No Bashing Please, Just Trying to Gather Information

[will773]

To start off, I am 16 years old.

 

My French teacher has already told us that they are planning to have some kind of France trip next summer (2012) for students at our high school. I sent him an email last week saying that we should do something a little different since there was just a France trip a couple of years ago. I suggested that we do a Mediterranean cruise. He has not gotten back to me yet, but I just can't stop thinking about how much fun it would be. I have a few questions.

 

1. How could we get around the minor policy? There has to be a way to do this, because I've seen Quinceañera groups on a cruise before. They obviously have cabins with children less than 21 in them. Does anyone know how we to get around this? I feel like this would be the biggest obstacle.

 

2. Which itinerary would you choose? The one that I would really love to do is the Italian Mediterranean one on the Independence, but it's the most expensive (ugh :mad:) and is the longest (don't know if the is a length limit for these kind of trips, also ugh). I'm chomping at the bit to see what the itineraries will be for next summer.

 

3. How can I convince my French teacher that a cruise is the best way to go? I don't even know if he will go for the idea, but I just think it would be so much fun and would be a great experience for anyone that went.

 

Thanks so much in advance for any answers!

 

P.S. We will not be obnoxious so if we wind up doing this and are on a sailing with you, no need to worry! :D

[wingnutphl]

I don't believe you can get around the minor policy.

[bionicman97]

1) My guess is you would need a chaporone for each cabin with the appropriate paperwork. - Don't know though

 

2) We have done a western med on the Voyager (Villefranche, Pisa/Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily) and it was fantastic.

 

3) I would go with the safety factor, all the meals/etc already handled, and that you would get a more varied experience than just going to a single country.

 

Best of luck :)

[will773]

Does anyone know how the Quinceañera groups get around the policy? Do they? They usually do these kinds of things without their parents don't they?

[Dizney]

1. How could we get around the minor policy? There has to be a way to do this, because I've seen Quinceañera groups on a cruise before. They obviously have cabins with children less than 21 in them. Does anyone know how we to get around this? I feel like this would be the biggest obstacle.

 

Can't get around it. Must be at least 21. You can see for yourself here:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do;jsessionid=0000TEVsL7e5VztaayXbo56zZKR:12hdhuaq2?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqId=309&faqSubjectId=333&faqType=faq

 

Q: What is Royal Caribbean International's Age Policy? A: No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.

 

This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military.

Certain other restrictions and conditions will apply; such as compliance with the age twenty-one (21) alcohol policy, and proof of marriage for underage couples or proof of active duty military status.required).

[will773]

1) My guess is you would need a chaporone for each cabin with the appropriate paperwork. - Don't know though

 

2) We have done a western med on the Voyager (Villefranche, Pisa/Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily) and it was fantastic.

 

3) I would go with the safety factor, all the meals/etc already handled, and that you would get a more varied experience than just going to a single country.

 

Best of luck :)

 

Thanks! I'm not sure how these kind of trips usually work with school. I'm not sure what they do about meals and things like that, but I just think that this would be such a unique experience that most people have never done or even thought about before!

[will773]

1. How could we get around the minor policy? There has to be a way to do this, because I've seen Quinceañera groups on a cruise before. They obviously have cabins with children less than 21 in them. Does anyone know how we to get around this? I feel like this would be the biggest obstacle.

 

Can't get around it. Must be at least 21. You can see for yourself here:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do;jsessionid=0000TEVsL7e5VztaayXbo56zZKR:12hdhuaq2?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqId=309&faqSubjectId=333&faqType=faq

 

Q: What is Royal Caribbean International's Age Policy? A: No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.

 

This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military.

Certain other restrictions and conditions will apply; such as compliance with the age twenty-one (21) alcohol policy, and proof of marriage for underage couples or proof of active duty military status.required).

 

That would clearly be the biggest road block then... hmm

[klingoncruiser]

I took my daughter and her friend on two cruises. They were in the hall across from us. If you have a parent along and permission to travel with someone other than children it can be done. However you will need to check with each cruise line for any rules they have. You will need someone in charge as you can imagine.

[bionicman97]

That would clearly be the biggest road block then... hmm

 

With that policy, I think you would have to have four people to a room (for cost purposes), one being a chaporone over the age of 21. I think you also have to have paperwork completed due to the fact that you are minors, some of which are not traveling with your parents.

