Tips for cruising with teens

We will be going on our first cruise in October and we are taking our 5 (yes, 5!) kids. Our oldest 3 are 14, 14, & 12. We would like to give them a little bit of freedom on the ship but aren’t quite sure how to go about setting boundaries since we have never been on a cruise before. We will be on Royal Caribbean’s EOS. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

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I would recommend asking this on the "Family Cruisers" board as well, as there are lots of parents there with ideas. We started sailing with our sons when they were 13, 8 and 4; they're all adults now. You need to set some ground rules before you sail, and some of those will depend on how you trust your kids. Look at the scheduled kids' activities; how much or how little will they want to join in? Do you want to set a curfew for them? (For a first cruise, I might go that route.) Go over some important safety rules - like under no circumstances are they to go ito someone else's cabin unaccompanied, don't do stupid things like climb on railings, etc. They will need to understand any limits on the use of their ship card (the one used to charge expenses on the ship) - how much are they allowed to spend? Finally, use of electronic devices. I can't tell you how many complaints I've read about kids that didn't put their phones in airplane mode and ended up with huge bills.

Hope this helps - although I think I probably raised more questions than I answered!:D

Would suggest posting on the RC board and also joining your roll call. You will find those boards in the cruise critic main menu.

It's a good idea for them to attend the Adventure Ocean/Teen gathering on the first night. A lot of teens make friends there for the entire cruise.

Discussion of specific rules ahead time regarding the ship being no different than a small city. Safety, no alcohol, no visiting other cabins, etc. General expected behavior and rules for checking in with you/family. Ship usually has a 1:00 a.m curfew for teens not with parents.

Discuss set sail pass restrictions, especially in the arcade. Probably a good idea to get them a soda package or nonalcoholic drink package. There are plenty of drinks included with fare, but not soda. Again, you know your kids and what you allow.

We had a novel approach, we ours like adults. The ship is basically a town with just a few stores and a couple of parks and theaters. They won't go hungry and nothing they can do is rated above an "R". Give them a time to meet up for meals or events and a curfew. Try it, they may surprise you.

- Don't go into others' cabins

- Don't let anyone into our cabin

- Don't take food or drink from anyone

- No running anywhere

- Be in by midnight

- Stay out of the casino

Port days they go off with us.

That's the rules I've had for my son since he was 12.

For younger teens, like yours, I would allow freedom to come and go to specific areas for specific reasons. I would not allow "roaming aimlessly". There is no reason for them to EVER go to a cabin hallway that is not theirs....and never go in someone's cabin or invite anyone to yours! Then, have everyone tell what their plans are, so they can find you if their plans change...and you can find them, if your plans change. Frequent "in person" check-ins throughout the day...meet for meals....

My girls are younger than yours but we have a rule that when you leave kids club, go to the room and leave a note to say where you are going and we do the same. That way they can find us. Don't sure what royals version is but if they have a schedule of daily events. Highlight what you are doing and leave it in the room so teens can see where you might be.

Enforce the cabin rule. No one comes in you don't go in others.

Drink package is really handy.

Dinner is the family meal. Breakfast is harder as we have early and late risers. Lunch is difficult as everyone has something on!!!

Use the 3 Ps. Positive, Patience and Polite.

Thank you everyone for the great advice! You have all been very helpful!

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Mine were 14, 14, 16, 19, and 20 on our last cruise, no going in cabins, family dinners and excursions, but we ended up at breakfast together every morning, 1 am curfew for the minors. Our paths crossed a lot, and w3 did a bunch of shows together karaoke, or just hanging in lounges or on the pool deck, plus they all met a bunch of new friends.

Important rule, teen club the first night (plus the oldest went to young adult meet and greet, they wanted to because they wanted to meet others like they did in the past at the teen club),

We had four of our own teenagers, and some of them now have their own. Whatever rules you have at home - (plus those common-sense additions when somewhere else should always apply): stick to agreed-upon plans, (and make sure you have them), remember rules about dealing with strangers (they will be among a couple of thousand), and the basic #1 caution: do not do anything cruel, stupid or illegal.

You know how trustworthy they are - if you have doubts, keep a close watch - but give them as much leeway as you know they can handle.