Parents of teens - a poll for you!

[cruisin from florida]

NOTE ON POLL - IT MEANS ONLY OLDER TEENS WITHOUT THE ALCOHOL WAIVER - BUT THERE WASN'T ROOM TO SAY SO!

 

I thought the idea to let older teens who do not have the alcohol waiver participate in the teen area is a great one.

 

What do you think?

[Clarkk W Griswald]

Do you mean letting 18-20 year olds without waiver signed hang out in the teen area? First off, I don't think many would want to, and second, I don't think 19-20 year old guys need to be hanging out with 14-15 year old girls. No flaming please, that's just my opinion and you don't have to agree with me:D .

[cruisin from florida]

My thought (that I stole from another poster) is that 18-19 year olds, who DON'T have the alcohol waiver, could hang out in the teen area. Honestly, I forget the current age grouping of the "older teens" right now. Maybe it could just be 18 year olds. But I do know that it's too bad to kick these kids out of the teen area, when they may have just started their senior year in high school. As the parent of a 14 year old girl (and I TOTALLY respect your concerns) how would you feel about 18 (and possibly 19) year olds, who DO NOT HAVE THE SIGNED WAIVER (and I think this might eliminate a lot of the kids in this this age group who would be of concern; the ones you wouldn't want hanging out with your daughter are PROBABLY the ones who would prefer to have that waiver) being allowed in the teen area for activities?

[TRadle]

When we cruised with our older teens w/o the waiver there was nothing for them to do. They could not go to the “teen” activities and they could not go to any areas where drinks were being served. Maybe it should not be limited to age, but whether they are still in secondary school. Just a thought.

[Happy ks]

I voted yes, absolutely without the alcohol waiver.

 

My son will turn 18 only 4 days before our next cruise, he'll still be a senior in high school. So, there is no way I want to sign a waiver for him to be drinking. I'd prefer him to be with kids his own age, but only if they also don't have the alcohol waiver.

 

He's a good kid, I've never caught him drinking, smoking, drugs or anything. His friends are good kids, when they all go out, they are home by midnight, none have been caught doing any of the above. I'm hoping to keep it that way.

 

I don't care to put the temptation in front of him and I don't care to allow him to be a part of that partying atmosphere at this point in his life.

 

I really wish the waiver wasn't even there.

[PAGA]

Do you mean letting 18-20 year olds without waiver signed hang out in the teen area? First off, I don't think many would want to, and second, I don't think 19-20 year old guys need to be hanging out with 14-15 year old girls. No flaming please, that's just my opinion and you don't have to agree with me:D .

 

 

The current groupings are 12-14 and 15-17. These groups (in our 5 previous cruise experiences) are strictly separated in the evenings in the "teen disco". So (as the person who originally suggested this concept on a different thread), my intention would be to have the 18/19 year olds be able to hang out with the 15-17 group in the evenings -- if and only if they do not have a signed alcohol waiver. (Possibly RCCL would need to adjust to 12-15 and 16-19??)

 

Not sure the legalities of it all and whether or not the alcohol issue is RCCL's main reason for not having activities for the kids in their late teens...but I know extending the teen program would make my daughter happy -- so I intend to start putting this concept on my comment cards at the end of my cruises.

 

- PAGA

[Bruin Steve]

First, I guess I'm not eligible to vote...my daughters are now 20 and 22...

But I do have some thoughts on the subject...which come from cruising with the girls as they moved up through the youth program age groups...

 

First, as the girls got older, they found the kids and teen programs less and less appealing...

 

When we last sailed with them (Celebrity Summit Alaska when they were 18 and 20), they had absolutely no interest in attending the teen program--even if they could...

 

They did work hard, though, to find others on the ship in their OWN age group...(When they were a little younger, they would visit the teen program the first nioght, find friends, then strike out on their own...but, now, the search is a little harder)...

 

kids 18 to 23 or so, the "college aged" kids, are really the "orphans" of the ship...They're not really "adults", they're no longer "kids"...

 

The bulk of passengers are older couples, middle-aged couples, young couples...people travelling on "adult vacations"...

Two other groups are accounted for...

Kids and Teens--who have special dedicated programs...and...

"Singles"--for whom the cruise ships typically arrange some schedule of activities...

