College age cruisers

[Pawleys4]

It appears that on the seven-night cruises, DCL has three or four organized gatherings for the 18 to 21 age crowd. Last time we cruised, very few of the college-aged cruisers showed up for these small gatherings (I do not think they could be categorized as "events"). My older son said the small group was "lame" so he ended up hanging out with us parents for most of the trip. Meanwhile, our younger son was in the teen club, made lots of new friends, was in the club as much as possible, and when he was not in the club, he was hanging out with his new friends. From our DIS-Board site, it looks like we will have a bunch of college-age cruisers on the week we are cruising. I want to assure these guys have a great time and get to meet others their age. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the college age cruisers together more often? And does anyone have any activities that their college age cruisers especially enjoyed doing as a group? All suggestions are very much appreciated.

 

[lbgraves]

From the sounds of it, this group varies from cruise to cruise. Now that the 18 yos do not have the option to go to the Vibe, this is their only way to connect to others their age. If there is a group on the meets thread, have them plan to attend the first meeting. The CMs seem to respond to what those who show up to this meeting want. If they want to get together more during the cruise, they help to make plans. If no one shows up, they don't go out of their way. You don't say which ship you will be on, but there are different activities onboard that they can attend together. Many go to the night clubs as a group.

 

[kcashner]

The college group has morphed into the 18-21 group with the new rules. While this may seem like a subtle change, there is a HUGE maturity difference between a high school senior who happens to be 18 or 19 and a young adult who has lived away from home for a while.

There is a "meeting" each night at 10. This is really just a time for the gang to recognize each other and make friends. Usually they move from there to the 10:30 adult entertainment. There have been nights/cruises when DD was the only one who showed up and other cruises where there was a good group. It just depends! If you know you have a bunch of college kids, maybe suggest something thru your Dis group even before the first official get together--the sooner they are talking to each other, the better!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And stress that it's real important that they go to that first night's meeting. That's where the CM whose helping will get the input as to what kinds of things they may want to organize/do during the cruise.

If they just decide to drop in like the 3rd or 4th day, there may not be anything going on.

 

[kcashner]

YES--if they don't ask, they will have the nightly "meeting" and a couple of lunches. If they ask, the CMs will arrange some organized activities.

 

[Pawleys4]

Thank you all for the most helpful suggestions! I did not realize DCL would tailor gatherings to suit the group. We will be cruising on the Fantasy in late June. The college age cruisers on our DIS Board meet thread have set up a Facebook page to communicate ahead of time. We have already established that they need to make sure to attend the first night ice breaker gathering. I will tell my fellow cruisers on the DIS Board to read this thread. I do think these suggestions will help our 18 to 21 year olds make the most of their cruise. Thank you again, and if you think of any more suggestions, keep 'em coming!

 

[kcashner]

If they ask, the CMs will arrange sports get togethers as well as craft and game type sessions. You won't see these without asking.

Much of what happens is the gang meets and just hangs together.

 

[Princess Row]

If we all agreed could we include some kind of scavenger hunt or other related items? Will the CM make up the weeks events for anything the college kids want?

 

[crimson_savvy]

If we all agreed could we include some kind of scavenger hunt or other related items? Will the CM make up the weeks events for anything the college kids want?

I also would like to know this. I cruise in May and have yet to find many college aged people on our cruise meet thread.

 

[geffric]

The college age group on the alaska cruise ( 8/9) was very active and the "kids" had lots of fun..

varies by the time of the cruise..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I also would like to know this. I cruise in May and have yet to find many college aged people on our cruise meet thread.

While it may seem there are not many going on your cruise, remember, the people on the DISboards are a small percentage of the actual cruisers on the ship.

Be sure to be at the first meeting and you may find there are others in you age group aboard.

 

[kcashner]

If we all agreed could we include some kind of scavenger hunt or other related items? Will the CM make up the weeks events for anything the college kids want?

I don't know about "anything they want," but they will "borrow" some activties from the Vibe if desired. Seriously, it is up to the group and really relates to the first night.

We did B2Bs last year. On the first leg there was a great group, the second leg, 3 repeaters, but the rest of the group really didn't "click," It just depends.

