worried

I just got back from a cruise with my 13 and 15 year old daughters. I couldn't help but worry about crime statistics aboard the ships. The "teen disco"was held from 12PM - 1AM...which seemed very late to me. Also, I heard that "&auml;ccidently", alcoholic drinks were served to one young girl. I am exhausted from waiting up &auml;nd worrying about their safety each night. Has anyone heard about any problems and where they might be reported to? <BR><BR>I would like to take them on another cruise, but I learned a lesson that as a concerned parent, I should know more about on board crime and the reporting of such. <BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>Worried Mom

Paul Therault

<BR>Of course you have a reason to worry. Many parents presume since a ship is an enclosed environment a child can not get into trouble. Things that happen in any large city can happen on a ship. A ship is not church. People go to have a good time and invariably a good time does result in an unfortunate experience.<BR><BR>There is no one to complain to. The security staff are not cops. They try to enforce rules but are oftentimes unsucessful. This has been a sore point for cruiselines for many years. They are in a lose-lose position. If a security person takes an unruly child back to his/her parent's cabin the parents get upset and state that their vacation fun has been ruined. Now the parents are unruly. Believe it or not many parents get upset that their children are carded to get into the disco.<BR><BR>I have seen pre-teens who have had too much to drink. You see they get liquor from older passengers. When this results in a sexual attack they kids cry to their parents .... this wakes up the parents .... they sue the cruiseline. This happens more often than one realizes. <BR><BR>This all boils down to parents being parents. Parents must know where their children are at all times. This is why Disney hands out two-way radios. Parents should sign their children in and out of the children's program. You must always worry about your child's safety whether on a ship, at a resort, or at home. If you think this is going to be too much work for you ...... then do not travel with your children.<BR><BR>Paul

Ron

To Worried:<BR>It sounds like your cruise was not the vacation for you that it should have been.I note that you stated you were exhausted from waiting up and being worried about your 13 and 15 year old daughters. As a parent, had I been concerned, I would have found out where they were and what they were doing, ship or not.Many parents feel that when they shut the doors on the ship,they can forget the kids for a week.How many times do we read posts wherein some parent has written--"my kids had so much fun I never saw them"--Please don't think I'm saying this applies to you--but parents should supervise their kids on vacation or anywhere.Hopefully you will cruise again and hopefully you will have a better time.<BR><BR>To XXXXXXXX--<BR>No need to get on Paul's case--he is exactly right in what he said.At least he had something to say that was related to worrieds post.Paul may not be 100% right all the time, but he has a lot of helpful info.that he shares.<BR>Heck,even I can't be right all the time!!!

Lois

I agree with Ron. How can you blame a cruise line for anything that might happen if a 13-year-old, or a 15-year-old who is not unusually mature for his/her age, are unsupervised in a disco after midnight? We always have a wonderful time cruising, and my young teenagers are safe in bed by 10:30, to get ready for the next day's adventure. I sleep soundly too. "Worried" was not sleeping because she knew perfectly well she should not have allowed her daughters out partying alone at that hour. Perhaps the midnight "teen disco" is intended for rowdy older teens, who do not fit in with an adult crowd. Sorry, "worried", but it sort of serves you right if you returned from vacation needing to catch up on your beauty rest.

xxxxxxxx

This was a tongue in cheek comment. I just think that if Paul didn't make it seem like he is/was the definitive authority on cruises less people would pick on him.

Paul Therault

<BR>There are quite a few that are more experienced. They are just too frightened to post on this forum.<BR><BR>I will apologize in advance for the errors I make.<BR><BR>Happy cruisin'<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>

Linda

We got the walkie-talkies for our last cruise, and it was a great decision.

Ron

Linda:<BR>I just read your other post re/Kens question as to what line to go on--<BR>your last sentence was "we hardly see our kids"--Please don't misunderstand, but how do you supervise kids if you hardly see them? Scroll up and re-read these posts, especially mine, posted on 4-9.

tammera

Worried,<BR>You are making a terrible mistake by laying awake worrying about your children when they should be within your line of vision! My husband and I took my 14 year old sister on a carnvial cruise last year and she was never out our site, at least one of us anyway. That's why we take family vacations to spend time as a family, not to do our own thing while she does her and is exposed to things on vacation I would never allow her to be exposed to at home! Just as there are rapists and pick pockets at the local mall, city street etc... there are people with bad intentions at any resort or cruise ship. I never concern myself with crime statistics in relation to my sister's safety as I am confident she will also be escorted by either my husband or myself as is only appropriate!<BR><BR>Even when I travel with my twenty-something sister ( I am also in my twenties) we always operate on the buddy system, looking out for each other. Maybe you should rethink traveling with your teenagers.

Ron

Tammera, it is refreshing to read that someone uses good common sense re/ young ones on a trip ( or anywhere)---- rather than read about "kids having so much fun we never saw them".<BR>Thank you.