Teen age difference problem

[cici133]

So I will be traveling on Allure OTS with my friend. I will be 18 an he will only be 16. Is there anything fun planned through the ship that we could do together? Its kinda sad because everything is separated.

 

The teen club is 15-17 and I won't be allowed in there, and everything else is 18 and up and he won't be allowed there... as far as I know.

 

Or is there anything one of us could get into where they don't check your age?We would like to be able to go dancing together. I think one of the last nights in Blaze they have the 15-17 year olds come in. Are 18 and ups allowed there too?

Thanks.:confused::(

[EmpressofPurple]

cici, ask (or have an adult over 21 in your travel party ask) at the teen club about admission for yourself as someone over 18 to be with your 15-17 year old friend at the dance. The age restrictions do have a reason; they don't want older people coming in to dance with the kids! (Creepers...)

 

However, my son and daughter were three years apart in age, and my experience was that the staff would use their good judgment to make exceptions so those in the same travel party (and very close in age) could attend events together. (I seem to remember they even sometimes let them into each others' kids age group if they were less than a year outside the posted age range.)

 

Other than that, it is VERY tough (especially for the 18-20 year olds) to find age-group appropriate activities on board! For 15-17, definitely attend the welcome event in the teen club, that's a great way to meet friends to hang out with for the rest of the cruise, whether in the club or outside... for 21+ there's the casino, disco, bars, etc., etc. -- but for 18-20, it's definitely a challenge!

 

This was something I wrote about on my comment cards nearly every time we cruised when my kids were in that age range, encouraging the cruise lines to create meet-and-greet events for the 18-20 year olds (and I think they have instituted some of those). It's more difficult when you break across age ranges, as you and your friend do at 16 and 18.

 

However, you can always find things to do together! Once when we were traveling with my son's friend who was under 21, my son could go to the bars, disco, casino and his friend could not -- but they enjoyed the shows, the sports court, Ping-Pong, ice skating, mini-golf, bingo, arcade, shore excursions, pools, scavenger hunts, gym, etc., etc., etc.!

 

If you want to meet other people your age onboard, try posting to your cruise's roll call, and ask if anyone else is traveling with teenagers. Maybe you can get to know each other before you board, and meet up on the cruise.

 

Good luck and have a great cruise with your friend!!:D

[jbitzer]

This is why my 18 year chose to stay home instead of cruise with us. He says the 18-20 programming is lacking. If they had a set young adult section- for these older high school-younger college student students it would be so much better.

 

Sure you can do trivia, pool, games, excursions, gamble, eat, but the actual programming is not there for this age group.

 

RCI is missing on a lot of opportunity to create an inclusive environment for this age group.

[COMBOY]

Well, at 18 years you are now an adult and you now do adult stuff other then drink alcohol. The 18-20 crowd is definitely at a disadvantage, but really...there is so much to do and see on the ship and I'm sure you two can find things to do together. RCI does want adults in the teen center and underage kids in the disco where there is liquor because of the risk involved. You might ask the staff in the teen club politely and see if they will make an exception since you are traveling with your friend. If they say no then accept it. Believe me there are going to be a time in your life when you wish you were 18 again. Enjoy it while you can.

[pfm18]

On my recent cruise there were nightly "club 18-20" meet and mingle events, once you met once you could arrange a meeting time every night. Standard night for us was a bar, then the nightclub, perhaps a little casino time too.