Adults Only?

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I'll confess that I thought (based on poor signage) that walking through was acceptable and just the pool area was adults only. So, while there are those who think rules don't apply, I'm sure there are many who don't know they are breaking any rules.

Also based on some things I read about the Dream and the elevators, there are also many folks with their kids who don't know the layout of the ship wondering how on earth they ended up there.

 

[Sir William]

I wonder about this on the other side of the coin as well. My oldest will be 18 and she looks young. I wish people wouldn't automatically assume.

On our last cruise there was a young lady who appeared about 16 showing up in the adult areas and a lot of complaining was heard about CM's not keeping the adult area for adults only. I thought she might be just a young looking 18, as DD was. One night she sat at a table next to ours in one of the lounges and we learned that she was in her last year at college and closer approaching 22. From then on I made a point of telling anyone I overheard complaining about her being in the adult area how old she was.

My experience was the the CMs did a fine job in keeping the kids out of the adult areas. I noticed several times when a CM would stop kids from entering the pool area. On one occasion the CM escorted the child to and from the adult, on another the CM went and fetched the adult.

 

[mammacaryn]

Quick reply here:

We have been on all 3 ships, in the past 3 years and honestly I have NEVER seen kids in the adult only areas. Our kids LOVE the clubs so we usually have a decent amount of time out and about by ourselves throughout the day.

The closest thing to this happening that I witnessed was on Castaway Cay we saw a couple different people walking out by the adult area "asking" about going to the beach with the kids but they were denied.

 

[JJsmama]

I'll confess that I thought (based on poor signage) that walking through was acceptable and just the pool area was adults only. So, while there are those who think rules don't apply, I'm sure there are many who don't know they are breaking any rules.

.


Absolutely! Me too! I would never dream of lingering with the kids there, but walking by is sometimes hard to avoid when you come up the stairs at that end of the ship.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

On our first Disney cruise (Wonder) Every time we went to the "Quiet Cove" Pool in the adult area there were a mess of adults completely obliterated. Their drunken revelry led us to seek out the family areas for peace.

This happened on our last cruise. There were 3 adult couples (mid 30s) that were loud and drunk and doing flips into the pool every time I went. Obnoxious!! This was the 12/10 Magic cruise. Kids must have been in the clubs.

One time, a family came in with their toddler. Turned out to be 4 adults and one little guy maybe around 18 months. The CM at the bar quickly informed them that they had to leave. Kid was quieter then the drunks and maybe the bartender wanted to ensure that the little guy wasn't hurt.
They did card the 2 very young looking adults and they were allowed to stay.

Another time that trip I was sitting in a lounger reading and a family in the row in front of me got up after 10 minutes or so and walked out. They were all dressed for dinner and their DD was so quiet that I didn't even know she was there. Pool area wasn't crowded and their were plenty of loungers so maybe that's why nothing was said. It obviously didn't bother me as she was quieter than the drunks.

 

[OceanLvr]

My DW and I are headed out on the Magic next Saturday, without our compliment of kids. We'll be spending our time "trying" to relax at the Quiet Cove Pool.

When we travel with our children they are aware of the rules regarding the adult areas. We chose to teach them about respecting the rules and they understand. They are a pair of 8 year olds and a 5 year old. They can read and know the consequences if they choose to disobey.

I wish some of the adults would do this as well. After 14 cruises, we have seen many adults trying to either ignore or bend the rules. We all want to enjoy the spaces available to guests. If it says adults only, please be respectful and obey the rules.

Just MHO...

 

[andersonfamily]

If you are in Concierge on the Dream it is almost unavoidable not to “pass through” the adult area with kids. We sailed last March and when we passed though (daily) we told our kids to be quiet until we were outside the glass area. We were very aware of the area and made sure our children were on their best behavior for the 6 seconds of walking through. It is the right thing to do.

As for the excuse of “I can do whatever I want and go wherever I want because I paid for it” is outrageous! Get a life people!

On the other hand, the adult area pool was almost always vacant! So much so I thought there might be a problem with the pool!

 

[Who's your Mickey?]

I'll confess that I thought (based on poor signage) that walking through was acceptable and just the pool area was adults only. So, while there are those who think rules don't apply, I'm sure there are many who don't know they are breaking any rules.

We were told by CMs on the Dream that the "no one under 18 rule" only applied if you were going to stay in that pool area. Passing though was not restricted at any time.

 

[gometros]

I wonder about this on the other side of the coin as well. My oldest will be 18 and she looks young. I wish people wouldn't automatically assume.

I can only speak for myself, but quite honestly, I wouldn't ruin my vacation by worrying whether or not somebody in the adult pool area is borderline 18, especially if they were behaving. The only time I would summon a CM is if children were in the pool. I stayed on board once when we in Nassau and had the pool to myself. A gentleman came in with his two young sons and before I could budge to get a CM, one came by and politely explained to the man that the boys could not use the pool. Problem solved.

 

[oldshovelhead]

I don't care...we're sailing in 45 days and If I want my kids with me at the adult pool, they'll be there...of course they're 22, 25, and 26... Of course my DW says I'm the one that acts like a 12 year old.

 

[TDC Nala]

They're good about the adult shows and nightclubs (once they see that a kid is present) and not so good about the pool deck. Although not sure it's not perfectly OK for children to walk through the area; in fact, on the Dream anyone who arrives via the forward elevator HAS to walk through the adult pool area. I don't have a problem with the kids walking through as long as they don't stay. But I have seen parents with babies in the Cove Cafe and parents dropping in to buy coffee and chat awhile - accompanied by their minor kids.

Palo is very strict. If someone even looks under 18 they ask for proof of age. I assume Remy is the same way although I've never seen anyone underage kicked out of Remy (have seen that at Palo)

Okay, so they WILL enforce the rules if you point it out to the staff?

