Kids Safety on the ship

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sshrivas

Guest
Hi,

My Wife and I with two kids (5 & 2 yr) are planning a cruise to Alaska over the summer on Norwegian because of their free-style cruising. The balcony attached to our cabin has protective bar railings instead of Glass. I have a feeling that this will become more of a hassle to have to constantly watch the kids and perhaps not worth the extra money we have to spend to book a cabin with balcony.

Maybe I'm overreacting (I hope I'm) but I can really get some help with suggestions/comments from others who might have faced the same dilemma and ways that they have handled it.

Thank you in advance for addressing my concerns.

Steve
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
First of all you know your kids better then we. If you don't feel comfortable because they might climb, then don't get a balcony. You are not going to enjoy your vacation if you are worried about your children's safety.

There is no way a two year old can open the door to the balcony, and your five year old will have a hard time at best. If only the two year old is a climber, and you can enforce the rule that nobody goes out on the balcony without Mommy or Daddy, then you will be okay.

Next, why do you think your balcony has the horizontal bars? Here are some photos of the NCL Star leaving San Pedro. Note the glass balconies on the side (the front facing balconies do have horizontal bars, but those are suites that are limited to two people each) ...











 
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Don Clark

Guest
On many NCL ships, there are locks on the doors leading to the balcony, high enough 6that kids can''t reach.

One ship without glass partitions on the balcony is the Sun, which sails from Vancouver to Alaska.
But the Star and Pearl will have them if you are sailing from Seattle.

The responsibility to watch over your children is yours. So many worry about children falling overboard, but I've read zero examples. Almost all the cases I've read of people falling overboard, or down stairways, are adults - usually so drunk one wonders how they climbed the railings in the first place.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
I would hope they can be controlled enough and reasoned with so you won't have any worries, but if this isn't the case, forget the balcony. Balconies are great, especially when cruising Alaska and yet, if you are truely concerned and think worrying about the two little ones will interfer with the cruise save the balcony for cruising without the kids sometime or put off the balcony unitl they are at an age where they won't even be tempted to climb.

Nita
 
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tgntm

Guest
If my children were 2 and 5 and I were going on a cruise, then they would be visiting Grandma and Grandpa or Aunt and Uncle. 10 years from now the two year old will not remember a thing about the cruise and the 5yr old will barely remember it. At their age they would enjoy Grandma and Grampas house of Aunt and Uncle's house much more anyway. If my only option were to take the children then I would go for a window room instead of the balcony. One less thing to worry about.
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
[quote tgntm]If my children were 2 and 5 and I were going on a cruise, then they would be visiting Grandma and Grandpa or Aunt and Uncle. 10 years from now the two year old will not remember a thing about the cruise and the 5yr old will barely remember it. At their age they would enjoy Grandma and Grampas house of Aunt and Uncle's house much more anyway. If my only option were to take the children then I would go for a window room instead of the balcony. One less thing to worry about.[/quote]I agree the two year old will not remember, I disagree that both would be happier with grandma and grandpa. I have been on two cruises with four year olds and they both had a great time. In fact the former four year old just went on his second cruise (now he is seven) and as a cruise "veteran" he knew what to expect and had the time of his life. If given the chance to go on a cruise again tomorrow, both would be overjoyed.


What can be better than being with mommy and daddy and getting to do things and explore things that you have never done before? Vacations are not just for memories, they are also a time for the ENTIRE family to have fun together.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Cruizer, both you and the poster before you bring out good points and have reasons for how you feel. I happen to be one that feels cruising should be for kids 5 and older, but that is my opinion. I ran into a young mother on my last cruise with a 1,3 and 5 year old. She even had grandma with her and yet, said she would neveragain cruise with a child that wasn't potty trained and old enough for the kids program. It was her first cruise, she loved the concept but just felt there She wwere vacations better suited to families with little ones. I know others who can't imagine leaving kids behind, but when our kids were little vacations consisted of visiting friends and relatives, camping or maybe Disney Land. Thngs do change I know. My own daughter would do a 1 week vacation every year and leave the kids with grandma. WE loved it, kids loved it and she had a chance to spend adult time with her hubby.Now her daughter is going to spend a week with her hubby while her mom watches Abby. It will be granddaughters last break before starting an advanced accelerated nursing program. My daughter is taking a week vacation just so she can be with Abby. To me this is a wonderful way for grandparents to bond. It certainly doesn't mean kids shouldn't have vacations as a family but there are many other choices.

Nita
 
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sshrivas

Guest
Thank you all for your replies. Really appreciate. We're still working through our plans and curise-lines but your input will play a big role in picking up the right choice.

Thanks,

Steve
 
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mrs. pinktoes

Guest
these are great pictures...we will be sailing on the Star next year and these are the best pictures I have seen of her.....do you by chance have a photo of the aft of the ship? we have an aft cabin on deck 9....TIA
 
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Cruizer

Guest
None of the aft, just the back ...



and the stern ...



and the pool ...



and the pool deck ...



oops, I do have an aft photo ...



Children's pool ...



and another main pool ...

 
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