Curfew on Royal Caribbean of 17 year old teens

[sromano516]

We went on Carnival a few years ago(2014) and they did not enforce a curfew. My oldest son was 15 at the time and he never went back to his room all night on the last night, I didn't realize until 5am and went on a massive search for him, thinking something awful happened. Found him at 5:30am in the teen lounge with other kids. I'm personally hoping Royal Caribbean does enforce the curfew if the kids are just out hanging out and not part of an activity. My kids are now 14 and almost 18 and I still don't want my oldest out all night long. I think 1 or 2am is late enough. We are sailing on Anthem this coming week, April 9th. We do believe they have late activities that start towards 10pm or midnight so as long as they are part of it and being safe and not bothering anyone, they will be out late.

 

 

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[the_dylaness]

Curfew on a cruise ship! So interesting.

 

My very first cruise was on RCCL, a long time ago, on the Legend of the Seas. Nearly 2 weeks at sea from NZ to Australia. I was 17 (turned 18 the day after disembarkation, IIRC), and definitely one of the youngest people on board.

 

It was a blast. I don't know if there was a teens club or what (I don't think so?), wasn't interested. Made friends with a very nice Filipino bartender at the pool who kept giving me my drinks in an ice tea glass and only punching my card for half of them. Never checked an ID. Even went out to drinks with the purser one night (once I found he'd invited TWO girls I took my leave immediately- bad form!) who surely realized I was underage. I doubt I stayed up past midnight more than once or twice and never got into any trouble. I realize so many things about that cruise were definitely against the rules, but it was a small ship with few teens/young adults and it was great to have that freedom.

[Isaboo]

Can I have some feedback from parents that have taken their 17 years old and feedback of how they liked the cruise?

 

My daughter is 16 and loves the teen program. Make sure your son goes on the first night...that's when they all sort of get acquainted. She's into musical theater and she met several other theater kids (they always seem to find each other) and they hung out for the entire cruise. They would set meet ups spots at certain times in certain areas of the ship. She said there were constantly people filtering in and out of the group. On one of the sea days they found themselves pulled into a napkin folding demonstration. ;p She's kept in touch with all of these kids since last summer via Facebook and Instagram. She did come in each night about 1:00, and that was plenty late. Honestly, I don't want her wandering the ship at 3:00 am! Your son will have a blast.

[akcruz]

My kids are past the teen years, but always said cruising was their favorite vacation, still do even now in their 20s. We tried both Carnival and Royal and my kids preferred Royal. My daughter had no issues with the curfew, my son on the other hand pushed it every night. He was late one night and I went to look for him. There is nothing going on after their curfew time that I would want my kids involved in. Funny, when I got back to the cabin he was in bed "asleep". Our biggest issue was getting the kids up in the morning on port days after a late night.

 

I will echo the prior posters who said have your son go the first night as a lot of the friendships are made then.

 

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[Jenjer]

My kids are teens and have cruised their whole lives. Here is the thing at 1:00 am almost every place shuts down so they are not missing out on anything. Since most people have gone to bed, teens hanging out tend to stand out and security may ask them to return to their cabins. They won't do anything but ask them.

 

Now if he is 17 and looks older they won't say a word if they are not into mischief. My 15 Yo looks like she is in her 20's they never say a word to her.

 

Our family has rules that work for us including the ships curfew be it 1 or 2. We see her for most meals (all dinners) and she has to allow her younger brother to hang out with her (read be nice to him )until after dinner time. She loves the parties and dancing, she lives on the flow rider. The teens become fast friends hang out talk about their lives. I am sure some are looking for trouble but IMO your child's morals are the same at home and on vacation.

 

Your choices for your son are yours alone. My choices for my special snow flake are mine and I don't let other peoples opinions or actions effect them.

 

I like the ships curfew it takes all the pressure off its the ship rule so we follow it so do 99% of other teens

[jamesboat]

I must be really strict. I will have my 16 and 17 year old with me on the Adventure this summer. The will be in the cabin with me and my mother no later than 10PM.

 

I find this hilarious. When I was 16 or 17 we didnt even leave the house until 10pm. I was back around 4-5am on most weekends. I have a Masters degree now, so Im pretty sure it all worked out well.

