Disappointed!

[jiminy14]

No I was on the Wonder in late April. The tweens were more noticeable because there were lots of kids on the cruise and Serenity Bay was the least crowded I have ever seen it. While I was talking to one of the lifeguards after the family left, he was called on his radio to report to the CM beach because there were guests on that beach. He just looked at me and said "It's going to be one of those days".

 

[CVICU Nurse]

We did our first DCL cruise after only having been on Royal Caribbean. I too was really disappointed in the adult areas, or really lack thereof. However, I think Remy is the best paid restaurant any any cruise ship. I also really enjoyed some of the bars, like Skyline. However, I really like how the old Royal Caribbean ships have bars and lounges that are just open for good people watching. We still loved the DCL cruise though and felt it was the best choice for us as a family, at least in the Caribbean. We will be doing another this summer. However, when it came time to book our adults only, anniversary cruise, we chose Celebrity, partly for the itinerary (Southern Caribbean), partly for the large amount of adult food and entertainment, but mostly because we got a suite, premium drink package, and upgraded internet for less than we are paying for our Disney cruise with a regular balcony and 3 people. I will miss Remy though. Maybe I'll have to eat there twice this summer to make up for it

We respect the adult areas on all ships. We only accidentally took our son part way through the one on Fantasy once. However, we back tracked and went to the floor below. I needed the exercise anyway, so that I could eat something from the Cove Bar later

Yes, yes, and yes. We have been looking into Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises as well for the same reason- we could get concierge for the same price we paid for our Deluxe Family stateroom. We did thoroughly enjoy Remy- not the $450 we spent- but it was a nice reprieve, food was amazing, and we enjoyed the wine pairings with each course. Do you have any info you can share about the kids activities on the Royal Caribbean and Princess ships?

 

[RedSox68]

Just as a kinda side note, nothing prevents families with kids from walking down the hall to midship elevators to go up. You're still walking the same distance. Concierge is the only group I can give a slight pass to walking through because they would have to go to another deck. (I have seen a family that did that though. Respected the heck out of those parents.)

This is the biggest complaint I am noticing about the new ships and I truly hope they remedy this on the newer ones. I think the only way to "force" families to take midship is to put signs on the forward elevators that it is adults only to that area But it wouldn't work anyway as there are always those who feel they are more special.

I agree with the OP that disney employees do not force children out of the adult areas or activities and that I t is incredibly annoying. We always walk up a level instead of walking our kids through the adult pool area. And on our last cruise we dropped our kids at the kids club to attend an adult only drawing session only to find that there were quite a few kids there. The cm did notice the kids at the beginning and said this is an adult only drawing session and NONE OF THE KIDS LEFT! We were really stunned. The cm did not force them to leave and this really disappointed us.

Sorry, but I just feel this is wrong! Adults only is just that -- and Dug720's comment above about the mother/daughter comment is nonsense. I know that Disney doesn't want to piss off families, but they are also turning a blind eye to the adults who may not return on a future cruise because the "adult only" areas were NOT.

 

[MrsSmalls]

That stinks! We just came off the Magic and I was surprised how well kids were kept out of the adult areas.

 

[RedSox68]

That stinks! We just came off the Magic and I was surprised how well kids were kept out of the adult areas.

I do think they seem to be at a loss to control this on the bigger ships -- especially because the design dumps them off in that area when they get out of the elevator.

 

[MUN]

My family and I just returned from a cruise on the Disney Fantasy, March 25-April 1, 2017. We splurged on this Disney cruise because all it had to offer for our girls, ages 11 and 16. Prior to booking, I read up on the adult only areas and dining so that my husband and I could have some time to relax. In my reading, I was excited to lean of the adult only areas and how well they were marked and monitored. However, this was not the case. There were children all over the adult only areas- walking through, staying and participating in the adult only games, etc., and parents allowing this. Without my knowledge, my husband booked a placeholder for a future Disney cruise. I am seriously considering cancelling it and placing it towards a cruise with another line.

