16 yo on board....restrictions?

[aurorafan65]

I just pulled out a navigator from our trip last April - here's a sampling of family activities throughout the day:
Paper Plane Making
Trivia
Bingo
Family crafts (we made a mousepad)
origami flowers
chip-it gold (this one states 12 & up)
salsa & merengue class
who wants to be a mousketeer (gameshow)
karaoke
fun in the sun with DJ Mike at the goofy pool
rock & roll at MIdtown
Nightly show - this night was a comedian/juggler/physical comedy - he was very funny
I know I did a scrapbook class another day too

like I said this is just a sample from 1 day

 

[cruisingwithtwins]

Ok, a couple of activities in THe Stack that I know she likes...there's one where they are divided into groups and actually make a movie. THey get a video camera, and they script, act, film, and present it to the group.

Video scavenger hunt--find things around the ship and film them (cameras are provided) to prove that you found them.

Gotcha game I don't pretend to know all the rules of this, but it is a day or multi-day long game where they are assigned to "kill" specific people including ship's officers, etc. They are provided with a photo and must figure out who the person is, etc. There is also a way they eliminate each other. I know DD got a server to put a sticker on the bottom of another teen's glass with an X on it. By drinking the contents of the glass without having detected the X, he was eliminated.

Brains vs. Brawn game...girls vs. boys to answer questions/complete tasks. Better to be physically stronger or smarter????

In addition, the Stack has a long list of crafts, etc. that can be done at any time by requesting the necessary supplies from the CMs.

Ok, now the filming your own show perked them up...they've taken several video courses at the community college so they love that....but the Gotcha game, that really turned them off. And after reading about that their reaction was they hoped the filming wasn't to follow the killers around! And I have to say that the idea of "killing" people really bothers me as well and is a bit shocking to think of on a Disney cruise. No offense to those who find it entertaining...I didn't even know there was such a movie out....but that's just not something I could ever find entertaining even in a movie.

Ok, I've told the girls we need to step away for a bit.....I appreciate everyone's input, both positive and negative.....I do think this is something we need to learn more about before we can decide if this type of cruise is right for us. They're looking at other cruise lines to see if there is more things that they would enjoy. And I think I'll keep trying to find out exactly what goes on at a Disney cruise, lol.

 

[cruisingwithtwins]

I think you are focusing WAY too much on the Stack! As said several times by many people there are plenty of activities that are for everyone in the family. My kids never go to the kids rooms & we all have fun together. We go by the pool, we play bingo, we do trivia, go to the library, walk around the deck, go to the shows, eat, sit in the lounges & listen to music, animation class & one of our favorite making towel animals. Just because they can't stay in the adult areas - basically quiet cove area & Paolo's shouldn't be a deal buster. Even if you look at other cruise lines, there are places they won't be allowed either. We've been on RCCL & they have adult only areas too - any cruise line will have them.

As said before check out the Navigators & take a look at all the activities. You can also go over to cruise critic & look at the Compass' from RCCL & believe me you'll see a big dfference in how much is offered for all ages on DCL compared to others

It's not the adult only areas...though the spa was one that they were definitely excited about....it's the lack of things to do for them. As I've said, they aren't typical teens...they don't play video games, the music they listen to is not likely to be on 99% of the other teen ipods (and actually they don't even HAVE ipods, lol)....watching movies that they can see at home (and have seen a hundred times) isn't something they want to do...they want to experience new things. The ports of call sound wonderful, but then if they're bored on the sea days that won't be much fun. They know they can't be having exciting adventure 24/7, but 2 days at sea with nothing to do but swim (that does sound fun to them since we don't have a pool)...not so much.

I think I'll make a list of all the things people have said they enjoy with their teens....and we'll just have to do a pro/con graph and see if there is enough for them to think this is the right vacation. Maybe what we need to do is skip the cruise and go straight to a vacation with just ports of call, lol.

 

[eva]

It's not the adult only areas...though the spa was one that they were definitely excited about....it's the lack of things to do for them. As I've said, they aren't typical teens...they don't play video games, the music they listen to is not likely to be on 99% of the other teen ipods (and actually they don't even HAVE ipods, lol)....watching movies that they can see at home (and have seen a hundred times) isn't something they want to do...they want to experience new things. The ports of call sound wonderful, but then if they're bored on the sea days that won't be much fun. They know they can't be having exciting adventure 24/7, but 2 days at sea with nothing to do but swim (that does sound fun to them since we don't have a pool)...not so much.

I think I'll make a list of all the things people have said they enjoy with their teens....and we'll just have to do a pro/con graph and see if there is enough for them to think this is the right vacation. Maybe what we need to do is skip the cruise and go straight to a vacation with just ports of call, lol.

