Cruise for Middle Schooler

[KelliLee702]

My daughter has an opportunity to go on a 3-day Carnival Cruise out of Los Angeles in late 2011. They will make one port stop in Ensenada, Mexico. All the Adult Leaders will be with the girls during this port stop including all excursions. She will be going with her Caddette Girl Scout Troop.

We recently took this troop to Disneyland and did not allow this group to be unchaperoned at Disneyland . . . so, here we are a year later and now they are "old" enough to go on the cruiseship?

We will have to come up with $100 soon and then no more money until the trip. The money is not the problem.

My gut is shouting "Don't let her go!" She's too young.

I will let her go only if I go also. This trip has been approved by the local Girl Scout Council in the past.

 

[trustknoone]

My DD is 12 and the only way I would let her go is if I went too. The fact that they are supposed to have a "responsible" adult in the room and it's the adults that make the switch makes me question how responsible they are. Would they be taking shore excursions? You have to do what you think is best but it sounds like your gut is telling you no way. FWIW I agree with your gut. Good luck deciding.

 

[msmayor]

I don't understand these types of trips for Scouts. We were always supposed to have some sort of educational or enrichment 'angle' to go somewhere. I don't see how a 3-day Mexican cruise cuts it; you can't get very far into Mexico and back in 3 days.

And at 12? I didn't even realize GS could travel out of the country at that age per their safety rules.

May I ask why you need to put up $100? That's the other thing...when I was a leader we were told trips and activities needed to be paid for by fundraising the GIRLS did, and we were not supposed to keep coming to the parents to pay for things.

I don't get it.

 

[disneyhand]

Easy for me to say "no" because it's to Mexico. I wouldn't let my child go there and I won't go there either. It is extremely unsafe.

 

[ceecee]

There are rules as you know for GS leaders and trips must be approved. Has the council approved a trip to Mexico? I think the adult/child ratio at 12 does go up to 10 girls per adult. How many leaders are going and how do the other parents feel? Are they actually going to get off the ship in Mexico?

 

[lillygator]

carnival and girl scout trip - wow, that seems a little odd to me!

 

[ragtopday]

No way would my kid go on something like this without me there, in the same room. I don't necessarily see an issue with 12 year olds having free rein on the ship itself, with check-in times pre-set, but I don't get why a Girl Scout troop is doing something like this in the first place.

Mama's gut knows best.

 

[antmaril]

Easy for me to say "no" because it's to Mexico. I wouldn't let my child go there and I won't go there either. It is extremely unsafe.

This.

 

[Court475]

My dd11 is a GS and I am a former leader. I would not let her go on a trip like that without me. But I too am surprised that a cruise out of the country would be council approved.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I think it's a great opportunity for her! Since you are the leader and you say money isn't an issue, why not go, too?

DD's GS Troop is doing a Mediterranean Cruise next year. The girls will be 14-15 and not every child will be with a parent. The standard rule for international travel is that you have to apply for permission 2 years in advance. (This might not apply for cruises out of the U.S.)

 

[dehlers]

I think it would be a great idea. We did our first cruise last year and felt it would be a awesome thing for kids.. And w/ chaperones.
I would talk to the girls about the importance of buddies and really try to hit that concept home.
Other than that ... let um have fun.

 

[stacieps]

I am a Girl Scout leader and have taken my girls on 2 Carnival cruises (this past August they were 13, and the prior cruise they were 11). When they were 11 we only had 5 girls and an adult ended up paying to come with each girl (not my choice, but the parents of the girls were hesitant to let them go). In August there were 5 girls and 2 adults, so we had an adult in each room, just because it wasn't possible to have 5 girls in a room, and we didn't want to have to raise money for an additional room. We have another trip planned for August 2011 to Disney World and are in the process of raising that money now (plane tickets are bought!) - again this will be 5 girls and 2 adults (the girls will share a room and the adults will be in a connecting/adjoining room).

You should know that it is encouraged by Girl Scouts (at least at my council) that girls have their own room. As long as the chaperones are in a room next door or across the hall, I'm not sure what the problem is with that. Before going on either of our cruises my girls had to agree to a long list of rules which included never being without a buddy (and of course lots of other safety rules - some specific to ships some just general safety, like never letting anyone in your room even if they work for the hotel/ship). I presented these rules in a contract form and made them and their parents sign it. My girls understood how seriously I took safety rules (with the "buddy" rule being right near the top), so I never had an issue with them breaking those rules.