 

But, although these young adults are "single", they don't really fit in with the bulk of ADULT singles who populate such events--middle aged and older singles, divorcees, widows and widowers...people maybe out to "hook up" with unattached members of the opposite sex...

 

Most of these young adults are really still school-aged kids in a way...going along with their parents and maybe younger siblings on a family vacation...

 

So, here is MY solution:

The ships should make it a point to have a "program"--similar to the kids and teens program...but SPECIFICALLY for "College-aged Young Adults"...Restrict it to, say, 18-22 or 18-25 or something in that range...

Start them out with a "Mixer" of some sort first night...have a handful of planned activities...like attending karaoke together...or "Piano Bar Night"...or a planned Volleyball game or pool day...

It doesn't have to be an very day thing like the kids program...they don't need the babysitting...and they tend to be more independent...

 

But, they generally don't want to hang with Jr. High or High School kids...or be treated like kids...

 

But they do need something...Something that's not a kids program...or an adult activity aimed at a much older crowd...

 

That's just my opinion...

[SharkCruiser24]

Okay so I am not a parent, but I don't really like hanging out with people my age they are often too vulgar and rude. When I was on my last cruise I was the only 17 year old and there were 3 younger girls around 12-14, us girls had such fun. We were like the only active people in the program (during school few kids) so we decided what we wanted to do with the councelors and when, it was awesome. I fear giving up this schedule, it's like a roadmap for me to have fun. I am not te dancing sort as afore metioned. I think 18-19 year olds should be allowed to participate with the 15-17 year olds, as long as they don't have an alcohol wavier. And by the by SCAVENGER HUNTS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

[SharkCruiser24]

PLEASE send this to Royal Caribbean. I am turning 18 in November :( . I don't want to leave the structure of the teen program yet.:eek:

[wraithe]

I voted yes, absolutely without the alcohol waiver.

 

My son will turn 18 only 4 days before our next cruise, he'll still be a senior in high school. So, there is no way I want to sign a waiver for him to be drinking. I'd prefer him to be with kids his own age, but only if they also don't have the alcohol waiver.

 

He's a good kid, I've never caught him drinking, smoking, drugs or anything. His friends are good kids, when they all go out, they are home by midnight, none have been caught doing any of the above. I'm hoping to keep it that way.

 

I don't care to put the temptation in front of him and I don't care to allow him to be a part of that partying atmosphere at this point in his life.

 

I really wish the waiver wasn't even there.

 

Congrats on having a young adult who doesn't want to drink. I'm fortunate that neither of my kids can stand the taste of alcoholic beverages. You can bet that is the only reason that your son doesn't drink. I know that when I was his age, I drank whenever I wanted to and not because I had a waiver signed by my parent. So you aren't putting temptation in front of him, it's already there if he chose to acknowledge it. I don't think 18 or 19 year olds need to be hanging out with the kids in the younger teen programs. If they're old enough to vote or join the military, they don't need to be "tempting" younger kids, JMHO, YMMV. :D

[seashiner]

As a mom of 4 teenagers 13-15yrs of age, 3 in which are girls. I am very much opposed of 18 year olds in the teen center. Unless it is a strict supervised event. 18 year olds have no business hangin with 13 year olds. Their minds are in a whole different category and maturity level.

[pharaoh]

But they do need something...Something that's not a kids program...or an adult activity aimed at a much older crowd...

 

That's just my opinion...

 

That's really a fabulous idea. I wish the company really did institute a program like that. I've just turned 22, still in college, and I often find myself in that little bubble of not-a-kid/not-an-adult on cruises. It's so much harder to find like-minded people in that age category than any other. :o/

 

We really are the "orphans" of the company. :P

[Lamar Cheeks]

Most kids turn 18 when they are seniors in high school. If they go on spring break with their families, they should be allowed in the teen events ... after all, they are high school kids, not Marlon Brando.

 

For instance, my son had a great time and met new friends during a March cruise on Rhapsody. He hung out with his cousin, a junior in HS, and his two sisters, 12 and 14, and other kids he met at the teen club. He's not the most mature kid, and he fit right in.

 

The day the cruise ended, he turned 18, so a week earlier, and he'd-a been in limbo.

 

So I'd say at least extend the teen club to 18 ... and monitor it closely?