[gerif]

Does anyone know how the Quinceañera groups get around the policy? Do they? They usually do these kinds of things without their parents don't they?

 

They usually sail with a whole contingent of family members as well as the youngsters, so it is easy to book an adult in each cabin.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

I wouldnt let my 16yo go..but thats just me.

 

Now, on the otherhand, my DD organized a cruise for her senior year in college instead of their typical Disney trip. It was a huge success. Unless there is a chaperone per cabin, you can forget the dream, however good and exciting it sounds.

 

High schools have these trips worked out, well. They wont alter them, way too much liability. Unless it is parent organized, again with chaperones.

[Langley Cruisers]

Does anyone know how the Quinceañera groups get around the policy? Do they? They usually do these kinds of things without their parents don't they?

 

 

They don't get around the policy; there are parents and chaperones with them, it just doesn't appear so. ;) :D

[wg6530]

Honestly, if this is meant to be an educational trip for French students, I think you should take a land tour. Although there may have been a trip two years ago, I would assume that two years results in a largely new group of high school students.

 

The Italian Med cruise would be a wonderful trip, but doesn't seem to fit the French class theme. Some cruises have a stop or two in France, but I don't usually see a cruise with mostly French ports.

 

If the teacher disagrees with me, you will need a lot of chaperones, one adult per cabin, each willing to be responsible for the assigned minors. that adds a lot to the cost. By the time you arrange shore excursions, you may find the cost of the cruise is pretty expensive, maybe too much for many families. add the lack of French immersion, and I suspect many parents will decline to send their kids on the cruise.

 

Not meant to bash your idea. I think you should go on a Med cruise in the future

[Coltsfan18]

Your best bet may be to contact a company that specializes in student travel. If you Google "student travel cruise" there is a company that offers cruising as an option.

[reallyitsmema]

Does anyone know how the Quinceañera groups get around the policy? Do they? They usually do these kinds of things without their parents don't they?

We have been on the Mariner with a high school choir that was about 30 kids. They got around the age requirement so there is a way. Maybe it was because they also performed on the ship, not sure, but they were a very talented group of kids.

[will773]

Honestly, if this is meant to be an educational trip for French students, I think you should take a land tour. Although there may have been a trip two years ago, I would assume that two years results in a largely new group of high school students.

 

The Italian Med cruise would be a wonderful trip, but doesn't seem to fit the French class theme. Some cruises have a stop or two in France, but I don't usually see a cruise with mostly French ports.

 

If the teacher disagrees with me, you will need a lot of chaperones, one adult per cabin, each willing to be responsible for the assigned minors. that adds a lot to the cost. By the time you arrange shore excursions, you may find the cost of the cruise is pretty expensive, maybe too much for many families. add the lack of French immersion, and I suspect many parents will decline to send their kids on the cruise.

 

Not meant to bash your idea. I think you should go on a Med cruise in the future

 

Thanks for you insight. I am in no way saying that land would not be as fun! I would still love to do that trip, I just thought that maybe a cruise could be more fun. I'm starting to see that it would be a little more complicated than I thought. Oh well, it's fun to dream :rolleyes:

[liljay6915]

That sounds like it would be a fun idea. I was on a NOS last year during spring break and there was a senior trip on the ship with us. While talking to some of them I learned that the high school had worked something out with RCCL. They had to have someone over the age of 25 in each cabin, so 1 adult per 3 students.

These kids had a little too much fun on the ship and in ports. about half of them ended up getting left behind in Nassau because they were too drunk and would not leave the bars. Then there were some that were escorted off the boat at the end of the cruise in cuffs. So, I am not sure if NCCL would allow trips like this anymore, but if they do I hope you are able to work it out and have a GREAT trip.

[Merion_Mom]

To start off, I am 16 years old.

 

My French teacher has already told us that they are planning to have some kind of France trip next summer (2012) for students at our high school. I sent him an email last week saying that we should do something a little different since there was just a France trip a couple of years ago. I suggested that we do a Mediterranean cruise. He has not gotten back to me yet, but I just can't stop thinking about how much fun it would be. I have a few questions.

 

1. How could we get around the minor policy? There has to be a way to do this, because I've seen Quinceañera groups on a cruise before. They obviously have cabins with children less than 21 in them. Does anyone know how we to get around this? I feel like this would be the biggest obstacle.

