kid population?

[PRMLVM]

For those who have been Loyal to Royal since pre-COVID days:  has it always been such a family-friendly brand?  Or are there more children now, with the bigger ships and extra fun things (Harmony, Utopia vs. Rhapsody or even Mariner)?

[Btcruiser]

I feel as if they have always been very family friendly and catered effectively to all different age groups. 

[PRMLVM]

After I posted, I thought that they probably "kept up" with the trends.  That is, probably doing/having what the other lines had at the time as well.  I just don't remember my peers talking about cruising as a family vacation, but on the ships now that seems to have changed!

 

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, PRMLVM said:

I just don't remember my peers talking about cruising as a family vacation, but on the ships now that seems to have changed!

There have always been plenty of kids/families on RC (especially during school breaks) but the ships are sailing at/above 100% capacity across the board as the demand for cruising post-covid exploded and new cruisers often involve families.

[smokeybandit]

RC has been a family friendly cruise line for a long time. Just since the restart they've marketed it more towards families.

[PRMLVM]

Would you say that Celebrity is less so?

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

Would you say that Celebrity is less so?

100%. It's obviously not adult-only like Virgin but you'll find far less kids on Celebrity.

[smokeybandit]

Celebrity is for families whose parents want a family vacation, but don't want to be around kids.

[rjac]

"Kids sail for free" is a great deal for a family with a couple of children.

[Jolly Ogre]

4 minutes ago, rjac said:

"Kids sail for free" is a great deal for a family with a couple of children.

Meh... my grandchildren don't even qualify to be in the "Kids sail Free" club. 

[WAYNO]

Royal has always been family friendly.  We'd see lots of kids during the obvious kid-vacation times such as summer or spring break.  I believe with all the home schooling with covid, folks realize school attendance is not all that important, and now we see lots of kids onboard throughout the year,

[PRMLVM]

49 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Celebrity is for families whose parents want a family vacation, but don't want to be around kids.

I want to stay loyal but when I can't get a seat at the Trellis bar because KIDS or when my starry calm night on the Rising Tide (obv when it is landed upstairs) is crashed by kids.... I get just a wee bit grumpy.  Don't get me wrong: I have kids that I vacationed with, and when I have grandkids I will want to vacation with them....but I'm needing to draw the line at bars, when kids have free reign of every where else on the ship too.  (The solarium gets old, and even there the kids wander from the bistro).    PLEASE DON'T COME FOR ME!! I like kids.  I like seeing their joy and energy around the ship. I understand vacationing with kids: i have done it and I will do it some more.  I'm not looking for a Virgin experience.  Just...for seven days all locked in together...can I go to the bar without them around?  I promise, I like kids (ran a daycare for over a decade)!  anyhoooooooo:

Other than the kids, is traveling Celebrity very different?

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, PRMLVM said:

Other than the kids, is traveling Celebrity very different?

You may want to read a recent live blog from someone who has decided they prefer Celebrity after many RC sailings. Lots of good info and pics.

 

[Ryan79]

2 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

Other than the kids, is traveling Celebrity very different?

Yes it is. It’s certainly a step up in class for sure, but not stuffy and not to the point where it feels like a retirement home. I would say it more caters to those at the tail end of their careers and are more recent empty nesters who get to finally have an “adult” vacation without having to plan around kids/teens/college age kids. The entertainment options aren’t as loud and flashy. The dining room has less people in shorts. You see less obnoxious “Carnival-type” people who invade RC ships every once in a while. Overall, it’s more of a relaxed environment 

[WAAAYTOOO]

Royal has always been a family cruise line but within the past 10-12 years, they have definitely put a larger emphasis on attracting children/younger adults.  When I began cruising with Royal (2007) there was not a single water slide (save some very small ones in the kiddie pool sections - which were small and uninspired)) on any Royal Caribbean ship.  Starting with a Liberty renovation, they began adding them and now water slides are one of the biggest marketing features. I realize water slides aren't specifically for children but they are definitely kid magnets.

[OCSC Mike]

7 minutes ago, Ryan79 said:

empty nesters who get to finally have an “adult” vacation without having to plan around kids/teens/college age kids. The entertainment options aren’t as loud and flashy. The dining room has less people in shorts. You see less obnoxious “Carnival-type” people who invade RC ships every once in a while. Overall, it’s more of a relaxed environment 

This confirms that my wife and I are still big kids, lol. I don't disagree with anything you wrote (never sailed Celebrity but have read extensive blogs like the one I posted above) and your description is pretty spot-on AFAIK.

That said, we almost always sail with tons of kids during school breaks since my wife is a teacher but for whatever reason we're never really bothered by them. We find our cruises very relaxing (we are definitely not partiers) and I'd much rather wear shorts in the MDR (and everywhere else). We also tend to not spend much time where kids congregate like the main pool deck, Boardwalk, etc.

