Onboard Tantrums (Adults too)!

[BBCakes]

My DD11 and I just got off the Fantasy (7 W Caribbean) 23 Nov-30 Nov and was shocked at the number of tantrums witnessed during our cruise. Breakfast, excursions, in the gift shops, at the shows, you name it! My DD11 was even surprised to see other kids rolling all over the floors wrestling, playing tag in the atrium, running up and down the staircase, running through the decks screaming, hitting their siblings, and worse....their Parents. Little over-indulged people? Even some Adults were a tad disorderly throughout our cruise. I witnessed one young woman in her 30's scolding her own Father who was trying to help calm his Grandchildren while we waited at The Tube for our Grand Cayman excursion. Wow, I could never even think of talking to my Parents like she did. Overall, I was really embarrassed for these Parents and their unruly kids. I would never let my kid roll around on the floor where people are trying to enjoy themselves or while waiting for a show to start. My kid will stand like a proper young lady. All the while....during the whole time, the crew and cast members stayed poised and professional. Sorry you have to see all that, CMs!!

 

[TheLanes]

As anywhere in public, human nature will be observed with its full ranges. Although you would hope it would be a tad more classy on a DCL versus a Carnival three nighter...

 

[CruiseCrazy44]

People are people everywhere. How many times have you been to the McDonald's play land to find a group of moms completely ignoring their kids when the kids break the few rules the place has? If those parents don't parent in everyday life, they aren't likely to when they are on vacation. It's just the sad truth. on the positive, all cruises can't be that bad, I don't remember seeing anything too bad on my cruise.

 

[ludari]

I've witnessed unruly children and adults and I understand why the kids would be excited with the whole Disney thing but when this unruliness effects other passengers this is when the parents should step in. I too would never scold another adult let alone my parents.

 

[MillauFr]

A cruise can be very stressful to parents and children. It is not surprising that some people lose their calm. Many of these people need our understanding and our support.

 

[alagille]

A cruise can be very stressful to parents and children. It is not surprising that some people lose their calm. Many of these people need our understanding and our support.

Or an unlimited drink package???

 

[MillauFr]

Or an unlimited drink package???

LOL

Some people really do need a drink at it helps them calm down while others it just causes their behavior to go from bad to worse.

On my last cruise I enjoyed a bottle of 1961 Chateau Latour with Chef Skinner. Very fine.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

Vacation or no vacation, I expect my daughter to behave. We have brought her up to respect others and her surroundings so we have not had any major issues. I wish all parents would realize that rules and structure still exist on vacation.

 

[patita71]

We were on the same cruise, but I did not witness any of the tantrums or unruly behavior. Closest thing was a pre-schooler having an afternoon meltdown at Flo's, to which the mom carried her away... Probably overtired.

 

[alagille]

We were on the same cruise, but I did not witness any of the tantrums or unruly behavior. Closest thing was a pre-schooler having an afternoon meltdown at Flo's, to which the mom carried her away... Probably overtired.

Excellent response. This momma dragon has carried her overtired little dragon (s) off to nap on more than one occasion.

 

[patita71]

Excellent response. This momma dragon has carried her overtired little dragon (s) off to nap on more than one occasion.

Ditto!!

 

[Momma2Jax]

While there are certainly some people who need to think of the other people on the cruise as well, you also need to keep in mind that some of those kids (my son included) may have special needs or sensory issues. Even if not, you may not know their whole story. It may be best to just go on with your vacation, rather than jumping to conclusions

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

While there are certainly some people who need to think of the other people on the cruise as well, you also need to keep in mind that some of those kids (my son included) may have special needs or sensory issues. Even if not, you may not know their whole story. It may be best to just go on with your vacation, rather than jumping to conclusions

Honestly, while there are probably a few who have sensory issues, the more likely explanation is that their parents don't parent, so they've grown up to be little monsters. It's usually pretty easy to tell the difference, especially when you look at their parents, even if the remedy to a sensory breakdown is to ignore the behavior, the look on mom and dad's faces aren't usually complete disinterest.

 

[Momma2Jax]

Honestly, while there are probably a few who have sensory issues, the more likely explanation is that their parents don't parent, so they've grown up to be little monsters. It's usually pretty easy to tell the difference, especially when you look at their parents, even if the remedy to a sensory breakdown is to ignore the behavior, the look on mom and dad's faces aren't usually complete disinterest.

True. But I also think that heat, over tiredness, and lots of crazy parties and character meets can just make some kids go nutso. As for adult tantrums, that's their issue, for sure. But either way I have a hard time with some of these kinds of posts, just automatically assuming horrible parenting when we don't know the whole story.

 

[woody73]

. . . was shocked at the number of tantrums witnessed during our cruise.

. . . Even some Adults were a tad disorderly throughout our cruise.

. . . Overall, I was really embarrassed for these Parents and their unruly kids.

Sadly, this has been my observation as well.

But I get a laugh each time I hear a parent's empty threat: "If you don't stop that, I'm going to tell the captain to turn the ship around." I can just imagine the child thinking, "Yeah, sure, right" as the tantrum continues.

