How Old for Kids to Explore on Their Own?

[jamessemaj]

I would think that the limits and what you and they are comfortable with would have been set before the cruise. I would go with whatever that is, not venture into new grounds on a cruise ship.

[hansolosmom]

Couple things I wanted to add.

 

Once the kids hit 11 or 12 they can sign themselves out of clubs & most ships have a 12-14 group for the kids to kind of break up the teen age range. My ds was 15 this past cruise on Celebrity, but I'm fairly certain they had one too.

 

Pretty much since mine have been in the 11-12 age range we've let them have their own time. My youngest (again now 15) likes to go hang in the teen room, while my older one (now 17) likes to hang by the pool or or on the balcony.

 

Every morning we have breakfast and talk about our day and what's on tap/what activities everyone is going to, dh & ds1 like to do trivia together. We use post-its to leave notes for each other as to where everyone is. We also have meet-ups during the day. The boys also know if they break a rule, miss a meet-up then that freedom is revoked. Of course when they started getting their free-time when they were younger it started with small things like going to get pizza on their own, going to the arcade for a bit etc.

 

You know your kids, you know how much you can trust them. Make sure they understand that normal rules apply when it comes to talking to strangers or going off with one. There are no police officers to go to, but make sure they understand they can go to a crew member to ask for help.

[hansolosmom]

 

Mine (18 and 15) aren't raised in a bubble so I know each time they are out of my sight, I am taking a chance. They go to school, church, sleepover, malls, camps ect. I also teach them street smart or better weird retaliative smarts before letting them go, so I know they aren't easily tricked, unless by a pretty girl. After that I truly pray for their well being and safety. If you have kids that can easily be tricked, or do not know how beware of their surrounding, even walking out of the way of others or, shouting indoors, it's best to keep them under your wings. This is truly a case of to each their own, so good luck.

 

Amen! This is sage advice, teach your kids well and trust them to make good decisions.

Edited December 3, 2013 by hansolosmom

[geocruiser]

Amen! This is sage advice, teach your kids well and trust them to make good decisions.

 

 

I agree.

 

Just thought I will put in this link. Things do happen on cruise ships.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/05/cruise-ship-manitoba-musician-child-pornography_n_3390911.html

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1848112&highlight=arrested

Edited December 3, 2013 by geocruiser

[Blk_Amish]

Take the time to teach our kids because at the end of the day our fear could leave them handicap to function without us. To teach them street smart, we might have to get our of the car, walk with them in the street, and eventually let them walk a few blocks without us.

 

You would be surprise how many kids don't know how to walk on the street safely. Walk as if you know where you are going, even if you are unsure. If the worse happens, in the street or otherwise, teach them how to get help. Teach them how to survive, I do with mine. As much as would like to move to college with them, I would rather spend the funds vacationing.

 

 

 

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Edited December 3, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Nisky18]

My kids will be 12 when we go on our first cruise next year. They are asking me if they can explore the ship by themselves. I'm thinking no, but I wonder how other parents feel. Do the lines have an official policy? We'll be on Celebrity.

 

I highly recommend you consider investing in a walkie talkie to give yourself a sigh of relief in allowing the children to explore. I agree that you need a family meeting to ensure they understand the importance of staying together and NOT wandering off alone or with any other passenger. They need to appreciate the importance of respect for the staff and anyone else on the cruise, the importance of standing patiently in line for any area they want to visit that has a line. The walkie talkie was a must-have for me when my children were teens.

[boulders]

Pleeease don't bring walkie talkies. They don't work well at all on ships and they are very annoying to other passengers. All the staterooms have phones and there are phones at crew stations and in elevator lobbies. Ships are not very big. It doesn't take long to find members of your party. :)

[navybankerteacher]

I highly recommend you consider investing in a walkie talkie to give yourself a sigh of relief in allowing the children to explore. I agree that you need a family meeting to ensure they understand the importance of staying together and NOT wandering off alone or with any other passenger. They need to appreciate the importance of respect for the staff and anyone else on the cruise, the importance of standing patiently in line for any area they want to visit that has a line. The walkie talkie was a must-have for me when my children were teens.

