Help! DD12 Afraid to Cruise!

[cyberfilly]

We cruised the Wonder in April 2007. DD12 was 11 at the time and aside from a little seasickness the first night loved the cruise. I'd like to book the Wonder for November 2009, but now my DD12 (who'll be 14 in November 2009) says she apprehensive to cruise because she saw the Titanic movie! She's a straight-A 6th grader and an extremely logical young lady, so I can't understand where this new fear is coming from. Should I book and trust that in 18 months she'll be over it?

 

[Mickeyhugger]

book it Dano

 

[bellebud]

I'd book it.

did you have a verandah room? Maybe if you didn't and you'd be willing to book one, that would help her. DH had said to me (and I read it on here too once) that the verandah is 'another way off the boat' if needed. Extreme thinking, yes, but maybe will make her feel better?

 

[flexsmom]

I'd book it. If it's 18 months away, that's well over an additional 10% of life experiences - and opinions/attitudes she'll form as she learns things about real life. I would bet she'll either (a) get over it or (b) there is always the remote possibility that she's saying it for dramatic effect and she'll just drop it! (I know my DD9 likes to test the waters to see how high I'll jump from her various incendiary declarations......)

Another way of looking at it is that if you believe it is totally reasonable to accept the extremely small risk of a serious accident at sea, then she needs to see that you stand firm on that so that she learns how to make decisions about risk levels to assume from activities in life. I also was thinking about what the discussion would be if she started to watch Lost, or any other movie that has an airplane crash in it and said she was afraid to fly? I don't know how much you or your family fly, but allaying fears about that kind of activity is pretty normal for parents to have to do with kids (and many other adults!)

Interesting question!

 

[goofy4tink]

We cruised for the first time last August. My dd, then almost 14, was a nervous wreck. She wanted to cruise, but was really nervous about the whole big boat out there on the open ocean with no land in sight!!!! You could see her shaking as we boarded the Wonder. But, she got over it! Now, she can't wait to cruise again. I think sometimes they get something in their mind and it just takes over. I would book in any case. I'm sure she'll be thinking straight by then!

 

[cyberfilly]

I'd book it.

did you have a verandah room? Maybe if you didn't and you'd be willing to book one, that would help her. DH had said to me (and I read it on here too once) that the verandah is 'another way off the boat' if needed. Extreme thinking, yes, but maybe will make her feel better?

Great advice about getting a verandah room, however we had a verandah on the earlier cruise. I'm starting to wonder if her real fear isn't getting seasick again. On our first cruise she didn't throw up, just felt dizzy and a little nauseated. It started during the first dinner when the ship was really moving. She and I went back to the room after we ordered our meal. I gave her a bonnine and she laid down and said she felt better. Of course she was a little lethargic the next morning, but the rest of the cruise was fine: in Nassau that day (we stayed on the motionless ship), then Castaway Cay the next day, then a S-L-O-W "at sea" day back to Port Canaveral the next.

By the way, our dining room server had our entrees sent to our room! DCL - you rock!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

You may be on to something with the seasickness issue. It may be that in her head she knows that she'll be extraordinarily safe, but her heart/emotions are dragging her around, which can happen to any of us. I'm not a very good flyer personally, and I used to carry in my wallet an article I clipped from Reader's Digest about just statistically how safe flying was. I don't know if it helped me that much, but I convinced myself that it helped (that makes no sense, I know, but there y'are.)

I'm reminded of the young girl who saw Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" and afterwards was afraid to take a shower. So I guess things could be worse.

 

[millerpjm]

We cruised the Wonder in April 2007. DD12 was 11 at the time and aside from a little seasickness the first night loved the cruise. I'd like to book the Wonder for November 2009, but now my DD12 (who'll be 14 in November 2009) says she apprehensive to cruise because she saw the Titanic movie! She's a straight-A 6th grader and an extremely logical young lady, so I can't understand where this new fear is coming from. Should I book and trust that in 18 months she'll be over it?

No one's mentioned it yet, but in case of an emergency, there ARE enough spots on the lifeboats for everyone...unlike the Titanic. Maybe that piece of information would help???

 

[Anal Annie]

If she's a logical kid I would also remind her that the Titanic was sailing across the northern Atlantic in April and hit an iceberg! There are no icebergs in the Caribbean!!