 

 

 

Many of you say that theres "nothing to do anyway".

 

 

Ridiculous. Hanging out doesnt mean playing a ship-organized Bingo. Nor does it mean running around the hallways. It means sitting around chatting, maybe playing cards. If youre sharing a cabin, it makes much more sense to do that in a public area where you can talk without disturbing your roommates or the neighbors.

 

 

I'm pretty surprised that RCL has a curfew. I wonder if its only for US based cruises? For much of the world, the idea of a 1pm curfew for a 16 or 17 year old would be ridiculous.

[jlstwinmommy]

We were on Adventurer last year with my 3 kids (18, 13, 13). All 3 have cruised multiple time since they were 3-4 years old. Though the older one didn't need to abide by the curfew, he was back in his room by midnight each night as there really was nothing going on. The younger 2 (b/g twins) are split on the kids program. My dd doesn't like to go anymore and keeps to herself or with us. She did enjoy just hanging out with her older brother. DS13 still likes the kids program and would go from time to time. We told the younger 2 they had to be back in their room by 10 (unless they went to a planned teen activity that went later and was pre-approved by us). None of my kids have any problem with the curfew and were in their room by 9 most nights watching whatever random movie was on the TV. :D

 

A couple years ago when the older one was 16 and still in the kids program, he stayed out until the curfew several nights, but he was in the teen center doing whatever activity they had going on. I agree that the 18-21 crowd are not catered to well on any cruise line we've been on (Princess, RCL) - but they still enjoy cruising.

[Bizzie07]

Our daughter was quite happy to be allowed to stay out until 1am (No way age 17 was she allowed out at that time at home). Ship security was always strict with them. If there is a Teen Club activity scheduled in the Living Room which goes on after 1am they are allowed to stay. Any other place they must be with an adult after 1am

[Havingfun2010]

Curfews were created from experience. When teens are wandering around the ship, with nothing to do, and no place to go, there seems to be a tendency for trouble, dare, or other silly things, that cause damage, and injury. Someone than needs to be the babysitter, and no cruise line wants that responsibility. So, they have a cut-off time, and they do enforce it.

 

If that is the only reason not to use RCCL, than it's a shame, because RCCL has so much to offer teens other than eating pizza at 1:15 am

[cb at sea]

If they want to get up and get going the next day with new adventures, then teens NEED to be asleep by midnight or 1am....otherwise, they will sleep the next day away!

[emory2001]

Can I have some feedback from parents that have taken their 17 years old and feedback of how they liked the cruise?

 

We took our 17 year old exchange student last month during spring break, and she LOVED it. None of our kids even did any of the Adventure Ocean/Teen Club things on this cruise (their choice). There was plenty else to do between shore excursions, evening shows, sunning, swimming, afternoon break time, and dinner in the main dining room most nights, except one night they were showing Moana on the pool deck screen so we brought Windjammer plates out to the pool deck.

 

Your 17 year old can also go in the Solarium (min age 16).

 

Personal preference - our whole family was in for the night after the evening shows, sometimes the late one like the Love & Marriage Show. But we get our sleep and we expect our kids to, too. Your mileage may vary.

[J_Busworth]

It really depends on the ship and there security team. I found the Midnight Curfew that we had on Rhapsody and also on Radiance was very strictly enforced with the security team escorting teens back to their cabins at 12:15!. On Voyager however, teens were regularly out past the Midnight Curfew in the pools or at out movies.

 

And yes, these ships all had Midnight curfews, not the 1am suggested by the OP. I don't know why it varies by ship, it should really be a uniform policy.

[Sunshine42794]

My daughter LOVED the Royal Caribbean kids club. She missed it SO MUCH when she turned 18 and was stuck with us. Yeah, agreed - she could stay out all night if she wanted - but in reality, where can an 18 year old go that isn't an alcohol fuelled den of iniquity?!?!

 

Actually - I would say it's the 18-21 group that are not catered for at all.

Totally agree....my daughter too loved the teen club, she is now 20. I heard they can go into the clubs/disco but of course cannot drink...I think there should be something for that 18-20 year old range..:)