Am I A Bad Parent? Going on the Dawn or Breakaway This Summer

[JPV072900]

So we're planning a family cruise this summer, and my older son is 12, but he'll be 10 days away from turning 13 when we board.

 

I'm not going to ask the expected question as to whether or not they'll let him in with the older kids because I already know that they won't!

 

BUT, do you think he'll have fun being with the 10-12 year olds?

 

I'm hoping we go on the Breakaway because maybe there will be other 12 year olds approaching 13.

 

What is your experience with a child who just missed out on the next age group??

[PCLMassachusetts]

 

I'm hoping we go on the Breakaway because maybe there will be other 12 year olds approaching 13.

 

What is your experience with a child who just missed out on the next age group??

 

 

Why would there be other 12 year olds on the Breakaway but not the Dawn?

[JPV072900]

I guess what I meant is, there will probably be more kids on the Breakaway which means more 12 year olds near 13 on that ship as opposed to the Dawn.

 

I would prefer to try the Breakaway because there's more to do than on the Dawn. We went on the Dawn last year, but it was more of a "make your own fun" type of cruise.

[asdjl]

Now this is only my experience, but none of my kids loved the kids club last year on the Getaway (13, 10, 8). And to answer your particular question, my 8 year old really didn't like it because she was in the 6-9 age group

 

It's the primary reason I am taking them on the Carnival Magic this year, as their age groups have her (now 9) falling in the 9-11 category. She felt like there were too many 6 year olds on our sailing, lol. So my guess is, it will depend on how many other 11 or 12 year old boys there are in the group for your son.

 

I didn't really mind, but thought it would be nice for them (and for me, as husband did not come with us), however it didn't work out. My 13 year old didn't like it because NCL does not split the teen group either, so she felt like there were too many older kids in her group and she wasn't comfortable. So again, I think it depends how the breakdown is on your particular sailing.

 

Also, my kids met others while doing many of the activities on the ship, even when not with the organized kids club group

[Pikaia]

Why would there be other 12 year olds on the Breakaway but not the Dawn?

Twice the number of pax suggests twice the number of 12 year old passengers. :)

[JPV072900]

I agree asdjl, I'm hoping my boys (10 & 12) will make friends while going up and down the waterslides all day. But they've always loved the Kids Club

 

We were on the Carnival Glory a few years ago, and whereas I didn't like the Kids Club, they seemed to have fun. On more than one occasion, the kids met in one of the conference rooms. It was unusual, and I wasn't thrilled,but they had fun.

[PCLMassachusetts]

I would say pick based on the ship you really want to be on. I think there are way too many variables involved to be able to accurately predict that the Breakaway would have more 12 year olds just because of the size of the ship.

 

My kids don't like the kids clubs in general.

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

Last year on the Getaway, DD was 13... She hated the teen club and I did too, for her. It's 13-18 and they kind of just hang out. No way was my DD going to hang out with 17 and 18 year old boys. Lol. She wanted to go to the club her 12 year old brother was in, but as we all know...it's not allowed. 13-18 is just too large of a span. They need maybe 13-15 club.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[JPV072900]

Hmmm...I'm thinking maybe it's better he's with younger kids!

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Forums

[cigarboo]

My 13yo son would have preferred to be in the 12yo group where my 11yo son was at. Even if my 11yo was not in there, the 13yo would have liked the organized activities in Splash academy. Entourage was a bit too old for him. No way could he keep up with the high schoolers who were hanging out spewing profanity. At 14yo on our most recent cruise, he was able to find some 13-14+yo's to hang out with.

 

The 11 & 12 yo's in splash can have sign out priviledges. They do lots of fun activities and can have some independence as well.

[mnventure]

We were on the Getaway in Jaunary, just a couple of weeks before my daughter turned 13. She went to the kids club twice - the first time was ok and she made a friend that she ended up hanging out with for the week. She tried it a second time and didn't like it at all. Same for my 11 year old son. They never went back....

