Freedom for elementary kids on ship?

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

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.

The pools are often a case of trying to stuff 10lbs of potatoes into a 5lb sack, to put a more polite spin on the more common turn of that phrase.

 

[Skiton]

The pools can be pretty bad, I agree. I'm hoping DCL does something different with them on the new ships. I certainly do let my kids swim in them, though, I just make sure I've got an eye on them.

Our last cruise, I allowed my 7 and 8 year old to be out and about with their 12 year old cousin. The cousin is a reliable kid, and also has a phone so I could get in contact with him. I wouldn't have let them roam around by themselves, but then again I have boys and I have no illusions about their sometimes questionable judgement and lack of maturity. (Not saying this about all boys, but it definitely applies to mine.) However, I really do think that the ship is a safe place, as long as you have kids who you trust to exercise good judgement and conduct themselves appropriately. My biggest concern would really involve getting lost.

 

[Kriisikka]

The wavephones are a great way to give kids some extra space. In my culture children walk or take public transportation to school since age 6, and also otherwise they move about themselves in town to hobbies and friends and such, so on our first cruise we weren't very concerned about our son not being able to handle himself. But he always had to have the wavephone on him and phone us when leaving the club room, so we could discuss what he will be doing next - coming to us or maybe wanting to do something else, and what that something else is. Basically the same routine we keep at home too minus wavephone plus mobile. Of course cultures vary a lot and children that aren't used to being fairly independent at an early age probably should be kept on a closer watch. But only the parents can know how much their kids can or can not handle, there isn't really anyone else to make that decision for them.

 

[Ofinn]

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.

This topic has been discussed many times on this boards. It usually becomes heated with everyone telling each other how to raise their kids. Hopefully this one will not turn into that.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Even though people have different parenting styles, it's good to get a variety of opinions. It helps to paint a picture of the dynamics and security of the ship, especially for new cruisers. We all know our kids best and know where they fit in that dynamic, but understanding possible pitfalls or advantages of ship independence helps with that decision-making.

 

[Naterfan]

My son is 8, and he was free to do whatever he wanted as long as he joined us for lunch and dinner, knowing that if he was ever late, his freedom would become a little more restrictive. We never had an issue.

That being said, we won't let him go two blocks down the street to the neighborhood park by himself...

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There is no norm. There are parents who let the kids leave the stateroom in the morning and don't care if they report in or not. There are other parents who won't let their kids out of their sight even to go to the supervised clubs. Most parents fall somewhere in the middle. The parents are supposed to know their kids, and should be aware of what the kids can handle. At the very least I'd think that parents who are amenable to letting their kids go off unsupervised ought to have a chat with the kids and let them know that they should not be going into anybody else's stateroom or bringing anybody into their own stateroom. And not to go off into an isolated area with anybody, no matter what they say.

DCL gives parents the options of allowing kids age 8 and up to sign themselves out of kids club programming. Parents shouldn't have illusions that running around a cruise ship would be any "safer" than running around at home would be and doesn't require ANY precautions.

 

[RedSox68]

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?

Agree. When my daughter was 9 she was allowed to leave the kids club but go straight to the room. If she left for any reason, she had to leave us a note as to where we could find her.

You really don't know who is sailing or who is in the staterooms. Your child(ren) may be very level-headed with good common sense, but that doesn't mean the other people around them are!

It really boils down to your comfort zone for your own children.

 

[kamik86]

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?

As someone that grew up in a small town. I don't know anyone that didn't let kids 8 or 9 walk around town without adult supervision. That would commonly be walking to school and then hanging around town with friends after.

 

[2-pointdoe]

DD is 8. If she had a sibling cousin or friend there is a possibility that i would allow check out privileges but as it will just be her on this cruise I am not planning to.

 

[puffkin]

What is a wave phone? I have cruised before several times but never with kids. My DS is 10 and pretty independent, so I will probably give him privileges to check himself out of the clubs and do his own thing, but he does not have a cell phone for me to keep tabs on him.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

What is a wave phone? I have cruised before several times but never with kids. My DS is 10 and pretty independent, so I will probably give him privileges to check himself out of the clubs and do his own thing, but he does not have a cell phone for me to keep tabs on him.

The wave phones are like cell phones but only work on the ship and at CC. There are two in every stateroom and you can rent extras at Guest Services if you want. But there is a $250 fee if you lose one. With the Navigator app now allowing texting over the ship's wifi, the value of the wave phones is less, but if you have kids in the kids clubs, they will use the wave phones to contact you, usually through a text.

 

[anricat]

My DD will be 8 on our upcoming cruise and I will allow her to check herself out of the club. Actually, on our last cruise, at age 7, I would have allowed it if I could. She has my old iPhone which she carried with her in a pouch last time and when she wanted to get picked up from the club, she would send me a message on the Navigator. We never used the wave phones.

