Kids don't want to go...........

[nagster]

Just booked a cruise last night, last minute leaving next thursday. Kids have been total brats, complaining about everything and they don't want to go. At this point I don't want them to go either. My mom is coming with us so we got a 3 and a 2 if they don't go do I tell carnival, I know I will eat the money but I still need 2 cabins because not sure mom wants to be in with me and the hubby. Kids are 13 and 14.

[missyal]

They are lucky kids to be going! I'm sure once you are headed for the ship, they will start to get excited. Reminds me of a t.v. commercial for another cruise line where they are always in search of the daughter's smile and they finally get one out of her on the cruise.

Enjoy.

Missyal

[skyscanr]

Well I have to ask . How old are the kids? If they are under 18 what choice do they have as you are the parent right?

[mprucha]

Hi, Hate to hear that about the kids BUT I also have kids 18 & almost 20 and so I know what that age group can be like. Have they ever been on a cruise?? Maybe they don't know what it will be like. If they haven't, maybe try and get them excited about it by showing them things they can do and stuff. Maybe they think they are going to be "stuck with the parents" the whole cruise or maybe they think camp carnival is for "little" kids. Or, if you have someone you are willing for them to stay with and trust and you are willing to lose the money OR you can deal with carnival and see if you can get an onboard credit for part of it, then leave them at home and go have a great cruise! I'm all for family time and bonding but with teens, sometimes they can drive you insane and taking little vacations apart sometimes is a good thing. My DH and I travel a lot and half the time we'll take the kids and the other half we like to spend quality time as a couple. Good luck!

[GaryWT]

Have they cruised before? My kids will be heading out soon on # 4 and it is there favorite type of vacation. Once onboard they will want to be there.

[crusinmama06]

Oh I would be sooo upset. Did I mention I am totally not looking forward to those years with my daughters? :eek:

 

I can assume this is probably just normal teen angst. They are just trying to push your buttons (and suceeding).

 

I would take them anyway. I would stick to the line that this is a FAMILY vacation and that means the whole FAMILY goes.

[nagster]

Yes they have cruised before. We are under a lot of stress right now and the last thing I need is them to be moaning, they can stay with the grandparents. Just curious what I need to do if they don't go.

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Just booked a cruise last night, last minute leaving next thursday. Kids have been total brats, complaining about everything and they don't want to go. At this point I don't want them to go either. My mom is coming with us so we got a 3 and a 2 if they don't go do I tell carnival, I know I will eat the money but I still need 2 cabins because not sure mom wants to be in with me and the hubby. Kids are 13 and 14.

 

:D :D Which cruise is it? The Captain and the Mrs would be only too pleased to fill in their shoes if your situation is still unresolved..............LOL :D :D ;)

[nagster]

Sure but you gotta share the cabin with my mom.............

[crusinmama06]

OK, seriously...you need to call Carnival ASAP. Do you have cancellation insurance? I was reading the carnival site and you *may* be able to recoup some money. But I would call right away.

[ggprincess2004]

So sorry to hear the kids are being *brats*. But the truth is, you have already paid for their air and cruise fare. And they are lucky to be taken on a cruise.

Our 18 year old started giving us a hard time about the upcoming cruise to Alaska about a month ago. He will finish his semester the week before we leave and the first excuse we heard was that he wanted to start working as soon as school was done. Well, good old mom's lie detector went into overdrive on that one. So, within 24 hours, mom and dad had resolved that crisis and he was once again onboard voluntarily.

Last week, he asked me what the dates of the cruise were. Seems he wants to go back to his high school and escort a friend who happens to be female to her Sr. Prom - she is not his girlfriend - and enjoy a bit of a reunion with the group that hung out together last year. We told him no - airfare was locked in, cruise costs were locked in, and a prom date was not an adequate excuse for the cruise line to give us any refund. In addition, this is a FAMILY vacation and he is part of the family. He pouted - seriously miserable - for about 3 days. But we stuck to our guns on it. We know he will be fine once onboard and will have a great time.

IMHO, have the teenagers come along, it is a family vacation and they are coming because you said so!!!

Good luck whatever decision you make!

I hope you can relax and enjoy the trip either way.

[angela76]

I would just put them in the car and take them anyways. I know what you are going threw my DD was the same way about her first cruise. But once she got on the ship she was fine. I know how it is to listen to the kids B***h the whole time:eek: . But they will have fun I'm sure :)

[mek]

Take them on the cruise and then throw them overboard! :D

 

(Just kidding!)

[caribbean dreams]

They are 13 & 14, you are the adult, don't give them a choice.

[Elaine515]

OK, I might get flamed for this BUT....

