19 year old teen urinating off of his verandah..

[ols386]

As has been stated before, being on a Disney Ship (or any cruise line ship) is just like being on vacation anywhere else....there are all kinds of people, and some of them do dumb things....not an excuse, just a fact. When something like this happens, if you want to report it to DCL, that's fine, but after that you have to let it go. At that point, there is really nothing more you can do, and who wants to let a jerk like that get you upset and ruin your vacation.

 

[beachblanket]

Funny how sometimes you read things online and they stick with you. I've slept on this and thought about it some more.

OP, I think you handled this situation with perfect aplomb. You did what decency dictated you do.

Whether Disney handled it appropriately seems to be an "eye of the beholder" thing. If I ran the zoo/ship, then I would've restricted the young man to his cabin for the duration of the cruise, sort of like house arrest. But apparently the punishment Disney offered seemed adequate in their eyes, and I don't see that there were any more problems from this fellow. Disney could've generated some good will by offering something - even as basic as a little shipboard credit - but I'm sure there are good reasons why Disney can't or won't - people tend to "work the system" when they see an area to exploit. (And OP, I'm not implying that you'd do anything so tacky!)
.

Very well said.

I guess the only point made I might view differently is the notion that after security talked to the teen there were "no more problems from him."

On a literal level, perhaps. But the point also implies the fear and intimidation the OP and her family had to deal with for the rest of the cruise (always watching over their shoulders for the jerk and his relatives) weren't an issue. Given the "magical" experience Disney so aggressively promises in their advertising, the OP's party was supposed to just bury/ignore their ongoing fear, despite the fact it was literally poisoning the remainder of their vacation? That most certainly sounds like a problem.

One which I still feel DCL had a very weak, bureaucratic and unsophisticated response to. The OP paid for a great experience but had it ruined. That led Disney to.....take a "low-customer-service-staff-get-out-form-letter-#26" approach. "Sorry, hope you have better luck next time" may seem sufficient to some, but those who live in the present-day, real world Fortune 100 service universe know better. That just doesn't cut it anymore.

Shipboard credit/discount off future trip? No. A situation this severe deserved a more personal and substantive response.

 

[Karinad]

I could be wrong, but doesn't the cruiseline have the right to deny boarding to someone who is intoxicated? They said that he took advantage of the legal age for drinking in Cozumel. If he was drunk enough to pee off the balcony, how did he get passed ship security in that condition?

Not to mention the fact that the parents, who were not even in the stateroom, left a drunk teenager alone, or with others, around the same age, in a cabin with a balcony. All the horror stories that are on the news, even as we discuss this disgusting act, what the heck were they thinking?? Especially if it was this kids first drunk experience, sounds like he couldn't handle his booze! It also sounds like he didn't give a rats behind if his parents knew or not.

As for the couple on the balcony, they should've gotten the Navigators balcony. The ships advertise their balconys as "private". People that have cruised, know that they're not so private! Someone could be watching you from all angles.

 

[tfc3rid]

Last year while docked in St. Maarten, we had Royal Caribbean's largest ship next to us... So of course, as both ships were beinf prepped to leave people are on their respective alconies right across from one another... Well, of course, you get the requisiste teenage and 20 something groups pretending to engage in sex on the balconies... In sight of other RCCL passengers as well DCL passengers...

It's sad.

 

[ranidayz]

See I would have handled it a totally different way!

I would have started laughing at the kid. Then ever time I ran into this kid I would have let those around, know just how small he was, to be able to fit it between the railing and the plexe(sp) glass! Let's see who could handle what.

But no way would I have let a childish 19 year old ruin or cause me fear while on my cruise.

An people say 19 year olds are adults!

next time this happens - you can take advantage of the opportunity for the 'wonderful' memory and snap a picture and then have it blown up at shutters in case others want the same memory....maybe even have a copy sent to his parents' room....then you could post it in the DCL pic of the day --- I'm sure his family would be very proud that he could play such an important role in your vacation!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Just goes to show you get SCUM where ever you go on hols!

