Cruising with older teens... Need advice please

[Bambi D.]

We are traveling with two older teens. 16 and 18. We've put them in their own stateroom but dcl requires one person over 25 years old be in each room. So when we booked we split up. The reservation has one parent and one child in each room. How will we work out our key cards? If they are used to identify us to board and/or admit them to specific areas, we can't just swap key cards with one of the kids. Will the CMs at port understand and have a solution or is it best to not say anything. At all? Perhaps, they could make some of cards open both doors?????

 

[ktate82]

You can each get a key card that opens the other room so you will each carry two key cards. Make sure for the 16 year old, the parent who is "in" the room with them will have to sign permission for the 18 year old and other parent to take them on and off the ship.

 

[Bambi D.]

You can each get a key card that opens the other room so you will each carry two key cards. Make sure for the 16 year old, the parent who is "in" the room with them will have to sign permission for the 18 year old and other parent to take them on and off the ship.

Thank you! I've signed a form for her that she can leave the ship without a parent. Do we need to Do another one to add her brother or is it enough to have just the one?

 

[ktate82]

Thank you! I've signed a form for her that she can leave the ship without a parent. Do we need to Do another one to add her brother or is it enough to have just the one?

If she can leave the ship without a parent, I would think that would be good. Make sure to turn it in at Guest Services when you board. We completed it and gave it to them when we checked in. They said it was processed, but then when my MIL tried to take the kids off the ship, the form wasn't processed.

 

[Bambi D.]

Do you think there is plenty for them to Do? Since my son turned18 they can't go into any of the age defined areas together. Either he's too old or she's too young.
How strict are the CMs when it comes to age? Ali is 16 but could possibly pass for 18....

 

[noahsmom]

The key to the world card will indicate age group. We went on a cruise at Christmas and my son turned 18 in November, he was not allowed in Vibe. However he enjoyed going to the adult areas with us and finally going to Palo. There is a group called 1820 which is for those between 18 and 20. He went once to there meeting but most were older and he wasn't interested in the activities. So even though your daughter could pass for 18, her card will indicate she is not.

 

[Hundredacre]

If she can leave the ship without a parent, I would think that would be good. Make sure to turn it in at Guest Services when you board. We completed it and gave it to them when we checked in. They said it was processed, but then when my MIL tried to take the kids off the ship, the form wasn't processed.

Same thing happened to us. We also complete d it and gave it to the check in person who said it was done. We had to sort it out at guest services later (they said there was no record of it so we filled out another form).

 

[kimberlyelayne]

My teens are in their own room. Oldest 18. I did not come across anywhere saying they have to be 25.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My teens are in their own room. Oldest 18. I did not come across anywhere saying they have to be 25.

If both of your teens related, you don't need an over 25 in the room.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do you think there is plenty for them to Do? Since my son turned18 they can't go into any of the age defined areas together. Either he's too old or she's too young.
How strict are the CMs when it comes to age? Ali is 16 but could possibly pass for 18....

There is the 1820 Society for that group. They meet up on the first night in one of the lounges (check the Navigator for where/when) to plan activities. It's real important that your son attend the meeting, as, if no one shows up, nothing gets planned and the group fails.

A 16 year old cannot enter adult only areas. An 18 year cannot attend Vibe (except during open hour hours). Both ages can be in all other areas onboard.

 

[Bambi D.]

If both of your teens related, you don't need an over 25 in the room.

Well that stinks... when we booked with our travel agent she was the one who said one person at least 25 had to be booked on the room. Hopefully, we can just get it sorted at the port during check in.

 

[Bambi D.]

There is the 1820 Society for that group. They meet up on the first night in one of the lounges (check the Navigator for where/when) to plan activities. It's real important that your son attend the meeting, as, if no one shows up, nothing gets planned and the group fails.

A 16 year old cannot enter adult only areas. An 18 year cannot attend Vibe (except during open hour hours). Both ages can be in all other areas onboard.

I've seen that 1820 group mentioned in more than post on the boards but I find ZERO information about it on the DCL website. We are sailing on the Dream and I can not find any reference to it at all

 

[Bambi D.]

