Considering a cruise for the first time with teen boys. Need advice.

[Little E]

Dis friends, I really need some advice. We are WDW vets, and did our first DL trip in August of 2018 (and had a terrific time!). For all of our trips, we've stayed on property, as we really enjoy the Disney bubble. We are looking to do something a little different for spring break this year, so I consulted a local TA for some advice. Here's what I told her about my family (myself, DH, DS 17, and DS 14) and what we're looking for in a spring break trip the last week of March, 2019:

1. We love Disney. We've had amazing experiences at both WDW and DL. We love the resorts, the food, and the rides. My teen boys are active and go from one ride to the next; when we take a midday break, we swim in the resort pools. They like going off on their own in the parks and doing their own thing for a time without mom and dad around, and we feel comfortable giving them the freedom to do this. They are responsible and they stick together, and they know the parks well. We are a family that doesn't do characters, parades, or shows...we'd rather eat yummy food and hit the attractions hard.
2. We want to go someplace new for spring break, 2019...so not WDW or DL.
3. As the gal who pays for the trip, I like the all inclusive feel of a WDW package, so I want an all inclusive experience.
4. Because we have never traveled outside the US with our boys, we are open to doing this. We know that our boys will not be able to be nearly as independent as they are at Disney parks, and that's OK.
5. Our boys are active, so we have no interest in going and plopping on a beach for a week. We need to do stuff...swimming, snorkeling, hiking, zip lining, etc. and we also need good food.

Our TA took this info and proposed three options: a Grand Canyon trip (not all inclusive and not warm at the end of March, but lots of action with hiking, stunning views, Jeep tours, etc.), a trip to Mexico in an all inclusive resort (warm weather and lots of activities, but I've heard stories about safety issues with tourists in Mexico), or a Disney cruise on the Dream.

I'll be honest, a cruise was not even in my thought process. We've never taken a cruise. While I've heard amazing things about Disney cruises, I've often assumed that the main draw for them are characters and shows. My boys do not dig shows, and merely tolerate characters during the few character meals we've done through the years at WDW. However, the TA indicated a Disney cruise would give me the all inclusive experience I'm after, great food, warm weather, activities, and she assured me the cruise ship itself (like the Disney parks) would be safe for my boys to navigate solo for short periods of time (definitely not once we disembark, obviously). She said when we get to cruise stops, there are lots of activities we can take part in, which sound fun. However, I'm worried my boys will be bored on the ship itself.

So, I'm turning to Dis folks who are Disney cruise vets. All of these options are roughly the same price and fit our budget, so they are all equal from the financial perspective. I need to know if I should heavily consider a cruise for our family trip, or if I should eliminate at cruise from the mix. Right now, both my hubby and boys are cruise skeptical, I think because they have Disney princesses and shows in their heads?

So, give it to me straight. Would a Disney cruise fit our teen boy family needs? Sell me on it, or give the straight scoop about why this probably wouldn't be a good choice for us.

Thank you, in advance, Dis peeps for all of your advice and information.

 

[Oliviaxxx]

I have cruised before but not on Disney. We have done Royal Caribean. I too would avoid Mexico. I have heard way too many horror stories of families on vacations. There is even a travel Advisory for some parts of Mexico due to their high crime.

I think a cruise would be a great time. I have heard great things about the teen clubs on the Disney ships. It also has the AquaDuck waterslide I believe. On the cruise, the boys could break off from the parents and do their own thing. My family friend has a 16yo daughter. She goes to the club and always leaves with so many friends. Her parents complained that she had more fun doing all the teen things than hanging with her mom and dad on the ship! I would remind your family that the ship is part of it but there are also the excursions which are even more fun.

But the Grand Canyon sounds cool too... Whatever decision you make I bet your family would have a fantastic time!

 

[buzzrelly]

We have been on 3 Disney cruises, the Magic, Dream and Wonder. My kids are currently DS17 and DD15 and we are booked for our 4th cruise next April on the Fantasy.

When we went on the Dream, DS was 14 and absolutely loved the cruise. Granted, that was mostly because he loved the Vibe and the freedom he had on the ship. They do so many fun activities in there or they just hang out which they like also. My DS has yet to see any of the shows and I’m sure he won’t be attending any on the Fantasy...well, maybe I can convince him to see Aladdin since it’s his favorite movie, but that would be the only reason he’d go.

