Teens in Separate Cabin Question

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Yep! And it happen's more than multiple times each and every cruise on every ship.

Ex Techie

 

[mello]

Well... since Disney considers an "adult" anybody over the age of 9.....

Sorry, that's smart-alecky, but I couldn't resist.

I am curious though, why they don't consider an 18yo an adult on DCL. That really surprised me, as they're considered adults for nearly everything else in life at this age. We wanted to book our 18yo ds(college student, who is very used to being on his own) and our 15yo ds in a cabin together across the hall from us. But the software (we booked online) would not let us do it. We had to book DH in one cabin and me in the other.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

The thing is Disney Cruise Line is just a brand name of The Magical Cruise Co. registered in the UK, with their Ship's sailing under Bahamian Flag's, Flag's of Convenience, but sailing most of the time out of US port's.

That's where it got a little bit tricky! But!

Then you add the fact that it really isn't DCL that make the rules. It's the IMO (International Maritime Organization), US Coast Guard, Bahamian Maritime Authority, British Maritime Authorities, and also Lloyds Register who insure the ship's etc.

There are certain thing's the cruise lines can make decisions on, and when it comes to thing's like birthing, age of consent, etc, then there are SOOOO many deciding factor's other than someone in Burbank making a decision.

Ex Techie

 

[justmestace]

Well... since Disney considers an "adult" anybody over the age of 9.....

Sorry, that's smart-alecky, but I couldn't resist.

I am curious though, why they don't consider an 18yo an adult on DCL. That really surprised me, as they're considered adults for nearly everything else in life at this age. We wanted to book our 18yo ds(college student, who is very used to being on his own) and our 15yo ds in a cabin together across the hall from us. But the software (we booked online) would not let us do it. We had to book DH in one cabin and me in the other.

They do. "Adult" is 18 and over. I can book a room for my 18 yr old son. I just made a dummy reservation in his name, on DCL's website.

We have a cruise booked for this summer, and my son is booked in his own room...age 18.

 

[Ariel224]

They do. "Adult" is 18 and over. I can book a room for my 18 yr old son. I just made a dummy reservation in his name, on DCL's website.

We have a cruise booked for this summer, and my son is booked in his own room...age 18.

An 18 yr old can book alone, or with anyone also 18 or over. But....if there is a minor booked in the room, someone 21+ must also be booked. So, two 18 yr olds would be ok....an 18yo and 17yo together would not be.

 

[justmestace]

An 18 yr old can book alone, or with anyone also 18 or over. But....if there is a minor booked in the room, someone 21+ must also be booked. So, two 18 yr olds would be ok....an 18yo and 17yo together would not be.

Ahhh...I didn't go far enough along in the process to add another person.
And my son will have his 18 yr old friend with him on our other cruise.
Thanks for that!

 

[adamsclan]

My older kids are in the room next to us. This worked well our last cruise. If they were several floors away, I wouldn't be able to rest at night. First I would worry that something would happen that would scare them. Second, I would worry that they would kill each other without a referee in ear shot.

 

[TDC Nala]

Would DCL, should they find out two young teens are alone in a stateroom and the parents are staying in another area of the ship entirely, even though a parent is registered in each room, tell the parents they can't leave the kids alone?

I don't know what the deal is with teens but there was a post somewhere about someone who apparently had some kind of trouble for leaving a five-year-old child alone in a stateroom (I don't think it was that the child was staying in the stateroom alone, but that the parents went out somewhere and left the kid in the stateroom.) A five year old is a long way from teens, but these are really young teens and still minors.

 

[Dead-metal]

This is a touchy situation for kids that age. On our recent cruise our "kids" were at the other end of the ship and down on deck 2 (we were on deck 6). I put "kids" in quotes because there was a 22 yo in one cabin and a 26 yo in the other.

Even then, we were a bit nervous during muster drill that they were in a completely different muster station. That's when it really hits home. In the event of an emergency, do you really want your family on opposite ends of the ship? I would give that some serious thought before booking differently to save a few dollars.

