Kids running around ship unsupervised

[liv908]

I was on DCL last week and had a great time on the cruise with my DH and DD8.

One thing I have to say is I'm surprised by parents letting their kids go unsupervised. This one girl about my DD age was running around the ship and bumped into me 2-3 times, always with no parent in sight. I thought to myself this girl is either going to hurt herself or someone else with this behavior. On the last day of cruise as I disembarked I noticed the same girl now wearing a foot/leg brace .

In my opinion, everyone on DCL is on vacation but a parent is a parent 24/7. Just had to get this off my chest.

 

[BabsieK8]

That's one of the big reasons young families go on cruises! They can't escape and are safe

 

[kapoof]

I am all for kids having fun, but unsupervised in something different! I see it everywhere, not just dcl. Not only is it annoying but also dangerous. I think some parents just feel like the crew members can keep an eye on their kids! At wdw I have seen that behavior at the pools, parents expecting lifeguards to babysit!

 

[mayesq]

My husband and I saw the same thing last week on the Dream. Ridiculous. Kids that young should not be unsupervised, regardless of where they are.

 

[Alifay]

That's one of the big reasons young families go on cruises! They can't escape and are safe

Many people disappear on cruises and their disappearances are never even investigated. It's the perfect murder. ( http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Articles/Disappeared_Without_A_Trace_On_A_Cruise_Ship.html )

Besides that, I totally agree with OP ! Just because you are on a ship or are in any enclosed area doesn't mean that you get to let your kid run wild unsupervised. You still have to be their parent. Don't want to be a parent on your cruise? Lock the kids up in the kids club, bring a nanny along, or leave the kids at home.

 

[darkwing818]

I am all for kids having fun, but unsupervised in something different! I see it everywhere, not just dcl. Not only is it annoying but also dangerous. I think some parents just feel like the crew members can keep an eye on their kids! At wdw I have seen that behavior at the pools, parents expecting lifeguards to babysit!

Agree, Let's face it some folks expect Disney CM or Lifeguards to babysit their children. But Hey, it is the Parent's Vacation!!!!!

 

[dismom73]

As a mother of 3 girls that have pretty much grown up on DCL, I do give them some freedom they don't get at home, but I'm not one to think that nothing bad can happen on a cruise, bad things do happen on cruises. We do still set rules, for example they aren't allowed in anyone's cabin. I also keep in touch with them on the wave phones and will find time to "sneak up" on them to make sure they are behaving. They know how I feel about runners and "squeelers" (they will loose privelage of freedom if caught doing either)which is very common when you get a group of girls together. The worst I ever caught one of them doing was sitting on one of the stairways with a big group of girls, they were sitting quietly, however, they were blocking one whole side of the stairs. She did get a lecture about that. You have to know your child to allow these types of freedoms though(I'm not sure our youngest will ever get any freedom on the ship), and I think that's part of the problem. Some parents get on the ship and just turn their kids loose and don't care how they act and that's when you run into these "wild children". I take no issue with lecturing an unattended child that is misbehaving.

Adding...my oldest was 12, almost 13 before she was able to go places on her own on the ship. I don't think it's ok for small children to be unattended.

 

[lbgraves]

It isn't the fact that they are unsupervised, it's their behavior. People of any age running around without regard to others are dangerous in tight spaces. If they are respectful and conduct themselves appropriately, there is nothing wrong. Both of my kids know that they can and will be punished for acting inappropriately onboard, just like at home. We know several CMs and usually cruise with friends, so there is always someone who sees them throughout the day even if they aren't with us.

 

[insureman]

Know what your kids are doing: From numerous news sources in 2010.


"A New York man has admitted to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl on a Disney Cruise Line ship.

Lucas Wickes, 25, of Rochester, pleaded guilty before a judge in federal court to charges of abusive sexual contact at sea, reports the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

The incident occurred on the 1,800-passenger Disney Wonder on Jan. 1, 2007, during a New Year's cruise from Port Canaveral, near Orlando, to the Bahamas.

Wickes met up with the girl as she left the ship's teen club, according to the U.S. criminal complaint. The girl said she thought he was a ship security officer, so she followed his orders to accompany him to an aft area of the ship, where she was sexually assaulted, the Rochester paper reports.

Wickes admitted he had sexual contact with the girl, but said it was consensual, and that he believed she was 17.

In 2008, prosecutors in the Bahamas failed to make a rape case against Wickes in the incident, though he was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 for indecent assault or face six months in prison. He paid the fine."

 

[sayhello]

That's one of the big reasons young families go on cruises! They can't escape and are safe

Can't escape, maybe. But safe? They are no safer onboard a cruiseship than they are anywhere else. Unfortunately, bad things do happen on cruiseships, even DCL.

