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If you have kids, it is a vacation trip where you can relax: there is no way your kid will get lost in the woods, be kidnapped or something like that (there is

If you have kids, it is a vacation trip where you can relax: there is no way your kid will get lost in the woods, be kidnapped or something like that (there is a 10 feet glass fence all over the boat).

stephenr 7y ago
Right, because nothing bad could ever happen to children in a 16-story floating steel jungle with 6000+ strangers in close proximity.
- scardine 7y ago
  That is the whole point, the ship is an environment where kids will never be alone. Bad things can happen everywhere and you can't protect your children all the time. If you have kids try it and compare with other vacation trips. And if you don't, parenting is that kind of experience you must live it yourself in order to fully understand.
  - stephenr 7y ago
    I do have a child. > That is the whole point, the ship is an environment where kids will never be alone. I didn't misunderstand that part. My original point was that you're trusting that none of the people there will do something that harms your children. But additionally, you're suggesting that because there are lots of other people around, your responsibilities are waived, and the herd will look after your children. Even as a parent, I have little time for those who won't take responsibility for their own children. > If you have kids try it and compare with other vacation trips. .... Let my child run free in 16 stories with 6000 random strangers? > And if you don't, parenting is that kind of experience you must live it yourself in order to fully understand Clearly some don't really learn from the experience.
- Kaibeezy 7y ago
  We’ve been on two of these mega-ship cruises in the last couple of years and another one next week. My kids love the kids’ clubs, which are lively and seem to be well run. The younger one was excited to go every morning and always came back happy. She’s a normal, friendly, smart kid. My teen boy had more freedom and used the teen club as a central meeting point, where he also made friends easily. Unlike at a resort or camp, where kids come and go and cliques form, these kids are mostly strangers on day one and it’s only for a week—they are literally in the same boat. This seems to produce less pressure and more fun. As for the adults, yes, there’s expensive, banal, crowded “activities” aplenty. There’s also (as others have mentioned) our Kindles, a quiet balcony with a nice view, OK food if you choose wisely, and transport to some interesting destinations. Ship-sponsored excursions are bus tour hell. Pro tip: Don’t do those. Organize your own day out. There’s this thing called the Internet, and it’s loaded with info. I bet it catches on! We had an amazing private expert-guided back-alley tour of Pompeii for half the price of the cruise line chain gang slog. My son and I found an ancient/modern graffiti tour of Athens, zero tourists. Etc. Even at a completely fake port like Costa Maya, you can get a small group bus trip to Chacchoben and it’s just as amazing as if you virtue-hitchhiked there. Bottom line, if you have kids, and if you use it as a base, and if you can deal with a few annoying crowd moments, a cruise can be fairly relaxing.
staticautomatic 7y ago
Happens sometimes that they drown in the pool though.

stephenr 7y ago

Right, because nothing bad could ever happen to children in a 16-story floating steel jungle with 6000+ strangers in close proximity.

scardine 7y ago
That is the whole point, the ship is an environment where kids will never be alone. Bad things can happen everywhere and you can't protect your children all the time. If you have kids try it and compare with other vacation trips. And if you don't, parenting is that kind of experience you must live it yourself in order to fully understand.
- stephenr 7y ago
  I do have a child. > That is the whole point, the ship is an environment where kids will never be alone. I didn't misunderstand that part. My original point was that you're trusting that none of the people there will do something that harms your children. But additionally, you're suggesting that because there are lots of other people around, your responsibilities are waived, and the herd will look after your children. Even as a parent, I have little time for those who won't take responsibility for their own children. > If you have kids try it and compare with other vacation trips. .... Let my child run free in 16 stories with 6000 random strangers? > And if you don't, parenting is that kind of experience you must live it yourself in order to fully understand Clearly some don't really learn from the experience.
Kaibeezy 7y ago
We’ve been on two of these mega-ship cruises in the last couple of years and another one next week. My kids love the kids’ clubs, which are lively and seem to be well run. The younger one was excited to go every morning and always came back happy. She’s a normal, friendly, smart kid. My teen boy had more freedom and used the teen club as a central meeting point, where he also made friends easily. Unlike at a resort or camp, where kids come and go and cliques form, these kids are mostly strangers on day one and it’s only for a week—they are literally in the same boat. This seems to produce less pressure and more fun. As for the adults, yes, there’s expensive, banal, crowded “activities” aplenty. There’s also (as others have mentioned) our Kindles, a quiet balcony with a nice view, OK food if you choose wisely, and transport to some interesting destinations. Ship-sponsored excursions are bus tour hell. Pro tip: Don’t do those. Organize your own day out. There’s this thing called the Internet, and it’s loaded with info. I bet it catches on! We had an amazing private expert-guided back-alley tour of Pompeii for half the price of the cruise line chain gang slog. My son and I found an ancient/modern graffiti tour of Athens, zero tourists. Etc. Even at a completely fake port like Costa Maya, you can get a small group bus trip to Chacchoben and it’s just as amazing as if you virtue-hitchhiked there. Bottom line, if you have kids, and if you use it as a base, and if you can deal with a few annoying crowd moments, a cruise can be fairly relaxing.

staticautomatic 7y ago

Happens sometimes that they drown in the pool though.