Aloft club

[Jsme]

When we cruise in 2006 my DD will be a 13 yo. She will be able to go to the Aloft Club. I know where it is located. I guess I am just concerned. She will only be 13. Will she will be half way into her thirteenth year. She is not a very independent child. I have read on another thread that the teens tend to move in groups. Especially if they are repeat cruisers. This weill be her 3rd cruise. So she should fit in on that accord, but the aging scares me. I mean DD is a very mature 12 yo right now. I want her to have a ball. I think if she will go to the Club she will have a blast. Can anyone tell me what their DK's thought of the club?

Also I have concerns that DS will feel left out. He will be 11, almost 12. Lack just a few days there. He tends to think he can do everything DD can do.

 

[floridaminnie]

there's a lot for them to do together outside of the clubs. Also you might want to look for other kids their age on the meet board that way they have some friends before you arrive.

 

[Jsme]

Yeah we did that on our last cruise. DD made a friend while waiting at the terminal. It was nice, but the girl was a little younger and was not as mature as DD so it did not work out too well. They swam together a few days but that was it.

 

[ivanova]

Our DD was 13 1/2 on our first cruise .. she loved the teen club .. had no issues with the "older" teens, made friends, couldn't wait to get back .. we cruised again when she was 14 1/2, again no problems .. and the 3rd cruise is coming up in 7 1/2 weeks and she's now 15, chompin' at the bit to get back to the teen club.

 

[kcashner]

We are veteran cruisers on DCL (12 times on the Magic so far.) DD chose to celebrate her 13th birthday on the Magic. She had a blast! We did one other cruise while she was 13. I wouldn't hesitate at all.

First, the kids are divided (the same as in the club and lab). I thing the groups are 13-14 and 15-17. Yes, there are times that they are together, but we really only had one problem (a young man who was obnoxious when DD wasn't interested in a shipboard romance), and this was very promptly dealt with by the staff. In fairness, DD tells me virtually everything, so if there is/was a problem, I would find out about it. My only hint would be to talk to your daughter in advance and tell her to inform the staff if anything makes her uncomfortable.

I'll also add the disclaimer that we usually cruise off season, so there is a relatively small teen group on board. Things might be really different in August for our next cruise!

If there is a thread on the "cruise meets" section of the boards, you might see if there is another girl who would be interested in an e-mail meeting prior to cruising. It has always been my experience that if DD makes a friend in the first day or so, the cruise is great. It helps to know someone before you board!

 

[Jsme]

I really just want Mac to have a great time. I think she will if she will just becme a little independent by then.
Anyone else want to tell me about their experience?

 

[westjones]

Just FYI: My DH and I are concerned about the idea of our twin DDs going to the teen club when they are 13. We actually are thinking of skipping the cruise that year and going to Vero Beach instead. BUT I have read many threads about this subject and asked questions, and I have been told that you can put your 13 year old in with the 10-12 year old group if you want to. Others have done that. We have considered it, but again, we have decided that at age 13 it will be a good chance to go to VB together instead of the cruise.

Just wanted to throw that out as an idea.

Good Luck,
DJ

 

[musicgirl]

My ds was 13 when we cruised last.

He loved the clubs, can not wait to go back. I don't know exactly what he did, but we NEVER saw him, except for dinner and excursions. He did do some of the teen activities but mostly he met a few kids (girls and boys) and they hung out all over the ship. They even had dinner together at one of the tables since the adults at that particular table were at Palo.

I wouldn't worry too much. They need to make sure that when the older teen sessions are going on, they leave. The CM's generally don't go around and ask everyone their age. If something makes them uncomfortable, they should leave. They will need to make those kind of decisions all the time.

Remember, they don't have to go to the clubs if they don't want to. There are all kinds of things to do movies, pool, games with the family. I think even ordering room service is fun!!!!

They'll be fine!

 

[Jsme]

Update: I have let Mac look at the teen navigator and she is excited. I think she will be fine and will enjoy herself...if I can just get her to go for the first time. She is kind of shy...like me...but she really liked some of the activities and can't seem to wait to do the club. She just can't beleieve I am going to let her stay up that late. Her brother is so jealous he can hardly stand it.

Thanks Floridaminnie for your suggestion. I will have to do that. Maybe I will get lucky and she can get to know someome before leaving so she will fell comfortable. I will have to do a posting tonight or tomorrow about that!
.

 

[musicgirl]

I'm glad she's excited. I think staying up so late was part of the reason ds had such a great time. I think he liked the "freedom".