Help from teenagers please! Our 16 year old doesn't want to come on Legend cruise!

[wundaysale]

A cruise is basically the ONLY family vacation we can take! We have a 16 yr old and twins (almost 9). Hubby and I have cruised many times before on RC and NCL...The only cruise line we have done with the family is Carnival. THEY ARE AMAZING!!! The kids program is incredible from 2 or 3 through 13....and then the teens club!! 13 or 14 through 17!! You will not see your kids! You will think you are back on your honeymoon! We had dinner alone every night! They never even wanted to come off the ship!! We did get the oldest off to snorkel once though. I will give you some advice though....Be open minded and remember you are not at home. Give them freedom....We had walkie talkies but basically he roamed the ship with the other teens til 1 -2am......i laid half awake until he came in but it's what you have to do...it's a different life on the boat....they can eat whenever they want and he had his soda card....By coincidence....we are heading on ledgend 8/1!!:)

[Tbay-eh]

A cruise is basically the ONLY family vacation we can take! We have a 16 yr old and twins (almost 9). Hubby and I have cruised many times before on RC and NCL...The only cruise line we have done with the family is Carnival. THEY ARE AMAZING!!! The kids program is incredible from 2 or 3 through 13....and then the teens club!! 13 or 14 through 17!! You will not see your kids! You will think you are back on your honeymoon! We had dinner alone every night! They never even wanted to come off the ship!! We did get the oldest off to snorkel once though. I will give you some advice though....Be open minded and remember you are not at home. Give them freedom....We had walkie talkies but basically he roamed the ship with the other teens til 1 -2am......i laid half awake until he came in but it's what you have to do...it's a different life on the boat....they can eat whenever they want and he had his soda card....By coincidence....we are heading on ledgend 8/1!!:)

 

I don't want to jump to conclusions - you state that a 16 year old is out until 2:00 AM. That is all I wanted to know - I will not give my opinion on this as I will be royally flamed. Thanks

[CanWeGoYet?]

I don't want to jump to conclusions - you state that a 16 year old is out until 2:00 AM. That is all I wanted to know - I will not give my opinion on this as I will be royally flamed. Thanks

 

 

But isn't this giving your opinion, albeit stating disapproval in an indirect way?

 

We don't really know the maturity level of the kid, ground rules he may be operating under, etc. I was babysitting infants at age 16, often much later than 2AM. Some kids do ok with more freedom. My son was not one of these type kids, I still wanted to hold his hand crossing the street at that age! Just sayin' a different parent style may simply be more "different" than wrong.

[Ilovecruising31]

Im 15(girl), and I went on my first carnival cruise last summer. Although I didn't enjoy the disney karaoke in the club 02 PLUS I was sick most of the trip so I didn't get to enjoy all the wonderful food but I still had a blast. Its not like the titanic, I forgot I was even on a ship! The desert and shows are great! And once he comes back home he'll be nice and tan... Although I'm not sure a guy really cares about that. lol just take him! He'll have a blast!

 

Enjoy your cruise! :)

 

Sorry this caught my eye, i am 15 too, but if you went on the big red boat on 1991 weren't you not born.. ?

[Tbay-eh]

But isn't this giving your opinion, albeit stating disapproval in an indirect way?

 

We don't really know the maturity level of the kid, ground rules he may be operating under, etc. I was babysitting infants at age 16, often much later than 2AM. Some kids do ok with more freedom. My son was not one of these type kids, I still wanted to hold his hand crossing the street at that age! Just sayin' a different parent style may simply be more "different" than wrong.

 

so you are ASSUMING I disapprove - and what gave you that impression - your interpretation. Whether I agree or disagree I would be flamed by someone - would I not. Just so you know - I am one of the more liberal parents on this board and more trusting so your assumption would be WRONG

[makeup face]

I don't want to jump to conclusions - you state that a 16 year old is out until 2:00 AM. That is all I wanted to know - I will not give my opinion on this as I will be royally flamed. Thanks

 

 

Why post anything in response......what was your point:confused::confused: Just saying......

[Tbay-eh]

I don't want to jump to conclusions - you state that a 16 year old is out until 2:00 AM. That is all I wanted to know - I will not give my opinion on this as I will be royally flamed. Thanks

 

 

Why post anything in response......what was your point:confused::confused: Just saying......

 

I (and only I) was not quite clear on this and just wanted to know if their 16 year old was allowed out until 2:00 AM - is that alright with you if I ask that question? Now I know why people take breaks from this board - you can't say anything, asking anything or give an opinion without someone jumping on you.

[DDFla]

Lol this is my dads account. I just come on here every now and then :)

[npstudent]

I (and only I) was not quite clear on this and just wanted to know if their 16 year old was allowed out until 2:00 AM - is that alright with you if I ask that question? Now I know why people take breaks from this board - you can't say anything, asking anything or give an opinion without someone jumping on you.

 

I will jump in here to say that when I first read your post it also appeared to me that you were stating your disapproval, without explicitly stating it. So tink360 and makeup face are not the only ones to think it sounded like you were disapproving. With the way you stated it I think most people would have assumed the same thing.

