How strict are the teen clubs on age?

[Shipshape7]

We are cruising with another couple in Feb. There child is 15, ours is 14.

Will they be able to hang out together?? Maybe the 15 yr old can go into the 12-14 yr old group? Do they check ages??

 

Two of our daughters are 10 months apart and in the same grade. They've always been inseperable and pretty much like twins. We had this problem on our last cruise because the older one had just slid over the line and was 18, but just entering her senior year in high school. As soon as we boarded we approached the head honcho of the teen/kids program and asked if an exception could be made for her since she wanted to stay with her sister and brother (he was 16 at the time). We took her with us so he could see she is the kind of kid who is not anybody's idea of a problem. He agreed and we thought the problem was solved. However, over the next three days she was repeatedly denied entrance to the teen club because her age showed up on her S&S card. We tried to straighten it out again but it just got to be such a problem that all three kids pretty much stopped trying to attend the teen activities. It was okay because they had each other and still kind of like us in spite of being teens, lol. But it did detract from their cruise experience, unfortunately, as they had enjoyed the teen stuff in the past. That said, I CAN certainly understand why they would be strict about having people over 18 mixing with the teen group. Particularly in the case of older young men that could certainly lead to some well-founded complaints from parents. So I'm not complaining - just reporting. I do realize that over 18 presents an especially sticky problem for the cruise line, liability wise.

[Mo61]

I am traveling with my boys 14 and 16 July. I am going to ask REALLY NICELY if my 14 year old can move up. He will be 15 in Oct. If you saw him you wouldn't want him with your 12 year old . He is 5"11' and 170 lbs. and shaves. He is also very mature(most of the time). He has always been hanging with his brother and older kids. His best friend is 17.

 

Nothing against your son, but this is exactly why I don't want my 12 years and 1 day daughter in the 12-14 group. She's just no ready for that (in my opinion). If she was just with 12 year olds, it'd be fine, but a boy that's potentially 14 years and 11 months....that could get ugly! It's to my chagrin that she looks 14 already. Maybe I'll just casually scope out the Circle C kids .....

[11legend]

I'm wondering if their being strict about the ages has more to do with how many kids they have on the cruise. When I booked my cruise with my PVP and she asked me my daughter's age (currently 17 but will be 18 when we cruise in Nov.) she mentioned that they will probably allow her in the Carnival club for the older kids (I don't even know the name of it). I didn't even mention it...she just stated that to me when I told her my daughter's age. I was actually surpised when she said it and I just responded, "oh, ok that sounds good." And she said, "Yeah, they're not too strict with that." Maybe she was thinking that the first week of November they wouldn't have that many kids and would probably allow it. Also, every one that posted that they allowed it seemed to be cruising "off peak" times. Just a thought.

[crusinmama06]

"Yeah, they're not too strict with that." .

 

Oh yeah, the PVP is just a little wrong. She can't guarantee that your daughter will be allowed in. Just look at those that have already posted here. Some were allowed. Some weren't. It's a total hit/miss. :(

[thomarvin]

Moe 61

 

You are TOTALLY right. If I had a 12yo Daughter I wouldn't want my son in that group. I work in a 4,5,6 school and I see the 12yo girls and then I pick up my son and say NO WAY would I want them together. I am hoping they let him move up.

[thomarvin]

to Cruisinmama06

 

DH and I did the Canada cruise 2 years ago for our 15th. Make sure you bring coats. We didn't have the best weather. We went July 5th. It was very cold and windy. We weren't able to sit on deck untill we reached St. John's then the weather was in the low 70's. But on the good side. We had a great time. Went to see the caves, reversing tides and walked around downtown. It is just beautiful there!! Just chilly:(

[11legend]

Oh yeah, the PVP is just a little wrong. She can't guarantee that your daughter will be allowed in. Just look at those that have already posted here. Some were allowed. Some weren't. It's a total hit/miss. :(

 

She didn't guarantee me that she would be let in. She said she would probably be let in and I'm just wondering if it has to do with the fact that its a slower time of year for kids. Just making an observation.

[LHP]

She didn't guarantee me that she would be let in. She said she would probably be let in and I'm just wondering if it has to do with the fact that its a slower time of year for kids. Just making an observation.

 

I am glad your PVP did not guarantee that, because the age of 18 is one of the "hard and fast" rules at Carnival.

 

PVPs (not saying just yours) have not been the best source of information in the past. My PVP has been with Carnival forever and he jokes all the time that I know stuff about Carnival before he does.

 

As stated earlier, the age of 18 presents legal issues that Carnival can not overlook.

 

We have a son with Autism and he will never mature past the age of 11...but May will be his last trip to Club 02 because he turns 18 in July. Just like you, we completely understand Carnival's rule on this. But he will really miss Club O2. They (Directors and the kids) have always been wonderful with him.

 

He will cruising on his 31st Carnival cruise, so he has had a great run!!!

[11legend]

Wow!! 31 cruises...that's great!!! My daughter is actually excited that she can go to the casino, the disco and drink on the islands :D so I'm sure she has no interest in the Carnival Club except maybe to go in and help out the counselors. She loves children and has been working with special needs children since she was in the 5th grade. She plans on getting her degree in special education and speech pathology.

 

Anyway, back on topic, I was actually suprised when my PVP even mentioned it but she could be totally wrong. Some people mentioned on this thread that they sometimes allowed changes during the times of the year when there were less kids so I just thought I'd share the comments that my PVP made to me. ;)

[11legend]

Someone on another board posted this from carnival's site:

 

What is the age policy for Youth Programs? Carnival's policy is to group children together according to their age. The age is determined according to the child's birth date. Please ensure that you state your child's correct birth date. Carnival reserves the right to change the groups' age limits and to deny admission to a child for unruly behavior and/or the child's or guardian's violation of a Carnival or Youth Programs policy. Children under 2 years are not allowed to participate in the regular Camp Carnival Program.

 

That is what you would call a "loophole"..........;)

[mahwah]

In the summer time, cruise lines are very strict with the whole age group thing. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't get upset if they say no because they are only doing their job. Every counselor in each age category has a list of ALL kids on board with their names and ages. We were on the Liberty last July. My daughter had just turned 15 and we had our 18 year old niece traveling with us. She recently turned 18, she just wanted to check out Club 02, but they wouldn't let her because they KNEW she was over 17. I guess the cruise lines do it for safety reasons.;)

[LisaT12]

How do they determine the kids age?If its with the fun pass thing you fill out it would be real easy to make a kid a year older.I doubt they make the kids show their ID,do they?

 

My sister in law tried to pass my newphew as a year older (tried for 5 - I think) but they have a manifest with all of the ages of the kids and she got caught immediately....wasn't a big deal. She just moved my other nephew down to his younger brothers group. Apparently, you can move down not up.

 

My daughters are almost always separated...but they make friends and have a great time. There are also times, when they put some of the groupds together for some activities.

[MemaSue]

Yes they check and our very tough. We went with Grandsons that were weeks apart in age and they wouldn't budge. It was suppose to be a family cruise with cousins enjoying time together. And they did enjoy, just not with any group that Carnival had for teens...they were so disappointed...:mad:

[Riverfrontrobin]

I guess we got lucky back in December when we sailed with my 8th grade, 13 yr old son. There were only a couple of kids in his age group, so we asked if he could get into the 15-17 yr old group. The counselor let him in for the cruise and he had a great time. He'll be 14 and in 9th grade in the fall when we cruise next and I really hope we have the same results. There is no chance of him hanging out with 11 or 12 yr olds.