No charging on minors medallion/room key.

[Miss Lizzie]

First thing, please don't beat me up or give me parenting advice. I got that on another site. 

I just want to know how to make my grandchildren's medallion basically just a room key. I don't want them buying anything. I did this on Disney and RCL before. 

Now I am also thinking about one of those drink package for them, so they can go get mocktail, juice etc. If I have the medallion turned off for charging, can they still get that stuff. I'm thinking it won't let them. But if I get them unlimited drinks then why would I care if they can charge. What else could they buy. 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@Miss Lizzie No parenting advice here! There has to be a way to do this! The medallion is supposed to be an all service situation, but you could possibly make sure your credit card is not associated with their medallions, essentially blocking any extra purchases from processing. The beverage package should be linked to the medallion regardless. Have you contacted Princess Cruises about this? The line should be able to confirm those details with you. 

[Miss Lizzie]

2 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@Miss Lizzie No parenting advice here! There has to be a way to do this! The medallion is supposed to be an all service situation, but you could possibly make sure your credit card is not associated with their medallions, essentially blocking any extra purchases from processing. The beverage package should be linked to the medallion regardless. Have you contacted Princess Cruises about this? The line should be able to confirm those details with you. 

I only chatted with someone and they just said tell your grandchildren not to charge anything. I told him I would call the real customer service, but I haven't done that yet. 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@Miss Lizzie You can certainly tell your grands this, but kids don't always listen. There could be an accident too. My kids happened to be playing in the arcade and accidentally scanning their card around their neck. It's pretty important to have that payment feature deactivated for children. I think there is a way to block minors from having that feature, but it may have to be done once onboard. I would go to guest services first thing once onboard. They should be able to take care of that.

[Miss Lizzie]

5 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@Miss Lizzie You can certainly tell your grands this, but kids don't always listen. There could be an accident too. My kids happened to be playing in the arcade and accidentally scanning their card around their neck. It's pretty important to have that payment feature deactivated for children. I think there is a way to block minors from having that feature, but it may have to be done once onboard. I would go to guest services first thing once onboard. They should be able to take care of that.

I was told there would not be a problem onboard. But if Princess cruise wants more people who have minor children they better get in line with Disney and Royal Caribbean. Heck even Great Wolf Lodge you can have the band turned off for purchase when you checked in. 

[3Sisters]

@Miss Lizzie I'm glad there won't be a problem onboard. It's as simple as not linking a credit card to the medallion. Let me know how it goes once onboard. DCL and RCL are used to doing these requests on the daily. I feel like Princess Cruises gets less of them. The guest service area onboard has the power to make your request happen. You shouldn't get any pushback about it. Like you said, the line needs to be more inclusive to younger guests to keep up with competitors. 

[LukeJ]

It seems a bit silly to have that on medallions. Surely it's irresponsible of these cruise lines to even allow the children to have that option. I've seen things like that happen all too frequently . Children don't truly understand the consequences. All they know if they want something then they will just scan. There is no awareness of the massive bill they will receive at the end of the day. 

[3Sisters]

@LukeJ The medallions are a super cool device. They are really practical for all guests, including children. I think Princess Cruises should make it easier for guests to not allow children to not have unlimited spending opportunities. The line should have a way to confirm this to guests before they board. If only the medallion had GPS tracking for your children, that would be an incredible added feature. Don't you think? There is an option for the children not to have a medallion at all, but what's the fun in that?

[LukeJ]

They certainly look super cool. I would like that to be a mandatory for all cruise lines. I'd wear that no problems. I think the idea of the GPS is a great idea. I have no idea how the idea would work, but the concept is brilliant.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@Miss Lizzie I hate when I get parenting advice! It's worse when it comes from a total stranger. This should be a must for Princess Cruises. I know the line isn't used to seeing lots of kids, but your request should be easily granted. The medallion has many cool features beyond payment that your grands could certainly enjoy! I can see why you want them to be able to have the device! It's a fun feature of the line.

@LukeJ In due time, I think this GPS system would happen for all of those devices. With bluetooth, the possibilities are endless. When I was a teen, I was aloud to roam the ship freely certain times of the day with a walkie talkie. Unfortunately, those are banned by many cruise lines now. It was such an effective way to communicate without cell phones. Now many ships have free messaging within the cruise line's app which helps out a lot. 

