What do 18 year olds do?

[Daddyfto]

I am not trying to plan activities for my teenage grandchildren. I only thought some of you would give some suggestions and yes I know they are more that capable of entertaining themselves

 

 

One more thing no ome has to tell me to chill out!!!

 

If you use three explanation marks ...you need to chill LOL

[CruzerDeb]

On our last cruise (our first, actually), my DDs were 13 and 15 and so would have been in different clubs. They weren't interested in meeting other teens (though we did have 2 their age at our table in the MDR). They just hung out with me.

 

For our upcoming cruise, I think it'll pretty much be the same older DD (now 20) is very outgoing, but younger DD (now 18) is not. I did notice that there were several teenagers on my rollcall thread; maybe I'll try to arrange a time/place for us all to meet.

 

They're happy going on excursions with me (this is why we vacation together) and spending time on the ship doing whatever.

[Momma Mojito]

If you use three explanation marks ...you need to chill LOL

 

I didin't know I was getting a puntuation lesson with my posts. Thanks so much.

[Almost Packed]

Just thought i'd give a sad little update...invited DS-18 to go on another cruise and he said "no way!"

 

He does not care to go back. Too bored for his taste lol. but it may have a bit more to do with me than the cruise itself or the fact that the main thing he was looking forward to was cancelled. He had his hopes up for Grand Cayman diving.

 

i didn't allow him to sleep in every single day. I also made him dress for dinner every night lol. He enjoyed the ports, but for the most, seriously he was bored. Trivia games just don't cut it and he's not that bubbly outgoing kind of a kid/young man.

 

He's quiet-I swear he's my child but I don't know how we are related lol.

 

oh, and !!! :cool: Punctuate on my friend! Exclaim all you want. :D

[Tbay-eh]

only thing they can't do is drink or go to Serenity Deck like 19 and 20 year olds - they just have to entertain themselves like everyone else does and there really is a lot to do out there. Ya, sometimes I am bored too but that is my fault.

[jkjmt]

My youngest daughter has been on every cruise with us listed below (Besides the early Disney cruise) Everyone besides the last two, she went to a few "camp" things until she met kids and then off they went...some camp things, always dances, always shows, pool, hot tub, slides arcades...etc. all with new friends. Last two cruises (age 18 and 19) she met friends at our mdr table and other friends through cruise critic (that I had been talking to their parents). So with new friends she went to the dance club every night (they proof you to prove you're 18 to enter), went to all show, comedy shows including late night adult humor shows, pool, movies, hot tub and slides, etc.

 

I suggest to go to your cruise board here on cruise critic and see if there are other 18, 19, or 20 year olds on it.

 

Both my girls loved cruising..meeting new people is half the fun.

[nylori]

We are going to all different ports we have never been to b4 so that will be interesting for all! Also our first time with the Comedy brunch and the Taste bar! We will be getting the soda and cheers pkgs because of all the price drops, also for the first time. Also i might signs the 21 year old up for the Behind the Fun tour! I can keep some of the freebies! Last cruise my son was 20 and he actually sang Karaoke at Superstar Karaoke with my hubby. All the comedy shows can be seen by her and are wonderful!

[LHP]

The 18-20 can be a difficult age because all teenagers do not mature at the same rate or have the same social skills at this age.....

 

As has been stated, Carnival has tried (and is still trying) the 18-20 meet and greet (usually on the first night) .... but it has been poorly attended across the fleet.

 

But Carnival is not giving up....they are constantly asking for suggestions....

 

use those Comment Cards you get by email after the cruise, if you have any ideas on how to improve this situation.

[maggie cruises]

We doing a family cruise in August on the Freedom. Our Granddchildren ages DGD 10

DGS -13 DGS- 14 DGD - 15 DGD- 17 and DGD-18 along with their parents.

The under 18 all have clubs on Carnival to particpate in but what does the 18 year old.

She and her 17 year old cousin are close but not sure if they both can do the same thing

Thanks for you opinions.

 

they spend time with their family..parents..grandparents etc...and enjoy the one on one time with those adults before it is too late and they are off to college...because college schedules do not mesh with high school or younger schedules...and those college kids will need to work to pay the tuition and will be missing family vacations....

 

Just sayin'....and I know from where I speak. So enjoy the 18yo..and have them enjoy you...forget making "new best friends".......it is family time!!

 

Enjoy

[DISNEY1975]

It helps that you have a lot of family memebers on board. I had to rely on shore excursions to keep my older teens entertained. It was difficult to meet others the same age on the ship.

 

As someone else said, there are activities..basketball, ping pong, shuffleboard etc.. but again, going alone it not fun. Im lucky to have 2 boys, even though they are 3 years apart. The younger one would go to the activities with the 18/19 yo. At night, the 18 yo would hang out with hubby and I at the shows.

 

When we get to ports, I try to schedule jetskiiing, parasailing, speedboats etc..to let them have some fun.

[taszmom]

Have the 18yo bring the HS ID. It is possible that s/he will be allowed in. Depends on how many kids and the counselor onboard.

 

They already know everyone's date of birth ;)

[Tannison]

They already know everyone's date of birth ;)

 

This is true, but lots of eighteen year olds have been allowed to use Club O2 by proving they are still in high school, thus the need for the school ID.

[NJoyCruise]

I remember one cruise when my DD and her new friends from O2 met a few 18/19 year old kids and ended up hanging out with them. Almost every night, we closed the piamo bar, and as we walk back to our room, we would hear these kids laughing and carrying on, and having a good ol time in the atrium lounge..they all had a great time. My daughter usually just checks in to O2 to recruit/ or join a group. They usually end up doing their own thing...midnight swimming, midnight pizza or 3 am pizza at the lido, etc

[shipty2]

Our son goes to as many onboard activities as possible. On our last cruise it did take until the second day for him to meet some people he wanted to hang out with . This was his first cruise being too old for Club O2.

