Leaving a child on the boat while the rest of the family is in port

[ThePicketts]

Maybe I am a horrible parent, or maybe I just do not know proper etiquette, but should I be ashamed because I leave my 8 year old on the ship playing while the rest of us look at museums and other things that he finds boring?

 

[Plaid Princess]

Maybe I am a horrible parent, or maybe I just do not know proper etiquette, but should I be ashamed because I leave my 8 year old on the ship playing while the rest of us look at museums and other things that he finds boring?

Not at all! It's not like you're leaving him home to clean or something, and you know your child best!

 

[omalley1118]

Maybe I am a horrible parent, or maybe I just do not know proper etiquette, but should I be ashamed because I leave my 8 year old on the ship playing while the rest of us look at museums and other things that he finds boring?

This was on the boards recently. You will find very strong opinions. I truly believe its all a matter of what you personally are comfortable doing. In Nassau two years ago, we left the kids behind. We travelled with another family, so there were four kids between 7-9. We went into town for about 2.5 hours to window shop and gab a drink at Señor Frog's. the kids were fine, and they would have been bored to death with us. But again, this was what we were comfortable doing...

 

[CanuckTraveller]

There are very strong opinions on this one and probably best if you do a search for more information.
We do not leave our children aboard ship alone. There are many situations that could (and do) occur where you cannot or do not make it back to the ship, despite your best efforts and intentions.
Wile in port, we choose activities that everyone will enjoy, it has become a fun part of our trip planning. We have climbed pyramids in Belize, gone to museums and hung out at the beach, all with children under the age of 8 yrs. I find e
Involving the children in the choice of port adventures is the key to a pleasurable experience for everyone.
Good luck with your choice.

 

[JnDRader]

I would. But we also have yet to cruise without multiple other family/friends cruising with us so if something were to happen the kids wouldn't be stranded on board alone.

All that being said, we'd still leave them on board if they weren't interested in whatever excursion we wanted to do. My 7yo son especially would prefer to be left in the lab over nearly anything else. My 11yo daughter is more adventurous and likely to stick with us.

 

[matthew517]

I agree it is what you are comfortable with.
I myself look at what could be the worst situation? Something happens and we cant make it back to the ship.
A liitle boredom is better then years of counsoling needed if they wereon the boat while you are stuck and trying to get to the next port.

 

[Kendal]

I agree with this last post what if you did not makein back to the ship and then the kid or kids would have no parents on board do u know te feeling they woul have bein all alone... It kinda makes me uneasy in the stomach to even think someone would do. That my son is with us everywhere we go no matter if he's bored or not because in the end I will end up bored doin what he wants to do its a little give and take.... I'm not saying dont let tem go to the kids stuff... I'm just saying when u leave ship they should be there with you.....

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We would never leave our young kids on the vessel and go ashore.


AKK

 

[Silverfox97]

We would never leave our young kids on the vessel and go ashore.

AKK

Us either. No way.

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[NY Disney fan]

We would never leave our young kids on the vessel and go ashore.

I feel the same. What if there is a fire on the ship? Also, when I'm on vacation I actually want to be with my kid. For example, I really want to do the Palo Brunch but I would hate having to eat lunch without my child. I mean, she can go to the kid's club any old time but eating together means a lot to me. Excursions with my child would mean a lot to me too.

 

[DLgal]

I don't think there is anything wrong with it, really. I mean, once your kids go to school full time, they are away from parents for 6+ hours every day.

But, in a situation like a cruise, I couldn't personally do that. There are too many variables there that could cause problems. My biggest problem with that scenario is that there is NO WAY for the parents to be contacted in an emergency situation and that is the #1 reason why I wouldn't leave my kids on the ship while I went ashore.

Any other time my kids are away from us, there is a way to reach an "emergency contact". On a ship, once you leave the ship at port, you are incommunicado and that makes me VERY uncomfortable. Heck, we had a situation where this happened while we were on the ship and the kids were in the club. The wave phones were not working, one of our kids was hysterical and needed us, and he remained like that for close to an hour before I showed up to get him. I had no idea and it killed me to know how long he was freaking out like that.

I would probably be comfortable doing it once the kids are WAY older, like over 16.