 

[DevilDuckie]

OK HE DID NOT INTENTIONALLY EXPOSE HIS PRIVATE PART. SHE had to stand up and look around the veranda to see what he was doing.

While US laws don't necessarily apply on board it is an accepted standard that public urination like this generally constitutes indecent exposure. If you get busted for it and they charge you, that will be part of the charges if you know there are other people around you.


(Yes, this is personal experience, but not first hand! I pee in PRIVATE, thank you. The friend who got busted was in serious danger of having to register as a sex offender because the people around included children.)

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Very well said.

I guess the only point made I might view differently is the notion that after security talked to the teen there were "no more problems from him."

On a literal level, perhaps. But the point also implies the fear and intimidation the OP and her family had to deal with for the rest of the cruise (always watching over their shoulders for the jerk and his relatives) weren't an issue. Given the "magical" experience Disney so aggressively promises in their advertising, the OP's party was supposed to just bury/ignore their ongoing fear, despite the fact it was literally poisoning the remainder of their vacation? That most certainly sounds like a problem.

QUOTE]


Point well taken ... the OP didn't indicate there were any more problems, so that's what I was going with. But - you're right in that there might be some residual fear and intimidation lingering after the fact. Other than removing the young man and his family from the ship, I'm not real sure how you could get around that. Then again, living in apprehension of what "might" happen doesn't seem to be a good plan either.

I'm like most everyone else - given the choice, I like for everything to be perfect. I'm easily satisfied, see?

There is probably a back story - perhaps in what went on with Disney security and this fellow and his family - that we know nothing of.

 

[ranidayz]

While US laws don't necessarily apply on board it is an accepted standard that public urination like this generally constitutes indecent exposure. If you get busted for it and they charge you, that will be part of the charges if you know there are other people around you.


(Yes, this is personal experience, but not first hand! I pee in PRIVATE, thank you. The friend who got busted was in serious danger of having to register as a sex offender because the people around included children.)

warning - opening up a can of worms -- but....

years ago, i was nursing my baby in the mall and nothing more was showing than a little skin. In fact, there were scantily dressed teen girls close by that were showing much more! Anyway, a man walked right up to me and told me if I didn't stop, he would call the cops for INDECENT EXPOSURE. Come on -- huge different between that and the kid on the ship.....so you know what I did?


NOTHING. And you know what happened?



NOTHING.

 

[RhondaInMA]

Very well said.

I guess the only point made I might view differently is the notion that after security talked to the teen there were "no more problems from him."

On a literal level, perhaps. But the point also implies the fear and intimidation the OP and her family had to deal with for the rest of the cruise (always watching over their shoulders for the jerk and his relatives) weren't an issue. Given the "magical" experience Disney so aggressively promises in their advertising, the OP's party was supposed to just bury/ignore their ongoing fear, despite the fact it was literally poisoning the remainder of their vacation? That most certainly sounds like a problem.

QUOTE]




Point well taken ... the OP didn't indicate there were any more problems, so that's what I was going with. But - you're right in that there might be some residual fear and intimidation lingering after the fact. Other than removing the young man and his family from the ship, I'm not real sure how you could get around that. Then again, living in apprehension of what "might" happen doesn't seem to be a good plan either.

I'm like most everyone else - given the choice, I like for everything to be perfect. I'm easily satisfied, see?

There is probably a back story - perhaps in what went on with Disney security and this fellow and his family - that we know nothing of.

Nothing more happened... after the incident I caused my own problems by thinking about it. I wish I could have stopped the thoughts... but it takes me time and the clock doesn't stop while you're on vacation.

I was hoping exactly that.... there is probably a back story. The security officer informed me that he would sleep it off in his parents room. I was hoping that there was more to it and maybe I wasn't informed.