 

[disneyholic family]

It appears that on the seven-night cruises, DCL has three or four organized gatherings for the 18 to 21 age crowd. Last time we cruised, very few of the college-aged cruisers showed up for these small gatherings (I do not think they could be categorized as "events"). My older son said the small group was "lame" so he ended up hanging out with us parents for most of the trip. Meanwhile, our younger son was in the teen club, made lots of new friends, was in the club as much as possible, and when he was not in the club, he was hanging out with his new friends. From our DIS-Board site, it looks like we will have a bunch of college-age cruisers on the week we are cruising. I want to assure these guys have a great time and get to meet others their age. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the college age cruisers together more often? And does anyone have any activities that their college age cruisers especially enjoyed doing as a group? All suggestions are very much appreciated.

this was exactly what happened to us on both cruises..

DS was in the teen club and had an absolutely fabulous time.
DD, who is the much more social animal of the two, went to the meet and greets but no one showed up either cruise.
but just having meet and greets is lame. They should have had organized activities to begin with.
That was our main complaint on both cruises - no organized activities for this age group.
So she ended up hanging out with us both cruises. Of course, these were both short cruises, not 7 days, which i think might make a difference.
But i felt terrible for her. Especially since going on DCL was her idea to begin with. She gave DCL 2 chances. Both terribly unsuccessful.


Truth is, she was going to go on DCL this summer with her husband on their alaska cruise until she realized how bad the DCL itinerary is for 2012.
So they'll be on a southbound RCCL cruise instead. From what i've heard about RCCL, there should be some fun evening activities for them this time.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

My only advice would be to check the DIS for any threads about meetings on cruises. Speaking as a college kid, I always like to at least try to make new friends my own age when I go somewhere new, but I frequently end up hanging out with my family/other adults in the group anyway. That's just me, though.

 

[erinfarber]

We will be traveling on the Fantasy in Aug. ( myself, husband, son 18 and son15) I know my younger son will have a blast in Vibe, my older son is the concern. How do we encourage him to meet others his age? he is very independent and I am sure he will find his way, however, it would be great to know there was some type of meeting... that ALL 18-21 cruisers had the opportunity to attend. Everything I have read concerning the 18- 21 year old cruisers seems to be.... not much for them to do... Disney tries to provide a meeting the first night, but apparently no one shows up. There has to be a way for Disney to incorporate some type of meet and greet for college age kids on the navigator. There has to be many college aged kids that do not look at these Disney boards, that would be interested in meeting others their age. What are your thought on some type of meet and greet for this age group.

 

[lbgraves]

It is listed in the navigator in the schedule. I would suggest that you join the meet thread here on the DIS and see if anyone else is traveling with a child the same age. They can get in touch with each other before the cruise and make plans, then board already having a plan in place if there isn't an active group onboard.

 

[kcashner]

We will be traveling on the Fantasy in Aug. ( myself, husband, son 18 and son15) I know my younger son will have a blast in Vibe, my older son is the concern. How do we encourage him to meet others his age? he is very independent and I am sure he will find his way, however, it would be great to know there was some type of meeting... that ALL 18-21 cruisers had the opportunity to attend. Everything I have read concerning the 18- 21 year old cruisers seems to be.... not much for them to do... Disney tries to provide a meeting the first night, but apparently no one shows up. There has to be a way for Disney to incorporate some type of meet and greet for college age kids on the navigator. There has to be many college aged kids that do not look at these Disney boards, that would be interested in meeting others their age. What are your thought on some type of meet and greet for this age group.

The "college club" activities ARE listed in the Navigator. The trick is to get the "kids" to look at the navigator and to attend!

 

[Pawleys4]

We are cruising in late June/early July. The parents of college students in our DIS Board meet group have already been communicating on the DIS Board, and we have identified at least 20 college-age folks on our cruise. One of the members of our DIS Board group set up a Facebook page for the students to communicate with each other prior to the cruise. I hope this gives them the opportunity to "meet" a few people before the cruise.

Yes, they do list the activities for the 18-21 crowd in the Navigators. You see this in the Navigators recently posted online by All Ears.net from the Fantasy. But what I am learning from others on this thread is that DCL will also do other activities if this age group requests them, which is great news to our family.

 

[erinfarber]

Thank you so much for all this wonderful information. I am hoping to have my son join this thread, and hopefully he can speak to some other college age kids prior to our Fantasy cruise on Aug 4th. Thanks again .

 

[cyclenut]

The college age group on the alaska cruise ( 8/9) was very active and the "kids" had lots of fun..

varies by the time of the cruise..

I was going to say the same thing ... but we were on the same cruise!

My college age kids are still talking about the fun they had and the friends they met!

I've heard enough stories from others though that suggest this really is hit or miss. If there are a couple of outgoing kids in the group, it can make all the difference.