there and could not get up. Not sure if she was just embarrassed, or angry, or hurt when she yelled that she did not want to be helped up to about three of us who tried to help lift her. But that was a sign of how badly the ship was rolling side to side.

Signed DS, 8, into the Lab, or rather let him sign himself in. He never abused ina nd out privileges and they paged us when he left everytime anyway, and on his 3rd DCL cruise, all staying on the same deck, he knew his way around and we never regretted the freedom we gave him. Checked in on DW, ill but never threw up. Tried to check out Kenne in the Cadillac Lounge, found him to have too much emphasis on "style" and "Story telling" between numbers, I think it was his way of building atmosphere. It didn't work for me, his voice seemed decent, but his "interpretation" of standards and Sinatra didn't agree with me. Laughed out loud trying to walk a straight line to the stateroom.

Liked the newly rearranged/reversed Promenade lounge, much friendlier welcoming. DS and I had also stuck our heads into Diversions to see a bit of the NFL playoffs that day, liked the new set up and plasma screens all over. Retrieved DS at 11pm at DW's request--he didn't want to go but with her feeling ill and the ship creaking, she wanted to know DS was with us.

Did I mention how wonderful it was for this Diet Coke junkie to have the new coke fountain available to me?

Awakending at maybe 3 or 4, I noticed the seas had calmed, and when we awoke, DW felt better in rapid fashion, and that was the end of seasickness.

Next installment--Blustery day of sunshine in Nassau--I never left the ship.

 

[suzannef]

More More More

 

[Henlady]

Yes, please we need to "hear" more and quickly

 

[Kiadon]

Sunday, 1/16--we hit seas that must have been 12-16 feet or so, and the ship was rocking.

Wasn't that the most awesome sea you've ever seen! Grandma took dramamine an hour before we set sail, and was okay.....a bit quesy, but okay. DD (9), who refused to take anything, was starting to really feel the waves and the rock and roll when just trying to walk down the hallways by our 8:30 dinner in Parrot Cay (yummy food all OVER the ship---even up on 9 with the chicken tenders and nachos! DD couldn't get over the fact that she could have FREE icecream anytime she wanted it at Scoops! But I digress....) Since she had eaten some pizza earlier (8:30 is 7:30 Central time so I thought she would be all right with the later dining, but she was hungry at 6:30 sooooo, pizza) I wasn't worried at all about whether she ate a dinner or not. Didn't even occur to me that she might get seasick.

As it turns out it was definitely a good thing she ate earlier. She sat in the up/down/lean to the left/lean to the right/ chair at dinner as long as she could, then looked up with the most pitiful eyes I've even seen and said Mommy (not "Mom".....uh-oh) I really don't feel good. I need to lay down...NOW, please. And so away we went leaving good ol' Grandma to explain it all to the waiters! They were so AWESOME! Packaged everything up and brought us the entire dinner in our stateroom...delivered by our own waiter. Grandma arrived and she and I ate. The dramamine Grandma had given DD kicked in, and Kayla finally dosed off to sleep. Slept all night, hardly moving.

Grandma and I stood in the wonderfully huge port hole window for a long time and just watched the power and majesty of the sea. We were on deck 2 room 2064 (which had just been redone---paint, floor everything! It was a beautiful room and so roomy! I would book it again in an instant! Huge port hole window and within walking distance to all the restaurants, shops, character appearances in the lobby on deck 3......just a great room close to the elevators and across from the conference rooms that weren't used at all and thus had no traffic and no noise! When it was very quiet in/around our room we could occasionally hear someone's heavy footed heels stomping down the hallway of Deck 3 (right above us) going away from Guest Services. We didn't even have to worry about "people" noises from above since there was no stateroom above us!)

Me? No, I didn't even get close to sea sick. Thought it was great fun and actually enjoyed watching the gigantic waves. From the porthole we could see them rolling out from the ship's tide as it pushed through the water (ship was clipping right along!) and building higher and higher to the same height as my eye level looking out of the window, just further out! They capped with this beautiful white foam and curled over.....really neat!

