Teens 18-19 - What is available for them?

[BrooklynGirl2]

We are cruising on Anthem in June. We last cruised her two years ago. At the time my son was 16 and very much enjoyed teen club and met up with some nice teens to socialize with during the cruise. He will have just turned 18 when we sail. He is now excluded from teen club and is really too young to enjoy adult activities. And I don't really want him hanging with 25 year olds. Does Royal offer anything for the 18-20 age group? I want him to enjoy his cruise and make friends but how can he find others his age?

 

Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

Brooklyn Girl

[IceManCan]

Following. I am cruising with my 19yo in June and our last cruise was 2 years ago. He is a bit worried.

 

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[BrooklynGirl2]

Iceman , are you on the June 28 sailing by any chance?

 

BG

[IceManCan]

No June 16th on Harmony. I figured the info for the age bracket would be similar throughout the fleet?

 

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[victoriousxx3]

On harmony they do have 18-20s meetups, but they usually are just before the nightclub events which are 18+

 

 

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[cb at sea]

He will find others of his own age...and they will hang-out at the pool, sports deck, etc...No "organized" activities, because older teens don't utilize them.

[Havingfun2010]

We are cruising on Anthem in June. We last cruised her two years ago. At the time my son was 16 and very much enjoyed teen club and met up with some nice teens to socialize with during the cruise. He will have just turned 18 when we sail. He is now excluded from teen club and is really too young to enjoy adult activities. And I don't really want him hanging with 25 year olds. Does Royal offer anything for the 18-20 age group? I want him to enjoy his cruise and make friends but how can he find others his age?

 

Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

Brooklyn Girl

 

Not to sound like I'm giving you advice, but you just said your adults that you are bringing with you, are unable to enjoy a cruise, because they are on the young side of adulthood? First piece of advice. You ask the adults if they want to go on the cruise? If they don't want to go, than let them stay home. They are adults. Now on the ship, they can do all the same things you can do, except if the ship leaves in the USA, drink adult drinks. As an adult, they should by adult age, know how to communicate with other adults. Generally speaking an 18 year old or older, will be embarking on their adult lives, such as going to college (making new friends), leaving for the military (making new friends), entering a vocational training (making new friends), or entering the job force (making new friends). The other item, is that you don't want them hanging out with other adults? It's time to give them a key to the house, and let them blossom, and make their own decisions, starting with, do you want to go on this cruise?. I do have adult kids, and both have blossomed into adults. They survived the transition, so let yours experience it without your help.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Teens 18 and up can do anything other passengers do - they just can't drink alcohol.

 

They usually meet other young people on the pool deck, sports court, etc. There may be activities listed in the Compass such as sports pickup games, etc.

[andrew2346]

Not to sound like I'm giving you advice, but you just said your adults that you are bringing with you, are unable to enjoy a cruise, because they are on the young side of adulthood? First piece of advice. You ask the adults if they want to go on the cruise? If they don't want to go, than let them stay home. They are adults. Now on the ship, they can do all the same things you can do, except if the ship leaves in the USA, drink adult drinks. As an adult, they should by adult age, know how to communicate with other adults. Generally speaking an 18 year old or older, will be embarking on their adult lives, such as going to college (making new friends), leaving for the military (making new friends), entering a vocational training (making new friends), or entering the job force (making new friends). The other item, is that you don't want them hanging out with other adults? It's time to give them a key to the house, and let them blossom, and make their own decisions, starting with, do you want to go on this cruise?. I do have adult kids, and both have blossomed into adults. They survived the transition, so let yours experience it without your help.

 

Well, they could attend a lecture from the above poster on embarking on their adult lives!

