Unruly teenagers spoiled my cruise!!
As part of my job I always do a Welcome Home call with my clients to check that everything ran smoothly and recently I had several comments on why some of my clients felt their cruise had been ruined!
Now as a mother of four children, three boys and a girl, I am used to living in a mad house where the only way to be heard is to shout, and everyday I run the gauntlet as disagreements dissolve into fisticuffs with me in the middle separating them. Although as they are getting older it’s just the youngest two boys that are guilty of this now.
What I accept in the comfort of my own home is different to what I expect on holiday and that’s why when I recently spoke to one of my clients I was disgusted to hear that her cruise had been ruined by hordes of teenagers seemingly running amok. Now I would normally take things like this with a pinch of salt however I did five Welcome Home calls to people who had been on the same ship of which two were families who all said the same.
Apparently there was a large family group on board whose parents decided that once on the ship that this relinquished them of all parental responsibility. This then gave free rein to over 20 teenagers ranging from 12 -15 to run riot. They decided that there were no rules so were jumping in pools, hogging the jacuzzis and riding up and down in the lifts and playing knock a door run.
Whilst I understand that these are children playing, what I have to do is compare their behaviour with my own children, who are told that when they go on board that the minute they disrupt someone’s holiday they will have their limited freedom taken away and will have to remain at my side for the duration of the cruise.
In an ideal world the parents should be responsible for their children as they would be the first to try and sue the cruiseline if one of them was injured however in this instance I believe the adults were as bad as the children. If this is the case then it is down to the crew to police the actions of those involved but unfortunately crew members like Pool Attendants and Cleaning Staff who would be witnessing the jumping in pools and riding lifts are scared of doing this in case the parents complain about them.
However I am pleased to say in this instance that common sense and a sense of justice prevailed as local police and security officers from the ship were given permission by the Senior Officers and Captain to disembark the unruly group in the next port that they docked in. By all accounts the group of 52 were very sombre as they were escorted off the ship and left on the dock side to organise their own arrangements.
Do you think the Captain made the right choice?
Do you think they should have been given assistance to get home?
Have you ever experienced this?
205 Comments on “Unruly teenagers spoiled my cruise!!”
Leave a Reply
About Me
Some people are shopaholics, some are chocaholics and some like me are cruiseaholics! Okay you got me I am also a slight chocoholic as well. I guess my love affair for cruises began in the late 1970's when I used to watch "The Love Boat", which was an American TV…
Read more
Thank you for subscribing!
The Captain was absolutely correct in disembarking the 52. Passengers Well done! to him we don’t go cruises and expect that sort of behaviour on any cruise line! Glad I was not on that cruise.
Yep, they won’t go on another cruise with a bit of luck. Direct them to Benidorm.
Why should they be sent to Benidorm, what has Benidorm done to deserve them. Dave H.
I quite agree. Benidorm has a bad name for a few inconsiderate drunks why inflict more an the residents. Just take their passports away.
Correct
Absolutely, send them to Magaluf: a few more drunken louts wouldn’t even be noticed.
Why Magaluf, I have lived in Mallorca for 55 years and if they did not let in the British drunks Magaluf would be a lovely place as it used to be.
My son works in Magaluf and we have visited him, although it does attract lots of young people there are also lots of families on the beautiful beach, so no sorry I don’t agree with you, this behaviour should not be inflicted on anyone/any place!!!!
I agree! Im fond of Benidorm & wouldnt want to inflict this rabble on anywhere. Benidorm gets a bad rap but as a place doesnt deserve it. Its the people who dont know how to behave should get the stick…literally!
because this behaviour is the norm and expected
Well said
Even Benidorm wont tolerate this Captains should and need to do this and not just children as some adults behaviour is terrible
You must respect your passengers on board some of them it’s their 1st cruise& willhave saved hard to go so we need order so our customers enjoy it & come back again. So in turn company get a name,,Not ship 4 yobbo families. Yes you did the right the people wont tolerate such things having there hols ruined.
And no they shouldn’t have there on ward travel organize or paid for let that be a lesson to them & hope the couples would be compensated in a way that they would cruise with you again ??
And in English?
Succinctly put, Stickler.
Once the behaviour was reported at sea that they were spoiling it for other passengers. They should have been put on a life boat and towed to the next
Port then disembark them.
I agree , I’ve been on twenty cruises ,and only had that once happen to us ,on Britannia , they were taken of the ship ,and we all cheered , I love PO they do not have any messing ,which is why we keep with them
Totally agree
Agree
We had this on princess cruises,people complained but were told that it was up to parents so did nothing.never travelled with them again.
So you think Benidorm would welcome yobs – what planet are you from then – read too much fake news do you- insulting the Spanish ?
So you think Benidorm would welcome yobs like these do you?
What planet are you from then – they would have been thrown into jail heavily fined ,deported and banned for a long while- you insult the intelligence of the Spanish people with your crass comment
– too much fake news ?
My thoughts Terry.get sick of people slagging Benidorm of.
Well said
that is not fair, what about the decent ppl there, what have they done to deserve such hooligans ??
No I am told Benedorm is ok and not as its reputation is. If they cannot behave reasonably then yes eject them from the cruise at their expense and circulate their details to save others putting up with yobs running amok
We’re in Benidorm now and not encountered any unruly behaviour,
Please don’t ! I stopped cruising after notching up around 30- mainly on Cunard, and have since bought an apartment in Benidorm, which I can assure you is far more civilised than cruising is these days ! I’m not sure I’ll ever bother to go back on a cruise now. Just doesn’t appeal any more, having lost is exclusivity and gone mass market. Well done to the Captain for removing them anyway !