Hated the cold wind that kept us from jumping right in those heated pools on Sunday, hated the chillier than expected temperatures, and the cloudy day, but LOVED everything else! Now Kayla has a totally different view of those seas and would not be nearly so poetic describing them!

 

[Kiadon]

[ she later heard, on the way to the stateroom, that the Guest Services desk was giving out seasickness pills. I can't verify that, but she did feel like she should not have had to pay $11 for her box, that they should have told her. Not sure if I agree with DW or not on that one, if inded the "give outs" were happeneing at all.

Next installment--Blustery day of sunshine in Nassau--I never left the ship.[/QUOTE]

They were handing out "Sea Calm" whatever that is-----for adults only. I picked some up; still have them. Guest Services gave us about 4 packets of pills.

 

[logan1_2000]

Monday--awoke to calm seas, still heading to Nassau. Ducked up to Deck 9 for my usual wake up Diet Coke, and took DS out on verandah to look over toward Atlantis, which is easily visible. DS was then eager to play basketball (again) so he left, and I had breakfast up at Beach Blanket, at 8 or so it was very easy to find a table near the railing of the outdoor deck as the ship swung around and then backed into its dock berth. DW wanted to go a bit later, so I then joined her at her fave, Parrot Cay breakfast, and had more diet coke as she enjoyed the eggs to order station. Same menu/food selections as Beach Blanket, of course, just a different setting and we have typically found it more quiet, less crowded. Perhaps becasue there are not people dropping in from the pools. Or maybe some don't know about it--not sure we did on our first cruise.

I stayed on board--hadn't found anything worthwhile last time. Had the wind not been gusting up to 30 mph (the flags were stiff--straight out) I would have gone to Cable Beach/the Wyndham via bus on Bay Street for $1 per person. I did 3 miles on the treadmill in the Spa fitness Center that afternoon, enjoyed the view into the Bridge from there. Hadn't known to get headphones from the desk so I watched one of the ship's movie channels w/o sound while on the treadmill.

DW went into Nassau to buy some small gifts for neighbors/co-workers,Ds and I introduced ourselves to QuarterMasters, the arcade on Deck 9. I hate arcades. Had some glitches with the arcade card (which you cannot re-charge, when you use it up, or down to 25 cents--less than the lowest number of points for any game which was 50 points)(points = cents in the arcade). The glitches required some up and down to guest services, so the stairs were additional exercise! DS wanted to swim and I went into the hot tubs next to the goofy family pool. IT was overpacked, and I found myself being crawled on by children in there. Not my children, either. Last time in that hot tub for me. Pool temp was close to 80, heated, so DS stayed in the goofy pool for a while. A couple boys apparently could not read the large letters that said "no jumping" despite the fact that that they were 11 or 12 years old. Felt vindicated when their mother showed up, pulled them out of the pool and would not let them swim for their jumping and other reckless behavior in a crowd.

Dinner--Pirate themed night--not a thrill, by the way for us. I missed tropical night. Wrapped the bandana around my arm, DS and DW wore it on their heads. Menu didn't thrill us and we decided that we will skip Pirate dinner on the Magic in April. The grilled shrimp dish has three shrimps, three scallops, and linguine. Shrimp should not be that dish's first name, linguine should be.
DW liked the snapper, the white chocolate cheesecake was good, but not anything to rave about. We skipped the show which was a ventriloquist--I heard he had been good in his adult show the night before but this was his family show. The deck party was crowded, but I never got near the front of the dessert line--I was happy to get Scoops soft serve vanilla, as they stayed open late for the deck party. It was windy and chilly. Didn't stay, and we ended up reading some paperbacks we brought. Chose not to listen to Billy Joel and Elton John tunes at the Cadillac Lounge because of my expectations of excessive interpretation and styling--shame, my favorite type of music. DW and I thoroughly browsed the ship's stores on deck 4, but didn't end up buying, in part because we have already bought our favorites on two earlier DCL cruises.