I skimmed some of the posts, I haven't read them all; however, if you enjoyed cruising, I suggest you instruct your husband to cancel the placeholder and to book a cruise on another cruise line. DCL cruises are expensive and it sounded like your experience was ruined by having children in the adults only area. Why spend the premium for DCL is you were disappointed with your first cruise? Your money will go a lot further with Carnival, RCL, HAL, etc.

 

[CVICU Nurse]

I skimmed some of the posts, I haven't read them all; however, if you enjoyed cruising, I suggest you instruct your husband to cancel the placeholder and to book a cruise on another cruise line. DCL cruises are expensive and it sounded like your experience was ruined by having children in the adults only area. Why spend the premium for DCL is you were disappointed with your first cruise? Your money will go a lot further with Carnival, RCL, HAL, etc.

This was not our first cruise, as we have cruised with Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian prior. I will say that as far as food, service, and kids clubs, Disney is top notch. We are considering cancelling the placeholder and booking with Royal Caribbean or Princess since we would be able to get more bang for our buck- Concierge suites.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

This is the biggest complaint I am noticing about the new ships and I truly hope they remedy this on the newer ones. I think the only way to "force" families to take midship is to put signs on the forward elevators that it is adults only to that area But it wouldn't work anyway as there are always those who feel they are more special.




Sorry, but I just feel this is wrong! Adults only is just that -- and Dug720's comment above about the mother/daughter comment is nonsense. I know that Disney doesn't want to piss off families, but they are also turning a blind eye to the adults who may not return on a future cruise because the "adult only" areas were NOT.

I know, right?! It was particularly annoying because one of our two young kids had to be coerced to go to the kids club and it had been a real effort for us. And then we had also told our teen he would have to go do something else. There were other drawing sessions that were not adult only but this one was. Of course the kids who did stay in the adult activity were not quiet but instead kept running up to get new pencils and talking and after the cm pointed out that it was an adult only session and parents with kids just ignored him, he was like ooo-kay and rolled his eyes like he was just completely over it. The entire experience had a real negative feel. I am like a deer in the headlights in this type of situation. I would never think of consciously bringing any of my kids (even the obedient one!) to an adult event or area. I cannot understand why people do it. I do not understand why so many people commenting seem to have such anger about those rules. To me it is simple.

 

[undertheradar]

I don't care if you walk through with your kids but it is an adults only area so if they hear some "non-Disney" phrases as you put it, it is 't the adults fault. The area is marked as for guest 18 and older so it is a risk you take walking through.

What's a little "Salty" language when you are out in the salty sea air,

 

[NewYorkcruiser]

I was on the same cruise(3/25-4/1), our stateroom was closest to the forward elevators. On the first day we took the elevators to 11 to go to Canbanas. When we got off, my daughter realized we were in the adults section of the ship and she was afraid to walk through. After that she insisted we take the midship elevators when going to 11. The few times I passed through the adult section, I never saw any children by the pool or the Cove, YMMV

I think it's shameful that anybody is fearful to walk through any part of the ship..especially a kid. I read "adult only" as meaning kids can't pull up a chair and hang out. I don't interpret it as they can't walk through the space to get to from point A to point B.

 

[raven0855]

We've stayed on 12 and we get to our rooms via 12. Go up the midship stairs to the upper deck including the funnel puddle and you are right at the entrance to the lounge. The next adult area is deck 13 forward. JMO, for 12 it's especially easy to avoid taking kids in the adult area.

Wonder why I never did that? I don't purposely take my son through adult areas but I always thought that was the fastest route. I will def check that out in October!
Thanks for the info!!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I understand the frustration. I've had the same experience on the Wonder. I often read on these forums people saying that they have to walk through the adult pool area on Fantasy and Dream to get to their room. That isn't the case on the Wonder, but people often walk their kids through there. When I am sitting there facing the ocean, I can always tell when a kid is walking through because they stomp their feet for some reason as they walk through it.

