LETTERS - Letter to the Editor

Another line that books no one under 18 is Renaissance Cruises. They have seven ships carrying about 650 passengers and two carrying about 114 passengers. We have had good service from them also. Particularly exceptional was their cruise from Istanbul through the Aegean to Athens. The price was very reasonable.

There may be other "adults only" lines, but these two are the only two we have cruised with. Both of these lines have web sites. Both are also non-smoking. I hope this helps those who wanted this information.

Ruth Jelf, Ingram, TX

Adult Cruisers Can Be Childish

I would like to comment on two letters in the December 2000 Cruise Travel: one from Stacy Bush titled "Adults Only" and the other from Jerald Berman titled "Paradise Revisited." I agree that the cruise lines should schedule and advertise a few cruises each season for "adults only." My question is, "How do you determine what adult is?" Is it based on age, or the maturity level at which someone acts?

In November 1998, my family (wife, two teenage boys, and my 68-year-old parents) and I went on a two-week Panama Canal cruise with Royal Caribbean. There were rude, loud, and obnoxious people everywhere. The only thing is, they weren't kids, they were seniors. Even my Dad said he had never seen a meaner and "crabbier" bunch in his entire life. These people did not act like "adults." They continually pushed and crowded in lines, and they would save seats at the shows for their entire group, even when they were asked not to by the cruise staff. While going through the locks of the canal, two men in the front turned their chaise lounges sideways so they would have more room. There were probably 500 people on the forward deck, trying to watch as the ship went through the locks, and these two "adults" thought they were "privileged" and should have five feet of space to themselves. How selfish.

My wife and I and our boys have always traveled together. Like Jerald Berman said in his letter, it is important for us to spend quality time with our kids. We are continually complimented on how well behaved our kids are. I am happy to see families traveling together and having fun. I would much rather spend my vacation around compassionate, fun, and kind families, than mean, temperamental, and rude "adults."

We pay a considerable price for our kids to cruise with us, and I expect my kids to be treated just as well as any other passenger. If they had "adults only" cruises throughout the year, maybe there won't be so many "adults" bothering the rest of us on our vacations.

Keep in mind, if children are misbehaving, it is usually not their fault; it is the "adult" parents' fault for not disciplining and teaching their kids right from wrong.

Michael Guiver, Orangevale, CA

Dancers Like Going Dutch

Like other Cruise Travel readers, we are also disappointed about the size of the dance floors on newer ships. We miss the Queen's Lounge on the old Rotterdam. Now the dance floors are indeed postage-stamp size. As for the rock & rollers, they don't need a hardwood floor; they can dance on the carpet. When the rockers slow dance, they don't move anyway (I mean their feet). We have made several sailings with big bands on-board, but there was no room to dance. Real music and no room to dance! Please, bigger dance floors. Our children like ballroom dancing too, and they are also avid cruisers.