Supervision in the teen club area?

[momm2four]

Let me start off by saying that I am not what I would consider an overprotective mom, however there is something that is nagging at me concerning the teen clubs

My two oldest sons will be 15 and 16 1/2 when we sail on the Fantasy, June 2, 2012 and will therefore be using the Vibe club. I have read that once the cruise is underway parents aren't allowed in the area. I understand the idea of giving teens their own area... No problem with that... As long as they are supervised correctly

Every year I take a group of 12-14 year olds to the TN Beta club convention and one of the "problem areas" is the hot tub area. I discovered on my first trip that teens, some in string bikinis like to get up close and personal in the hot tub and made sure that from thereon out, I had a chaperone in the vicinity at all times lol

Since the hot tubs/pools on the Magic/Wonder were in very public places and the entrance to the teen club was very open and accessible, I was never concerned as my kids knew I could show up at any time , but the knowledge that "Mom and Dad can't come in here" could possible lead to ideas UNLESS the CMs are ever present and will take care of any inappropriate behavior

I'm sure the CMs are great and very good at interacting with teens, but I'm hoping that they also wouldn't hesitate to "be the adult in the situation" if the need arose.

Anyone have any feedback?

Lori P.

 

[disneyholic family]

i hadn't thought about that, but you make a very interesting point..

it's definitely something they're going to have to deal with on the dream that they haven't had to think about before (since there is no pool in the teen club on the wonder/magic)..

i've heard stories about things that go on, though not specifically in the teen club itself...so you're right about the need for supervision in the club's verandah area ...

 

[ibouncetoo]

I haven't gone back to double check in a photo, but it seems that portion of Vibe is visable from a good portion of the forward facing staterooms and the bridge!


There are counselors in the teen club. But I don't imagine they will be IN the water with the kids.

 

[lbgraves]

I remember someone in one of the forward rooms considering selling tickets for parents to view the Vibe's "private" sun deck area. LOL!!!

 

[momm2four]

I realize that there won't be counselors in the hot tubs with them, but would like to think that first of all, a CM would be in the area, and if they saw some cute young girl sitting on some studly young man's lap in the hottub, the CM wouldn't just ignore it. A comment like "Hey guys, there's plenty of room for everyone to have their own seat..No sharing necessary" or something like that.. lol ...just to show that there are expectations for appropriat behavior.

That's just what I would expect from anyone in charge of young people this age.

And it's not that I think teenagers are bad...quite the contrary...I teach 7th grade and am still close to many of my former students, who feel free to tell me whats going on in the lives of the high school bunch, so I know from direct sources that too much freedom for kids who aren't ready for it can lead to bad situations.

Maybe I can find someone with a verandah overlooking the pool area and pay them for updates, LOL...just kidding

Lisa, you posted yours at the same time I did...LOL...great minds think alike

 

[jk8]

It would be interesting to know what guidlines are given to the staff in that area, because culturally it is possible not all CMs would view getting too friendly as bad?

 

[balletmom19]

I asked my teenage daughter about this. We haven't been on the Dream with the pools but we have been on the magic and wonder. She said that on the first night the CMs talk to everyone about not showing any PDA (personal display of affection). She says they were pretty strict about it. Hope this calms some of your nerves.

 

[dahuffy]

I remember someone in one of the forward rooms considering selling tickets for parents to view the Vibe's "private" sun deck area. LOL!!!

We're booked in 8502!

 

[momm2four]

I asked my teenage daughter about this. We haven't been on the Dream with the pools but we have been on the magic and wonder. She said that on the first night the CMs talk to everyone about not showing any PDA (personal display of affection). She says they were pretty strict about it. Hope this calms some of your nerves.

Yep...this helps thanks a bunch!

 

[momm2four]

We're booked in 8502!

You're on the same sailing as we are? We should become besttttt friends lol

Lori P

 

[mmouse37]

You don't need a forward facing stateroom to see what is going on in the Teen area....just go all the way forward on Deck 13 (public deck) and you have a full view of the outside Teen area. Here is a pic. We were up there waiting for the Dream to arrive at CC to have a horn battle with the Magic and some teens were in the Teen area....they could not see that we were heading to CC so they were wondering why so many people were hanging over the railing looking down at them...just happened that that area filled up quickly when people found out we were going to visit the Magic at CC.