[spookwife]

he can do anything but drink. there will be plenty of opportunity for him to enjoy himself. Trivia is popular. so are the sport tournaments

[Jasukkie]

One of the nice things about cruising is the usual age barriers don't seem to matter so much. No one is going to care if he can't drink but is enjoying playing pool in the Music Hall, or dancing the night away. Maybe the 25 year olds you are afraid of would actually be the right people for him to meet, very unlikely to do some of the stupid stuff older teens can end up doing. I was very glad to have a college aged young lady on my Harry Potter trivia team in the Schooner Bar. If he's more the sports type, there's plenty of that going on. This is all good practice for the transition to adulthood.

[Katy_Tbird]

They have other teens 18-19... The rest is just a backdrop.

[brookmill18]

Anthem is probably one of the best ships to be in that 18-20 range. The kids (including the 16/17 yr range), often meet at the teen room but then immediately move on to hang out in the Sea Plex, 270, or the Music Hall. But I understand what you mean--he won't have an organized way of meeting others without being a little more proactive about it. Will he have a sibling or friend traveling too? If not, it might take a bit but I bet he'll find a group. Sometimes there will be postings about an 1820 society/club--those are planned for that age group.

 

We've decided that once we're only with one kid and they're in that age range, we will prob have them bring a friend. I think the hardest part is meeting others--the teen areas have a couple of meet and greets at the beginning that just make it easier to meet people. Would be nice if they did one or 2 of the 1820 Club type things at a coffee bar or pool tables at Music Hall just so they could meet people at the beginning of the cruise.

[klfrodo]

He can meet new friends on Tinder App (or Grindr App)

 

 

This is a difficult age group for cruise lines to deal with. Carnival and Royal both have spent millions trying to figure out this age group and how to allow them to be more inclusive.

Edited May 24, 2018 by klfrodo

[ownedbypets]

My son still says that the cruise we took when he was 18 was his least favorite. On every cruise before he was able to go to the teens club and make friends to hang out with. He still made a few friends but it was harder because there were no organized activities for that age group to meet people, you have to do it on your own. He enjoyed himself but it wasn't the same. It was 10 years ago and maybe things have changed, but in my opinion this was one age group that RC was overlooking.

[gerif]

You might try posting on your rollcall to see if anyone else is traveling with a young adult.

[BrooklynGirl2]

Having fun, thank you for your snarky response. Not that it's your business but my son lost a year of maturing being hospitalized almost all of last year and he struggles with some social skills due to special needs. This is our fami!y vacation, why wouldn't he want to come? Your lecture was not appropriate and not helpful.

 

Brookmill18, thank you for understanding. You totally understood my issue. I was looking for a meet and mingle type of event for this age group to break the ice and find others to connect with for the rest of the cruise. He is an only child so no siblings to hang out with. In the past he would use teen club just as a meeting point to connect with other kids and then make their own fun around the ship. Because of his surgeries he can't do many sports.

 

I guess we will figure it out when on board. Someone hah posted the daily Anthem planners and I didn't notice any meet up for 18-20 group which is why I asked.

 

BG

[Jasukkie]

He can meet new friends on Tinder App (or Grindr App)

 

 

This is a difficult age group for cruise lines to deal with. Carnival and Royal both have spent millions trying to figure out this age group and how to allow them to be more inclusive.

 

Ack, no parent wants to think about it, but no doubt on ship is no different than on shore.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about this mom, since this is a family cruise, he can hang out with whatever the rest of the family is up to, and he's welcome in the Solarium. Anthem has a lot of really nice live music to choose from if he enjoys that.

[bruzin_for_a_cruizin]

Our son will be 19 when we board Allure this summer. He has chosen to stay home (much to my wife's dismay), as he believes the 19-20 year age group to be a black hole on cruises: too old for Teen club, too young for alcohol. We tried to convince him there would be many others his age on-board and there are enough activities to keep him occupied, but he is an adult and as such, can make his own decisions.

 

It will be weird to have a "family vacation" without the whole family, but I can't say that I really blame him. I might have made the same decision when I was 19...

[Grandma Dazzles]

Our son will be 19 when we board Allure this summer. He has chosen to stay home (much to my wife's dismay), as he believes the 19-20 year age group to be a black hole on cruises: too old for Teen club, too young for alcohol. We tried to convince him there would be many others his age on-board and there are enough activities to keep him occupied, but he is an adult and as such, can make his own decisions.

