Do you know where your Teen/Kid is? You'd be surprised!

[westjones]

As I said in a earlier post, DH and I have serious concerns about taking our twins on the DCL once they turn 13. I don't like the idea of the hanging out with 16 & 17 year olds that I do not know.

BUT we have considered the idea of the WONDER versus the MAGIC. We thought that on the MAGIC (7 night) it is much more likely for kids to get into things because they have a whole week together.

What do you guys think? Is it less likely for there to be problems on the WONDER since they only have 3 or 4 days together?

To be honest, I am not so worried about my kids 'doing wrong' as I am about them feeling pressured to do things they don't want to do, and feeling uncomfortable around the teens who are doing things like this. I just don't think they will like the teen group. Already, my 10 year old has concerns about the 10-12 year old group because last year she watched that group of kids 'act up' and behave badly (making messing in the lab and not cleaning them up, saying words she isn't allowed to say, talking loudly and acting pushy, etc.).

We have even told our DDs that once they are out of the lab we probably won't do the cruise anymore because we aren't comfortable with the teen group. They have said they don't care about the teen group and just want to hang out at the pool and go to movies, the shows, dinner, Castaway Cay, and general just enjoy the ship.

I think that would work on the WONDER, but not the MAGIC. The 7 night is just too long to be on there with only the pool, theater, dinner and shows to enjoy. But perhaps the shorter cruises would be alright.

Those of you who have seen these problems, have you been on the 7 night, or the 3/4 night cruises?

DJ

 

[MiaSRN62]

I was not aware a child as young as 11 can sign themselves out of a club are you kidding me? And what walk around a ship unsupervised trying to find you....With all those multiple cabins, hundreds of people, stewards etc... How do you know the child is safe?

I thought you had to give permission to the staff for your child to be able to sign themselves out ? We were given a beeper in '02 when my dd's were 10 & 12.
As for staying out late......we know our ds. There were certain activities going on during the cruise with the teen club (i.e. supervised dances etc) that went late---until 1 am or so. We kept up-to-date with the teen navigator and discussed plans for the day in the morning. We firmed up plans at dinner. He was never in later than 2 am and this was only 2 nights of the cruise. The other nights it was around 12-1 am. He always kept in contact with us via 2 way radio. This was vacation afterall, so we gave him some breathing space. One night, around 12:30 am we were wandering around deck 9 and came across the Common Grounds teens on the stage (supervised by teen CM's). They were doing some sort of activity. We always felt our kids were in good hands from what we saw during the cruise. He was 15 1/2 in '02 and will be 17 this year's cruise. I did not witness anything even remotely similar to what the OP reported, though I don't doubt that it could happen.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hey twinmom! NO flames for you whatsoever!

I cruised at 10, 14, 19 and older.

I was allowed some roaming of the ship at age 10. This was before the 2000+ passenger ships--so no big deal. At 14, I got lost trying to return to the dining room for dinner--ended up on the wrong deck at the end of the boat (don't know which end)...but eventually found my way. My curfew was only extended to the midnight timeframe only on midnight buffet nights--other than that it was something like 10pm.

I don't think your decision to cruise or not should be contingent upon just this one thread. Look at all the other families who did have good times and no trouble was had. There will be bad seeds anywhere you go that spoil the fun for everyone. I think that is just what these kids described at the start of the thread are. Don't let them spoil it for you.

You know your children and what they are capable of--a simple curfew would do the trick. You don't want them out past 10pm unless they're with you, so be it. If you think you will be overprotective at the sacrifice of everyone's enjoyment, including your own, then I would step back and rethink the whole thing. Remember--it is a family vacation--it should be fun for everyone.

I am for having a cruise ship wide curfew--teen club closes at midnight--have that be the curfew. They do this in cities all over the country. Unless the kid is with his/her parents--no excuse to be out! Security finds them--escort them back to mom and dad.

 

[val2001]

unless they look like johnny depp

Just have to say I was LOL at that one!!!

 

[Mysticalbeauty3]

I personally think there is no problem with allowing the kids to stay up later and let them roam the ship seeing they cant go far...and cant really get themselves into big trouble...yes thats rude and not right for them to be playing ding dong ditch with people who are trying to sleep....or the other stuff i was reading....but i mean when i was that age we used to go and just sit up on deck and watch maybe an island we passed and just talk and get to know eachtoher....because everyone is from somewhere different....its a vacation....if the kids feel they want to stay out and sit around till 2...what harm are they doing? if they arent being rude and obnoxious.....it all depends on the children....and you know your children.....so you know if you should limit there hours....but we have never had a problem like this before...and when i was going into the teen rooms...and i mean they held dances for us at night...and hardly anyone got up and danced with eachother....nevermind go and kiss and whatever else....but i mean it all depends because later on after that ccruise....i did meet to teens who were very into eachother...and lets just say i have never done the 7 night cruise....i think this might have even been a 3 night! but im not sure....so parents call it....you all know your kids and you cant say oh they wouldnt do that...you know better of what they are doing ya know

 

[invaderzim]

To all you "nervous" posters being negatively affected by all this teen harem scarem --

We've been on two cruises so far and other than the occasional running up and down the hallways or the stairs, we never had a problem. It sounds to me like there was a big group on this ship all in the same mind sync -- to be a pain. Maybe it's possible that these kids were with one large group that came together and that's why they were so "comfortable" with each other. I know there are family groups who travel sometimes with 20 people.

