How Much Money do Kids Need Onboard?

[AuntyBrat]

Hi there!!! We are going on our first cruise in November and we are really excited!!!

But we have a few questions that we are hoping you veteran cruisers can help us with:

1 - Is there an arcade in the Oceaners Lab and if so, do they need money to use it?

2 - Is there another arcade on board? If so, do they need money to use it?

3 - I keep hearing that you don't use cash on the ship, that everything is charged to your room key. Since we are assuming that the kids will need money for the arcade do they need cash, can they get tokens or quarters from their room card or?????

4 - Is it true that you can put limits on how much money some of the room cards can charge? We were thinking of giving each girl a $25 limit? Too much, too little, or we are crazy giving the girls a card since you can't limit purchases?

The girls ages are 11, 12 & 13.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!!

Laura

 

[Auntie Bon]

Yes there is an arcade on board although not exactly sure of where it is located. My nieces and nephew used it and had to charge money to the room and in turn got a card to use in the arcade machines.

Unfortuanately there is no way to place a limit on the card. It is either all or nothing although I wish DCL would rethink that policy. For the kids my sister gave them $75 cash and whenever they charged something they had to give me the money (my CC). It worked out really well and there was very little unaccounted for charges on the account. Mostly those made by the adults

 

["Ginger"]

The arcade which is called Quarter Masters Arcade is located on deck 9 Midship.
We always cruise during Halloween, I remember one of our Dis'ers who was part-taking in our stateroom to stateroom trick-or-treat gave the kids aracade gift cards that he purchased aboard. They were for $5.00 each.

All of your girls will be issues a card but you can go to guest services and have their spending privileges removed from the cards.
Our dd is only 6, we do have hers removed just incase she loses the card and it gets into the wrong hands. She and I go to the ships stores and she is allowed 1 toy and 1 special necklace. Last year her dad took her to pick out the chain for her necklaces, he didn't pay any attention to the cost per inch and she pick out one that was a little costly. I don't think he'll ever do that again. LOL
We haven't taken her to the arcade, she doesn't need to know about that place. She's very happy spending time in the kids clubs. No aracade in the Oceaneer club or the Lab.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

The teens are a little different. While no one really needs cash onboard (except for room service tips), you may want to discuss with the 13 year old what she can and can't spend on without checking.

Our kids were 13 & 15 last week on the cruise and had a daily limit on their arcade spending - you use your KTTW card and receive an arcade card in return.

NOTE: these no longer recharge, there is a different card for each day but you can use up unused credits on another day.

Also we decided to get both kids the soda package so that they could get these at will when hanging out with their shipboard friends.

One other thing to think about is the smoothies. These are available in Common Grounds (free the last night) at $3.50 a piece.

Deb

 

[CruzNMom]

11, 12 and 13 is probably old enough to understand about limits (but you know your own kids). You can check on what has been charged periodically and if one has blown it, take her card away (or have it made into non-charge). Tell them it is a test to see how mature they are with money.

 

[jfeasel]

We were on the June 14 Eastern and I allowed my girls ages 8 and 12 to have charging priviledges and it worked out just great. I told them that I would buy them 2 things in the gift shop and pay for drinks, the rest was on them. They had been saving their money for a year. My 12 year old babysits so she had a wad of cash to spend. When the girls bought something on their own or went to the arcade, they put it on their cards and then paid me the cash. It worked out great because then I had a lot of smaller bills to use for tips and it taught them responsible buying.