Can a 14 year old leave ship in port alone?

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

Hi! I am planning my Fantasy trip for this summer and a student of mine just rushed in and said he and his grandma will be sailing the Fantasy a few weeks before us. He is 14 and really responsible, but was worried that his grandma (who is not super-mobile) may not want to get off the ship in port. Can he get off and explore a port unaccompanied? Would he be allowed to book a ship-sponsored excursion to Sting Ray City without his grandma? I had no idea how to answer his questions, but I know my Disers will! Thanks!

 

[disneyfan888]

Hi! I am planning my Fantasy trip for this summer and a student of mine just rushed in and said he and his grandma will be sailing the Fantasy a few weeks before us. He is 14 and really responsible, but was worried that his grandma (who is not super-mobile) may not want to get off the ship in port. Can he get off and explore a port unaccompanied? Would he be allowed to book a ship-sponsored excursion to Sting Ray City without his grandma? I had no idea how to answer his questions, but I know my Disers will! Thanks!

All passengers under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult in order to get off the ship.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I figured that, but wanted to be sure before I burst his bubble! Can he get off in Castaway Cay without her?

 

[stsomewhere]

You can sign a waiver allowing teens off the ship unaccompanied. i know you can do it for Castaway Cay, not sure about other ports.

 

[maria-fan-22]

I am pretty sure that at any port you can fill out a form at the gangway and allow teenagers to leave the ship unaccompanied.

The adult responsible for the child must escort the child to the gangway to sign the form.



From the Personal Navigator

Guests under the age of 18 are required to have parents, guardian, or other responsible adult sign an authorization form at the time it is given out if they wish to go ashore unaccompanied. Authorization forms are available at the gangways and Guest Services.

 

[abbiep]

Personally, I cant imagine letting a 14 yr old off the ship unaccompanied in a strange country. I dont think I would do it here in the USA and I dont care how responsible they are. Thats just way too dangerous for me. Castaway Cay might be a different thing, but still not even sure about that one.

 

[DVC Jen]

Personally, I cant imagine letting a 14 yr old off the ship unaccompanied in a strange country. I dont think I would do it here in the USA and I dont care how responsible they are. Thats just way too dangerous for me. Castaway Cay might be a different thing, but still not even sure about that one.

 

[Kristibo42]

I would never let a 14 year old wander at port by themself.

 

[PWammy]

Never sailed Disney before, but on my last RCCL there were teens that got off at the private island and went back and forth, no problem and it surprised me. I think if the child looked like a young adult, no one would quesiton it. Not sure I'd let my 14 year old go into the regular port area by themselves though. Not sure if the most mature 14 year old could handle a crazy situation if something happened.

 

[disprincess4ever]

In fine print on the bottom of the DCL website, it says that children under 18 can not do a port adventure alone, unless otherwise stated. I assume Disney would not be keen or allowing to let your child off, neither is it a safe thing to do in the Caribbean ports. The only port too look at differently is Castaway Cay because it is more of a Disney controlled environment.

 

[Jillscabanastories]

I totally agree. That idea of 14 year old in port alone makes me very nervous.

 

[tufbuf]

He can join the activities with the other teens on Vibe or Edge in Castaway Cay.

 

[neg58]

Never sailed Disney before, but on my last RCCL there were teens that got off at the private island and went back and forth, no problem and it surprised me. I think if the child looked like a young adult, no one would quesiton it. Not sure I'd let my 14 year old go into the regular port area by themselves though. Not sure if the most mature 14 year old could handle a crazy situation if something happened.

My kids did the teen adventure package on CC and i had to sign a waiver for them to get off the ship by themselves (with the group). Even CC is a foreign port and they must have permission to get off, just like we must all use our KTTW cards and ID.

I wouldn't let my 16 and 17 year olds get off alone at ports or do excursions without me at least being there to observe. There are plenty of excursions a grandmother can go along on to observe and let the 14 year old do the ziplining or swim with the dolphins. No reason for him to be alone.



Nancy

 

[su_A_ve]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;48066043]Hi! I am planning my Fantasy trip for this summer and a student of mine just rushed in and said he and his grandma will be sailing the Fantasy a few weeks before us. He is 14 and really responsible, but was worried that his grandma (who is not super-mobile) may not want to get off the ship in port. Can he get off and explore a port unaccompanied? Would he be allowed to book a ship-sponsored excursion to Sting Ray City without his grandma? I had no idea how to answer his questions, but I know my Disers will! Thanks![/QUOTE]

AFAIK, unless it is a teen only excursion, an adult must accompany a child to a DCL excursion.

In any case, the responsible adult must sign the release form to let him off the ship.

 

[n8nally]

I'm so glad for him that they are allowed to get off without an adult!

I would call Disney and confirm about the specific excursion he is wanting to take. Maybe they will let him, maybe they won't. Best way is to check. I do know they have observer options for lots of excursions if his Grandma wants to just accompany him but not participate.

I also wanted to say kudos to this young man! How many 14 year olds would be excited to go on a vacation with their Grandma! He sounds like a lovely boy.

My son is 15 and I would absolutely let him get off and go on an excursion without me if he wanted to and was allowed. He, OTOH, might be the one who would be concerned, lol!

Regardless, for our upcoming cruise, we will all be getting off and doing our excursions as a family, but for arguments sake, yes, I would allow him to.

Everyone needs to make the decision that feels right to them and their family, and no one can know your child as well as you can, so it is not anybody's place to say what this Grandma should or should not let her grandson do.

But what a wonderful bond they must have! I hope they have a blast!

 

[noahdove]

Holy moly, I hope she won't allow him to get off...I wouldn't want to get off by myself at age of 62, let alone 14..

 

[MikeAndNick]

People forget, it was not that long ago you were getting married and starting a family at 14 or 15. I was working almost full time and running our house at 15.

 

[Susiesark]

People forget, it was not that long ago you were getting married and starting a family at 14 or 15. I was working almost full time and running our house at 15.

You're kidding right? What people SHOULDN'T forget is that there are predators everywhere. Children are being taken right out of their own homes (within the past month in Calif.) Just last week it was reported that an employee at WDW was arrested for child porn. Anything, accidental or otherwise, could happen to a child (yes, 14 is still a child) roaming on his own in a foreign place, even his own city.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

 

[neg58]

People forget, it was not that long ago you were getting married and starting a family at 14 or 15. I was working almost full time and running our house at 15.

Where was this?

My parents were married when they were 19 and 20, and my father needed the permission of his parents. I worked at 13 too, but not on the docks at a port city of a foreign country.

I think the 14 year old has grand ideas about the cruise, but I'm sure his grandmother has other ideas.

Nancy