A vent about a cruise message board.

[Jackie824]

I normally dont like to tell tales.. but something really bothered me yesterday.
We are going on a cruise in August, my kids are going with me they will be 12, 7 and 2 when we go. We booked 2 inside staterooms, side by side. We can not afford a suite, and there were no adjoining rooms in our price range. Anyways, we will be one adult in each room and split the kids up. I would never let them all sleep alone. Anyways, I go to this cruise message board and simply asked "Do baby monitors work on ships"
I mean I know many people bring babies and kids etc...I did not explain my reasoning for asking, I felt I did not need to, just needed to know if they worked.
My reasoning is that my youngest is such a a horrible sleeper, when she sleeps we like to keep her that way. I figure with the monitors on the people in the next room will know she is asleep and there will be no pounding on the door or ringing the phone to wake up. I just thought the baby monitors were an easy solution to no waking up the baby.
WELL.... instead of getting a simple yes, they work, or no they dont work well. I got parenting advice from how unsafe it is to leave kids alone, to if you want alone time leave you kids at home with Family HUH....
People just assumed I wanted them so I could leave all alone.
I even mentioned that I would have no problem letting my 12 yr old stay in there to change his clothes and us in the next room.(yes in the next room not running out the ship) I had people tell me this was not safe either.
So yes I got offended to everybodys answers, but I was not asking for parenting advice, I simply asked if baby monitors worked.

Why do people always assume the worst?

 

[kdibattista]

I'm so sorry... I know how frustrating it is

 

[stinkerbelle]

I was watching IRobot this past weekend...in one scene Will Smith gets up in someones face and screams

"Do I look like I care what you think?"

or

"Do you think I care what you think?"

(forgot the actual line)

But sometimes...you just have to repeat this in your head. Don't let what are, essentially, strangers in cyberspace get to you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't know---but the ages were probably on that sensitive enough line.

FWIW--on the DCL boards here--there have been some posts of using baby monitors with their teens who slept across the hall as a way to monitor that they are indeed sleeping. So I think they do work. Not sure if the post was in jest or not though.

I understand adjoining rooms not being available--however, I would be a little leery of a child needing his/her mommy and going into the hall. My children would definitely do that as they do come in my room every night early in the morning. (I may be misreading your post though and maybe you don't intend it as night sleeping arrangements).

As far as the 12yo--PLEASE.

I have cruised at the young age of 10--my mother let me go all over the ship alone (wasn't a problem at the time). A 12yo is old enough to be in the next stateroom to change clothes. That is just rediculous to say it isn't safe.

As far as napping baby with a monitor--no different than being in another room in your home. Simply put the do not disturb sign and be extra vigilant about not letting your mind wander and forgetting that your baby is sleeping. Not a slam on the parenting---just a safety warning to be very vigilant. KWIM.

Next time--if you think you might get slammed on parenting--don't provide as much details...and if necessary, make something up. Noone needs to know the personal details of why you need something to work. Make something up. They can't see you .

 

[Buckalew11]

I don't know why people always jump to conclusions but they do. And on BBs it happens even more that you know what they are thinking because they just post it. Yet, in RL, they may not say a word and just answer the question. I suppose what people do is put themselves in your position and those that answered that way may be the type that would never sleep apart from their spouse (we just had a thread about that on this board) so they must have been thinking that is where you were coming from. Sorry they jumped to conclusions.

 

[Buckalew11]

Make something up. They can't see you .

Sorry, Lisa, this just struck me so funny!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, Lisa, this just struck me so funny!!!

(ETA: we aren't poking fun at OP--I do call center work from home and this is what they tell us all the time. Well not the make stuff up part--just that they can't see you so it doesn't matter how rude they are too you. )

 

[SC Minnie]

I guess I am a bad parent as far as people on that message board are concerned because DD11 went all over the cruise ship by herself over Christmas -- even to get me refills of Diet Coke.



As far as your question on baby monitors they should work fine. We have used the little walkie talkie things on several cruises.

 

[KelNottAt]

Sometimes people are honestly trying to help you. Sometimes people like to make themselves feel superior by criticizing others. Try to shake it off.

I know, I know, it's not that easy. I have been personally attacked on these boards more than once. One time someone leveled a totally baseless accusation at me that I make my son sleep in his own vomit if he can't clean it up himself. Another time someone told me my husband is no good and I should leave him. Right now, on the DVC board, there's someone who's convinced I'm headed for the poor house because I borrowed money to buy DVC.

