College-Aged "Club" for 18-22

[californiacruisers]

When my son was 4 years old, he loved cruising because he loved the kids clubs. As he grew older, he loved the pre-teen club and then the teen club. But he turned 18 and now cannot attend the children's clubs. And he doesn't fit into the bar scene since he is too young to drink. He is in limbo.

 

If you have a child who loves children's clubs, your child will eventually meet this fate too. SO PLEASE HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

 

On our last cruise, I noticed that the Teen Club is open only during certain hours, e.g. 10a-12n, 2-4p, 6p onwards. I therefore suggest that the Teen Club facilities be open to college-aged people (18-22) whenever the Teen Club is not in session, e.g. 8a-10a, 12n-2p, 4p-6p. We could call it the College Club. The cost to the cruise ship would be very small since the College Club would be unhosted as its members are young adults who do not need supervision. College-aged people would be happy to use the Teen facilities such as video games, TV, table hockey, foosball, etc. Or just hang around with others their age.

 

All the cruise ship needs to do is to set up a few sessions introducing the Teen Club facilities and then let the College Club run itself. The introductory sessions and daily sessions would be advertised in the Daily Schedule of Activities. My son would have loved the College Club and it would have cost the cruise ship very little.

 

I made the above suggestion to the Teen Club staff when I was on our cruise. I also made the same suggestion on the feedback questionnaire at the end of the cruise. I will also send an email to the cruise line with the above suggestion. But I am only one voice and am easily ignored by the cruise bureaucracy. The cruise lines know about this problem but have no incentive to do anything unless they hear from customers.

 

If you have children who like the children's clubs, please add your voice before, during and after your cruise. Because this issue will eventually affect your child too. Please feel free to copy and paste anything I have written.

Edited June 14, 2019 by californiacruisers

[Essiesmom]

They tried to have activities for that age group on Carnival several years ago, and it wasn't well attended.  EM

[californiacruisers]

40 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

They tried to have activities for that age group on Carnival several years ago, and it wasn't well attended.  EM

 

Thanks for the response. I don't think organized activities will work for that age group. They are young adults so they prefer to pick and choose what to do.

 

What I am thinking of is something one might find in a rec room in any college dorm. Tables, chairs, TV, video games, foosball, air hockey, pool table etc. Unhosted, so people could wander in and out at will and do whatever they choose to do without any pressure to do anything. It turns out that all these amenities are there sitting around unused in the Teen Club when the Teen Club is not in session. All I am suggesting is that they unlock the doors when the Teen Club is not in session.

 

And even if usage is low, I think they should unlock the doors anyway since it's a minimal cost to the cruise ship. But I would think there are at least some college-age cruisers who might want to play some video games or foosball every now and then. And casually socialize with others their age.

Edited June 14, 2019 by californiacruisers

[jbethel11]

1 hour ago, californiacruisers said:

When my son was 4 years old, he loved cruising because he loved the kids clubs. As he grew older, he loved the pre-teen club and then the teen club. But he turned 18 and now cannot attend the children's clubs. And he doesn't fit into the bar scene since he is too young to drink. He is in limbo.

 

If you have a child who loves children's clubs, your child will eventually meet this fate too. SO PLEASE HELP DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

 

On our last cruise, I noticed that the Teen Club is open only during certain hours, e.g. 10a-12n, 2-4p, 6p onwards. I therefore suggest that the Teen Club facilities be open to college-aged people (18-22) whenever the Teen Club is not in session, e.g. 8a-10a, 12n-2p, 4p-6p. We could call it the College Club. The cost to the cruise ship would be very small since the College Club would be unhosted as its members are young adults who do not need supervision. College-aged people would be happy to use the Teen facilities such as video games, TV, table hockey, foosball, etc. Or just hang around with others their age.

 

All the cruise ship needs to do is to set up a few sessions introducing the Teen Club facilities and then let the College Club run itself. The introductory sessions and daily sessions would be advertised in the Daily Schedule of Activities. My son would have loved the College Club and it would have cost the cruise ship very little.

 

I made the above suggestion to the Teen Club staff when I was on our cruise. I also made the same suggestion on the feedback questionnaire at the end of the cruise. I will also send an email to the cruise line with the above suggestion. But I am only one voice and am easily ignored by the cruise bureaucracy. The cruise lines know about this problem but have no incentive to do anything unless they hear from customers.

 

If you have children who like the children's clubs, please add your voice before, during and after your cruise. Because this issue will eventually affect your child too. Please feel free to copy and paste anything I have written.

As an older teen myself, I would love to see this implemented. However, as @Essiesmom said it wouldn't be well planned, and especially the fact that half of that age group could drink alcoholic beverages, it would be a little dangerous as the other half who can't drink would be tempted to engage in riskier behavior.

