Freedom for elementary kids on ship?

[scootch]

Pools were not my concern, strangers were. Just would hate to think someone might persaude one of my daughters into a room or something. Even though I might tell them 100 times.

 

[Ofinn]

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

Like you. I dont care what other parents do nor do I care what other parents think Of what I do. We've given our kids check in and out privledge see since they were 8 and 9. They've never been swimming on a cruise. We have a pool so it doesnt even interest them. At 11 and 13 they are pretty much gone all day, but 90 percent of the time there in the Edge. The other 10 percent they're getting food. My biggest rule is they must shower, put clean clothes on and show up to dinner on time. So far the havent failed at that. They know the cosequences. They must also come back to the room as soon as the edge closes at 1 am. If we go to Palo the oldest will go to the Mdr and eat by himself. The youngest will celebrate the fact that he doesnt have to go to dinner. Very different kids. They seem to handle the indepedence well. We've had no issues.

 

[Ofinn]

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.

Smart to hold off on the phones as long as possible. I had no choice once they got old enough to stay home alone I got them cell phones. We dont have a landline so it was the only option. Kids get addicted to those things fast.

 

[FigmentSpark]

lol @ "The youngest will celebrate the fact that he doesn't have to go to dinner."

 

[FigmentSpark]

Smart to hold off on the phones as long as possible. I had no choice once they got old enough to stay home alone I got them cell phones. We dont have a landline so it was the only option. Kids get addicted to those things fast.

Ah, see, we haven't disconnected from Ma Bell, yet. Free local calls or pay for local calls... that's the way I look at it. I guess I'm just old school... the one room schoolhouse, that is.

 

[Ofinn]

Ah, see, we haven't disconnected from Ma Bell, yet. Free local calls or pay for local calls... that's the way I look at it. I guess I'm just old school... the one room schoolhouse, that is.

We are grandfathered into unlimited data with sprint. I pay 200.00 a month for four smart phones unlimited data, call and texts. I will never be able to leave sprint no matter how bad their customer service is. My phone also serves as my laptop most of the time. I cant really get on my kids for their addiction because Im pretty much addicted to mine. I like your old school methods though.

 

[Ofinn]

lol @ "The youngest will celebrate the fact that he doesn't have to go to dinner."

A cruise to him is all about the "free ice cream".

 

[TeaBee]

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.

If you don't connect them to the paid data plan, the only wifi app that they'll be able to use is the DCL app. Apps and games that don't require data would still be usable, but maybe that can be your little secret? Just tell them the only thing that will work is the DCL app.

 

[TeaBee]

A cruise to him is all about the "free ice cream".

When we told my 10 year old that we were going on another cruise, all she said was, "YES! Ice cream!!"

 

[Ofinn]

When we told my 10 year old that we were going on another cruise, all she said was, "YES! Ice cream!!"

Another kid with good priorities. I like that.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I have a feeling it's the ice cream I'll have to hide from my kids, not the electronics. Which would be nice for a change.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

They cannot accidentally do anything. The free wifi gives them Navigator app only, and you cannot accidentally get on the paid wifi.

Games...if they can play without connection they could go into those. Like DS can play minecraft on his. If he tries to connect it's denied.

We are grandfathered into unlimited data with sprint. I pay 200.00 a month for four smart phones unlimited data, call and texts. I will never be able to leave sprint no matter how bad their customer service is. My phone also serves as my laptop most of the time. I cant really get on my kids for their addiction because Im pretty much addicted to mine. I like your old school methods though.

I hope it's a true thing, your grandfathering. We were set into an absolute contract with ATT. STarted when we had Cingular, and we were the same same same from 2012 until later 2015.

When their entire plan changed, and if you made any change (including getting a new phone) you were put onto their new plan, and there went the old plan we'd had for so long. Even if you bought a phone outright, once you linked it to your account, the old plan was gone.

 

[Kriisikka]

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.

