Programs for teens

[divngmedic]

How the programs for teens on RCI? Three years ago we did a cruise on another line when my daughter 11 and she was not old enough for the teen program and the program for her age was geared more for 7-9 year olds than it was for a "tweener". So parents that have cruised recently on RCI with 13 year olds how did your teen like it?

[divngmedic]

Wow no one with teens on this forum?

[akcruz]

We moved from Carnival to RC because of the teen programs. My kids have always enjoyed the programs very much. You do need to realize they are not as structured as the younger groups and if there are not enough kids interested in a particular activity it may get cancelled.

 

One suggestion, make sure your DD goes to the meet and greet the first night. This is often when friendships are made for the rest of the cruise.

[jmf123]

I don't have teens, but RCI's Adventure Ocean program has a lot to offer: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_kids_teens_and_families Click on 'Just For Teens' (age 12-17). I'm sure a thirteen year old would have a great time. :)

[Chardo]

My son was 13 on our last RCI cruise. He loved it so much that he has begged for years to go again (a request we will accommodate next week). He spent most of the time just hanging out with other teens. The organized activities for that age are very loose, mostly just to give the kids a jump start. Teens tend to prefer making their own fun and enjoying the freedom. I have yet to hear of any teenager not having a blast on an RCI cruise.

[divngmedic]

I don't have teens, but RCI's Adventure Ocean program has a lot to offer: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_kids_teens_and_families Click on 'Just For Teens' (age 12-17). I'm sure a thirteen year old would have a great time. :)

I read that, but was looking for opinions from other cruisers. All cruise lines makes their family programs sound great.....but

[divngmedic]

My son was 13 on our last RCI cruise. He loved it so much that he has begged for years to go again (a request we will accommodate next week). He spent most of the time just hanging out with other teens. The organized activities for that age are very loose, mostly just to give the kids a jump start. Teens tend to prefer making their own fun and enjoying the freedom. I have yet to hear of any teenager not having a blast on an RCI cruise.

Thank you. Three years when we last cruised she was a "tweener" and was at that akward stage. Still have not decided to take a cruise or not, keeping all options open.

 

The place we really wanted to go is having some issues right and the DW does not feel safe going there.

[toots13]

My 15yo son has really enjoyed the teen activities the last few years. I second the suggestion to go to the 1st day's events to meet some people. There was a mix of planned activities like a scavenger hunt, karaoke, dance party, video game contest, and other games and such and also time where they just hung out or had music in the teen lounges where there was supervision but no planned activity. I let my son also join groups that went to see the Aquatheater show or up to the Sports Deck for fun. Sometimes events would be canceled if not enough people showed up. It is a good environment to let them have some responsible independence.

[divngmedic]

My 15yo son has really enjoyed the teen activities the last few years. I second the suggestion to go to the 1st day's events to meet some people. There was a mix of planned activities like a scavenger hunt, karaoke, dance party, video game contest, and other games and such and also time where they just hung out or had music in the teen lounges where there was supervision but no planned activity. I let my son also join groups that went to see the Aquatheater show or up to the Sports Deck for fun. Sometimes events would be canceled if not enough people showed up. It is a good environment to let them have some responsible independence.

That is good cuz I plan on spending the sea days in the casino at the poker table taking other peoples money. ;)

[createmem]

My daughter - now 15 - is an spoiled cruise like me. She LOVES LOVES the teen program on RCCL and hated it on Carnival. Her last two RCCL cruises she has participated fully and honestly - after dinner - we never saw her. Knew where she was and what activities she was involved in, but she was off having fun with her new friends. As a parent, it is harder to make that transition from the more structured programs to the teen ones, but she has been taught well about always being where she says she was going to be. She doesn't travel around the ship alone, and leaves us messages in our cabin if the plans of her group changes.

 

Just wanted you to be aware if you are a parent that worries and needs to be aware of where your kids are.

[divngmedic]

My daughter - now 15 - is an spoiled cruise like me. She LOVES LOVES the teen program on RCCL and hated it on Carnival. Her last two RCCL cruises she has participated fully and honestly - after dinner - we never saw her. Knew where she was and what activities she was involved in, but she was off having fun with her new friends. As a parent, it is harder to make that transition from the more structured programs to the teen ones, but she has been taught well about always being where she says she was going to be. She doesn't travel around the ship alone, and leaves us messages in our cabin if the plans of her group changes.

 

Just wanted you to be aware if you are a parent that worries and needs to be aware of where your kids are.

