What's a 12 y.o. to do after 11pm?

[S&Dcruising]

Well my opinion wont be popular......keep the kids HOME. For once it would be great to be on a cruise without kids. Most, not all parents......dont pay attention to what their kids are actually doing. They let their kids in the hot tubs when they arent supposed to.....running around the top deck......pushing in the elevators.....and just in areas where they dont belong. I have been on 8 cruises...and different lines....its the same on all of them. Parents neglect to pay attention to what their kids are doing cause they are on vacation. I would hate to see how the parenting is at home.

 

Obviously ALL parents dont fall into this category.......but the majority I have seen do.

 

Just because someone is on vacation doesnt mean that common sense is thrown out the window. Kids and their parents if traveling need to think of the other passengers....and not just themselves.

 

 

 

I second this motion!

[kruzingtogether]

Wow ... I seriously remember having an 11pm curfew until I was 19 y.o. (the first summer I spent with my parents after I had gone off to college -- and even that extension took serious negotiation!). At 12, I loved being able to read/ watch a movie / have some time alone in my bedroom/hotel room on family vacation. I totally agree with that assessment from a previous poster (ordering room service -- what a thrill for a pre-teen! -- and having some quiet activity until bed). Don't let kids grow up so fast!! I am in my mid-late 20s and am POSITIVE that the "more conservative" way my parents raised me did me alot of good in turning into the woman I am today.

[NoPiratesPlease]

There are cruises and cruise lines just for YOU! Everything from WindStar to Seaborne to Saga. Some are absolutely kid-free, others simply discourage it, highly.

 

But NCL is not one of them--they try to be family-oriented. Translation: Kids will be there.

 

CTNs are not good for kids, especially one-nighters. They exist almost completely for the night-life--shows, dinner, drinking, dancing and gambling. Comedians can be off-color--more so than on regular cruises.

[S&Dcruising]

Wow ... I seriously remember having an 11pm curfew until I was 19 y.o. (the first summer I spent with my parents after I had gone off to college -- and even that extension took serious negotiation!). At 12, I loved being able to read/ watch a movie / have some time alone in my bedroom/hotel room on family vacation. I totally agree with that assessment from a previous poster (ordering room service -- what a thrill for a pre-teen! -- and having some quiet activity until bed). Don't let kids grow up so fast!! I am in my mid-late 20s and am POSITIVE that the "more conservative" way my parents raised me did me alot of good in turning into the woman I am today.

I second this motion also

[Traveller20074]

Sleeping? :confused:

 

 

 

;)

[veggie59]

There are cruises and cruise lines just for YOU! Everything from WindStar to Seaborne to Saga. Some are absolutely kid-free, others simply discourage it, highly.

 

But NCL is not one of them--they try to be family-oriented. Translation: Kids will be there.

 

CTNs are not good for kids, especially one-nighters. They exist almost completely for the night-life--shows, dinner, drinking, dancing and gambling. Comedians can be off-color--more so than on regular cruises.

 

I would obviously prefer a kid-free cruise, but if parents bring kids on a cruise they should WATCH them.....the majority I have seen dont. Why would parents think that it is okay to allow kids in places that normally they wouldnt be allowed? In another thread someone mentioned bringing a younger child to a bar. I guess I just have a different idea on what a child should be allowed to do at that age. My kids generally went to bed at 9pm all the way through high school. Just because you are on vacation doesnt mean the child should have privilages like an adult. The parent is the adult and should make sure their child is well behaved and respectful to the rest of the passengers.

[CruisnGram]

No, on a ship I believe that after 11 a kid should be supervised or in the cabin. There are movies, games, maybe even visiting friends.

 

.

 

Wait a minute though folks. I'm sorry but many of you are blowing this way, way out of line. The OP specifically asked about things they could do WITH their child after 11 pm while waiting for the older child to finish the teen club activities. The teen club...again, not roaming all around the ship causing havoc....an organized activity.

 

We're not talking about a parent here who is allowing their teen to stay out all night long hanging with friends or allowing a preteen to prowl around the ship unattended. Everyone agrees that is a bad idea and shouldn't happen. and I'm the first one in line to say that there's no excuse for bad parenting. But that's not the case here and I think that the OP is really getting beat up on for something she has NO intention of allowing.

 

I also think that telling someone when their child should be in bed is ludicrous. To each his own. As long as the kids aren't infringing on your vacation, it's really not anyone's business what time someone puts their kid gets to bed. And as far as the comments about leaving kids home? Well, I'm not even going near that one.

