Young adult cruisers activities, entertainment?

[Chat Noir]

We really like the Infinity itinerary for Alaska next summer, but are a little concerned about young adult activities/entertainment. We're traveling with two 18 year olds who really enjoyed Sapphire Princess' activities, such as dancing lessons, talent shows, quiz shows, etc. last year for our NB Alaska trip. I do not like Princess' RT Alaska next year, however.

 

Another second alternative is the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas... but the itinerary is just a bit off from what we'd like.

 

Will Celebrity Infinity be too 'subdued' or for young men in this age group? They are not partiers by any means, but would like good entertainment and activity filled days. And a nice young adult hangout of an evening. Table tennis goes a long way with them, too.:)

 

Please don't recommend Carnival... btdt. :rolleyes:

[rebeccalouise]

Alaska is so beautiful- I can't imagine that your teens won't like the trip on any ship.

I have been on Millenium, Constellation (sister ships to Infinity) and they are just wonderful cruise vessels. I have also sailed on Sapphire and felt this ship was inferior to Celebrity Millenium Class ships.

As for eighteen year olds in general- no line has youth activities for kids older than 17. They will have to make their own fun. Yes, there is table tennis and a disco etc. If you are going in summer- then there will be plenty of other teens for them to hang out with. Just came back from a Caribbean cruise on Constellation with an 18 year old girl- she had plenty of fun!

[celbercrz333]

Just about every cruise ship has a video arcade and an internet cafe. Need I say more? I know, you'd like them to do something else besides being online, but at least you can fall back on those 2 things. Have you gone to the Celebrity site and read up on your ship?

[Chat Noir]

Thanks for the replies. I have read up on the ship. I really am looking for input from those who've cruised with young people, and if they enjoyed the Infinity.

 

What threw me off was the fact that the Celebrity rep I spoke with said the Infinity experience is more for relaxing than activities/entertainment offerings, and suggested Royal Caribbean. I prefer the Infinity itinerary. It's all a trade off, but I'm in the decision making process of what it is exactly I want to trade!:)

 

I don't want to spend $$$ for them to need to resort to the internet for entertainment. Not only that, they, too, want good quality entertainment while onboard, some things that interest them, rather than something that's easily available at home.

 

Both love Alaska, we all do, but we also want to love the ship were on!!!

[rebeccalouise]

I think that if the Celebrity rep recommended Royal Caribbean- that might be better for 18 year olds. My friends were on Royal Car. this winter with their 17 and 14 year olds and loved it. I do think that there are going to be more teens on Royal. The problem with 18 is that they are barred from the youth programs and are too young for the disco and adult bars.

As for on board activities. Celebrity is going to be more of a make your own fun experience. There is basketball, table tennis, bingo and ballroom dancing. There are going to be games played but for the most part the Alaska cruise is going to be an older crowd and there won't be the Caribbean vibe of pool games and things of that nature.

Honestly, my 18 year old has little interest in cruising at this point. He prefers to be where the action is and that isn't with Mom.

[kitty9]

To be honest, if your older teens really need to be entertained all day and night, Celebrity isn't the best choice. It's more laid back than RCCI or Carnival and doesn't have the choices that those lines provide. No teen disco and no other activities planned specifically for teens older than 17. Yes, they do have some dance lessons and they do play games like trivia, but still, it's not like what they provide on RCCI.

 

But again, Alaska cruises are very port intensive and you really don't have to worry about needing hours of entertainment for the kids. The ports and active tours should be enough

[rebeccalouise]

I think Alaska is the best cruise out there. One thing I have noticed on:) all of my Alaska cruises is that the hot tubs are not full of people. Your boys will have them to themselves- which is really nice. If there is sports trivia- they will have a blast doing that. My 12 year old wiped up the competition!

There are so many excursions and things for them to do- Kayaking, fishing, helicopter rides, etc. I can't imagine they won't have fun and they have each other- they'll meet girls and you probably won't see them at night.

Enjoy your cruise and don't worry about it too much.

[Chat Noir]

Thanks much.