 

13 & 14 years old.... duh.... If it was me and I booked them a cruise, then they're going...like it or not... Since when do you let kids that age rule your life??? Don't let them stress you out... You're the parent....

 

Sorry, but thats my opinion....

 

 

Elaine

[sea_u_onboard]

You will have to eat it - you don't have to contact Carnival - they won't care. You could TRY and get some money back - but don't count on it.

 

I would say tough cookies - you're going. There is no way I would spend the money and then have "them" decide they are not going. Tell them next time they don't have to go but this time it is paid for and that's it. They could pout in the cabin the entire time for all I care - but I do know that they are too young to be dicating to an adult. Just my opinion - no one has to agree with me.

[boatdoc]

My 17yo and 6yo sons both were complaining that it had been too long since their last cruise and for my wife and I to get off our butts and book a cruise as soon as possible!!!:eek:

[nagster]

I understand what y'all are saying about taking them anyways and we are the adults. That's how it usually is but they want to be brats then they can go to grandmas and miss out on all the fun, no skin of my nose. It's not like they won't be grounded forever. I guess I am doing reverse psychology :p

[june2006]

my kids would love to be able to crusie with us. They are a bit disjointed because they are not coming with us in May :D

 

Although they were a bit apprehensive on the first cruise. They were so sad to walk off that ship. Now all they do is talk about the next one in 2009 :)

 

Again, you are the parent. As a parent, I would never throw that kind of cash away.

 

They will have soooooo much fun!

 

Have them get invloved as soon as you can on these boards to post their own thread to find other teens for your sailing.

[nagster]

MEthinks they were trying to push my buttons, anyway they are going and the can pout and moan all they want, too bad. I hope they know that not only are they going but I am going to not be a happy camper during the trip just to annoy THEM.

[maddea20]

Well, yeah most of us would tell our 13 and 14 year olds they're going and that's final, but I know what the OP must be feeling. She doesn't want her vacation ruined with the kids pouting and being bratty and looking mad and making mean faces (I used to do that all the time to my mother and she hated it :D ). At the same time, yes money was spent on the kids, this is a family vacation, ecetera, ecetera. But to me this is a decision the OP needs to make herself. Can she afford to lose out on monies paid if she doesn't get any refunds back? Do her kids hold grudges and just stay angry or would they just eventually be ok with going? Maybe they're just acting like this for now, but by next week they may be ok. These are just a few things she should look at and of course she knows her kids better then we do. And to the OP, if you defn know that there is a chance your vacation would be miserable with the brat pack coming, then maybe leaving them at home would be a good idea, but that's only a decision you would be able to make, since we don't know you or your children personally.

[maddea20]

MEthinks they were trying to push my buttons, anyway they are going and the can pout and moan all they want, too bad. I hope they know that not only are they going but I am going to not be a happy camper during the trip just to annoy THEM.

 

Oh no, don't not be a happy camper just to annoy them, then your trip will really be ruined because now you won't have any fun. What my mother used to do with me and my sisters when we acted like this was to do the opposite. She would and still does actually, act like everything is fine. She would tell us that she knows we don't want to go but she will make it up to us in the future. She would also say something like I'd really like for you'll to come so we can all spend time together. See, you being angry with them just like they're being angry with you is not going to get you anywhere. They are doing that on purpose and for you it seems to be working. I used to do it all the time to my mother. Like you said use some type of reverse psychology. I think you should make them feel sorry for even acting the way they are now. Show them that you would not have fun w/o them going. Just don't make yourself miserable for their sakes. They will not care because they want to make you angry that's the whole point of their brattiness right now.

[BayMan123]

Just booked a cruise last night, last minute leaving next thursday. Kids have been total brats, complaining about everything and they don't want to go. At this point I don't want them to go either. My mom is coming with us so we got a 3 and a 2 if they don't go do I tell carnival, I know I will eat the money but I still need 2 cabins because not sure mom wants to be in with me and the hubby. Kids are 13 and 14.

 

Must be reading the posts about how wonderfull Carnival is. Switch to RCL and watch the smiles!

[cantwait2cruize]

If these were my kids, I would take the little brats on the cruise and leave them in Roatan, or Belize. That would give them something to complain about:eek: .

[Darlipoo]

They are 13 & 14, you are the adult, don't give them a choice.

I totaly agree. Having been in very similar situations with my own over the years, I am SO sorry I gave in. It will never end if you don't stand your ground N O W. I guess you have to decide. Are you the parent or the child?

Sorry to sound so blunt, but I know whereof I speak. Mine are now 37 and 39 and still rule the roost. (Thank goodness not IN my roost. LOL)