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Traveling with my 14 year old daughter

cmoose

By cmoose,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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cmoose

cmoose

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This is our first cruise. I have no idea if she will hang out in the teen club the whole cruise or none of the cruise- just won't know until we get there.

If she wants to be with me can she be in a lounge with me listening to music in the evening? Can she be with me at bingo? I know she can't play. In other words are there areas of the ship (besides the casino) that she won't be allowed in, or it would be inappropriate for her to be there because of her age?

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

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This is our first cruise. I have no idea if she will hang out in the teen club the whole cruise or none of the cruise- just won't know until we get there.

If she wants to be with me can she be in a lounge with me listening to music in the evening? Can she be with me at bingo? I know she can't play. In other words are there areas of the ship (besides the casino) that she won't be allowed in, or it would be inappropriate for her to be there because of her age?

 

There are some over 18's only areas on the newer ships (Spice H2O on the Epic, Breakaway and Getaway for example).

 

There is no problem with children of any age being in the bars. Some entertainment (i.e. Howl at the Moon) is specified as being adults only after a particular time (around 11pm usually).

 

There is a curfew for under 18s, but it is at about 1am from memory.

 

Basically, your daughter will be fine in almost every area during the day, and you would just need to check on particular entertainment.

 

I believe the bingo is held in a bar (never done it myself), so I don't see any reason why she can't be with you.

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

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I've read on here that most lounges allow kids until 11PM. I'm not sure if that varies.

 

I've not heard of any restriction after 11am in bars or lounges. It's just some entertainment venues because of the content. I suspect the night club may be adults only.

Edited by KeithJenner
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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

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I've not heard of any restriction after 11am in bars or lounges. It's just some entertainment venues because of the content. I suspect the night club may be adults only.

I might have been thinking of Howl at The Moon. I knew I'd seen something about 11PM. Or maybe it was my self-imposed curfew for my own son which is drilled into my brain. haha

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

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This is from last years Epic freestyle daily:

 

Spice H2O is an adult only venue until 8.00pm. Bliss Lounge becomes an adult only venue after 10.00pm (unless otherwise stated). A curfew is in effect and guests under the age of 18 are not permitted in public areas unless with their parents/guardians or in an organised youth activity after 1.00am

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Jenjer

Jenjer

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You will find kids welcome all over the ship.

 

In fact one of the things we love about cruising is the kids can do kids club some of the time and we can have adult time.

 

I can say its best to go to teen club the first night and try it out. There will be other kids looking for friends to hang out with. If you don't go until later in the week the groups are already made. My DD is shy normally but on ships she always makes new friend's to hang out with.

 

Even if you are in H2O spice and she needs to come get you it would not be a problem.

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hominid

hominid

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In addition, I would suggest you review the ships layout and let her know where she can and cannot be. We took our 14 year old son and he had a blast roaming the ship by himself. But certain ship decks were only staterooms and he had no reason to be on those decks. So he was told to only stay on certain floors (pool deck, teen room, restaurants, theater deck, etc.) and that under no circumstances was he to enter ANY stateroom of anyone with out one of us present. Nor was he allowed to invite anyone to our stateroom if we were not present. And that staff areas are completely off limit. Seems like common sense, but teenage brains sometimes are not the most logical:)

 

We set down that if he violated these rules, he was going to be restricted to the cabin. Also, no "knock and run" or pushing elevator buttons. He's not one to do these things but sometimes when kids are in a group, they do stupid things that you wouldn't think to tell them not to do.

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OnTheGoMom921

OnTheGoMom921

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This is our first cruise. I have no idea if she will hang out in the teen club the whole cruise or none of the cruise- just won't know until we get there.

If she wants to be with me can she be in a lounge with me listening to music in the evening? Can she be with me at bingo? I know she can't play. In other words are there areas of the ship (besides the casino) that she won't be allowed in, or it would be inappropriate for her to be there because of her age?

 

We started cruising with DD when she was 13. She is a bit shy and quiet, never really been a part of the "in crowd", so we had some concerns about cruising with a teen as well. We set strict guidelines for where she could roam. Definitely have your DD go to the teen club the first day. That most definitely sets the "groups" for the remainder of the cruise. Also, join your roll call and "introduce" the teens on your roll call sailing. In the age of social media, you will find these teens will be "friends" well before you sail, modern-day pen pals so to speak. That way, they are excited to meet in person the first day...we've even met fellow roll call teen cruisers at the pier before boarding!

 

She can participate at bingo as long as you are there with her. All the special evening parties (glow, 70's, 80's, etc.) are family oriented and the kids are there until and sometimes well-past the cut off at 11 pm.

 

Our daughter splits her time between us and teen friends, and when out of our sight, we keep in touch with her via the iConcierge app on her iPod touch to our android phones (available on Epic, Breakaway & Getaway) so we always know where she is and she knows where we are as well. At $7.95 per device, it is a well spent service for keeping in touch with teens!