 

Really folks, lighten up. All the OP did was ask a polite question.

 

CG

[Traveller20074]

Oh, that's great to be able to look foward to. In McDonalds the other night...a child was running around in the play area shoving kids. We couldn't figure out who he belonged to till they left...he went INSIDE the restaurant, and sat down with his parents who hadn't even been anywhere near the play area. A lot of parents do a good job, but there ARE some who don't care about teaching their children good manners.

Well my opinion wont be popular......keep the kids HOME. For once it would be great to be on a cruise without kids. Most, not all parents......dont pay attention to what their kids are actually doing. They let their kids in the hot tubs when they arent supposed to.....running around the top deck......pushing in the elevators.....and just in areas where they dont belong. I have been on 8 cruises...and different lines....its the same on all of them. Parents neglect to pay attention to what their kids are doing cause they are on vacation. I would hate to see how the parenting is at home.

 

Obviously ALL parents dont fall into this category.......but the majority I have seen do.

 

Just because someone is on vacation doesnt mean that common sense is thrown out the window. Kids and their parents if traveling need to think of the other passengers....and not just themselves.

[veggie59]

Wait a minute though folks. The OP specifically asked about things they could do WITH their child after 11 pm while waiting for the older child to finish the teen club activities.

 

We're not talking about a parent here who is allowing their teen to stay out all night long hanging with friends or allowing a preteen to prowl around the ship unattended. Everyone agrees that is a bad idea and shouldn't happen. But that's not the case here.

 

CG

 

I think the point has been made that the kid should be in the cabin at that time of night. In my opiinion, so should the 16 year old...but that is more subjective.....but if I had brought kids....thats where they would be.

[GROOVERS]

Well my opinion wont be popular......keep the kids HOME. For once it would be great to be on a cruise without kids. Most, not all parents......dont pay attention to what their kids are actually doing. They let their kids in the hot tubs when they arent supposed to.....running around the top deck......pushing in the elevators.....and just in areas where they dont belong. I have been on 8 cruises...and different lines....its the same on all of them. Parents neglect to pay attention to what their kids are doing cause they are on vacation. I would hate to see how the parenting is at home.

 

Obviously ALL parents dont fall into this category.......but the majority I have seen do.

 

Just because someone is on vacation doesnt mean that common sense is thrown out the window. Kids and their parents if traveling need to think of the other passengers....and not just themselves.

 

 

Amen, Amen, Amen...

 

Quote:

I'm reading that around 11 things tend to get a little "adult" & the teen club can hang until later than the tween club...will there be anything for us to do with our 12 y.o. until our teen (16) is done his "partying".?????

 

 

I can't believe the moderators let this one be posted! Kids are the parents problems, when we had ours they were our problem!

We just got off the NCL Majesty, and believe me there was a kid sleeping on the staircase, outside the Casino, while mama was gambling!

[jondirk]

I'm sure everyone who has kids will say how good and well-behaved they are when they're around their parents but it's when the kids are left unattended that they tend to get into mischievousness. And (this may be a generalization) but they tend to ignore the authority of other adults, besides their parents, and push their orneriness to the limit.

 

I was on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, and we had one of the forward most cabins possible. There were a group of 4 kids who either had their own cabin (parents in a neighboring cabin??) or their parents were out and about, but these kids were running in and out of the cabin chasing each other, playing tag and shouting in the hallway, and would completely ignore us when we told them to be quiet. We finally put a call into the front desk and they had someone come up and send the kids "to their rooms".

 

Come on people, the ship's not a playground for your children. Let them enjoy the daytime activities with the other children or a nice day at port with the family because there's no reason a child that young needs to be up roaming the ship on their own.

[iheartbda]

Just trying to bring this thread back into focus. This is was the OP asked so it looks like they will be with the child and he/she will not be out and about by themselves which a number of posters seem to be assuming.

 

".....will there be anything for us to do with our 12 y.o. until our teen (16) is done his "partying".?????

 

I'm wondering what time the 12 yr old goes to bed at home and why a bedtime on a cruise would or should be all that different. Even if the OP decides to let the child stay up later, there is not a whole lot to do after 11:00 that is not more adult in nature.