The key to the world card will indicate age group. We went on a cruise at Christmas and my son turned 18 in November, he was not allowed in Vibe. However he enjoyed going to the adult areas with us and finally going to Palo. There is a group called 1820 which is for those between 18 and 20. He went once to there meeting but most were older and he wasn't interested in the activities. So even though your daughter could pass for 18, her card will indicate she is not.

I'd love for our son to hang out with us but he is far too "cool" to hang with his parents. He will likely stay with his sister (probably better that she not be left to fend for herself anyway). I can not find any information about this 1820 group on the DCL website. We are sailing on the Dream. Perhaps it is only on the Fantasy?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've seen that 1820 group mentioned in more than post on the boards but I find ZERO information about it on the DCL website. We are sailing on the Dream and I can not find any reference to it at all

The only times I've seen anything about it is in the Navigator. It'll be listed in the one you get in the terminal at check in where/what time the meeting is the first night.

It's not really a "group" like Vibe or the other kid's clubs, just a marginally organized group that meets at various venues for various activities (that they set up with the CM facilitating the group the first night).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well that stinks... when we booked with our travel agent she was the one who said one person at least 25 had to be booked on the room. Hopefully, we can just get it sorted at the port during check in.

In re-thinking this--DCL does allow an 18 year olds to be in a room by themselves, if an under 18 (traveling without parents/guardian) is in a room by him/herself (or with others) there must be at least one over 21 in the room.

Did your TA say someone had to be 25? Or did you talk to DCL directly and get this info? Most other cruise lines have the "must be over 25" rule, but not Disney.

It doesn't really specify that if a room has a minor (regardless if parent is cruising also) there must be an over 21 in the room, if the others in the room are related, so I may have that wrong.

 

[lanejudy]

I can not find any information about this 1820 group on the DCL website.

@Bambi D. check out the Personal Navigators on Disney Cruise Line Blog and you'll see notations about 1820 Society. Whether the group gets real active or not depends on the passengers for that particular cruise. It may be that the shorter Dream cruises have fewer in that age range, or people have more family time planned with less time to hang out and meet peers. If your son may be interested, it's important he attend the first night which is probably around 10pm; if nobody (or few) show up then, nothing more gets planned for the rest of the cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lanejudy]

In re-thinking this--DCL does allow an 18 year olds to be in a room by themselves, if an under 18 (traveling without parents/guardian) is in a room by him/herself (or with others) there must be at least one over 21 in the room.

This is my understanding as well. 18, 19 and 20 yr olds can be booked into a stateroom with others in that age range or older. Minors (under 18) must be booked into a room with someone 21 or older. The only exception is for minor children with a parent who falls into the 18-20 age range.

 

[Bambi D.]

In re-thinking this--DCL does allow an 18 year olds to be in a room by themselves, if an under 18 (traveling without parents/guardian) is in a room by him/herself (or with others) there must be at least one over 21 in the room.

Did your TA say someone had to be 25? Or did you talk to DCL directly and get this info? Most other cruise lines have the "must be over 25" rule, but not Disney.

It doesn't really specify that if a room has a minor (regardless if parent is cruising also) there must be an over 21 in the room, if the others in the room are related, so I may have that wrong.

It was the travel agent who told us we had to split up when we added the additional state room for the kids. We originally had all four of us in a room together but after much thinking (and money management) we decided to add another stateroom to put them in their own space.

 

[cedricandsophie]

My grand daughter has been with us on thre cruises where she joined the 1820 group. A couple in Europe and one in the Caribbean in Jan. She loved the group. She said how well it functioned depended a lot on the staff member designate to be their coordinator. They got together for games. Smoothies, Late night dancing st th clubs, etc. she rarely got in before 1 or 2 because they tended to close down the clubs. She has met young peopl that she still stays in touch with. In Europe I gave her permission to get a drink. I was supposed to be with her when she purchased a drink bu that didn't seem to mater. some of the kids seemed to have alcohol readily available from their parents all the time. I wasn't concerned about her but if you are concerned about your older kids over indulging or getting into trouble you may need to set some rules.

 

[kimberlyelayne]

My three kids are in their own room without any problems- ages are 18, 15, and 10. When my daughter was under the age of 18 for our past cruises, I had to split me and my husband- one of us in each room. Hope that helps.