What to do with a 12 year old....

[js]

We were on the Wonder several years ago with both children and have taken a few cruises on RCI over the past few years. I happened to see the new 2006 itinerary where the Magic will be visiting CC twice, Costa Maya (we LOVE it here) and Cozumel (also LOVE) while researching my upcoming 11/26 WDW vacation. Anyway, it looks like my husband will be letting me book the 11/2006 "special" itinerary but my only concern is my dd who will be 12 at the time of sailing. If it were RCI, I really wouldn't worry but just a tad bit hesitant since it looks like her group will be mixed from 8-12 year olds. Are the 12 year olds allowed in Common Grounds or does a CM check ID to make sure you are 13? My ds will be 8 at the time of sailing and really wants to do another DC. During the summer of 2006 we may be doing a Mediterranean cruise on RCI and although they will love the kids program and certain there will be much for them to do, I just want to make sure on DCL that the 12 year olds are not always hanging with the 8 year olds and hope they get to go to Common Grounds. Thanks.

 

[Danemom]

They are separated into 8 and 9 yr old and 10 - 12 in the clubs, according to the Passporter.

 

[professorandmom]

Before common grounds was moved to the stack, the 10-12 yr olds were allowed to spend time in common grounds during designated times (when the teens weren't here, late morning, I think). I haven't been on a cruise since the change. You could check the 10-12 navigators posted on Barb's site to see what the schedule of activities is

IMHO, your 12 year old might not be comfortable in the teen club if they did let him in, my 13 year old felt a little young for some of the groups
Barb

PS - I just booked a special western (two CC stops!) and my twins will be 12 when we sail, I think it is the perfect time to go since they will still be in the lab

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

I loved your heading "WHAT TO DO WITH A 12 YO".....

After the morning I had with my "PreTeenAgeDramaQueen"..

I was going to tell you what to do with a 12 yo......

then I realized you were talking about on the cruise..... lol


I'm sure after I'd expressed my thoughts and opinions...I would
have been banned from these boards forever.

Or maybe not......

Phyllis

 

[goofyforlife]

have their KTTW card deactivated the moment you get on the ship......

It took my 11yodd about 10 minutes to realize she could charge arcade cards and other things on her card.....


FYI ... DCL will activate everyones card (including infants) for charging priviledges of up to $200 per day..... cards can not be limited they are either on or off.

(we know this because after we deactivated her card she took the baby's card and used it before we found out.)

 

[js]

I've been on other cruises and my now dd-10 had charges privileges. She is very responsible and we were traveling with our friends who had a ds-12.
There were times we let her go to the game room by herself (with him and another friend she had made on the cruise). We told her how much she could charge to her card and if she went over that amount without asking or checking with us, she was not going to be allowed to use the card for the rest of the trip. She never went over and by the middle to end of the cruise, she really didn't have a desire to go to the game room, she LOVES the clubs on RCI.
At 12, I will still let her have charging privileges with the same rules. My ds-8 card will be deactivated although he will not be able to be by himself unless he is in the club. I'll have to take a look at the 10-12 year old Club and see what activities it lists for this age group. I really think the RCI Voyager class ships have so much more to offer and so many more planned activities for the children but we did love our DC when we did it and really will be sailing on 11/11/06 for the itinerary.
I would love to hear from anyone who has had a dd 12 on the Magic the last few months, although I am sure a lot can change with their groups in 2 years LOL
Thank you all again! I will find Barbs site and take a look

 

[jrabbit]

I'm sure after I'd expressed my thoughts and opinions...I would have been banned from these boards forever.

Why, did your thoughts include a high dose of valium and duct tape? Those were my first thoughts when reading the title of this tread

 

[abitjaded]

What are your daughter's interests? My son, 10 at the time and 11 on our next cruise is looking forward to his age group. He was afraid he would be bored last time, but he had a blast. The counselors seem to be able to keep them happy. My son loved the Play Station (which we do not have at home) and the sports, and the art and even wanted to stay and have lunch with his group.

Tell us her likes and dislikes and maybe moms-of-pre-teen-drama queens or perfect-princesses can respond with girl activity specifics.

Carla

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

jrabbit...

Something along that line........... lol

Phyllis

 

[jdm]

OK, I have to ask....... what did you do? I can't imagine an 11 year old taking a siblings card and charging after having had her own card deactivated. Especially on board a ship where there are not many places to run and hide!! :~)

Jenn

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by jdm
OK, I have to ask....... what did you do? I can't imagine an 11 year old taking a siblings card and charging after having had her own card deactivated. Especially on board a ship where there are not many places to run and hide!! :~)

Jenn

I have an 11yo DS and I can imagine it. I'm packing duct tape.

 

[Princess'Mom2]

You could check the 10-12 navigators posted on Barb's site to see what the schedule of activities is

Can you tell me where this is? My DD will be 11 at the time of our next cruise and we're thinking of the Disney Magic. I'd love to be able to show her what would be available to her. Thanks!

 

[marie2004]

I have been on the DC and RCI> My son did not like the club on RCI, it was very small, more like daycare according to him. He likes the fact that they take you all over the ship on Disney and can eat lunch or dinner with other kids (hates to sit with us adults at dinner) They do have more activities on RCI outside of the club, but he likes to hang around other kids. Yes the 12 year olds get to visit the stack when the teens are doing something else.

 

[professorandmom]

Barb's site:
Now that she has become a TA, her web address is ***** by the moderators if I type it in (as far as I know) but I can tell you that you should look at castawayclub and perhaps you know the rest. If you haven't visited this site it is FULL of great information

Enjoy your research

Barb (a different one, of course)

 

[jdm]

I have a DD who just turned 12 last week. Perhaps I should be counting my blessings :~)

Jenn

 

[Wild4WDW]

Princess'Mom2 I sent you a personal message

 

[goofyforlife]

well let's just say my husband became the "stairmaster" when we discovered she had the other card.....

luckily since it was the last night of the cruise we told the desk to deactivate all the cards......

(things are a little tight right now and I didn't need any additional huge credit bill from the trip.)


Took us a little over a half hour to find her.

(Like they said....you can't run and hide on a moving boat at sea.)


The cabin stewards were in the hall doing luggage duty when we dragged her back.....

Told them to ignore the screaming.... (They totally understood.)

If it hadn't been the last night we would have also revoked her ability to sign in/out.

She's a handful......

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Just had to make a correction. RCI doesnt have a voyager class(rci is a small italian line). RCCL does. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. LOL Just an FYI
Matt

 

[MrsMork]

Having raised 2 DD (whew! I'm done and now just deal with DGSs and DGD), I would have much preferred to have my DDs at 12 in a group with other 12 year olds than hanging at the teen club with 16 and 17 year old boys. Just a thought.

Our DGSs and DGD have all loved whatever group they are in. They range in age 4-15. They find friends their own age and at 12 with sign in/sign out privileges they had a great time.

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by Donalds_best_pal
Just had to make a correction. RCI doesnt have a voyager class(rci is a small italian line). RCCL does. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. LOL Just an FYI
Matt

I know you are joking, but Royal Caribbean International seems to be the official name of the large cruise line that sails about 20 ships including Voyager of the Seas, as shown on their home page. People on this board refer to it as either RCCL or RCI but if one wants to get picky it's probably RCI that's "correct".