I've seen kids in the adult hot tub, Cove Cafe and at adult only games on the Wonder. When I am on vacation, I don't feel a need to parent other people's children and I don't say anything to them. I found it very strange that on my last Wonder Alaska cruise, my daughter (19 at the time) was questioned about her age in Cove Cafe and after she told her age, the CM asked to see her cruise card to make sure she wasn't lying and then on another day, there was a child obviously 10 or less just hanging out in there talking away to his parents for an extended period of time. They need to be consistent with the rules. They are far from consistent at this point.

 

[HeatherLassell]

. I don't interpret it as they can't walk through the space to get to from point A to point B.

That is exactly what it means though. The sign at the entrance says "This area is reserved for guests 18 and older" Meaning do NOT enter if you're under 18. I could understand if going through was the ONLY way to get where you're going. But it isn't. It's just laziness. And before you ask yes I have kids. I took them on the cruise. And no I didn't allow the 2 youngest to enter the adults area at all.

I would never freak out and scream at someone's child though. I don't condone that one bit. If they walked through quickly how does that hurt me? If they are jumping in the pool, screaming or hanging out I will get a CM to deal with it.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I was not on this sailing, but have never experienced kids hanging out or participating in adult only activities on DCL. Walk through them? Yes. Actively playing in the adult pool or something like that? No.
Mind you, once at the adult pool the parents had a stroller with a sleeping baby parked off to the side while the parents lounged by the pool. The stroller must have stood there for over an hour, nobody said anything.
We didn't mind really, baby was sleeping and quiet, but I guess where do you draw the line. If 5 people did this, all of a sudden it's a problem right. That's why I think the adult-only areas and activities should be strictly enforced at all times, no exception. By cast members.
As others have pointed out though, a lot of the adult only areas are for everyone including kids until a certain time. Mainly the lounges. They are multi-purpose venues during the day. My DS 7 was surprised on our last cruise when the Magic Mike "magic seminar" for kids at 7pm was in one of the adult only lounges. He wanted to go to the seminar and as we walked in he was like... mommy I'm not an adult
Yes but it's ok until 8pm or whatever.

 

[NewYorkcruiser]

That is exactly what it means though. The sign at the entrance says "This area is reserved for guests 18 and older" .

Reserved means to set apart for a particular use or purpose. So yes, like i agreed in my post, under 18 should not be pulling up a chair and using the facilities. If they don't want anyone under 18, the signs should clearly state adult entry only or adults only beyond this point.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Reserved means to set apart for a particular use or purpose. So yes, like i agreed in my post, under 18 should not be pulling up a chair and using the facilities. If they don't want anyone under 18, the signs should clearly state adult entry only or adults only beyond this point.

We can agree to disagree. Saying the area is reserved for adults means you must be 18 to enter. I don't think the sign should have to explain "This means no children should enter here at all for any reason" Since the whole "18 and older" makes that clear, IMO.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I just want to include my experience, for those who have not yet sailed, so they can factor in all experiences.

I was on the Fantasy for 7 nights last August with my family. My sons are teens, so I had plenty of "adult time." I spent time by the adult pool, at Satellite Falls (my personal favorite), in the adult bars/lounges at night (after 9 PM), at Skyline and Meridian at various times of day, in the locker rooms and Rain-forest room, etc. Personally, I never saw any children linger in these areas and rarely even cut through. It was one of my favorite parts of the Disney Cruise experience, that here on a ship full of children, that they had managed to create an oasis without them, to "get away" some times.

Of course, different people have different experiences, even on the same sailing, apparently, but personally I wouldn't be too concerned that the adult areas will be overrun with children the next time I sail on DCL.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Of course, different people have different experiences, even on the same sailing, apparently, but personally I wouldn't be too concerned that the adult areas will be overrun with children the next time I sail on DCL.

Very good point to make. I've done 3 cruises so far (2 on smaller ships and 1 on Fantasy) and have seen kids walk through (maybe 1 or 2...nothing crazy) but have never had an issue of kids in the pool or being obnoxious. *knock on wood that continues*

 

[jrabbit]

sorry to hijack the thread but @CVICU Nurse what does the "CV" in ICU mean?

 

[CVICU Nurse]

Cardiovascular