Advice for a young adult cruiser!!!

[Luv2Cruise525]

Hey everyone!

 

I will be going on my 4th cruise (1st one on Carnival) in a little less than a month. This will be my first cruise as an "adult". I've always gone to the teen club and meet many kids and had a blast. I'm really nervous about this cruise since there isn't a group for me to go to and meet people. One of my favorite parts about cruising is getting to meet new people. I think that all cruise lines should have a group for 18 to 21 year olds since we are an in between age.

I wanted some advice on where/how to meet people around my age. It also doesn't help that I look like a 14 years old! :(

 

Thanks a lot!

[Tbay-eh]

Hey everyone!

 

I will be going on my 4th cruise (1st one on Carnival) in a little less than a month. This will be my first cruise as an "adult". I've always gone to the teen club and meet many kids and had a blast. I'm really nervous about this cruise since there isn't a group for me to go to and meet people. One of my favorite parts about cruising is getting to meet new people. I think that all cruise lines should have a group for 18 to 21 year olds since we are an in between age.

I wanted some advice on where/how to meet people around my age. It also doesn't help that I look like a 14 years old! :(

 

Thanks a lot!

 

I would advise you first and foremost to go to your rollcall for that particular sailing and post that you would like to meet others in that age group. You can talk to them on line and maybe arrange a meet and greet for this particular group. You will have a blast.

[DarthGrady]

I have struck up many a conversation just sitting around in the hot tub. Never quite figured it out, must be because you are facing the other people and can only stare at the funnel for so long.

[jessemon]

Every night in the disco they have a few hours earlier (before 11PM I think) for people in your age group. Just be yourself. Don't come on to strong. Wear a smile and laugh alot. You'll have a great time. Remember, you are not going to be the only one in the same situation.

[kdinkus1]

http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/12/05/endangered-species/

 

I know it hasn't been done yet but John Heald (the ABSOLUTELY BEST CRUISE DIRECTOR OF ALL TIMES!!) said this about your age group. You have to read quite a few ways down to get to it! Go and look at it and even though it can't help you right now, it will for the future young cruise travelers...

[Tapi]

I sailed three times between the ages of 18-21 and I agree that it's somewhat an odd age group. Remember that the "socializing rules" back home are not necessarily the same when you go on a cruise, so be open to get out of your comfort zone to meet others. Here's what I have to say:

 

1) Most likely, there will be PLENTY of people out there like you in the same age group wanting to meet others. Make yourself approachable by hanging out in as many places where you're likely to find other people your age (night club, pool, sports deck).

 

2) Participate in as many activities, games, etc as possible. (at least early in the cruise). If you put your face out there, people will recognize you and you may be surprised to find people actually approaching YOU.

 

3) Even if normally you're not the kind of person to approach others, you're on a cruise! Approach others. People are more likely to open up and talk because they're on vacation (in happy mode). Questions like "Where are you from?", "Is this your first cruise?", "Have you been to these pors of call before?", "What do you like to do on board?", will get the conversation going. If you don't believe so, throw any of these questions in this forum and watch the responses pour!

 

4) Be ready to meet people somewhat older than you. Now that you're entering "adulthood", you will be more open to meeting people that might be a bit older than you and enjoy it. While it's weird and inappropriate for a 14-15 year old to hang out with a 20-21 year old, it's not so weird for a 21 year old to hang out with someone who is 26 years old. On my last Spring Break cruise, we had a couple in their 80's who insisted on hanging out with us in our early 20's. They had a blast with us and we had a blast with them!

 

5) Go with the "I'm going to have a blast" attitude. Even if you don't meet a lot of people, you will still have an awesome time!

 

Besides drinking, you can pretty much do everything you want on the ship, and you'll have access to everything. Since you said you look like a 14 year old, carry your ID with you in case they do question your age in places like the casino and night club.

[Luv2Cruise525]

Hey!! Thank you all SO much for the advice! I always try to approach and meet at least 3 new people every night. I'm very shy but I make that my goal on the cruise to get out of my comfort zone. I feel a lot better now knowing that I won't be alone and other people have been in my situation. Thanks again and I'll let you guys know how it goes!!! :)

[berls088]

i went on my first cruise when i was 22, and i too look 14 on a good day! there were 3 other groups of people my age, and me and my friend befriended them all the first night. im actually still in touch with all of them. i met one guy (and then his group of friends) just walkin around the lido deck, and i met another group after winning survivor. i actually met alot of people after that and got lotssss of free drinks! i like going One Small Steppin' (valors club) at night with the people i met then up to the pizza parlor. my favorite part of the cruise was meeting new people actually, and they made my cruise amazing! hanging out with guys from all over the country and canada and talkin till 6am... ahhh i miss it!

 

so my advice is: DONT be shy... i normally am but hey u arent going to see these people ever again and the more friends u meet on board the more fun u will end up having!

[NCTribeFan]

OK, just a word of advice from the mother of a 22 year old who has been sailing since she was 15...

 

watch out for the "lotssss of free drinks" thing.

 

Just because you are on a cruise doesn't mean that everyone on the ship is your "friend."

 

Don't want to come across as Debby Downer, but I think too many people somehow get the feeling that we're all one big happy family just because we're on a ship together.

 

Sure, be sociable. Talk to strangers. Have a great time.

 

But don't be foolish and let all those "friendly" guys be buying you drinks (especially not if you're underage!!!). Just use some common sense (but common sense often vanishes as the alcohol consumption increases).

 

My DD has always looked and acted older than her age, so she pretty much has just hung around with me (who hopefully looks younger and definitely acts younger than her age). :) She's had no problem ever meeting plenty of people on the ships, though.

[zqvol]

Hey everyone!

 

I will be going on my 4th cruise (1st one on Carnival) in a little less than a month. This will be my first cruise as an "adult". I've always gone to the teen club and meet many kids and had a blast. I'm really nervous about this cruise since there isn't a group for me to go to and meet people. One of my favorite parts about cruising is getting to meet new people. I think that all cruise lines should have a group for 18 to 21 year olds since we are an in between age.

I wanted some advice on where/how to meet people around my age. It also doesn't help that I look like a 14 years old! :(

 

Thanks a lot!

 

My son is about your age and he and I travel for boys week once a year. He has never had trouble finding people to hang out with. It is harder if you are still in high school and all of the lines would be better served if they based the teem clubs on whether or not you are still in HS or not.

 

You will not have any trouble finding friends to hang with, and you may never see the people you are traveling with except at dinner.

[Luv2Cruise525]

I just got back from the cruise and I had a great time. I do still believe that they need to have something for 18-21 year olds. No one showed up at the Meet and Greet which was quite disappointing. My brother and I are only two years apart and we're extremely close. I didn't like that we couldn't go dancing with each other because he was too young for the club I could get into and I was too old for the club he could get into. We weren't the only kids two years apart who were having trouble finding a "hang out". Most of the kids around my age either stayed with their parents or had someone (either a sibling or friend) along with them around their age. Regardless, I had a great cruise and look forward to many more :)