Never again

[DCL Repeaters]

I saw this exact behavior on the June 2022 Greek Isles cruise. Horrible behavior by tweens and teens. Sad to hear it continues.

 

[Lorana]

Ugh. We have the Aug 10 8-night Norwegian Fjords booked for next year, and now I'm really hoping this is not also our experience. It's the only sailing doing the Fjords, however, so we're still going, but I am hoping we don't experience this behavior.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Another thing which I think is happening, especially with the August cruises from Southampton, is that instead of doing the Walt Disney World package holiday, people are doing the Disney cruises. The Disney cruises are way more affordable than going to Florida, with most UK passengers being able to drive to the port.

The August cruises from Southampton are reminding me of people talking about Spring Break and short cruises from Florida which get Florida residents special rates. They are attractive to a certain demographic of people who like all inclusive resort type hot weather holidays. With the South of Spain traditional package resort areas starting to push back on the UK and Irish partying tourists, I'm not surprised that the August cruises from Southampton are seeing an uptick in UK and Irish families.

 

[Mango7100]

I wonder if its cause its Disney people think their kids are allowed to do all that.. i cruised HAL two weeks ago. It had 1600 Dutchies onboard and the other 1000 were plenty of Europeans. Plenty of kiddos and not a single time they bothered in whatever way whereas the kids/family orientated activities are way more limited on HAL

I agree. We were on Celebrity 2 weeks ago with tons of Dutch families (since it was to the Dutch Caribbean) and 350 kids (including our own). Never saw a single issue with kids—no roaming in packs, no one running the halls, no screaming, no parents letting their kids run through the dining room or having them stand on tables. DD reported kids club was calm and all the kids did activities together well. I think there is a lot of entitlement with Disney cruises, and the price doesn’t weed them out. If anything, it’s more “I paid $$$ so my kid should be able to experience any Disney magic they want”

 

[happycamper47]

I think there is a lot of entitlement with Disney cruises, and the price doesn’t weed them out. If anything, it’s more “I paid $$$ so my kid should be able to experience any Disney magic they want”

If that was the case don't you think it would be the same for the US cruises or is it just a "European" attitude? That is something we've never experienced enmasse. Yes an occasional disruptive kid or two, but never to the extent of the OP. I guarantee since DW is a retired teacher she would be the first to point it out.

 

[Cris&Cris]

I wrote my post in the emotion and I questioned myself was if I was over reacting but no I’m not. It was bad. I’m not a complainer nor do I set extreem standards on how others should behave. You can do what you want to do as long as it doesn’t impact others in a negative way.
Every cruise we have had you will always encounter a group or individual that shows some anti social behaviour, people are people and kids will be kids.
But never on this scale have we being confronted with so much anti social behaviour and in a lot of cases it was the adults leading the way.

It wasn’t just the Brits who showed this behaviour it is unfair to single them out.
Americans to be fair seemed far better behaved and far more social and aware of others.

But I also don’t want to worry those who have booked future cruises, I’m sure this was quite exceptional and not the norm. Our experience was most likely shared by some and others might never noticed.

 

[meremac]

I don't understand the need to single ANY group of people out. Why did you feel the need to say that the family who cut in line at dinner was Spanish? Why say that Americans were better behaved? And that it wasn't just the Brits who acted poorly? What purpose does this serve? Why not just say that you were frustrated with the fact that Disney didn't seem to do anything to try and curtail the excessive rude guest behavior that you saw on your cruise? I'm sorry, but this post is gross.

 

[Mango7100]

If that was the case don't you think it would be the same for the US cruises or is it just a "European" attitude? That is something we've never experienced enmasse. Yes an occasional disruptive kid or two, but never to the extent of the OP. I guarantee since DW is a retired teacher she would be the first to point it out.

I have not cruised DCL in Europe but have seen a lot of bad behavior on DCL Caribbean cruises. I don’t think it is necessarily a US vs European issue but just a parenting issue overall and to a certain extent a Disney issue. There is more of an entitlement attitude on DCL and in the parks (the whole “I spent a lot of money on this trip so I can do what I want”). And DCL’s attitude of never correcting a guest and just letting them do what they want doesn’t help. It is like some families view a Disney trip as some form of rite of passage or “check this off the list of life experiences” and that gives them the golden ticket to act a fool.

I think some is the sheer number of kids. When you have 1500 kids on a ship that holds 4000 compared to having 350 kids on the same size ship you will definitely see more issues.

 

[Cris&Cris]

I don't understand the need to single ANY group of people out. Why did you feel the need to say that the family who cut in line at dinner was Spanish? Why say that Americans were better behaved? And that it wasn't just the Brits who acted poorly? What purpose does this serve? Why not just say that you were frustrated with the fact that Disney didn't seem to do anything to try and curtail the excessive rude guest behavior that you saw on your cruise? I'm sorry, but this post is gross.

Because I’m setting the record straight on comments others have made, Others have pointed the finger at the Brits, not me. Others have commented on Americans. I don’t want to generalise and I do not want others make claims that are not fair or untrue. I can be far more specific but I will not do that. Because like you said it is people and I don’t want to make this about groups, nationalities etc.
I did single out that Spanish family because a lot of people on the cruise will have encountered them in a very negative way including the wonderful crew and it is a nod to them. I even had the pleasure of being on the same flight as them in the evening. Their behaviour at the airport was just as bad. This has nothing to do with them being Spanish, my wife is Spanish.
Sorry to gross you out with my opinions.