 

It will be weird to have a "family vacation" without the whole family, but I can't say that I really blame him. I might have made the same decision when I was 19...

 

I respect his right to stay home. However, it is sad that alcohol factors into this and being too young to drink is associated with having a good time.

 

I can never understand why this age group feels they are forgotten. They can do everything they could do at home and everything other passengers can do except drink alcohol.

 

Lots of young adults over the age of 21 don’t drink. Young adults can make friends! I cruise solo now and make friends - in the pool, trivia, dining - it is not that difficult. Again, realize that they are just going out in the world alone and it’s more of a learning curve but there are many other young people on the ship feeling the same way.

 

My kids and grandkids cruise to enjoy the trip, entertainment, new places, etc. and have done at all ages.

[Bizzie07]

Quite often on the first night there is an hour where the Arcade is free and the teens hang around there. If he was in that area he could perhaps find some teens who are also on their own. It could be an ice-breaker for him after all if he has just turned 18 some of the teens could be just off 18. Hope it works out for him.

[luvbrady]

We went in April with my newly 18 year old daughter and her 18 year old friend. They did have meet & greet activities for the over yet under crowd but the two of them killed it in the casino LOL. They had a blast- won some money and the dealers were happy to help them learn.

 

We also went to an all inclusive beach in Mexico where they had the option to participate in the open bar. The friend did- just to taste, and got nearly one of everything while taking no more than a sip from anything. Needless to say they were unimpressed with the rancid bottom shelf swill and have satisfied that mild curiosity.

[rncruiser]

The cruise experience will really depend on who your teen meets up with and how outgoing he is. I have 2 young adults and they have had varying experiences. My son is usually very outgoing but on his last cruise several years ago he was bored within hours of embarkation for a 9 night cruise. He was 18 at the time and didn’t find anyone to hang out with. I’m sure he would have if he had put more effort into it, but he didn’t seem interested. My daughter has cruised a couple of times since turning 18 and has had a great experience. Even though she is less outgoing, she met others her age on the basketball court and at the nightclub and would hang out with them every evening.

They both will be joining us for another cruise this summer. It is the first one for our son in quite a few years. He seems to be looking forward to it. Maybe he forgot how bored he was last time. It is only a 4 nighter so at least there will be less time for him to be bored.

I’m sure if the OPs son makes the effort, he will find many others his age to spend time with. Sailing from Bayonne, there will be plenty of others from the New York area, so he may even make some friends that he can see again after the cruise.

 

 

 

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[brookmill18]

With a newly 18 year old (so probably still in hight school), the freedom of the ship can often keep them happy for quite awhile--just being able to go wherever they want, eat when and what they want, etc without really having to check in or with a parent. I'd also really think about getting the streaming internet package and upload a bunch of movies to his devices. He might like sitting on the pool deck watching a show or a movie if things are a bit slow.

 

Another idea is that depending on your itinerary, maybe do a more organized RCCL tour on the first port day--something that would appeal to teens. He may end up meeting some people that way. Good luck!

[theSHAH]

We are cruising on Anthem in June. We last cruised her two years ago. At the time my son was 16 and very much enjoyed teen club and met up with some nice teens to socialize with during the cruise. He will have just turned 18 when we sail. He is now excluded from teen club and is really too young to enjoy adult activities. And I don't really want him hanging with 25 year olds. Does Royal offer anything for the 18-20 age group? I want him to enjoy his cruise and make friends but how can he find others his age?

 

Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

Brooklyn Girl

 

To be honest, not much from personal experience. I am a bit older now, but I recall several years ago myself being in the age bracket and thinking just what you put into words. I was too old to take part in any teen programs and too young for any of the adult stuff. I think I tooled around the casino lightly once and did the comedy club but felt largely left out of the fun my (just a few years) younger/older cousins were having.