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  • On Mar 14, 2009
    Susan from GA Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi. I have a daughter that is 12 and is terrified of taking a cruise. Is there something I could tell her that could change her mind about this. Everyone else in the family has been wanting to cruise this year for mine & my husband's 25th anniversary.

    You could tell her that cruising is one of the safest modes of travel but I’m sure you’ve already ventured down that road of reasoning.

    Try some safety facts:

    There are 20 lifeboats on the Disney ship which hold 150 passengers each.

    Each member of the crew must undergo drills once per week and private drills are done in smaller groups as well. Lifeboats are frequently lowered and tested. 

    There is a mandatory Boat Drill before the ship leaves Port Canaveral. Everyone on board participates. While donning a life jacket might be disconcerting, this exercise should give your daughter confidence that the crew takes safety at sea very seriously. All passengers will be asked to return to their staterooms prior to the 4:00 p.m. drill to retrieve their life jackets and locate their Assembly Station. The seriousness of this exercise is usually reassuring to cruisers that are hesitant about sailing.

    Even during a hurricane, a cruise ship is a safe place to be as the Captain can steer away from the storm. State-of-the-art technology for navigation, weather conditions and communications make sailing much safer now.

    For child-friendly reassurance, try the following:
    Take a road trip to Jacksonville, FL which is possibly the closest cruise ship port from your home town. Seeing an actual ship can help calm nerves. In addition, I would order the free planning kit to become familiar with the ship. If your daughter is fearful of water, take swimming classes. And most of all, let your daughter talk to other children her age who have been cruisers on the Disney Cruise Line. My 9-year old son would like to tell her “we practice the lifeboat drill, then have lots of fun and the Captain does a great job!”
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Meet the Panelist: Kimberly, Tennessee

I am a stay-at-home mom with a 12 year old son. I thrive on planning vacations, especially to WDW. Inspiring families to vacation at Disney with a memorable itinerary and budget-saving tips is extremely rewarding for me. Learn More About Kimberly

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