 

Giving them walkietalkies is virtually guaranteeing that they will annoy other passengers - while it may give you a comfort level, your comfort level is not the only thing to consider in deciding whether to let children go off on their own.

[Blk_Amish]

I highly recommend you consider investing in a walkie talkie to give yourself a sigh of relief in allowing the children to explore. I agree that you need a family meeting to ensure they understand the importance of staying together and NOT wandering off alone or with any other passenger. They need to appreciate the importance of respect for the staff and anyone else on the cruise, the importance of standing patiently in line for any area they want to visit that has a line. The walkie talkie was a must-have for me when my children were teens.

 

Yes, we used the walkie talkies on vacations for the same reason they have a phone now, well other than Facebook. Like anything else we teach them how to use it, properly and effectively. TEACH!!

 

If we are not going to let our kids out of our sight, then I guess there is no need to take the time to teach them certain things

 

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[Blk_Amish]

Giving them walkietalkies is virtually guaranteeing that they will annoy other passengers - while it may give you a comfort level, your comfort level is not the only thing to consider in deciding whether to let children go off on their own.

 

No, but safety of a child is. A child could fall and this might be a way for him to get help. This is a big ship and he could get lost and scared, leading to frustration and panic. Plans might change and you need to let them know. When you separate from your family members it's nice to have a means to keep in touch, at land or sea.

 

Now if you sail certain line, one get used to noise and annoying announcements. To be fair, I mostly cruise Carnival with my kids, where noise from announcement is an amenity.

 

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Edited December 3, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[alexspepa]

Take the time to teach our kids because at the end of the day our fear could leave them handicap to function without us. To teach them street smart, we might have to get our of the car, walk with them in the street, and eventually let them walk a few blocks without us.

 

You would be surprise how many kids don't know how to walk on the street safely. Walk as if you know where you are going, even if you are unsure. If the worse happens, in the street or otherwise, teach them how to get help. Teach them how to survive, I do with mine. As much as would like to move to college with them, I would rather spend the funds vacationing.

 

 

 

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great post - as was your first.

 

If you don't let kids make small mistakes early on, then they will make large ones later in life that cannot be easily fixed.

[xxoocruiser]

My husband has been in law enforcement his entire career so I tend to look at the world a bit differently.

 

Rather than wondering how my child would behave among 3,000 + strangers.......my concern would be what type of characters would be roaming the ship with my child?

 

I do agree you have to let them grow up, but I personally would not choose to do that in a floating city with 3,000 strangers. The bad people aren't walking around with a sign.....they will look like everyone else.

 

 

Also come from a law enforcement family and totally agree !

 

It never ceases to amaze me how people think that since they're contained within a ship all is well & safe and are willing to let their guard down when it comes to the things their children are allowed to do on board.

 

Not saying kids should not be allowed to grow up just saying that OP needs to establish rules and boundaries as well as times for the kids to be checking in.

Edited December 3, 2013 by xxoocruiser

[Nisky18]

The reality is as adults we know the lurking dangers but our children don't. There are on board programs for young people that keep them busy and happy. I remember seeing groups of young children being taken on tours by the program counselors. My girls were smiling and all the kids were holding hands. My now 18 yr old daughter thinks I'm over protective and maybe I am. I grew up in a big city but she didn't. What I learned and knew at her age was far beyond what her somewhat sheltered life could comprehend. You bet I'm over protective. But I also understand she now has to have freedom to explore and learn.

 

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[phillipdevoll]

I let my 12 year old roam the ship with a walkie talkie on me and him

 

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[Blk_Amish]

At 12 - should not roam a lighted city with cameras, paid staff, and even other watchful parents.

A6 16 - drive a deadly machine

At 17 - off to college on their own

At 18 - off to war

At 21 - allowed to drink

 

In 6 years a kid who can't roam by himself should be trust to fight and possible die for his country, yet before he can have a drink. This makes sense to so many, not me.

 

Failure to teach, failure to launch!

Edited December 3, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Nisky18]

I remember when the voting age was 21 and sending 18 yr olds to war without having the privilege to vote was a travesty. They can now vote and kill or be killed as a member of the armed forces. Eighteen is still the age our society deems appropriate for lots of freedom though 21 is for additional freedom. Our brains are still developing until 22.

