Has anyone cruised On Diamond Princess with teens/11 yr old?

[Alarch]

We are considering a 9 night cruise around one of the Northern Japanese Islands on the Diamond Princess next summer, largely because we would love to visit Japan (we would combine it with stays in Osaka and Tokyo). We have cruised before, on Disney and NCL and the kids loved it, but on DCL they were allowed to go to the same kids club even though my son wasn't old enough to officially attend The Edge teen club, and on NCL they were both in the same age category at the time (if they had not of been flexibility would not have been allowed). Next summer my son will be 11, nearly 12, and my daughter will be 14, but I can't see them wanting to attend any of the organised kid stuff unless they are together. My travel agent said he thought that Princess would be flexible, but my daughter phoned Princess and they said absolutely not!

Has anyone had any experience travelling with this sort of age of children on Princess, or the Diamond specifically? Is there any flexibility re attendance of the kids clubs for siblings who want to be together but who are not the same age grouping? And just generally what is the experience of cruising with Princess like for them? I have read loads of reviews but hardly anyone seems to have young teens and to have travelled on Diamond/in Asia on Princess.

Thanks for any advice - at the moment we are loathe to spend so much money whilst worrying the kids might not enjoy the cruise enough.

[shredie]

I can't speak to the Itinerary, but I do know Princess will not let an 11 year old child into the teen area. There are many reasons for that, and I think most of them make sense. The safety of the child is one big concern. His sister might be happy to have him around, but a 16 year old might not. The same would apply in reverse. Princess will not let teens into the younger kids' areas. If they made exceptions for you, they would have to make exceptions for everyone else. I love the kids' clubs for my grandchildren. They have so much fun there, but I know they are very aware the rules for them (Shockwaves) are different for the teens (who often leave the facility and roam the ship in groups.)

Edited July 15, 2015 by shredie

[Alarch]

Thanks Shredie, Yes, I am not questioning what rules they have (I am sure each cruise line has good reason for their own policies). just wanting to find out for sure what the rules are. Looking like disney might be the only line that will mean my two can be together - not much fun going on holiday if you can't join in with organised stuff with your brother/sister!

[shredie]

Thanks Shredie, Yes, I am not questioning what rules they have (I am sure each cruise line has good reason for their own policies). just wanting to find out for sure what the rules are. Looking like disney might be the only line that will mean my two can be together - not much fun going on holiday if you can't join in with organised stuff with your brother/sister!

 

My boys are twins, so they move together at the same age. I hope you find something that works for both of your children. Later, when they are both over 13, you could give Princess a try.

[Alarch]

Oh I always wanted to be a twin for that reason. Never alone!

[minniem]

Oh I always wanted to be a twin for that reason. Never alone!

 

I am a twin. It is awesome to be a twin. Never alone and double trouble.

[john watson]

I sailed on Diamond Princess on the Hong Kong to Yokohama repositioning cruise with my daughter who was then 10. The club worked well as they always do and we had no problems. It is just by the Japanese Bath which was not open at that time but we did have a viewing of the closed facility after it was completed. Age restrictions as has been said are strictly adhered to. The only exception from this is when then age demorgraphic is such that they have excessive children of a certain range and very few of another then they might amalgamate, for them not for you.

 

Single children should be fine in the club and meet new friends. A problem I have encountered, not on Princess, but on other ships when travelling a round trip cruise from a non-UK port of origin is that if children meet other common language speakers who can get away with speaking English they sometimes drop a friendship when another child comes along speaking their native language. English was spoken widely in the club when we were on board. In this respect I would say give it a go.

 

We extended our holiday a few days at the end by staying in Yokohama itself, at the International Grand Hotel. It was an easy walk to this hotel from the cruise port at the end as the building is distinctive and this circumvents talking to taxi drivers to ask for the trip. Great location for children as it is in short walking distance from Cosmos World which is just like Alton Towers but age restrictions are lower. see the rides on You Tube. This was the big attraction of staying in Yokophama. Shuttle takes you to the airport we took a taxi hotel staff do all the talking to taxi guy. Make sure you sort out whether you want Tokyo Haneda or Tokyo Narita Airport as they are miles apart.