[conandrob240]

I found the 10-12 age ( roughly) to be when the kids clubs lost them, so to speak. The age brackets were awkward at that age, the programming not quite right. Once he turned 13 or 14, he loved it again and has a blast now at 15 turning 16. I think a kid 10 days shy of 13 is going to hate being lumped with 10-12 yr olds even if there are lots of them, unless he is immature for his age. Can you move the cruise by 2 weeks?

[JPV072900]

Nope! I don't want an August cruise! I like what others are saying about their 13 year olds. I wouldn't be surprised if my son makes a few friends and just does his own thing! I think I'd be more worried about him being with the teens! Probably because I remember being in the teen groups when I was his age!

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Forums

[conandrob240]

Then I don't understand your post about being a bad mom? You are pretty much saying you think your son will be uncomfortable with 10-12 yr olds and might not enjoy himself yet you don't want to shift your dates by 2 weeks for him. So, what are you asking?

 

Bad, mom? I have no idea, I don't know you.

 

Being a little selfish about cruise timing? Probably.

[toolseal]

I am from Boston area and have been on the Boston to Bermuda cruise 3 times. The last time was the summer of 2011 on the Dawn. The are 3 of us....myself, wife and 14 yo son (14) now. We love cruising and this summer we are taking the cruise out of NY instead of Boston. We want to change it up and have always wanted to cruise out of NYC.

This is definitely not your typical Carribean type of cruise, as you are docked for 3 days straight instead of leaving for the next port each evening. Bermuda is a great island, much different than your typical Carribean port. It is a great destination, you will have fun regardless of which ship you take.

[Crzy4my2]

I'm in Boston and was looking at both of those cruises. I'm trying to talk DH into going at the end of July. My DD12 and DS13 would be coming with us. I wanted to go out of NY but might have a better chance of him agreeing if I do the one out of Boston since we wont need to travel to far to get there and I just paid off my daughters school trip to NYC and our Disney trip in June. My DD is dancing in Disney so we are going for a long weekend. .(so less expensive to cruise out of Boston)

I was worried about the kids clubs too. You will have to update which one you pick.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Crzy4my2

[rvsullivan]

I would say pick based on the ship you really want to be on. I think there are way too many variables involved to be able to accurately predict that the Breakaway would have more 12 year olds just because of the size of the ship.

 

My kids don't like the kids clubs in general.

 

Number of kids in the Club varies much more by date than size of the ship! Past December on Dawn, 1 week of Dec, 90 total kids on the ship. Next week, 600 total kids on ship. Following week, 900 on board. Date, not total number of passengers is a good indicator.

[willise]

I think this is an issue more than people like to admit. In my case, we travelled with friends on the Dawn to Bermuda and our boys have been friends since they could talk (same school, same class, always hang out together, same scout troop, etc). The were born the same year, just a few months apart. On the cruise, one was 12 and one was 13. Since they could not be in the same kids club, they never went to either group.

 

Chronological age, especially in these age groups, should be re-evaluated. Maybe using the year of birth to make the decision would be a better practice.

[NYteacher]

We were going to try our first Royal cruise this spring break and their age break downs were 12-14 and 15-17. We wound up switching back to NCL. My son is turning 13 in three days and I hate the idea of 13-17. I would think the 16-17 teens would hate hanging around with the younger kids. I'm hoping he'll meet a few boys his own age to just hang with.

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

I think this is an issue more than people like to admit. In my case, we travelled with friends on the Dawn to Bermuda and our boys have been friends since they could talk (same school, same class, always hang out together, same scout troop, etc). The were born the same year, just a few months apart. On the cruise, one was 12 and one was 13. Since they could not be in the same kids club, they never went to either group.

 

Chronological age, especially in these age groups, should be re-evaluated. Maybe using the year of birth to make the decision would be a better practice.

