Can 12 year old ,10 and 6 dine alone in MDR?

[LarryL]

After a couple meals your wait staff will get to know your family. They should also be able to get the next nights menu so you can plan on what your kids will have. The menu will also be posted outside the dining room for you to review when dropping them off.

 

As another has said, you may well be seated alone as a family and not have issues with other tables mates.

 

I come from a large family and we did take care of our younger siblings at an earlier age than 12. You should be fine. Ignore those who may brow beat you. You must already be comfortable with this situation.

 

Have a great meal and I hope your first cruise is as special as ours.:)

 

Larry

[sail7seas]

I wouldn't allow children that age to be walking around the ship unescorted. Think of the ship as a small town.

There are 'good guys and gals' and some not so good 'guys and gals'. I would want children those ages to be supervised but that is just my opinion. Better safe than sorry..... IMO While ships are very safe, as safe as anywhere, crime can occur.

 

 

[spookwife]

The 12 year old is prolly fine by themself.

 

the 10 year old may be okay as long as Big Sibling keeps them in line.

 

the 6 year old? nope sorry too young with just a 12 year old babysitter who also has to keep an eye on middle sibling plus be able to enjoy their own meal

 

if you are seated with another family ( and yes that might happen despite the size of yours) I think it would be incredibly inconsiderate to send the kids there to dinner without you. regardless of your intentions I think it would make for a very awkward evening for both kids and the other adults who would have to deal with somebody else's kids pushing boundaries( and yes they WILL no matter how well you have trained them)

 

ten bucks sez they'd rather pig out on pizza and ice cream and other offerings by the pool anyway . at that age I sure as heck would relish the opportunity to eat stupidly for dinner without Mom fusing at me to eat my veggies.

[perlk]

Perlk - Usually the families with kids choose the early dining times. I don't think it will be an issue for you.

 

Cool, thanks!

[IndyDenise]

I wouldn't allow children that age to be walking around the ship unescorted. Think of the ship as a small town.

There are 'good guys and gals' and some not so good 'guys and gals'. I would want children those ages to be supervised but that is just my opinion. Better safe than sorry..... IMO While ships are very safe, as safe as anywhere, crime can occur.

 

------------

 

This would be my concern. I know it's nice to think that your children may not come across some creep while onboard...but even adults have been put into some scarey situations. I just found a site called ************ and to be quite honest I was surprised at the number of crimes against children onboard. :(

 

I am Not trying to be a Debbiedowner but I would hate for anything to happen to any child.

 

 

I hope you and your children enjoy your cruise. It is a great way to spend a family vacation.

[IndyDenise]

ops sorry..I guess I am not allowed to mention that other site.

 

:confused::confused:

[gerif]

I wouldn't allow children that age to be walking around the ship unescorted. Think of the ship as a small town.

There are 'good guys and gals' and some not so good 'guys and gals'. I would want children those ages to be supervised but that is just my opinion. Better safe than sorry..... IMO While ships are very safe, as safe as anywhere, crime can occur.

 

That would be my concern as well. Also, I question why a family with young children like that would want late seating which would preclude the kids from enjoying the evening activities taking place in the kids' club. While we really prefer late seating, when sailing with DGS, we do early. If we want to do a specialty restaurant, he gets fed early and goes to the kids' club and we eat later.

[aohkay]

We saw a young boy (~11) dining on his own every night on CCL Miracle. That was even in Your Time dining, though that ship was seating people with the same staff each night when possible. We eventually invited him to our table since that was kind of ridiculous. (The parents being MIA for a week, not the kid ... who was well behaved.)

 

That said, I don't see that typical kids that young would enjoy the extended dining experience on their own.

 

How terribly sad.

[notentirelynormal]

Oops, deleted my comment

[serene56]

ops sorry..I guess I am not allowed to mention that other site.

 

:confused::confused:

 

 

you can edit your post up to 20 minutes after you first post.

 

Once you post and see an error- you see an edit botton on the bottom right hand corner (next to the quote) after 20 minutes that button disappears.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We have always gotten late traditional even with our kid. But a few cruises ago, when she was 7, she asked if she could skip eating in the MDR. So we would take her to the buffet or the pizzeria, and then to the kids' area for the evening activities. Worked out fine even though we would have to leave before ten to pick her up (we didn't allow her to sign herself out on that cruise or when she was 8). She had a lot more freedom at 13, going with her fellow teens to eat (other than breakfast, that's when we ate as a family).

