18 on DCL?

[Colleen27]

I'm looking at a short DCL cruise for early next year and I was wondering how things work onboard with a barely-18 teenager. It looks, from reading the activity descriptions, that he'd be too old for the teen activities but not old enough for adult activities? Is that right, or are there activities/facilities geared toward that in-between age of adult but not yet drinking age?

Also, is DCL like WDW in terms of going by the age at check in for activities and such? If we book the earlier of the two sailings we're looking at he'd turn 18 while onboard. Would he be counted as 17 and therefore able to use the teen clubs for the duration of the cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm looking at a short DCL cruise for early next year and I was wondering how things work onboard with a barely-18 teenager. It looks, from reading the activity descriptions, that he'd be too old for the teen activities but not old enough for adult activities? Is that right, or are there activities/facilities geared toward that in-between age of adult but not yet drinking age?

Also, is DCL like WDW in terms of going by the age at check in for activities and such? If we book the earlier of the two sailings we're looking at he'd turn 18 while onboard. Would he be counted as 17 and therefore able to use the teen clubs for the duration of the cruise?

If he is 18 than he is an adult. He will be allowed access to all adult only areas, as well as all adult & family activities. That would all the adult-only lounges, as well as Serenity Bay,

There is also an 18-21 group that meets the first night with a DCL CM to set up activities specific to their group. If he might be interested in that, it's important to attend that first night's meeting, because if no one shows up, or only a few, nothing may be planned.

If you cruise, and he turns 18 during the cruise, he can attend Vibe (Teen club) until he actually turns 18 and then can only do adult activities at that point.

 

[Colleen27]

That's what I was afraid of. I really wanted to make the cruise work for this coming winter but it doesn't sound like it will. I can't see DS having much interest in the adult activities, which really aren't geared for high schoolers, or even in an 18-21 group. Maybe we could make the earlier dates work, since he'd have access to Vibe for 2 of the 3 sea days, but on the other hand that might actually make things worse when his birthday means he can't hang out with his sister or any friends he might make earlier in the cruise.

Hmm... maybe I need to look at different dates to try to get a cruise in before he turns 18.

 

[insureman]

I have the reverse problem. My youngest daughter is just finishing her first year of college but won't be 18 until 3 weeks after our transatlantic cruise. So she really would like to hang with her older sister who is 19 but that's probably going to be an issue. She has no interest in being in the teen club with high school kids.

 

[Colleen27]

I have the reverse problem. My youngest daughter is just finishing her first year of college but won't be 18 until 3 weeks after our transatlantic cruise. So she really would like to hang with her older sister who is 19 but that's probably going to be an issue. She has no interest in being in the teen club with high school kids.

There's no winning with these kids, is there? My son was held back in early elem so he's at the other extreme - even though he'll be 18 he'll only be a high school junior which is why I don't think he'll find the 18-21 group to be a good fit, much less the adult activities.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There's no winning with these kids, is there? My son was held back in early elem so he's at the other extreme - even though he'll be 18 he'll only be a high school junior which is why I don't think he'll find the 18-21 group to be a good fit, much less the adult activities.

I would still suggest he attend that first night's meeting. You/he may be surprised. That group doesn't just do adult activities.

Our son had just turned 18 (well, by a couple of months) when he cruised with us and they (DCL) were able to set up getting some of the games out of Vibe for them to use, a veggie car race (you carve veggies, add wheels, and run them down a slope - like a pinewood derby event), had lunch with a couple of the ship's officers. They would meet up around 10:00 most nights and go to the adult show in the pub/lounge and then just "hang out" They went into the pool during late dinner, attended the hypnotist show - and a bunch of other stuff. We hardly saw him except at dinner.

 

[firepuppy]

I would suggest he attend the meeting with the 18-21 group. My son also just turned 18 when we were on out last cruise. He was upset that he would no be able to go the teen club, but once he meet with the others in his new age group he was just fine. The 18-21 love to come in to the adult clubs and the cruise staff do a great job on making them feel welcome. We are cruising again this year and he is already meeting others in his age group.

As a mom I think I was more worried then he was. Both of you will have a great time and enjoy being in the adult areas at the same time.