18 year old in teen program?

[mamakinrocks]

Hi! We are considering a cruise this summer...probably RCCL, as it is great for active teens. My son is 15, daughter is 17 and daughter's boyfriend is 18. Would the 18 year old be able to participate in any teen hangout areas/activities? They are all very much into sports. Any advice on accommodations for 2 adults and 3 teens? Thanks!

[gerif]

No, he will not be permitted in the teen area - and, actually, if you had a 15 year old daughter, I'm sure you wouldn't want her hanging with 18 year old young men. They, of course, can certainly spend time on the sports deck playing basketball, mini-golf, etc.

[SadieN]

Do not know about Royal but on many Carnival ships the counselors will allow an 18yo with High School ID into Club02.

[cb at sea]

Not many older teens actually use the club....they will find plenty to do without it!

[Jman1118]

Carnival will allow them in. I have heard mixed reports from royal, but I will be 18 at the time of my cruise in July and wish to use the teen club since I have no interest in the casino or the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

[mamakinrocks]

Thanks so much for your responses. I will have to contact RCCL to learn of their specific policy. I certainly can see all points of view. That being said, I am sure that this particular (recently turned) 18 year old would fit in fine with the other teens. Appreciate it!

[Jman1118]

Thanks so much for your responses. I will have to contact RCCL to learn of their specific policy. I certainly can see all points of view. That being said, I am sure that this particular (recently turned) 18 year old would fit in fine with the other teens. Appreciate it!

 

Please post your findings, I am curious as I will have only been 18 for about a month at time of sailing.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Not many older teens actually use the club....they will find plenty to do without it!

 

On our last cruise, my daughter was 13 and she and her new friends would meet up in the Remix room but often go hang out in the pool area or see the entertainment.

 

Right now she's 14 and is friends with boys two years older which does make me nervous. Fortunately she's let them know it's a friendship only (I check out her FB postings when she's not around). I would be really not too happy if she's hanging out with 18 year olds.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

Royal Caribbean will not allow the 18yo in the teen club. If as a group they are very into sports, they will meet plenty of other like minded kids their ages right there on the sports deck. other than going "into" the club, your group of kids will realize that there are typically many kids that dont even actually go in, but meet up outside the club. That is from our experience on board with same aged teens as yours.....

[Onessa]

On our last cruise' date=' my daughter was 13 and she and her new friends would meet up in the Remix room but often go hang out in the pool area or see the entertainment.

 

Right now she's 14 and is friends with boys two years older which does make me nervous. Fortunately she's let them know it's a friendship only (I check out her FB postings when she's not around). I would be really not too happy if she's hanging out with 18 year olds.[/quote']

 

I would agree that I would not have been thrilled with my 14YO hanging with an 18YO, but I have no problem with my 16YO hanging with her friends some of whom are 18YO (she's a sophomore, and many of her friends are upper-classmen).

 

I do think that there is a bit of a "disconnect" on most cruise lines where the programming does not serve the 18-20YO demographic very well. I've also not found many teens really hanging in the teen center.

[acetray]

I would agree that I would not have been thrilled with my 14YO hanging with an 18YO, but I have no problem with my 16YO hanging with her friends some of whom are 18YO (she's a sophomore, and many of her friends are upper-classmen).

 

I do think that there is a bit of a "disconnect" on most cruise lines where the programming does not serve the 18-20YO demographic very well. I've also not found many teens really hanging in the teen center.

I would agree, the 18-20 year range is not hit at all on a cruise ship, in fact I have talked to a few of them that feel very left out. They can not go into the club that there younger siblings can go in, and they can not go in the club that there parents can go in. and depending on who is running the program getting into the program even with student ID is very hit and miss. I would not count on it

[Sugar*Magnolia]

It is a very tough age on board.

 

There is usually a "Club 18-20" in the Cruise Compass (RCCL) if you look for it. Historically it isnt highly attended, but take a look for the first meet up, its usually around or right before sail away, and on ships with a promenade I recall it to be there. (I could be recalling this from a Winter cruise leaving from the Northeast, so look in the Cruise Compass for where it is). They also meetup that night, usually it is on the compass for around 10pm..? And it is at the club. My DH has many of our compass' scanned, I'll have to see if I can find a compass where it is mentioned and upload it...but there is nothing formal about it...nothing too organized.