 

[logan1_2000]

This was our only Pluto's Dog House food of the entire cruise, which amazes me. DS and I had brats, split some chicken fingers (these are the best chicken fingers!) and then DW went into Beach blanket and got a plate of stone crab claws that we all shared.

 

[pppiglet]

More?

 

[logan1_2000]

So where was I, heading to Castaway Cay? (Reason for the delay--possible Norwalk Virus, been ill w/ chills, aches, etc., at home. Contracted on the ship? Who knows)

Checked out the winds on Castaway Cay from the verandah. Knew right then and there I wouldn't be going in the water, and that there was no reason to hurry off ship for a hammock. Parrot Cay breakfast--DS had several of the chocolate crossaints (spelled correctly?) Was surprised not to find Mickey Waffles at the breakfast buffet in PC, (I think I am remembering the correct morning), just a fancy stuffed french toast. Are the Mickey Waffles just a Deck 9 buffet standard item? Its just fun to have the waffles is all.

Want to note that when they tried to seat the three of us initially, they led us to the first table that was not only in the middle of traffic, but frankly the buffet line was wrapped around this table. Uh, hello? To be led to a bad table I can stay home and go to one of Pano's restaurants (Atlanta-ism). DW correctly said "nope, what else ya got?" or words to that effect. They led us across the dining room to another table that wasn't. They said to us "we can't give everyone a window table" We never asked for a window, we just wanted to enjoy a relaxed breakfast. Turned out the table we went to was next to where our dinner server, Arnel was stationed. Up to then Arnel had been competent but stone faced at dinner, with no personality. He didn't seem to recognize us at first (hey, I was unshaven and hidden under a baseball cap, I'll cut him some slack there) so I said "WE are in Animator's tonight, right?" and eventually got some conversation going. This was important because from then on we had a lot more interaction w/ Arnel, and getting to know your servers and them getting to know you is part of the rotational dining formula for success.

Late morning we wandered on down to Castaway Cay, took a photo of the hurricane sign, took note of the hurricane damage and rebuilding (the dredging barge near the dock, toward the snorkel trail, being the blatant sign that this was ground under repair). Visited the She Sells store,realized that the matching Castaway Cay t-shirts we wore on embarkation day were still the best looking shirts available (in our opinion) so no need to buy anything more. Some of the towels looked nice but we have two Castaway Club towels and will get a third in April. Dropped DS off at the Game pavillion, which was packed with kids, and told him we were taking a walk and would be back. We walked down to take a look at serenity bay, found it to be totally windswept with lots of seaweed washed up on the beach, and examined the massage cabanas. checked out the BBQ there, noted that the grilled salmon and steak sandwiches were the adult extras not at cookies, and walked back. DS was busy playing, said he wasn't hungry (which means he is having fun) and so we let him play and we had some lobster burgers.

Went back to the ship, DS went to play basketball as he did for much of the cruise, and DW and I sat in the hot tub at quiet cove. Tub was nice, but the wind across face and shoulders was COLD.

By the way--at Pinochios pizza, on the "hawaiian" pizza, they were using dried pineapple such as you would use in trail mix. Yuck!! Its not good pizza to begin with (not that that ever stopped me) but to use the hard, dry pineapple--inexcusable.

Not sure if this was the evening that I went to Diversions at 5 pm to watch ESPN commercial favorites or not, but that was a rare and fun treat whatever night it was, comfortable location, skipped the hot dog bar since it was just before dinner, had a beer and laughed out loud at half an hour of ESPN commercials.

