1st Cruise Questions - Teens

[coachrains]

This is our 1st cruise on we will be on Carnival Inspiration on March 31st out of tampa, stopping at Caymen islands and Calica. I have 3 teens, 12, 13, 17, suggestions for teens, excursions, etc.

 

the 13 year old is 2 months away from 14 and wants to go to teen club, will they allow and is that a good idea? supervision? closing time?

 

Any suggestions on saving money on softdrinks, or anything else for that matter?

 

Dolphin Encounter - do you suggest booking that your self, any recommendations? Transportation?

[caribbean dreams]

This is our 1st cruise on we will be on Carnival Inspiration on March 31st out of tampa, stopping at Caymen islands and Calica. I have 3 teens, 12, 13, 17, suggestions for teens, excursions, etc.

 

the 13 year old is 2 months away from 14 and wants to go to teen club, will they allow and is that a good idea? supervision? closing time?

 

Any suggestions on saving money on softdrinks, or anything else for that matter?

 

Dolphin Encounter - do you suggest booking that your self, any recommendations? Transportation?

 

Carnival is usually pretty strict on the age of the kids and will not let them go into the next age catagory, the Camp for ages 12-14 also has many things for them to do but U have found most of the time, they find a bunch of new friends and hang out at the arcade, the arcade is open latenight so it will be up to you to keep an eye on him and give him a cerfew if you don't want him in that late.

 

YOu can buy 1 soda card and share it but you would have to go to different bars to order, (only i drink at a time per card) or you could bring a few 6 pks of soda and at each port by more.

 

I always recommend private tours, you get more time and way less people, the price is alot better also. When you get off the ship, there will be plenty of taxi's to take you to your excursion, with the 5 of you, you may have to get a taxi van.

There are also online sites that you can book thru and some of them will pick you up at the pier and drop you back off after the excursion.

[louisianagirl07]

My question is sort of similar. I'm 17 going on Conquest on May 20, and I will be turning 18 in less than a month... now I know I can't gamble and all that good stuff (not like I would anyways), but since I am going with a bunch of friends who are 18 (our senior trip), do you think I will be able to do most things with them??? Thanks!

[pmoniz]

My friend and I took our 2 sons on a cruise last April. They were both 15 (almost 16). They had plenty for them to do. The teen areas are great. You won't have to worry about them being bored or not having anything to do. They will make new friends and have a great time.

 

They are pretty strict about teens staying in their own age group. It was pretty nerve racking as a parent to let their teen out of their sight on this big ship, but as long as you have rules in place and they are responsible, it all works out. I brought along post-its to leave message for each other. They - obviously - were not allowed in anyones cabin or anyone in their's. Dinner was a must and ports were a must - to be with their mom's!

 

I'd have them look over the excursions and see what they would like to do. They are going to have a great time!! We've booked another with the boys for 4/08 - Dad's are coming too this time!! Have fun!:)

[caribbean dreams]

My question is sort of similar. I'm 17 going on Conquest on May 20, and I will be turning 18 in less than a month... but since I am going with a bunch of friends who are 18 (our senior trip), do you think I will be able to do most things with them??? Thanks!

 

There will be alot of things you can't do with them, the disco after 11pm is for 18 and older, they do check ID's at the door, you can not go to the casio or to the adult shows, I see them always making people under 18 leave. Your friends will also be able to legally drink on the Islands but i would not worry about that to much because i have never seen them ask anyone for an ID.

 

Don't worry, there will be plenty of other things for you and your friends to do together.

[louisianagirl07]

There will be alot of things you can't do with them, the disco after 11pm is for 18 and older, they do check ID's at the door, you can not go to the casio or to the adult shows, I see them always making people under 18 leave. Your friends will also be able to legally drink on the Islands but i would not worry about that to much because i have never seen them ask anyone for an ID.

 

Don't worry, there will be plenty of other things for you and your friends to do together.

Well, the whole casino and drinking thing isn't a problem because I don't have a desire to do that. As for the adult shows, I heard they can get a lil to nasty for my taste, so I am not really worried about that one a well.

Thanks for the help.

[caribbean dreams]

Well, the whole casino and drinking thing isn't a problem because I don't have a desire to do that. As for the adult shows, I heard they can get a lil to nasty for my taste, so I am not really worried about that one a well.

Thanks for the help.

 

Than you should have a great time, my daughters have been 17 on our cruises and it never stopped them from having a great time.

[louisianagirl07]

Than you should have a great time, my daughters have been 17 on our cruises and it never stopped them from having a great time.

Thanks for the reassurment (is that even a word? lol). I just don't know how much i would get into the whole teen club thingy with me probably being the oldest one there with less than a month to go to bein 18 so I just needed to know there are other things to do. one more question, after 11 will i still have things to do since i cant go to the disco?

[caribbean dreams]

after 11 will i still have things to do since i cant go to the disco?

 

I think you can still go into the piano bar after 11 with your friends, it may sound dull but it really is one of the most happenin places on the ship, they have Karaoke also.

[louisianagirl07]

I think you can still go into the piano bar after 11 with your friends, it may sound dull but it really is one of the most happenin places on the ship, they have Karaoke also.

That actually doesn't sound dull to me. I probably should pass on the karoake if I don't want to end up the room alone. :D

Again, thanks so much for your help. You've really made me feel a lot better about the whole cruising thing.

[mamamo65]

I'm taking my two boys on the same cruise in May. I have booked with Capt Marvin's for Stingray City in Grand Cayman and then splurged on a fishing expedition thru Carnival. Check out the Ports of Call for both, Calica and Cayman.

Sodas-You can take more than just a six pack with you. I took two 12 packs and water with us last cruise. If you are flying there are places to stop between TIA and the Port.

 

Watch how much you spend on pictures, it really adds up.