 

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[dsrdsrdsr]

No, but safety of a child is. A child could fall and this might be a way for him to get help. This is a big ship and he could get lost and scared, leading to frustration and panic. Plans might change and you need to let them know. When you separate from your family members it's nice to have a means to keep in touch, at land or sea.

 

Now if you sail certain line, one get used to noise and annoying announcements. To be fair, I mostly cruise Carnival with my kids, where noise from announcement is an amenity.

 

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If this 12-year-old is the type to panic when he gets lost, then clearly he shouldn't be let out on his own. As for the child falling and needing a walkie-talkie to gewt help - if there's no-one within shouting distance of where he lands, then he must have fallen overboard. And the walkie-talkie doesn't work in the sea. ;)

 

(Walkie-talkies are no use against predators either. Child molestors are quite capable of physically restraining a child from sending a message. Again, he just needs to SHOUT.)

 

I walked to infant school regularly, three quarters of mile, at age 4. I went 15 miles on a train to school at age 10. There's no intellectual reason why a child can't look after himself at age 12. And if he's never been taught, cruise ship is probably a relatively safe place to start - he can't get lost by more than half a mile, after all, and the bad men who want to put him in the boot of their car won't be there.

[Blk_Amish]

If this 12-year-old is the type to panic when he gets lost, then clearly he shouldn't be let out on his own. As for the child falling and needing a walkie-talkie to gewt help - if there's no-one within shouting distance of where he lands, then he must have fallen overboard. And the walkie-talkie doesn't work in the sea. ;)

 

(Walkie-talkies are no use against predators either. Child molestors are quite capable of physically restraining a child from sending a message. Again, he just needs to SHOUT.)

 

I walked to infant school regularly, three quarters of mile, at age 4. I went 15 miles on a train to school at age 10. There's no intellectual reason why a child can't look after himself at age 12. And if he's never been taught, cruise ship is probably a relatively safe place to start - he can't get lost by more than half a mile, after all, and the bad men who want to put him in the boot of their car won't be there.

 

I get frustrated when I get lost, one of my reasons for not caring for the larger ships and resorts. Since there is usually a bar nearby, I stop for a drink to keep from panicing. I can always find the bar, buffet, and disco but not the cabin. I did not mention the child needing a walkie talkie for predators, correct? At 5, I walked 3 miles, up hill both way to school, to the market and church without shoes. I would add in the snow but I grew up on a tropical island. I also use it to remind my son to stay away from pretty girls. He tends to forget that a lot, especially now (18 yrs old), not sure why:confused: If my kids end up overboard, that's no accident, so they know their butt is staying there. They want time with the sharks, so be it, because what I am going to do with their butts might be worse:D I like the walkie talkie to keep in touch and it works.

 

Like it or not a lot of parents have failed to TEACH thier kids how to be safe by howering like a parachute. I agree there is no reason a 12 years old, with a few guidelines in place, shouldn't be 'realitively' safe on a ship. This is not to say nothing will or can happen, life happens and sometimes bad.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Nisky18]

I, too, walked to and from primary school by myself or with my brother who was 4 years younger. It was quite a distance, perhaps 1/2 a mile or more. I bicycled around my neighborhood (I lived in the borough of a huge city) without supervision. I was about 10 years old when I shopped in stores that were many blocks from my apartment building. but the world is a very different place now and we cannot ignore that reality. Read any newspaper, google any news source, for information about all the parents who just wanted to give their children a little freedom to walk themselves to a school building or a train station and they never saw the child again. Look up incidents that happen on cruise ships. I am NOT suggesting that we live lives in fear or teach our children to be fearful. It wouldn't help them develop into cautious but optimistic adults. I'm only providing an opinion based on my understanding of the pretty scary world we live in and my knowledge of 12 year olds. Not only were my adult daughters once that age, but I was, my brother was and my friends were. And we compare notes. A 12 year old, generally, should probably not have carte blanche but a little freedom with a bit of caution and some parameters put in place, will have you breathing more easily. I still recommend the on-board programming for that age group.