Well, DH and I have been on 4 DCL cruises so far and have yet to see a movie.

 

[kcashner]

And the movies shown in the theatres are recently released Disney/Touchstone/Miramax, other Disney owned company films. The classics that you've seen 100 times are on the TV.

 

[aurorafan65]

....it's the lack of things to do for them. As I've said, they aren't typical teens...they don't play video games, the music they listen to is not likely to be on 99% of the other teen ipods (and actually they don't even HAVE ipods, lol).... .

IMO the video games are a boy thing - I don't know any girls that play but trust me my boys do but they don't play while we're on the ship - it's like a weird force comes over them. They'll sit & read books in deck chairs - I usually look for the UFO at that point.

I know you keep saying they aren't typical - but you haven't mentioned anything they do like to do.

I think you need to figure out what you guys do for a 'normal' vacation & compare that to a cruise. For us we like to go to the shore so going on a cruise to tropical places seemed natural & staying by the pool. Now that we've done a couple carribean cruises we're heading on to the baltics. This will be totally different since we won't be having fun in the sun everyday. We're looking at the cities & seeing how to relate it to school or other interests. My 8th grader is in his 2nd year of latin so we're doing Bath in the UK & there's something else I can't think of right now in another stop that relates. Anyway I totally digressed

Even if you look at other cruise lines, there will be age limitations on what they can do/go. We've been on RCCL's Freedom which is a great ship with lots of fun things to do also. You might want to check out cruise critic to get more info on different lines & activities.

 

[aurorafan65]

And the movies shown in the theatres are recently released Disney/Touchstone/Miramax, other Disney owned company films. The classics that you've seen 100 times are on the TV.

The premiered the Hannah Montana movie on the ship at 12:01 - all the girls went nuts. We also saw Bolt in 3D & Race to Witch Mountain


Last time there was a ventriloquist who was totally hysterical. He had this bird & the bird kept saying how he loved to watch the movies & spent the day in his cabin watching Iron Man 15 times. I know that doesn't sound as funny as he was

 

[everafter1]

I agree, you'll probably want to make a pro/con list. I really love DCL and it's always my first choice, but you may want to take a look at a few other cruise lines to compare. I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what you choose

 

[eva]

aurorafan65, Good idea! Looking at the excursions that DCL offers is a great idea. Remember that the ship is only half the destination. There are great ports of call and Disney is pretty good at offering great excursions. I don't think there are any excursions that a 16 year old can't do. Well, I'm not sure if they can drive the jet skis at CC. But that is all I can think of. Oh yeah, do investigate CC too. There is a lot to do there for all ages.

 

[anijac1412]

Do you know if they'd let a 17 year old do the galley tour if they have it? Is that an "adult-only" tour? My sister will 17 at the time of the cruise (if we book it) and she is really an enthousiast when it comes to restaurants and food (she watches the Food Network on TV more than anything!) so she would really enjoy this... Think they'd make an exception?

 

[mmouse37]

Could you be more specific? Everything we've read about The Stack says the same thing....dance parties, movie nights, interactive games and a bar that dispenses smoothies and soft drinks.

So to them they're looking at watching moveis they can already see at home....and drinking smoothies. Not exactly worth a few thousand dollars of their hard, very hard, earned cash.


I am so depressed today with their talk of not wanting to go...it's all they've talked about for almost a year as they worked and saved their money. I told them until they had 1/2 of the cost saved we wouldn't even start researching it....and they reached that savings account goal last week. And now they just want to forget the whole thing. I want to cry (because secretly I too have been looking forward to this cruise....but for me, just sitting and doing nothing sounds like heaven....because at home that rarely happens, lol).

Sounds like they may not be happy on any cruise..... and I don't mean this as putting them down.....it just seems they may not be happy on other lines either unless the activities they are looking for are more towards what RCCL has with the flow rider, rock climbing, ice skating, etc. On any cruiselines the nightclubs will be for 18 and older and will be playing mostly today's pop music or dance hits with some oldies (we have been on many different cruiselines).

How will they know if they won't like it until they actually try it. If they like Disney as much as you say they will appreciate all the wonderful Disney touches and themeing onboard. The shows are fantastic Disney productions. They will probably meet many new friends onboard. Do they have to be kept busy every moment or do they enjoy some down time? Not quite sure what they are looking for as far as entertainment or keeping busy during the cruise...if they don't like to "hang" out are they looking for seminars or lectures or courses at sea? Just trying to figure out what type of activities they are interested in.

Our teens loved making new friends and always had a fantastic time onboard without going to the teen club all week. They went the first night and made friends and then did not go back all the time.

Can you compromise? Ask they to go on DCL with you and if they hate it the next vacation they an pick.

MJ