[Momma Mojito]

they spend time with their family..parents..grandparents etc...and enjoy the one on one time with those adults before it is too late and they are off to college...because college schedules do not mesh with high school or younger schedules...and those college kids will need to work to pay the tuition and will be missing family vacations....

 

Just sayin'....and I know from where I speak. So enjoy the 18yo..and have them enjoy you...forget making "new best friends".......it is family time!!

 

Enjoy

 

This is why we booked this cruise. Our Grandkids are very close to us( even though three of them are from Cincinnati) and knowing that they will be going off to college,etc within the next few years we didn't want to wait to cruise with them. I'm sure we will be doing things together, but I want them to also be able to make new & lasting friends as we have done on our cruises.

[cruiser4four]

I'm having this issue with my cruise for January 2014. My daughter doesn't want to go because she will be 19 and they don't have any clubs for her and she's not sure about meeting new friends. For our Thanksgiving 2012 cruise, even though she was 18, they let her in Club 02 because she was 17 when we boarded so she made some friends but by the end of the cruise, she was bored of the Casino and sitting around the club.

 

I know she'll be 19 but I don't like the idea of leaving her home "alone" for 9 days while I'm cruising. I wish Carnival would have something for this age group.

 

 

First world problems, in my opinion. When I was that age I would have loved to have those kinds of problems. As the poster above you said, there are so many things a teenager can do on a cruise.

[Warm Breezes]

Just thought i'd give a sad little update...invited DS-18 to go on another cruise and he said "no way!"

 

He does not care to go back. Too bored for his taste lol. but it may have a bit more to do with me than the cruise itself or the fact that the main thing he was looking forward to was cancelled. He had his hopes up for Grand Cayman diving.

 

i didn't allow him to sleep in every single day. I also made him dress for dinner every night lol. He enjoyed the ports, but for the most, seriously he was bored. Trivia games just don't cut it and he's not that bubbly outgoing kind of a kid/young man.

 

He's quiet-I swear he's my child but I don't know how we are related lol.

 

oh, and !!! :cool: Punctuate on my friend! Exclaim all you want. :D

 

My DS will be 19 on our next cruise. He sounds like yours. On our last cruise (NCL Epic) he constantly complained to his younger sister (not to us) that he was bored and there was nothing to do. DD who is 2 1/2 years younger got frustrated with him because he didn't want to do anything with her. This was our 9th cruise, we have been cruising since they were 4 and 7. Neither of them ever got into going to the kids clubs (probably never went more than a handful of times over the 9 cruises). They always preferred to do stuff with us or with each other rather than hang out with strangers.

 

I was able to bribe DS into going on our next cruise with us by telling him I would get him the internet package. He likes to stay connected to sports news and other things on the internet and I think that was his biggest problem on the last one. He really seemed to enjoy the shows, going to dinner with us (I don't make him dress up but I do make him wear the minimum dress code requirements),excursions, and he even played in a mens soccer tournament that he really liked. I think what he was missing was his internet connection. I told DD she could bring a friend so she didn't have to rely on her brother to do things with her. Both were happy with this solution and I get to enjoy one more cruise with my kids :D.

[cruiser1220]

We doing a family cruise in August on the Freedom. Our Granddchildren ages DGD 10

DGS -13 DGS- 14 DGD - 15 DGD- 17 and DGD-18 along with their parents.

The under 18 all have clubs on Carnival to particpate in but what does the 18 year old.

She and her 17 year old cousin are close but not sure if they both can do the same thing

Thanks for you opinions.

 

I went on the Freedom when it was the newest ship in the fleet. I went on a family cruise as well & it was my senior year/ graduation present. This is what I remember doing:

 

-deck parties (they divided you into teams and even provided body paint to emphasize spirit)

-spa/hot tubs

-casino (always liked the slot machines!)

-Studio 70

-Production Shows/behind the scene stuff

-Any/every cruise director's staff activity

 

The best memories I have of the Freedom though have to be from Studio 70. It was my first ship night club & I had a blast every single night. Depending on how much of a "night owl" she is, I would recommend telling her to scope out the scene the first night and see at what time the club gets good (On Carnival and Princess I've noticed that this is usually around midnight but that's just me...). Carnival also has the punchliner comedy club now, which I've heard is great as well, and the sports court if she is a sports fan. Also, depending on how bold she is, and on the cruise director, certain Carnival ships have the "Quest" game which is kind of like an adult's only scavenger hunt (18+ activity).

 

I have a 19 year old brother who just got off the Caribbean Princess with me last month. His activities included:

- 18-20 y/o meet and greet (A CD staff member was present as they played icebreakers and then gave them a list of activities to choose/plan from for the week. After that, 18-20 y/o activities were completely independent)

-basketball

-hot tubs

-night club

-theater shows

-gym

-deck parties/ CD staff events

-comedy hour

-club after party upstairs at the 24 hr pizza place (Princess would have the 18-20 year olds meet at the night club at 11pm and they would all stay until the club closed around 3ish and would then head upstairs, get a slice of pizza and hang out or make plans for the next day)

 

Whatever she chooses to do, she will have a great time :) My cruise aboard the Freedom is in my top 3 from Carnival, and top 5 overall. I went before the funship 2.0 upgrades and I had a blast as an 18 year old then...I imagine it has gotten better with 2.0 upgrades!