Cruising with 18 yr old DS. Will he hate it?

[Almost Packed]

We are trying to plan a family cruise. DS will just have turned 18 the month before, but will be Sr. in High school.

 

We also have my DS-6 and DD-21 traveling with us.

 

Will my DS-18 hate it? (imagine "cruise" and "hate" in the same sentance:eek:)

 

I'm just concerned about activities for him. Will he be too old for the ship activities...will they even allow him to participate? (teen stuff)

 

Thanks for your advice and help. This will be my kids first cruise as we have had to wait for DS to turn 18. (not able to get permission from ex)

[Stircrzy]

Just my own experience...

from 18 until 21 my daughters did not choose to cruise.

 

My nephews still love cruising, they're 21 and 24.

[YB Nrml]

We took our 2 on their first cruise when they were 16 and 18. 18 is too old for the teen clubs but TRUST ME, he will have a blast. You probably should set a time each day to meet him, like 6pm dinner we all eat together, or else you may never see him until the end of the cruise. There will be so many others his age to meet and hang out with and tons of things to do. You will all have a great time!

[Normal 1]

Won't hurt to check with the Club 02 director when you get on board. Depending on numbers on-board, they may allow him to participate since he is barely 18 and still in high school.

 

Last March, the Club 02 Director was allowing those within 6 months of the cut-off to participate...even a barely 18 boy whose sister was also in Club 02.

 

They do make exceptions at time. If not, hopefully his sister will allow him to tag along with her. He will be permitted in the lounges, etc. You may want to set expectations with him regarding drinking....Particularly while in port as 18 is the legal age in many of them.

 

He is likely to have as much fun as he sets his mind to have!!

[cb at sea]

I can't imagine ANYONE "hating" a cruise...but if he did, it would certainly be the last one I paid for!

He'll do whatever adults do (as he IS an adult!)..he'll look for girls, he can gamble, he can drink in almost every port, but not on the ship!!!

He'll spend his time pretty much doing whatever you and the other adults do!

[seashinesunshine]

He will have a great time! Yes he can't drink on the ship, not sure if he can go into the lounges, but there is so much more to do than just drink alcohol. Cruising is a great family experience!

[LynneL]

My kids have been cruising since the were young & always loved it - regardless of their ages. The only time it was a little tough was when the youngest was 17 and the others were 19 & 22. He was not allowed in casino (sometimes he went in with the other 2 & no one said anything), no club (they seemed strict on age there)...staff really didn't get too picky about not being 18 for the adult comedy shows at night.

 

If your 18 yr. old & 21 yr. old get along, he may have waaaay more fun that you think he will - lol.

[CanWeGoYet?]

If he still enjoys other types of family vacations, I see no reason why he wouldn't enjoy a cruise. The room situation is smaller than on a land based vacation, but if he is even minimally a self starter - he'll find the other dining options & other kids on board his own age. At 13 my son had discovered the 24 hour pizza - he loved the ship & his new found friends so much he probably resented the imposed "sit with Mom" at mealtime rule.

[MrCo9]

The cougars at the pool will love him.

[Almost Packed]

The cougars at the pool will love him.

 

Honestly, I was a bit concerned about that lol...as he is a handsome, buff and smart kid. Since he will be less than a month since he became "legal" I'm still concerned...

 

but I know he's not gonna want to hang out with Mom.

[Almost Packed]

I can't imagine ANYONE "hating" a cruise...but if he did, it would certainly be the last one I paid for!

He'll do whatever adults do (as he IS an adult!)..he'll look for girls, he can gamble, he can drink in almost every port, but not on the ship!!!

He'll spend his time pretty much doing whatever you and the other adults do!

 

I honestly did not know that he could gamble in the casino. SCORE!!!!!!!

 

I think he'll be fine then...until he runs out of money :eek::o (first night lol)

 

lol.

[mrpayroll]

If he has an outgoing personality, and meets friends easily he will do fine. If he is quiet and shy, he will not have a good time...If he says he doesn't want to go, don't force it because then YOUR cruise will be HE**.

[CanWeGoYet?]

I honestly did not know that he could gamble in the casino. SCORE!!!!!!!

 

I think he'll be fine then...until he runs out of money :eek::o (first night lol)

 

lol.

 

When I cruise with my son, his sail & sign account is still linked with mine even though he is now a young adult. I made sure the pursers desk knew to not let him keep running charges after the amount in it was depleted. Half way through a 2 week celebrity cruise I was alarmed to see he had blown through a pretty large amount of onboard credit gift coupons & had racked up a balance beyond that. So now after he has blown the funds in his account, he can't keep making charges. Don't want trouble getting off the ship when it's time to disembark!