We have never been on a cruise,we’ve done about 15-20 now , where children have been . We usually go in term time .
I do so think it’s unfair to direct unruly people ‘To Benidorm’ as though it’s the dropping off place of all the people you would not wish to meet on holiday because of their crass behaviour. My husband and I have owned an apartment in the old town for 35 years now and have many wonderful Spanish friends, and have also made acquaintance with many English families. However, despite having this wonderful holiday home in Spain, we do love to cruise, having experienced our first in 1971. We have visited the Caribbean, America, Central America’s, Canaries, Ffijords, are due to do two back to back on the Independence soon and a world cruise booked for January, to name but a few. I can truly say that we had only one experience of unruly teenagers when we were on the Anthem of the Seas, when I had to speak to them regarding their behaviour, because obviously the parents were choosing to ignore it. I threatened them with calling security, and possible expulsion off the ship at the next port and did they really want that? We didn’t need to speak to them again. We have been on the Independence 10 time now and love the ship. We like Royal Caribbean line and they won’t put up with disruptive behaviour, so I think the Captain was absolutely right in his decision. Most families have to save very hard and long to be on holiday so why allow a minority to spoil it for others. I do however think that having drink packages so readily available affects behaviour and there is nothing worse than a drunk unless it’s two drunks!
Why Benidorm?
don’t spoil Benidorm LOL
I agree with the Captains decision, but living in Spain, I do not agree with some stupid comment “send them to Benidorm”
Why send them to Benidorm, that’s out of order.
Why should Benidorm have them?
Why do people think Benidorm would want people like that, have you been yourself ?
That does a disservice to Benidorm who have tried very hard to dispel such behaviour such off handed remarks are uncalled for by people who see themselves as pillars of the community, there are elements of bad behaviour from all ages in most holiday resorts
And the captain was certainly right to off load them and no forward assistance
WOW, what a nasty remark – what has Benidorm ever done to you ??
The Captain was within his rights to do this some people don’t have a lot and it has taken them a long time to save for these holidays not to have it spoil by unruly children and especially parents that don’t give a dam the Captain should always have the last word no doubt about it
Absobloominlutely, they get bored and run amok and the parents can’t or won’t control them, and if you remonstrate with them, you’ll likely get a mouth full of abuse or worse
Cannot agree with you more!
The behaviour of some of cruisers and their standards are disgusting and just shows total disrespect to other cruise guests.
The cruise lines need to take a strong stance on these matters to stop all this bad behaviour on cruise ships
Praise to the Captain.
So right to do that well done that man
Yes if they’ve had the opportunity to calm down after being chastised then they must leave as urs dangerous at sea to start a row also other passengers have paid lots money to enjoy.
Well done!
Yes I think the captain did the right thing. People save hard to get a cruise holiday why should it be spoiled with this kind of bad behaviour. Well done to the captain.
On board ships, captain is law.
Total agree with Captain, well done to him.
Totally agree with the Captains actions
I absolutely agree. I applaud the Captain.
I was on the Ventura a few years ago. I also experienced teenagers behaving badly and it completely spoiled my cruise so much I have not sailed with P+O since. Foul mouthed, taking over the pool, towels on sunbeds all day with nobody using them, shoplifting rowdiness and parents nowhere to be seen.
Parents nowhere to be seen
I agree the captain was Wright in this hope it is a learning curve for other parents
I’ve been on lots of cruises, I’ve never
Experienced any trouble like that, the Captain was certainly right in getting rid of those unruly people. People save all year to enjoy their cruises, they shouldn’t have to put up with anything like that.
The Captain was in the wrong.
He should have booted them off the ship before docking at a port.
Perhaps cruise lines should do as some airlines do and that is to have a “warning list”, which they circulate to other airlines within their group, pity it isn’t circulated to ALL airlines.
love yr comment and what a great idea !
I have never experienced this but I agree 100% with Captain. I also think that this group should be banned from any future cruises
The Captain was absolutely right in having this horrible, unruly crowd leave the ship.
Absolutely no, they should NOT have assistance to get home. They caused their own situation, the adults MUST have been aware of it.
Luckily so far we have not experiences such unacceptable behaviour.
Well Done Captain of this shop.
I totally agree with you. Cruises are not cheap and while children have a right to enjoy themselves the parents do not have the right to allow them to spoil other people’s holiday with bad behaviour. At this age they do know right from wrong.
The captain was 100% correct!
Garry End
Justice was done
Wish more Cruise line would take this stance , why should anyone be able to disrupt or affect fellow passengers enjoyment . Cruise ships are safe enjoyable enviroments as long as “everyone” acts responsibly
yes well done that man , but it will only get worse due to the all inclusive deals , i like a drink and know when to stop ,with respect i have for my fellow passengers . we have lost a generation of respect ?
Well done Captain- I’ve been saying it for several years now that cruises are getting far too cheap and these scumbags can now afford to go on cruises instead of spoiling peoples holidays in Spain. NOTE : To people without children-NEVER go on a cruise between middle of July and the whole of August when most are on School holidays.
That was the right call to put them off the ship and to find their own way home why spoil other people’s holiday i cruise all the time and have seen families thrown off for fighting because they were drunk they had no concerns for other passengers.
I don’t think the cruise companies act soon enough…..nip in the bud!!!! We all pay good money not to have such behaviour in a hotel but more importantly a ship! Come on cruise providers get active and clamp down.
