Charging limits for kids?

[dlin2011]

If I want to allow my teens to charge smoothies, ice cream, etc, can I put limits on their cards? Trying to figure out best way to allow them some spending money without allowing them to buy extravagant souvenirs.

 

[Ravenne]

The only real charging limit DCL sets is if you have a cash account, but iirc that's still several hundred to a thousand bucks, depending on the length of your cruise. You could give them a gift card to charge things to. I haven't tried them in specialty drinks locations, but merch shops accept them. Maybe someone can chime in about the drinks locations.

 

[dlin2011]

I was hoping a gift card would work but as I search it seems the answer is always to put the gc on your onboard acct.

Maybe instead of splitting charges between cards like is also suggested at times, I could put them on cash? But then they can rack up $300 before I know

I may just have to trust them. I think they can handle it. I can check there acct on my app nightly, right? Or maybe I’ll just tell them there card works for smoothies and whatever but not in the shops.

 

[Aby]

As Raveene said gift cards will work in the shops on the ship, but I don't believe they work anywhere else. So at least for souvenirs, you can give them a gift card for XX$, which they can use in the shops, but once it's gone it's gone. Might be a good lesson for them in being judicious when picking out souvenirs. For other venues where gift cards won't work, you will either have to give them charging privileges and trust them, or not - you can't set any specific limits. I'm not sure if you can check your stateroom balance on the app, but on some of the ships (maybe all now?) you can check it on the stateroom TV to see the list of charges. You could also swing by guest services and get a print out nightly. Again, maybe another lesson for the teens to learn about being responsible. Set up some guidelines (maybe around XX$ per day for a special treat?) for what they can charge to their card and let them know that you'll be checking every day. If you find they are abusing the privilege then you will take it away. Also don't forget that most souvenirs from the shops can be returned, so if they end up buying something over the top chances are you can make them take it back!

Aby

 

[Marc D]

I can check there acct on my app nightly, right?

You can check it in near real time, just like on your stateroom Tv.

 

[MomOTwins]

I don't really see the issue here: tell them they cannot buy merchandise. If they aren't responsible enough to follow rules and understand limits, they shouldn't be left on their own to wander the ship and potentially break other rules to the detriment of others on the ship (e.g., go in the adult only area, run in the halls, get food from the buffet without washing hands).

 

[lorimay]

When my son was 11 on our second cruise, we gave him charging privileges to charge if he wanted a drink or something (before the 24 hr drink station) this was 2003, he had a ball buying pins, so many in fact he got a certificate from the store, it was hilarious when that came to our room, but also annoying because after the cruise he threw the lanyard with the pins in his desk and no longer had any interest.
We learned our lesson with limits after that.

 

[Lilsia]

I don't really see the issue here: tell them they cannot buy merchandise. If they aren't responsible enough to follow rules and understand limits, they shouldn't be left on their own to wander the ship and potentially break other rules to the detriment of others on the ship (e.g., go in the adult only area, run in the halls, get food from the buffet without washing hands).

I just told my kids what they could and could not get. They could not buy anything from the gift shops without my OK. They could get 2 specialty drinks/snacks a day. There are plenty of free items for them if they got hungry. Never had an issue with them not following my rules.

 

[Travel60]

Responsibility and threats. There is plenty of free food all over the ship. My teens were allowed to buy a smoothie or similar once a day. Period. Anything else would require them to pay us back...allowance if they have it or additional chores if they don't. And check daily. We did take them to shops ourselves and we bought them a souvenir or shirt.

 

[MausFan]

You can check through the app and on the stateroom tv. We've allowed our adult kids to charge to the room, and we've never had issues. I usually go shopping with them, and will treat for reasonable purchases. If they want to purchase something that we won't pay for, they can let us know, but they will have to pay it back after the cruise.