[Almost Packed]

When I cruise with my son, his sail & sign account is still linked with mine even though he is now a young adult. I made sure the pursers desk knew to not let him keep running charges after the amount in it was depleted. Half way through a 2 week celebrity cruise I was alarmed to see he had blown through a pretty large amount of onboard credit gift coupons & had racked up a balance beyond that. So now after he has blown the funds in his account, he can't keep making charges. Don't want trouble getting off the ship when it's time to disembark!

 

 

Thanks for the heads up on that. So I can set a limit as to how much he can charge? I have never traveled with kids (even young adult kids lol) it's been dh and myself.

[CanWeGoYet?]

I don't know if they will do a strict $ limit but you can try. I just told them don't go above the amount he had in his account - he started out with $ from onboard gift coupons I had bought him - birthday present, stocking stuffer etc.

[azrayne]

Traveling in Feb with my 2 sons, 20 (2 months from 21) and 19. I'm paying for the cruise and giving them a $200 cash limit on their S&S account. Excursions I've paid for.

 

Food of the boat, souvieners, anything above $200 they are responsible for. My older son is excited about taking his brother and teaching him all he learned in the casino on his first trip.

 

I'm sure they will find some others and ladies to hang out with. Dinner every night is mandatory.

[Schoifmom]

I have an 18 year old DS. Take it from me

 

18 yo male + girls in bikinis + sun = a happy 18 yo ;)

[Warm Breezes]

My DS(16) loves cruising. DS does not go to Club O2 and he finds plenty of other stuff to do. In fact your DS would have the advantage over my DS since he could go to the casino (my DS would love to try his hand at Texas Hole Em):D. I wouldn't worry at all about him finding fun things to do.

[jkjmt]

Honestly, I was a bit concerned about that lol...as he is a handsome, buff and smart kid. Since he will be less than a month since he became "legal" I'm still concerned...

 

but I know he's not gonna want to hang out with Mom.

 

 

 

He's going to want to hang out with MOM??????

 

 

If he's anything like my daughter......he'll get out and meet a bunch of kids his own age and will say hi/bye to you as he is going from activity to activity. After the first day, most of the 16/17 year olds don't hang in the kid's club anyway......he can meet them out and about........

[Almost Packed]

He's going to want to hang out with MOM??????

 

 

If he's anything like my daughter......he'll get out and meet a bunch of kids his own age and will say hi/bye to you as he is going from activity to activity. After the first day, most of the 16/17 year olds don't hang in the kid's club anyway......he can meet them out and about........

 

 

I know he's NOT gonna want to hang out with me lol...

[Tbay-eh]

Traveling in Feb with my 2 sons, 20 (2 months from 21) and 19. I'm paying for the cruise and giving them a $200 cash limit on their S&S account. Excursions I've paid for.

 

Food of the boat, souvieners, anything above $200 they are responsible for. My older son is excited about taking his brother and teaching him all he learned in the casino on his first trip.

 

I'm sure they will find some others and ladies to hang out with. Dinner every night is mandatory.

 

I guess I am now going to ask a really dumb question - why are you giving them $200 each at their ages - once my kids were 16 they put their own money down but then I am a hard A**

[Almost Packed]

I guess I am now going to ask a really dumb question - why are you giving them $200 each at their ages - once my kids were 16 they put their own money down but then I am a hard A**

 

I will be giving my adult child(ren) spending cash too. My 21dd is a college student. she still lives at home and pays low (very) low rent and pays for her school and car. my ds18 will still be in high school, and he is focussed on school now, and works to earn extra $'s but has no regular job (by my choice) it is a family vacation for us. we are paying for it and will give the kids an X amount of money. anything they spend above that is on them.

 

I am a reasonable mom...and I was one who had my own car bought and paid for in full before I turned 16 (by myself) I believe in teaching financial responsibility. That doesn't mean my kids will not "earn" their pay before they get it.

 

I don't believe there is anything wrong with giving your kids a "gift". $200 sounds reasonable for a week long vacation for gifts, rentals, t-shirts etc. if you have it to give.

 

I admire you for teaching your kids financial responsibility...but sometimes it's okay to give a gift too.

[Tbay-eh]

I will be giving my adult child(ren) spending cash too. My 21dd is a college student. she still lives at home and pays low (very) low rent and pays for her school and car. my ds18 will still be in high school, and he is focussed on school now, and works to earn extra $'s but has no regular job (by my choice) it is a family vacation for us. we are paying for it and will give the kids an X amount of money. anything they spend above that is on them.