I am more open than the DW is. I know when she takes off for college in 5 years, I will probably have to move out for a month or two as things will not be bareable around the house :eek:

[ckrobyn]

On our last AOS cruise I was able to get dect phones and that really helped us to know where our 15yr old DD was at all times. I am one of those really worried Mom's and even though I know where she is, I still panic if I can't reach her for any reason!! :eek: Not sure if I can get dect phones on the FOS this Sunday, but I am going to try!!!

[Liz315]

On our last AOS cruise I was able to get dect phones and that really helped us to know where our 15yr old DD was at all times. I am one of those really worried Mom's and even though I know where she is, I still panic if I can't reach her for any reason!! :eek: Not sure if I can get dect phones on the FOS this Sunday, but I am going to try!!!

 

 

dect phones??

[hal2008]

if a kid is one or two months short of next age group, wil they allow it to move to that group rahter hanging with "young kids"?

[Familygoboston]

My 14 yo teen plans to report on her experiences with the teen program on Jewel in a couple of weeks. She's optimistic, but gun shy after a terrible experience with the kids program on Princess. If its not her scene or not fun, she and her 17 yo sister will bail and hang together, as they do happily, on most of our trips, since those trips dont have a teen club.

[divngmedic]

if a kid is one or two months short of next age group, wil they allow it to move to that group rahter hanging with "young kids"?

I know Carnival does, but do not know about RCI.

[divngmedic]

My 14 yo teen plans to report on her experiences with the teen program on Jewel in a couple of weeks. She's optimistic, but gun shy after a terrible experience with the kids program on Princess. If its not her scene or not fun, she and her 17 yo sister will bail and hang together, as they do happily, on most of our trips, since those trips dont have a teen club.

DD is more or less an only child. She does have a sister but she is 27 with two kids of her own.

[ckrobyn]

dect phones??

 

Dect phones are the same portable wireless phones that the crew carry. Each phone has it's own extension that you dial to reach it. The phones are never out of range and the reception is perfect. Fortunately I had a connection onboard the AOS and was able to secure 2 of those phones on many of my cruises.

[alphouston]

I totally agree with the responses above. We were on the Mariner of the Seas over New Years and the key was my 15 year old going to the meet and greet on the first night. She found a group of buddies and had an absolute blast. I too want to know where she is at all times and without cell phones, the deal was that she was to leave a message at the cabin if she moved from the original agreed upon location. She enjoyed the freedom, made some great friends and is ready to go on another cruise.

[Atty]

Hi Robyn! Long time since we were on AOS together :)

 

I know on my recent Allure cruise, they had those new Royal Connect phones that were basically iphones that had an extension and also had the compass on them etc. and GPS onboard. Does anyone know if those have been rolled out to any other ships? Robyn, if you could report on that for Freedom, I would appreciate it :)

[akcruz]

if a kid is one or two months short of next age group, wil they allow it to move to that group rahter hanging with "young kids"?

 

I think it depends on how many kids there are. My son was days short of 12 and they did let him go to the teen area but I did have to sign that it was ok with me.

[aussiefam]

We were on Freedom in September with 3 teens - twin boys 13, and girl 16- after the first night we did not see them for the entire cruise, they were reluctant to go along to the meet and greet on the first night - but they never looked back. We would meet in the cabin at 5 and have dinner together, (oh and they got off at the ports with us.)

 

The activities were fairly loose and they are able to come and go as they please, I was comfortable with this as mine were not alone. They enjoyed meeting and hanging out with others and its pretty cool for some Aussie kids to have facebook friends from Uraguay. They said the crew members in charge were really cool. In September there were not many teens on board so the group was all ages 12-17, they did try and match them up with kids of closer in age for activities.

 

We had a 3 week vacation incorporating Walt Disney WOrld and New York City, but the thing they liked best was the cruise.

 

Be warned, there is a curfew of 1:00am and most of the kids are out until this time :eek:, you will have to set the ground rules.

[hollon]

Hi Robyn! Long time since we were on AOS together :)

 

I know on my recent Allure cruise, they had those new Royal Connect phones that were basically iphones that had an extension and also had the compass on them etc. and GPS onboard. Does anyone know if those have been rolled out to any other ships? Robyn, if you could report on that for Freedom, I would appreciate it :)

how much were the phones on the allure? is it a first come first serve? also does anyone know what time the meet and mingle is on the first night and what do they usually do the first night?

[Atty]

how much were the phones on the allure? is it a first come first serve? also does anyone know what time the meet and mingle is on the first night and what do they usually do the first night?

 

I think the phones were like $30 each. I heard that if you lost or broke one they charged you like $1000. They are first come first serve.

[VillageDwellers]

also does anyone know what time the meet and mingle is on the first night and what do they usually do the first night?

 

Bumping this up, so we can find out the answer to this question about the TEEN meet & mingle. Thanks!