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Why the Hate?
By Dave | June 1, 2008
Being active on several cruise forums, there is one complaint I’ll never understand. The complaint is when the person complains about children being on the cruise. First, let me explain why I don’t understand this complaint. Okay, first of all, one thing I don’t get is why these complainers cruise on family-oriented lines. Carnival for example. Or even RCCL. If you’re going on a cruise on one of these lines and expecting to get away from kids, you’re dead wrong, even in the school season. These cruise lines cater to families, hence their cheaper prices and plentiful kids’ programs/areas. If someone doesn’t like kids, then I believe a cruise line like Cunard or Crystal is for them. Their response: 
they’re too expensive. Well then, it looks like cruising isn’t for you! If you’re not willing to pay a premium to get away from kids, you can’t complain about them.
Another thing, they are fully paid guests as well. They have just as much right to be on the ship as the complainer does. “They’re kids, they probably won’t even remember the cruise!” That’s a typical argument from one of these complainers. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether the kids remember the cruise or not. The parents are taking the kids because they want them there. It’s their (the parents’) memory. That’s what counts.
Finally, if you’re that up tight that you let some kids ruin your entire vacation, you definitely have problems. You either absolutely hate kids, or you let even the smallest things get to you. These are the same people who will vow never to go on a particular cruise line again because the room steward forgot to put mints on their pillows each night… These people are nuts.
Now, I will have to agree with the complainers on a couple points. Kids can be annoying when they run up and down the hallway all night. When they sit (literally) in the elevators and ride them all day. Even worse, when they push all the buttons. Even worse then that, when it’s a group of them and they talk about you or try to make you uncomfortable during the ride. Or when they cut in line at the buffet. Or when they do stupid things like throw deck chairs overboard. Even from someone as tolerant toward kids as I am, these things can get annoying. So I can see where these complainers are coming from.
But even still, there are much worse things on a cruise. Toward the top of the list: drunk adults. Here we go, the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Personally, I can’t stand drunk adults. Perhaps that’s because I’m not a drinker and I don’t understand the purpose of getting completely trashed, but either way they’re still annoying to be around. Let’s see. I’d say most of the man-overboard cases we see in the news each year are alcohol related, whether directly (jumping off after getting drunk) or indirectly (marital spat after becoming intoxicated). 
Or how about the loud ones that you just want to punch in the face? They’re pretty annoying. Or the ones at the comedy shows that literally laugh at every word the comedian says. I can’t stand that. Yes, they’re funny, but not that funny!
Okay, I know I’m sounding like a complainer myself, but I just wanted to say this because it’s something I just don’t understand. If someone could explain this to me, it would be greatly appreciated!
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Topics: Opinions | 23 Comments »