 

CruisnGram,

Iwas typing while you replied. Looks like you and I are about the only ones who noticed the same thing.:)

[veggie59]

Wait a minute though folks. I'm sorry but many of you are blowing this way, way out of line. The OP specifically asked about things they could do WITH their child after 11 pm while waiting for the older child to finish the teen club activities. The teen club...again, not roaming all around the ship causing havoc....an organized activity.

 

We're not talking about a parent here who is allowing their teen to stay out all night long hanging with friends or allowing a preteen to prowl around the ship unattended. Everyone agrees that is a bad idea and shouldn't happen. and I'm the first one in line to say that there's no excuse for bad parenting. But that's not the case here and I think that the OP is really getting beat up on for something she has NO intention of allowing.

 

I also think that telling someone when their child should be in bed is ludicrous. To each his own. As long as the kids aren't infringing on your vacation, it's really not anyone's business what time someone puts their kid gets to bed. And as far as the comments about leaving kids home? Well, I'm not even going near that one.

 

Really folks, lighten up. All the OP did was ask a polite question.

 

CG

 

Yes.....we will give our opinion.....just like you gave yours. Dont need to lighten up........

[CanadaFour]

For those who want a cruise without children on board....I would rather deal with children in hot tubs or roaming the ship than a childish adult....

 

I want a cruise without

... intoxicated adults

... deck chair hogging adults

... breast oggling men

... cue jumpers (at buffet or disembarking at ports)

... grumpy people who aren't happy with anything (regardless of age)

 

 

I do not let my children roam the ship without supervision. Maybe those of you travelling with obnoxious adults would afford us the same courtesy and appropriately supervise these childish adults.

[veggie59]

For those who want a cruise without children on board....I would rather deal with children in hot tubs or roaming the ship than a childish adult....

 

I want a cruise without

... intoxicated adults

... deck chair hogging adults

... breast oggling men

... cue jumpers (at buffet or disembarking at ports)

... grumpy people who aren't happy with anything (regardless of age)

 

 

I do not let my children roam the ship without supervision. Maybe those of you travelling with obnoxious adults would afford us the same courtesy and appropriately supervise these childish adults.

 

Those are also good points that I agree with!

 

edited to add......no I actually would not put up with kids in hot tubs. Ever had hot water suddenly in your eyes cause a kid jumps up from under water? I dont go in the hot tubs any more because of it.

[CruisnGram]

Just trying to bring this thread back into focus. This is was the OP asked so it looks like they will be with the child and he/she will not be out and about by themselves which a number of posters seem to be assuming.

 

".....will there be anything for us to do with our 12 y.o. until our teen (16) is done his "partying".?????

 

I'm wondering what time the 12 yr old goes to bed at home and why a bedtime on a cruise would or should be all that different. Even if the OP decides to let the child stay up later, there is not a whole lot to do after 11:00 that is not more adult in nature.

 

I agree 100%. My kids happened to be night owls. They inherited it from me unfortunately. We all had to force ourselves to go to bed at a decent time on school nights or we wouldn't have survived. But when weekends arrived...it was very late bedtimes for all of us...except poor DH who is a go to bed early/rise early outcast in our family! :)

 

We only cruised twice when the girls were young and in fact, the first cruise only had the older one with us who was 11 at the time. I don't exactly remember what we did in the late evenings , but she was with me and supervised 100% of the time. I do know however, that she wasn't in bed by 11 pm. And, as was normal for her, she was up and ready to go by 7 am the next morning...just matabulism I guess. :D

 

Point is, everyone is different and what works for one child doesn't work for another. And while all agree that children should never be unsupervised on a cruise (even in the day time) the OP stated specifically that wasn't her intention.

 

CG

[SnootieTootie]

For those who want a cruise without children on board....I would rather deal with children in hot tubs or roaming the ship than a childish adult....

 

I want a cruise without

... intoxicated adults

... deck chair hogging adults

... breast oggling men

... cue jumpers (at buffet or disembarking at ports)

... grumpy people who aren't happy with anything (regardless of age)

 

 

I do not let my children roam the ship without supervision. Maybe those of you travelling with obnoxious adults would afford us the same courtesy and appropriately supervise these childish adults.

 

Perfect post!!

[jondirk]

And you never know, maybe

"will there be anything for us to do with our 12 y.o. until our teen (16) is done his "partying".???

could mean, not what they can do together but where can they take him, what are they gonna do with him while they're off on their own. Semantics perhaps?

