Age for roaming on cruise ship

[netmark]

Anyone know the minimum age kids are allowed to go around on the Disney ships? thanks!

 

[infobahn]

If you are asking if there is a hard and fast rule that DCL has, I haven't heard it. If you are asking for opinions on how old it would be safe to let you kids out alone on the ship, well, you have a long thread coming...

How old should a child be to roam a town of 3,000+ alone? DCL is the same thing, and holds the same risks. How well behaved are your children? Can they defend themselves? Are you worried about certain things?

Chances are, nothing will happen - but the chance is there. There is no guarantee of safety on the ship. How old, and mature, are the kids in question?

 

[goofysgal]

And if they are 10+ they will automatically have sign-in and sign-out privileges in the club. DCL won't let you prevent it so you need to figure out how you and the child will handle it.

 

[AnnMorin]

Our son is nine and on our past two cruises as well as our upcomming one he was not allowed to sign himself out. I would allow him to get himself a soda if I was on deck but not allow him to go up two floors to get it himself. I don't want to scare you but, in my opinion it is asking for trouble to allow a young child to walk down the stateroom halls alone. It would only take a moment for someone to open a door and pull them in. Just my opinion.

 

[tiptoen]

My DS was almost 11 on our last cruise. I did let him have the freedom to go to most places on the ship as long as he told me when he was leaving and when he arrived at each location by radio. Also, most of the time he was with a new found friend.
We will do the same this October.
Tip

 

[Tinky]

That scares me.. I have a very pretty, blonde 12 year old (going on 20) that is NOT repeat NOT going to roam the ship alone. I do trust her but I cannot fathom letting her loose. Call me old fashioned, paranoid and skeptical but I can't help it. I know that these are mostly families traveling but I would be a nervous wreck worrying where/or who she was with.
I'm with you Ann ... it would only take a second.
Sorry, guess I'm a freak about this.

 

[infobahn]

Tinky Wrote:
Call me old fashioned, paranoid and skeptical but I can't help it.

How about I call you normal! Remember "protective" is not a dirty word.

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by Tinky
That scares me.. I have a very pretty, blonde 12 year old (going on 20) that is NOT repeat NOT going to roam the ship alone. I do trust her but I cannot fathom letting her loose. Call me old fashioned, paranoid and skeptical but I can't help it. I know that these are mostly families traveling but I would be a nervous wreck worrying where/or who she was with.
I'm with you Ann ... it would only take a second.
Sorry, guess I'm a freak about this.

I don't think your paranoid at all. Although it is true that it is mostly families traveling, not all families are good ones. Pediofiles like to "hide" in family atmospheres to blend in. My child is just too precious for me to take such a risk. There have been numerous occasions when I have been in the halls alone and had thought to myself how no one would know if I was pulled in, let alone my child. If someone is adament on allowing their child to roam I would highly suggest the buddy system so at least one child could run for help. Ann

 

[pbans]

I think that's like saying, "When is it okay to leave a kid home along." It depends on the child. You know your kid better than anyone else.....and you know yourself better than anyone. Even if you "think" they're old enough, if it will make you crazy with worry....it's not time! The ONE time I sent my daughter out alone, just to go meet her girlfriend at the Lab, she got 'lost' (turned around is more accurate, but she felt LOST) and panicked. There was a kind CM that brought her back to Tritons and right to our table. We learned she wasn't ready....

I couldn't agree more with the "buddy" system. Make sure your child knows to go directly to a CM if there is any kind of a problem and make sure there are clear understandings about behavior.....with penalties for stepping outside the lines!!

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

In mY opinion, it's WAY different than "when is your child old enough to be home alone.." I'd be LESS worried with my child (once she is old enough) at home ALONE with no one else there to harm her, than letting her loose on a ship where there are thousands of people who you never know about, and with SOME poeple who MAY be out lurking around to harm a kid left unattended. So, It depends on the kid, BUT remember, some kids SEEM ready to be left alone, but their SIZE is enough to show you they cannot defend themselves against a large adult who may want to hurt them. Just my $.02

 

[mystery mouse]

I agree. We are going on our first disney cruise and I am taking a friend for my daughter just for this reason. They are both mature 14 year olds. I have already told them they are to stay together the whole cruise just to watch out for each other. Also you can bet I will be keeping an eye on them also. I trust both of them and their judgement completely and want them to have fun but there is something to be said for safety in numbers.
Mystery Mouse

 

[my3kids]

Is it really 10 years and they are automatically allowed to sign themselves out? Maybe I just won't tell my oldest thayt it is an option. Everyone here has made very valid points on what could happen....the town of 3000 is an excellent analogy.

