need opinions, verandah with preschooler?

[luvpooh]

Hi all, looking for some opinions. We were not going to cruise until 2017, however, with the Magic going out of NYC in 2016 we can't pass it up. However, I'm not certain if we should get a veranda or not. My son will be almost 4 at the time of sailing, and I'm not really sure if I feel comfortable with him being out on the veranda, even if we are out there with him, of course.

This would be our first time cruising with a child, so obviously it's a whole new world haha. Just not sure if I'm being overprotective, or is this is a logical concern, especially since I have no idea of how he will be in almost a year and a half from now. Right now, at two and a half, he gets into everything!

Also, if we do decide to go without the veranda, how big of a difference is it? I don't believe I have ever cruise before without one. I'm also not sure how much use you can get out of it, going out of NYC in October.

Thanks!

 

[Sir William]

The railing is about 4 feet high. Clear plexiglass covers the railings so he won't be able to use the rungs as a ladder. It's possible to push the two chairs and small table up to the railings.

The door not only requires some strength to open, but it also has a latch at the top of the door out of reach of most children unless they have Spiderman climbing capabilities.

If you're really concerned, get an oceanview room with the large porthole (which do not open). It's large enough that your son could sit in it but remain in perfect safety.

 

[Anisum]

I believe Sir William has addressed the safety concern pretty well.

As for the difference I found that I don't really use the veranda much. I usually just like to watch the ship go in and out of port which can be done from some of the decks if you are so inclined. I don't find that the regular veranda is THAT much of a difference from an Ocean View (304 sq. ft. as opposed to 268). If you are the type to use it to read or eat out on or just look at the ocean then I think that as long as you supervise the veranda shouldn't be an issue.

 

[AndreAggie]

We cruised with our 3-year old with a verandah. At the time he was 2 months shy of turning 4. He did just fine. We had strict instructions with him and he followed them. No climbing, don't move chairs and you can't be out there without Mommy, Daddy, Nana or Pops. (My in-laws were in the cabin next door, non-adjoining.) (We might have put the fear of God in him that if he climbed the rail we wouldn't be able to rescue him ) The rail was fairly high as well and it was nearly impossible for him to get over it.

It was also our first cruise with our son, 3rd for my husband and me. We have another cruise booked for March next year and he's going to be slightly disappointed that we've booked a porthole room. It's a 4-night cruise with 3 port stops. We're not going to be in the room enough to justify a balcony.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I have the same concern as you. I have been told (very nicely, of course ) that I am being a bit paranoid, but it still makes me nervous. I decided on an 8A oceanview on the Dream instead. I believe the Magic has similar large porthole rooms, but that you can't sit on them like on the Dream. If you know you would irrationally worry, I would book that instead of a verandah. Otherwise, just stick with the verandah and ask for the furniture to be removed if you have a climber.

 

[luvpooh]

Thanks everyone for the information and opinions. It's amazing the things you never really take note of pre-kids that you then have to consider.

I have the same concern as you. I have been told (very nicely, of course ) that I am being a bit paranoid, but it still makes me nervous. I decided on an 8A oceanview on the Dream instead. I believe the Magic has similar large porthole rooms, but that you can't sit on them like on the Dream. If you know you would irrationally worry, I would book that instead of a verandah. Otherwise, just stick with the verandah and ask for the furniture to be removed if you have a climber.

my kindred spirit!

We decided on an oceanview. I can't predict the future to know if he will be less 'curious' then, and it isn't worth the year and a half of stressing about it.

I also don't know that we would use it enough to justify paying for it. I have a feeling this trip is going to be a little more go, go, go than our previous cruises! Not to mention, when discussing it with my husband, he was like, 'oh, what if we want to order room service and eat breakfast out on the verandah?'. I was like, honey, unless you want to balance everything on a little side table or your lap, I don't foresee that being a very relaxing experience! I think he forgets that not all balconies are the size of the one we had on our Honeymoon (Royal Suite on Celebrity - the thing was huge!)

 

[Crystal O_o]

If you are unsure, then go with a porthole. My sons are 4 and 5 and I will not get a Veranda with them. That was confirmed when we stayed at the animal kingdom lodge on the 4th floor when my 5 year old climbed the railing on the balcony and almost gave me a heart attack.

Only you know your child. My two boys are so close in age they feed off each other. My oldest is a risk taker and likes to climb everything.

 

[SwimMom2]

I will be on the Magic June 6 in a veranda room with my 3.5 year old, 9 year old, and husband, so I will let you know.

We have stayed in at least 6 hotel rooms on upper floors with balconies and had no problems. Neither of my boys are risk takers or excessive climbers. This is why I booked a veranda. We have already discussed it and the preschooler will not be allowed on the veranda at all even so. Honestly I think he will be way too facinated with the sofa/pull down bed to want to go out there. There are no giraffes like at AKL. Lol

I got the veranda purely so my husband and I could have a drink out there and gaze at the fjords while the boys are in the kids' clubs.

 

[laceltris3]

We did our first cruise when my youngest (who is a total climber) was 2. Honestly, the bunk bed ended up being worse than the Verandah in terms of safety in that we had to remove the bunk ladder and boost the older kids up there after the 2 year old fell off the top bunk the second time. As others have said, it can be securely locked. The Verandah is solid plexiglass and cannot be climbed. He was never out there unattended. He did like to stand on the table and once tried to get his knee on the railing, but we pointed out how far the fall was and ferless as he is, even he realized the sense in that and didn't try again. He's 3, almost 4 now and I wouldn't be worried at all now.

 

[bumbershoot]

That was confirmed when we stayed at the animal kingdom lodge on the 4th floor when my 5 year old climbed the railing on the balcony

Those railings aren't covered in plexiglas though. Pretty important difference.

