Steph B Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 We are finishing up the second of our back to back cruises - a 12-night British Isles cruise on the Jewel of the Seas and have encountered a disturbing change to the policy on Solarium access. Evidently, Royal Caribbean has made a fleetwide decision (according to Manish, the smug and thoroughly unhelpful guest services officer we had to deal with) to open up the previously "adults-only" Solarium to kids under 16 when the ship's itinerary takes you to colder weather climates. Or, perhaps it's on every ship in the fleet, but maybe only if needed ... the answer seems very confusing (and confused). I get it that Royal says they are "evolving the brand to multigenerational families," but what about adult cruisers whose kids have grown up, to say nothing about those customers who have been loyal to Royal before this so-called "brand evolution?" I can't help but feel we are being left behind with no quiet areas and, most importantly, our loyalty disregarded. Evidently, Michael Bayley was asked by several people on the latest President's cruise about this and he didn't have an answer, saying instead that he'd "look into it." I'm not holding my breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 The Solarium is only opened to kids on cold weather cruises. It's been this way for many years. Heymarco and CruiseMsclDad 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimnKathy Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 1 minute ago, Matt said: The Solarium is only opened to kids on cold weather cruises. It's been this way for many years. We love the privacy of the Solarium whenever we've sailed in the Caribbean. The only cold weather cruise we experienced (Maine, Canada in October) was too cold to go outside anywhere, so the Solarium exception didn't affect us....we were enjoying views from the heated enclosed lounge on the top deck outside of Izumi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 2 hours ago, Steph B said: We are finishing up the second of our back to back cruises - a 12-night British Isles cruise on the Jewel of the Seas and have encountered a disturbing change to the policy on Solarium access. Evidently, Royal Caribbean has made a fleetwide decision (according to Manish, the smug and thoroughly unhelpful guest services officer we had to deal with) to open up the previously "adults-only" Solarium to kids under 16 when the ship's itinerary takes you to colder weather climates. Or, perhaps it's on every ship in the fleet, but maybe only if needed ... the answer seems very confusing (and confused). I get it that Royal says they are "evolving the brand to multigenerational families," but what about adult cruisers whose kids have grown up, to say nothing about those customers who have been loyal to Royal before this so-called "brand evolution?" I can't help but feel we are being left behind with no quiet areas and, most importantly, our loyalty disregarded. Evidently, Michael Bayley was asked by several people on the latest President's cruise about this and he didn't have an answer, saying instead that he'd "look into it." I'm not holding my breath. Not new... not just your ship. As matt said, it's a cold weather cruise thing. Heymarco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 That is why I only cruise the Caribbean and between Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are warm weather cruises and when most children are in school even the college age as they are getting ready for finals before the Christmas break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Op posted almost this exact same post on 07/25. SemperMom and tjcruisers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjcruisers Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 14 minutes ago, Xaa said: Op posted almost this exact same post on 07/25. For a minute there I thought I was crazy that I read it already in the past SemperMom, Cactus527, DDaley and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Yeah with this one being post cruise you think they would have gone into how having under 16 impacted their cruise etc. I guess they couldn't resist ctrl-c, ctrl-v. tjcruisers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingNewb Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Honestly, the under 16 kids are not as much of a problem for me than the over 16 and under 25 year olds. They monopolize the jacuzzi and are making out and doing all sorts of PDA. Grosses me out. Ugh...when did I become my parents? 27th Lady, WAAAYTOOO, Ryan79 and 6 others 1 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 2 hours ago, CruisingNewb said: Honestly, the under 16 kids are not as much of a problem for me than the over 16 and under 25 year olds. They monopolize the jacuzzi and are making out and doing all sorts of PDA. Grosses me out. Ugh...when did I become my parents? They don't last long when I am there... I guess having a big tattooed bearded guy staring at them creeps them out and they leave. LOL Cactus527, SemperMom, MaryCS62 and 5 others 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingNewb Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 17 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said: They don't last long when I am there... I guess having a big tattooed bearded guy staring at them creeps them out and they leave. LOL Well then, I guess I will have to invite you to our next cruise lol SemperMom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda R Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 7 hours ago, Steph B said: We are finishing up the second of our back to back cruises - a 12-night British Isles cruise on the Jewel of the Seas and have encountered a disturbing change to the policy on Solarium access. Evidently, Royal Caribbean has made a fleetwide decision (according to Manish, the smug and thoroughly unhelpful guest services officer we had to deal with) to open up the previously "adults-only" Solarium to kids under 16 when the ship's itinerary takes you to colder weather climates. Or, perhaps it's on every ship in the fleet, but maybe only if needed ... the answer seems very confusing (and confused). I get it that Royal says they are "evolving the brand to multigenerational families," but what about adult cruisers whose kids have grown up, to say nothing about those customers who have been loyal to Royal before this so-called "brand evolution?" I can't help but feel we are being left behind with no quiet areas and, most importantly, our loyalty