Well done to the captain, he definitely did the right thing cruise are not the place for unruly people either adult or children it just like any holiday people go on holiday to relax and enjoy themselves not to have to put up with anything like the unruly people.
Once again well done to the captain and I hope it sends a message that bad behaviour won’t be tolerated.
Yes
I absolutely agree with having them taken off, we were on. Marella Cruise last November and there were quite a few people who had met on a previous cruise, but they all booked their own group on separately, they embarked in Naples, and that evening the behaviour was disgusting, dancing on the dance floor with full glasses of drinks in their hands and bumping into people who were trying to enjoy themselves, many couples who were dancing were showered and sprayed with drinks, the crew members asked them to behave or they be taken off at the next port, they ignored the requests and warnings to behave, so good enough, our Captain had them removed the next day in Crete, they were left on the quayside to make their own way back to where they came from, I hope they learned from this, the all inclusive cruise turned out very expensive for one nights bad behaviour.
I totally agree with the Captain, I would have hated it to been on that cruise.
Totally agree. These people should t. E allowed any where until they have learnt to be more considerate to others on holiday
I agree the Captain was correct in every way. It is the morons responsibity to fund their own way home
Captain done the right thing why should everybody’s holiday be ruined because parents do not control their children
Totally correct!
Definitely right decisions made by crew, ??
And why should any be responsible for getting them home,except them selves.
Camping in an unoccupied field
May suit them for their next vacation then they could all run riot and just disturb themselves???????????????????they feel more at home.
Oh yes,
I totally agree, get them off the ship.
I totally agree with you.
Absolutely correct, parents have an obligation to ensure that their children don’t cause upset to fellow passengers.
They cannot pass this responsibility to crew members and if they cannot control them, they and the children should be offloaded.
Why should a small group of disruptive people be allowed to spoil the enjoyment of others?
Yes on a cruise it’s Royal Caribbean, but it was not only children, most Chinese decided that spitting everywhere was ok, it was absolutely disgusting, Chinese children without adult supervision played for hours in the only adult area that was available for a bit of peace and quiet , never again would I cruise with Royal Caribbean, especially from Hong Kong and China.
Ive done that one and never had a problem except for the Chinese pushing and shoving. However went on European cruise on Independence last year when world cup was on and fight started between Scots and English and they got thrown off. It was handled well and we weren’t caused too much disruption.
I was on that one too. It was terrible
The Captain was within his rights to do this some people don’t have a lot and it has taken them a long time to save for these holidays not to have it spoil by unruly children and especially parents that don’t give a dam the Captain should always have the last word no doubt about it and the Chinese are terrible for spitting anywhere they choose horrible
We went on a royal Caribbean in September 18 and people were getting put of the ship at every port of call.
I personally think it’s the drinks packages has spoilt some ships, think it’s about time they looked into this.
We sent 3 emails last year to rcl complaining with no joy won’t be using rcl again.
Quite agree. Cruise atmosphere has changed for the worse with the growth of all inclusive drinks packages as it encourages people to get far too drunk in an effort to make the most of the “free” drinks.
Totally agree. Many cruises have become really ‘tacky’ these days and it’s all down to the all-inclusive packages. Some of the cruises we have been on recently, a number of passengers didn’t even get off the ship, choosing to drink all day instead.
Carole I am inclined to agree with you with regards to the drinks package. Companies hard selling and using the drinks package to seal the deal. Large amounts of alcohol creates disturbances.
Plenty of people have the drinks package and are no problem so don’t blame the package it’s the Drink that some people can not handle I don’t blame RCL for not responding to you
Totally agree, it’s not the drinks package but those that drink the package not wanting to waste any of it. My wife and I always get a drinks package but it’s wine with meals and a few drinks in the evening. We added all the drinks up one cruise and we didn’t drink enough to make the package worth while but we’ll still buy them for the convenience of having them.
I’m afraid this happens everywhere. Coughing up stuff with no hand over their mouths at close proximity to food and other passengers. Spitting on the floor wherever they may be Pushing in front of everyone. No respect given to those who are older or unsteady on their feet. Not sure if these are cultural things but are quite irritating none the less Happened on the last cruise I went on and haven’t been on one since. Put me off completely. Such a shame as I loved cruising
Dear Monika Morgan, I am a Singaporean Chinese and I feel very sorry that in one brush stroke you have painted most Chinese as disgusting! I am not angry with you but feel that it is a pity that the world still has so much bias and lack of compassion. The only sin the great majority of Chinese has commited is being poor. However, they are quickly rising in their standard of living and some of these habits associated with living in poor conditions will be left behind eventually, just like any other race or community. I sincerely hope that you will reflect on your thoughts and bring happiness to yourself and fellow human beings. To quote President Macron: “There is no planet B”. So let us live in peace and understanding for the sake of our planet.
Hi I am 72 years old, German and I do know what it is like to discriminated against, being poor , which we where long after the war, is not an excuse for spitting all over the place including the dinner table, and the Chinese people on board where not poor, they where we’ll to do business people, pushing and shoving people out of the way is also not very polite, I have spend loads of time in Singapore I absolutely adore the city and its people yet I have never ever seen anyone in Singapore with such poor behaviour and I do have Chinese friends on my wedding day with had 12 different nationalities, so I am not narrow minded and apart from Antarctica I have traveled in every continent in the world.