 

Regards John

[Rockgod]

Hello,

I'm in pretty much the same boat (pun somewhat intended) as you whereby I have a 14yo daughter and a 12yo son, and we are doing the Diamond in Sept. They don't want to be separated and if the rules were that each had to stick to their relevant groups then neither would be attending, which is almost a pity as I'm sure they'd enjoy it regardless.

Anyway, a month or so back I rang Princess and they said it should be fine for my son to step up to the older group, I just had to talk to one of the staff to arrange.

Rock

[shredie]

Hello,Anyway, a month or so back I rang Princess and they said it should be fine for my son to step up to the older group, I just had to talk to one of the staff to arrange.

 

Is he close to his 13th birthday? That might make a difference. I hope you won't be disappointed. What you hear from a phone rep doesn't always transfer to the ship itself.

[Rockgod]

Is he close to his 13th birthday? That might make a difference. I hope you won't be disappointed. What you hear from a phone rep doesn't always transfer to the ship itself.

 

No, he turns 12 end July and we are going mid Sept.

 

If he can't join I guess he'll just hang with us.

[caribill]

Anyway, a month or so back I rang Princess and they said it should be fine for my son to step up to the older group, I just had to talk to one of the staff to arrange.

 

Call back and ask for that in writing.

[Alarch]

Thank you John for taking the time to reply. Very helpful.

One more question - were there a lot of adult only areas on the boat - particularly swimming pools not accessible to children? I read that 'movies under the stars' is adults only, which seems to be beside the main pool so I am wondering about the implications of that (and there are obviously some movies I would not want my 11 year old, or 14 year old, to watch, but generally they enjoy a film, and know how to behave when watching one! So movies under the stars sound like a good activity for them).

 

Rock - enjoy your cruise, I would love to hear how you get along with the kids clubs and your two children. I imagine there are many siblings who do not want to be separated. Like you, our teenage daughter will go to the club on her own, but there is no way our son will.

 

(And btw, I understand the benefit of having adult only areas for adults travelling alone - and for those with children!! - I am just trying to establish what the situation will be on the Diamond before committing to booking).

[john watson]

14yrs will be in the teen club. Entry and exit to this facility is supervised by the youth team on duty but no written record is kept of members entering/exiting. In other words they do not sign in or out in a visitors book.

 

11yrs I am sure this age will fall under the discretionary signing in and or out. In other words the parents sign at registration to consent they are happy to allow their daughter/son to sign in or in and out of the club at child's discretion. If you can get younger one registered at club on this basis she will never feel trapped. It would be possible for her to sign herself out then walk into teen club and request brother to leave as she wants to do other things.

 

Princess have a "Lock In" on port days. This is because they permit all adults on the booking with the child to go ashore leaving their child in the children's club. I am not suggesting you want to do this, just pointing out as a self signer she would be stuck in the club on port days if she signed herself in! Until you sign her out or ship leaves port.

 

Swimming Pools; the one associated with the Beauty Salon is always adults only. Children on Princess Grand Class are always permitted in the Lido pool outside. Some ships permit also the Lido pool inside in conservatory and not on the Aft terrace alternatively the opposite applies with these two latter pools. So there is a fairly good choice of pools. My daughter hates being told off and loves swimming. So what we do as soon as we board and do that exploring thing is look at the small print on the pool notices. The thing to look for is that "persons under 16 years of age must be supervised by an adult". This tells me children are allowed in and I also check jacuzzi and any other pool for this information so if any body queries it I can refer them to the notice. Supervision by me does not necessarily mean that I am in the pool but may be poolside supervising. My daughter is a good strong swimmer and I am a non-swimmer.

 

The Movies Under The Stars thing runs every night. It also runs some days late morning/early afternoon with a Disney cartoon or pop concert giving a bit of music. The nightly thing is usually announced in the Princess Patter about what the film is and its age rating. If you are within the film category age limit I think you are fine. They come round with free popcorn and have a stand which you can get popcorn from even if you are not watching the film. Special comfy covers are put on the loungers for the evening show.

