Teens on Cruise

[lzj21428]

We are cruising for the 3rd time in Aug 05. We will have 4 kids with us, two of them 17 & 16. I know the teens will have fun in the Teen club, but what I'm worried about is teens doing stuff they shouldn't.

Does anyone have any experiences or know of things that have happened that shouldn't have? Have there ever been any instances of teens getting ahold of alcohol or anything like that? How do you keep in touch w/ your teen? Cell phones won't work, what else is there? I try really hard to keep the teens in line and under control. I'm worried about everything.

It was sooo much easier when they were babies!!!

 

[ivanova]

when cell phones aren't an option, two way FRS radios work great -- we have two sets of Motorola FRS radios that we take onboard, program them all to the same channel/frequency and each person carries one at all times.

 

[Aisling]

I think about this, too. My teen son is younger, 13, but I know when teens get together, they might not use good judgement. I don't worry about alcohol, but I do worry about roughhousing and dares and things like that. We will be on a ship out in the ocean, and I've been concerned ever since I heard about a teen who jumped off the ship or slid down it or whatever it was, and that scares me. I'm not worried that my DS would do something like that, but it's an unsettling story just the same. I've heard about teens caught making out on stairwells or loitering in the elevators late at night, but from reading the Dis, I'd say that the vast majority of times there are no serious incidents of misbehaving.

I was thinking about walkie talkies, but haven't checked into it yet. All I can really do is have serious talks with my teen before we board, and put the fear of god into him for any act I'd disapprove of!, in other words scare the heck out of him about repurcussions !

 

[Jillie]

We cruised in April with 8 girls between the ages of 13 and 17 and did not have any problems. They hung out togehter in the Stack or around the ship dancing, swimmimg, etc. We did not use 2 way radios and really felt like we had a handle on what they were doing!!

 

[Momeska]

We cruised in May with DS13 & DS17 and they had the time of their lives. We have good kids and trust them to use good judgement. The first evening up in the Stack, the head of security on the ship goes up and talks to them. Believe me, the fear of God is instilled in them at that time!!! Basically, they are told that any false move will put them under "stateroom arrest" and a second infraction will have their entire party removed from the ship at the next port at the passenger's expense. A little fear goes a long way. But, don't get me wrong...they let them have fun. Disney has a zero tolerance for underage drinking, any illegal drugs and inappropriate behavior. As it should be...

 

[Momeska]

Ooops...forgot to mention....the ship is large but not so large that you can't track down your kids. DS13 was always missing but we knew to go up on deck 10, check the basketball courts, the arcade or the Stack. Parents are not "allowed in" the Stack, however, are welcomed to check to see if your children are, in fact, there. We contemplated taking walkie-talkies but decided against it simply because DS13, though he may be a good kid, is somewhat forgetful and we knew he'd lose the walkie-talkie. You'll be amazed at how big the ship seems initially but how quickly you're able to find your way around. You won't lose your kids, even if you try.
Another way to keep track is to just put a pad of paper and pen in your stateroom and whenever anyone stops in...write down time and where you're off to. Like that would really happen with teenagers.
Linda

 

[kshabare]

Out neighbors had a white erase board that was on their door. The doors are magnetic so anything sticks.

We misplaced my stepdaughter, to put it nicely. We went to guest services and they helped us look for her. My in-laws found her just hanging out on deck 10 with new friends. She just didn't think to let anyone know where she was. heavy sigh - teens will be teens. By the way - this was DD16 second cruise and the first night.

Kim

 

[Aisling]

The first evening up in the Stack, the head of security on the ship goes up and talks to them. Believe me, the fear of God is instilled in them at that time!!!

Wow, I didn't know this! I like it!

 

[RealMickey]

lzj21428, check out this thread...cruise contract ...a neat concept that may alleviate concerns.

 

[ljql_5969]

Thanks for the info!

 

[lzj21428]

Thanks for all the info. I didn't know that security had a talk with the teens on the first night. That's good to know.

I'm going to ck out that cruise contract.