Sorry I believe I am tolerant of the differences in all cultures, but spitting is not only disgusting but also dangerous because it can spread disease which is intolerable anywhere let alone in the confines of a ship and people are perfectly within their rights to find this unacceptable in any culture.
Spitting is disgusting especially where people walk and food is eaten. Please share that knowledge with other Chinese people if you want to help people become friends on our one planet.
Maybe you are the only one with manners. I was sitting with my wife and got up at breakfast for a drink and a large noisy group of Chinese people took my chair. Caused quite a fuss when I asked for it back.
Does being poor allow you to cruise? Does being poor give you an excuse to have bad manners? If so, perhaps China with it’s vast wealth will build a cruise ship especially for the poor and bad mannered so as we don’t have to cruise with them.
That’s the only answer some lines understand, vote with your wallet.
We were on a cruise with Sapphire Princess which was then going to the Chinese market. The crew hated it. They say that the clients eat like animals, spit and are just generally vile. They say the ship’s have to be completely revamped before sailing out of any other non Chinese ports
Absolutely! As an ex teacher, I know only too well how many parents abdicate responsibility for there offspring; unfortunately for schools, we cannot ‘disembark’ unruly children, more’s the pity! Cruising is a wonderful way to relax and any passenger, either child or adult, should not be permitted to ruin it for others. Well done to the captain for his swift and effective actions; perhaps this will give the guilty parents cause for thought!
‘There’ offspring. Ooops and for a teacher at that.
Well spotted. Hope she’s not an English teacher
The editor of my paper had a GCE in English and I had to check his spelling, grammar and punctuation, obviously teaching has gone downhill since I was at school.
?
Durrr … “Ton” … ‘from a Teacher ‘ surely
Also ignored the ‘at that’
Quite Unruly lol
OH DEARY ME, U R A GRAMMAR QUEEN; so sad that you have nowt better to do?
If bnot the parents also should have been thrown off without any help of repatrion!
Absolutely agree that they were turfed off the ship. And left to their own devices.
Too often the majority have to suffer for the minority. It’s about time someone took a stand instead of being cowed by these hooligans. Well done Captain ?
Quite right agree totally
Yes the captain was right in making them get off
As for staff members, they should be able to do something. We cruise every year and kids/teenagers running round the deck time and time again and I have never seen anyone say a word to them to stop. In my option there should be more adult only cruises!
Definitely it’s time that was sorted
Agree completely. Cruises are NOT just for children!
Absobloominlutely, they get bored and run amok and the parents can’t or won’t control them, and if you remonstrate with them, you’ll likely get a mouth full of abuse or worse
Absolutely the right thing to do. A stand has to be taken against a growing number of people who are prepared to ignore and disrespect the rights of others. Action like this, if taken more consistently on cruise-ships, aircraft and other public venues, would result in a speedy end to this sort of problem. No-one would wish to spoil people’s enjoyment, especially on holiday, but there is a huge difference between having fun and engaging in the kind of yobbish, disruptive behaviour that spoils the enjoyment of others.
We experienced this on the grand princess.yobs sitting at different tables in the dining room,throwing food at each other over other diners.jumping on top of people on sunbed.jumping on swimmers in the pool to name just a few.A lot of people complained but princess weren’t interested at all.I would never sail with them again or recommend.
when I complained about children running amok, I was told that it was a ‘multigeneration cruise’ an d that I should get on with it!! Never again in school holiday!!
Even out of school holidays these days is a nightmare
Which cruise line were you with please,just so we can avoid them,what an attitude!!!
Avoid princess cruises
We were on P&0 Ventura at beg of July a few yrs ago, 600 out of 3,000 passengers were kiddies, what a delight they were. We are in our 70’s and enjoyed watching them, none were naughty
Sue, we did an August cruise and like you never again. Groups of teenagers taking over the jacuzzi and pool. Repeatedly the deck attendants told them politely to split up and move on. Only towards the end of the 12 days did they deal with them properly and banned them from that area.Parents nowhere to be seen.
I would go a step further and create a black list which would be shares by all cruise lines preventing any further cruising.
Totally agree on this! it has happened on a cruise we were on when a large group of Italian youths boarded in Naples and created havoc right from the start with noise and running up and down corridors couldn’t get in the pool excessive drinking to the point when an incident happened in the middle of the night when one collapsed because of the excess of drink and emergency staff had to be called and he was taken to the hospital their cruise was very shortlived and quite rightly so when the whole party were escorted from the ship the next port of call!
He absolutely made the right decision. Perhaps they will think carefully in future before ruining everybody else’s holiday.
Absolutely right thing to do …. turf them off. Sadly not just a cruise issue – happening everywhere. Well done Captain. We had considered a cruise in Med but given school holidays thought better of it. Also YES up to them to make own way home!!!!
We try our best to avoid the school holidays so we have only come across this a few times. Kids of a certain age get bored on a ship and not sure a cruise more than a few days is ideal for them. To be honest I’ve witnessed far worse from adults who seem hell bent on drinking as much alcohol as they can from the moment they embark. The Captain did the right thing.
Recently back from a cruise that fell in the first 2 weeks of school holidays, never again. Couldn’t get near a pool and teenagers running up and down corridors like a herd of elephants. They took great pleasure in going up and down the cabins and taking the breakfast orders off the doors and changing make up/I’m resting signs. The last night they formed ‘gangs’ and ran amok. The parents thought it was funny! Not impressed.