They should. But it likely won't always happen.

If you are looking for cruises with fewer children...the really long cruises (14-15 nights) had far fewer children. Those they do have are generally preschool age because older ones usually can't be out of school that long. Otherwise, don't cruise in high summer, spring break or over the winter holidays.

They will only allow adults to sign up for the beverage seminars, but depending on where they are held there may be children in the area (especially on the classic ships when they hold the seminars in Diversions during the day).

I went to a cooking demo for adults only on the Dream. Halfway through a guy walks in with a boy about 10 or 11. They sit down and ask for the food sample, and are given one (although only Dad gets the taste of wine). They eat it, get up and leave. Nobody tried to say anything to them about it being an adult program.

On Castaway Cay last time I was there, a kid about 11 was allowed to remain at the Serenity Cove bar while Dad went out on the beach to look for Mom. It did take him a long time to find her, but as soon as he came back with Mom the family left.

 

[Justacruiser]

I agree with previous posters that it is not CM's or other cruisers responsibility to not allow children under 18 in the adult pool area. However, I do agree that the Dream and soon Fantasy forward elevator is in a bad spot. Parent of smaller children should not even use that elevator, they should walk down to the mid ship and go up the elevator below the pool deck. There is no difference in the steps walked, just a different level.

Until those parents with kids below age 18 take the responsibility not to be in the area, it is up to us to inforce the policy. That in itself is manipulative and down right rude and I can't comprehend assigning another cruiser to the cruise police to report my behavior. If, as a previous remark said earlier that if it is only the pool that is adult, then all cruisers she be made aware. Otherwise parents keep your kids out of the area.

I think a nice fix would be for them to post a CM at that elivator for the first day directing everyone with kids to go down and around to get to the kids area. Post a label in the elevator that shows Adults Only level. Posting and marking will at least show the intent of the cruise line to keep the area Adut only.

 

[Miumiu4me]

We booked a 3 night cruise for Sept. Third cruise overall, first Disney cruise. We are a couple in our early 30s, no kids. I like kids and I don't mind seeing them 90 percent of the time, but one of the reasons we picked Disney is that it actually has a few adults only areas. We figured there were be wall to wall kids in most areas, but as long as there is an oasis or two, that's fine. I can't imagine that this cruise would be worse than the one we took with NCL last Dec. I have never seen so many unruly children in one place. There were no child free areas. Kids went to wine tastings, all the shows, and all the pools. One at sea day we got into the hot tub only to have a 6 or 7 year old girl jump in and proceed to swim laps.

 

[Bonniec]

I agree with that. I have three kids (well, I guess one since my twins just turned 18) and I can completely understand adult only areas. I can't stand when kids run and sream. Im probably too strict because I wont even let them scream at a playground park. In fact, even though we have kids, we seek out areas that are quiet (which is why I want to get a cabana at CC and why I want to do concierge for their area on the ship).

I will say that we plan to do Bingo since my son wants to. But he is shy and quiet and doesn't bounce all over the place.

I'm glad you guys pointed out the pool situation. I'd be mortified to disrupt someone's adult time. I will be sure to be careful of that.

 

[tajz90]

We've been on 7 DCL cruises and have never found children to be an issue in the adult only areas or shows. Once, on the dream, a parent brought a child into the jacuzzi and DCL staff promptly had her out. I personally love the evenings on the ship. It's like the kids disappear because they are all o busy in their own clubs. If a child is in an adult only area or activity, that is the fault of the parents and not DCL.

I think the children are handled fairly well on DCL. I find kids are out of control on Carnival.

 

[Miumiu4me]

I can't imagine getting annoyed at parents for just walking through the adults only areas cause of some design flaw with the ship.

Does Disney try to seat adult only groups with other adult only groups at dinner?

 

[DVCNuts]

Does Disney try to seat adult only groups with other adult only groups at dinner?

Yes, that has been my experience. And we found the adult activities and exclusive areas to be mostly child free on the Dream and Wonder.

 

[mimmi]

I have to admit that on our Dream cruise I barely ever knew if we were at thefront or back of the ship, I don't know why, but as soon as I went indoors I lost orientation .
Twice we accidentally used the elevators that end in the adult area but even I, totally confused where I was could read the sign on the door that it was the adult area.
We just took the elevator one deck down and went to the mid area, no big deal, I don't know why so many families have to pass through the quiet cove.
I can understand that it's an inconvenience for those in cabins onthe same deck in the same area,but all the others should be able to take the mid elevators.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I have been on 3 DCL cruises, on the Wonder and Magic. 2 with our kids. One of them was a 15 nighter and 1/3 of the ship was children. You saw them everywhere. LOL...I ahve to say that the crew was good about keeping them out of the adult clubs and activities.

I have no issue with kids and families walking through the quiet cove area. Or even kids updating their parents there and going on their way. There were no wave phones when we cruised, so the kids had to come up to us to tell us what was going on. I had/have no issue with that.

I have two cruises in the next month (one with kids one without), and I have no issue telling a CM if a kid is in an inappropriate place.

I have heard that DCL is much better about it then other cruise lines.

 

[psimon]

One thing I found annoying is that they allow kids into Bingo. Since they play for money, that's basically gambling, and I don't think kids should be there. They are disruptive and slow the games down.

Not sure what you define as disruptive....

Last times we were on the Magic and Wonder, my older daughter was 6 and 8 respectively. She sat with us, watched us play bingo, and helped mark squares. Is that wrong?

As to the gambling issue, since kids are taught at a very young age in school and camp how to play bingo (then there are things sold like travel bingo), why would parents anything of bringing their kids to bingo? They were all raised on it!

Just my $0.02!

No flames, please!

---Paul - Southern NJ