And.. I do look at 'things' from different perspectives. I have a 20 year old son myself. If he had ever carried on in this way... I would be so embarrassed. I feel bad for this kids parents. But, I also would have apologized and had my son apologize as well.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Just wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened. The outdoor urinating is disgusting. While I don't know what DCL could have done, I hope his parents stepped up.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

warning - opening up a can of worms -- but....

years ago, i was nursing my baby in the mall and nothing more was showing than a little skin. In fact, there were scantily dressed teen girls close by that were showing much more! Anyway, a man walked right up to me and told me if I didn't stop, he would call the cops for INDECENT EXPOSURE. Come on -- huge different between that and the kid on the ship.....so you know what I did?


NOTHING. And you know what happened?



NOTHING.

Well, most states have laws to protect you as a nursing mother. I know PA is protected, as is FL.

 

[karibritt01]

In NC the law is that a mother has the right to nurse anywhere that she has the right to take her child.

 

[DCLLVR]

One which I still feel DCL had a very weak, bureaucratic and unsophisticated response to. The OP paid for a great experience but had it ruined. That led Disney to.....take a "low-customer-service-staff-get-out-form-letter-#26" approach. "Sorry, hope you have better luck next time" may seem sufficient to some, but those who live in the present-day, real world Fortune 100 service universe know better. That just doesn't cut it anymore.

Come on people, use a little common sense here. What do/did you expect DCL to do here? Put the teenager in jail? Leave him at the next port? (maybe it would be CC, how cool would that be). Helicopter him off to the nearest big boys jail? Whip him, beat him, call him bad names?

Think about it just for a moment.

((I am playing devils advocate here))

DCL Security takes the call from the OP complaining some loud mouthed teenager is saying bad words and is peeing off the balcony. Security comes running and knocks on the 'accused teenagers' door. Accused teenager, or another person in the cabin answers, DCL security explains that the people in the cabin next door say that you were using dirty words and peeing off the balcony, is that true? "Of course not ociffer, we been sleeping the whole time"

Security may have even asked to look at the balcony, probably found no sign of the accusations .... and yes, they are simply accusations ... no proof what at all. Where is the proof? the OP's word?

Please, no flames here, just use your common sense a little. Did you expect DCL to come barging in with guns blaring and cuff every person in the room next to the OP just because the OP "says" something happend. How would you like it if anyone could say anything about YOU, and the police (or DCL Security) would automatically believe anything and everything without any proof at all ... heck we would all be locked up. What a great world we could live in, you tick me off, I just call the police (or in this case DCL security) and call you a child molestor. No proof needed, they come and cuff you and off you go to jail for life. AWESOME!!!

Think people, think!!!!!!

By the way, I'm not sure the OP has any idea what actually happened to the "offender", the OP was told that the "offender" had to spend a night in his parents room, but do we really know what happened?

Well, I can tell you one thing, if this was my child, flying the teen off the ship to the nearest third world country prison would be a much more pleasant experience than being turned over to me.

Anyway, I think (just my honest and humble opinion) that DCL did just about all it could do without any proof.

 

[crisi]

The boys actions were rude and inexcusable. But if you let it ruin your cruise, that's your own fault. If you allowed him to intimidate you, that's your own fault.

Lots of DISers are members of the Veranda Club, and in honest moments, I'm sure a lot of them would admit to sending you dirty looks if you sent security after them and busted them for activity going on on their own veranda at 11pm.

I think you've discovered the downside of being a busybody. 19 year old boys who get drunk sometimes swear and engage in public urination. It happens - honestly, it happens A LOT. Spend some time on a college campus and you are lucky on a Friday night if you don't need to bear witness to similar events. It doesn't mean that they are going to sexually abuse your granddaughter - even if he is 50 ft away from her IN A DIFFERENT ROOM. After you are a busybody, the person you ratted out to security and his family are likely to send you dirty looks.