[LukeJ]

Oh I despise that people give parenting advice to total strangers. It's so demeaning. And I always find sometimes, not always, that the parents that give advice on how to raise your children are the worst type of parents where their own children are just the worst. It does get to me. I've had a few words in the past about that, not recently as my son is a well behaved polite boy, but when he was a baby, they would dish out advice on what we should do and almost demand we do it the way they did it as they have experience and almost mock us the way we were doing it. And all I had to say was and have them turn out like your children. Children who never slept through the night. Children that would constantly scream the place down and misbehave at home and in the community. No thank you. My wife and I have been extremely lucky in all those aspects, where we had a routine for him to follow and is the most thoughtful and polite boy you will ever come across. One of the reasons why we never had a second child, as there is no way we would be lucky twice, the second would be feral no doubt.

[3Sisters]

@LukeJ It's hard to have good kids these days! I invest 24/7 into child rearing my children as best I can, and I still struggle with their behaviors. No kids is perfect, and you have to show parents and grandparents grace. Unsolicited advice doesn't help any. On cruises my kids get more sugar and less sleep. They are wild, tired, and oftentimes overstimulated and unruly. Kids are unregulated without their routines and typical habitat. I advise showing support rather than judgement to parents! No unsolicited advice please!

[LukeJ]

@3Sisters true true. I don't go around telling people how to deal with their children. I focus on bringing my own child up right and making a respectable young man. Manners and morals and chivalry have pretty much gone these days. A lot of children are spoilt brats with an absolutely appalling attitude and no respect whatsoever. Old fashioned ways still can work if everyone tries, but they don't. We have gotten lazier and just allow our children to go feral. I see that in the schools, as teachers have any authority taken away from them. One stopped a student from misbehaving, the child swore at the teacher and phoned his mother to which the parent yelled and swore at the teacher and threatened them with violence. What a disgusting parent.

[3Sisters]

@LukeJ I'm glad you agree! It's true that much of today's parenting style is just what is easiest and convenient. From ipads to unlimited sugar, parents will do whatever is easiest to get their children quiet and sitting still. The problem is, this is all horrible for child development. Children need to explore to develop their brains! Technology is addicting. Parents want to vacation with their kids but not engage with them. What's the point in that? Yes, it's not as relaxing, but don't have kids if you aren't willing to put the time and energy into raising them the best you can. Parents are overworked and tired, but that's not the child's fault.

[LukeJ]

It's a horrible roundabout situation really. My wife and I are guilty sometimes for allowing him to play on screens so we can get things done. But he always has to come off for a few hours so we can do things together, or if he wants to play or read etc. when on the cruises, I was surprised how many children were in the children's club, as parents wanted to relax by themselves. My child didn't want to even try it, not even for an hour. Unfortunately the way the world is, we all have to keep busy and work in order to live, so it's a complex life.

[3Sisters]

@LukeJ Screens have their benfits, but it's so much better to use them seldomly if at all. My kids tend to use them only when I need them quiet, like  on the airplane. There are times, like if I need my kids to sit still for a doctor, when screens are practical. I don't agree that kids should use them everyday, but isn't that a double standard? I uses my phone far too often, for so many things actually. It's a tool, a distracting tool, but I'm on it a lot. If I'm on a screen so often, why can't they be? My oldest struggles with this concept. That's right. You can't do it all. If you can't do it, I guess a screen often becomes second best.

[LukeJ]

There are perks for screens I agree, the ability to keep entertained and also depending what they play, there is a form of education involved too. Yes we are all guilty for using our phones too often, however I use mine for banking, shopping, work, so it's a really useful tool in that respect. The negative side is that it's stunting children in my opinion. Hardly anyone goes out to play as much anymore and enjoy life. There are far too many sports clubs around that don't have teams anymore, simply because the children don't want to get involved. Especially when it begins raining, there are no shows.

[3Sisters]

@LukeJ Yes, the educational games are actually pretty good! The thing is the kids will start with that and then get sucked into their tablets. The whole cell phone tablet thing is wild when you think about it. Everyone has one and it's like an expectation/necessity. It's true tools are useful, but people don't know what to do without them anymore. I totally agree about these devices stunting children. Creativity and social skills are lacking because kids don't really engage with other like they used to. Going outside with friends is a must. It was such an important part of my childhood, and I want it for my kids too.