High School Graduation Cruise

[Anonymous]

OP - are you sure all the other parents/kids can pay. We have one kid in college now (special needs so lots of expenses) and another about to launch next year, probably at a full freight private. I doubt we will qualify for financial aid. We're already laying out at least $40K a year in after tax money for child no. 1 and tuition for child no. 2 without any aid will be $70K a year if he gets into his dream school. We also need a $26K new roof. And our credit cards are maxed out. Graduations are an expense as well. If some mom in the class suddenly came forward with this idea now I'd have to say no to DC because we are just too burdened tryiing to push two kids through college plus take care of elderly parents while trying to save (not happening) for retirement. As it is, once DC is in a college, I'm going to be searching for scholarships then getting a second job just to help pay for all of this. A suggested trip like this is a nightmare for me because I would have to say no and then DC (who doesn't have a job) will sulk for weeks. Also, I don't want the liability concerns of being a chaperone on such a trip. It sounds like fun - too much fun. We've already had to say no to many things DC wants and usually DC 1 and 2 are cool with the fact that they don't have cars and are grateful we are paying for them to go to college without loans but dangling a trip like this in front of DC 2 during the high stress period just before graduation would be a last straw for me. Also, in our school, very few parents could afford such a trip. The suggestion would not be well received.

[Anonymous]

High school grads will be 18.

Fwiw, I'd get cabins for 3: mom, daughter and grad (whose mom can't come).

Everyone needs passports...and ideally a credit card.

[Anonymous]

I would encourage my child not to go because:

I think it's too much responsibility for too few adults.
I think it encourages a sense of entitlement.
I think it's unfair to kids and their families that can't afford it that are invited.
I think cruise ships are dangerous for unsupervised kids/young adults.
I think there are lots of other things that my child should be doing with the 2K+.
I think you will constantly be fighting kids trying to drink.
I think cruises are boring if you can't drink.

How about renting a big house by a lake that has activities? Or the beach? Or a spa weekend?

[Anonymous]

I think this is a nice idea. I assume OP is not inviting the whole school but friends of her child. She will know if those friends parents have the interest and means to allow their children to go. That being said you will have some problems with the cruise lines if you only have 2 adults. You will need more adults for that many teenagers. I would recommend connecting rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids reached adulthood, and I think 18 is an adult, they went on vacations for which they could afford to pay and plan themselves - unless visiting Grandma.

And what is your point? That you're a giant stick in the mud?

Not the PP but giving your kids everything in life without earning it, including a 3-5K vacation just for getting an education won't help your child in life. But I guess you also will give your child a car, pay for their college education, clothes, food, five them a credit card and more.... Not everyone thinks being a good parent means spoiling their kids and not teaching them to work/do for themselves. Heck, most kids don't even work during high school or college anymore. They are too "busy" and school is so "tough" says Mommy and Daddy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would encourage my child not to go because:

I think it's too much responsibility for too few adults.
I think it encourages a sense of entitlement.
I think it's unfair to kids and their families that can't afford it that are invited.
I think cruise ships are dangerous for unsupervised kids/young adults.
I think there are lots of other things that my child should be doing with the 2K+.
I think you will constantly be fighting kids trying to drink.
I think cruises are boring if you can't drink.

How about renting a big house by a lake that has activities? Or the beach? Or a spa weekend?

Because the moms would have to interact with their kids and not be able to booze it up all the time themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids reached adulthood, and I think 18 is an adult, they went on vacations for which they could afford to pay and plan themselves - unless visiting Grandma.

And what is your point? That you're a giant stick in the mud?

Not the PP but giving your kids everything in life without earning it, including a 3-5K vacation just for getting an education won't help your child in life. But I guess you also will give your child a car, pay for their college education, clothes, food, five them a credit card and more.... Not everyone thinks being a good parent means spoiling their kids and not teaching them to work/do for themselves. Heck, most kids don't even work during high school or college anymore. They are too "busy" and school is so "tough" says Mommy and Daddy.

What a bunch of hyperbolic bullshit. Yeah, I take my kids on vacation, buy them clothes, and save for their college education. That's what a parent does, I have no idea when my high schooler would work--several hours of homework every night, so yeah, it's "busy."

[Anonymous]

I'd suggest getting a bunch of moms together and strive for a 1 mom for every 2 or 3 grads, then divvy up into rooms.

I'd suggest a short cruise (3 or 4 nights) out of Miami to the Bahamas (not Mexico). Or, leave from Baltimore and go to Bermuda. Little chance of any sort of girls gone wild activities.

There won't be any drinking on the ship for 18 year olds, and most cruises make you get back on the ship by 4 or 5pm. Chaperone any daytrip excursions to the bitch (duh).

This need not be expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you sure all the other parents/kids can pay. We have one kid in college now (special needs so lots of expenses) and another about to launch next year, probably at a full freight private. I doubt we will qualify for financial aid. We're already laying out at least $40K a year in after tax money for child no. 1 and tuition for child no. 2 without any aid will be $70K a year if he gets into his dream school. We also need a $26K new roof. And our credit cards are maxed out. Graduations are an expense as well. If some mom in the class suddenly came forward with this idea now I'd have to say no to DC because we are just too burdened tryiing to push two kids through college plus take care of elderly parents while trying to save (not happening) for retirement. As it is, once DC is in a college, I'm going to be searching for scholarships then getting a second job just to help pay for all of this. A suggested trip like this is a nightmare for me because I would have to say no and then DC (who doesn't have a job) will sulk for weeks. Also, I don't want the liability concerns of being a chaperone on such a trip. It sounds like fun - too much fun. We've already had to say no to many things DC wants and usually DC 1 and 2 are cool with the fact that they don't have cars and are grateful we are paying for them to go to college without loans but dangling a trip like this in front of DC 2 during the high stress period just before graduation would be a last straw for me. Also, in our school, very few parents could afford such a trip. The suggestion would not be well received.

Why in the world are you writing a dissertation about someone else's plans? It's not about you. Very strange post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school grads will be 18.

Fwiw, I'd get cabins for 3: mom, daughter and grad (whose mom can't come).

Everyone needs passports...and ideally a credit card.

Not all high school grads are 18. I was 17 when I graduated. Two of my kids were 16 when they graduated.