 

She will usually scan the dailies at the start of the day, and let us know which special teen events she wishes to participate in, and when she is expected "home". Sometimes the teens like to hang out at the Garden Café after teen events end, and she will also text us (iConcierge) to seek permission to extend her "friends" time.

 

Strict guidelines are given, she knows she is not to horseplay on decks, block staircases with large herds of kids, go to any staterooms, or climb on any railings...even on a dare. Any breach, and she knows she will be spending the remainder of the cruise either attached to my arm or sequestered to the cabin in the evenings. These rules have been in effect since "day 1" of our cruises, and we've never had an issue.

 

Even with all our restrictions, our teen absolutely LOVES cruise vacations, as we now try to plan 2 per year! I'm sure your daughter will enjoy them as well. Have a wonderful cruise!!

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cmoose

cmoose

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Thanks for all the nice replies. We will be on the Dawn in June. Very good tip about having her go the first day/night. It's funny it never really occurred to me that I may be the one looking for people to hang out with as she may be busy with her new friends!! :)

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sdmike

sdmike

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Thanks for all the nice replies. We will be on the Dawn in June. Very good tip about having her go the first day/night. It's funny it never really occurred to me that I may be the one looking for people to hang out with as she may be busy with her new friends!! :)

 

Ha! True. We hardly saw our teens except for at designated meeting times and check-ins. One evening I strolled past Fizz on the Jewel and my 16yo was singing Karaoke with his friends chanting his name. Imagine my surprise. lol

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LegallyBlonder

LegallyBlonder

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Ha! True. We hardly saw our teens except for at designated meeting times and check-ins. One evening I strolled past Fizz on the Jewel and my 16yo was singing Karaoke with his friends chanting his name. Imagine my surprise. lol

 

Great story! I hope my kids make "cruise friends" as they get older. For now, I'm still trying to convince them that "cruise camp" (aka kid's club) would be tons of fun. So far, this has proven unsuccessful- LOL!

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bones774

bones774

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Great story! I hope my kids make "cruise friends" as they get older. For now, I'm still trying to convince them that "cruise camp" (aka kid's club) would be tons of fun. So far, this has proven unsuccessful- LOL!

 

 

Yeah, my kids are reluctant to go to kids club also, why is that? and that first day is so important, they always tell me tomorrow.

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SissasMomE

SissasMomE

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Ha! True. We hardly saw our teens except for at designated meeting times and check-ins. One evening I strolled past Fizz on the Jewel and my 16yo was singing Karaoke with his friends chanting his name. Imagine my surprise. lol

 

OMG Mike - that is too funny!!

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

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Ha! True. We hardly saw our teens except for at designated meeting times and check-ins. One evening I strolled past Fizz on the Jewel and my 16yo was singing Karaoke with his friends chanting his name. Imagine my surprise. lol

That's awesome.

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LegallyBlonder

LegallyBlonder

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Yeah, my kids are reluctant to go to kids club also, why is that? and that first day is so important, they always tell me tomorrow.

 

 

Mine always tell me "tomorrow" too! LOL! My oldest is only 6, so I'm hoping this changes. Who knows though- I was "stick with the parents" kind of kid too!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

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sdmike

sdmike

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Great story! I hope my kids make "cruise friends" as they get older. For now, I'm still trying to convince them that "cruise camp" (aka kid's club) would be tons of fun. So far, this has proven unsuccessful- LOL!

 

My daughter, when she was 7 to 11, really wasn't into the kids club. The exception is when her cousin (same age) was with her and enjoyed it. She loved the kids club on the Epic, but the program was overly structured and didn't allow them "free time" to enjoy the facilities there.

 

My boys, now 17 and 19, would go to the teen club on the first night and then hang out with the friends he made the rest of the week. The Epic was different because the teen area itself had lots to do with those video game consoles. The Jewel was just a meet and greet place.

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SissasMomE

SissasMomE

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Mine always tell me "tomorrow" too! LOL! My oldest is only 6, so I'm hoping this changes. Who knows though- I was "stick with the parents" kind of kid too!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

My daughter is still friends with the boy she met on her first cruise when she was 7. They sat in the terminal playing game boys together until we were able to board LOL

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lisakoivu

lisakoivu

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Travelled on Breakaway this week with 13, 15, 17 and 17 teens. The reality is that polite well behaved teens who are with their parents are welcome almost anywhere - no matter what the sign says. We were in Bliss after 11 and H2O before 8 and they even came to the second city 18+ show (not the 13 year old). No doubt the casino is an exception, although we certainly walked through it with all the kids many times.

 

But I agree signing up for teen club is a must - they meet friends and have a place to hang on sea days.

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