[lisid]

Well my opinion wont be popular......keep the kids HOME. For once it would be great to be on a cruise without kids. Most, not all parents......dont pay attention to what their kids are actually doing. They let their kids in the hot tubs when they arent supposed to.....running around the top deck......pushing in the elevators.....and just in areas where they dont belong. I have been on 8 cruises...and different lines....its the same on all of them. Parents neglect to pay attention to what their kids are doing cause they are on vacation. I would hate to see how the parenting is at home.

 

Obviously ALL parents dont fall into this category.......but the majority I have seen do.

 

Just because someone is on vacation doesnt mean that common sense is thrown out the window. Kids and their parents if traveling need to think of the other passengers....and not just themselves.

 

OK....Seriously, I wasn't expecting such horrid responses! We LOVE having our kids with us on vacation...soon enough....way too soon..they'll be on vacations of their own...I was really just wondering if we could all see any shows at that hour, or bands on board, or lounges that would be OK...I'm sure by midnight all four of us(including the 16y.o) will be headed to our cabin (an inside I'm not really looking forward to spending much time in!

To all those with "real" suggestions...thanks..the pool...the decks...even maybe a game of scrabble..thanks again. To those who think a 12 y.o. should be in bed by 11 in the middle of July...on vacation...wow! Just wow!

Again...I didn't mean what could he do ALONE...I was trying to say...what fun things can we do TOGETHER.??????

[iheartbda]

Yes.....we will give our opinion.....just like you gave yours. Dont need to lighten up........

Sure, everyone is entitled to their opinion so forget the opinions for the moment. She did point out something else, and even highlighted it in red, that most people are ignoring.

[CruisnGram]

I think the point has been made that the kid should be in the cabin at that time of night. In my opiinion, so should the 16 year old...but that is more subjective.....but if I had brought kids....thats where they would be.

 

And I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with you. If the child is supervised and the parent wants to sit out by the pool with them till 4 am, why do you have a problem with that? Honestly, not to be rude, but it's really none of your business to dictate that someone else's child should be in their cabin by a specific time. As long as they are not interfering with your vacation or disturbing you.

 

CG

[NoPiratesPlease]

For those who want a cruise without children on board....I would rather deal with children in hot tubs or roaming the ship than a childish adult....

 

I want a cruise without

... intoxicated adults

... deck chair hogging adults

... breast oggling men

... cue jumpers (at buffet or disembarking at ports)

... grumpy people who aren't happy with anything (regardless of age)

 

 

I do not let my children roam the ship without supervision. Maybe those of you travelling with obnoxious adults would afford us the same courtesy and appropriately supervise these childish adults.

 

Oh, MAN! You want a cruise without any FUN! (ok, let's get rid of the grumpy people!)

 

BTW, there are two kinds of Queue jumpers on NCL--those that paid for the privilege (and usually have the Concierge leading the way) and those that didn't--feel free to heap abuse on them!

 

Seriously, if you want people to leave their kids home you don't belong on NCL. If you want people to MIND their kids and supervise them properly, you are not alone. If you EXPECT them to do so, you probably need strong drugs. Very Strong.

[veggie59]

I think that there is plenty of daylight hours for a family to do many fun things together.....thats the point. Night time is generally when adults like to unwind....and not have kids around them in the lounges and bars. They see plenty of them during the daytime.

[CruisnGram]

To all those with "real" suggestions...thanks..the pool...the decks...even maybe a game of scrabble..thanks again. To those who think a 12 y.o. should be in bed by 11 in the middle of July...on vacation...wow! Just wow!

Again...I didn't mean what could he do ALONE...I was trying to say...what fun things can we do TOGETHER.??????

 

Sorry that you received the responses you did. The fault lies in irresponsible parents who let their kids run wild and you do see it a lot on cruise ships. They're on vacation so just turn them loose. People get fed up with it and sometimes jump to conclusions when they see a post like yours.

 

Regardless, I hope you have a great cruise with your family. :)

 

CG

[NoPiratesPlease]

And I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with you. If the child is supervised and the parent wants to sit out by the pool with them till 4 am, why do you have a problem with that? Honestly, not to be rude, but it's really none of your business to dictate that someone else's child should be in their cabin by a specific time. As long as they are not interfering with your vacation or disturbing you.

 

CG

 

I have no problem with that--after 11pm, SUPERVISION is the key--or they should be in their cabins.

 

As I said before, late nights on a cruise ship are simply NOT SAFE for a kid, especially a pre-teen.