12yr Olds and More "Adult" Activities

[YFancyface]

We have never been on a cruise before and I am just wondering the appropriatness of having our son join us at some of the more adult activities like the Piano Bar and other nightly dancing clubs.... I think he would really enjoy being with us, singing and dancing... I obviously know the casino and some comedy acts are a no-no, but how do other cruisers feel about behaved, supervised kids being in on some of the other activities? Not sure how much time he will want to spend at the kids club and after all, this is a family vacation. :)

[crusinmama06]

Just keep an eye on the capers, it will say if it is an "Adult" activity or not. The other passengers won't have a problem if he goes to the shows or go to the dance clubs, as long as the club doesn't have an age minimum.

 

And the comment about it being a "family vacation" - I have taken my kids on every cruise and its always been a "family vacation" but I can tell you from experience, once they get to the kids club, I have to drag them out to spend time with me. And since it's their vacation too, I allow them to choose where they want to be. ;)

 

But no, generally the other passengers won't have a problem if your son chooses to stay with you. There are things you can do at night that are geard more toward kids. You can go mini golfing at night. Watch a movie together on the LCD screen. Go for pizza and ice cream.

 

My kids would be bored to tears in the piano bar. But that's just them. All kids are different. :D

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[SelectSys]

On RCCL, my kids have been to the Love and Marriage Show and on the last cruise the Quest Show. Both are sort of PG-13 activities. My 14 year old thought it was funny and my 16 year old was bored. They both like Karaoke but a piano bar would be a bit slow.

[mamajules]

My son went to the big production shows with me, and to karaoke. I don't think they allow kids in the disco past a certain time (midnight maybe). I agree with cruisinmama, he may get involved and enjoy the kids club. At 12, he would be in Circle C. Take him to the info session the first night, they'll hand out a Capers with all the activities listed - he can pick and choose what he wants to go to. There is usually a time set aside each night for them to have a dance party in the disco, Guitar Hero contests, pizza parties, etc. My son LOVED Circle C on our Glory cruise, had the capers with him checking to see what activities were coming up. The rule was he had dinner with me every night, and then had to be in the cabin by a certain time (usually midnight, unless they were having a late night party). Enjoy your cruise!

[Onessa]

My 13YO went to most of the shows on VOS last fall -- generally with HER friends (but either DH and I or other set of parents would sit a row behind -- pretending we didn't know them of course :D).

 

She also dragged her friends along to participate with us in the trivia contests and scavenger hunts.

[parker6]

Our son and daughter (10 and 12) went to all the shows last year with us on the Celebrity Summit.. that being said I agree the Piano bar would have bored them to tears.. we couldn't even get them to sit there with us pre dinner. I agree with the previous poster's comments on the kids club. The kids were, of course, with us in port all the time. so when they had free time on the ship they loved the kids club. We had to drag them out to get changed for dinner.. and any spare time before dinner or between or after the shows they wanted to go right back. It was a great balance for everyone!

 

I should note having been to Caribbean resorts and HATING the kids club, my 12 year old son was adamant that he was having nothing to do with the kids club.. til I convinced him to go the first morning until his sister got settled.. then he loved it! It was arranged in very tight age groups so the activities in their respective groups were all perfect for each of their ages, and they met lots of great friends.