These are all perfect strangers who think they know you or your situation, but don't. Yes, it's maddening when someone has a false impression of you. Your reputation is at stake and you want it to be a good one, a true one. But cyberspace is not the real world. We'll drive ourselves crazy trying to make the two "worlds" accurately match in the way they reflect who we are.

So, I've resigned myself to focusing on only one: my real world reputation. It keeps me saner. My DIS image and reputation are what they are...but they're not the real, whole me. Maybe it could help you to look at it from a similar perspective.

HTH,

 

[pixiemomma]

I'm sorry you were attacked. Sometimes there is a major pack mentality among the boards. I agree with everything Lisa loves Pooh said in her post.

 

[slo]

That would have been a perfect time to use this guy

I have learned to be very careful when posting threads about the my children. I have read to many other threads where people are asking simple questions and then get totally flamed for it.

My advice about the baby monitors is to just take them and see how they work. I think your idea is a good one and I would give it a try.

Sorry about the flaming you received - it was totally unfair!!

 

[pixiemomma]

BTW, if you have never cruised DCL before your family will have a ridiculously great time! My boys cannot wait to do it again. Have a great trip!

 

[Jackie824]

oops I forgot to mention it was not on a disney cruise board that Im talking about. Its a major cruise message board, not affilated with Disney. This is our 2nd cruise. Our first was a 4 nite on RCCL and that was 2 yrs ago, we were hooked ever since. This yr we are going on the Carnival Valor, and now a family of 5(we were only a family of4 last cruise).That is why we need to rooms, as this new ship doesnt allow 5 to an inside stateroom. Believe me if we could we would
I just find it amazing how strangers judge us without even knowing us.
When I first posted my question I didnt give any details, it was a simple
Do baby monitors work. We will be bringing them,it cant hurt. I mean we already bringing a stroller and carseat with us, so how much room can baby monitors take up?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Jackie,

Here is a big heads-up.

It has been a long time now since I have been on the Cruise forum... But, let me tell you, for some reason, even then, this exact type of thing happened every time a parent posted. there seemed to be a group of Holier-Than-Thou posters who loved to give out critisism and parenting advice.

It actually got so bad that several of us were reporting it to Pete Werner!!!! And there was a actually a post by him or the moderators to try to let everyone know to stay on the 'cruise' topic. And that the cliques needed to be kept under control.

I love the poster who mentioned the movie quote "Do I look like I give a flip what you think."

Don't worry about it... Have a wonderful cruise!!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

PS:

Take the monitor, and see how it works.....
If you are concerned about the little 2 year old, then I am sure that you could keep that one child in your room on the little sofa.

 

[AshAlytwins]

Sorry about the bashing.....don't worry about what others think. If you are going on DCL the catagory 4 rooms fit 5 people. Keep checking for cancellations to get the adjoining rooms until you leave!!!
You will have a blast anyway!!!!

 

[froglady]

I would do exactly what you're planning. One parent in each room at night. (If the 12 yo is a boy, I would put him with Dad and keep the "babies" with me.) Then I would use the monitor while baby napped next door, trading off with DH so sometimes he would be "sitting" while I went to the pool, etc with the other children. I would also let my 12 yo have a bit of freedom during the day. Heck, I let him go to the snack bar alone at WDW resorts, or have left him sleeping (after waking him briefly) while DH and I go get breakfast.

 

[inaminute]

This is a perfect example of why I don't ask for too much advice on message boards. It's not worth the trouble sometimes.

Why not just call the cruise line and ask them if baby monitors will work? You'll get the answer WITHOUT attitude or judgement.

 

[SamIAm21]

I'll bet you $5.00 you were over at Cruise Critic. They are the worst when it comes to that. They think no one should ever bring kids on a cruise. They are the most anti-family elists I have ever seen on a message board. God forbid you ask about what to bring for a baby or even a toddler on board. Some have even gone as far as inquiring as to when, what ship you'll be cruising on as a heads up to others on the board who may be taking your cruise. I used to frequent the Royal Caribbean board there and although most of their ships are totally familiy oriented with day camps, kids pools, kids activities, etc. they acted like you should never EVAH bring a kid under the age of like 16 on a cruise.

Don't get me started about the Celebrity board either...

 

[Jackie824]

I'll bet you $5.00 you were over at Cruise Critic. They are the worst when it comes to that. They think no one should ever bring kids
Yes you are right, it was cruise critic. I normally never had any problems over there until now. We are going on Carnival, and Im pretty sure its kid friendly. We are leaving Aug 20th, so I can feel pretty safe to assume my kids wont be the only ones aboard.LOL