This next time around, since she'll be able to check out, the rule will be that she can do so, but she will need to send a message to my DH and/or me and head either straight to our location or to our room. Also, I told her no elevators. We're on deck 2 on the Wonder so it won't be a big deal for her just to pop down a few flights of stairs. She's young and spry.

As this is our third cruise, I feel pretty confident she'll be able to find her way around. Every time we headed to the room, she led the way (because she LOVES to unlock the door) and half the time I would try to go the wrong direction getting off the elevators. "This way Mama! Sheesh!"

I really try to strike a balance between the helicopter style and the free range style. A middle way, as it were, giving her some independence and freedom, while still recognizing that her brain isn't done developing so she won't always have the judgement of an older child and that, regrettably, other people aren't always as trustworthy as we'd like.

 

[Kriisikka]

With the Navigator app now allowing texting over the ship's wifi, the value of the wave phones is less, but if you have kids in the kids clubs, they will use the wave phones to contact you, usually through a text.

Last summer we found the app to be slightly lacking in reliability but the wavephones have always worked well.

 

[bethy]

For me, and with kids that age I would allow them a good amount of freedom especially if they stick together. Including check out privileges at the clubs. This is presuming they consistently demonstrate good judgment and good choices. We use the iphone texting app and it works great for us.

 

[TeaBee]

What is a wave phone? I have cruised before several times but never with kids. My DS is 10 and pretty independent, so I will probably give him privileges to check himself out of the clubs and do his own thing, but he does not have a cell phone for me to keep tabs on him.

Do you have an ipod or an old smartphone? Since it just needs the ability to download the app and access wifi, it doesn't have to be a fully enabled cellphone. We used the app exclusively to keep track of kids and each other. I didn't have the kids carry a wave phone because I was terrified of them losing it (plus they hated the interface).

 

[anricat]

Last summer we found the app to be slightly lacking in reliability but the wavephones have always worked well.

We used it constantly on our 5 night on the Magic in October and literally had zero issues. Maybe they're getting the kinks worked out or maybe we were just lucky.

 

[jahber]

When my kids were 10 and 8 I have them sign out privileges, with conditions. First, no pool without us. Period. That pool is insane, like others said. And second, they needed to let us know whenever they changed locations. We have them use the house phones to call our wave phones or leave a note INSIDE the room. And then there are general safety rules, like no one in our stateroom and no going in anyone else's staterooms. They also aren't allowed to use the elevators if there are other people in them, just to cut down on time when they are alone with strangers. Out and about there are always cast members and tons of vigilant parents around. And we sometimes find them unexpectedly and observe them. And they run across us at times (like at meals) and join us. That's fun because they aren't forced to be with us--they consider it a happy surprise

Do what's comfortable for you. I don't judge any parent for their choices. Some people just couldn't relax knowing their kids are out there--and that's no fun. Some people (like me) see their kids allllllll day everrrrrrry day and go on vacation for time away from the kids

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

YES.

Heck, a kid went underwater at DS's swim lessons once, directly under the lifeguard stand, and neither that lifeguard, the one roaming around, or the swim teacher (who is also a lifeguard), noticed the kid. Thankfully her parent attended all lessons (as did I until DS was 10) and noticed, and went and hauled up her kid. And this is at the Y where the lifeguard training is really good. But they can't see everything, and can't see everything immediately.

And the pools, at least on Dream, are WAY more crowded than any YMCA pool...

As someone that grew up in a small town. I don't know anyone that didn't let kids 8 or 9 walk around town without adult supervision. That would commonly be walking to school and then hanging around town with friends after.

OK picture moving to a new small town. The FIRST day, do you let the kid roam? The first week? Or do you wait to get to know some people first? The ship = your first week in a brand new town. You know no one.

What is a wave phone? I have cruised before several times but never with kids. My DS is 10 and pretty independent, so I will probably give him privileges to check himself out of the clubs and do his own thing, but he does not have a cell phone for me to keep tabs on him.

Apparently DCL bought a ton of cell phones back in 2002 and is imposing them upon their paying customers. They are awful. I don't know how I used to text on those dinosaurs LOL.

If someone in the family has an ipod or old cell without a SIM in it, that does get wifi, use that instead of the Wave, in my opinion. DS has an old Samsung for games. No SIM but it gets wifi. So we downloaded the Navigator on it (and our devices), and DS can text us through Navigator, using the free wifi (no way to use the paid wifi accidentally), when he's ready to leave the club.

On our next scheduled cruise, on Royal, he'll be out of "kid club" age, and there's no way to tether him to the preteen area. So in March we gave him a bit more freedom. But we'll likely be paying for internet on that cruise so he can partake in it and let us know what's going on.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My kids have old ipods that they rarely use (cracked screens are readable, but not so great for playing games.) But there's will go on the wifi, if it's available. Do I need to turn something off to ensure they don't 'accidentally' go on one of their games or text/facetime their friends, but that will still allow them to use the navigator? I can't justify the high price of cell/data plans to get my kids smart cell phones. I tell them that's why we can afford a cruise, lol.