 

When I started cruising with my daughter a lot of consideration was given to our cabin location in relation to where the children's club was located. Typically I would go for a Lido Balcony cabin; these are in the cheapest balcony cabin group and being on the Lido deck navigation to and from the pool was easiest important because she swims a lot. Changing and after showering is easy too. The children's club was one deck higher and at other end of ship. This made it easy for daughter to get to and from the club at a bargain balcony price. When we needed more space the Emerald Deck Mini-Suites are excellent as you get a big balcony that is not overlooked and you are by the Aft Lifts which take you directly upwards to the children's club.

 

Regards John

Edited July 16, 2015 by john watson

[Alarch]

John - thanks again for all that useful information. I am gathering that this diamond princess cruise I am looking at might be a little different for the children than the ones they have been on so far on NCL and DCL, but sounds like your daughter had fun, that it is a lovely ship, but most of all the opportunity to see some of Japan would be amazing for us as a family. We can't book for another month or so anyway, as my husband needs to wait to book his leave, but this is definitely looking tempting for us!

[caribill]

I read that 'movies under the stars' is adults only, which seems to be beside the main pool.

 

No, that area is not restricted to adults.

[Alarch]

Thanks Caribill. Our children will enjoy that so that is great.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hello,

I'm in pretty much the same boat (pun somewhat intended) as you whereby I have a 14yo daughter and a 12yo son, and we are doing the Diamond in Sept. They don't want to be separated and if the rules were that each had to stick to their relevant groups then neither would be attending, which is almost a pity as I'm sure they'd enjoy it regardless.

Anyway, a month or so back I rang Princess and they said it should be fine for my son to step up to the older group, I just had to talk to one of the staff to arrange.

Rock

 

Princess is pretty strict on the age groups. ;)

[john watson]

John - thanks again for all that useful information. I am gathering that this diamond princess cruise I am looking at might be a little different for the children than the ones they have been on so far on NCL and DCL, but sounds like your daughter had fun, that it is a lovely ship, but most of all the opportunity to see some of Japan would be amazing for us as a family. We can't book for another month or so anyway, as my husband needs to wait to book his leave, but this is definitely looking tempting for us!

 

When you book an important consideration is the basis on which you book. I booked "cruise only" and did my own flights and hotels all on the internet selecting each myself. You can of course select a package through a cruise specialist travel agent or direct with the cruise line and request extra days pre and/or post cruise with them doing the flights and transfers. Booking is the easy part it's on the ground where it's more tricky. You have got a language problem and a written in funny characters instead of letters problem.

 

You need all hotel addresses and locations you wish to get to written and printed out in both so you can show taxi drivers where you want to get to and also research the internet on local transport to save money. I for example found when arriving in Hong Kong that there was a train direct from the airport to the hotels location in Kowloon. looked on You Tube found videos of the train journey, the terminal at the airport how to get to the train platform, where to buy your ticket and that children's tickets are cheaper and how to get those. This saved £100 roughly. Googled maps of my hotel and where the cruise terminal was. Printed out loads of stuff and never got stuck. The cruise line print information in the Princess Patter daily news sheet once you are on the ship giving useful phrases to help you get back to the cruise terminal in local language. Transfers back to airport from ship on day ship docks are normally offered if you have not factored alternative arrangements.

 

Met a couple in Yokohama who were trying to get taxi driver to take them somewhere, hotel I assume but they never spoke Japanese. They ended up shouting does anyone speak English? Not good planning. Package deals with transfers are good but not necessarily cheapest and you get the standard stuff in the package. Hotel websites tell you languages spoken by staff and you can get them to call you taxis.

 

What I am really emphasising is detailed planning is required for a good trip. I have no idea of your current international travel experience.

Edited July 17, 2015 by john watson

[Alarch]

Thanks John, sounds like good advice, I am a fairly seasoned traveller, and we have done a couple of fairly exciting trips with the kids ,though all of my Asian travel is before children. Normally I would book everything myself, and separately, but if we do this trip I have a package in mind. I realise this might mean we miss some of the non standard stuff, but I think with the children the age they are, and with us having no Japanese experience, this is probably the best bet for us. It seems like a good price too, and includes pretty much everything so at least it helps budget planning even if it does mean we pay a bit over the odds on what we could have got it for independently.

 

And I am an obsessive planner - I drive my husband mad! If we do go ahead with booking I shall start the research straightaway! Already noting your advice on everything.