disregarded. Evidently, Michael Bayley was asked by several people on the latest President's cruise about this and he didn't have an answer, saying instead that he'd "look into it." I'm not holding my breath. It is on cold weather cruises only when the outdoor pools are not available. And on a limited basis, with certain times of the day. Nothing new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted August 2, 2023 Report Share Posted August 2, 2023 Celebrity does it too, so maybe Holland America is a better choice? Very few children on HAL. F1guynz and teddy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDaley Posted August 3, 2023 Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 3 hours ago, twangster said: Celebrity does it too, so maybe Holland America is a better choice? Very few children on HAL. Holland America’s indoor pool is also overrun with kids since there’re only two pools and four hot tubs. The 2 hot tubs aft and 2 in the indoor pool area are usually 10 kids deep!! I usually waited to get in until they all got carted off to get ready for dinner. Combine just as many kids, no poolside music of any kind and mid-day offerings like quilting and scrapbooking classes and you can see why I vowed never to return to HAL. Unless of course I can get one of their constant free stateroom offers to work out! I am a 2 Star Mariner on HAL (equivalent of RC Platinum) and somehow get like 30 free stateroom offers a month! How? Why? Royal please send me some of these! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1guynz Posted August 3, 2023 Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 11 hours ago, DDaley said: is also overrun with kids Are kids on HAL over 50’s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDaley Posted August 3, 2023 Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 3 hours ago, F1guynz said: Are kids on HAL over 50’s? Hah! Well I’ve only sailed HAL from California but there were just as many kids on my two sailings (both in early December) as on Navigator from LA. And with no actual kid spaces for them to retreat to, I’d say HAL is a worse experience if you’re trying to find a cruise line without children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryCS62 Posted August 3, 2023 Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 22 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said: They don't last long when I am there... I guess having a big tattooed bearded guy staring at them creeps them out and they leave. LOL cool - I'd love to bring you along if I ever had to worry about that - but I prefer the warm weather destinations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted August 3, 2023 Report Share Posted August 3, 2023 37 minutes ago, MaryCS62 said: cool - I'd love to bring you along if I ever had to worry about that - but I prefer the warm weather destinations There was one time when my wife and I were in the hot tub in the Solarium and two really good looking 20-30 something girls got in and moved really close to us and asked if they could hang out. I was a bit perplexed but then they explained that there were some guys hitting on them and they felt that if they were next to me with my H-D tattoos then the guys would leave them alone...They were very sweet and well mannered girls. Keanoknick, teddy, KristiZ and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 17 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said: There was one time when my wife and I were in the hot tub in the Solarium and two really good looking 20-30 something girls got in and moved really close to us and asked if they could hang out. I was a bit perplexed but then they explained that there were some guys hitting on them and they felt that if they were next to me with my H-D tattoos then the guys would leave them alone...They were very sweet and well mannered girls. This has happened to my wife and I a few times over the years in various places. It caught me off guard the first time, but my wife knew immediately what was going on. Part of me is bummed that we are at the age where look more like parents to the younger people than peers. Jolly Ogre, tjcruisers, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heymarco Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 Maybe just think of it as sharing the only available pool. Can't believe that some people think kids should swim in an outdoor pool when it's 50° out or not have any pool at all. The outdoor pool can be your quiet area when it's 50 degrees out. DDaley and berkeleykel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMsclDad Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 8/2/2023 at 1:34 PM, Jolly Ogre said: They don't last long when I am there... I guess having a big tattooed bearded guy staring at them creeps them out and they leave. LOL I too for some reason have never been bothered in either the hot tubs or the pools, it must be my "sunny disposition" I agree with others, the little kids are fine, it is the collage age crowd that can be very disrespectful to some passengers, a good hard stare usually fixes that behavior, drunks though unfortunately require a more hands on approach On every cruise line I have been on, it is true cold weather cruises, they drop the age limit, not just RCCL. This is my hot tub smile! Neesa, Ampurp85 and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 8/2/2023 at 10:00 PM, twangster said: Celebrity does it too, so maybe Holland America is a better choice? Very few children on HAL. Even less on SAGA cruises Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John-NC Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Is this policy in place on Alaskan cruises? I don't recall from my cruise on Ovation this year. My kids are old enough that it didn't matter, but I don't recall seeing any young ones in the Solarium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted August 21, 2023 Report Share Posted August 21, 2023 19 hours ago, mutantsfornukes said: Is this policy in place on Alaskan cruises? I don't recall from my cruise on Ovation this year. My kids are old enough that it didn't matter, but I don't recall seeing any young ones in the Solarium. Ovation has an indoor pool for guests of all ages. Most other ships do not, so I wouldn't expect them to change Solarium rules for Ovation in Alaska. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John-NC Posted August 21, 2023 Report Share Posted August 21, 2023 Makes sense, Matt. I didn't think of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.