[californiacruisers]

15 minutes ago, jbethel11 said:

As an older teen myself, I would love to see this implemented. However, as @Essiesmom said it wouldn't be well planned, and especially the fact that half of that age group could drink alcoholic beverages, it would be a little dangerous as the other half who can't drink would be tempted to engage in riskier behavior.

It would not be any more dangerous than what is happening at every single college in the country, where students who can legally drink fraternize with students who cannot. And whether or not there exists a College Club on the ship, 18-20 year olds are hanging around with 21-22 year olds everywhere on the cruise ship with exactly the same temptations. In fact, it would be safer in the College Club since alcohol would be banned in the College Club.

 

But if this is still thought to be a problem, then the College Club could be restricted to 18-20 year olds.

Edited June 14, 2019 by californiacruisers

[jbethel11]

2 minutes ago, californiacruisers said:

And whether or not there exists a College Club, 18-20 year old are hanging around with 21-22 year old everywhere in the cruise ship with exactly the same temptations. In fact, it would be safer in the College Club since alcohol would be banned in the College Club.

See, but the whole purpose of a club is to be a social area, and as a teen, I rarely hang out there. I meet friends there, and then we explore the ship. So actually, I think it would just be a feeding ground for the 21-year-olds and 22-year-olds to meet up with 20-year-olds, 19-year-olds, and 18-year-olds to socialize easier.

 

6 minutes ago, californiacruisers said:

But if this is still thought to be a problem, then the College Club could be restricted to 18-20 year olds.

That sounds like a better idea.

[MMsteffey]

18-20 is a very awkward age to be cruising with family.  I appreciate your idea, our experience with our kids has been that their cruise experience hinges on who they meet onboard, they finally have the freedom to roam the ship, and the last place they would go is in a staffed lounge for underage teens.  An unstaffed lounge is, unfortunately, subject to vandalism.   There is a wide range of maturity, mischievousness, and entertainment choices at that age,  the program really cannot “run itself”.  

 

Yes, our 19 yo daughter was very frustrated that most of her new friends could hang out in the bar and dance club, and she could not, and most of the people her age were obnoxious boys who would not stop hitting on her.  Very few girls 18-20 on board that week, luck of the passenger draw.  Bad cruise for her, we wish we made a different vacation choice. A lounge and activities would not have made a difference.    

 

While I think it would be great if a cruise line would accommodate mature and  trustworthy teens like your son on a case by case basis, a dedicated lounge and activities program is very unlikely.  

[mjkacmom]

On NCL they had nightly meetups for young adults, my 19 and 20 year olds went and made a lot of new friends. I thought most of the bars on ships let most ages in, and the casino is 18+. The sports deck is another great place to meet others, either pick up games or activities scheduled by the ship. My young adults ended up meeting as many new people as their teen siblings.

[californiacruisers]

3 hours ago, MMsteffey said:

An unstaffed lounge is, unfortunately, subject to vandalism.   There is a wide range of maturity, mischievousness, and entertainment choices at that age,  the program really cannot “run itself”.

Agreed. But I don't think a full-time presence is necessary. All that would be require would be for a crew member to pop in a few times per hour for a minute or two to make sure that nothing crazy is happening. The crew member could even be on their way to other duties. That is what I mean by "minimal" costs.

[californiacruisers]

50 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

On NCL they had nightly meetups for young adults, my 19 and 20 year olds went and made a lot of new friends.

That's a great idea; unfortunately there were no such meetups on our cruise. Questions: (1) where were these meetups held, (2) were they hosted or unhosted and (3) what activities, if any, did they have at these meetups? At our cruise, the only meetups they had were for LGBT people; these were unhosted and held at a bar.

 

I am effectively suggesting meetups for young adults to be held at the Teen Club when the Teen Club is not in session. This takes advantage of the amenities (video games, foosball, etc) to encourage casual interaction.

[californiacruisers]

3 hours ago, MMsteffey said:

a dedicated lounge and activities program is very unlikely.

Agreed. There is no space for a dedicated lounge, which is why I suggest using the Teen Club when the Teen Club is not in session. And activities require manpower, which is why I suggest that the College Club be unhosted with occasional checks by the crew to make sure nothing crazy is happening.

[gerif]

On 6/14/2019 at 12:33 PM, MMsteffey said:

18-20 is a very awkward age to be cruising with family.  I appreciate your idea, our experience with our kids has been that their cruise experience hinges on who they meet onboard, they finally have the freedom to roam the ship, and the last place they would go is in a staffed lounge for underage teens.  An unstaffed lounge is, unfortunately, subject to vandalism.   There is a wide range of maturity, mischievousness, and entertainment choices at that age,  the program really cannot “run itself”.  

 

Yes, our 19 yo daughter was very frustrated that most of her new friends could hang out in the bar and dance club, and she could not, and most of the people her age were obnoxious boys who would not stop hitting on her.  Very few girls 18-20 on board that week, luck of the passenger draw.  Bad cruise for her, we wish we made a different vacation choice. A lounge and activities would not have made a difference.    