Just my thought. But anyway, I wouldn't let it make you afraid to take your next cruise! My daughter was 13 on our first one and 15 on our second. I never worried about her leaving the teen club and coming back to our room alone. And she always came back and left us a note where she was going next.

Just try to make the most of it and give your kids a refresher course in responsible behavior before you leave.

 

[dotterson]

The thing is you need to know your kids. Westjones and I have gotten our girls to email before our Dec. cruise. This way, they can hang together and have some fun finally meeting each other.

My DD was a bit surprised that she can leave on her own this time if she wants to, but she knows there will be rules to be followed and curfews to be met. We might even bring 2-way radios if it comes to that. (The last time we sailed when she was 8, we got a panic call on Serenity Bay to pick her up. She knows we're there for her.)

There are always kids (any age) who will take advantage of the situation and parents who will let them do what they want. If we do our part, and share our concerns with Disney, I'm sure they will make adjustments to their programming -- it's to their best interest, after all.

As parents, we need to instill our rules and stick to them. If your kids see activities that they don't want to participate in (especially ones that go against their upbringing or personality), then they will make the right decisions. A cruise situation is no different than any other -- there will be temptations and outside influences.

It IS a vacation and we will relax the curfew a bit. But, our DD will understand that if she's a zombie, she'll pay the price the next AM when we go early to the islands.

I would certainly NOT decide to go on a cruise because someone wrote there were a few obnoxious Tweens. Whether it's a Disney cruise or any other, you might find kids like that. Why in everyday life, there are people or kids like that!!!

We can't wait until our cruise! Don't let a few incidents keep you away!

d
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[trishy]

Those of you who have seen these problems, have you been on the 7 night, or the 3/4 night cruises?

All 3 cruises have been 7 night aboard the Magic during the week after 4th of July - I have to say the OP listed stuff that went on during every one of our cruises. The things listed were just a fraction of the amount of unsupervised stuff that went on. The unsupervised kids ranged in age from 5 up. It usually starts about day 4 because the "cliques" have been formed by that time. Now some of you are getting ready to start punching on your keyboards to tell me to cruise at another time. But is that really the answer? Is it fair for me to cruise at another time, pulling my children out of school, to accomodate parents who want to have a vacation from their children? Anyway, I've written letters and received their standard "Thanks for your opinion" letters back. Doesn't do a lot of good really. Anyway, we've learned to just deal. It helps that our children are very much put off by those children that act like animals on the ship so they have no interest in hanging with those groups. In fact, my oldest (14) just hung with a few of her friends, my 11 yr. old hung out with another girl in the lab, went to a view movies, and had dinner together a couple times and my 7 yr. old stayed with me mostly because she was bored with the same club activities she had done on the past 2 cruises in the club. Believe me, everyone managed to have a good time regardless. However, we will be trying a new cruise line this time and maybe join up with DCL next year.

 

[westjones]

Well if it starts around day 4, then it sounds like the 3/4 day cruises might not have this same problem. Thanks for letting us know your experience.

Personally, I think the shorter cruises will work better for us in the future anyway. We love WDW AND we only have 1 week to vacation, so the shorter cruises let us do both (and sounds like there may be fewer problems on the shorter cruises). We have a 7 day booked this year, but I think it will be our last 7 day.

DJ

 

[Mysticalbeauty3]

warning...it can happen on the 3-day cruise...dont think it cant lol.....seen it but not to the extent of others....but i witnessed some teens getting very comfy with eachother

 

[ivanova]

the 10-12 crowd has to have parental permission to sign themselves out of the lab .. no permission, no free wandering.

As for teens, our DD was given a curfew of having to be back in the room when SUPERVISED activities ceased for the night ... as long as the Teen Counselors were around supervising, I was alright with her being out ... otherwise, back to the room.

We'll be on the Aug 2005 repo cruise, and she'll be 15 then ... I'd LOVE to get her hooked up via email ahed of time with as many 14-16 year old GIRLS that'll be on the same cruise!!

 

[KEH]

ivanova I sent you a PM.

 

[invaderzim]

On that note (about getting your kids hooked up before the August 2005 cruise), if any of you will have an 18 or 19-year-old next year (mine will be 18 DD), and are interested in trying to get Disney to start some sort of club for them, please write to:

Disney Cruise Line
ATTN: Guest Communications
P. O. Box 10238
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

I have already sent a letter, and my husband sent an email.

18 to 20-year-olds will need a place to spend 2-weeks! If there are no clubs, then they will be running around the ship bored!

If anyone wants to send me a PM to let me know if you will be travelling with someone in that age group, maybe we can all hook up next year.