 

She wasn't into eating big meals then or even now so that makes sense for her. She can nibble on lunch in the Horizon. When hungry again, she could get pizza. And so forth.

 

The OP probably has a good idea about how her kids are (from going out to restaurants, etc). At least on Princess, there's different dining options.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Oops, Carnival. They have different options too -- the Lido buffet has the pizzeria.

[sherilyn70]

Ten bucks sez they'd rather pig out on pizza and ice cream and other offerings by the pool anyway . at that age I sure as heck would relish the opportunity to eat stupidly for dinner without Mom fusing at me to eat my veggies.

 

It all depends on how the kids are being raised and what their tastes are. My nephew went on a cruise with us when he was only 6 or 7. We had traditional dining (that was the only choice back then) and they offered him a kids menu... he refused it and ordered off of the adult menu for the first 4 nights!! Some kids are more adventurous with their palettes than others. I've spent every opportunity trying to expand my step kids palette, now the 5 year old keeps asking me when we can go back to the restaurant that has octopus, lol. The 15 year old will never see steak the same again after we took him to Smith & Wolenesky for his last birthday.

 

Then there are people like my coworker who is almost 40 and will not eat anything that isn't on a kids menu. Seriously, this guy eats mac & cheese for dinner every night or orders pizza. He hasn't even tried other foods... so it's not that he doesn't like them. He just has no desire to ever try them.

[Loves_Dogs]

Might I suggest making a reservation for 7:15.

Get the kids to the camps at 7pm and make your way to your reservation.

 

No way would I want to send the kids that young to the dining room alone with out an adult.

Even eating at the buffet for a 6 year old with no adult.

 

Something else to consider-- by taking that late seating the kids will have a lot of down time-

Camps are closed from 5 pm til 7pm with activities really picking up at 8pm.

 

So you see, while you are at dinner the kids will be missing out on those activities. and will have nothing to do between 5 and 8 (except get ready for dinner as most of the other kids will be at the early seating

 

Serene56 offers some good advice here as well as a few other things to think about (I didnt).

 

Another idea is to book the specialty restaurant early so that you are done and back to the cabin in time to take your kids to late seating dinner. You can relax with your kids and enjoy a drink or maybe graze on an appetizer.

[serene56]

You can relax with your kids and enjoy a drink or maybe graze on an appetizer.

 

 

no way will they want to graze on anything after visiting the steak house. (LOL) now way would I even want to look at food.

 

While the parents are at the steakhouse-- what will the kids be doing?

[Marie51]

I am in the camp that thinks a 6 yr old should not be in the dining room, buffet, or anywhere else on the ship without adult supervision. Would you let her wander around a strange city alone?

 

That being said I have traveled with 6 of us and had a table for 6, another time a table for 8 and another time a table for 10 so if you want just your family at the table request that ahead of time. Otherweise you may be seated with strangers which is fine if that's what you want to do.

[Loves_Dogs]

no way will they want to graze on anything after visiting the steak house. (LOL) now way would I even want to look at food.

 

While the parents are at the steakhouse-- what will the kids be doing?

 

HA! I guess because I (can and do) eat constantly on a cruise I think everyone else can too...hehehehe...:D

 

I figured if they booked early at the steakhouse the kids could be at the camp (kids program) while they are enjoying their dinner at the specialty place.

 

Having never used the camps (or specialty restaurants for that matter) I am not sure of the hours for either. But you would THINK given the amount of children that cruise these days the hours of both would be somewhat compatible so parents can enjoy a private dinner without the kiddies.

[serene56]

 

Having never used the camps (or specialty restaurants for that matter) I am not sure of the hours for either. But you would THINK given the amount of children that cruise these days the hours of both would be somewhat compatible so parents can enjoy a private dinner without the kiddies.

 

camp is closed from 5pm til 7pm every day. Camps will feed the kids from 6pm (prompt please) starts at 6pm. you take the kids to the buffet and they get a few choices. (very few choices compared to whats offered)

dinner lasts about 45 minutes and the kids are taken back to the camp.

