Taking teens on Alaska cruise

[digger69]

We're on the June 7th Grand sailing out of San Francisco. Along with our 14 year old daughter, we're taking along one of her friends.

 

Other than the teen club activities, they're asking what other interests there will be for them (other than the obvious Alaskan ports).

 

For those of you who have taken your teens on the Alaskan itineraries, how did they get along? What kept them busy on sea days and evenings?

[donaldsc]

We're on the June 7th Grand sailing out of San Francisco. Along with our 14 year old daughter, we're taking along one of her friends.

 

Other than the teen club activities, they're asking what other interests there will be for them (other than the obvious Alaskan ports).

 

For those of you who have taken your teens on the Alaskan itineraries, how did they get along? What kept them busy on sea days and evenings?

 

We took our 10 year old granddaughter on a Princess cruise combined w a 1 week DIY land trip. When we boarded the ship, she took a look at the teen club activities and pronounced them all stupid.

 

She said that she was there to see AK and to enjoy the dining room and not to spend time doing silly activities, playing games in the kids club and eating pizza and junk food like that. When things happened, she was up on deck with us. It was her choice and we let her do what she wanted to do.

 

That is one smart kid.

 

DON

[digger69]

We took our 10 year old granddaughter on a Princess cruise combined w a 1 week DIY land trip. When we boarded the ship, she took a look at the teen club activities and pronounced them all stupid.

 

She said that she was there to see AK and to enjoy the dining room and not to spend time doing silly activities, playing games in the kids club and eating pizza and junk food like that. When things happened, she was up on deck with us. It was her choice and we let her do what she wanted to do.

 

That is one smart kid.

 

DON

 

Yep, smart kid! Our daughter did the same on the last two Caribbean cruises we took. We're of course leaving it up to her and her friend as to whether they spend any time in the teen club or not.

I was asking because as this is Alaska and not the sunny Caribbean, the days spent tanning by the pool aren't an option.

[galsmiley]

My daughter has never been one for the teen activities on the ship. We did Alaska when my daughter was 14 and when she was 19. The trip was her choice at age 14. It was my parents, my daughter and I on this trip. She really enjoyed the ports. At sea days she hung out with my parents and I. When she was 19; my boyfriend, my daughter, her boyfriend and I went together. We had the same experience of hanging most of the time together whether at port or on the ship. It probably depends on the child.

[caribill]

We're on the June 7th Grand sailing out of San Francisco. Along with our 14 year old daughter, we're taking along one of her friends.

 

Other than the teen club activities, they're asking what other interests there will be for them (other than the obvious Alaskan ports).

 

For those of you who have taken your teens on the Alaskan itineraries, how did they get along? What kept them busy on sea days and evenings?

 

For teens of that age, there are often few teen club activities that interest them. They will usually go the first evening to meet others in their age group and then spend time during the cruise doing various activities with their new friends around the ship.

 

Activities during the day can range from lectures about Alaska to trivia to sports such as ping pong. Activities during the evening include entertainment (production shows, comedians, musicians, etc) and TV game show takeoffs with audience participation.

Edited December 18, 2016 by caribill

[cowgrrl]

My son was in the teen age group when we did Alaska and he loved it so much that we had to practically beg him to spend family time with us.

[sherryf]

We took our 10 year old granddaughter on a Princess cruise combined w a 1 week DIY land trip. When we boarded the ship, she took a look at the teen club activities and pronounced them all stupid.

 

10 year olds aren't in the teen club, but in Shockwaves. The activities are very different.

 

For teens of that age, there are often few teen club activities that interest them. They will usually go the first evening to meet others in their age group and then spend time during the cruise doing various activities with their new friends around the ship.

 

I agree that most teens go the first night to meet others and then mainly use it as a place to connect and then do their own thing. That's what my son did when he was 15. He went to a few organized activities, such as Casino Night, but otherwise found new friends and spent time on the sports court, at the pool, or just hanging out at the buffet eating all the time.

 

My daughter, on the other hand, went to the teen club on the first night and deemed the other teens to be "too normal" and never went back.

 

My teens/young adults have always found plenty of things to do on their two Alaskan cruises. Oddly enough, they really enjoy trivia and afternoon tea. They spend lots of time at the pool (yes, in Alaska!) and they eat like Hobbits all week.

 

Looking forward to taking them all again this summer, to celebrate my "baby" graduating from high school!

[LucyR.]

First of all you need to buy walkie talkies so you can give one to your daughter and the other one you keep to stay in touch with them.

 

Teens like to explore things and places on their own.

 

Buy them a soda card and a ice cream card.

 

Buy computer time on the ship for them to stay in touch with their friends back home.

 

Teens like to watch t.v. and order room service a lot. lol.

 

You can force them to attend the first meeting of the Teen Club so you can get a t-shirt that says "OFF LIMITS".... they were free when I took my two teens to Alaska. They will make some friends to hang out at the Buffet most of the time. There is also a FUN ARCADE for teens that only teens can enter with top security for the Teens.

