18 yr old?

[RaiderFaninNM]

We are booked for a 10 day Journeys Dream cruise and this will be our sons 1st cruise without being able to go to the teen club. In the past he has seriously enjoyed the clubs and we never saw him unless it was dinner time, our rule. I am a bit worried that without a place for him, between 18-21, to meet others his age, if he will enjoy the cruise as much as he has in the past? For those who has taken 18 yr olds what was your experience, please do share, thanks!

[margoann99]

We took my niece last year. She said she wished she had brought a friend. She is shy so she didn't go looking for young adults to hang out with. I wish carnival had some meet and greets for that age.

[cccer]

When our son was 18, he spent a lot of time at the casino. Not to many kids his age there, but some. He also played a lot of basketball so he met some kids his age there. I believe there is a meet and greet for that age range but he did not go.

[Brentonsmom]

I had the same thoughts with my son this year. We cruised last month and he was 18--19 next week. He has been cruising every summer since he was 8 and always enjoyed the kids activities. It's just the 3 of us so nobody else to hang out with. We had 4 port days which were good because we always do things off the ship. On our sea days he slept late, played a lot of basketball and worked out in the gym. We watched a few movies on the lido and walked around and took pictures. One night we went to the casino since it was his first cruise where he could gamble. He tried his hand at the slots and watched some other games.

 

I really wish they had some type of meet-up for that age group at the start of the cruise.I even asked to be sure I wasn't overlooking it and there wasn't one. Just a get together to give them a "push" towards others their age would be nice and helpful. He enjoyed himself but I know not as much as he had in the past.

 

He is talking about bringing his girlfriend next year. Separate cabins of course!!!

Me and her in one and him and his dad in the other. It will be nice for him to have her to hang out with.

 

Tina

[BigB0882]

I really think Carnival drops the ball with the 18-20 group. They can't drink (or aren't supposed to) and there aren't any activities for them specifically. They can gamble but most 18-20 year olds don't have a whole lot of expendable income to throw away in a casino. Carnival should try to come up with a few things for them, even if it is just some meet up the first night so they can make some friends.

[RaiderFaninNM]

Thanks all for the replies, some of my thoughts exactly! PLENTY of activities for the under 18 but after that..............................................:confused:

 

 

Lucky for him he is very outgoing and never had a problem meeting people, I guess one place to meet up with others in his age group is the basketball court, did not know about gambling but it is his money.:D I wonder if I start a roll call for his age group and see what happens, I know there is already a roll call, so???

[xbatt8]

18 year olds are allowed in the nightclub. They can meet other like aged folks there as well.

 

Bob

[ohiogymrat]

Thanks all for the replies, some of my thoughts exactly! PLENTY of activities for the under 18 but after that..............................................:confused:

 

 

Lucky for him he is very outgoing and never had a problem meeting people, I guess one place to meet up with others in his age group is the basketball court, did not know about gambling but it is his money.:D I wonder if I start a roll call for his age group and see what happens, I know there is already a roll call, so???

 

They really don't like multiple rolls calls,so it would probably just get merged with the existing one.

 

My cousins that are 18-22ish all seem to find cruisers their age on the various social media sites. So they usually know a few before getting on the ship.

[tea4ular]

We took my niece last year. She said she wished she had brought a friend. She is shy so she didn't go looking for young adults to hang out with. I wish carnival had some meet and greets for that age.

 

This was our Ds experience as well. The nice part, for me, is I really like my kid so we hung out at the spa, gym, watched some movies, and had some nice mom/daughter time.

[springs741]

Check the Fun Times carefully. I know in 2013 on our Alaska cruise there was a meet and greet sort of event planned but poorly attended for the 18-20yr old .

 

As a parent we want our kids to enjoy however I will also share that by 18 there needs to be an understanding of consequences to choice. My 18 year old didn't attend the Meet and Greet and then found it difficult to meet up with others her age. I encouraged but didn't push the issue. Fortunately her older sister and she get along well and they paired up.

[Havingfun2010]

18 year olds are at a crossroad in life. They are leaving HS, going into the military, college, or work life. They are at the age, where they are changing their life. They are also at the age to decide for themselves if they want to go with you or not. Are you pushing them to go with you. Did they chose to go with you? They are now an adult, and will need to figure out how to meet people without the help of parents. Let them be. This is going to play out numerous times in the next year for them.

 

There are plenty of places on the ship for them to meet people, if they and I mean they decide.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

 

He is talking about bringing his girlfriend next year. Separate cabins of course!!!

Me and her in one and him and his dad in the other. It will be nice for him to have her to hang out with.

 

Tina

 

This made me laugh...I wouldn't want to room with my son's girlfriend and wouldn't hesitate to let them share a room. My adage is to treat kids responsibly and they will respond in kind. And I do think that having a "friend" along on a trip is the way to go for all single young adults. Who wants to travel alone with your parents, anyway, irregardless of what there is to do aboard ship.