[navybankerteacher]

I used to go to school by myself - 3/4 of a mile- when I was ten -- that was in New York City - taking a bus one way - then walking home if it wasn't too cold so I could spend the bus fare on candy. (Sadly, they came out with bus passes the next year, so I lost that option).

 

New York was a very different city then -- people were different, so what applied in the past is not necessarily relevant today.

 

With regard to ages at which people can do things -- it is important to understand what is involved, and not make over-simplified comparisons.

 

Someone can serve in the military at age 17 - but not vote until 18, or drink until 21; Why? - Because there are different skill sets involved.

 

A child actor has to pay income tax at age 3 - but cannot vote - fair?

 

I frankly believe that young people should be able to drink in controlled environments - say with parents -- they cannot go overnight from never drinking to drinking responsibly the day they turn 21.

 

I also think that an 18 year old lacks the maturity to consider matters - or even has any stake in the game - to be permitted to vote.

 

Finally -= it is generally accepted that adolescence runs until about age 30 - insurance companies have the facts about responsible driving when they charge higher premiums for those under 25 - or rental companies refusing to rent cars to 24 year olds.

 

Age is just a number - responsibility has to be learned - and everyone learns at his own pace.

[Blk_Amish]

Is it possible the risk was always there but didn't have Google to read about it. Maybe our parents did not love us as much when they let us walk without them at an early age. They let us play outside instead of sit indoor in front of the TV. Well, if you were lucky enough to have TV.

 

Has the world gotten worse or we have become more aware and fearful with technology. Kids still walk to the same school I did, but now with shoes. Abuse in churches happened for decades but the media helped us to learn about it. Do we still send our kids to mass? I don't, I am Methodist :D

 

Heck if I know for sure so best pray!

 

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Edited December 3, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Karysa]

Kids need some controlled freedom. At 12 two kids should be fine in public areas of the ship together during the daytime. At night if you wouldn't leave your 12 year old roam the streets then don't let them on the ship. I would allow them to go between the kids club an the sports deck at first and then go from there.

 

Personally, I worried a lot more when my girls were old enough to walk down the cabin halls. I still reminded them to never walk alone and walk in the middle of the hall on our last cruise and they were 17 at the time.

 

Once they are 18 they will be off at college on their own so planning for a successful launch should start early.

[jeph]

Having read this thread, a couple of points come to mind:

 

1) A few posters maintain that "things were very different when I was growing up..." They sure were-- things were A LOT WORSE. The creeps and molesters were out there in the same numbers, but IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC-- hell, it was never even discussed IN PRIVATE, at least not with the kids! Now, it's not only a topic of discussion in people's homes, it's all over the news media, with sensational cases like Cleveland's "house of horrors" occupying headlines for weeks at a time. Children realize quickly that the world is not always "sugar & spice and everything nice", even if their parents haven't yet found a way to sit them down and give them a talk about such things.

 

2) A cruise ship is about THE WORST PLACE IMAGINABLE for anyone with nasty intentions toward children-- no dark deserted areas, cameras everywhere, sharp-eyed crew everywhere, and NO PLACE TO RUN OR HIDE after getting done with their theoretical molestation.

 

I was happily running around loose in Paris at 13-- the only one panicking was my mother, who had nearly forgotten what the correct day was to meet up with me there after the rest of my school group had left for the airport that morning. Please try and keep things in perspective. If kids know proper boundaries, (and also know better than to press all the buttons in the elevator,) everything should be just fine.

[mb466]

Have been on a lot of ships but never with a two year old .going on Carnival ship any suggestions any one ?

[Nisky18]

Have been on a lot of ships but never with a two year old .going on Carnival ship any suggestions any one ?

 

My then-husband and I traveled with our daughters when they were very young, even when they were babies. I'd recommend the following. If your child requires a crib you can make arrangements in advance directly through the cruise line. You can also learn whether there is a children's program for two year olds and/or whether separate baby sitters can be hired while you're on board. We learned that cruise staff members love children because they're away from home so long they miss their families so be prepared to pass the baby on for a little coddling. We had wonderful experiences with children's programs as well as with on board sitters. Never a problem.