Today's mega-ships have been likened to floating cities, and like any city, bad things happen from time to time. We don't mean to scare you. Many people never have a problem, but we've all read the news reports about theft, fights and sexual assaults that occur onboard -- not to mention bad behavior that has led to falls and physical injury.
Most adult travelers know that by staying alert and using common sense, it's pretty easy to have a good time without incident. But traveling with the kids -- especially teens -- can be a whole different story. Raising kids to use good judgment is the first step in keeping them safe onboard, but throwing in a few rules they have to follow only keeps them safer.
Cruise Critic reached out to our members to come up with a few rules parents might want to consider implementing on their next family sailing.a Cruise
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1. Never go into someone else's cabin or invite someone into yours.
2. Never accept a drink from someone else or leave yours unattended.
It's sage advice for cruise travelers of any age, really -- and it doesn't matter if you're drinking juice, soda or booze. If a kid is skeptical about this one, one Cruise Critic reader suggests slipping Tabasco in your teen's drink when their back is turned to prove how quickly a drink can be doctored.3. Check in on a regular basis.
It's up to parents to determine how often their kids check in and whether they must do it in person, or via walkie talkies, cabin-door white boards or designated notepads. Check to see if your cruise line offers a cell phone app that enables phone-to-phone messaging onboard the ship.This one goes both ways -- kids need to know their parents' plans and where they can find them, just as parents need to know where they'll be. If those plans change, it's both parties' responsibilities to alert the other.4. You must be in the cabin by your curfew.
5. No horseplay.
We all know how groups of kids or teens can egg each other on to do crazy stunts. On an 18-deck ship with open balconies a hundred feet above the sea and multi-story atriums, and pools unattended by lifeguards, daredevils can find themselves in danger. Impress on your kids that horseplay is not allowed. No climbing on railings (or furniture near railings) or from one balcony to the next, no leaning out windows or over the edge of the ship, no diving into pools and no racing across slippery pool decks or down steep flights of stairs. Parents and grandparents can help by modeling good behavior.6. Adult areas are off limits without parental supervision.
That means bars, discos and especially crew-only areas. If the teen lounge isn't happening enough, there are plenty of other public, high-visibility areas for fun.7. Use the buddy system.
8. Stay sober.
While some cruise lines allow kids 18 or older to drink, no line OKs the hard stuff for kids and high school-age teens. Cruise Critic does not promote underage drinking and would like to remind our readers it is illegal.Alcohol consumption by minors frequently leads to a whole host of problems. But if parents plan to turn a blind eye to underage drinking onboard (or think their kids might break the rules and acquire booze on the sly), they should at least make sure their teens know not to overdo it and to have a sober friend watching out for them.Corollary rule: One parent should be sober at all times as well. The last thing kids need is two parents unable to make smart decisions or assist them if they're in trouble.This list is fairly strict, and we can see parents thinking: How in the world will I get my independent kids to mind these rules? The answer is simple. If they break even one rule, they will suffer the most horrible punishment imaginable: the next 24 hours spent entirely by their parents' sides.For more on cruise ship safety:
Are Cruise Ships Safe?Tips for Staying Safe on a Cruise ShipWhat to Expect on a Cruise: Cruise Ship SafetyCruise Ship Pool Safety TipsUpdated October 10, 2019
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