Cruising with Teens

[Kshecruiser0524]

We are cruising on the Celebration March of 2024. This will be our first cruise with our kids being older. Our son will be 15 and our daughter will be 12. The last time we cruised was 2019 and they both were still too young for the teen clubs. I would love any information on others experiences with the teen clubs. It sounds like the kids are not supervised and are just able to meet other kids there. I tend to be a little paranoid and the idea of letting the kids wander around the ship on their own doesn't seem like something I will be very comfortable with but I want to be able to give them some freedom so they are also able to enjoy their cruise. Any tips or personal experience on how others have handled this or thoughts about the teen club in general is greatly appreciated. 

[teknoge3k]

 Everyone parents differently, and there's no right or wrong answer. You do what you're comfortable with. 

 

For us, neither of my kids ever liked the kids clubs. They are introverts and prefer to do things on their own. Ever since my oldest was about 12 years old, he's went out and did his own thing on the ship. He mainly hung out at the waterworks or basketball courts. He made friends along the way on every cruise, some he still keeps in contact with.

[BobbiSox]

I have seen children no older that six or seven, unescorted and running wild throughout the ship. My children and grandchildren are always under the watchful eye of an adult, or they stay home. On any ship with hundreds (possibly thousands) of alcohol abusers and pot-smoking strangers, in the middle of an ocean, things can go wrong really fast.  It's not a place for unescorted children of any age, including teens.  I wouldn't dream of taking that risk. 

[EngIceDave]

31 minutes ago, teknoge3k said:

Everyone parents differently, and there's no right or wrong answer. You do what you're comfortable with. 

THIS 

 

 

Everyone is different and one size does not fit all. My kids never liked the clubs. It was only used initially to meet a few friends and that was it.

You know your kids. 

[EngIceDave]

12 minutes ago, BobbiSox said:

On any ship with hundreds (possibly thousands) of alcohol abusers and pot-smoking strangers, in the middle of an ocean, things can go wrong really fast.

Your basis on this is what?

 

I certainly don't hear a lot of child molestation issues on cruise ships, this something new?

 

 

[BobbiSox]

I imagine that when things go horribly wrong, it's not something that would be made public.  Anytime a person is amid a large groups of strangers is a good time to be on guard. Throw drugs and alcohol into the mix, better be aware of your surrondings. Sorry if this post has offended anyone. People are people. It only takes one to spoil the party. I cruise a lot on a lot of difrerent lines.  For over 25 years. I've seen a lot. 

[wemjam]

We cruised with two boys through multiple years.  As they grew, freedom got more, but they were still on a leash.  

 

Younger we would drop them off at supervised activity and ask when it was over and pick them up.

 

Older, they were allowed to "go" to a specific place (teen club, arcade, sports deck, etc.) for a set period of time but they had to be THERE only and they knew we would swing by and check on them off and on.  If they wanted to go somewhere else they came back to us and advised of new destination.  

 

Again, big ship, lots of people, and places we can't even get to they could disappear to - and it only takes one bad person to change a persons life.  Also, have seen LOTS of times what happens when a group of new "friends" get together and run wild on the ship.  No kid is a saint and even though ours were well behaved we knew unlimited freedom can be a bad recipe.

 

 

[poshmom]

A year ago we sailed with two teens and a preteen.  Ages: 16, 14 and 11.  Because of their ages, they were part of three different clubs. Our sixteen year old daughter looooved the teen club.  She enjoyed it so much, she wants to return before she's eighteen.  She continues to stay in touch with a few of the kids.  My middle child didn't go to the teen club at first but about halfway through the cruise went and really liked it.  The 11 yr old didn't ever go.  She stayed with us most of time.  I would highly recommend double checking your kids' phones to make sure they have downloaded the carnival hub app before boarding/sailing away from main port because two of mine didn't.  The front desk people were very helpful but it still took about an hr of our time getting it situated and set up on their phones. We did the cheapest plan at that time, which I think was $5 per person.   If you're able to stay in touch using the app and phones, it makes life a lot easier.  And a heads up on phone service, sometimes the messages weren't completely sending, which sent my husband and I into complete panic mode one evening. Overall, very good experience with the teen clubs for our kids.  Hope this helps.

[Kshecruiser0524]

1 hour ago, teknoge3k said:

 Everyone parents differently, and there's no right or wrong answer. You do what you're comfortable with. 

 

For us, neither of my kids ever liked the kids clubs. They are introverts and prefer to do things on their own. Ever since my oldest was about 12 years old, he's went out and did his own thing on the ship. He mainly hung out at the waterworks or basketball courts. He made friends along the way on every cruise, some he still keeps in contact with.

I totally get that each family and kid is different. I was just hoping to get some insight on what others might have done to help them feel comfortable giving a little space yet keeping an eye on the kids as well. I think my daughter would like the clubs a lot. She is very social where as my son is not so much. I would like them to be able to meet some friends while on board so they have a good time though. Did your son go there to meet the kids or just meet them while he was at the waterworks or courts?

[Kshecruiser0524]

1 hour ago, EngIceDave said:

THIS 

 

 

Everyone is different and one size does not fit all. My kids never liked the clubs. It was only used initially to meet a few friends and that was it.

You know your kids. 

Totally agree. All kids and families are different. My kids are good kids but all kids can make bad decisions when left unsupervised, especially when you get a few of them together. I am less worried about my kids than just something happening though honestly. I know you are on a ship but you just never know. I tend to be on the overprotective/strict side but I don't want them to not have any fun you know. I guess it is probably something you just have to feel out when you are in the situation. I just wondered what others did to give a little freedom while still making sure their kids are safe.