He was 16 on the Wonder and loved it just as much, though it was a shorter cruise (3 nights) and preferred the 4 nights on the Dream.

He is looking forward to going in the Fantasy and part of the reason we are going is because this is his last chance to go in the Vibe.

Maybe show your husband and boys some YouTube videos. DCL is definitely more than princesses and little kids. Having a fun, new place to see for the first time just makes it all the more exciting.

 

[lklgoodman]

I would suggest a 7 night West Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy for your family. The West Caribbean goes to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Falmouth, Jamaica. The Western Caribbean has a lot of excursions that sound like the kind your family would enjoy(zip-lining, snorkeling, kayaking). The Dream and Fantasy ships are twins of each other, so while the ships offer the same things, the Dream only does 3 and 4 nights to the Bahamas and the Fantasy does 7 night Caribbean cruises. We haven't gone to the Bahamas, a lot of people on here report that it's not very nice. The Eastern Caribbean is mostly beach type of excursions, while the Western has more active excursions. We've done both and enjoyed both. Cozumel is considered safe. I suggest you take a look at the port excursions that are offered for any of the cruises you are considering to see what your family thinks of them. Here's a link from Disney's website showing the port excursions for the Western Caribbean. https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...falmouth-jamaica,grand-cayman-cayman-islands/

 

[FigmentSpark]

We've taken our teens on the Fantasy (7 days at spring break) twice, now. I see far less of them on the Fantasy than anywhere else. They are totally independent because they go to hang out with all the other teens in their respective clubs. They make new friends, some of whom stay in touch after the vacation is long over. They go on the Aquaduck whenever they want. They eat breakfast and lunch when they want. My only rules are we eat dinner together and they have to be home by 12 if the next day has an excursion (1 if it's a sea day). Oh yeah, and they have to do formal night photos with the family, too. They love that independence. They also love meeting new people, even my shy, introverted 13 year old. Your kids will love it.

As for 'adventure', check out the port excursions for the stops you would be making. There's everything from sitting on a beach to ziplining. The choice is yours.

 

[MomOTwins]

For what it sounds like your family wants, I would suggest an all-inclusive in the Cancun/Puerto Morelos area of Mexico. Safety concerns are not a thing if you stay in the all-inclusive resorts and tourist destinations and don't just go wandering on your own and staying in an airbnb. There are lots of adventure parks with activities like ziplining, snorkel, river tubing and cenote diving (google xel-ha, xplor, and xcaret) and ruins to explore at Tulum and if you venture on a longer excursion, Chichen Itza.

I think your teens might be bored on a Caribbean DCL cruise if they aren't much into characters, and want to keep active all the time. But if you think you might be interested in an Alaska cruise (and can afford the crazy price tags) I bet they would love that, as it is more focused on outdoorsy port adventures than just hanging out in the teen club on the ship and chilling on beaches.

 

[Joe Brig]

There would be lots of freedom for the boys to run around the ship, the teen club has activities until 1am. Also, Disney's private island is great for teens, very safe and lots of stuff to do without parents. There are some active excursions. They might not like the long dinners or the shows.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Grand Canyon, while beautiful, would be pretty boring, in my opinion, and definitely not a week-long trip. My teens would NOT want to spend their Spring Break at the GC, not even!

I think your family would enjoy a cruise but a 7night sailing on the Fantasy, not a 3 or 4 night on the Dream. Teens have a blast on the ships, they meet new friends and they are off! We barely saw our daughter while we were on the ship. You could enjoy some really fun and exciting excursions while in port, but swimming on the ships Is not good. The pools are tiny and wayyy different from expansive resorts.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mom4fun]

I have a son that is 18 now but has been cruising Disney since he was 12. He loves the parks and he loves cruises. He has no interest in characters or kids clubs. On board, he likes sports, movies and food. I would definitely recommend doing a western Caribbean. We are active people, also and it is amazing. There is only 2 sea days and it’s nice to recoop from all of the port excursions.

