Hi Donalk
I agree mate. Was on Destiny a week ago and a lot of couples (old and youngish), without children, were putiing their towels on the beds beside the pools. I have found this on all types of holidays. Couples with no children have no consideration for Families with kiddies especially with kids that cannot swim like my 9 year old daughter. Plus as I have said on another thread their is no pool attendant on the Destiny. Both pools are 5ft 9in deep. Unsuitable for young children. There is always the temptation for the kids to jump in. My wife cannot swim and she wouldnt go into the pool on the cruise. Something for Tompson Holidays to think about maybe. !!!!
New EU Policy - People without kids should not be allowed to book their beds beside the pools. !!!

Colin B

The odd thing is that the 'oldies' sit by the pool and then moan that they are getting splashed/ too much noise etc by the kids. at least that was our experience.

Am I missing something here? Until I was confident that they were well able to look after themselves in a swimming pool and were strong swimmers I never dreamt of letting my nieces go into the water unless one of the adults in our family group was actually in the water with them. And in fact even once they were in their teens and very strong swimmers, their Dad (my brother)and I (as the strong swimmers amongst the adults) would always ensure that one of us was in the water with them just in case amd for our own peace of mind. Poolside attendants try to keep an eye on a full pool are no substitute for parental care. And I certainly wouldn't dream of supervising a non-swimming child from a poolside lounger - I'd want to definitely be in the water with them no mater how close to the side loungers were. Pool safety is a completely different issue to who should and shouldn't be allowed to reserve loungers, either officially or unofficially, around a pool.

As a side issue, I do find it interesting that teachers and youth workers are apparently held to much stricter standards on these issues than it appears parents exercise themselves. As a youth worker, I was not allowed to take kids swimming or to participate in any sort of water activities (eg canoing etc) without not only a qualified adult on the side/bank to keep an eye on everything, but also another actually in/on the water with them. Even if nothing happened, it was a disciplinary offence that could result in dismissal if I or my brother who's a teacher, were caught breaking this rule.

SM

thats the point sma, people who dont have kids take up the seats near the pool that parents who want to keep an eye on their kids in the pool need.
I agree that you should be in the pool with them, as I always am, particularly on a ship as if the ship rolls its like a wave machine, however a little consideration from the passengers who are not using the pool would make life a lot easier for the parents and the non pool users wouldnt have to get upset at the noise/splashing/general mayhem caused by the kids in the first place.
When i am sailing without the kids, near the pool is the last place I sit. Find a nice quiet nook on the top sundeck, sit back, relax... wish I was at sea now

cheers

I'm not for a moment suggesting that a lounge seat by the pool is a replacement for accompanying young kids in the water when they can't swim. I'm thinking more of kids between say 9 and 12 who can swim, but need an eye kept on them, as much, if not more so for disciplinary reasons than for safety.

I see so many posts on various boards about kids running riot, jumping in pools and jacuzzis etc., and if I thought for a moment that mine were at that sort of behaviour there would be hell to pay. Ours learned to swim at aged 6, and were confident and competent swimmers (10 lengths plus) by age 8/9. That's the most awkward age in one sense - they believe they're fine on their own and don't want parents breathing down their necks. On the other hand, they don't have the maturity to know how to behave all the time, and an eye must be kept on them to rein them in if necessary.

sma gone really off the track here. Talking about non parents taking the sunloungers by the pools. And yes off course us dads are always dragged into the pool to play with the kids and whilst im there I always keep an eye on the rest of the kids. Regardless whether parents are in the pool or not if they are by the pool in the loungers they can keep an eye on all the kids. Where as non parants are lying by the pool oblivious to whats going on around them and are not a bit interested unless they get splashed which I find very funny seeing as they shouldnt be there. (in my oppinion)
Your other issues are for another forum one thinks.

Colin B

We never had a problem on voyager Of The Seas getting sun loungers by the pool no matter what time of day

New EU Policy - People without kids should not be allowed to book their beds beside the pools. !!!

I never sit around the pool and prefer to sit on an upper deck away from it, however I feel the urge to deliberately sit right at the poolside from now on in defiance, because people think I should be banned because I don't have kids! If you want a poolside bed you should get there early and reserve one!

OK, please keep it friendly. Please don't make this the first topic I've had to lock in this forum.

luci

Appologies Luci you do a fine job and wouldnt want to be falling out with you.