 

[crisi]

I could be wrong, but doesn't the cruiseline have the right to deny boarding to someone who is intoxicated? They said that he took advantage of the legal age for drinking in Cozumel. If he was drunk enough to pee off the balcony, how did he get passed ship security in that condition?

God, I hope not. Half the ship wouldn't be able to get back on after an afternoon at Senor Frogs - some of them who left their kids in the kids clubs to go do tequila shots. If it were that easy, a huge percentage of DISers would get drunk enough on Castaway Cay to just not have to get back on the ship!

Really, would you want to cruise a cruiseline that would leave you stranded in a foreign country needing airfare to get home because you thought another margarita was a good idea and were wrong?

 

[MassDisLovers]

Sorry they made you feel embarrassed. Sometimes, you have to deal with ignorance and stupidity with ignorance and stupidity. After the moving furniture didnt work, i just would have bought a box of "protection" from the shop, opened it, and taped the entire string of the little guys on their stateroom door like a streamer. I think they'd get the point. Then again, if they didnt, at least you'd feel a little better knowing they were being safe.

I love that idea! Hopefully I'll never need it again, but I wish I thought of it then!

 

[Bethipooh4]

On our 3rd DCL cruise, we came back to our cabin one day, and had a letter stating that items had been tossed from the verandahs, and would not be tolerated by DCL. It was signed by the security officer.

Well, we went and found our teen, gave him the 3rd degree and threatened him within a inch of his life...we checked with our friends who had a cabin on the other side of the ship, and they didn't have a letter.

So DH went to guest services and asked to talk to a security officer (ok, at this point I had convicted my son and he was grounded). Come to find out the security cameras had noticed things blowing off verandah's in a generalized block of cabins. And all of the cabins on our side had received the same letter.

OK, we felt awful for grilling our son, and yes, we made it up to him...

My point is, that I am sure(ok, at least I hope) security reviewed their tapes of the incident. (oh yes, there are cameras everywhere).

Needless to say, knowing there are security cameras, our "couples" time on the verandah is now kept G rated. LOL

 

[karibritt01]

It doesn't mean that they are going to sexually abuse your granddaughter - even if he is 50 ft away from her IN A DIFFERENT ROOM. After you are a busybody, the person you ratted out to security and his family are likely to send you dirty looks.

I take offense to the fact that you called the OP a busybody because she rightfully objected to the actions of this crude individual. OP said nothing about being worried about the kid being a child molester. Her comment was that her DGD or DM could have just as easily been on the verandah, and had to witness the scene.

DCLLVR... I think the kid should have been put in the brig to sleep it off. There is a reason those cells are called "drunk tanks." When he sobered up, let him back out. That action would not have required DCL security to witness the guy with his "stuff" hanging over the side. They would merely need to have seen an obviously drunk minor and have complaints that he was being indecent and aggressive... they had both.

For those who think this is ONLY about peeing off the verandah, go back and read the first post again. The kid was also verbally abusive, as well as throwing verandah furniture around. That poses more of a threat than just peeing over the side.

 

[Pluto 2]

On our 3rd DCL cruise, we came back to our cabin one day, and had a letter stating that items had been tossed from the verandahs, and would not be tolerated by DCL. It was signed by the security officer.

Well, we went and found our teen, gave him the 3rd degree and threatened him within a inch of his life...we checked with our friends who had a cabin on the other side of the ship, and they didn't have a letter.

So DH went to guest services and asked to talk to a security officer (ok, at this point I had convicted my son and he was grounded). Come to find out the security cameras had noticed things blowing off verandah's in a generalized block of cabins. And all of the cabins on our side had received the same letter.

OK, we felt awful for grilling our son, and yes, we made it up to him...

My point is, that I am sure(ok, at least I hope) security reviewed their tapes of the incident. (oh yes, there are cameras everywhere).

Needless to say, knowing there are security cameras, our "couples" time on the verandah is now kept G rated. LOL

but they say it was small will they be able to see it on camera?