Freedom for elementary kids on ship?

[SDFgirl]

So on our first cruise, DDs will be 8 and 9. They are both very responsible, level headed and great swimmers, even now at 7 and 8.

I see that they can check themselves out of the Kids Club.

Just wondering what level of "freedom" kids this age generally have on the ship. Do they check in with parents every 30 minutes or so, but basically do their own thing...or do they hang with/are supervised by parents the whole time?

We live across the street from a HUGE pool with lots of different areas. I feel comfortable letting them "do their own thing" as long as I see them a few times an hour. (They usually come back to our chairs pretty frequently to hit me up for snack bar money. LOL).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So on our first cruise, DDs will be 8 and 9. They are both very responsible, level headed and great swimmers, even now at 7 and 8.

I see that they can check themselves out of the Kids Club.

Just wondering what level of "freedom" kids this age generally have on the ship. Do they check in with parents every 30 minutes or so, but basically do their own thing...or do they hang with/are supervised by parents the whole time?

We live across the street from a HUGE pool with lots of different areas. I feel comfortable letting them "do their own thing" as long as I see them a few times an hour. (They usually come back to our chairs pretty frequently to hit me up for snack bar money. LOL).

You set the rules for your kids. Whether they "must check in every 30 minutes", or just "let us know when you leave the clubs".

Some parents let their kids have the run of the ship (even the ones that aren't "very responsible, level headed" ones). Others wouldn't dream of letting kids that young anywhere they aren't being supervised. You'll find both onboard the ship.

I'm afraid that I'd be in the second group. The ship is really a small town, do you let your kids run around town without adult supervision?

 

[Ofinn]

I think its completetly up to the parent to decide how much freedom to give their kids. I personally have never cared what other parents do or think.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I start letting our grandson get out on his own at age 9. He always found us and /or had a blast running around with friends.

 

[DLgal]

Sorry, but I don't think 8/9 is old enough to basically set your daughters free on a cruise ship. It is like a floating city...there are all kinds of people onboard. Would they really be able to handle awkward or potentially dangerous encounters with other passengers or crew members? I definitely would not set them free on the pool deck...it can get very crowded up there and in the pools and often kids act crazy, jumping into the pools on top of others, etc.

I would not make any decisions until you have a chance to walk around the ship and get a feel for how it is. My kids are 10 and almost 12 and I STILL wouldn't let them just "roam around."

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Sorry, but I don't think 8/9 is old enough to basically set your daughters free on a cruise ship. It is like a floating city...there are all kinds of people onboard. Would they really be able to handle awkward or potentially dangerous encounters with other passengers or crew members? I definitely would not set them free on the pool deck...it can get very crowded up there and in the pools and often kids act crazy, jumping into the pools on top of others, etc.

I would not make any decisions until you have a chance to walk around the ship and get a feel for how it is. My kids are 10 and almost 12 and I STILL wouldn't let them just "roam around."

I agree with this. My DS, who has cruised before, will be 8 on our upcoming cruise and I still won't give him sign in/sign out privileges and it's not because I don't trust him to follow any rules I set. It's because I have no idea who the other 5,000 other people on the boat are! When he is a little older and is able to navigate possible strange or inappropriate encounters, we'll re-consider. Until then, we will stay together or he will be in the kids club. In the past two years, two DCL ship employees were arrested for assaulting or molesting young girls. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[SDFgirl]

Thanks for the opinions everyone. Just wondering what is the norm, so to speak.

I wouldn't "set my daughters free" on the ship - obviously. But if I was reading by the pool and I knew they'd generally rotate betwen the Kids Club, the pool, and the snack bar, I could see giving them a little bit of freedom and responsibility.

It goes without saying that I will get my bearings and acclimate our family to the ship before making any decisions.

 

[aggiedog]

Ds was 9 on our first cruise. He is not the most mature kid, but does not typically get into trouble, and has always been a good rule follower. I bought a watch for him at the ship store, and taught him how to navigate the ship. Then I tested him. "Take me to the Oceaneer's Club." "Take me to the Animator's Palette." Once he showed he knew how to find locations using the onboard signage, then we discussed rules. No going into ANY stateroom hallways. No running, No bringing anyone to his stateroom. No loitering on stairs, etc, etc, to cover both safety and civic-mindedness. I also specifically did not tell him about the fact there was free ice cream or that no one would question if he ordered anything he wanted from any restaurant or snack bar.

Last rule was he had to check in with us and meet us for dinner at certain times. If he was late he would lose privileges.

He did great. He was early to everything. He dearly LOVED the freedom. He is the youngest of 4 is bossed around by basically everyone. It was a great chance for him to prove he was responsible and have a bit of self determination.

Yes, it is like a small town, numbers wise, and bad things can happen anywhere. But I live in a small town the same population as the ship - the level of CM's just generally "keeping an eye out" is way higher than people in town. There are not some of the same hazards on the ship that there are in town (cars, etc.) If you think your kid will follow rules you set that will keep him/her out of risky situations, it is a good taste of freedom for them.

 

[lanejudy]

I think the "norm" runs across the broad spectrum -- from those who will not allow the children out of their sight to those who allow the kids to go and do whatever they please from morning until night with hardly a check-in.