Dinner--Animator's, we think the maple grilled salmon is simply the best dish on the ship. Our bias--it was the first dish we ever had on our first dinner on first DCL cruise and it blew us away it was so much better than our expectations based on a previous non-DCL cruise. But still perfectly cooked through and through, a huge portion that none of us could finish (and I'm a big guy). The red-jacket mashed potato and green beans are simple and well presented. There is many a dish on the DCL menus that looks good until something I don't eat like mayo,blue cheese, eggplant, or asparagas (sp?). And started to warm up w/ serving team--Stacey simply said to me "you wanted diet coke, right?", and Arnel was doing some slight of hand magic tricks for DS.

Our first night for the Golden Mickeys, loved it, and especially liked that it incorporated a Toy-Story themed number--between the Randy Newman music and the headline performers in the movies, the Toy Story films are sorrily underrepresented on DCL in terms of characters and entertainment until this number. At the "red carpet" outsidee, DS was asked if he wanted to participate, but he got nervous (shy 8 year old boy) and said no thank you. So we got seated and watched all the others get interviewed on the way in and DS saw that it was nothing to be scared of. We'll get him on camera in April on the Magic. Loved the show, as always impressed with the vocal talent of a Disney show, and liked the coordination and synchronization with the Roy Disney video. Wonder what Eisner thinks of that element....

With Day at Sea the next day, we ended the day by hanging our first ever room service breakfast hanger over the outer door knob. First room service of any kind. Had read a complaint about a too-early delivery on the board--hoped that wouldn't happen.

Next/Last installment to come.

 

[logan1_2000]

Day at Sea started with Breakfast Room Service, on time as requested at 8:30. Sunny and felt warmer than the 64 or so degrees that the TV screen reported on the conditions from the deck channel. Ds liked chocolate croissants so much I had marked "chocolate if available" next to the box I checked off for 2 croissants on the breakfast door hanger. They had 4 chocolate croissants for him! I tipped $2 and took the tray into the room myself since everyone else was still asleep. I had my breakfast on the verandah. Seas were calm, calm, calm. I think it said 4 feet, didn't think it was that high. 7132 is on the starboard side (hope i got that correct; the left side of the ship as you face forward) and we were blocked from the wind on the verandah. windier on deck 9 and deck 10.

I walked 3 miles (9 laps) on deck 4, DS and DW never did make it to the movie as they discussed --we really thought we'd see something, but never did during the cruise. I think he played more basketball and DW read her paperback. I ended up getting DS another $10 worth of arcade credit for the last day--he hadn't been in the arcade too much and it seemed a small matter. I will complain about that system they have--you can't recharge cards. So when you work the card down, if there is .25 left on the card, which is less than the lowest price of any game which is .50, that quarter is "lost" and youmust buy a new card. Seems silly not to just add additional credit onto the card you've already bought, like at the local ESPN Zone (also owned by the Disney Company, by the way...). Its a small thing, but I mention it.

Seafood buffet lunch up top in the sunshine of the outdoor deck of beach blanket buffet, sushi was visually attractive, and fresh, but it was much closer to good supermarket sushi at Publix than sushi restaurant quality. the stone crab claws still a treat, more good shrimp in several varieties, and the stir fry station at the end of the line was a nice chance to order every ingredient and spice as i wanted or didnt, including the rice noodles instead of wheat. Dessert table led me to key lime pie, and DW had a bread pudding w/ sauce that was coconut ande perhaps banana laced, and those two flavors kept me away.

What else did we do? I finished up a 500 page Michael Crichton novel that I started on the ship, hope DS was noticing how much his parents enjoy reading. DW and I went to a towel folding lesson in the promenade lounge at 2:45 that was very fun, not sure we will repeat making the dog or elephant w/o the help we received there! They handed out printed instructions, we'll try soon.

I know I'm not going in order. I just love Disney Dreams, its just a warm and feel good show. Dinner at Parrot Cay for some reason didn't look thrilling, so I just ordered the sirloin steak and it was better than I remembered from the last time I ordered the steak back on 1st DCL cruise in '02. I would compare it to Longhorn or Outback quality, which I mean to say it was a good steak. No, it was not Prime steak such as you would find at the nearest premium steak house, but that's not what DCL is advertising--it also certainly wasn't what you'd find at Sizzler, which is how I recall a steak on the Empress of the Seas.