 

[NY Disney fan]

OP: Plus, its good to expose your 8 year old to different things he doesn't see at home. I say take him ashore and expose him to some culture. He won't be the only kid at the museum.

 

[Kimmiebr80]

I wouldn't go off on a big excursion without my kids, like needing bus travel or whatever. BUT, at Costa Maya, we did leave them in the club and go walk around the shops for 2 hours or so. Seriously, That's all that's really in Costa Maya anyway - my kids would've hated it or broken a ton of things in those little shops.

 

[Silverfox97]

Someone got robbed in Nassau this week and a person tried to help him and got killed; both US citizens & cruise ship passengers.

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2013/0...sengers-urged-to-avoid-travel-to-the-bahamas/

I realize that you can't go thru life paranoid and we don't, but no way I'm leaving my 6 year old in the kids club while I go ashore to a foreign country.

Just my opinion.

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[baleeve]

Solo Mom of 3 boys here, I'll be cruising with my 8 and 10 year old and I wouldn't do it. If anything ever happened I would never ever be able to live with myself. These days you just don't know....sadly. Same thing at the resort and parks after the cruise...we went together we stay together. I'm stuck with them and they good golly ARE STUCK WITH ME!

Besides If I did it I just wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy myself. Either I'd be a total wreck from worry or I'd see too much I wish they were there to see.

Skip the adult themed activities and spend the time together....you won't regret that decision one bit. THAT IS UNLESS you have one family member willing to stay behind.

Or you could bring them to the museums. My boys who I didn't think would love the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston LOVED IT! But it was toured in a childs attentions span (2-3 hours max)

Happy cruising.

P.S. KUDOS FOR BEING BRAVE AND ASKING AND I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK YOU ARE A BAD PARENT!!!!!!!!! YOUR A GREAT PARENT...THAT'S WHY YOU ASKED!!

 

[darkwing818]

We would never leave our young kids on the vessel and go ashore.

AKK

Agree 100%

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I definitely don't think you are horrible for considering it, but I would not make this choice for two reasons. First, as others have suggested, I would worry about what would happen if for some crazy reason I did not make it back to the ship in time. Second, I hate, hate, hate the word "bored" and do not accept its use in my family. We don't change plans because every member of the family won't be entertained every single second. I want my kids' horizons to be stretched as far as they will go, not to allow them to stick with just what's familiar and has lots of bells and whistles.

 

[kaseyC]

We would never leave our young kids on the vessel and go ashore.


AKK

I agree. I would adjust my touring plans to accommodate my children. That's one of the main reasons we did private tours on our past Med cruises. We can plan our touring day to fit our family. If we see the girls getting museum overload, we have the flexibility to alter our plans... stop for Gelato or just to hang out in a gorgeous park for an hour or so.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

I think it depends on the port. There is no way I'd be comfortable leaving my child(ren) on board and then head out on excursions where we could be delayed, not make it back to the ship etc, however in ports like San Juan or Costa Maya where you can get off the ship walk around and be in sight of the ship at all times I don't see an issue with it.

 

[k3chantal]

Maybe I am a horrible parent, or maybe I just do not know proper etiquette, but should I be ashamed because I leave my 8 year old on the ship playing while the rest of us look at museums and other things that he finds boring?

Nope you are not a horrible parent. We left our 11, 7 and 18 month old aboard the ship while on a Disney port adventure. They each spent the day in their club/nursery and had a fantastic time. They complained that we made them get off the ship the following day.

I believe that you have to know your kids and determine what is right for you. We have very fair skin and 7 full days of sun does us in. Part of the reason I kept them there was to stay inside out of the sun. I felt safe because I was on a Disney port adventure and knew Disney could find us and that the boat would not leave without us. My two older kids describe that day as the best day on the boat.

Do not be ashamed. Each parent has to decide what is right for their family. Our now 13 year old won't be getting a cell phone any time soon. But all his friends have one; it still does not make it right for him. I believe you have to make the choice for your family. The side effect of leaving them on the boat is that my husband and I had a wonderful all day date. It was a great port adventure that included horse back riding, snorkeling, a catamaran, and jumping into a waterfall and then eating a delicious lunch on a private beach. Happy parents make happy kids.........