[gerif]

I would agree, the 18-20 year range is not hit at all on a cruise ship, in fact I have talked to a few of them that feel very left out. They can not go into the club that there younger siblings can go in, and they can not go in the club that there parents can go in. and depending on who is running the program getting into the program even with student ID is very hit and miss. I would not count on it

 

That's not true - they certainly CAN go into the adult clubs (and the casino). They only adult thing they cannot do is drink alcohol.

[nothriver]

We are sailing HAL on our upcoming cruise and I've read that they hold several meet and greets for the older teens. I'm going to make sure my 18yr old son attends.

 

Do other lines offer this opportunity?

[onthelake]

We were on RCCL Brilliance of the Seas in Nov. DS turned 18 in mid-Oct. He was not allowed to join the teens even though there were only two brothers who were buddies of his. Ironic since DS is in final year of High School and buddy was from UK, out of school and working but still 17.

 

DS was not welcomed into the adult venues and was carded daily even though he did not drink or gamble. 18-20 are tough years in cruising ships with 'American' rules. We sailed on Cunard about a week after he turned 18 and he was treated as an adult everywhere.

[mamakinrocks]

Certainly many different and valid points. I have emailed RCCL and will let you all know what I hear back!

[angelndscz]

We are sailing with four teens. One who will be one month shy of 20, two who turn 18 next month and graduate high school June 2nd (we sail in July), a 14 year old, a 10 year old, and a 9 year old.

 

First the 18 year olds will NOT be using the teen clubs. I doubt any of the younger kids will use them either. Since this is a FAMILY vacation, I am not even really considering the "kids clubs" as an option unless the younger kid ask to go there, but I doubt they will.

 

Does anyone else not use the kids clubs on family vacations?

[Cruisin' Chick]

We are sailing with four teens. One who will be one month shy of 20, two who turn 18 next month and graduate high school June 2nd (we sail in July), a 14 year old, a 10 year old, and a 9 year old.

 

First the 18 year olds will NOT be using the teen clubs. I doubt any of the younger kids will use them either. Since this is a FAMILY vacation, I am not even really considering the "kids clubs" as an option unless the younger kid ask to go there, but I doubt they will.

 

Does anyone else not use the kids clubs on family vacations?

 

My daughter has been on 7 cruises so far and the only time she didn't use the kids' program was when she was 23 months -- one month too young for the Carnival program. Even then, there was a party for all the kids on the first night and even the younger ones were allowed as long as a parent was there. Since then, she was gung ho about the program. She would even ask, after waking up, if the "ship's school" was open. Now, for the last cruise she was 13 and it was her first time in the teen program. She met some 13 and 14-yr-old girls to hang with for the two weeks, often away from the Remix area. Sometimes we would see her with a group of teens sitting in a circle by a pool, just talking. She still keeps in touch via Facebook with two of the girls, and I believe the FB page for the whole group has continued on after the cruise for months and months.

 

So I wouldn't just assume that your younger kids won't want to take part. Let them go the first night and meet the other kids. If they want to go on sea days, why not let them?

[angelndscz]

My daughter has been on 7 cruises so far and the only time she didn't use the kids' program was when she was 23 months -- one month too young for the Carnival program. Even then' date=' there was a party for all the kids on the first night and even the younger ones were allowed as long as a parent was there. Since then, she was gung ho about the program. She would even ask, after waking up, if the "ship's school" was open. Now, for the last cruise she was 13 and it was her first time in the teen program. She met some 13 and 14-yr-old girls to hang with for the two weeks, often away from the Remix area. Sometimes we would see her with a group of teens sitting in a circle by a pool, just talking. She still keeps in touch via Facebook with two of the girls, and I believe the FB page for the whole group has continued on after the cruise for months and months.

