Activities for 18 year olds Onboard

[mrlddst]

I'm in the middle of finishing my Mardi Gras booking for June 2021 and having a slight panic moment. I am bringing my son and two nephews who will all be turning 18 that year and just graduating. What activities are there for them to do? Will it be a waste of cruise fare? Would they be allowed in the teen club? They are all introvert game players but seem to be looking forward to crusing for the first time. I'm really nervous about doing this. Also, we are booking two rooms but tying my husband to one and me to the other since no one is over 21. Will it be frowned upon to put them all the teens in the same room when we board?

[coevan]

no, it won't be frowned upon. 18 is an odd age for cruising, casino yes, alcohol no. 

[jbethel11]

I think ages 18-20 are some of the most awkward ages for cruising in the US. Sailing in Europe is better because the drinking age is 18.

[jaowel]

When my oldest was 18, they would not allow him in the teen club. He was a senior in high school and even with a school ID, they wouldn’t let him in. Which was a bummer because his friends that went with us hadn’t turned 18 yet. There wasn’t really anything “organized” or “ship sponsored” for him to do but he had a great time. 

[bingomamma19]

1 hour ago, mrlddst said:

I'm in the middle of finishing my Mardi Gras booking for June 2021 and having a slight panic moment. I am bringing my son and two nephews who will all be turning 18 that year and just graduating. What activities are there for them to do? Will it be a waste of cruise fare? Would they be allowed in the teen club? They are all introvert game players but seem to be looking forward to crusing for the first time. I'm really nervous about doing this. Also, we are booking two rooms but tying my husband to one and me to the other since no one is over 21. Will it be frowned upon to put them all the teens in the same room when we board?

The arcade, the pools, the food, trivia, bags tournaments, sports square, miniature golf, ropes courses, girl watching, simple hanging out etc.  

 

I doubt they will be bored.

[coevan]

4 hours ago, jbethel11 said:

I think ages 18-20 are some of the most awkward ages for cruising in the US. Sailing in Europe is better because the drinking age is 18.

 

 

i agree with you. when my son was 18 he could not wait to port and have some beers. A cruise out of P.R. he met a girl the second day, didn't see him much after that.😍 

[TNcruising02]

Since your son is cruising with two relatives who are the same age, I think they will find plenty to do.  If he was by himself, then I think it could be difficult.  Although they can't go into the teen club, they will be able to meet people, go to shows, karaoke, hot tubs, sports center, gym, and much more.  It's easier in a group.

We took our son and two of his friends on a cruise when they were all 17.  They were able to go to the teen club and hung out with a group of kids the entire cruise.  The following year we just took our son, who was 18 at that time.  He ended up hanging out with us a lot.  He met some people, but didn't have nearly as much fun as when this friends came alone.  I really regret not bringing along one of his friends. Anyway, I think your son will have an awesome time with your relatives.  

Edited October 19, 2019 by TNcruising02

[mrlddst]

Thanks for the responses!  I'm going to go ahead and finish booking. Worst case, he can gouge himself on sweets for 7 days. 

[cruizergal70]

On 10/18/2019 at 3:00 PM, jbethel11 said:

I think ages 18-20 are some of the most awkward ages for cruising in the US. Sailing in Europe is better because the drinking age is 18.

Everyone doesn't consider drinking to be a big, fun activity. Alcohol won't erase boredom. They will have to find activities to entertain themselves.

[deadmoney]

I would think an 18yo male would be busy chasing around 18yo females.

[Jerseygirl1416]

There’s plenty to do for that age group without drinking. They can work out, play basketball, play mini golf, play shuffle board, big chess, ping pong, the adult sports tournaments like dodgeball, watch movies, hang out at the pools, the water slides.....I can go on forever but you get the point. I always told my boys if you’re bored it’s because you’re boring😂

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

On 10/18/2019 at 2:43 PM, mrlddst said:

I'm in the middle of finishing my Mardi Gras booking for June 2021 and having a slight panic moment. I am bringing my son and two nephews who will all be turning 18 that year and just graduating. What activities are there for them to do? Will it be a waste of cruise fare? Would they be allowed in the teen club? They are all introvert game players but seem to be looking forward to crusing for the first time. I'm really nervous about doing this. Also, we are booking two rooms but tying my husband to one and me to the other since no one is over 21. Will it be frowned upon to put them all the teens in the same room when we board?