I don't know how many kids you have, but I don't understand why you wouldn't just put them in your room with you.

OMG

At 26 I had been married 6 years. Your "kids" are adults and you should treat them as such

 

[hrhdhd]

OMG

At 26 I had been married 6 years. Your "kids" are adults and you should treat them as such

Whew. Glad someone else was thinking that.

 

[IrenicMom]

OMG

At 26 I had been married 6 years. Your "kids" are adults and you should treat them as such

I'm sorry - but just because you'd been married 6 years at 26 doesn't mean you're not still your parents' child.

I'll spin it the other way. By the time we cruise again, I'll be 37, and will have been married 14 years. My parents are coming with us. I'm an adult, they're adults, and I still wouldn't want them on the other end of the boat several floors away.

But, we cruise as a family to enjoy time as a family - part of that (for us) is being close, having the kids be able to run next door to Nana and Papa's room for good night hugs and kisses, etc.

Completely not the original topic, but another spin on family, in general, being further apart.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I'm sorry - but just because you'd been married 6 years at 26 doesn't mean you're not still your parents' child.

I'll spin it the other way. By the time we cruise again, I'll be 37, and will have been married 14 years. My parents are coming with us. I'm an adult, they're adults, and I still wouldn't want them on the other end of the boat several floors away.

But, we cruise as a family to enjoy time as a family - part of that (for us) is being close, having the kids be able to run next door to Nana and Papa's room for good night hugs and kisses, etc.

Completely not the original topic, but another spin on family, in general, being further apart.

This has been a hot topic of conversation on our extended-family cruises. One sis-in-law wanted all four of her married DD's and their families right next to each other. That particular non-DCL ship had removable partitions between the verandahs, and their extended families could visit back and forth without room keys.

My adult kids are of the attitude that hey, we're on the same cruise, and the ship isn't all THAT big, and a little more privacy isn't such a bad thing. Besides, our dinner reservations are linked, so we'll see ya then! On the above-mentioned cruise, our DD had been married less than a year, and she REALLY didn't want mom and dad in the next room. We heard a thud and an occasional giggle, but nothing R-rated.

Since there were 48 rellies on our last Disney cruise, and we started planning it less than a year in advance, it wasn't possible to get everyone in adjoining rooms. We were lucky to find a cruise that accommodated all of us (and our individual work/vacation schedules.) Grandma needed to be in a handicap room, with a helpful great-grand-dtr in attendance, and a DD and her DH nearby. The rest of us were scattered throughout the ship, wherever the travel agent was able to find accommodations. Couples without young kids were given the available verandah rooms, and no kids were on their own. Sis-in-law wasn't amused that she couldn't be a mother hen and gather all her chicks around her, but she survived.

 

[inhousemouse]

OMG

At 26 I had been married 6 years. Your "kids" are adults and you should treat them as such

I totally understand what the op is saying. I have 2 small children and it never matters what age they are if there's an emergency I'd want them close to me. I know this because I'm in my late 30s and if I was in a dangerous situation my parents and sister and I would all want to be close to each other. Even if we are all old and mature enough to be in our own space. I think what the OP was getting at was just that. Even though her/his children are old and mature enough to be on their own during the drill it brings to light how you'd want your 'babies' to be near you so you'd know that everyone is ok.

I don't think there is any problem with that. I would be shocked if any parent would feel different in such a situation.

 

[justmestace]

OMG

At 26 I had been married 6 years. Your "kids" are adults and you should treat them as such

Read their post again. What they said was that they had a 22 year old in one cabin and a 26 year old in another...and yes, you have to read between the lines a little, but I think they were saying that there were other, younger "kids" in with those older ones, and that even though there were young adults in the room, they still worried about them all....probably especially the younger ones.

 

[millscrew]

aaawwww to bad all of the staterooms in my area are booked... you'll have to find some other poor saps to parent your children for you.