Why wait until in port to put them off the ship!
yes get em off the ship .. people and parents need a short sharp lesson, hit them in the pocket and hopefully next time they will give their kids a slap before things get out of hand. parents basically dont give a toss about their in society today and i say well done captain and i hope it took a week to get home and cost a fortune.. yeeeeehah
Absobloominlutely.
yes
There’s a difference between children having fun and this. Often we disregard comments because frankly many people are intolerant and shouldn’t cruise in school holidays. This however is completely different. Good on the Captain!
When certain ships became predominantly for kids we decided never to travel on those ships again, after experiencing terrible parenting and unruly children throwing food around, and nowhere on the ship to get away from them,there wasn’t even a bar where they weren’t allowed. adult only from now on or land holidays.
Believe me, you won’t get away from them on ‘land holidays’ – that’s why I’ve chosen a cruise this time ?
I completely agree with the decision. I have just been on first cruise which was on the Celebrity Silhouette, there were 5-6 children who were poorly behaved throughout the entire cruise. These weren’t even teenagers, they were approximately 9 to 11 years of age running amok and I never saw their parents. Apparently they were even caught in the buffet stock room trying to steal alcohol! I believe they caused great distress to passengers and crew.
I wouldnt have waited for the next port. Let the pond life go old school and let all52 walk the plank
Notices should be on board that children should be supervised at all times unless in the children’s clubs.
There are notices all over, parents just ignore them
I am so glad that the ships officers had some sense. I certainly would never use a cruise line again who allowed fellow passengers to have their holiday ruined in such a way.
I can never understand parents who allow such behaviour from their children.
I am so glad for adult cruises there a god send.
Good on the Captain and other Officers.
Not just cruises I was in a flight to Gibraltar recently we had to divert and land at Bordeaux to offload 2 drunk and aggressive passengers the captain said Easy Jet has zero tolerance to that sort of behaviour Everyone on the plane applauded his swift action If people can’t behave themselves and be respectful then of course they should be thrown off the ship and never allowed back on the cruise line
100 percent correct
I had this situation previously however after a word with them outside my cabin they either moved deck or stopped ?. There’s cctv everywhere so they were smart off to leave as i suggested. Not putting up with that on me hard earned vacation. The parents were a disgrace also, blind drunk and spilling drink off tables in the bar ( other guests drinks) and howling over the entertainer. The crew did take action and next time I saw them in a bar they seemed to be alcohol free so I assume they were dealt with.
The Captain was right to remove them. It should happen more often. We have cruised with our grandchildren and they are on best behaviour. We don’t see them in the children’s zones but good behaviour is expected or privileges are lost.
We consider the Drinks packages to be the problem. 7 fizzy drinks a day to use up your Soda payment and then have more to get your moneys worth. ALL THAT SUGAR. BUT..it’s not only the children. The adults are sitting with alcoholic drinks when we come back from breakfast and this type of adult will also buy alcoholic drinks for their older teenagers who usually drink alcohol with them at home because they can drink in UK at 18.
To get value from the alcohol package you would need to drink 8-9 drinks a day.
SO…Don’t include them.
Stop them.
We pay for our drinks as we go, we drink as much as we want and still save money compared with the alcohol package.
I definitely think the Captain did the right thing and they definitely should not have assistance with getting home they caused the problem accept the responsibility. We had one cruise partially ruined by kids same thing once on board let the kids do as they look as long as the parents are swilling the booze down. This cruise was originally advertised as adults only but it was changed I think the company had numerous complaints. Never again
We have been on cruises before where unruly passengers have been thrown off. We cruise regularly and usually avoid school holidays if possible. However it is nice to have a mix of age groups on board. Cruise lines should do more to advise familys on acceptable behavior and should ensure that staff do police these issues. The staff should feel comfortable that the cruise line will support them if any yobs complain about it. This also applies to sun bed squatters.
Absolutely the right decision by the Captain as health and safety of all was compromised which on a ship is very serious for staff and passengers.
Definitely should not have been given assistance to get home.
We booked on a cruise that was advertised as adult only!
Even this did not work as when we got there the cruise had been opened up to families, again they had no regard for rules and failed to see the reasons why the boundaries were there. Children taking over the ship, jumping in the pools and shouting. Disturbing passengers at night with knocking on doors and running up and down corridoors and playing in the lifts and generally being a pain to staff and other passengers alike. Parents usually drinking and partying with no concern for their offspring. Staff knocked over when delivering food and drink and also elderly passengers getting knocked into and no apology or correction from parents who were too busy chatting and drinking at the bar. This was midnight when we witnessed this behaviour, and we suggested to the bar staff that the bar at the top of the ship should be made into adults only. Obviously the parents complained as they felt it was their right to let their offspring run riot on the ship with no regard to other passengers. Staff trying their best to control them with no luck. A ship is not quite the same as a holiday on land as it is without a doubt a dangerous place for children with careful supervision required by parents. Some people do not have the luxury of choosing when they take a holiday due to work commitments.
It is difficult and unfair to blame the children when ultimately it is the parents who are at fault for lack of supervision, control and making sure that their offspring respect the rules of the ship. This being said we have enjoyed some good cruises with young people but usually they have parents who have set the ground rules and take them to task if they are not behaving in a correct manner. Everyone has the right to feel safe and enjoy their holiday which means thinking of others.
This is not new we went on an MSC
cruise several years ago and it was wrecked by Italian children running everywhere.,barging in, spitting across the pool and running up and down stairs in the theatre playing tag when the shows were on and throwing bread in the restaurants
Would never go with MSC again. Children playing in lifts, running up and down corridors at midnight even quite young children unsupervised. No parents controlling them. We have been on quite a few cruises but never again on MSC no matter how cheap.!