Just throwing this out there for the heck of it. I don't think there's a right or wrong here. Everyone has their own personal preferences, tolerance for kids, etc. I guess I felt the need to represent a slightly different take even if it's in the minority. I've posted over and over that this is why I think cruising is so great... there are many different ways to enjoy it.

[Kelseylovestocruise]

As a teacher currently on oasis of the seas one would say I like children. But today at Labadee I saw a whole other side of children and honestly it’s the parenting that’s the problem. You cannot just run and touch people, you cannot touch my food, you cannot tell your parents that you need the swing I am on. You also cannot yell at your kids in a way that makes me scared. 

[PRMLVM]

22 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Just throwing this out there for the heck of it. I don't think there's a right or wrong here. Everyone has their own personal preferences, tolerance for kids, etc. I guess I felt the need to represent a slightly different take even if it's in the minority. I've posted over and over that this is why I think cruising is so great... there are many different ways to enjoy it.

The kiddos don't generally bother me either.  They do add energy and joy, and like you - most of the time I don't even notice them. Like your wife, my days were around kids.  But.  There is NO place to get away from them either, and sometimes I really want to!  (I know: wah-wah-wah, now I'm the whiny one!)    We were at the solarium bar and kids were crawling all over the lounge chairs.  I mentioned it to the bartender, and he said that they are allowed in to go to the bistro (and I said, "the bistro way over there, in the corner?" and he shrugged).  Another time  we were all dressed and ready for a nice dinner in Central Park and wanted to stop for a drink first: the actual bar top was taken over by a family of kids, jostling and calling to each other and etc.   yes, I know adults can be just as loud and annoying but there is something about that pitch.  On another evening we were enjoying the stars and light jazz and waiting for Rising Tide to descend, when a family of six made a boisterous entrance and started pulling together seats and yelling about who doesn't want to sit where/by who/lord knows what else.  After five days, we were pulling our phones out and researching Virgin - a switch i don't want to make!  Again, I don't think a childless SHIP is an answer.   I just think there should be some 21+ bars/areas, in accessible spots.  So there ARE many ways to enjoy a cruise, but not this particular way on Royal

[OCSC Mike]

6 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

We were at the solarium bar and kids were crawling all over the lounge chairs.  I mentioned it to the bartender, and he said that they are allowed in to go to the bistro (and I said, "the bistro way over there, in the corner?" and he shrugged).

We never see kids in the Solarium on Wonder but that could be because the bistro has its own entrance and you don't walk through the actual Solarium or get anywhere near the bar if you're just going there to eat. That's not even our primary reason for sticking to the Solarium... it's for the shade and lack of loud music... and I've never once been in a main pool, lol. Human soup just doesn't appeal to me.

10 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

So there ARE many ways to enjoy a cruise, but not this particular way on Royal

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get away from them but my experience has been different than yours in this instance. Sounds like looking into Celebrity may be a good option for you.

[GatorCruiser]

Kids sitting at the bar at trellis or in the solarium  is indefensible. That’s simply on the dumbass parents for allowing it. I have a couple of knuckleheads (my children) that we cruise with and I never let them sit at a bar. Period. If we go to trellis I put them over to the side or at one of the tables there. 

[GatorCruiser]

As mentioned. I have youngish children and I love kids but I completely understand your sentiment. Sometimes they run amok or are everywhere and at times in places they shouldn’t be. The bigger ships will likely have more of this as they have all the bells and whistles. Just sailed Freedom with my chereens 2 weeks ago and there wasn’t any observable tomfoolery. Some it may be an issue of YMMV. I’m going on oasis in June with the kids, I’ll report back my observations. 

[PRMLVM]

9 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get away from them but my experience has been different than yours in this instance. Sounds like looking into Celebrity may be a good option for you.

My experiences involved fewer children at the bars in the past, which prompted my question "have all these kids always been on Royal"?  Was wondering if it was the New Royal or what.   I get the 100% occupancy now, but the proportions still seem a little wacky.   Maybe we will save our pennies and try the sister line(s) soon (right now we cruise on casino comps).

thank you for the thoughtful responses.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

31 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get away from them but my experience has been different than yours in this instance. Sounds like looking into Celebrity may be a good option for you.

Or Holland America if a lower ship population that doesn't aggressively market to families?

[smokeybandit]

On Holland America you're a kid if you're under 40. Or something like that

[tonyfsu21]

58 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

On Holland America you're a kid if you're under 40. Or something like that

Edit: under 60

[Geezer Of The Seas]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

 

 

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

On Holland America you're a kid if you're under 40. Or something like that

As the 50th anniversary of my 22nd birthday approaches......