MJ

 

[momm2four]

MJ...you're awesome! Those pics are the perfect answer to my question.

Lori P

 

[gotomu212]

I can't speak from direct experience as my son is only 3 and thankfully I have awhile (though probably not as long as I hope) before this becomes something I have to think about. I'm also not sure how things work in the club, but since all the teens have check in and check out privileges I don't think supervision in the teen club fixes all the concerns.

In the past, especially as the night goes on, we've noticed teens around the ship being a bit more "friendly". The behavior seemed pretty comparable to what we see in malls, the back row movie theaters, and other places teens go.

If the CMs were supervising in the Club and made any effort to discourage the PDA, I think the kids would just move off to another area. Granted you could spend your time on teen kissing patrol, but I think you also could have a talk with your sons about what you expect and then hope that they behave themselves the same way you have to hope they behave themselves when you aren't on vacation.

 

[ICMDGO]

We're booked in 8502!

We are booked in 8502 too, when is your cruise?

 

[kcashner]

I asked my teenage daughter about this. We haven't been on the Dream with the pools but we have been on the magic and wonder. She said that on the first night the CMs talk to everyone about not showing any PDA (personal display of affection). She says they were pretty strict about it. Hope this calms some of your nerves.

Interesting--my DD has reported that they basically allowed an "anything goes" as long as the guy's pants were zipped mentality. I know that she chose to leave The Stack (now renamed Vibe) on at least 2 occasions when she felt the atmosphere was more than she was comfortable with. She's not a prude, but subscribes to the "if you're going to do it, get a room" theory.

That said, teens will do what they are going to do; if it isn't allowed in the supervised area, they'll go to an unsupervised area.

Also, the concept of "parents aren't allowed" is not quite that way--at least on the Magic and Wonder where you don't need a coded KTTW to enter the area. I've walked up to The Stack on several occasions to talk with my daughter. True, you can't "hang out" there, but you can certainly enter the area and ask the CM if your child is there. On at least one occasion I was told that I was welcome to see if she was in the back room, so I walked thru. Maybe I am the overprotective parent, but my child would not have been in an area where I was not allowed and I had no way to contact her. Of course, this was before the wave phones, and I found calling The Stack to be less than optimal--I realize the CM had many things to do, but I was never sure if they even looked before telling me DD wasn't there.

 

[RJAYL]

You don't need a forward facing stateroom to see what is going on in the Teen area....just go all the way forward on Deck 13 (public deck) and you have a full view of the outside Teen area. Here is a pic. We were up there waiting for the Dream to arrive at CC to have a horn battle with the Magic and some teens were in the Teen area....they could not see that we were heading to CC so they were wondering why so many people were hanging over the railing looking down at them...just happened that that area filled up quickly when people found out we were going to visit the Magic at CC.







MJ

Thanks for the Pics I never worry about my DS who is now 18 but I always like to know what my DD now 15 who will be 16 when we are on our first Fantasy cruise in April is up too!

Now I can scope out the situation!

Those Darn kids & i have 2 younger DD following behind!

 

[stephent92]

Don't get me started on the over sexualisation of teenagers (who IMO are still children!).

I know from the Wonder/ Magic crew will be posted to ensure all areas are covered. When it comes to cuddling/ heavy petting/ kissing - that is not permitted in the club. That being said, I am sure that it will happen - teens can be sneaky. If teens want to become 'intimate' they generally leave the teen spaces.

I have never heard of any problems occurring in the teen clubs - they have all been when the kids leave.

I know the crew do their utmost to ensure the club remains as 'wholesome' as it can be, however beyond the door is up to the parents.

 

[allshookup]

We're booked in 8502!

How much you want Deb?

 

[dahuffy]

You're on the same sailing as we are? We should become besttttt friends lol

Lori P

 

[dahuffy]

We are booked in 8502 too, when is your cruise?

June 23,2012