There should be more adult only ships, or failing that some adult only cruises.
We never had any of these problems when we started cruising in 2002, but then, one could have counted the number of children on board on the fingers of one hand.
The cruise lines themselves have fuelled this problem by encouraging families on board and turning ships into floating theme parks.
You reap as you sow.
That’s one reason now I am older I only go on adult only cruises or holidays
I love my grandchildren but they do like to be active so I think a land based holidays is best
Sadly some cruise ships are now made to attract families with all sorts of things to do
That’s ok but not for me
It’s why I like Saga or the adult only P and O ships
Cunard isn’t too bad either as the children tend to be well behaved on there
Re comment from Chris not everyone enjoys cruising so why should those who choose to go to Benidorm have to put up with these little yobs. Suspect you are showing a touch of snobbery.
I think I might have been on this particular cruise otherwise something very similar happened to us. We were told it was 47 people chucked off due to their unruly teenagers. They were a nightmare and you felt quite intimated by them (as there were so many). The captain definitely made the right choice.
The Captain was correct, how could anyone spoil other peoples holidays. They should be banned and also fined.
I recently returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise,had the same problem groups of teenagers hogging the pool and jacuzzi, I had to remove our grandchildren from the pool due to the disgusting language they were using to each other, I asked the pool attendant to speak to them and he said he had asked them to stop he couldn’t do any more. I agree that its the parents responsibility, but think the ships officers should do more to control the situation, I won’t travel with this line again.
I have been on a Royal Caribbean Cruise where a family were put off on a Greek Island as their teenage children were running amok after 11pm, parents were given a warning, behaviour continued so off they went.
This was a few years ago so I am glad they continue with this policy.
YES , NO and no good result by all ??????????
I would like to go on a cruise when this captain is in charge. Yes of course he did the right thing, parents should keep control of their children, they think they are the only ones on holiday and do not respect other people.
We have been on cruises with other people’s spoilt children, they jump in the pool and hog the jacuzzi even small children who should not be in the hot tubs. Good for you captain let us hope we do not meet a family like this when we are cruising.
Captain was absolutely correct to disembark these people.
I have never experienced this behaviour on a cruise but I have had to report a passenger for smoking on his balcony just after we had attended the pre sail safety talk. He was spoken to and warned of his future behaviour. A few days later he was at it again and then he had a very loud arguament with his wife. He was removed from his cabin by senior officers. His wife then proceeded to play loud music in her cabin in the early hours of the morning. She was eventually warned obout her behaviour. Both of these people were removed from the ship the next day.
Well done captain for throwing them all off, I would throw a few more off as well particularly those who save sun beds for lots of people
well I hope P&O are going to hear about these people being turfed off . We have been put off this year by the reports of drunken brawls . Over 20 yrs of cruising with P&O now & we’ve noticed this sad decline in the last few years. Why do companies assume we want the holiday camp attitude with everything . The idea of ‘pile em high & sell em cheap’ is in my eyes bringing their standards down .
Certainly in our experience, the standards at P & O have slipped, and not only in the behaviour of passengers department.
Adult only ships should be better of course but even these can contain unruly adults. On our last cruise, one gentleman decided a slanging match in the theatre with a fellow passenger was in order even using the “f” word.
Yes, I think the drink packages do have a lot to do with it but as has been also mentioned, there is a general downturn in parental control over their precious darlings.
It is an act of common sense that’s needed when cruise ship companies and marketing personnel are looking towards repeat business on their multi million pound investments of plush ships. If they look at their main market and realize the majority of passengers are the middle aged and elderly on most of the ships without climbing walls and tube slides on the main deck then disruptive kids and any unruly person is definitely not the kind of passengers who is needed and could destroy all the hard work and investment that’s gone towards a ship with a fantastic image that people on a holiday want to return back to at a later date. Good rules are made to obey and not have one set for some people and another set for others.
Give that Captain a gold star. How refreshing to know that disrespect and rowdiness won’t be tolerated. All passengers are on holiday and they as well as the crew shouldn’t have to tolerate such dreadful behaviour. Parents should be held accountable even if they they choose to abstain from their responsibilities.
I disagree, it has to be remembered that it is their cruise just as much as it ours, irrespective of how disruptive they seem to be. I my opinion people need to remember it is not their ship and they are guests while on it. And it is the responsibility of the crew to ensure peoples health and safety while they are aboard. In this case it is the crew who should have informed the adults not only of their disruptive behaviour but also the safety of the other passengers that were being put at risk, and any further intolerable behaviour on their part will see them removed from the ship. This does two things; it enforces the authority the crew has on the passengers, and it lets the people know that any further misbehaving will not be tolerated. In other words give people a chance to mend their ways before they are kicked off.
My wife and I experienced a similar incident on our first cruise.Again families and their children.First off these 2 families dominated the pool side sun loungers for the whole fortnight from 6.30-7 am every day,their children,mostly boys, then dominated the pool by shouting screaming,diving and “bombing”.Towards the end of the cruise we had a local school choir come aboard to entertain the guests.The stage was immediately above the pool but rather than close it for the hour or so the choir was on,these boys then tried to drown the choir out and were deliberately attempting to splash the choir as they sang.Entertainment ruined! And what did the parents or members of the crew do?Absolutely nothing.
Yes the captain did the right thing.
No they should be given any assistance to get home.