I tossed HAL out there because it might fit the bill based on the experience he related. Maybe not, but we liked Nieuw Amsterdam so much we're booked to be repeat offenders on Rotterdam next February on a 12 day Panama Canal itinerary. A cruise beginning on Super Bowl Sunday, Mrs Geezer's birthday, and renewal of vows to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Damn, I gotta stay vertical til then......

[smokeybandit]

When we did an Alaskan cruise in 2022, we met a couple that each year did 6 weeks on RC in Alaska, then the next 6 weeks on HAL.

THey were a delightful couple, but they hit all the HAL stereotypes.  They would sit in the suite lounge all day. He'd read, she'd read or knit. Then in the evening she'd go get something to eat after happy hour and he'd just fall asleep after a few drinks.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

I dunno if it's as much a child problem as a parent problem. On RCL cruises, 2 out of the 4 we've done featured teens sitting on the stairways eating and literally dumping ice cream on a stairway (Jewel Nov. '22). Pointed it out to a crew member, nothing. Wonder in April '23, there were more kids inhabiting the pool bar than adults it seemed, and this was well after the pool was closed. 4day Bahamas trip last February on MSC Seashore, it was the Daytona 500 of strollers at the jungle pool and in the corridors on the decks; I thought we ducked the start of spring break. 

[Traveling Mike]

My son and i went on our first Royal Caribbean ship 19 years ago and were very happy how kid friendly the ship was.  We did mostly Disney cruise so we had high standards.

[PhillyLady]

I started cruising as a child, way back in the dark ages when there was only one restaurant and one set dining time (even kids dressed for dinner), bunk beds in cabins, no televisions, no cell phones, no Internet, and so forth. Cruising was marvelous--we kids ran around, explored the ship, talked to everyone, swam in the pool, made lots of memories. Everything was very formal and polite. 

Nowadays parents seem to be much more indulgent and worried about their children's enjoyment factor, yet unwilling to be too strict. No, I do not mind children on a cruise, and I have sailed many times with them,  BUT...

I was on a cruise once with hundreds and hundreds of children, and some of them slammed the glass doors to the theater so hard the doors shattered--I think the cruise line said they were going to charge the parents for replacements.  We have the same problem with the beach towns in our area--packs of teens at their parents' summer homes run wild all night, disrupting and possibly vandalizing.  The shore towns in NJ are now putting in place strict curfews and heavy fines or even arrest for parents. ( https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/wildwood-new-jersey-teens-curfew-enforcement-jersey-shore-2025-20250402.html#:~:text=Wildwood promises stricter enforcement of its rules on late-night,in the Jersey Shore town.&text=As the Jersey Shore gears,rein in unruly teen behavior.)

Perhaps what is needed is really just more parental control! 

Yes, I do like RC and all the bells and whistles--we are sailing on them in less than two weeks, and I would certainly love to try out Icon. But I think of those cruises more as fun getaway escapes. I agree RC markets much more toward families nowadays, and they seem to be bringing in a lot of new, younger cruisers. There is a lot of money on the table for engaging families as future dedicated cruisers.

When I want a SERIOUS cruise with a focus on itinerary as well as amazing excursions, then I absolutely veer toward Celebrity and/or Princess, because the two lines are sophisticated, yet still active, and feature the big ship experience full of activities. And yes, I have sailed Cunard, Holland America, NCL, Viking, and Carnival multiple times as well as other lines! In my opinion, each line has a niche, so it is fun to flit from one to another for a different experience.  Not sure I can do Disney or Virgin, but they are certainly recognized for their unique cruising perspectives.

As I always say, I am loyal to cruising!

 

[ScottD]

I'm fine with kids IN the bars... at the tables or comfy chairs. But AT the bar should be kept to them ordering a soda or mocktail, then moving to a table area.  This is how bars\taverns work in the outside world if kids are allowed... bring them in, just sit with them at the high tops or tables along the sides...actual bar stools should always be for adults, and even on the cruise ships where kids are basically allowed everywhere, I think the physical bar stool should be off limit unless ordering. 

[Riley]

6 hours ago, ScottD said:

I'm fine with kids IN the bars... at the tables or comfy chairs. But AT the bar should be kept to them ordering a soda or mocktail, then moving to a table area.  This is how bars\taverns work in the outside world if kids are allowed... bring them in, just sit with them at the high tops or tables along the sides...actual bar stools should always be for adults, and even on the cruise ships where kids are basically allowed everywhere, I think the physical bar stool should be off limit unless ordering. 

In most states kids cannot physically sit at the bar - or be in the area without a parent/guardian present - but I'm going to guess RC decided it's too big a hassle to enforce that particular alcohol-based law... 

[OCSC Mike]

18 minutes ago, Riley said:

In most states kids cannot physically sit at the bar - or be in the area without a parent/guardian present - but I'm going to guess RC decided it's too big a hassle to enforce that particular alcohol-based law... 