[bakersdozen12]

This made me laugh...I wouldn't want to room with my son's girlfriend and wouldn't hesitate to let them share a room. My adage is to treat kids responsibly and they will respond in kind.

 

 

I agree with this completely. He is an adult, not a child, and should be treated like an adult. No reason why he can't stay in the same room with his girlfriend. Of course, if she's underage, that's a different story, but I would hope that he's mature enough to be dating someone his own age.

[PurdueChefAmber]

When I went at 18 years old, I just laid by the pool, swam, went to meals and shows with my parents, and made friends with people I met at dinner and around the ship.

[dvond]

We were and are in same situation, my daughter loved camp from the age of 4 to 17 for 14 cruises. She has now been on 2 at 18 and had a hard time meeting anyone. Others that age seem to bring friends, no one showed for meet and greet. Its a very hard age to cruise

[Bellicheck Brain Trust]

I agree with this completely. He is an adult, not a child, and should be treated like an adult. No reason why he can't stay in the same room with his girlfriend. Of course, if she's underage, that's a different story, but I would hope that he's mature enough to be dating someone his own age.

 

You gotta let them do their thing! Let them get a room and have fun!

[k2excursion]

You gotta let them do their thing! Let them get a room and have fun!

 

This made me laugh...I wouldn't want to room with my son's girlfriend and wouldn't hesitate to let them share a room. My adage is to treat kids responsibly and they will respond in kind. And I do think that having a "friend" along on a trip is the way to go for all single young adults. Who wants to travel alone with your parents, anyway, irregardless of what there is to do aboard ship.

 

Not everyone lives life the exact same way. Some people don't want to be "living together" too soon, even for a week. Some people want to wait until they're married for that. I will never criticize anyone for that choice. Of course, parents of adult children can't force this on them, but if it is their adult children's choice to not go there yet, there's nothing wrong with it. When I visited my girlfriend at her college one weekend back in the day, her roommate was not there, but i still stayed in a hotel. It was our choice, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Not everyone lives life the exact same way. Some people don't want to be "living together" too soon, even for a week. Some people want to wait until they're married for that. I will never criticize anyone for that choice. Of course, parents of adult children can't force this on them, but if it is their adult children's choice to not go there yet, there's nothing wrong with it. When I visited my girlfriend at her college one weekend back in the day, her roommate was not there, but i still stayed in a hotel. It was our choice, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

Of course it is an individual choice what an adult child and their parents choose...but it is also between said parent and said child. Post your decisions online and be prepared for people to agree or disagree with you for whatever reason.

[angco1962]

We were in the same situation. My daughter was 18 and 20 on our previous cruises. Not much for her to do to meet people. This was on Royal Caribbean so I guess Carnival fall short also in this age group. She spent a lot of time with us which was pretty rare for her since she is very social. Actually I loved spending time with her since it was pretty rare. :)

[RaiderFaninNM]

We were and are in same situation, my daughter loved camp from the age of 4 to 17 for 14 cruises. She has now been on 2 at 18 and had a hard time meeting anyone. Others that age seem to bring friends, no one showed for meet and greet. Its a very hard age to cruise

 

Bummer to hear, but you said they had a meet and greet, how did you manage to get that organized?

 

I just worry about him not meeting anyone on a 10 day cruise, that could really stink.............?

Edited June 18, 2015 by RaiderFaninNM

[Lerin]

I agree with this completely. He is an adult, not a child, and should be treated like an adult. No reason why he can't stay in the same room with his girlfriend. Of course, if she's underage, that's a different story, but I would hope that he's mature enough to be dating someone his own age.

 

That's what I was thinking

At 18 I would've been mortified to share a room with my boyfriend's mother! :eek: Not to mention, doesn't she want to spend time with her husband? :confused:

 

But back to the OP: as has been mentioned 18-20s have less options on board than any other group. You say your son is outgoing so hopefully he will find a group to hang out with. Good idea to post in the roll call

[steph7021]

I looked for a young adult meet and greet on our May cruise for my 19 year old daughter. No bueno. She was comfortable doing some things on her own like comedy. I think she was in decompress mode having just finished her first year of college. Right after high school when she was 18 we did a Med cruise on MSC. She was legal on this one of course. She didn't drink much (her money!) but it was easier to meet people in the clubs. I wish Carnival would have something for this age group! I think when cruising with a young adult child consider having them bring a friend even if friend pays their own way).

[RaiderFaninNM]

When I went at 18 years old, I just laid by the pool, swam, went to meals and shows with my parents, and made friends with people I met at dinner and around the ship.

 

Awesome, it's an odd age, not a child anymore but not legal....:confused:

 

Glad to hear it was not that bad for you, thanks!