 

These boys don't need 'entertained day and night'. Just a bit of reassurance they'll enjoy Celebrity.

 

My son will be on his 3rd Alaska cruise, the friend, his second. They both love Alaska, and can hardly wait to go back. Both loved Princess last year, but my son didn't care for Carnival they year before. We've never sailed anywhere but Alaska, so they don't have elsewhere as comparison.

 

We're planning some fabulous port excursions... just looking to get a feel for the onboard experience.

 

Perhaps Celebrity isn't the line for us. We want to relax and enjoy Alaska, certainly, but also want some onboard fun with the games/trivia/natualist talks, etc. From responses, seems that's pretty limited, though you do give me a bit of hope, rebeccalouise!:)

 

Thanks again. I think I'll give up planning Celebrity at the moment.:(

[hmg]

We have two sons, currently 18 and 21, and have been cruising with them for five years. We've never sailed in Alaska, but have taken several Caribbean cruises and three to Europe. Most of our cruises have been on Celebrity and never have either of the boys complained about a lack of things to do on the ship. They actually prefer X over Princess, HAL and even RCCL--go figure!

[DancerOT]

Hi - We went on Infinity last year to Alaska - it was my parents, my grandmother, me (I was 24 turned 25 onboard), older brother (26), younger brother (just turned 19 the day before embarkation). We all had an excellent time. Having only done Caribbean cruises we had never really tried any of the onboard entertainment except for nighttime stuff. This cruise we went to bingo, dance lessons (too easy for me - but I have been dancing for 18 years), my brothers went to the sports art auctions, the naturalist, and other things. No there are no rock climbing walls or ice skating rinks, but I dont recall ever having much down time. It was the first time on a cruise that I did workout - normally I am too busy laying out by the pool. At night, we went to the large shows including the Celebrity singers and dancers, the best ventriloquist act I have ever seen, comedians, etc. as well as the casino and the nightclub. The nightclub was much tamer than it is while cruising to the Caribbean. So really, it just depends what your sons enjoy and what appeals to them. My brothers and I all had a great time and would love to go back to Alaska and yes, we would go back with Celebrity. Whatever you decide, enjoy!

[Chat Noir]

Thanks to you all for giving me answers from a young person point of view! Perhaps my concerns that Celebrity is too 'old' for young adults is unfounded.

[Drew B]

Perhaps Celebrity isn't the line for us. We want to relax and enjoy Alaska, certainly, but also want some onboard fun with the games/trivia/natualist talks, etc. From responses, seems that's pretty limited, though you do give me a bit of hope, rebeccalouise!:)

 

The naturalist lectures on Summit in Alaska were EXCELLENT!

 

I think that during the day, they'll be fine, and the biggest problem will be late at night. Celebrity doesn't seem to have the nightlife that Carnival or RCCL have. And what there is (casino, lounge type bars, etc.) is geared to an older crowd. The disco always seemed pretty dead... If they're content to go to bed at 11:00 or 11:30, then I don't see ANY problem at all.

[Chat Noir]

The naturalist lectures on Summit in Alaska were EXCELLENT!

 

I think that during the day, they'll be fine, and the biggest problem will be late at night. Celebrity doesn't seem to have the nightlife that Carnival or RCCL have. And what there is (casino, lounge type bars, etc.) is geared to an older crowd. The disco always seemed pretty dead... If they're content to go to bed at 11:00 or 11:30, then I don't see ANY problem at all.

 

Thank you! They don't need late night... too much to get up for to see and do early in the mornings, especially on port days! :) Some trivia, a fun talent or quiz show, a comedian or two, and a few dancing lessons during the day or early evening for the week. And a few people their age... they'll be happy. Princess was pretty tame by midnight, and they had a wonderful time.

[glenneagle]

We have been on 8 celebrity cruises with our children .AGES 22,25 ,27.They have never complained about lack of entertainment but they do prefer rcc,which we have been on 5 times with them.There are more people their age and the disco is used at night, where as on celebrity the disco is empty at night and they spend more time in the casino.enjoy your cruise.