question for parents of teens

[DVC Jen]

My DH and I are seriously thinking about getting our girls a cat 11 room directly across the hall from our cat 6.

We really do have great girls.. never give us problems (knock on wood) and they are both dependable and trustworthy.

They don't have a problem with having a room directly across the hall from us instead of an adjoining room. I am the one with the reservations, but the $$ factor is rapidly talking me into it.

So for those of you with teens have you all been in one room? Adjoining rooms? Or did you go the less pricey way and let them stay across the hall in an inside stateroom with strict rules and threats with everything they hold near and dear?

 

[Momeska]

DS13 & DS17 sailed with us in May and we all were in a Cat. 11! We chose to spend our money on other things and we spent so little time in the cabin, it worked out fine. Their feet kind of hung over the ends of the sofa/futon and bunk but they were so happy to be on the ship, they didn't care at all.

 

[Skatermom23]

We've booked two adjoining SPR's! I figured we needed two bathrooms so one room was out. I also thought of doing the "across the hall" thing but decided that for my own peace of mind I needed to have the adjoining rooms.
The SPR's seemed to solve all my problems!

 

[AOPI57]

How old are your teens?We have aways booked 2 staterooms across the hall usaually 2 cat 11- this las t cruise we had a cat 11 for my 2 DS's- 20 and 17 and we had a cat 6 across the hall. We never had any problem now or even when we first cruised in 2001 and they were younger. Then we gave them a curfew and they called our room when they came in. If they did not abide by the curfew we would take their charging privileges away but they were very good about it all. When we cruised in 2003 we let them stay out a little later. This time they were old enough to come in at a decent hour which they did. They even set their own alarm this cruise to get up for the excursions and they were on time for every one! I think you can judge what resposibility your teens can handle. My DS's are very responsible at home so I didn't expect any less on a cruise.I'm sure your girls will be fine.

 

[DVC Jen]

How old are your teens?

they will be 17 and 13 when we sail.

I really need to stop worrying myself so much. My oldest will be closer to turning 18 and will graduate from high school just 8 months later. Our youngest really is very responsible as well. Neither one "party" alot they have their friends but are really very grounded.

I guess I just have those normal "mother nerves" and also perhaps a bit of a hard time letting go?

 

[kcashner]

Mine is only 14....but frankly I don't see a lot of difference between sharing the room next door and sharing a room across the hall. My point is that you are not with them every minute on the ship, so don't "really" know what they are doing every second. Your only real concern with them being across the hall vs. next door is knowing that they are in the room (alone!) at whatever curfew you set.

Technically, you will book one adult in each room, but DCL really doesn't care who sleeps where. Guest services will even issue you a special "mom" KTTW so that you can unlock their door if you feel better checking on them that way.

Your DD is almost 18. She'll probably be away at college next year....on her own. I guess my feeling is that if you can't trust her across the hall by now, there's something way more wrong than we're catching from your post.

As to 4 of you in the same cabin.....with 2 teens, you want the extra bathroom space! So, yes, I'd do a 6 and an 11 way before I'd do 2 6s.

 

[DisneyTart]

Hi - Currently on the Magic sharing a cat 6 room w/ two DDs, 13 & 16. If you trust your girls (like I trust mine) and know them well then yes being on their own is fine. We went strictly on $$$s so ours are in the same room. The extra bathroom space would be nice but they are fine with the beds. I did kick them out earlier tonight so I could get ready for Palo but otherwise we haven't BUMPED into each other that much. Just not all 4 in the room together that often. And we are very flexible when getting ready in the morning.

~bethany

 

[AOPI57]

My DD is 13 and stayed in our cat 6 room with us. On our West Coast cruise 2 weeks ago she wanted a little more freedom. She was able to go to the teen club for the first time. Some of their activities run very late- 1 AM but as long as we knew she was in the club we let her stay. I also called the teen Most of the time the kids were sitting around talking, playing board or video games.Even if she wanted to stay out later with the friends she met onboard we did allow her to do so as long as she was in by he curfew. We also had heer call our stateroom from the house phones to let us know where she was a various time. If we weren't in sHe left a message.

We also had brought a pad of sticky notes. We used these to leave messages for each other on the stateroom doors as to where we were going or where to meet.

It's definitely hard letting go- but you can do it! My son is leaving for college in Fla ina few weeks- He's going to be a junior and I still get teary-eyed!

 

[khoffman923]

I think the answer to this one solely resides with you. Age wise, your kids definitely seem old enough to have their own room, but responsibility wise, is the key. In your original post, your confidence in your girls came through. This being the case, I'm sure they will continue to be your responsible girls.