We experienced lag in the message delivery, at its worst it could take 15 minutes or so. During the day used to work well, at night not so well. Maybe in the evening everyone was using it and the system got congested, the ship was more or less packed.
Almost a year since our last cruise on the Magic, though, and I guess the chat function was pretty new then, so maybe they have worked things out.

 

[Kriisikka]

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.

Again a cultural thing. In my country it would be perfectly normal to move in and chase the kids out to make new friends on their own without parent supervision and vetting.

 

[aggiedog]

Again, a ship is not actually a small town. I wouldn't let my 10 yo free roam of our town, but I'm ok with the ship, with the set rules we have. And again, it all depends on what sort of track record your kid has for rule following, and the best person to evaluate that is their parent. Every kid is different.

 

[jahber]

Like you. I dont care what other parents do nor do I care what other parents think Of what I do. We've given our kids check in and out privledge see since they were 8 and 9. They've never been swimming on a cruise. We have a pool so it doesnt even interest them. At 11 and 13 they are pretty much gone all day, but 90 percent of the time there in the Edge. The other 10 percent they're getting food. My biggest rule is they must shower, put clean clothes on and show up to dinner on time. So far the havent failed at that. They know the cosequences. They must also come back to the room as soon as the edge closes at 1 am. If we go to Palo the oldest will go to the Mdr and eat by himself. The youngest will celebrate the fact that he doesnt have to go to dinner. Very different kids. They seem to handle the indepedence well. We've had no issues.

One of the things my second kid (he's 9 now) specifically asks about every cruise is whether he'll be allowed to check himself out of the club to go get ice cream. Every time. On Carnival, you aren't allowed to check yourself out until you're in the 9-12 group--major bummer for him! . He's so looking forward to ice cream whenever he wants it on our cruise in September.
My kids also love to eat in the clubs. I have no idea why they like it on DCL, but on Carnival, they take them to the buffet or Italian restaurant for lunch, so they get real food.

 

[hanscarlet]

on our most recent cruise I found a little 4 year old wondering aimlessly in the adult area and I and another adult asked her "do you know where your parents are?" and it was clear she didn't and she was lost and scared, I walked with her once around the entire deck hoping to find exasperated parents looking for their child and when I didn't I went to a CM and they sprang into action and followed their lost child protocol... while I was waiting their with the child, she told me mom and dad left her older brothers to "keep an eye on her" and they were 9 and 11... yea please don't be like that parent... anyways off my soapbox but this is why threads like these get heated... OP - I have no doubt you're a responsible parent and I can see a mature 9 year old being 'set free' on a ship and it winding up just fine... but a lot of us react passionately because we've experienced the other side of the not so responsible parents out there, so just explaining why these threads can go in a certain direction (also I've been wanting to share my lost kid story and so sorry to hijack )

 

[nancyjo1998]

On our first cruise my ds was 9 and I did not give him self sign out privileges from the club. If he wanted to leave to do something else he would have them notify me via the wave phones. Not knowing what the cruise would be like is the reason for this. Our second cruise he was 10 and I let him sign himself out. He had many rules to follow. He had to text me via the DCL app whenever he was changing locations, no swimming without me there, no use of the elevator by himself, no going into others rooms, no going into our room if the hostess was there. If any of these rules were broken then his privileges would be revoked.
I don't know at 8 if I would allow it though.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My mom found a lost child (around 3) in a hotel once. She was crying at the elevators on a room floor, not main floor. She took her downstairs where her mom was and the mom was mad that my mom intervened in her daughter's 'punishment'. Can you imagine punishing a toddler by leaving them on a hotel room floor and not knowing what to do or where to go? Insane!

 

[kamik86]

Again a cultural thing. In my country it would be perfectly normal to move in and chase the kids out to make new friends on their own without parent supervision and vetting.

Honestly the thing I would be most worried about with a kid in this situation would be a kid getting lost.