[Ilovecruising31]

Lol this is my dads account. I just come on here every now and then :)

 

haha ohhh :) i was a bit confused!

[omalley16]

I don't want to jump to conclusions - you state that a 16 year old is out until 2:00 AM. That is all I wanted to know - I will not give my opinion on this as I will be royally flamed. Thanks

 

Just so you know, I was out when I was 13 at 2 am.... I also got grounded for it. But it was my first night, and I was with people that were 14, 16, and 18. My parents trust me. Or at least did at that time. But I did call them every hour (or I called the room to see if they were still at the casino :D)

[OrlandoD]

This is why my son loves cruising. This last one was, without a doubt the best cruise he's ever had. If these young ladies in the picture happen to read this - I wish you well with your next phase of schooling. You were so gracious - charming dinner companions and very classy young women!

[reno3]

We are so excited about our first cruise on the Legend, 12/12/10 but have two teen boys , 15 and 16, the 15 is really excited too but the 16 says it's his worst nightmare and doesn't want to come.

Any families with teens who can write something to change his mind? PLEEEEEASE!

 

We have a 15 year old son. Next April will be his 5th cruise.

When we get home from each cruise he has worse withdrawal than I do.

He askes right away when are we going again.

We always go to the meet and greet for his age group the first night of the cruise. He always meets kids and they hang out together all week.

We do family things on the islands and have dinner together. Other than that he is with his new friends. The last two cruises were the best for him (he says this:D) He even keeps in contact with a few of them by Facebook and text. Also include him in the planning of the excursions.

Me and DS do all the planning together. DH just tags along:p

Tell him to go with a good attitude, not with the attitude he will not have a good time.....because he will love it:D:D

[17andacruiseaddict]

Not wanting to go on a cruise at 15, that's pretty dumb. (yeah I said it. You were all think it, but I said it lol) My favorite cruises where from when I was 14-now and I started cruising at 6. If he's afraid of being stuck with his parents the whole time, tell him not to worry about that. He doesn't even have to see you guys till dinner time, then after that, he can go hang out with his new friends again. He will have a blast and then look back on it and call hisself dumb for even thinking he didn't wanna go. Besides, like everybody else said, so what if he says he doesn't want to go. Take him. You guys know he will have a good time. I have disagreed with my mom over a lot of things since I could talk. But when she asked me, "Robyn, do you want to go on another cruise?", "no" was the furthest answer from my mind lol

[shrews1]

Thanks OrlandoD, if your pic doesn't help- nothing will!

[keishashadow]

I will jump in here to say that when I first read your post it also appeared to me that you were stating your disapproval, without explicitly stating it. So tink360 and makeup face are not the only ones to think it sounded like you were disapproving. With the way you stated it I think most people would have assumed the same thing.

 

im thinking more akin to poster not agreeing (with the stated parenting decision/curfew & being hesitant to post so for fear of flaming) vs disapproval/judgement:confused: . Just because CCL states a maximum curfew doesn't mandate that kids stay out until the clock chimes.

 

jmho, no way would i let my kid (solo or with a buddy) hang that late...particularly as it'd be hard to get them out out bed for any early excursions.:)

 

if some people think it's okay to let their kids roam until 2 am (& they don't wake me up screaming in the hallways) then have @ it....just don't complain if they do get into trouble & you have security bringing them back to your cabin & don't expect to post it in a public forum & have everybody agree with you...can't take it personal...nothing but opinons kwim?

 

@ home, im thrilled the jr licenses have automatic curfews, makes enforcing my ground rules easier:D even if they didn't have them, i'd set whatever time i felt was reasonable (on land or sea). It'd be a very cold day in heck, when i'd lay awake after the time i wanted to 'retire' waiting for my kiddo to roll on in:rolleyes:.

[sjn911]

Dear shrews1,

 

Sounds like a fabulous big long trip...glad to hear your decision...I have a nephew who was 14 on his cruise on the Miracle when it was fairly new...the pictures with the girls on the ship say it all. Also, he was quick to inform me of all the food and treats avbx at all times before my little Paradise cruise..have a wonderful trip. sjn911.

[CutiePie10]

If he says it's his worst nightmare, do what the others suggest and send him to stay with a relative who lives in the middle of nowhere and make sure they put him to work everyday. Since having a vacation is a nightmare I'm sure he would not mind waking up in the wee early morning hours and working until the sun goes down. Make sure you send him pictures so he can see how much of a nightmare it is to cruise. Seems cruel but that's what is wrong with some kids today, ungrateful. :D

[xitappers2bx]

We are so excited about our first cruise on the Legend, 12/12/10 but have two teen boys , 15 and 16, the 15 is really excited too but the 16 says it's his worst nightmare and doesn't want to come.

Any families with teens who can write something to change his mind? PLEEEEEASE!

 

 

just from my experiance, it took my parents years to get me on a ship.

 

now, its the only vacations we look at.