 

I am a reasonable mom...and I was one who had my own car bought and paid for in full before I turned 16 (by myself) I believe in teaching financial responsibility. That doesn't mean my kids will not "earn" their pay before they get it.

 

I don't believe there is anything wrong with giving your kids a "gift". $200 sounds reasonable for a week long vacation for gifts, rentals, t-shirts etc. if you have it to give.

 

I admire you for teaching your kids financial responsibility...but sometimes it's okay to give a gift too.

 

I don't know how to quote part of a post but I do agree it is okay to give a gift too - my problem is that I was older when I had our children was much more hard a** and strict than my counter parts and younger parents. I can honestly say that it was our children who said that they had money to put on their own SS cards as we were paying for the cruise and excursions. I just tend to give so much more and some times too much responsiblity over to adult or near adult children and I don't always think of back ground circumstances. Both of our children have always worked part time jobs since they were 15 and both are University grads but not all kids are able to handle school and work and I tend to forget this. Sorry

[MamasGoneCruisin]

We just got back yesterday. my 15 yo dd went and my 19 (15 days from 20 yo) ds went. Dd walked in the teen club and back out within 30 seconds. I felt very odd about letting her run around too much by herself. Not because I didn't trust her, but because she looks amazing in a bikini and based on the looks I got as a 40 yo road weary/worn out travel guide/fun planner/take care of everything mom, I wasn't about to send her to the lions den...lol

I don't think you have those worries with ds's.

 

Like mentioned before, he can gamble onboard and can drink in port. Depending on your sons appearance, he will probably be able to drink onboard also. Ds was asked many times if he wanted a drink, maybe it's just cause I am mom, but I do NOT think he even looks close to 21. Depending on your relationship with ds, seeing them drink in port brings mixed emotions. I didn't approve of it, BUT he can go fight for his country if he chooses so I feel he is old enough to decide if he wants a drink.

 

I would definately discuss this issue before leaving home, I just didn't think about it. That way it takes the awkwardness out of the moment and doesn't "ruin" the cruise if you don't agree on the issue.

 

As far as gambling, he was very excited to gamble for the first time, and after a few wins, he had a huge loss. Which I was afraid would ruin the trip for him. But he did good with it. He had actually allotted so much money for each night of the cruise to gamble with and he pretty much stuck to it.

 

He was old enough to go in the disco, which really seemed to be a happening place most of the time, but he rarely went. Dd couldn't get in when we tried walking in to check it out.

 

Adult comedy show is adult!!! Much cussing and sexual reference, but I really did think it was funny, dd went to that with us, sat by me. She and I talk openly about that kinda thing so I felt it was ok to take her with me. Ds went with us and sat on the other end of the table away from me, I think that helped make it comfortable for everyone....lol

 

I agree dinner w/family should be a must. Just to get the family time in.

 

We took plenty of cokes, I paid for the kids cruise and excursions and one picture of their choice. Ds paid for his gambling and port drinking. I paid for dd's expenses as long as she asked me first. Our total for 4 people for a 5 day cruise in ob expense was $80 for bingo that we all played together throughout the cruise, $5 for baby powder, $7.01 for dh's first beer when we walked on board, $20 for raffle tickets to win a free cruise, $4.84 for a milkshake, then my tips. I didn't limit the kids spending by setting an amount on S&S card, but I think that is dependant on your level of trust of your kids judgement. I admit at times I wondered if I was going to be shocked with ds's spending in the casino, but it turned out to be $0.

 

Hope you have a great time!

[NS-Cruiser]

:DWe are just recently back ( a couple of weeks now) from our second cruise, and our kids first cruise. DD (15) loved it, and DS (19) also, surprisingly loved it.... Lots for him to "look at" (Girls, bikinis, hot sun, you do the math on that one) Where we liv in Canada, 19 is legal drinking age, and he has his own apartment at college, so guess what, he drinks here! While we were away, the Florida drinking laws were in effect since we sailed form Tampa, and it was not legal (on the ship) for him to drink alcohol. So when we were in Cozumel, my DS and I had our first father / son beer together. lol that's what vacations are about - nice "family" memories... That night when we got back on the ship it was Lido Deck Party night, so I bought a bucket of beer, and he and I shared that... so there are ways around it if you and he feel the need.

 

Our son did not partake in much "Youth" stuff at all. in fact he and his sister spent ost of their "free time" following DW and I around to what ever we were going to do.... Their choice, not ours.

 

So it all depends upon the kids, as to what they will chose to do.

 

A vacation is only what you make of it, if you want to have fun you will, if you want to be moody and nit have fun.... you will not have fun. Talk things over with your DS before you go, and you will both have a fantastic time.:)