I can see the case for $$$ playing a big part in this decision, but if you are not ruled by the $$$, then the space may absolutely be worth it. My DH and I have 3 kids, DD19, DD17 and DS14, and we have been on many vacations. None were cruises and all involved hotels. When the kids were little, it wasn't a big deal to share a standard room, getting a cot, or having one (usually DS) camping it out on the floor. But as they got older (those lovely teen years), space came to be our salvation for some trips and I spent the $$$ to get the extra hotel room for my DDs. Yes, they would be connecting rooms, but I couldn't always get this guarantee. So my DDs understood from the beginning they would have their own room but they knew what the rules were. And, like you, I always had confidence in my daughters showing responsibility, and they have never failed me once on our trips.

Now, like you again, we are taking our first family cruise, which, yes, is a Disney Cruise and is next Summer . I went for the Cat 6 for me, DH and DS and my girls have a Cat 11 straight across the hall. No connecting rooms this time. I thought about the Cat 4 Family, but it just didn't seem spacious enough to make sure we wouldn't be walking all over each other, so I decided I'd get the room with the view and the girls just get the room, which IMO is a great compromise.

If you have confidence in your girls to follow the rules you set, then I'm sure they will be fine. And when you get back from your cruise, please let me know how the space worked out for you all, and if you would have recommended squeezing everyone into one room.

Karen :thewave:

 

[mark & sandra]

if the kids are 13 & 17 then go wright ahead and book two rooms across from each other the only thing you need to worrie about is are they in the cabin all night long and who else may be in their with them . Im lucky my two are still 10 and 13 so when i say bed it bed but if they do follow rules then book it that way you have more room and dont have them in your face when its quiet time so dont think money think peice and quiet no kids in your face getting ready for dinner or bed and a plus is it will be much darker in their room so they will most likely sleep in and that gives you more time to rest good luck

sandra

 

[scrapperjill]

Mine is only 14....but frankly I don't see a lot of difference between sharing the room next door and sharing a room across the hall. My point is that you are not with them every minute on the ship, so don't "really" know what they are doing every second. Your only real concern with them being across the hall vs. next door is knowing that they are in the room (alone!) at whatever curfew you set.

Technically, you will book one adult in each room, but DCL really doesn't care who sleeps where. Guest services will even issue you a special "mom" KTTW so that you can unlock their door if you feel better checking on them that way.

Your DD is almost 18. She'll probably be away at college next year....on her own. I guess my feeling is that if you can't trust her across the hall by now, there's something way more wrong than we're catching from your post.

As to 4 of you in the same cabin.....with 2 teens, you want the extra bathroom space! So, yes, I'd do a 6 and an 11 way before I'd do 2 6s.

I just wanted to add that I agree with what kcashner has said...and also wanted to add...that by having the "mom KTTW" for their room...they would know that you could drop in at ANY time...early morning, bed time and even for those 3am bathroom trips...they'd really never know when you may stop by and check in on them.. I'd also have strict rules that NO-ONE is allowed inside their cabin....you could even say that if anyone else is spoted inside thier cabin...the room arrangments would change...It wouldn't take much to have either mom or dad change rooms...or even bring the whole family into one cabin (I know cost wise it would suck to have spent the money on the extra cabin an not have it used at all...but I doubt it would come to that) Sometimes just knowing what will happen if the rules are broken is enought to keep everyone in line

 

[myboysmom]

Once when I was 16 my family went to a convention. It was the only time dad took all of us. He and mom got us (my sister 13 and I) our own room. Now, I think they thought it would be right next door, but it was down the hall AND around the corner. It was the big old hotel in French Lick, IN. I decided reading "The Shinning" would be a good idea

Any how, things went just fine. My sister and I learned how to charge to our room though, they were really surprised how often we went horseback riding at check out- dad looked something like this

Only you can decide for yourself if they are responsible enough, but I am sure that they will not let you down if they are given this responsibility.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The thought that has crossed my mind when these types of situtations have come up has been "Yea, let the kids have a room across the hall rather than adjoining, BUT you must have a baby-monitor be on in the room 24/7 (and of course the "mother" key. For those with only older kids, you can pick up some very good sounding Fisher Price baby monitors a places like WalMart for about $25-35.

Now at first, the idea of a baby-monitor might sound like an invasion of privacy, but the kids wouldn't have much more privacy if you had adjoining rooms with the door between them 24/7. It's a little unfair (because they don't get the privacy you do) but that's life.

An idea like this would possibly fly if the kids were pre/early teens. Don't know if older teens would be willing.

 

[Goobergal99]

The thought that has crossed my mind when these types of situtations have come up has been "Yea, let the kids have a room across the hall rather than adjoining, BUT you must have a baby-monitor be on in the room 24/7 (and of course the "mother" key. For those with only older kids, you can pick up some very good sounding Fisher Price baby monitors a places like WalMart for about $25-35.

Now at first, the idea of a baby-monitor might sound like an invasion of privacy, but the kids wouldn't have much more privacy if you had adjoining rooms with the door between them 24/7. It's a little unfair (because they don't get the privacy you do) but that's life.

An idea like this would possibly fly if the kids were pre/early teens. Don't know if older teens would be willing.

Am I the only one who thinks this is rediculous?