Extreme Grandparents Enjoy Family Fun at Sea

by Rubin Carson and Marilyn Record

"I don't like having to pay for soda drinks and going to shows mom makes me go to."

Samantha, aged 7, long black hair, wide eyes, articulate, was responding to my asking what she didn't like about our cruise. Poor thing, she looked exactly like my 22-year old granddaughter Taryn did at that age. Which meant me automatically teasing her.

We were in the "Fun Zone" of Princess Cruise's mega ship Diamond Princess on an 11-day adventure from Osaka to Beijing with stops at Nagasaki, Vladivostok, Pusan, Dalian, and Shanghai. The Fun Zone is a combination of Disneyland and Four Seasons on the top deck, providing every activity kids can dream of while parents relax. "Tell the man what you do like," Liberty interrupted. She was a Youth Activity Counselor in her mid-thirties with two children of her own and lived in Manila. Other kids chimed in: "I like the Karaoke." "Afternoon ice cream." "Pajama parties." "Seeing the captain on the bridge." "Time to say goodbye to the nice man," Liberty said. She ushered me out explaining that strangers just couldn't pop in. You have to be a registered parent or guardian with ship I.D. card, passport, cabin number, etc.

To soften the bum's rush, Liberty explained that the Youth Program was age specific: 3-5, 6-9, and the Off-Limits Teen Program. Qualified Youth Coordinators supervised California Science Center hands-on activities, arts & crafts, games, movies, group dinners, kid's disco, min-golf, and visits to the engine room, kitchens, and bridge.

Later, at the poolside buffet, I told Marilynn about having discovered a Taryn look-alike. She was under whelmed. "There's plenty to do on a ship besides missing Taryn. Get a life."

Luckily a cruise ship, no matter how large, is a small village. You run into the same people every day. I saw Samantha and her mom numerous times. I made confronting her a game. I accused her of following me everywhere and that I was tired of it. She'd shake her head and say "uh-nuh". I answered her "uh-huh". On and on our game went. We never tired of it.

Marilynn always tells me to cool it. Some up-tight parent might turn me into the authorities. But my experience is that most moms enjoy having their kids noticed. Especially by a silly old man who behaves exactly as their kids do. Last night at sea. Sure enough, we found ourselves in the same elevator with Samantha and Mom.

I said: "I'll be glad to get off so I won't be followed by you."

Samantha shook her head and said: "Uh-nuh".

Just as the door opened on her floor, she threw herself into my arms and gave me a huge bear hug. Our game was over. In a world where TV and newspapers are full of child horror stories, did it occur to anyone to print something about kids missing their grandparents?

PRINCESS CRUISES: 1 800 PRINCESS, www.princess.com.