 

[bethy]

Those railings aren't covered in plexiglas though. Pretty important difference.

We have a verandah booked for our first cruise. I would rather not cruise at all than cruise without one. That said, my 3 year old could climb up that plexiglass and over the rail in a heartbeat. She could pull herself up and over the railing even with no foothold at all.

My other kids think I need to put her in gymnastics lol. And needless to say, we will have the furniture removed from our verandah and she will never ever be allowed out there. She has zero impulse control. We have this kind of stress with every balcony at every resort. But ground floor is even worse because then she would be GONE. That happened once at Aulani when she was 18 mos old.

 

[Crystal O_o]

Those railings aren't covered in plexiglas though. Pretty important difference.

No difference, especially when there are chairs on the balcony. My child is smart and resourceful. I rather not have to worry about it. So I like the large porthole rooms.

Mind you, I did get a balcony for our June 2016 Alaskian cruise. lol Hoping that he will be older then and grow out of the climbing everything.

 

[tnshsms]

If your son is a napper still then we really liked having the verandah to sit one while our DD napped. But by the time you go, he will be 5 and probably won't be taking naps so I'd go with the oceanview.

 

[Connecticute]

We booked a verandah for our first cruise coming up this fall. My son will be almost 4 when we go. I got the verandah because only second dinner seating was available, and I figured he'd nap and I'd want a place to sit and read while he slept. Of course, we've since been switched to the main seating, but I don't know if I want to bother changing rooms. So we'll see how it goes!

 

[Drusilla99]

We've always had verandas since we started cruising and our kids were 2 & 5. The door stays closed unless an adult is sitting out there and they listen to the rules, so we've never had any climbing issues. They love having room service breakfast and snacks out there, especially when they were that little. If you've got a climber that's a flight risk, that's tricky, but beware, there's loads of places around the ship that have railings that are climb able that fall to somewhere, whether it's the atrium lobby, the pool deck, or other spots that only a child will find. You've got loads of time, maybe start a no climbing rule outside of parks or something just so he doesn't get hurt?

 

[lisamarie12]

We've always had verandas since we started cruising and our kids were 2 & 5. The door stays closed unless an adult is sitting out there and they listen to the rules, so we've never had any climbing issues. They love having room service breakfast and snacks out there, especially when they were that little. If you've got a climber that's a flight risk, that's tricky, but beware, there's loads of places around the ship that have railings that are climb able that fall to somewhere, whether it's the atrium lobby, the pool deck, or other spots that only a child will find. You've got loads of time, maybe start a no climbing rule outside of parks or something just so he doesn't get hurt?

Good point. We had no issues last week with our 4 year old on Fantasy. I am so paranoid that I don't even like being near the ledge myself. I will move the chair a few feet back. We luckily had an oversized 4E balcony so there was tons of room and she was not allowed on the chairs near the ledge unless Daddy was there. And I pointed out the sharks in the water (she even thought she saw some lol) that would get her if she fell. So she did not go near the ledge. There was a door lock up very high so we could keep her from wandering out there while she slept.

All that said, if you really really want a balcony, you should go for it and not worry. But if you are questioning whether you need one at all, you probably don't. I like them, but they are not necessary to me. I am just as happy in an inside room. For others its balcony or nothing. If you are of that opinion, you would probably regret not having one. But if you really don't care that much, skip it and save some money and have peace of mind.

 

[Crystal O_o]

We've always had verandas since we started cruising and our kids were 2 & 5. The door stays closed unless an adult is sitting out there and they listen to the rules, so we've never had any climbing issues. They love having room service breakfast and snacks out there, especially when they were that little. If you've got a climber that's a flight risk, that's tricky, but beware, there's loads of places around the ship that have railings that are climb able that fall to somewhere, whether it's the atrium lobby, the pool deck, or other spots that only a child will find. You've got loads of time, maybe start a no climbing rule outside of parks or something just so he doesn't get hurt?

See I get what you are saying, but I go to my room to relax and I prefer not to have to be on my child like a hawk in the room. Outside the room sure, but I want to relax and maybe close my eyes and rest. It makes it so much easier to not have to worry about a balcony for now

 

[Eeyorebabies]

We had three children out on the verandah and never had an issue. They are covered in plexi glass, and it curves inward, even I would have a hard time climbing over it. You can request that no furniture be on the patio and it will be removed. The door the verandah is hard to open, and the lock is even harder. We loved sitting on the verandah and watching the port. The rule our children knew was only sitting in the chair was allowed on the verandah. No walking around or playing. They were 7,7, and 4 years at the time. If I can manage twins and a preschooler, and still feel totally relaxed, surely a single preschooler isn't that difficult. There is absolutely no way your 4 year old can open the door if it's locked. Mine couldn't even open it when it was unlocked.
But, it comes down to preference. If the verandah is something you will use, then get it, don't NOT get it based on the safety factor. How many incidents have you heard of children falling over on the Disney cruise lines? I only know of two. One was before the plexiglass was put up, and that was toward the inside of the deck. The other was an older preteen kid that jumped out while in port. Neither one died or went overboard, heck, neither child was even injured. Those boats are extremely safe. Disney would not do so well if they weren't. Would I ever leave my kid unsupervised on the verandah, absolutely not. We didn't even let them use it when we were out at sea. Only when going in and out of ports and if we were right there with them.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

We will be going on our first cruise in September. My girls will be 6, 5, & 3 and we booked a verandah. My two youngest girls still nap (they get still get fairly grumpy without one) and I couldn't imagine being stuck in my stateroom without a verandah while they are sleeping!

If the girls are out there at all, they will be sitting. But my girls are not big climbers and they listen well. I don't foresee any issues!

 

[Crystal O_o]

Like I said before, you know your child. Only you can make the decision.