Jessthepest, Im always up with the larks. Even beat the Germans when it comes to getting up early and saving a sunbed. (When in Rome!!). Yes im one of those dreaded people who save sunbeds. Difference is, I get up at 7, save a bed, go to breakfast, and im back at the pool for 9am.
Sad I know, but im an early starter all year and cannot get it out of my system.
All I would say is that it would be nice if adults who do not have small people, take a sun lounger far enough away from the pool, leaving enough room for the parents with small people to ensure their kids are safe, wether on a cruise or a hotel. To all those big people who have consideration for parents with kids, Thankyou.
To all those who dont. The race is on !!!!

Colin B

however I feel the urge to deliberately sit right at the poolside from now on in defiance, because people think I should be banned because I don't have kids!

My feelings exactly Jessthepest! Having lurked on this forum for a while as part of my research prior to taking the plunge on booking a cruise for the first time, I have to say that the thought that people with kids think I have less right to choose to sit by the poolside - even though as a single traveller I'd probably be paying a sizeable supplement - would be a huge turn-off that would put me off booking. It never occurred to me that as a lone adult without kids I would be some sort of second class citizen on board and my presence by the poolside would be so resented! It's not only families who are pool users - I love swimming and being in the water and really don't see why I should be expected to trek backwards and forwards from another deck whenever I wanted a dip just because I didn't think to pack a child

SM

I think that Colin has been really confrontational just by how he worded this and another topic regarding another cruise he has booked.
That is not what these boards are about. I cruise frequently and Sma please don't worry. I too cruise solo and I can assure you that I have never had an issue with where I wish to sit.
Maybe that is because I am choosing with Companies who have less children. Celebrity and Cunard do have children but certainly the ships are at not time awash with them. I have nothing against children I have of my own and 4 Grandchildren. I also tend in most instances choose my cruises out of school holidays.
Please do not think that what is being said here is the voice of all who cruise. Book your cruise and worry not about where you wish to sit. You have an absolute right to be there. I am cruising 3 times most years now and cruising solo for most of them. The real issue with solo cruising is the dreaded single supplement rather than the issue of who can and can not use the sun loungers.

Sue

SMa wrote:

I have to say that the thought that people with kids think I have less right to choose to sit by the poolside - even though as a single traveller I'd probably be paying a sizeable supplement - would be a huge turn-off that would put me off booking. It never occurred to me that as a lone adult without kids I would be some sort of second class citizen on board and my presence by the poolside would be so resented!

This is just not the case, have never experienced this attitude on any ship we have been on, reasonable people have no issues with this. You are as free as the next person to lie/sit wherever you decide to. Do expect to get splashed though!!

We saw and heard a woman complaining vehemently on our recent cruise that the kids in the pool were splashing her. She was sitting on the raised part surrounding the pool, with her back to the pool.....go figure! My kids are mature adolescents/adults now, but if anyone had launched into such a tirade for that in my day with young kids they would have been in the pool along with the kids.

Appologies to Sue if you think im being confrontational. Im not. I was simply agreeing to what donalk had stated in his original thread.
Quote
However, those with 7 to 10 year olds who can swim but need someone looking out for them must find it difficult. Would it not be an idea for cruise lines to reserve the first two rows around the pool for families with young children, so their parents can keep an eye on the kids while they are swimming?Unquote.
The 2 pools on the Destiny are very deep, 5'9". There is no life guard. Children have no concept of danger and will jump into the water regardless. My daughter (9) is not a good swimmer (currently going to swimclass). It is difficult to keep her out of the pool so I would rather be in the pool with her or sitting on a lounger by the pool ensuring she does not get into difficulties. And while im there keep an eye on the other kids. "Its what parents do".
I was a single traveller for a long number of years before I got married and I did give parents consideration. Thats just me, because even back then, I felt that the parents needed to be close to their kids. Not tooo much to ask.

Anyway ive said my peice on this and I suppose we all have are own oppinions. Some will change and some wont. Such is life.
Thanks
Colin B

Yeah just to clarify, I harbour (harbour, do you see what I did there?) no bad feelings towards colinbredin, just thought I'd give him a poke in the eye for the way he worded his message! Didn't mean to start any bad feeling on here!

Its not something I'd actually thought of before, I don't sit round the pool anyway, but I can see a valid reason for those with kids wanting to be nearby - so its given me some food for thought

Accepted Colin it was just the way you had worded you post that I felt was confrontational. I also do not sit near the pool but on a high deck aft. I love to see the wake of the ship and I can lie there listenening to my MUSIC without being disturbed. Also very sheltered and I can always find a space there.
Heading off on the 26th August to join Summit for 12 nights in the Med. Followed by a cruise NZ/OZ in November and not returning home until 13th Jan. after extending my holiday to spend Christmas an NY in Perth with my Brother. Getting excited about it all and I don't need to be near to the pool and I never put towels on chairs never have done. Not fair in my eyes!

Sue