On an aircraft if the plane diverts due to the bad behaviour those involved are escorted off by police, they may be prosecuted for endangering the aircraft and may get a bill for the airlines costs involved in the diversion.
I am aware of passengers being removed from a P&O ship at the next port (it was done very discretely).
For myself – I think the captain was correct in disembarking the unruly families and no, no assistance should have been given by the cruise line Perhaps by the travel agency – but thats a different story.
There is having fun and there is running riot. Certainly playing knock and run on cabin doors is NOT having fun. Jumping in pools – provided not at other users can be put down to fun, hogging jacuzzi’s and rising the lifts is debatable.
I agree with the comments above – on holiday the rules might be relaxed but there should still be rules and if the parents won’t enforce them the crew must – for safety if no other reason. And if the family object to the crew enforcing rules then the next dockside is an obvious punishment
I agree whole heartedly agree with the action taken.
Many years ago, in the Merchant Navy, the Captains of Merchant Ships had an absolute right to put a member of his Crew guilty of a disciplinary offence ashore wherever in the World the Ship happened to be and abandon him there. Saw it happen once in Cornwall to an Irish Crew member and I don’t know to this day how or if he got home. So, perhaps, a few warning notices should be posted on Board and Passengers couldn’t then say they hadn’t been warned. I have no vested interest as I don’t cruise but would like to if I was a bit wealthier!
Absolutely correct action by the cruise line. Standards of etiquette, behaviour and dress codes have deteriorated considerably in recent years and a line has to be drawn.
The point about dress codes is significant; if passengers know before booking that they required to conform and that dress codes will be enforced; these imbeciles won’t want to book. Hallelujah!
We have found that the shorter cruises up to two weeks are always full of children. Many of which are left to run around causing mayhem. I have alerted staff to kids bombing into the pools and even younger children with no adults supervision while in the pools and spas. The staff usually come for a while then disappear and the kids come back! We try to do long cruises now during school terms and avoid school holiday times. This seems to be working as not encountered many children on board during our last three cruises.
Absolutely right that they were “turfed off”, this should be the norm for all holiday companies and not just cruises. Like Sue Gilbert, i also complained and was told “what do you expect on a multi generational cruise”. I would expect children to have fun but not expect parents to abdicate their parental responsibilities and let their children run amok, one example being the parents go ashore while leaving their offspring to run riot on the ship.
Definitely!!! I wait all year for my relaxing cruise holiday and would not expect it to be ruined by disgraceful behaviour from anyone.
Good decision by the Captain/cruise line.
The Captain did the correct thing by removing them from the ship before one a accident could have happened. And The Children and youth should no better how to behave. I blame the parents its not a holiday camp to leave the children to cause disruption to other cruise passengers. And not be responsible for their children. As for getting home that’s the parents fault and they should pay their own way home. The captain acted correctly as he has to put all his other passengers first.
L agree with the captain, if the parents cannot control their children. they should be put off at the next port.
When we go on a cruise we want to enjoy ourselves and not have to put up with people spoiling our holidays
They should not be given any assistance to get home.
The Captain and officers were totally correct …bad behaviour from kids, teenagers and even adults today is rampant …sick of not even being able to peacefully shop in a supermarket today without it being a kids playgroundas for cruise ships i avoid school holidays and Spring Break and a black list of those 52 and any others should be circulated to every cruise line
Only ever seen one family removed we where on a 24 night cruise, on day 20 the ship slowed down a dinghy with the family dropped off at Gibraltar with passports only, luggage to be dropped off at Southampton. Up to you how you pick it up! Well done the captain etc.
Sould of made them walk the plank ? well done crew ?
Cruise post the ship so l can go
Codes of conduct should be issued to all passengers, get them to sign then when they or their children break the rules, point it out to them, fair warning. Second time of having to warn them then off the ship they must go. No help with fares home, suitable punishment for ruining other people’s pleasure. It is not only children. A few years ago, we witnessed excessive drinking, being loud and loutish from a group of adults, they were never reprimanded, why because they were spending money. Champagne was flowing freely as was the bad language…. that is not covered on a drink is package.
I don’t know why we’re even judging the Captain. We should be judging the disruptive passengers whom I imagine had been warned to moderate their rude behaviour. I once had the unpleasant, though amusing experience, to witness a passenger being removed from the Captain’s cocktail party by two heavies. He had slipped past the security into the area where we were all in formal dress. He was wearing a dirty stained sleeveless vest and hipster grey scruffy jogging pants, revealing around 5″ of the crack of his *****. Hardly suitable attire for any occasion. His equally scruffy wife/partner followed in hot pursuit. Some folk!!!!!
Should have put them off the ship while at sea !
I agree with the captain.First and foremost it is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to discipline their children.When they do not do their job, then others such as employees of the cruise line must and should step in for the benefit of all the passengers.This is so no one gets hurt or interferes with the enjoyment and pleasure of the paying passengers who look forward to having a great experience.
This year we went for the first (and as it turns out the last time) on an MSC cruise. We took an MSC excursion to Aix-en-Provence after MSC cancelled the Arles excursion which we only found out about by accident and for which our money was only returned after four months. Three quarters of the bus to Aix-en-Provence was occupied by Spanish schoolchildren who were noisy and boisterous. It was like a school trip which was not what you should expect and get for cruise line excursions but when I complained to MSC they virtually said hard luck they paid their money so they can do what they like.
Well done Cap’n!!
Rules are made perfectly clear before embarkation. And they also state that should you disobey them you run the risk of being offboarded, and having to make your own arrangements home.