 

Maybe even their grade in school should be taken into consideration, probably won't work with international travelers though. I said it up thread and I'll say it again. A 13 year old is too young to be with 18 year olds. :)

[cruzsnooze]

So we're planning a family cruise this summer, and my older son is 12, but he'll be 10 days away from turning 13 when we board.

 

I'm not going to ask the expected question as to whether or not they'll let him in with the older kids because I already know that they won't!

 

BUT, do you think he'll have fun being with the 10-12 year olds?

 

I'm hoping we go on the Breakaway because maybe there will be other 12 year olds approaching 13.

 

What is your experience with a child who just missed out on the next age group??

It depends entirely on his maturity level and personality type. Is he an easy going kid?

Edited February 20, 2015 by cruzsnooze

[Pikaia]

I said it up thread and I'll say it again. A 13 year old is too young to be with 18 year olds. :)

Agreed. At 13.5 I started at a new school, and most of my new friends were 17 & 18. Though nothing terrible happened, it's not something I want for my daughters. (And what were my parents thinking?!?)

 

The main reason I'm okay with taking my newly-minted 13 year old girl on a cruise is that it's a long itinerary (14 days) on a mid-size ship in early November. I'm counting on the fact that there will be few teens on the cruise, and those that are there are likely to be middle schoolers or homeschoolers rather than juniors or seniors in high school.

 

However, with maturity and good communication, I think it can work out fine regardless. The family cruising board has some excellent advice on ground rules and even sample contracts outlining expected behavior.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Pikaia

[JPV072900]

It depends entirely on his maturity level and personality type. Is he an easy going kid?

 

He is a VERY easy going kid. He has always been the one that when we go somewhere there is NEVER anyone his age. My 9 year old ALWAYS seems to have someone his age, but not my older boy.

 

I think he'll feel like he's missing out on something, but hey, it's a cruise. He's going on his 4th cruise to Bermuda before the age of 13. I think he'll be fine!!

[Tardis of the Seas]

I've only cruised once before on RCI....with teenaged young ladies13 and 14. That being said there was never a problem. We traveled with another family who also had young ladies the same age. They returned from the teen club on day two with a unsettling tale of boys(notice I did not say young men) using off color foul language and just being rude. Know what the youngest young lady did?....she announced she did not appreciate their behavior and had no problem letting an adult know because she will not be disrespted and all four ladies reported the incident, left, found their parents and told them. We returned to the club and spoke to the counselor... The counselors warned the boys that next time they would be asked to leave and patents notified. I dont know if it was as the fact thay the pretty girls would not come back ( 4 of them!) if the behavior continued or the fear of parents finding out but the ladies had no more problems

and two boys who were soon upgraded to young gentleman status escorted all four ladies to the soft serve ice cream machine in appoligy. We are booked on NCL in November. I Dont expect any problems and if they arise I think the ladies will handle it (with help from the Mama).

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

Edited February 21, 2015 by Tardis of the Seas

[JPV072900]

I've only cruised once before on RCI....with teenaged young ladies13 and 14. That being said there was never a problem. We traveled with another family who also had young ladies the same age. They returned from the teen club on day two with a unsettling tale of boys(notice I did not say young men) using off color foul language and just being rude. Know what the youngest young lady did?....she announced she did not appreciate their behavior and had no problem letting an adult know because she will not be disrespted and all four ladies reported the incident, left, found their parents and told them. We returned to the club and spoke to the counselor... The counselors warned the boys that next time they would be asked to leave and patents notified. I dont know if it was as the fact thay the pretty girls would not come back ( 4 of them!) if the behavior continued or the fear of parents finding out but the ladies had no more problems

and two boys who were soon upgraded to young gentleman status escorted all four ladies to the soft serve ice cream machine in appoligy. We are booked on NCL in November. I Dont expect any problems and if they arise I think the ladies will handle it (with help from the Mama).

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

 

Okay, that was a great story!! Nice job young ladies!! More young people should rat out other kids lousy behavior instead of joining in on it! I can only hope my boys would do the same thing and not be intimidated by that type of behavior!