Children on the veranda

[Cameo]

I'm just planning the possiblity of a Disney Cruise. I'm probably being silly, but why do I get a panicked feeling when thinking about getting a room with a veranda and then worrying about the children on the veranda? Can someone describe it to me and quell my fears?
Thanks!

 

[natdencro]

When did you last hear of a child falling overboard from a verandah on a cruise ship? Its just like anywhere: children are fine - if PROPERLY supervised. More likelihood of an ADULT falling overboard after a few Cocktails! Go ahead and have a fun cruise!Kids are usually more sensible than their parents on vacation! Nat

 

[crisi]

The railings are covered in plexiglass - making it impossible to scale. (Some are solid metal) The doors are challenging for adults to open (our stateroom host had to teach me) and lock high up.

Concievably, a child could pull the stool over, manage to unlock the door get out on the veranda, use the veranda chair to launch himself over the edge. With hundreds of children on every cruise, it has yet to happen.

Of course, never leave a child unattended on the veranda. If you have little monkeys, people have reported having the veranda furniture removed (although why you'd then pay for a veranda, I don't know).

If you are really worried, get a room with a porthole.

 

[Jestocost]

We cruised in a Cat. 5 cabin with our DS6 and DD9 last November and never really had anything to fear. The railing is pretty high, so an accident would be tough without one of them climbing onto a chair, table or the railing itself. We always made sure that one of us was out there with them just to avoid such a problem. The verandahs in the standard Cat. 4-6 cabins aren't large enough for you to be much more than an arm's length away at any time. I'm not sure about the size of the verandahs in the accessible cabins or the suites.

I wouldn't worry at all about young kids getting out there when you don't want them to. Unlocking the door is very complicated and the door also is very hard to move (even for an adult), so it's unlikely that a small child could get out on their own. They certainly wouldn't be able to get out quickly.

IMHO, if you are careful to supervise your kids appropriately you shouldn't have any worries about a verandah. We upgraded to a Cat. 5 at the port and enjoyed the verandah so much that we booked a Cat. 5 for our next cruise in 2005. Unless cost was an issue, I probably wouldn't consider doing the cruise without a verandah.

 

[aprilgail2]

There is a little table out there that my daughter stood on to look over the railing but only when I was with her. I know that this is not an option though for some kids but mine is sort of scary and wouldn't go out there without me nevermind stand on anything. She wouldn't even stand on it unless my arm was around her waist. The lock on our door didn't work so all you had to do was pull it open.....last cruise the lock on the top was also broken and didn't lock. Someone came in and looked at it but wasn't able to fix it then. With young kids you are better off not getting a room far aft where they have those metal verandahs becuase they can't see anything unless they stand on something to see over the top. The other verandahs have plexiglass and they can see from their own height.

 

[chichihoney]

the locks is up high and door to the verandah is to heavy to open

 

[Farms]

We cruised last november with two 7 year olds. They enjoyed being on the verandah. I had the same issues as you -- I was overly concerned -- until I got on board and saw for my own eyes. they really are rather safe -- as long as they're supervised. I really don't think I'd leave them out there on their own, though.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

From what I've heard, you've got to worry more about a youngster walking out of your cabin unsupervised (like in the middle of the night) than worry about falling overboard.

Not too long ago, there was a thread about a family in which a child (3 perhaps) was sleeping in grand-ma's cabin. Apparently grand-ma was a deep sleeper and child was able to exit the room (door lock automatically unlocks when door handle is pulled down) with out her knowledge and was later found ON A DIFFERENT DECK.

 

[erikthewise]

I understand your paranoia; I was the same way. I didn't want a veranda for this reason but DW insisted on one. Everything worked out OK.

Being concerned enough to ask means you'll be careful enough to avoid any problems.

Be sure your cabin has instructions for locking the door. Our cabin had no instructions (all are *supposed* to have them). I thought I knew how to lock it, but it turned out it was NOT locked after all! (Yes I used the lock at the top of the door, but for some reason it still didn't work.)

 

[epjenk]

I do have little monkeys that climb everything, so I understand the fear. You might want to bring a little jingle bell to tie onto the top lock so that you would hear if they tried to open it. Standing on the couch it was within reach of my 4 year old, so I do think he could have figured out the door. Of course, he could unbuckle himself from the stroller before he was 2- so he is a bit of a challenge in general. We just had to be very strict on the never ever stand on the furniture rule- even when adults are out there with you. If they wanted to see and felt like something was blocked on the plexiglass, we picked them up. My biggest problem was keeping them from hurling things overboard. Of course, as my post about the smoking problem says- we didn't really open the verandah at all! If your kids are over about 5 or 6, I'd say you have no fears at all. Under that age- you pretty much have to fear everything anyway, so just add it to the list!