You have 18 months to work on it - but I probably wouldn't harp on it TOO much. My DS gets paranoid / OCD sometimes & the more we try to "talk" about stuff the worse he gets so sometimes we just don't bring stuff up because it makes it worse - like opening a can of worms.... So you might not want to spend TOO much time on it. I would probably bring out our photo album from the last time and refresh our memories about what a great time we had. Just look thru it with her in a casual way. Not with an intent on changing her mind - just casually take a walk down memory lane and remember all the fun times we had.

 

[cyberfilly]

If she's a logical kid I would also remind her that the Titanic was sailing across the northern Atlantic in April and hit an iceberg! There are no icebergs in the Caribbean!!

Great idea... but already did that! She responded quicky with "Well what about the incident in Greece??".

I think in 18 months she'll be over it!

 

[aristocats_lover]

The Disney Cruise Line safety drill is #1 by the US Power Squadrons, the organization that tries to make boating as safe as possible. Maybe if you have her research the organization, the Titanic (the real one, not the "Jack!" Jack!" version) or even took her to an exhibit, and had her learn about all the laws etc that have been changed to avoid such a tragedy, as well as the level of human error that caused that in the first place (6 people? ok this boat is full!) then that may ease her fears. Knowledge is power. I am having a bit of a Titanic complex going on a huge boat for the first time, but since I have been around it so much in my life (grandfather was an avid historian/collector, and I've been to several exhibits) I know exactly what events led to that and I don't let it bother me. I'm really just worried about getting that stupid ship virus and being stuck on a boat for days!

Plus, since kids really hate to research, she may just take your word for it.

 

[Anal Annie]

Great idea... but already did that! She responded quicky with "Well what about the incident in Greece??".

I think in 18 months she'll be over it!

That sounds like something my DS would come up with! You're gonna have to cut her off from the news for the next 18 months!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

What incident in Greece?

Anyway, I'm an adult and I'm scared to cruise. The whole thing seems great and we even set a date but I'm scared of something going wrong too. I know it's a very very rare instance for something to go wrong, but I'm scared of the water! I love to at least see land somewhere in sight. I'm not a good swimmer and I prefer land but I love Disney, so I know this is a must do for me and I'm gonna try it anyway.

I'm sure your DD and I will be fine once we are onboard and get used to it.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

My Mums was really scared when we used to go to europe from scotland in ferry's, she used to sleep in her life jacket if it was rough, we were just kids and used to take the pure mickey (hahah) out of her, now I am all grown up I feel really bad, lynne
I am however glad that I am normal if I can use that word!

 

[M&M mom]

I just booked my first cruise for March 2009 with my dh, ds7, and dd7. I never had any desire to go on a cruise but after much discussion, I agreed and I am nervous about it for a few reasons. I am scared to death of the idea that I won't see land. Another thing is my kids are very active and as crazy as this sounds I'm afraid they may climb on the railing and fall over! Crazy thought I know. Anyway, how high are the railings?

 

[Disneydreamer5]

I too am a very worried parent and cruiser. I have only been on one cruise myself and was very seasick most of the cruise.
I am determined to conquer my fears and try a disney cruise with my whole family. my youngest 2 DD are not too thrilled with the idea either as they have seen pasiden a few months ago but I agree with the rest of the posters.
If you explain to her that the standards of cruising are so much better then they were in the days of titanic I am sure she will be ok.
There are also many things your doctor can prescribe before you go.
That way at least she is ready. I know myself I will be getting something from my doctor before I cruise again, last time the meds they gave me on board made me want to do nothing but sleep and DH was not thrilled about that what so ever I assure you.

 

[bellebud]

I just booked my first cruise for March 2009 with my dh, ds7, and dd7. I never had any desire to go on a cruise but after much discussion, I agreed and I am nervous about it for a few reasons. I am scared to death of the idea that I won't see land. Another thing is my kids are very active and as crazy as this sounds I'm afraid they may climb on the railing and fall over! Crazy thought I know. Anyway, how high are the railings?

not so crazy feeling that way... I have an active ds6 (and dd8)... we haven't cruised yet mainly because of that fear. now that he's a little older, and he'll have just turned 8 when we cruise next summer, I want to go. BUT I couldn't bring myself to book a verandah room. I just knew I couldn't sleep well at night, or enjoy myself if dh was hanging out w/ ds in the room and I wasn't there (I kept picturing dh in the bathroom, and ds having access to the verandah, and it was just too uncomfortable for me). So I booked a cat 9 w/ a large window, and I'm thrilled (and boy was the price good!!)