Teen friendly Cruise line?

[Coastalrap]

We’ve cruised a lot of Disney and an Alaskan cruise on HAL. We want to book a cruise for next years spring break and bring our daughter and a few of her friends who will be HS seniors. Not all the kids will be 18 and although we like Disney, they are not “older” teen friendly. Their teen club went from 13-17, a spread that can range from 7th grade to HS senior. I know Disney would allow 18 YO in their club but not allowed to drink. That was a good compromise for the 18 and older group but they still forgot about the older teens that are not interested in hanging with and sharing in the activities geared for 7th and 8th graders.

Is there a cruise line that splits this and has good on board activities for older teens that can not get into the clubs yet?

[dkjretired]

but there are a couple of things to consider. First, I have two teens who have cruised since they are 5 and 7 and when they become teens they tend to meet people and do things on their own. Second, if you have an 18 year old check the cruise lines policies on drinking. A number of cruise lines allow 18 year olds to drink once at sea and in ports where the drinking age is 18. Also, those who have 18 year old drinking policies will generally allow them to gamble in the Casino.

[albean99]

I only know the 2 cruise lines we've been on. Carnival has a 12-14 teen group and a 15-17 one. They both have activities. 18 yr olds can go to the singles mixer on the first night for 18-21 yr olds but there aren't any activities. They're allowed in the casino but can't drink until they're 21.

 

Royal Caribbean has similar programs for 12-14 and 15-17. I've read that they now have a teen hangout for the older teens. I don't know if there's anything specifically for 18+. They do have a policy that if the parent gives written permission, that 18,19 yr olds can order/drink beer and wine while on open sea.

[kitty9]

Not one cruise line has organized activities, in a kids club setting, for teens over the age of 17, and for security and liability reasons, they will not allow older teens into the 17 and younger groups. To be honest, by the time the kids are 17, they think those kids clubs are pretty lame. But, kids seem to think that RCCI and Carnival are the best for older teens.

[Coastalrap]

Thanks for the replies.

I think what we are looking for is not the structured activities but a “night club” type atmosphere for the older teens to gather and dance without having to share the room with 7th and 8th grade teens. Since they can not go into the clubs, there is really nothing for them to do after dinner.

From reading more posts, I’ve realized another problem that we will have and that’s the separation of the 17 and 18 year olds. Since our group will have both this will be a big problem. I understand the issues cruise lines face and it’s very hard to please everyone. This is not a wide spread issue that people have so I understand the cruise lines not catering after such a small segment of travelers.

After looking into this I think a cruise may not be the right choice for our group.

[dkjretired]

Thanks for the replies.

I think what we are looking for is not the structured activities but a “night club” type atmosphere for the older teens to gather and dance without having to share the room with 7th and 8th grade teens. Since they can not go into the clubs, there is really nothing for them to do after dinner.

From reading more posts, I’ve realized another problem that we will have and that’s the separation of the 17 and 18 year olds. Since our group will have both this will be a big problem. I understand the issues cruise lines face and it’s very hard to please everyone. This is not a wide spread issue that people have so I understand the cruise lines not catering after such a small segment of travelers.

After looking into this I think a cruise may not be the right choice for our group.

 

Your right, there is a problem. On some of the cruise ships the age difference between 17 and 18 creates the same problems as on land between the ages of 20 and 21. Big difference in what they can do.

[montgomeryfamily]

If you want to do a cruise, your best choice may be Princess, especially a Grand class ship like the Caribbean Princess.

 

Princess offers a teen club that is only for the teen age group--the younger middle school children are in a different group. The teen club has some dancing and other activities like Princess Teen Idol and karoke. But it is doubtful that 18 year olds would be allowed to participate because of the rules.

 

There is a problem in dealing with the 18 year olds. Princess does not allow 18 to 20 year old young people to drink, but they are allowed to enter the adult clubs. Young people 17 and younger are usually not allowed to enter the ship nightclub, but we did see them being allowed to go into the nightclub for the adult Princess Idol competition. We also saw that the young people were allowed to go into the lounges, although not to order alcohol.

 

Princess has several theme parties that begin about 10:30 in one of the lounges. One night is country western night with line dancing, one night is 50's rock and roll sock hop, and another night up on deck was an Island party, with dancing. We saw young people at all of these parties. However, we did not see any young people at the 70s theme party in the nightclub. I think that is where the strictest age limitations are made.

 

So I think the kids could still go to one of the lounges and dance--it is just going to the adult nightclub that would probably be the issue. The only downside is that the lounges typically stop playing music by 1130 or 1200 and the only music for dancing is the nightclub. But the Caribbean Princess and some other Grand class ships do have the Movies Under the Stars showing a late night flick and there are a few other late night activities they could do.

 

I'd be happy to provide some additional information or answer questions for you to help you decide if this might be an option.

 

The other question would be are the parents coming, because if they are not, you might have a problem being able to take the kids out of the country and also with room arrangements.

[wandiebuck]

Are there many 17 yr old teens on the Dawn Princess to Alaska in September?

[MikeT718]

We took DS who was 15 at the time on the Zaandam last spring and he found plenty to do that were not part of the ships activities also on all of HAL's ships except the Vista class they have an area known as the Oasis which is a Teens only deck with a waterfall nice deck chairs and hamocks, this is located just above the inside teen area known as the loft..What I have heard from DS is that most of the teens go to the first activity just to meet others then just go off and do thier own thing.....

 

I hope this helps

[montgomeryfamily]

Wandiebuck, it is likely that there would not be many teens on that Dawn Princess sailing. First, there aren't usually as many children on the Alaska sailings. Secondly, school is in session during that time of year in most areas and so many parents won't remove their children from school for a cruise.