At some point in the cruise, not sure which night exactly, DW and I relaxed for maybe 45 minutes in quiet cove, she enjoyed some sort of latte, caramel coffee thing. I don't drink coffee so I honstly have no idea, but it looked like something a coffee drinker would like. I brought in my diet coke and we enjoyed a comfortable couch, some small talk, and I caught up a little with a recent Sports Illustrated I had not yet seen. DS was able to spot us near one of the big "porthold" windows to catch our eye and let us know he was done with either playing PS2 in the lab or playing basketball (the two activities which dominated his week).

Oh--I did order a Mickey bar for dessert one night--life's simple pleasures are the best. Should had more than just the one--will do so in April on the Magic.

Tipping--I added a bit over the recommended amounts for Stateroom Host, Server and Assistant Server (who by the last night just brought me the diet coke, which is my simple measure of was she a good assistant server, and she was). I did tip the head server an amount below the recommended amount, which wasn't all that much anyway, for the reason that I had never met him. I didn't know what his name was. He never saw me--he had come to the table once, stood behind me and never moved around the table to even greet me face to face, and simply asked those he was facing "are you all enjoying your dinner? be sure you come up to the party on deck tonight". How about "Hi, my name is _____, I'm your head server and please let me know if there are any special needs or special occasions, I over see your waitstaff and their goal is to make your dining experience excellent". I've had a present by annoying head waiter, at least we knew who he was and what he was, on the 1st DCL cruise, and an actively involved head server who knew our names and even cut DS's steak one dinner so that we could eat our meals and not spend the dinner hour working on DS's plate on the second DCL cruise. This man never told me his name and I just felt he did not measure up to actual DCL experience I have had.

Tips: I went to guest service late morning on the day at sea, waited maybe 5 minutes tops, charged it and got the slips to put into the envelopes. I had printed out in color at home some CM thank youu cards specialized for DCL at a link at www.tagrel.com --I think that was the link, found it somewhere off the Disboards. Put those in the envelope--I had customized them for the Wonder, our family and the Month/Year of the cruise. Thought they were cute.

Wandered down to the atrium at around 10 pm for the final farewell of all the costumed characters who were posing for photos, signing, etc., then sang a farewell with Jacqui the somewhat too perky cruise director. The pixie dust ending is nice, and again, its just a feel good thing to see the children waving and the performers waiving back, and isn't a big reason we choose DCL the ability to just feel good.

Final Day--left our first wake up call for 6:15 since we had early breakfast for the first time, at 6:45. Should have just had the express breakfast, I think I'd made the same mistake on a prior cruise and had the little blueberry pancakes before. Now I'll remember not to do that!! A final diet coke from Stacey--surprised her--she was used to diet coke at dinner, not sure she had experience with serving that at breakfast.

Disembarkation is a non-event. We finished breakfast, made the mistake of using the deck 3 rest rooms outside PC (long lines and crowded, should have just gone back upstairs one last time), and walked off, at the bottom of the ramp the porters with handtrucks were waiting, we paired up, went straight to the color coordinated luggage areas, walked through customs--he might have been the one to hand the form to immigration. Across the walkway--I was parked close, and we were out the parking lot at 8 am.