 

2. Which itinerary would you choose? The one that I would really love to do is the Italian Mediterranean one on the Independence, but it's the most expensive (ugh :mad:) and is the longest (don't know if the is a length limit for these kind of trips, also ugh). I'm chomping at the bit to see what the itineraries will be for next summer.

 

3. How can I convince my French teacher that a cruise is the best way to go? I don't even know if he will go for the idea, but I just think it would be so much fun and would be a great experience for anyone that went.

 

Thanks so much in advance for any answers!

 

P.S. We will not be obnoxious so if we wind up doing this and are on a sailing with you, no need to worry! :D

Will, I teach not far from you, and I can guarantee you that your French teacher is NOT going to take you on a cruise "instead of going to France".

 

His objectives are to get you immersed in FRENCH culture and FRENCH language. He is only going to lead a trip to a French speaking country. He may include another country, but he is only going to do a land trip for this kind of travel.

 

Cruise with your family.

 

And you have many many years ahead of you. Enjoy whatever trip he is offering. I assume that you did not go on his trip "a couple of years ago." Go to France and have fun!

[dizzlepop]

I've been on several European trips with students; the school always uses a travel company specializing in student tours (these kids sing). You are obligated to have chaperons per x-number of students. For these kids, ages 10-14, the ratio of students to chaperon was 5 to 1. My daughter also toured Germany with her high school German class and it was 8 to 1.

 

When I read the stateroom guidelines, it did say that cabins could be connecting -- that would be less of a cost to cover if there are 4 or 5 students and 1 chaperon in two connecting cabins. Just a thought!

 

And one more thing (please keep in mind I'm a mom): kids, when they are away from home, have a great temptation to behave differently than they would at home. They might very well be great kids with great behavior; that is not a guarantee they will be the same on a trip! My daughter's high school no longer allows big group trips because of this... some students got themselves in hot water (drinking) on a school trip (a cruise, coincidentally), including not being permitted to walk at graduation, getting removed from class office, etc. It was crazy!!!

[will773]

Will, I teach not far from you, and I can guarantee you that your French teacher is NOT going to take you on a cruise "instead of going to France".

 

His objectives are to get you immersed in FRENCH culture and FRENCH language. He is only going to lead a trip to a French speaking country. He may include another country, but he is only going to do a land trip for this kind of travel.

 

Cruise with your family.

 

And you have many many years ahead of you. Enjoy whatever trip he is offering. I assume that you did not go on his trip "a couple of years ago." Go to France and have fun!

 

I'm pretty sure I know where you teach! Small world! :eek: I'm all for a trip to France, sounds like a great time to me. Just thought this would provide a different experience.

[bus man]

I would have to second the suggestion of a land tour. It just seems that if a French class is going to visit Europe, it ought to emphasize visiting . . . France. Besides, one of the points of a trip like this is to put what you've learned in the classroom into practice, and that's much harder to do on a cruise ship than in the country whose mother tongue you've been studying.

 

For what it's worth, I went on a class trip to France when I was 16, and I flat-out fell in love with the country. To this day, it remains my favorite vacation ever. (Sorry, fellow cruise lovers; that's just the way it is.) So I would encourage you to go on this trip, and soak up as much of France as you possibly can. The Mediterranean will still be there when you convince your parents to do a cruise there for your high school graduation! :D

 

Oh, and profit from my hard-learned lesson: for some reason, no one understood me when I asked for the "toilette publique." "W.C." (vah-say) worked much better.

[bus man]

"W.C." (vah-say) worked much better.

 

Sorry, it's pronounced "vay-say"; the two syllables rhyme. The value of being able to ask directions to a bathroom in a foreign country cannot be overstated!

[foxesden1]

You can take girl scout troops on board, so I am sure you an take high school students.

 

Most teachers use student tour companies, so you might want to do some ground work fir your teacher. Contct the cruise line, contact eaf tours, and your teacher, do the ground work, and maybe your teacher will go for it.

[marci22]

Your biggest problem would be budget. They usually try to make these trips affordable for the kids.

 

A teacher from our high school led a student trip in the Med and they did a cruise as part of it, but it was an extremely low-budget cruiseline. It was not the students' favorite part of the trip.

[bplazo]

I think that you would gain more experience doing a land trip than a cruise. Although a cruise does sound like more fun :). Good luck!