 

Set some rules like they must have Dinner with you every evening so you can have some time with them.

They have to stay together at all times for their safety reasons.

Like go together to the public restrooms.

 

Not allowed to run up and down stairs. I have seen some serious accidents when teens and adults do that.

 

Tea time is fun because of the snacks for them.

 

Alaska is so beautiful. My grandkids were 16 yrs. old and 17 yrs.old when I took them to Alaska years ago.

 

At the first port which was Ketchican sp I said to my teens that it is American port so I allowed them to run around by themselves in that port with their walkie talkies. They had the best time ever.

They had fun running around on their own at every port.

 

BUT YOUR DAUGHTER is only 14 yrs. old and too young to be running around in port with her friend by themselves.

You must keep an eye on them at all times.

I would never take a teen friend along to keep your daughter company.

 

GOING on a cruise with your 14 year old daughter is a time to bond even closer with your daughter as a family. Her friend could become ill or get in a accident or create problems for you.

 

Cruise ships are like Hotels where you have to supervise them to keep them safe from themselves or strangers.

I am sorry to show you the dark side of taking a best friend along who is not related to you.

Some people will say that I should be positive but bad things can happen to good people too. Maybe bad things can happen one in a million cruisers.

[Coral]

We're on the June 7th Grand sailing out of San Francisco. Along with our 14 year old daughter, we're taking along one of her friends.

 

Other than the teen club activities, they're asking what other interests there will be for them (other than the obvious Alaskan ports).

 

For those of you who have taken your teens on the Alaskan itineraries, how did they get along? What kept them busy on sea days and evenings?

 

I think this is great you are bringing a friend along! I think the teens will have no problem staying busy and they will have each other to have fun with.

 

Last year they had puppies in the piazza in Skagway. In Juneau at the end of the day, they have Libby Riddles come aboard the ship. Her talk is great for people of all ages. You may have the teens read "Race Across Alaska" before the trip to get interested in Alaska.

 

There is a naturalist onboard who will do lectures on most sea days. These people can either be great speakers or boring. Most of the time, they are good to go to and learn about Alaska.

 

I wouldn't bother with walkie talkies. A waste of time IMO and they never really worked well.

 

14 year olds most likely have cell phones and can be reached in port. I wouldn't hesitate to let responsible 14 year olds in Skagway and Ketchikan by themselves. Even Juneau after an excursion. 14 year olds can be very responsible. The OP knows these kids the best and can act accordingly. Most of the people in Ketchikan and Skagway will be fellow cruisers.

Edited December 19, 2016 by Coral

[LucyR.]

First of all you need to buy walkie talkies so you can give one to your daughter and the other one you keep to stay in touch with them.

 

Teens like to explore things and places on their own.

 

Buy them a soda card and a ice cream card.

 

Buy computer time on the ship for them to stay in touch with their friends back home.

 

Teens like to watch t.v. and order room service a lot. lol.

 

You can force them to attend the first meeting of the Teen Club so you can get a t-shirt that says "OFF LIMITS".... they were free when I took my two teens to Alaska. They will make some friends to hang out at the Buffet most of the time. There is also a FUN ARCADE for teens that only teens can enter with top security for the Teens.

 

Set some rules like they must have Dinner with you every evening so you can have some time with them.

They have to stay together at all times for their safety reasons.

Like go together to the public restrooms.

 

Not allowed to run up and down stairs. I have seen some serious accidents when teens and adults do that.

 

Tea time is fun because of the snacks for them.

 

Alaska is so beautiful. My grandkids were 16 yrs. old and 17 yrs.old when I took them to Alaska years ago.

 

At the first port which was Ketchican sp I said to my teens that it is American port so I allowed them to run around by themselves in that port with their walkie talkies. They had the best time ever.

They had fun running around on their own at every port.

 

BUT YOUR DAUGHTER is only 14 yrs. old and too young to be running around in port with her friend by themselves.

You must keep an eye on them at all times.

I would never take a teen friend along to keep your daughter company.

 

GOING on a cruise with your 14 year old daughter is a time to bond even closer with your daughter as a family. Her friend could become ill or get in a accident or create problems for you.

 

Alaska is the best experience ever!

[donaldsc]

First of all you need to buy walkie talkies so you can give one to your daughter and the other one you keep to stay in touch with them.

 

That is all that we need - teenagers w walkie talkies. Have you checked out any of the walkie talkie threads on CC. People get almost violent about them.

 

DON

[Bill B]

Don't make them go to the teen club... they'll probably meet some 15-year-old boys. :eek:

[Casey12]

There are some great excursions for teenagers in Alaska but some can be very expensive. I would have the teens look at the excursions and try to save up for what they want. If the goal is to just walk around in pier ---- they will be disappointed in Alaska.