[Kshecruiser0524]

36 minutes ago, wemjam said:

We cruised with two boys through multiple years.  As they grew, freedom got more, but they were still on a leash.  

 

Younger we would drop them off at supervised activity and ask when it was over and pick them up.

 

Older, they were allowed to "go" to a specific place (teen club, arcade, sports deck, etc.) for a set period of time but they had to be THERE only and they knew we would swing by and check on them off and on.  If they wanted to go somewhere else they came back to us and advised of new destination.  

 

Again, big ship, lots of people, and places we can't even get to they could disappear to - and it only takes one bad person to change a persons life.  Also, have seen LOTS of times what happens when a group of new "friends" get together and run wild on the ship.  No kid is a saint and even though ours were well behaved we knew unlimited freedom can be a bad recipe.

 

 

Thanks this is helpful. That was kind of what I had in mind. Maybe letting them go to the arcade but having to be back at a certain time or picking them up and they have to stay there. I agree, my kids are good kids but you get a bunch of kids together and you just never know. They're kids. I wasn't sure how common it was for people to let their teens just run around alone. I was hoping the teen clubs would be a bit more supervised but it sounds like they are not.

[EngIceDave]

We had them on a leash. Check in times with us and specific rules, things like that.

 

You know what's best for your kids

[teknoge3k]

20 minutes ago, Kshecruiser0524 said:

I totally get that each family and kid is different. I was just hoping to get some insight on what others might have done to help them feel comfortable giving a little space yet keeping an eye on the kids as well. I think my daughter would like the clubs a lot. She is very social where as my son is not so much. I would like them to be able to meet some friends while on board so they have a good time though. Did your son go there to meet the kids or just meet them while he was at the waterworks or courts?

 

He met them around the ship, none in the kids club. He only went once for a short while, and said "nope". That was the end of that attempt.

[Schoifmom]

My kids are well past that age, but I will say that whatever rules you have for then being away from you on land should be the same on the ship.  Make sure they tell you where they are going.  Check up on them.  Have a method to stay in contact.  Have specific times when they are required to be with you.  You likely have good judgment.  Use it.

[Kshecruiser0524]

1 hour ago, poshmom said:

A year ago we sailed with two teens and a preteen.  Ages: 16, 14 and 11.  Because of their ages, they were part of three different clubs. Our sixteen year old daughter looooved the teen club.  She enjoyed it so much, she wants to return before she's eighteen.  She continues to stay in touch with a few of the kids.  My middle child didn't go to the teen club at first but about halfway through the cruise went and really liked it.  The 11 yr old didn't ever go.  She stayed with us most of time.  I would highly recommend double checking your kids' phones to make sure they have downloaded the carnival hub app before boarding/sailing away from main port because two of mine didn't.  The front desk people were very helpful but it still took about an hr of our time getting it situated and set up on their phones. We did the cheapest plan at that time, which I think was $5 per person.   If you're able to stay in touch using the app and phones, it makes life a lot easier.  And a heads up on phone service, sometimes the messages weren't completely sending, which sent my husband and I into complete panic mode one evening. Overall, very good experience with the teen clubs for our kids.  Hope this helps.

Thanks so much for the info. I will definitely make sure they download the app before we leave.

[wemjam]

37 minutes ago, Kshecruiser0524 said:

Thanks this is helpful. That was kind of what I had in mind. Maybe letting them go to the arcade but having to be back at a certain time or picking them up and they have to stay there. I agree, my kids are good kids but you get a bunch of kids together and you just never know. They're kids. I wasn't sure how common it was for people to let their teens just run around alone. I was hoping the teen clubs would be a bit more supervised but it sounds like they are not.

Unfortunately, it is very common.  Parents cut their kids loose and let them run wild because I guess they figure "where can they go to," and likely because there are just bad parents that don't care.   And the bad behavior shows.  Numerous times I have seen groups of children being disrespectful, running wild, doing all kinds of things they shouldn't because their parents aren't monitoring them.

 

Just as an example of what I have seen groups of kids doing:

*Running full bore down the Promenade like a herd of startled water buffalo

*Dispensing Ice cream straight into their mouth (literally like sucking on the spout where it comes out)

*Rudely (like pushing people out of the way rude) cutting in front of people in the buffet (this happens a lot) but on more than one occasion have seen them take it a step further and grab something, taking a bite and throwing it back into the pan on the buffet (kid you not)

*Cutting in line and running straight up to guest service clerk at counter and demanding something, and when the clerk asked them to politely wait their turn cussing them out at the top of their lungs with every 4 letter word they could muster

*DELIBERATELY pouring splashes of drinks over the railings into the lobby

*Banging on and abusing just about anything on the ship (arcade games, ATH machine, KIOSK)

*Climbing on the railing on the lido deck and sitting on the top railing (mind you on deck 10! a whole group of them) - Luckily a Carnival person stopped that quickly

*My personal favorite - running down the hallway screaming and yelling banging on doors at like 1am in the morning

*Trying to steal something in one of the stores

 

I am sure others have seen more... but this gives you some idea.

 

The worst part is.  I don't think I can think of one example where I can say I saw a single, lone child doing something really obnoxious... its' always when they get in a group - they suddenly get really stupid and brazen!

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by wemjam

[mjkacmom]

Having traveled with our 5 kids (at one point having 5 teens), I was amazed at how often I ran into them on cruises, there really is a finite number of places for them to be, so I could easily find them. On our last cruise they were 14, 14, 16, 19 and 20, so the older 2 stuck together and met other people in spite of being too old for the club (they were concerned about that). When they’re out and about at home, I just need to trust, on a cruise I see them all of the time. Fortunately we live in the same town where my husband and I grew up, lots of families have strong roots, so eyes are everywhere.