At 18, at sea they can do more than you on a cruise. The teen club is for them not you. They can do anything you do. So, YES a lot to do. If they do not enjoy it, there problem no yours. They have all the opportunities to have a great fun time.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

8 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

At 18, at sea they can do more than you on a cruise. The teen club is for them not you. They can do anything you do. So, YES a lot to do. If they do not enjoy it, there problem no yours. They have all the opportunities to have a great fun time.

I must add. No alcohol at all must be 21 for that. Some ships will not allow 18 year olds to smoke either.

[coevan]

33 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

Some ships will not allow 18 year olds to smoke either.

 

 

18 is the legal smoking age

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

35 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

18 is the legal smoking age

Yes it is. My mistake.

[teknoge3k]

46 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

18 is the legal smoking age

 

In some states, not all. 

[bingomamma19]

8 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

Everyone doesn't consider drinking to be a big, fun activity. Alcohol won't erase boredom. They will have to find activities to entertain themselves.

Exactly...I don't drink and I am 52...I find plenty of stuff to do on a ship.  

 

I find it funny how so many people associate fun with drinking??? 

[PhillyFan33579]

On 10/18/2019 at 3:00 PM, jbethel11 said:

I think ages 18-20 are some of the most awkward ages for cruising in the US. Sailing in Europe is better because the drinking age is 18.

There is a lot more to cruising, and life in general for that matter, than drinking. 

[cruzfmtexas]

We sailed in 2016 with my 18 year high school graduate daughter.  Yes..she is friendly, outgoing and an experienced cruiser - but she was hooked up with a small group of other 18-20 year olds on the 1st day.  She is still in contact with several of her friends she met on that cruise.  I think your son and cousins will have a great time.  

[momof3cruisers]

10 hours ago, twodaywonder said:

At 18, at sea they can do more than you on a cruise. The teen club is for them not you. They can do anything you do. So, YES a lot to do. If they do not enjoy it, there problem no yours. They have all the opportunities to have a great fun time.

The teen club is not for them. Once they turn 18 they aren’t allowed. 
 

 

[Joseph2017China]

On ‎10‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 2:43 PM, mrlddst said:

I'm in the middle of finishing my Mardi Gras booking for June 2021 and having a slight panic moment. I am bringing my son and two nephews who will all be turning 18 that year and just graduating. What activities are there for them to do? Will it be a waste of cruise fare? Would they be allowed in the teen club? They are all introvert game players but seem to be looking forward to crusing for the first time. I'm really nervous about doing this. Also, we are booking two rooms but tying my husband to one and me to the other since no one is over 21. Will it be frowned upon to put them all the teens in the same room when we board?

I'm assuming this is not your first cruise.  With that being said, you already know what the adults can do on the ship.  The only exception would be drinking. Everything you do, they can do.  But they can play with the little kids in the kids club since they are adults.  Plus, they are going to be hanging out together.  That should be enough.

[purplephenom]

You have a group of 3 18 year old boys- they'll find enough to keep themselves occupied.  Being that there's 3 of them, maybe they'll even make a friend or 2 if they need an even number for ping pong or basketball or whatever it is they decide to do.

 

Cruising at that 18-20 age can be a little weird if you're alone, or used to the teen clubs, or an introvert.  But if your group isn't used to the teen clubs, they won't have that to compare to, and they can just start finding their own fun.

[jbethel11]

2 hours ago, Nic6318 said:

"Sailing in Europe is better because the drinking age is 18."

The 18-year-old may want to try a drink for the first time. Common reason why outgoing high school seniors travel to Canada or Europe to party, and drink.

[Manatee Mom]

My boys are 18 & 20 and have been cruising since they were young. Make sure they go to the Quest Game (18+), they can go to adult comedy, the night club, casino. My boys love the sports deck they play basketball, soccer, the waterslides and go to the sports bar. the kids the same age seem to find each other they will have a great time

 

[cynt]

My nephews didn't even go to the teen club. They said auntie we have FREE FOOD, basketball and girls 24/7 for a week.  We're having a BLAST!!!  LOL!!!