Rules for teens?

Taking GD and GS on another cruise. They went when they were 6 and 11. No problems as they pretty much stuck with us. Now they are GS 10 and GD 15, what are some of the rules that you have implemented. They are great kids and should have no problems but still need to set rules. What are some suggestions.

Thanks

We traveled with 2 boys at almost the same ages when we started (and they stayed with us the whole time), and then when the hit 12 and 15 on they were allowed some freedom.

Our rules:

They had to tell us exactly where they would be, and if we went there and they weren't, they were grounded and stayed with us for the rest of the day.

They had to check in with us every 30 -45 minutes or so unless they were in a specific activity and we could check on them there.

Made it perfectly clear - YOU DO NOT ENTER ANYONE'S ROOM! And you do not leave public areas period! We gave them our reasons "why" and explained REALLY bad things can happen - Even to Boys!

Finally, at 8pm they were then tied back to us, unless they were doing something with Carnival's Camp Ocean. After 8pm at that age nothing good can happen lol!

We are a bit slacker than the person above. Our 14 year old can hang out with Camp friends in the Lido or in the corridor outside the teen clubs (it has no cabins or anything going off it, it has tables and chairs in it) up until midnight. She has to check in with us every 2 hours personally. We have the same rule about only public places and no stateroom visits. We outline acceptable behaviour and say one complaint and it is back to us from dinner on. Whenever we have gone to find her she has been behaving acceptably.

Highlited above....absolutely right, couldnt agree more....I wish Carnival would implement that rule that anyone 18,17,16 whatever that after 8 pm you are in a Carnival sponsored Camp, with your parents/guardians or back in your cabin

Wow! Most teens I have seen are responsible and not causing a problem for anyone. Maybe curfew after midnight but 8:00????

I would rather see anyone drinking after 8 being tethered to a non drinker.

Hi,

It is hard for me to picture the same set of rules /curfew times for a 10 year old and a 15 year old. I'd expect the 15 year old to be allowed to be with friends even if they were not in an organized activity IF you knew where they were staying . There are movies,an arcade, the Lido buffet area,etc.

What are your expectations at home? Do your children go anywhere in your town/city alone? That would affect how I would structure their time on the ship.

I agree that NO entering anyone's cabin and NO bringing friends into your cabin unless you are there.

Wow! Most teens I have seen are responsible and not causing a problem for anyone. Maybe curfew after midnight but 8:00????

I would rather see anyone drinking after 8 being tethered to a non drinker.

I would rather see anyone intolerant of adults drinking adult beverages at night thrown overboard.

We are a bit slacker than the person above. Our 14 year old can hang out with Camp friends in the Lido or in the corridor outside the teen clubs (it has no cabins or anything going off it, it has tables and chairs in it) up until midnight. She has to check in with us every 2 hours personally. We have the same rule about only public places and no stateroom visits. We outline acceptable behaviour and say one complaint and it is back to us from dinner on. Whenever we have gone to find her she has been behaving acceptably.

Same here! He started cruising when he was 12, so he's always been in the age group where he could come & go from the clubs. He's been on 4 cruises since then and the same rules always apply. He usually checks in with us throughout the day, he's with us for dinner, and then we have a curfew depending on the activities going on and what we're doing the next day. When in Alaska, we had excursions that started early in the morning and were going to be very active. So the 1 a.m. returns that he gets in the Caribbean didn't happen that much. And he was only out until midnight or 1 if there was something going on in the club that he attended.

He's earned our trust over the years, he's followed the rules, so he's earned the freedom he gets.

so what are the rules for curfew for 16 and 14 year olds??? pride specifically.

I would not allow the 10 year old to do anything unless you or the 15 year old were with them. 10 is just too young to let them roam around a cruise ship without a responsible “adult” IMHO.

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The cruise ship is like a small city.

IF your 10 year old has any experience at home:

walking to school himself

going to the local store himself to purchase something

riding his bike outside to a park

Then he could go get ice cream himself on the ship without a problem.

IF he has never been allowed to do anything on his own at home I'd not start allowing that on a cruise. It all depends on their experience and your comfort level.

We traveled with 2 boys at almost the same ages when we started (and they stayed with us the whole time), and then when the hit 12 and 15 on they were allowed some freedom.

 

Our rules:

 

They had to tell us exactly where they would be, and if we went there and they weren't, they were grounded and stayed with us for the rest of the day.

 

They had to check in with us every 30 -45 minutes or so unless they were in a specific activity and we could check on them there.

 

Made it perfectly clear - YOU DO NOT ENTER ANYONE'S ROOM! And you do not leave public areas period! We gave them our reasons "why" and explained REALLY bad things can happen - Even to Boys!

 

Finally, at 8pm they were then tied back to us, unless they were doing something with Carnival's Camp Ocean. After 8pm at that age nothing good can happen lol!

Seems like good advice.

My kids always marched to my rules, not anyone else’s, and they weren’t the same rules for each of them, as they are different people.

My son has had the same rules since he was 12 on a cruise ship.

- Don't enter anyone elses cabin

- Don't allow anyone in our cabin

- Don't take anything from anyone (drinks, food, etc)

- Be back in the cabin by midnight

- Stay out of the casino

- No running anywhere

Taking suggestions to heart. It's our Teen's 10th or 11th cruise, and been on the ships since age 6. Now an elder teen in their own stateroom. Love the suggestions. Keep them coming as it's a first for us.

We have two boys who have been cruising since they were 4 yo and 20 months old. On our next trip they'll be 13 and 11. One thing that we do on sea days is I camp out in one spot, usually by the pool. That way, they always know where I am. If they go to the slide, they have to be back and personally check in an a half hour. If they play mini-golf, they have to check in as soon as they finish. If they want to change locations (i.e., long lines) they have to check in personally first and tell us where they are going. They are never allowed to just roam the ship. They have to have a destination. We haven't had a curfew issue yet, but likely will with the older one on this cruise. We'll set it depending on what his plans are.

What in GM is a GD and a GS, GH wants to know ?

What in GM is a GD and a GS, GH wants to know ?

GM - Grandma

GD - Granddaughter

GS - Grandson

Never heard of GH.

My son has had the same rules since he was 12 on a cruise ship.

- Don't enter anyone elses cabin

- Don't allow anyone in our cabin

- Don't take anything from anyone (drinks, food, etc)

- Be back in the cabin by midnight

- Stay out of the casino

- No running anywhere

This gets my vote for best post (for what little my vote is worth, haha). I know kids are all different, but half hour / hour check-ins for a teenager seems pretty over the top. A ship is more like the 12-16 blocks immediately surrounding your house than a "small city." And yes, your neighborhood now includes a number of bars, but your police department and surveillance camera system also got a MAJOR bump up.