Commentary: there have been a few threads on these boards where several parents get panicked if they don't know where thier child is at every second and if there is not a CM who at the snap of a finger can account for their child's whereabouts at all moments. There are expressions of fear of their children having been murdered, raped, thrown overboard (I wish I was kidding, but these fears are out there)...all I can say is how can y'all spend thousands of dollars on a vacation that scares you so badly? Really, I don't think I'm being reckless when I consider a ship full of DCL guests as a relatively safe environment for a child. They let 8 year olds sign in and out because their lawyers have said they can, and as a lawyer I mean to tell you I am impressed that that many lawyers agreed it wasn't a liability to have such a policy. And not to my knowledge has it ever bitten Disney in the butt from a child on the loose on the ship coming to be harmed by an ill meaning adult. Really--comments like "who knows what kind of sickos are on the ship" make me wonder how some folks get out of bed in the morning. Please, however bad society might be, and yes I watch the news and know that malls and even amusement parks have been the scene of unfortunate events, the Magic and Wonder are contained environments, no one is getting anywhere more than 900 feet away, I do feel the passengers keep an eye out for one another and all children, and if you have children with basic lessons from parents like not wandering off with strangers, just take your 3, 4 or 7 days and relax. DS really appreciated the freedom we gave him, and if I cant give him that privilege there, where could I?

See y'all on the Magic in about 10-11 weeks.

 

[bratray]

i did enjoy reading your trip report until the last paragraph about people worrying about their children on a cruise

do be honest with you, i wouldn't care if every lawyer in the universe stated that DCL is completly safe to let your little ones run around unattended- this is a personal decision as it is yours to let your child sign himself in and out...believe me just because i have to take the time to sign my child in and out of the lab doesn't make it any less of a fantastic cruise for me or my family...in the realm of things what is 15 extra minutes of my time to make sure my child is safe and where he\she is suppose to be??

your comment about "how can you spend thousands of dollars on a vacation that scares you so badly"is completly unjustified! i am not some paranoid nut who is afraid to let their child do anything.... i just know that there are dangers out there and i choose to do my best to keep my kids safe... i get out of bed in the morning because i love life and i want to continue enjoying it with my children... why it bothers you so much that others choose to be careful with their most precious commodity (their children) is beyond me....lighten up and please don't put others down for having differnt views on raising their children!! i know that this wasn't directed towards me personally but it feels like a personal jab towards those of us who have voiced our concerns about our childs safety on board in other Dis threads

 

[suzannef]

I am sure that most people would think that church is a confined safe place too and look how that has turned out for 100's of children!!! If I leave my 9 year old unattended at my home I am actually doing something illegal as I believe 12 is the legal age to leave them alone. Why would one take the chance on a cruise ship of letting their child out of their sight. If something were to happen and people were at home watching it on dateline they would think what moron would have let their child do that?? I have let my daughter go rock climbing, caving sailing, canoeing, skiing, skating and she can't wait to parasail at cc but always sure she is with an adult we trust. I really want my kids to enjoy life and take risks but letting them wander around a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean with 2000 strangers is too much risk for me.

 

[logan1_2000]

I'll concede that there is more than one approach to when each individual child is at an appropriate stage to go to a designated location without physically being watched. I can't comment on other people's houses of worship except to say it certainly is a shame and a crime when a wrong upon a child occurs in an atmosphere of presumed trust.

This thread did include commentary though, so responses are fair game, and while I have a level of trust w/ my own DS, which he deserves, I have more than one niece or nephew of a comparable age to whom I would not give the same privileges on the basis of their own stage of development. Just as some 12 or 13 year olds are good babysitters, and yet on this board there is mre than one parent expressing a level of protection for a 12 year old that would likely call for that child to have a babysitter, rather than be one. Hopefully we all know our children well enough to know which is appropriate under the circumstances. Though I still do laugh when DW tells me of her upbringing when she would return home from college and there would be a babysitter hired by her parents if they were going to out past 10 p.m. DW laughs about it too.

I would never place my child into a dangerous situation, and would never recommend anyone else do likewise to any child.

 

[suzannef]

Agreed!!!! Sorry if I sounded like I was attacking you personally,certainly not.
There are certainly levels of development and while my daughter is very mature I will wait until she's 12 to let her roam the mall, neighborhood, cruise ship. If I am hiring a babysitter when she comes home from college please feel free to have me committed |Who knew being a parent would be so difficult.