how much freedom do you give your tween?

[JnDRader]

I have no problem with trusting DS (13) as far as behaviour and following rules are concerned, I do, however, worry about his handling of a wave phone. I am terrified he will leave it somewhere, or lose it and we will be stuck with the charge!!!! He is likely to be so engrossed in an activity at Edge or somewhere, put it down and forget to pick it up. I realise he could attach it to himself with a lanyard or a clip, but it is easy to detach it, say, in the bathroom, and forget it.
I understand there are phones everywhere (in the hallways, kid's clubs etc.), you can use to call wave phones. Are they abundant? Could he use these to keep us updated with his whereabouts and his plans?
What have other parents done?

My daughter, 10yo at the time, was fully aware of the cost of the phone so she was extremely careful to keep it on her at all times. But that's also her nature to a certain extent. Would your son be opposed to a fanny pack? Yes, they're lame, but they'd be perfect for keeping the phone in.

 

[mstee777]

My son will be 13 next week. We cruised in December and we pretty much gave him fee run of the ship. Of course we were with a large group of family so he was not alone at any time.

Our rules were don't miss dinner, keep you wave phone on you at all times, only go in rooms belonging to our group, no disruptive behavior.

My son is very responsible and this worked well for us.

 

[Disneyof3]

My kids last year on our 1st cruise were DS10,DD12,DSO15. My youngest was in the oceaneers club and had no signing priviledges at all. He loved the clubs and was in it everynight after dinner. My other two didn't like there clubs and mostly hung out with us. If they went on there own, it had to be together never alone. When youngest son was not in the clubs, he was always with his DS or DSO or with us. This March DS will be in the older club and he can't wait. He will be given strict orders not to leave the club unless he informs us(or comes to us). Phones aren't to be touched or removed from the rooms(I refuse to pay the price of the phones if they go missing, heard about this on the disboard wiether this is my kids fault or not. This is our once a year family vacation and we all feel it is nice to hang out together with no hockey/dance/work interupting us. This will likely be our last vacation together since DSO graduates next year and the money will be going to him and college/university But again as the above threads have mentioned, you know your teen and you have a better judge of them then us