Sayhello

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Know what your kids are doing: From numerous news sources in 2010.


"A New York man has admitted to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl on a Disney Cruise Line ship.

Lucas Wickes, 25, of Rochester, pleaded guilty before a judge in federal court to charges of abusive sexual contact at sea, reports the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

The incident occurred on the 1,800-passenger Disney Wonder on Jan. 1, 2007, during a New Year's cruise from Port Canaveral, near Orlando, to the Bahamas.

Wickes met up with the girl as she left the ship's teen club, according to the U.S. criminal complaint. The girl said she thought he was a ship security officer, so she followed his orders to accompany him to an aft area of the ship, where she was sexually assaulted, the Rochester paper reports.

Wickes admitted he had sexual contact with the girl, but said it was consensual, and that he believed she was 17.

In 2008, prosecutors in the Bahamas failed to make a rape case against Wickes in the incident, though he was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 for indecent assault or face six months in prison. He paid the fine."

You beat me to it.

Jeez...between kids running amok, seat savers, smokers willing to pay the $250 to smoke in cabin/veranda, etc...I'm beginning to regret booking a cruise. May be I should stop reading this forum.

 

[liv908]

For those who mention how bad things can occur on ships even though it is closed type of environment I agree.

My child would use lab and I noticed some kids had their parents give them "self check in" privileges. I'm the type of parent who would worry about that since a young child can walk themselves around the ship. Bad things can happen in the best of neighborhoods and I don't think we should put our guard down on vacation.

I think DISNEY parks have set limits about teens going to parks unsupervised while parents stay at hotel. Read it months ago.

 

[allbluezoo]

H3ll.to.the.no! That's my answer for roaming around u supervised. I don't let them outside my house alone, why would I do it on a ship?? Ages 10 & 8 btw.

 

[ddixon1]

That's one of the big reasons young families go on cruises! They can't escape and are safe

For this reason, Disney cruises (in particular) are "paradise" for sexual predators.

Scares the h$!! Out of me to witness unsupervised children.

I treat trauma for a living, but -- let me be clear -- I'd much rather not have this kind of business... I prefer to see children enjoy their innocence.

But that's just me...

 

[WallaceFamily]

How easy would it be for a predator to get a child in their room, rape and kill then throw overboard??? Please do not think a cruise ship is safe. Be vigilant and make sure your kids know how to stay safe.

 

[mimmi]

I usually let my daughter (10) go to the shop or the kids club alone.
I don't see a reason to follow her everywhere when she has been taking the train to her school since the age of seven.
And no, reports of isolated incidents don't scare me off, considering that the overwhelming majority of kids survive their childhood just fine.

 

[lanejudy]

... I think DISNEY parks have set limits about teens going to parks unsupervised while parents stay at hotel. Read it months ago.

Actually, teens in the park are fine. I think the rule is children under 14 must be accompanied into the park by someone 14 or older. However, once through the gate, those age 7 and up are free to walk the park and ride alone.

I agree too many families do not supervise their own children - and it happens close to home as well as on vacation.

 

[barbarasc]

SCREAMING, RUNNING, SLAMMING cabin doors.........all of this and more happened on my Fantasy Cruise in May.....and this bad behavior ALL by unsupervised ADULTS! I was totally amazed and it happened every single night.

With that said.... elevators anyone?

 

[jimsubry]

SCREAMING, RUNNING, SLAMMING cabin doors.........all of this and more happened on my Fantasy Cruise in May.....and this bad behavior ALL by unsupervised ADULTS! I was totally amazed and it happened every single night.

Wow. Do you report this? What does Disney do when someone complains about kids being out of control? Are there any repercussions?

I can't see what kids (under 12 or so) need with an unsupervised run of the ship anyhow. My rule is going to be that my 10 year old will have to stay on whatever deck we're on (unless he's in the kids club). He won't have to stay right in our sight the whole time but cannot run around or go back to the room on his own.

 

[ThePedersonFamily]

I usually let my daughter (10) go to the shop or the kids club alone.
I don't see a reason to follow her everywhere when she has been taking the train to her school since the age of seven.
And no, reports of isolated incidents don't scare me off, considering that the overwhelming majority of kids survive their childhood just fine.

I totally agree!! I have an 11 year old that I allowed the freedom of checking herself in and out of the kids club during our cruise. I found it difficult to not allow her that privlege when she had walked the 1.5 kilometers to school alone for a year prior with no issues. I also have a 6 year old that did not have any freedom to roam alone...common sense people....common sense!!! Yes, bad things happen to children all the time...it's a very sad state of affairs in the world today...however you can not watch your child every second of every day! Make good choices, teach them well, and hope and pray for the best!