I can't believe that DCL wouldn't allow parental controls for 10 to 12 year olds. I can see it being a parent's option to give up that safety net, but to take it away from those who want it????

 

[Aruba]

On our crusie last year my oldest was 11 - almost 12.. and the councilors told me I could either sign her in and out or she could do it... I opted for signing her in and out. She was the only one out of 6 that had to be signed in and out and all though she thought the world ended it did not . The others just waited for me to come and sign her out if they all wanted to go for a swim or something. I felt better. You do not know these 3,000 people. It would only take a moment and I shutter to think about it. That's my job ... to make sure my children are safe and try like heck not to put them in a dangerous situation. I will tell you she still had a wonderful time ! (even though mom was signing her in and out...) PS - I did let her go shopping on the sea day with her friends, as long as they all stayed together and she checked back in with me... it worked

 

[pbans]

What I meant by the "the same as when you leave your child home alone" was that it is SUBJECTIVE.....not that leaving your child home while you run to the grocery store is the same as letting your child roam the ship....
I meant it's an individual decision.....no one can say "Eleven is old enough to roam the ship".....just as no one can say "Eight is old enough to stay home alone...." It depends on the kid, the parents and the relationship between them.....that's all.

 

[Tinky]

Aruba! Glad to see I'm not the only mean old mother! My 12 year old thinks it will be just awful to have her mother sign her out. I really dont think she will spend a lot of time in the clubs anyway and I am looking forward to spending a lot of time with her. Our 3 &4 year old require a lot more attention and time and I thought this would be a great time for her and I to go to the spa, lay by the pool, spend time together... DH says I'm a wishful thinker..he thinks once she gets on the ship, meets some friends, i'm toast.. oh well.... what was i thinking??

Maybe my little ones will want to spend time with me or even worse my hubby

 

[billylen]

I just wanted to chime in here. My son who is now 14 and an only child will have the run of the ship. The interesting thing is that he is just about 6 feet tall and many time folks will think that he can do more than he is capable of.

I am glad I stumbled upon this post. Gives me something to think about. On our previous trips to WDW, I have brought along a buddy of his so they could keep one another company and also look out for one another.

I am a little concerned about his activities on the ship, but I also know he is a good kid and listens (for the most part)

Still I am thinking about investing in those "walkabouts?" Just to keep in contact without being a constant parental pain.

Also he will have one rule that there will be no negotiation about...HE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER ANYONE ELSE'S ROOM...PERIOD!

Thanks for this topic. I don't think this is paranoia...just smart, considerate and above all "loving" parenting

 

[Pugdog007]

Only adults are allowed in the spa

I also had thoughts of taking my daughter (14) with me but then heard she will not be allowed in.

 

[goofysgal]

On our recent cruise (4/14) I was told by the CM in the lab my DS (11 the day we sailed) would have sign-in/sign out privileges no matter what. I insisted that I be given a text pager and we discussed what instances he was allowed to sign out on his on--then he was to ask the CM to text message me, such as i.e. "I'm returning to the room". The CM wasn't thrilled but honored my request. I even listed on the registration form that he must message me when leaving. We had no problems but as I have posted in the past, 10 is too young to be signing in and out by themselves and I believe DCL should revisit this policy.

 

[cruisnfamily]

If we put our daughter in the 10-12 group we realize she will have sign out priviledges and have been discussing the best way to handle this. She will be 3 weeks away from turning 10.

Here's what we decided. She CAN NOT sign out by herself! If she has a friend and they TOGETHER want to do something like a movie, arcade, etc, then she may sign out and stay WITH the friend. If the friend has to go, then she either comes to hang with us or returns to the lab. There will be NO roaming about the ship on her own. Also, we will leave a post it note on the mirror in the cabin with our whereabouts on it and she will be required to go to the cabin and put a post it on the mirror with her new location (so we know where to find her).

What do you think?

 

[netmark]

Thanks to all of you for your great replies!

I'm glad I posted my question & got all of your thoughts!

If there are parents of any teen girls going on the 6/20 sailing of the Wonder who would like to have their daughter pair up with ours (almost 14), please let us know. She does not relish always being with the entire family (especially her 5 year old brother)!

You can email us at netmark@columbus.rr.com . thanks!
Mark & Annette

PS- We will be at CBR 6/16-6/20.