need to ask about what goes on in teen areas...

[Rock'n Robin]

I feel weird even asking this...
We are considering a cruise in July, 2004 for my parents 50th anniversary. It would be my parents (of course), me, DH, my kids (who would be 6,9 and 12 then) and my sister, her DH and her kids (who would be 11 and 15).
Now my niece, actually my sister's whole family, is very christian. We are too, but they only listen to christian music, etc. She is a real doll, but I'm afraid she would feel out of place in the teen coffeehouse, most likely with many teens who would be a lot more "secular" than she is. She is very straightlaced.
I guess I just need some reassurance that she can find some teens with similar interests. I teach at the high school level, and I know there aren't many kids like her, unfortunately.
Robin M.

[Kermit]

I've never been on a cruise, and am not a teenager, but I think that I was a lot like your niece when I was one, which wasn't too long ago. I always managed to find people like me when I was in a big enough group. They don't stick out, but there are usually a few in every crowd, and my experience was that we tended to find each other. I guess someone else who had been in the teen areas could tell you whether what goes on with the other kids would make her uncomfortable, but I wouldn't worry about her being able to find friends.

[Firefighter Mickey]

I just checked with my DD (age 13 at cruise time, now 14); there are a lot of teens with various tastes and backgrounds, but she felt certain that your niece would probably be fine (DD has a friend who is also somewhat similar to your niece).

She did mention that sometimes they play music which she might find objectionable, especially if she's only into christian music and doesn't listen much to a lot of the popular teen stuff (P.O.D., etc.) but the music selection is always changing, so she didn't think that would be a big problem.

Occasionally they have PG-13 movies ("Gone in 60 seconds" I think is PG-13, which was one they played once on our trip), but generally the trend seemed to be toward G/PG movies.

However, there are lots of activities, games, cards, etc. And in fact, the DD of the family that we dined with, was, well, what our DD described as a "little more strict" about some things, and she said she enjoyed meeting people there.

Based on what my DD had to say, it sounds like a place she might want to visit a couple of times just to see - if she's not comfortable there, well, there's lots of other things to do and places to meet other teens.

[disneyholic family]

i've never been on a cruise yet (i won't rehash another thread here), but allow me to comment despite that...
first of all, there are so many family activities that even if she doesn't find kids to hang out with, i suspect she would still have a good time...
both my kids are much like your neice....
in all honesty i doubt my son (the 15 year old) will find other boys like him.....very very very straightlaced (and also a math/science nerd to boot).....from the start i've assumed he'll want to spend most, if not all, of his time with us.....
that's great.....that's the point of the vacation anyway...to spend time together...
my daughter, who'll be close to 18 when we sail, is also like your neice but, possibly because of her age, mingles well with kids from all sorts of backgrounds......
she enjoys the interaction and never lets any veiled or not so veiled criticism disturb her....she's more than ready to debate her point of view.....but as i said, she's 3 years older than your neice....that sort of self-assurance in the face of teenage pressure comes with age i think...
but the point is, this cruise was mainly my daughter's idea.....
she's so excited about meeting kids from all over....getting to know them.....learning all about them.....and then continuing to correspond with them by email....
she knows there'll be all sorts of kids, just like there are where we live (i don't have to list the stereotypic nicknames as i'm sure you know them all)....she gets along with them at home, and i'm sure she'll be fine with them at sea...
if not, she'll hang out with us too....
she still amazingly likes to do that....
bottom line - i'm sure your neice will have fun one way or the other....just don't force her to go to common grounds if she's not comfortable there....and if it turns out that she is, great!!
enjoy your trip...

[leslieh]

Our first disney cruise 3 years ago, dd 13, dd16, they checked out common grounds a few times, but there was so much to do they really didnt hang out there much at all. Even last year we went with two other teens, they only visited the teen club once or twice. They hung out with us most of the time, the old folks. But we all had fun.

[loudmouth824]

When I want on my first Disney Cruise nearly 2 years ago, I did a lot of the teen activities. Since your niece only listens to Christian music, she would definately feel out of place on teen activities like the teen junkanoo cruise, which played mosty extremely loud (and fairly explicit) rap music. When I went, I met A LOT of teens, none of which were as deeply religious as your niece sounds, by far. Many teens swore constantly, and the counslers said to try not to swear, but they said a slip of the tounge was allowed. I don't know if your niece would be offended by that, but some people would be. Studio Sea is actually a much better place than common grounds for more, as you say, straightlaced teens. It's more of a family place, but it's still "hip" enough for teens.
Hope I helped!
~*~Toni~*~
P.S. For anyone else that reads this, this is what I personally viewed, and it's my opinion. Please don't bite my head off =)

[mouseclick1]

Robin,
We have done 2 cruises, and both times my boys have chosen not to get involved in the kids clubs. Each time they checked it out 1 night, then decided against going back. It didn't matter though, because there are so many other things to do. We went to various shows and activities as a family and had a blast both trips. Even if your niece decides that Common Grounds isn't for her, chances are she will still have the time of her life!

[Nutsoverdisney]

Rock'n Robin

We went on our first Disney Cruise last summer with our DD14. I was concerned about the types of teens that would be on board. I am very strict with my DD although we are not religious. She is not allowed to listen to music with cursing/killing in them and certain movies she is not allowed to go and see. My DD14 had no problem meeting teens that she could hang around with on the ship. DD suggested that your niece go to Common Grounds the first night to meet the other teens. After that it seems most of the teens just use Common Grounds as a meeting place and they then go to the movies that are playing or head to the pools/spas or special activities that they have planned just for teens.

One of my DD friends is a Jehovah Witness, who's parents are very strict with her and they have gone on 2 Disney Cruises each time DD friend said she meet teens she could hang around with and had a great time.