Woody

 

[tinkerone]

True. But I also think that heat, over tiredness, and lots of crazy parties and character meets can just make some kids go nutso. As for adult tantrums, that's their issue, for sure. But either way I have a hard time with some of these kinds of posts, just automatically assuming horrible parenting when we don't know the whole story.

I don't feel its hared to tell when a child has true issues and when a child is just being a brat and the parent just does not care.
if your child is having a melt down and they have issues you take that child out of the situation immediately, not just ignore the screaming melt down. you and I both know that's not what any one with a doctors degree would suggest. you just do not leave a child with special issues in a situation they can't handle. its harmful to the child.
if its a parenting issue the parent just doesn't seem to care and does not seem to be paying any attention to the fact the child is causing a scene. its the parents comfort before any ones. seen it plenty.
now this is jmo and I could very possibly be wrong. maybe some ones doctor has said let the melt down continue till the child is throwing himself on the floor screaming at the top of his lungs not caring who is around, as a parent, just ignore them.

 

[tinkerone]

Sadly, this has been my observation as well.

But I get a laugh each time I hear a parent's empty threat: "If you don't stop that, I'm going to tell the captain to turn the ship around." I can just imagine the child thinking, "Yeah, sure, right" as the tantrum continues.

Woody

this is so funny because it brings my mom to memory. I can still hear her yelling to us in the back seat of the car, that if we didn't stop what ever it was we were doing, she was going to stop the car. this threat was daily and we knew she was never going to go through with it so did we stop? nope!

I did learn from this, however, and brought it into the raising of our own children. if I said it, I meant it. i never yelled it, only spoke it. I only had to pull that car over once and let me tell you, never had to again. if I said it they stopped. it wasn't only used in the car, it was used at anytime. if i told you to stop you'd better cause there would be a 'for sure' consequence if you didn't.
thanks for teaching me to be a better parent mom. xxoo

 

[braysmommy]

I don't feel its hared to tell when a child has true issues and when a child is just being a brat and the parent just does not care.
if your child is having a melt down and they have issues you take that child out of the situation immediately, not just ignore the screaming melt down. you and I both know that's not what any one with a doctors degree would suggest. you just do not leave a child with special issues in a situation they can't handle. its harmful to the child.
if its a parenting issue the parent just doesn't seem to care and does not seem to be paying any attention to the fact the child is causing a scene. its the parents comfort before any ones. seen it plenty.
now this is jmo and I could very possibly be wrong. maybe some ones doctor has said let the melt down continue till the child is throwing himself on the floor screaming at the top of his lungs not caring who is around, as a parent, just ignore them.

Actually my best friend has a special needs 8 year old and if you spend any time with them you will witness meltdowns and throwing himself on the ground. Now she could try and drag him out of the situation or wait it out. Waiting it out causes the behavior to subside quicker and not escalate. She can try her best to predict what might set him off but she never knows for sure. So before we all judge other parents and profess how perfect we would handle the situation walk a mile in my friends shoes or other parents with a special needs kid.

 

[cgolf]

Probably the worst I saw, not a meltdown which would have been better, hopefully the parent is not on the boards, with my luck lately they will be was a younger girl during holiday story time. The girl wouldn't listen to the CM's doing the story time in D lounge, child was on the stage bouncing around interrupting the story tellers, and mostly just being rude. You could tell the CM's had had enough, but they suffered through it, thankfully near the end the child had to go to the bathroom and mom took her.

This whole time this was going on, mom was watching and seemed amused by the child's antics, if that were my child she would have been sitting by us the first time she didn't listen to the CM's. She may have gotten up once to talk with the child, but the behavior continued until the dear child had to go to the bathroom. It actually made the story time uncomfortable to watch, but kudos to the CM's for powering through. I do see a lot of meltdowns in this kids future though when mom or dad finally have to say no to something, luckily we didn't run into them again that cruise.

cgolf

 

[tinkerone]

Actually my best friend has a special needs 8 year old and if you spend any time with them you will witness meltdowns and throwing himself on the ground. Now she could try and drag him out of the situation or wait it out. Waiting it out causes the behavior to subside quicker and not escalate. She can try her best to predict what might set him off but she never knows for sure. So before we all judge other parents and profess how perfect we would handle the situation walk a mile in my friends shoes or other parents with a special needs kid.

not sure where you saw me 'profess how perfect i would handle the situation' however if you actually read what i wrote, i said no person with a special needs child would ignore a melt down. am i wrong in that? would your friend just look away and not bother to check if the child is hurting him/her self or others?
i also said that it was all jmo and i think i'm intitalted to have one. i still say I don't feel its hard to tell when a child has true issues and when a child is just being a brat and the parent just does not care. its not a 100% but i would bet close.
and just so you know, i also have a special needs person in my life who has meltdowns that i am guardian of. he is an adult and one can never tell what will set him off as well. while it might not work for your friend, best thing for us to do, take him out of the situation. yup, it can be very hard, hes a big man. I've never had a doctor tell me different.