My troop has always raised the money necessary for trips (2 cruises, 1 week at Disney). We have been asked the "educational" question alot. Everything about a trip is educational (if done the Girl Scout way). How to raise the money. How to plan/run the event/activity you decide on to raise the money. How to decide where to go. How to determine the cost of a trip. How to book. What to do where you are going (with the cruises we did there were 2 ports each, so research on each of those). For some of my girls it was their first time on a plane; first time to Florida, etc., so everything was "educational."

I'm surprised at how many of you are surprised Girl Scout council would approve these trips - this is what the girls are supposed to do. Learn and have experiences with their troop! At age 12 Girl Scouts are allowed to go on Girl Scout destinations (10 day trips to Europe), but they have to apply and show they have travel experience and experience away from their families. This was the #1 reason I wanted to book the first cruise my troop went on (although it didn't really work because each girl had an adult relative with her). If the girls want these "extra" experiences, they need to do some traveling as a troop first.

My concern with this proposed trip would be Mexico - what ports is the ship visiting? Are they safe? If it were a cruise to the Bahamas I would not have any problem saying yes she should go, the destination being the western side of Mexico just makes it all questionable.

 

[KelliLee702]

There are rules as you know for GS leaders and trips must be approved. Has the council approved a trip to Mexico? I think the adult/child ratio at 12 does go up to 10 girls per adult. How many leaders are going and how do the other parents feel? Are they actually going to get off the ship in Mexico?

I think it's a great opportunity for her! Since you are the leader and you say money isn't an issue, why not go, too?

DD's GS Troop is doing a Mediterranean Cruise next year. The girls will be 14-15 and not every child will be with a parent. The standard rule for international travel is that you have to apply for permission 2 years in advance. (This might not apply for cruises out of the U.S.)

Yes, this is a council approved event. (or at least it was approved last time they went in 2009) The girl/leader ratio will be good. Almost every Mom went with the girls last time. I am thinking about going, too. I probably would not allow her to go with out a parent along. My cost will be much higher (about $350) plus gas to get to California. Any shore excursions will be with the leaders! One additional cost will be getting her a passport ($105).
To my surprise my husband said "yes" right away. So, there will be many more family discussions regarding this before we make our final decision.

 

[Kika]

Mama's gut knows best.

I agree with this. I would only let mine go if I were going, too.

 

[eatatmidnight]

Does Council allow leaders to sleep in the same room as scouts? I can only speak for Boy Scouts and Girl scouts through 8th grade. But, adults and kids on our trips can't stay in the same room.

 

[ceecee]

Does Council allow leaders to sleep in the same room as scouts? I can only speak for Boy Scouts and Girl scouts through 8th grade. But, adults and kids on our trips can't stay in the same room.

Adjoining rooms are fine, we went on our last trip when my girls were 13 and we went for 4 days, it was a blast. I had 6 girls and myself and the room was a suite with 2 bedrooms, I got one room and the girls had 2 double beds in one room and a pull out sofa in the living area. (close if they need me, far enough away to feel like they had their own room) I would go with my DD and have fun. I could never get the parents of my GS to help or go anywhere, let alone pay. By age 13 the troop had gone from 15 to 6. All our trips were with cookie $. Our council is very funny about doing other fundraisers.

 

[mjkacmom]

Well, we cruised a few months ago, and ds12 had the run of the ship with a friend (with rules), and he had a great time! Also, starting in 7th grade, the choirs go on yearly trips, and adults are not allowed in the rooms with the kids - they get taped in at night. I'd let my child go.

 

[crazelion]

Our Boy Scout troop is going to the Bahamas this year for our trip. We have already had 6 people drop out for the trip. I have not check may email today to see how much it cost.

 

[bellebud]

no, I wouldn't even consider letting my child go.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Does Council allow leaders to sleep in the same room as scouts? I can only speak for Boy Scouts and Girl scouts through 8th grade. But, adults and kids on our trips can't stay in the same room.

yes, they can share a room. Only problem would be if a dad attended. He would have to have his own room.