safety for single teen

[MBMOM06]

Hi, Me and my family are first time cruisers, going on the Carnival Triumph in Feb/07. We have a 15 year old daughter and I am not sure how much freedom to allow her on board the ship. I heard they have teen clubs and such, but I'm not sure what this might include. Please give me more details if you can.

[bubbles1209]

We took DD with us on our trip in June, she's 14. There are 2 different teen programs on Carnival. One is for 12-14 year olds, and the other is for 15-17 year olds. The 12-14 year olds can come and go on the ship as they please, with the camp carnival program as long as they are registered by their parents. Our DD didn't want to participate in the Camp Carnival program because she's "outgrown" the 12 year-olds, and didn't want to be around the older kids. She pretty much stuck with us the entire trip. She did get out with the kids from our table, but we ran into them constantly, so we knew she was fine. We did the curfew, and kept in touch constantly, met at certain times, etc. We always knew where she was, and she always knew where to find us what time we were apart. (Wasn't much at all, promise ya that):) If ya go to CCL's website, and click on FAQ, click on Camp Carnival, and it will tell ya all kinds of stuff. Hope this helps:)

[madhouseinc]

Hi, Me and my family are first time cruisers, going on the Carnival Triumph in Feb/07. We have a 15 year old daughter and I am not sure how much freedom to allow her on board the ship. I heard they have teen clubs and such, but I'm not sure what this might include. Please give me more details if you can.

 

I feel that nuns, toastmasters and teens usually, when travel in pairs are the safest.

[kitty9]

You cannot be too careful with kids on cruise ships. Just because you're in a rather confined area doesn't mean there aren't unsavory characters or predators on board. Ask yourself this, how much freedom would you give your daughter in your hometown, because cruise ships are small cities. From experience I find that the teen programs for kids over age 14 aren't all that popular. Kids tend to want to hang out in groups and not with the teen counselors. But that can have problems also. We were on RCCI and always ran into a group of teens who would sit in the aft stairwell and spark doobies. This went on every night until security put a stop to it--and these kids were 15 to 17 years old. Only you can decide how much freedom to give your daughter.

[CaptData]

Here is my suggestion . Register her for the teen program so if she wants she can sign herself in and out. Talk to her about the ship, who to go to if she is scared of someone. Set time limits and ensure these are kept. Have two meals a day with her ie breakfast and dinner or meet for afternoon snack and dinner. Leave notes on mirrors as to where you are and where she is too. Talk to her about the dangers of drinking and going in someone else cabin. Only you know your child is she a fallower or a leader. How dose she do with peer pressure?

[Tmeister]

Our daughter cruised with us several times from age 14 to 18. We always felt it was a safe environment for her to be in. She always brought at least one friend with her, so there was someone to pal around with. There is probably no 100% safe place for a kid in this world, but a kid who isn't looking for trouble is not likely to find it on a ship. She had no interest in the organized teen events. We always required her to check in with us once during the day and to have dinner with us. She'd usually attend a show with us as well and run into us a few times during the day. I'd rely on the ground rules suggested by the other posters and things should be fine.

[kathlynw]

Target has a set of two-way radios that are reasonably priced. They have, I believe, a five mile radius. That way you could be in constant contact with her and she with you. I plan to get them when my 10 year old grows out of the kids club.

 

That said, have a great cruise. You are going to love it.

[jetskier]

I know people hate the radios but we used ours on vibrate so as not to disturb others. This way we knew when our 12 yr old was ready to leave Camp Carnival and we could go meet her. I use the Cobra Microtalk PR 4700-2 WX which has a 12 mile range. This has the ability to transmit through several decks.

 

It also comes handy in port. I was in downtown Cozumel and was talking to my wife on ship to see if she had picked up the $5 earring special.

Dave

[icancruisetoo]

I'm 16 and i have traveled on the Carnival Triumph twice before. Although you need to be careful letting your teen go, she will be fine. As long as she knows her limits and what could possibly happen on a ship as large as this, she should be great and she should have a lot of fun. Bring her to the teen club and let her stay there until she meets someone. On all of the occasions that i have cruised, i have had no problem meeting people. Once she meets a group of people, she should be fine to either stay in the teen club or do other various things on the ship. give her a time to meet up with you, just to keep track of her.

 

in the teen clubs, they usually have couches and chairs, video games and music, and they have scheduled events. every night, your cabin stewerd will bring a schedule of events for the next day. for your teen, these can include parties, board games, contests, etc.

 

let me know if you have any questions, :rolleyes: