Teens on Oasis of the Seas

[elpam]

How is this cruise (Eastern Caribbean) for teens, 16 and 18? Will they be able to hang out together at night at a lounge for teens? RC says yes, but just checking. It's such a huge ship, how safe is it for girls on their own at night? Thanks! Also, what are your favorite recommended shore excursions for teens this itinerary?

[Eng23]

You've posted in the wrong section of Cruise Critic. This is the roll call board. You should pose your question on the Royal Caribbean section of Cruise Critic.

[tlatrice]

You've posted in the wrong section of Cruise Critic. This is the roll call board. You should pose your question on the Royal Caribbean section of Cruise Critic.

 

No...this is the right place

[cb at sea]

I would allow older teens to come and go to SPECIFIC places on their own...but I would not recommend "roaming"...that's just asking for trouble! You wouldn't allow them to "roam" your town at random, I'm sure. The ship is no different.

 

I would have them check in PHYSICALLY with you multiple times a day....no texting or walkie-talkies...you want to SEE them!

 

As far as excursions...what do y'all want to do? A guidebook should be your 1st step...it will tell you everything about all your ports! Libraries have guidebooks!

[jerseybeachmom]

I just got off that ship and there is plenty for that age group to do. I agree with cb at sea about the physical check in. k

Keep the same rules you have at home for when they are on the ship- no cabins with strangers, stick together, etc.

[dplusd]

Will they be able to hang out together at night at a lounge for teens?

 

I don't believe the 18yo will be allowed in the teen lounge. There will be plenty of other public places for them to hang out together, but not in the place specifically designed for teens.

[mil76]

The 18 year old will not be able to hang out in the Teen club since the cutoff is 17. We had friends with teens the same age as yours last week on Oasis, and the 17 year old wasn't allowed in. The SeaPasses for 17 and under look different than 18 and up, so the teen staff can tell easily that they are too old. 18-21 is a tough age group since there are very few organized activities for them. There will be plenty of activities for the 16 year old in Teen club though.

[mazzworld]

We were on Oasis last year for Spring Break and going again this year same time. My daughter (then 16) LOVED IT!. So many activities for the teens to do and she did darn near most of them. I agree with the physical "check ins" and that is what I had my daughter do or I would have only seen her at dinner. Her twin brother was not able to go last year but will be able to for our March 2016 cruise. He is going to be so amazed with the ship. My twins will be 17 for this cruise.

[Lionesss]

Your teens will have no problem with finding friends and things to do on the ship.

 

The younger one will probably live in the teen zone called "fuel" dance club like atmosphere with a lot of activities planned, visit it on opening day, it will be the only day you can get in (then restricted to under 18 with club supervision).

 

Your 18 year old will have coordinated 18-20 meet and mingles for that in between stage, to old for fuel, to young for adult bar scene.

On our Oasis sailing it was at 10pm the first day.

And something else planned every day.

Make sure they go.

 

Believe me they will find a lot to do if they wish.

 

Enjoy.

 

Sea Ya

 

Sailed with DD on Allure and Oasis when she was 17-19-20. and she had fun.

 

Oh was prom queen when she was 17:D

[caseymorgan]

For security reasons they don't let 18 year olds mingle with 16 year olds, but that also creates issues if you have kids in two age groups. My DD didn't like RCL as much from age 18-20. By the way they are very strict with alcohol rules, unlike the "Fun Ships."

[wampuscat7]

I believe the legal drinking age is 18 in Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten though. Just FYI.

[rtazz17]

I believe the legal drinking age is 18 in Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten though. Just FYI.

 

Yeah but that dont mean jack in my household... Kids arent drinking at 18 no matter what other country rules are when under my roof.... Lol

 

Just sayin

[redlobster]

How is this cruise (Eastern Caribbean) for teens, 16 and 18? Will they be able to hang out together at night at a lounge for teens? RC says yes, but just checking. It's such a huge ship, how safe is it for girls on their own at night? Thanks! Also, what are your favorite recommended shore excursions for teens this itinerary?

 

How is this cruise for teens? I was encouraged with the announcement of the survey results by Porthole magazine that showed Royal has the best teen program amongst the cruise lines.

[Lionesss]

How is this cruise for teens? I was encouraged with the announcement of the survey results by Porthole magazine that showed Royal has the best teen program amongst the cruise lines.

 

 

 

Yes they do.

As far as we observed when we sailed 6 times when our DD was in the teen generation.

 

We are greatful to have a very responsible child, who has always helped and kept us informed of her activites long before cruiseing.

 

Never had a problem, and we had many a talk about safety, as well as having safe fun.

Oh we adhered to the ships curfew, and even when she was in the teen lounge she had to update us every other hour, either by phone if in cabin, or we would tell her where we would be.

And if it was a night before a port she had to be in by midnight, for those busy excursions, like zip lining, and snokelling and such.

 

Sea Ya

[elpam]

Your teens will have no problem with finding friends and things to do on the ship.

 

The younger one will probably live in the teen zone called "fuel" dance club like atmosphere with a lot of activities planned, visit it on opening day, it will be the only day you can get in (then restricted to under 18 with club supervision).

 

Your 18 year old will have coordinated 18-20 meet and mingles for that in between stage, to old for fuel, to young for adult bar scene.

On our Oasis sailing it was at 10pm the first day.

And something else planned every day.

Make sure they go.

 

Believe me they will find a lot to do if they wish.

 

Enjoy.

 

Sea Ya

 

Sailed with DD on Allure and Oasis when she was 17-19-20. and she had fun.

 

Oh was prom queen when she was 17:D

Sue, thanks for this information. I was ready to cancel the cruise, but it sounds like there are organized activities for the 18 year old. I really wanted the girls to have shared activities, but it sounds like that won't happen at night except for shows. Since I am the grandma taking the two teens, I want to be sure this is the right kind of travel gift. Any other information about the activities will be appreciated.

[elpam]

I called Royal Caribbean and there are no special organized meet and mingles activities for the 18-20 year old age group. Although this is again disappointing, my granddaughter would like to stay booked on this cruise. I was told by the RC rep that teens 18-20 can go into the regular lounges but are asked to leave by 10 p.m., which is a good thing.

[moggin123]

I called Royal Caribbean and there are no special organized meet and mingles activities for the 18-20 year old age group. Although this is again disappointing, my granddaughter would like to stay booked on this cruise. I was told by the RC rep that teens 18-20 can go into the regular lounges but are asked to leave by 10 p.m., which is a good thing.

 

 

When I went on oasis i believe i was 17, the teen club was fun, but to be honest once you made friends most of the time we hung out doing other activities on our own. So your older child who is 18 can still hang out with your 16 year old child and friends she makes, just not in the actual teen lounge and during their exact activities. The only ones i recall being good were the flow rider takeover, much shorter lines that during the day (also went during off time so only around 30 or so kids that went to the teen club) or rock climbing. I was never a fan of the night dances.

I'm not sure if its true about 18-20 needing to leave by 10pm, maybe this is a rule for oasis specifically but i doubt that. Last may sailing Freedom with my bf(21) and my mother when i was still 20 I was aloud in all bars and lounges at night with them. Even when they checked my sea pass they let me in since i'm pretty sure it was just 18, I just couldn't drink. Maybe because i was with my mom?

[elpam]

When I went on oasis i believe i was 17, the teen club was fun, but to be honest once you made friends most of the time we hung out doing other activities on our own. So your older child who is 18 can still hang out with your 16 year old child and friends she makes, just not in the actual teen lounge and during their exact activities. The only ones i recall being good were the flow rider takeover, much shorter lines that during the day (also went during off time so only around 30 or so kids that went to the teen club) or rock climbing. I was never a fan of the night dances.

I'm not sure if its true about 18-20 needing to leave by 10pm, maybe this is a rule for oasis specifically but i doubt that. Last may sailing Freedom with my bf(21) and my mother when i was still 20 I was aloud in all bars and lounges at night with them. Even when they checked my sea pass they let me in since i'm pretty sure it was just 18, I just couldn't drink. Maybe because i was with my mom?

Thanks for the information, especially since you are in that age group.

[Grandma Dazzles]

When I went on oasis i believe i was 17, the teen club was fun, but to be honest once you made friends most of the time we hung out doing other activities on our own. So your older child who is 18 can still hang out with your 16 year old child and friends she makes, just not in the actual teen lounge and during their exact activities. The only ones i recall being good were the flow rider takeover, much shorter lines that during the day (also went during off time so only around 30 or so kids that went to the teen club) or rock climbing. I was never a fan of the night dances.

 

I'm not sure if its true about 18-20 needing to leave by 10pm, maybe this is a rule for oasis specifically but i doubt that. Last may sailing Freedom with my bf(21) and my mother when i was still 20 I was aloud in all bars and lounges at night with them. Even when they checked my sea pass they let me in since i'm pretty sure it was just 18, I just couldn't drink. Maybe because i was with my mom?

 

 

RC ships usually have a 1:00 p.m curfew for teens that are out and about on the ship. Some bars/clubs may have an admission age, especially after a certain time, unless with parent/guardian; also the 1:00 a.m curfew doesn't apply if with a parent/guardian.

[mominva]

I had 3 teens (14, 16, 17) when our family was on the Oasis. This is their favorite ship. So much to do and explore. Your 16 and 18 year old can do several activities during the day together: rock wall, ice skating, flow rider, zip line, trivia, scavenger hunt.

 

Despite what RC told you about not having meetings for 18-20 year olds, I have seen scheduled meetings on the Cruise Compass on the Oasis ships.

 

On Freedom of the Seas last summer, my oldest was 18 years old. There was also a meeting for 18-20 year olds at midnight on Day 2. Luckily, the first night, my daughter met a large group of 18 year olds! They hung out the rest of the week and did things every night (dancing, pizza at 2 am, hot tub, karaoke, comedy shows). She had a blast. A big rule is do not go inside anyone's room.

 

It seems like a lot of people go on cruises for students who are graduating from high school and that usually means 18 year olds. My hunch is your 18 year old will find a group of 18 year olds.

[Uncle Fester]

I called Royal Caribbean and there are no special organized meet and mingles activities for the 18-20 year old age group. Although this is again disappointing, my granddaughter would like to stay booked on this cruise. I was told by the RC rep that teens 18-20 can go into the regular lounges but are asked to leave by 10 p.m., which is a good thing.

 

Not sure why they said 18 to 20 had to leave by 10:00, but pretty sure that is not the case. Our daughter was 18 on the last cruise and many of the 18 to 20 group activities organized by the ship took place in lounges after 10, including late night events in the dance club. She also spent a good amount of time with me playing in the casino well after 10:00 pm. Royal is trying to do more with this age group. Hopefully it will have more events when you cruise.

[griffy116]

Took my Grandson and a friend of his on Freedom when they were both 17. They chose not to participate in any of the planned groups. There was so much to do on the ship that they were never bored. For excursions, why not take a look at what excursions are offered by the cruise line at each of your ports. See what they seem interested in and take it from there. They do enforce the drinking age and we saw a group of teens being rounded up after curfew by ship's crew and walked to their cabin. They were out at the pool. We requested they our teens call and let us know when they were in their cabin for the night, for safety purposes. They had their own cabin across the hall from us. We also cautioned them that they not have "guests" in their cabin, or accepting invitations to other cabins, as some of the teen on board aren't always truthful about their age and one mistake could ruin their plans for college and their lives. They are both responsible young men and we didn't encounter any problems. They had a great time. It's been a few years since then, and my Grandson's friend still refers to it as the best vacation he's ever taken. Enjoy.

[elpam]

I had 3 teens (14, 16, 17) when our family was on the Oasis. This is their favorite ship. So much to do and explore. Your 16 and 18 year old can do several activities during the day together: rock wall, ice skating, flow rider, zip line, trivia, scavenger hunt.

 

Despite what RC told you about not having meetings for 18-20 year olds, I have seen scheduled meetings on the Cruise Compass on the Oasis ships.

 

On Freedom of the Seas last summer, my oldest was 18 years old. There was also a meeting for 18-20 year olds at midnight on Day 2. Luckily, the first night, my daughter met a large group of 18 year olds! They hung out the rest of the week and did things every night (dancing, pizza at 2 am, hot tub, karaoke, comedy shows). She had a blast. A big rule is do not go inside anyone's room.

 

It seems like a lot of people go on cruises for students who are graduating from high school and that usually means 18 year olds. My hunch is your 18 year old will find a group of 18 year olds.

Thanks, very helpful. We are going a little early as FL schools finish up earlier than other parts of the country, so there may not be as many 18 year olds, but hopefully there will be the scheduled meetings for the 18-20 age group. Thanks for the important rule about not going inside anyone's room. I will be sure to tell them that. I'm glad to get all this support from everyone. Does anyone have a favorite shore excursion they want to recommend that they shared with their older teens?

[4biegelboys]

On freedom my sons (then ages 15,14&13) were allowed to go off on their own but had to check in often. They had to always be with one of their brothers, although I did tell oldest he could go to arcade while the other 2 were doing florider or rock wall (he had just had acl surgery so couldn't do any of the "fun" stuff). They just had to come and go from those areas together. They didn't do much with the activities or hang out in the teen club. I felt safe letting them do this and it will be the same rules on the oasis this April.