[mommabean]

I didn't realize that most of the teens that are in high school wanted to hang out at the organized activities. My younger daughter, 16 now, always uses the program to meet some friends on the first night and then they hit the shows on their own. I really didn't think the teens 18 and over would dare want to be with the high school kids.

 

My other daughter who turned 18 just before our first cruise, which was her graduation present, had no desire at all to hang out with the younger "kids".

 

I do agree it would be nice to have something organized for the 18 - early 20s group should they want to participate. Of course they do have a singles dance, don't they? But, no, I think everyone shows up to watch so there is no way to restrict it to singles or young people, is there?

 

Usually younger adults are pretty good at just making new friends by the pool if they are interested in "knowing" anyone on board. Don't a lot of them make friends on the basketball court, at the ping pong table, or rock wall?

[Bec]

As a mom of 4 teenagers 13-15yrs of age, 3 in which are girls. I am very much opposed of 18 year olds in the teen center. Unless it is a strict supervised event. 18 year olds have no business hangin with 13 year olds. Their minds are in a whole different category and maturity level.

 

I believe that the OP was about 18 year olds hanging out in the older program--with teens 15-17. (this is what I get from the other thread where this discussion started). I agree that 13 and 14 is a little too young for them and most likely 18 year olds would not want to hang with kids that young anyway. But its true, most 18 year olds are still in high school and may feel uncomfortable hanging out with the "older" crowd. (see Sharkcruiser 24's remarks above).

 

As I said in the other thread, I am bringing a 16 year old and an 18 year old (friends) and sure would like them to be together in the evenings. I'm sure they would have liked it too. Oh well.

[Happy ks]

Congrats on having a young adult who doesn't want to drink. I'm fortunate that neither of my kids can stand the taste of alcoholic beverages. You can bet that is the only reason that your son doesn't drink. I know that when I was his age, I drank whenever I wanted to and not because I had a waiver signed by my parent. So you aren't putting temptation in front of him, it's already there if he chose to acknowledge it. I don't think 18 or 19 year olds need to be hanging out with the kids in the younger teen programs. If they're old enough to vote or join the military, they don't need to be "tempting" younger kids, JMHO, YMMV. :D

 

 

 

You can believe that I don't have my head in the sand!!

 

After some of the shenanigans I participated in (and DH as well) when I was my sons age, we are keeping a tight lid on issues like alcohol and smoking. We're lenient in other areas, but we keep driving the point home. I don't mind being a hypocrite. I'm hopeful their good behavior has something to do with not wanting to face the music in the morning with mom and dad ;)

[wraithe]

You can believe that I don't have my head in the sand!!

 

After some of the shenanigans I participated in (and DH as well) when I was my sons age, we are keeping a tight lid on issues like alcohol and smoking. We're lenient in other areas, but we keep driving the point home. I don't mind being a hypocrite. I'm hopeful their good behavior has something to do with not wanting to face the music in the morning with mom and dad ;)

 

ROTFL, good call! Sometimes the Mom and Dad pressure can overpower the "peer" pressure if they know how much can be exerted.

[PAGA]

We're just off the 6/2 Explorer 9-night. After discussing this poll with my teen daughter, she happened to ask the Adventure Ocean "teen specialist" why 18 & 19 year olds couldn't use Optix (teen disco). He (Ed) replied that it is actually already policy that if a late-teen (18 or 19) does not have a signed alcohol waiver they CAN gain admission to Optix after meeting with the Adventure Ocean teen leader. So it sounds like it's at the teen leader's discretion...and probably the number of teens onboard.

 

Of course with the new rumor that 18-20 year olds won't be able to consume alcohol RCCL may have to create a new activity category...

 

Now in my daughter's 6 cruises in the teen age groups she's never met anyone older than 17 in the teen club...but, for those of you traveling with older teens, this may be something you can look into. No guarantee here...just passing on what the "teen specialist" told my daughter...

 

FYI - About the "teen specialist" title: on some ships there is not a "teen specialist"; the teen program is run by the same manager who runs the entire Adventure Ocean program and the staff assigned to work with the teens varies from week-to-week. Ed told my daughter the "teen specialist" is a new role on Explorer...but he did previously come from another ship in the same role. It appeared that Ed would always be working with the teens on the Explorer, and there would be a second Adventure Ocean staff member who rotated week-to-week with the various age groups. For example...I overheard one of my son's leaders in the 6-8 year old groupssay she would be with the teens the following week.