We travelled on P and O Britannia July 20 th out of Southampton up the fiords . This was the ship that made the news about fighting late one night in one of the restaurants appalling behaviour what has happened to having respect and consideration for fellow passengers and why should the staff on board be subjected to these outbursts . Luckily we knew nothing about this incident till we left the ship it happened very late one night, our cruise in general was lovely apart from a couple in the next cabin who came back drunk and argued most nights keeping us awake . Too much alcohol is the cause of these outbursts in many cases I think the captain did the right thing and like someone else mentioned I’d black list these people so they weren’t allowed to go cruising again . Why should respectful people put up with this sort of behaviour not just on a cruise ship but anywhere !
Absolutely right thing to do. I was on a Baltic cruise once and some passengers were kicked off in Estonia. Personally I think the captain should have waited and kicked them off in Russia – without visas. That would have taught them a lesson.
Totally agree with the captain. We love Azamara where children are welcomed but there are no special facilities for them so they are few of them and they are usually delightful!
Anyone regardless of age who causes a nuisance should be disembarked. In the case of parents not taking their responsibilities seriously, do they have rocks for brains? Do they not realise there are many dangers that their offspring would not encounter at home?
We went on said ship the cruise after, staff where right fed up with having to put with this so called family, let alone what the other passengers had to put up with, well done to the captain and all envoled in getting these people removed, trouble is we are getting more and more people in uk behaviour like this, with so much disrespect for other people , nastiness seems to be taking over,
should have been made to walk the plank or keelhauled
I too would like to know which ship this article refers to in order that I may give it wide berth!! Having said that, it won’t happen to us, as we have made the concious decision to never cruise in school holidays again.
Having recently disembarked RCI Explorers of the Seas (18-31 August) I have to say, I have never witnessed such badly behaved children. Never any parents about ever and the 1a.m. Curfew for children to be back in their cabins is nothing short of ridiculous. Running down the hallways at circa 3.30am, food being thrown in the Windjammer, pools & hot tubs overrun is not my idea of how I like to spend my hard earned money. Security definitely too slow to respond. How children get so out of hand is beyond me.
We were on a ship many years ago and had a problem with noisy children banging on the cabin door as they passed to go to the Kiddies Club. They only did it twice as the third time I was waiting for them. I told them and the staff member with them that if it happened again I would personally put them over the side. One child was rude but I asked him his cabin number and heard no more. The staff member came and thanked me a few days later as she said she couldn’t control them, but now had no problem after she told them that she would go and get me.
Respect and manners begin at home – if not there then where else are they going to learn.
Some parents are not or do not want to be, responsible for their children. If so they should not go on a holiday and spoil someone else’s holiday.
My last cruise on p & o ,there was 500 kid’s onboard ugh
I agree with the captain who rightly put the offending families off the ship. I have been cruising for years and have seen declining standards particularly with parents not parenting their children on holiday (not only on holiday). We took our teenage children on cruises too and gave strict rules on behaviour – no running on board, no climbing on railings, respect to others and generally behave yourself. Worked well for us. Cant think of anything worse than spending a fortune on a cruise only to have is disturbed by children whose selfish parents don’t give a monkeys for anyone but themselves. We try and go on Adult only cruises now
That is the trouble now ships have got so big that the company’s are selling tickets so cheap just to fill the ships all the riff raf can afford to go when I first went on a cruise 20years ago everyone enjoyed the formal
Nights ect nowadays only a few people are interested in getting dressed up the rest turn out in shorts or jeans for a formal night spoils the night
We have only experienced this once in over 20 years of cruising. The family of the two boys were all escorted off the ship at that time. It is absolutely right for the captain to have done this.
We experienced a group of half wits making a nuisance of them selves on dance floors and even going on the stages and messing with musical instrumentals. When the cruise staff became involved abuse and foul language was returned by the passengers who were creating this problem. All passengers on the Marella cruise ship involved were more than happy to see them removed off the ship at the next port.
I personally compliment the handling of the situation and of course the decision the captain made.
I agree the captain did the right thing. We have been on cruises where the teenagers behaviour has been appalling. On one occasion a young boy was injured around the pool at 10.30pm and it took over half an hour for his parents to come and see how he was
This could have been written and told in shorter report and getting to the main facts and what happened, I found myself bored after first few sentences
Absolutely correct thing to do.
As a disabled person I experienced the same thing on my last cruise when kids were bombing in the Adult only pool totally ignoring all the signage and advice from the crew. I was not able to use any of the Adult only pools for the entire cruise. So I say well done to this captain. ?
wheres my comment gone?
I totally agree with captain and officers to have them disembarked, I’ve seen similar on a cruise I was on and it just seemed that the parents didn’t care as they just let the kids do what they want while they are enjoying their selves at the bars or sunbathing around the deck somewhere. Passengers pay a lot of money for their cruise and they don’t need rowdy teenagers running riot just because they think they can.
Totally agree with the captain
Captain did the right thing to remove them of the ship
Don’t mind children on board as long as they behave so everyone can enjoy their hard earn expensive holiday
To be honest of the many cruises I have been on I have never been on one where I felt someone should be removed. I’ve seen drunk passengers removed from the bar and I’ve seen people have their drinks limited, I believe they do something to their card. I have seen staff not do their job properly and reported it and I’ve had the occasional rude staff member which I have reported upon arriving home but by and large all the cruises have been happy and well managed but I totally agree with people being removed if they interfere with the enjoyment of other passengers.