(in my cruises I have seen very few kids partaking in these dinners

[spookwife]

That would be my concern as well. Also, I question why a family with young children like that would want late seating which would preclude the kids from enjoying the evening activities taking place in the kids' club. While we really prefer late seating, when sailing with DGS, we do early. If we want to do a specialty restaurant, he gets fed early and goes to the kids' club and we eat later.

 

a lot of time they don't have a choice.. most people request early seating for the very reasons you mention so it books quickly.

[chipmaster]

Ah the definition of "okay" and how your kids are like and also what experience and expectation you expect.

 

Will 3 kids wandering to the buffet or the pizza/burger bar ever be stopped, highly unlikely.

 

Will 3 kids coming to traditional dining room by themselves be seated and served with others or at their own table have issues, if well behaved and understanding the protocal, highly unlikely.

 

So I see no reason why not.

 

 

My personal opinion is below

 

1) Way to young to do alone, put in the kids club. They have those and are supervised. They will have a better time hopefull, and if not at least supervised, isn't that important?

2) At least for me and my wife, probably something wrong with us. We'd be taking them to the speciality resturant, we never understood the concept of needing to get away. In a few years, you'll wish you had spent more time not that you had more time seperat.

 

Newbie question, we are planning on dining one night in the Steakhouse on the CCL Magic. Is it OK to send our kids to dinner on their own? Interested in others opinion on this one. Of course we know that there are other options. The kids would probably prefer to grab a couple of sushi rolls, a pizza or something from the buffet. Just asking...

[potsie57]

Why don't you just order room service for your kids and get them a movie to watch in the room?

[kitty9]

I just don't think it's fair to basically force anyone to be responsible for YOUR children. And with all due respect, someone in that dining room will HAVE to be responsible for your children in some part during the dinner. That's not anyone's job but yours. There are any number of options that won't entail forgoing parental responsibilities such as changing your reservation, taking them to the buffet or ordering room service. I've personally seen the problems that happen when parents either allow their children to dine unsupervised or when parents sit at a table totally separate, and on the opposite side of the dining room, from the kids. It's chaotic and problematic.

[AKCoachie]

THANKS EVERYONE. again, I'd like to say I just asked the question to hear lots of nice people share their opinions on a subject that I didn't know the answer to. Under usual curcumstances we would take the kids to the steakhouse with us. since there are so many other prepaid options on a cruise, we are going to make an exception and splurge for our anniversary dinner. The kids will probably not chose the MDR on their own for this evening. I think they will enjoy the various kids club activities, however limited kids menu fare is not their favorite. Pizza and burgers on the other hand are, along with most other adult culinary items. Funny story, Oldest son once asked" Dad, is it OK if I order from the kids menu? I said "sure go ahead" he then proceeded to order 2 kid plates as appetizers for himself and maryland blue crab stuffed rockfish with hollandaise as his entree. He is not wasteful, thank goodness... he shared the calamari rings!

[AKCoachie]

Darcie, respectfully, if the kids know how to behave in public, and since they have paid full price for their cruise, I sort of feel that they are "entitled" to whatever choice they make( with parental guidance) and of course the valued opinions from all of you seasoned cruisers. We teach that inappropriate behavior can lead to unpleasant consequences. Whether that be unwanted attention from nearby strangers or waitstaff in this case, or lack of trust to participate in an adventure on a night out with your siblings. Are other loud and rowdy patrons excluded from "having a good time" or, are they given attention by those in charge, busy doing their jobs, to guide them to exhibit more acceptable behavior?

[AKCoachie]

Larry, thanks for your insight. As i've said before, I asked this question to hear others opinions. I feel perfectly confident with the Ak State champion wrestler and his little brother keeping an eye on their little sister, reading the menu to her, and cutting her meat. In fact, if she's full but still wants dessert even though she didn't eat all of her veggies, they would be OK with that( since it's vacation). You are right, I do know my kids, they could pull this off no problem. I just wanted to hear info from the vast wealth of knoledge that comes from all of you experienced cruisers. I thing these forums are great. All of this said, they may grab some tacos in Cozumel after our 2 dives that morning, get back on the ship, shower and fall asleep snuggling in their room during the previews to their movie. Good on them! They might be small, but they're still Americans with free choice and by the grace of God, i want them to do what they want, ... with respect to others.