No need to be so rude. If you have nothing nice to say keep it to yourself. There is no reason why teenage kids can not be I there own room.

 

[justmestace]

No need to be so rude. If you have nothing nice to say keep it to yourself. There is no reason why teenage kids can not be I there own room.

Well, except for the fact that it's not allowed.

 

[IrenicMom]

Well, except for the fact that it's not allowed.

(again boggled by the "but those rules don't apply to ME mindset some folks have)

 

[Rogillio]

Amusing thread. A few thoughts came to me while perusing the last 5 pages.

1. Kids across the hall vs kids down the hall vs kids on separate deck are all about the same. It's just a matter of how convenient it is for the parents to check on them.

2. Kids alone in their own room is no different than kids booked in the same room while the parents go to the bars till 1 am after the kids are in bed.

3. At age 14 I had a car, worked 30 hrs a week in a grocery store and went to HS full time. Not all kids are at the same level of maturity.

4. The issue of pedophiles being drawn to a Disney ship makes no sense to me. Pedophiles take months or years fostering a relationship with their prey....unless they intend to forcibly rape someone and in that case, a ship is about the dumbest place in the world to commit such a crime cause you aren't going anywhere and you will be caught.

5. There are two issues that always seem to go viral on the boards - comparing DCL to any other cruiseline and anything to do with parenting. And we all tend to post to these threads based on our experience and paradigms.

To the OP, would I put them down the hall? No. But that is because we vacation together to reconnect as a family. We all do our own things and have our own interests throughout the year but when we go on vacation together we focus on being together as a family. My 'kids' are 18 and 21 now and our next two cruises are booked in connecting rooms. Would I feel comfortable with them down the hall? No. But that is just my fatherly protector instinct. I feel I can better do my job is I now where you are or where you are supposed to be.

 

[Justacruiser]

Wasn't going to respond again but here is my issue.

The original subject was someone choosing to have her children, 13 and 14 years of age in a room at the other end of the ship and 5 floors down to save money. There was nothing that stated she tried to get a room closer or to the fact that she was willing to give up a category level to have her children closer. Fact is that she excepted the room assignment. I would not have made that decision, and if you look at this thread 99% agree.

Kids are great and I am sure that nothing will happen, however I would want for my kids to know that I am right next door or across the hall. No matter what you say there will be numerous hours that these kids will be under no supervision and the idea of a security net next door or across the hall will not exist. By the way, down the hall would be acceptable to me.

Also, the lifeboats are a real issue. Another poster stated that their are extra life jackets and that the 2 kids can go with their mom or vise versa. That's not how it may work in a life or death situation. Kids at one end of the ship trying to meet up with mom at the other end. It is not the recommended process. Heaven forbid something tragic happens and everyone will point to Disney for allowing a 13 and 14 year old to be alone in the room 5 floors away from mom. Well, Disney knew and let me do it. Big difference for me between 5 floors and next door or across the hall.

For those that their kids that are 18 or over, and must have you kids closer. It is a far different situation. There are not rules set in place about your adult kids being assigned next to you. There are those families that like being close and those that don't and they all should decide where they want to stay.

Change the rooms so that you are closer to each other to show your kids that you value their relationship and safety more than $$. Be willing to live with the results if someone crazy happens. You never know what life can bring.

 

[TheLeMasters]

Also, the lifeboats are a real issue. Another poster stated that their are extra life jackets and that the 2 kids can go with their mom or vise versa. That's not how it may work in a life or death situation. Kids at one end of the ship trying to meet up with mom at the other end. It is not the recommended process. Heaven forbid something tragic happens and everyone will point to Disney for allowing a 13 and 14 year old to be alone in the room 5 floors away from mom. Well, Disney knew and let me do it. Big difference for me between 5 floors and next door or across the hall

I have a lifeboat question now what happens if a child is in the kids club and the parent is on the other side of the ship. Do the clubs try to connect the kids with the parent's muster stations? Or do they take them to the club's muster station?