Thanks.

Cathy

 

[tezb]

Originally posted by flexsmom
Oh my gosh, I'm going to have to hide forever after I say this, but I've debated and debated so here goes: First of all, I agree with most everything people have said here about needing to oversee your kids, maybe check up on them in the middle of whatever they're supposed to be doing so they know you ARE watching, etc. Yes, I think it's appropriate to let parents know if you see kids misbehaving or behaving boorishly. BUT come on - to think kids who are 13 or 14 aren't going to find someone they like and find a place to make out is ignoring some pretty plain truths - I'm not saying DCL should clear out a stateroom for them for privacy, I'm just saying that finding kids that age kissing/"feeling up" isn't indicative of "bad parenting" and that they aren't shamless hussies! Now for the embarrassing part - I say this because I got away with ALL of that stuff and I was a "good kid" - honor roll, lots of activities and sports, a parents "dream"! Yes, there's a line that we as adults have to make sure our kids don't cross and being rude to people is one of them, and I'm NOT saying to let them be alone and do whatever they want - but it just seems like there are a lot of people here who aren't being honest about what they were doing at that age! OK - bring it on - I'm sure I mis-stated something here that somehow will be taken out of context, but hey, I had to say it!

I have to agree!!! It seems that so many seem to "bash" teenagers. While you will always have some bad kids, most are not and are just doing what teens do. We were all there once. The parents w/ little ones now who fear going on the cruise because of teens running wild is ridiculous. Teens are not to be feared and they won't hurt the little ones...they're being made out to sound like monsters! Just remember your toddler will be a teenager someday and you may be facing the same issues. Have some understanding now and try to see it from the teens viewpoint. Most are just being "normal teens" and that doesn't necessarily mean their bad kids or have bad parents.

 

[trishy]

I went back and read through the posts again and I can't find where teens were being bashed, but then again, this thread is getting huge. I think the main area of concern regarding supervision is for the child's safety - you have to admit that jumping from stairwells, railings, or one deck down to another can be quite dangerous. We had one cruise where the teen jumped off deck 4 into the water below.

From what I read, I believe the OP wanted to make parents aware that little Johnny and Susie may need to be equipped with a little more than suntan lotion on their cruise in case they're going to be allowed to roam the ship with the opposite sex. I believe normal teens would equate to those who go about their business not affecting other passengers' vacation in a negative way. That's definitely what I found the majority of teens/young children doing on our cruises. However, those that insist on playing ding-dong ditch at 2 a.m. would be, in my book, affecting my vacation in a negative way.

I think this thread is a good "heads-up" to those who may not have considered these issues. It's important to be well-informed. To all the teens who have been reading this thread, it's an eye-opener to how they may be perceived if they follow down the "wrong" path (wrong = affecting other passengers in a negative way). It also contains very helpful information on how all of us parents/adults can deal with potentially negative situations to turn them into positive ones. I appreciate the open dialogue.

Thanks

 

[DenverVal]

Heads up Ivanova!

On our 4/24 western, I had a DD in the 10-12s and one in the 7-9s. When we signed them up, they asked us if we wanted to give our younger DD sign-out privileges. For the older DD, they just put a sticker on her KTTW card and said she could check in or out whenever she wanted.

-Valorie

 

[westjones]

We had one cruise where the teen jumped off deck 4 into the water below.

trishy,
Did this happen on the Disney Cruise? Was the teen alright?
DJ

 

[sters]

Originally posted by Mysticalbeauty3
I personally think there is no problem with allowing the kids to stay up later and let them roam the ship seeing they cant go far...and cant really get themselves into big trouble...

I suppose it depends on what "trouble" you're talking about. Date rape is a big problem in high school and on college campuses. Very often, people (kids and adults) allow their inner slut out because they aren't likely to run into these people from all over the world again. I'd worry that a pre-teen/young teen would be easily seduced, maybe on purpose but, as I said, maybe not.

I'm appreciating this thread. We're planning on taking our kids on our first-ever cruise next year. Our kids are much younger (ages 4-8) so we won't have to worry about dating issues. However, I'm glad to be getting the heads up on the crank calling and elevator tag problems I'm likely to encounter. I'll definitely request a cabin away from the elevators!

 

[mmouse37]

DJ...I can answer that question as we were also on that cruise....if I can remember correctly it was in July of '01.

The teen was dared by his new found friends to jump from Deck 4 while the ship was docked in St. Thomas. He jumped from deck 4 into the harbor. He was fine although busted when he tried to gain entry to the ship....he gave them his KTTW card and the system was showing that he was supposed to be onboard....that coupled with him being soaking wet in his clothes tipped the crew off.

His punishiment was something like not being allowed out of his cabin for the remainder of the cruise unless accompanied by his parents. The Captain was very upset at this incident as he could have easily been killed.

MJ

 

[westjones]

Wow! That was dangerous! He could have been killed! I am glad he was alright, and I am glad to hear that DCL had a way to handle the situation.

DJ