 

[meremac]

Because I’m setting the record straight on comments others have made, Others have pointed the finger at the Brits, not me. Others have commented on Americans. I don’t want to generalise and I do not want others make claims that are not fair or untrue. I can be far more specific but I will not do that. Because like you said it is people and I don’t want to make this about groups, nationalities etc.
I did single out that Spanish family because a lot of people on the cruise will have encountered them in a very negative way including the wonderful crew and it is a nod to them. I even had the pleasure of being on the same flight as them in the evening. Their behaviour at the airport was just as bad. This has nothing to do with them being Spanish, my wife is Spanish.
Sorry to gross you out with my opinion.

OK. Whatever you say .

 

[pachy25]

Just returned from a 7 day Norwegian Fjord cruise on the Disney Dream and it was horrible. Not the ship, not iit’s wonderful crew. Not the places we visited but the cowardly attitude off Disney Cruise Line to wake up and smell the coffee and stop appeasing those who are ruining your product. We had gangs of kids running around terrorizing adults and others all over the ship. We had adults bring there kids into adult areas, we had adults when confronted on there kids behaviors basically shrug it off. We had people playing loud music in there staterooms, we had kids running around in the dining rooms, kids running in the stateroom hallways at one in the morning. A large Spanish family cutting the lines for the dinning every night like they were royalty. Now I don’t blame Disney for creating this but do hold them accountable for not confronting these families or policing this bad behavior. Now I’m European but I have never encounter so much entitlement, cue cutting, selfish behavior on US bases cruises. We wil not take another European based cruise again and it hurts to say this as an European but this was embarresing.

That is awful. Don't go out of New York, as the entitled idiots are the same there

 

[MomOTwins]

Sorry that happened OP. I will say there is one DCL cruise in the caribbean where we had a similar experience--it was during peak spring break week (easter+florida spring break), and it sounds like August is maybe kind of the equivalent of spring break for Europe with school holidays. I too was really shocked by how parents let their young kids run around completely unattended--stealing pins and magnets off doors was rampant that cruise. We tried to go see a movie and left because the other kids there were having a food fight and screaming during the movie.

 

[pachy25]

I don't understand the need to single ANY group of people out. Why did you feel the need to say that the family who cut in line at dinner was Spanish? Why say that Americans were better behaved? And that it wasn't just the Brits who acted poorly? What purpose does this serve? Why not just say that you were frustrated with the fact that Disney didn't seem to do anything to try and curtail the excessive rude guest behavior that you saw on your cruise? I'm sorry, but this post is gross.

Who peed in your cheerios? Just like you, the author has her opinion,

 

[Smugpugmug]

I agree. We were on Celebrity 2 weeks ago with tons of Dutch families (since it was to the Dutch Caribbean) and 350 kids (including our own). Never saw a single issue with kids—no roaming in packs, no one running the halls, no screaming, no parents letting their kids run through the dining room or having them stand on tables. DD reported kids club was calm and all the kids did activities together well. I think there is a lot of entitlement with Disney cruises, and the price doesn’t weed them out. If anything, it’s more “I paid $$$ so my kid should be able to experience any Disney magic they want”

I was on a Celebrity cruise during Christmas week and saw the exact same behavior OP was describing. I knew there would be a ton of kids due to it being a holiday but I didn't expect the behavior to be that bad. It also didn't help that not a single crew member said anything about the hordes of children in the Solarium. There was even one family in particular (around 20 ish people? I assume a family reunion?) that essentially let their kids run wild and didn't do a single thing about it. This didn't ruin my vacation obviously but it did confirm to me to NEVER go on a cruise during a major holiday ever again. I'm a diehard off season girlie

 

[meremac]

Who peed in your cheerios? Just like you, the author has her opinion,

Big difference between saying that 1) Guest behavior in general was poor on the cruise and that Disney didn't do anything to stop it and 2) Singling out specific nationalities. This entire thread seems to be trending toward the latter, and I was questioning why people felt it was necessary to do that. But ultimately, I'm not interested in getting into an argument that I know will never end which is how these things always seem to go.

 

[auntlynne]

Since the perception (and usual? reality) is that Disney Cast Members are not supposed to say NO to guests, is this sort of across the cruise industry, too? Only getting involved when there is a physical altercation or risk of life?

Anyone seen otherwise in other cruise lines?

 

[Smugpugmug]

Sorry that happened OP. I will say there is one DCL cruise in the caribbean where we had a similar experience--it was during peak spring break week (easter+florida spring break), and it sounds like August is maybe kind of the equivalent of spring break for Europe with school holidays. I too was really shocked by how parents let their young kids run around completely unattended--stealing pins and magnets off doors was rampant that cruise. We tried to go see a movie and left because the other kids there were having a food fight and screaming during the movie.

A lot of countries in Europe have off for August so that's when families go on vacation. My dad is Dutch and growing up all of his family vacations were in August. I'm also doing research for a potential trip to Turkey next year and petty much everyone recommends avoiding August due to the influx of European tourists.

 

[vakamalua]

We have witnesses all the behavior the OP describes on DCL cruises from American ports to the Bahamas & Caribbean. Incredibly unruly children--knocking over deck chairs, invading adult areas, running around dining room, etc.----we have also seen horrible behavior by their drunk parents including getting into fistfights & screaming at us if we ask their kids to stop. D CL apparently has a "no police guest behavior" policy; we were actually told that by a cruise director on the Fantasy. That's what happens when your sole marketing is to parents most who want to surrender their supervision for the length of their vacation to the 'magic' of irresponsibility.

 

[Disneylover99]

An adults only cruise is looking better all the time.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

An adults only cruise is looking better all the time.

May be one of the new ships can be stricktly 18 and over hehe