Bars on ships are also used for family-friendly activities like trivia, family karaoke, scavenger hunts, etc. I wouldn't really compare them to bars on land.

[smokeybandit]

Is it wrong of me that whenever I read "kid population" all I can think of is Bob Barker?

 

[asquared17]

On 4/3/2025 at 3:47 PM, OCSC Mike said:

You may want to read a recent live blog from someone who has decided they prefer Celebrity after many RC sailings. Lots of good info and pics.

 

as the author of that liveblog, i am so sorry as we are QUITE verbose in the LB community but i would say the kid shift from RCL is a major reason why we "defected" to celebrity.

i too, love kids, but echo a lot of the observations of many tenured cruisers on board -- while RC has always been family friendly, they are now family focused -- not at ALL a bad thing, just a shift in our vacation needs. we found that while there were still some kids to be found, the lack of certain RC designated kid-friendly attractions -- water slides, mini golf, adventure ocean (although celebrity does have a kid-activity center down on i think it was deck 3 on edge class) -- they are more adult themed.

we saw some smalls aboard, and actually, a couple infants (which i don't recall seeing for some reason on our royal sailings??) but it was a limited number. we also sailed at the beginning of february, so that may have had something to do with it.

i will say that our experience on the ascent was probably the most relaxing cruise we have ever taken. getting to drop our carryons in our cabin at first boarding, and then wandering around unencumbered definitely added to that -- but a larger piece of that was certainly the lack of kids on board. (again, we LOVE kids, so this isn't an anti-kid statement )

i hope this helps!

[PRMLVM]

On 4/5/2025 at 11:35 AM, asquared17 said:

as the author of that liveblog, i am so sorry as we are QUITE verbose in the LB community but i would say the kid shift from RCL is a major reason why we "defected" to celebrity.

i will say that our experience on the ascent was probably the most relaxing cruise we have ever taken. getting to drop our carryons in our cabin at first boarding, and then wandering around unencumbered definitely added to that -- but a larger piece of that was certainly the lack of kids on board. (again, we LOVE kids, so this isn't an anti-kid statement )

i hope this helps!

We are definitely going to research a Celebrity vacation.  Since you've recently been on both lines can you compare the live music on both?  I mean the smaller venues like Boleros, Dazzles, Shall we Dance (on the smaller ships), even the centrum live bands/singers?   Those shows on Royal are my favorite parts of the evenings.  It would help me defect if I knew there are as many options/frequency/quality of shows "over there".   My husband and son would like to know how the casino and its reward program compares.  Sorry to take this topic in another direction!   I'll go visit the other threads for answers next.....

[PRMLVM]

On 4/4/2025 at 10:06 AM, OCSC Mike said:

Bars on ships are also used for family-friendly activities like trivia, family karaoke, scavenger hunts, etc. I wouldn't really compare them to bars on land.

Now that you mention that, it NEVER bothers me to see kids in the bars during daytime hours for those events.  I guess I'm thinking of nighttime hours.  I think those times in BARS should just be more restricted.  We are all together all day, days at a time on cruises.  I feel the other poster is right: Royal is becoming more family-*focused*.  My cabin is the only kid-free space.  Royal has something for everyone, as long as everyone wants kids by them.  Ugh; sorry that was crabby, but I'm feeling it.  

[OCSC Mike]

24 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

I feel the other poster is right: Royal is becoming more family-*focused*.  My cabin is the only kid-free space.  Royal has something for everyone, as long as everyone wants kids by them.  Ugh; sorry that was crabby, but I'm feeling it.  

You feel however you feel; no judgment here. Just b/c I don’t mind kids & the Solarium I have been frequenting (Wonder’s) is kid-free doesn’t mean you have to be happy with the family aspect of Royal. I hope you come up with a solution, be it trying Celebrity or something else.

[PRMLVM]

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

You feel however you feel; no judgment here. Just b/c I don’t mind kids & the Solarium I have been frequenting (Wonder’s) is kid-free doesn’t mean you have to be happy with the family aspect of Royal. I hope you come up with a solution, be it trying Celebrity or something else.

thank you for making me feel like less of a curmudgeon.   Maybe I'm just feeling a bit pushed out by what seemed to me like a new focus, after falling in love with the perks and quirks of the Of The Seas ships.  I'll try to think of it as Royal having a place for me and mine on the other line.  I'm off to investigate the $$$$ and "sense" of a move.

 

(i truly don't mind kids!  I would just like a few carved out spaces to get an adult evening vibe).

[OCSC Mike]

31 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

thank you for making me feel like less of a curmudgeon

I didn't say you weren't a curmudgeon, I just said you're gonna feel however you feel and that's OK.