Thread: What are the rules you set for your kids on a cruise

We took our kids on their first cruise, and after reading many a post from people who were just bothered in general by troublemsome kids on their previous cruise, I set some pretty strict rules for my kids.

1. Avoid the elevator at all costs!!!. This seams to be where people get into the most trouble with conflicts between grumpy people and well behaved kids and grumpy kids and well behaved people. I say just avoid the elevator as often as possible. If you do take it be the last one one and the last one off, holding the door for others.

2. Never run ever ever ever, any where on a ship.

3. No climbing on or near a railing.

4. Always use your very best manners and be extra considerate of other people. Hold the door for them, let the others ahead of you in the buffet line. If it looks like someone needs help, offer to help them, or get a waiter to help.

5. Always try atleast one new food a day. If you don't like something, its no big deal, you don't have to eat it. (Now my kids are asking where we can get escargot to make for dinner some time).

6. Dress appropriately.

7. Have fun, but always be considerate of your fellow passengers.

8. No splashing in the pool. If some one seems upset that you are in the pool, try to move to other end.

9. Wash your hands a lot.

10. Try new things like Karaoke or Hula Lessons.


Anybody else have ideas about good rules for kids on a cruise?

We sail with our grandchildren, ages 7-17, there are 11 of them so they take turns, usually with their parents or Moms!! They are good kids, but because I pay, they are my rules!! Respect all passengers and crew, say hi and smile, it means alot, use buddy system always, and if you are uncomfortable come to one of us, or near a lot of people. Tell us where you are going, and if I check and you are not there, trouble!! We always have dinner together, and their parents and I give them a list of our plans for the day, so they always know where we are. Dick and I are mostly on the aft, and they all show up about every hour, cause Gram does the fun stuff. Shopping, pizza, sunning, boy and girl watching, and at night they are with us, walking on deck, checking out the wake, going to a lounge, I dance with the boys and Dickie with the girls, they love it especially on formal night!! They love cruising and if they screw up, they know what will happen!! They are complimented all the time!! I am very proud of them!!

I almost forgot my most important rule:

Parents should enjoy taking a cruise vacation with thier kids, but remember that they should not take a vacation from parenting if they bring their kids along.

Your rules apply not only to cruise ships. It's how we brought our kids up and now these many years later are able to be so proud of them.

Sometimes they didn't like the strictness and caused us a lot of second guessing if what we were doing was right, but many years later they tell us how much they appreciate us making them aware of the right thing to do.

My daughter is not allowed to roam the ship alone so basically there are no rules, she is either with us or in camp carnival ,
she sees how we act as adults and knows how to behave in public...

She has been complimented many times about her maturity and her manners when adults are present.

My daughter is with us or signed into the kids program always. She needs to say "please" and "thank you" (she's gotten really good about "thank you"'s to point, she expects to receive "you're welcome" everytime). If she goes to a show (she enjoys them, every since her first cruise at 23 months), she knows to be quiet except when applauding in appreciation. Can't get her to try new foods (I was/am the same way) -- you can't win them all.

After seeing truly misbehaving kids (all from an extended family) on the last cruise, I can theorize that one important thing is to make sure the kids aren't going to be bored. The brats are often those who have nothing to do, aren't taken to the kids' program, and their parents rather go off to the casino, art auction, wherever, and leave their kids on their own. Even at 2 am in the morning.

When we are on a cruise, we instruct our kids to check on the cats twice a day!!

(Sorry I couldn't help that...our "baby" is 26.)

Seriously, very good advice here, because we hope to do a grandkids cruise in the next 18 months.

LL

George, you will love it!! There is nothing as special as seeing a ship through the eyes of a child!!

CruiseArizona

Great thread. Although ours are now grown and off on thier own, we raised ours much like you are. Both are now sucessful adults and we are proud of them.

After spending thirty plus years with other peoples children I can say that most times when you meet the child you know the parent. I'd say your's sound like good kids and I bet your are good parents. Keep itup.

I love cruising with my son!
He has the rules set down to him...all the above!
We use walkie Talkies to stay in touch. This is a great feature so long as you don't abuse it in public!
He is good about hanging out with someone he meets in our group.
We travel in a group most of the time so several folks are able to keep tabs too. That make more people accessable to him for saftey. We have a large group this time so I am sure there will be someone around.
he has to have at least 4 of the dinners with us & we let him eat the other dinners with his friends. It is his vacation too. He ususlly likes to come to dinner with us though and try new stuff. Some of the time he likes to just hang out with his friends and pig out on pizza or do the room service party thing...lol
Has to be in the cabin by 10:30 or camp carnival in the evening. He is 11 now and pretty good with this. He is very shy to so I doubt if you would get to talk to him if he did not know you.
He is fast at running too....lol
We have to know where he is at all times and he has to check in every hour. I just tell him I need him to get me a coke with his card every hour so I can make a drink....lol He never knows he is really checking in with us......LOL
he also likes the fact he can buy us a drink.....LOL