 

While I think it would be great if a cruise line would accommodate mature and  trustworthy teens like your son on a case by case basis, a dedicated lounge and activities program is very unlikely.  

Not sure I understand. The age limit for the disco is 18. No age limit for bars at all (she would just have to drink virgin cocktails). She could have easily hung out with her new friends if she wanted. Sometimes they just want to complain. 

[jbethel11]

On 6/14/2019 at 12:33 PM, MMsteffey said:

18-20 is a very awkward age to be cruising with family.  I appreciate your idea, our experience with our kids has been that their cruise experience hinges on who they meet onboard, they finally have the freedom to roam the ship, and the last place they would go is in a staffed lounge for underage teens.  An unstaffed lounge is, unfortunately, subject to vandalism.   There is a wide range of maturity, mischievousness, and entertainment choices at that age,  the program really cannot “run itself”.  

 

Yes, our 19 yo daughter was very frustrated that most of her new friends could hang out in the bar and dance club, and she could not, and most of the people her age were obnoxious boys who would not stop hitting on her.  Very few girls 18-20 on board that week, luck of the passenger draw.  Bad cruise for her, we wish we made a different vacation choice. A lounge and activities would not have made a difference.    

 

While I think it would be great if a cruise line would accommodate mature and  trustworthy teens like your son on a case by case basis, a dedicated lounge and activities program is very unlikely.  

I agree. Post-pubescent male teens can be tough to deal with, especially considering their brains are not fully developed yet.

[MMsteffey]

Cruise lines vary, our Caribbean cruise was strictly 21 in the bars and disco, enforcement by uniformed crew at all entrances. No5 allowed in, even with parents.  We tried.  

[cb at sea]

Most young adults don't want to do "organized" activities....that's why they don't do it.  

[cabin4three]

It already exists -    Princess Cruises have  Club 1820.

 

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/onboard-experience/kids-and-teens/

Just for Young Adults — Ages 18-20

Imagine a secret society. Only those invited can join. Guests ages 18-20 will learn the secret handshake and be granted a special code word to unlock an exclusive list of Club1820 events made just for them. No parents, no little siblings, no official hosts.

[jbethel11]

37 minutes ago, cabin4three said:

It already exists -    Princess Cruises have  Club 1820.

 

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/onboard-experience/kids-and-teens/

Just for Young Adults — Ages 18-20

Imagine a secret society. Only those invited can join. Guests ages 18-20 will learn the secret handshake and be granted a special code word to unlock an exclusive list of Club1820 events made just for them. No parents, no little siblings, no official hosts.

No control...lol jk

[bfgood2]

Hi all,

 Thinking of planning a family cruise at Christmas to include a 16 yr old and a 19 yr. who've never cruised before. 19 yr old is an athletic nerd. & 16 yr old is chatty athlete. Is this a bad idea? Don't want to turn them off to cruising.... Suggestions please.

[jbethel11]

3 minutes ago, bfgood2 said:

19 yr old is an athletic nerd.

By that, do you mean he/she is an athlete and a nerd, or a nerd about athletics?

 

4 minutes ago, bfgood2 said:

16 yr old is chatty athlete.

He/she will find a lot of friends in ClubO2

[bfgood2]

A nerd and an athlete!

[jbethel11]

21 minutes ago, bfgood2 said:

A nerd and an athlete!

Well, if he/she finds another athlete, he/she will click with them instantly. Likewise, if he/she finds another nerd, he/she will click with them instantly. Best of both worlds, I guess?

[bfgood2]

From what I read on this thread, I'm not too worried about it. the girls get along well and will probably explore and hang out together. There will be plenty to explore and investigate, I think. Thanks for your response.

[ed01106]

On 6/14/2019 at 3:39 PM, californiacruisers said:

Agreed. But I don't think a full-time presence is necessary. All that would be require would be for a crew member to pop in a few times per hour for a minute or two to make sure that nothing crazy is happening. The crew member could even be on their way to other duties. That is what I mean by "minimal" costs.

Wouldn’t even need that. Just a couple of cameras (Which are omnipresent on most cruise ships) to prevent vandalism/fights. 

[ed01106]

3 hours ago, Heymarco said:

There’s always the casino, it’s open to 18+ on a cruise.

A very expensive way to entertain ones self.

[junglejane]

We've been through this issue. In theory I like the idea of an 18-20 year old meet and greet, that could be announced in the patters or in an announcement left in the staterooms of those in the target age range. The latter method might be safer to avoid any potentially predatory older people from trying to crash the meet and greet. Just give them an opportunity to meet others in that age range and let them take it from there.

 

I can remember one Princess cruise where there was a "Club 1820" announcement but that was when my oldest was still 17. On her next cruise I looked in vain for an announcement and tried leaving messages for the cruise director about it, and never heard a word back. The "secret society" "secret handshake" stuff sounds too juvenile and is probably a turnoff.