My main concern is the pool. This is not your typical neighborhood pool. It's tiny, crowded beyond belief, extremely chaotic -- especially on at-sea days. Yes, DCL now has lifeguards. But as a former lifeguard, I can assure you there is no possible way any lifeguard can possibly watch every kid in that pool area to be sure of safety. Swimming ability is of no particular value in a small pool when some other kid has jumped on top of yours, knocking their breath out and pushing them deep underwater and they can't get to the top or reach the side because it's too crowded. I would not allow an 8 or 9 year old to go near that pool without an adult to keep watch as well. Lifeguards cannot see all.

If you are comfortable allowing them some degree of freedom for self check-out, you might include rules such as: you must come to me or return directly to the room, no friends in the room and do not go in anyone else's room, call or text to let me know when you leave the Club, family dinner together at x:xx time, etc.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[hotfiregal]

My kids are 10 & 11 and we are seasoned Disney Cruisers. I let my kids have freedom (with conditions.) we all have the Disney app on our phones. They tell me where they are. If they want to leave, they have to text and ask first... Then they text me that they've arrived. This works great. The one time my son forgot on our transatlantic last year he was punished by being glued to my side the next day. He never forgot again. However, they cannot do the pool without me, and they are never allowed to go in a stateroom.

 

[KAS_73]

I'm pretty sure there is a huge sign by the pool that says anyone under 12 years old needs to have adult supervision at the pool.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I noticed a sign by the pools on the Magic last month that said children under 12 had to be supervised while in the pool. My DD is 12 and I allow her some freedom but told her she absolutely wasn't permitted to be in the pools without me present. The pools on the ships just make me really nervous.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

 

[Alexle2007]

We allowed DS who was 8 on our last cruise to have sign-in and out privileges and purchase privileges. He is a grade ahead in school so I have to get use to him doing things at an earlier age. He'll just barely be 17 when he goes off to college. He did great with it! He didn't spend a single cent and was always on time. We stayed in concierge and he easily found his way. This was on 2nd cruise on the Fantasy. He'll definitely be getting them again when we go on our cruise in Oct. He'll be 9 then and a 5th grader.

 

[TeaBee]

So on our first cruise, DDs will be 8 and 9. They are both very responsible, level headed and great swimmers, even now at 7 and 8.

I see that they can check themselves out of the Kids Club.

Just wondering what level of "freedom" kids this age generally have on the ship. Do they check in with parents every 30 minutes or so, but basically do their own thing...or do they hang with/are supervised by parents the whole time?

We live across the street from a HUGE pool with lots of different areas. I feel comfortable letting them "do their own thing" as long as I see them a few times an hour. (They usually come back to our chairs pretty frequently to hit me up for snack bar money. LOL).

My daughter was 10 on our last cruise and we allowed her sign out privileges with a lot of conditions. She used the navigator app to let us know when she was leaving and was allowed to go get ice cream and go back to the cabin. We gave her a talk about courtesy and safety and she did great. And ate a LOT of ice cream.

 

[tcufrog]

My main concern is the pool. This is not your typical neighborhood pool. It's tiny, crowded beyond belief, extremely chaotic -- especially on at-sea days. Yes, DCL now has lifeguards. But as a former lifeguard, I can assure you there is no possible way any lifeguard can possibly watch every kid in that pool area to be sure of safety. Swimming ability is of no particular value in a small pool when some other kid has jumped on top of yours, knocking their breath out and pushing them deep underwater and they can't get to the top or reach the side because it's too crowded. I would not allow an 8 or 9 year old to go near that pool without an adult to keep watch as well. Lifeguards cannot see all.

We own a pool and my sons are excellent swimmers. We really felt like the atmosphere at the Disney Dream pool was really unsafe so we didn't allow them to get into the pool. They understood why since we've drilled them on pool safety. The boat wasn't even full when we went on our cruise. We did allow them to ride the water slides as much as they wanted and that made them happy.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

I let my (then) 8 and 11 year old have sign out privileges and leave the club and go back to the room on our last cruise. They could also go up to deck 9 for ice cram and food. I do not allow them to swim in the pool unsupervised, even with DCL's excellent lifeguards.

BUT, to OP, I wouldn't have let them do it if it had been our FIRST cruise. This last cruise was on the Magic, and our 6th DCL cruise, and prior to that cruise they had spent 49 nights on either the Magic or the Wonder (which have almost identical layout). They know the Magic very well. It takes at least a few days to get used to the layout of the ship, so for your FIRST cruise, I'd wait a few days before setting them free!

 

[Ofinn]

 

[SDFgirl]

I appreciate knowing the atmosphere and dynamics of the pools. Sounds like they are little crazier (due to size?) than a regular pool. It makes sense to be cautious.

My kids will be with their older cousins who will be 10, 12, and 12 (also great kids) and have been on the Fantasy before.

Not sure yet if I will give my kids sign in/out rights. Maybe towards the end of the cruise.

This is not meant to be a "popcorn eating" thread!! LOL. I am a responsible parent and I make safe decisions for my kids. I also don't want to hover over them and I want to give them some freedom when it's appropriate. Just trying to figure out where DCL fits in that pendulum.

 

[Ozarkglittergirl]

This is a great thread for us first time cruisers. Love the popcorn eating lol. Seriously though I've devoured (no reference to eating popcorn) every word. I'm disappointed to know the pools are so overcrowded. But glad to be forewarned.