 

So I wouldn't just assume that your younger kids won't want to take part. Let them go the first night and meet the other kids. If they want to go on sea days, why not let them?[/quote']

 

I never said I would not let them go, in fact I said I would if they asked but doubt they will. Basically I have been deployed for two years away from my family (only see them every 6 months for two weeks at a time) and this is a family vacation, and I have another three years living in a different state from my husband and kids. So family time is family time. My kids are very social and involved in sports programs. My daughter is at the cheer gym 4-5 nights a week with her friends. In addition, her cheer team travels throughout Florida staying in hotel resorts. They also go to Atlanta, DC, New Orleans for competitions and again she stays in resorts with her friends. All of our other family vacations we have spent together. My kids rather enjoy family time as a time to bond with family.

 

My oldest son just spent last week in Miami with his friends. The other teen boy travels with his boy scout group on many outdoor adventures (camping, hiking, white water rafting, fishing, etc). They spend time with their friends every weekend. A perk of living in Florida that they spend lots of time in Orlando, Miami, St Petersburg, Clearwater, etc. with their friends having fun. My daughter goes to a sleep away cheer camp every summer (Camp Woodward) which is a blast for her. My son goes to baseball and tennis camp every summer.

 

Yes, I undertand that it sounds odd to some that I am spending several thousand dollars for a family vacation in which I plan to spend it with my family and not be separated in different areas of a ship.This does not mean they will be stuck to my side 100% of the time. I like to go to bed early and the teens stay up late, so I am sure they will do the normal things that young adults 18-20 years old do in the evenings. I am sure they will still go off during the day here or there, but will return to meet us at our designated location and time for family time. My two little kids are usually stuck to my side when I am home because they want to be stuck to my side. I like to do the things they do. I will be in the pool with them and going down the slides with them. All of the kids get along great and like to spend time with each other as well. The two younger kids are very mature for their age and sometimes perfers to hang out with older kids than their own age group.

 

This is our first cruise but not our first family vacation. We have been on a winter skiing vacation, mountain vacations, beach vacations, then to random cities/countries (I especially like visiting old historical cities and places) Yes, I do expect the family to be together the majority of the time. Otherwise why would it be family vacation? If I wanted to spend time with just my husband, I would go on vacation with just him, it would be much cheaper than taking all 6 of us and boarding our dogs, etc.

[parrotthead]

I think it depends on how many teens there are...or something. I took my girls on RCI in 2006 (Alaska out of Van Couver) they were 17 & 18. The DID allow both sisteres in the teen program... ( as well as another girl who was 18 or 19 who was the cousin of another teen) l. No problem. Just ask (nicely) when you get onboard... on the phone they will tell you "no" but ask onboard.

Last month in CCL, I was told (regarding my youngerniece who traveled with me) that they had a "6mo leway"... (there were not many kids in her age group...and were going to let her swich age groups... )

[Cruisin' Chick]

angelndscz, the reason I responded to your post is that over the past seven or so years that I've been on CC, I have read posts from new cruisers who seem apprehensive about letting their kids participate in the kids' programs or feel the need to have siblings in the same age group.

 

So many of us want to reassure our fellow parents that it wouldn't hurt to bring their kids to the first night meeting -- maybe they'll find some kids that they click with. I don't have a shy kid (I was one myself) but sometimes it'll be good for the shy, quiet types to try out the activities. Especially for the younger ones who will eventually be in with 20 other kids when they start school.

[angelndscz]

angelndscz' date=' the reason I responded to your post is that over the past seven or so years that I've been on CC, I have read posts from new cruisers who seem apprehensive about letting their kids participate in the kids' programs or feel the need to have siblings in the same age group.

 

So many of us want to reassure our fellow parents that it wouldn't hurt to bring their kids to the first night meeting -- maybe they'll find some kids that they click with. I don't have a shy kid (I was one myself) but sometimes it'll be good for the shy, quiet types to try out the activities. Especially for the younger ones who will eventually be in with 20 other kids when they start school.[/quote']

 

After reading your post, I see your point. I have been members of online communities for at least 16 years and in the parent/family forums you do read posts from parents who are worried about their kids in a group settings. That is not the case with my kids, on the contrary they are very independent and are always out with friends and teammates doing fun things. Right now we are looking at family bonding as the purpose of the cruise.