 

[mevelandry]

Dis friends, I really need some advice. We are WDW vets, and did our first DL trip in August of 2018 (and had a terrific time!). For all of our trips, we've stayed on property, as we really enjoy the Disney bubble. We are looking to do something a little different for spring break this year, so I consulted a local TA for some advice. Here's what I told her about my family (myself, DH, DS 17, and DS 14) and what we're looking for in a spring break trip the last week of March, 2019:

1. We love Disney. We've had amazing experiences at both WDW and DL. We love the resorts, the food, and the rides. My teen boys are active and go from one ride to the next; when we take a midday break, we swim in the resort pools. They like going off on their own in the parks and doing their own thing for a time without mom and dad around, and we feel comfortable giving them the freedom to do this. They are responsible and they stick together, and they know the parks well. We are a family that doesn't do characters, parades, or shows...we'd rather eat yummy food and hit the attractions hard.
2. We want to go someplace new for spring break, 2019...so not WDW or DL.
3. As the gal who pays for the trip, I like the all inclusive feel of a WDW package, so I want an all inclusive experience.
4. Because we have never traveled outside the US with our boys, we are open to doing this. We know that our boys will not be able to be nearly as independent as they are at Disney parks, and that's OK.
5. Our boys are active, so we have no interest in going and plopping on a beach for a week. We need to do stuff...swimming, snorkeling, hiking, zip lining, etc. and we also need good food.

Our TA took this info and proposed three options: a Grand Canyon trip (not all inclusive and not warm at the end of March, but lots of action with hiking, stunning views, Jeep tours, etc.), a trip to Mexico in an all inclusive resort (warm weather and lots of activities, but I've heard stories about safety issues with tourists in Mexico), or a Disney cruise on the Dream.

I'll be honest, a cruise was not even in my thought process. We've never taken a cruise. While I've heard amazing things about Disney cruises, I've often assumed that the main draw for them are characters and shows. My boys do not dig shows, and merely tolerate characters during the few character meals we've done through the years at WDW. However, the TA indicated a Disney cruise would give me the all inclusive experience I'm after, great food, warm weather, activities, and she assured me the cruise ship itself (like the Disney parks) would be safe for my boys to navigate solo for short periods of time (definitely not once we disembark, obviously). She said when we get to cruise stops, there are lots of activities we can take part in, which sound fun. However, I'm worried my boys will be bored on the ship itself.

So, I'm turning to Dis folks who are Disney cruise vets. All of these options are roughly the same price and fit our budget, so they are all equal from the financial perspective. I need to know if I should heavily consider a cruise for our family trip, or if I should eliminate at cruise from the mix. Right now, both my hubby and boys are cruise skeptical, I think because they have Disney princesses and shows in their heads?

So, give it to me straight. Would a Disney cruise fit our teen boy family needs? Sell me on it, or give the straight scoop about why this probably wouldn't be a good choice for us.

Thank you, in advance, Dis peeps for all of your advice and information.

Based on the infos you gave, I would maybe try a cruise but not Disney. Maybe a new Carnival ship (aim for a big one) or a big RCCL ship (probably even better than Carnival for you as there are more to do for teens on them). And possibly focus on excursions.

You will find out that they are also wayyyy less expensive than the Disney cruise. The extra cost of DCL is due to the Mouse/characters ... which your boys are not interested in at all.

I think a cruise could be amazing for your family but would go for another cruise line.

 

[cheermom2four]

I also have a son that is 18 and he's been cruising on DCL with us a few times now. He loved the clubs and actually had met friends and kept in touch with them. We even went on a Med cruise last year with a family we met through our son. He's really bummed our next cruise he's aged out of the clubs as they did so much stuff but excited he actually gets to go into the adult area with my df and me. We hardly saw him the 7 nights except at dinner. Oh and he is not a huge Disney fan and he never saw one show on any of the cruises and would come back to the stateroom around 1:30 or 2am because they would just hang and chat after the days' activities.

Now I'm originally from Az so that also sounds fun but we like some down time (not days, just maybe a day to enjoy the ship)

 

[trvlgirlmq]

I think a cruise would be great for your family, however on another cruise line. With boys that active you want lots of things for them to do on the ship. The Disney ships just do not have that. If you want things like ropes courses, big water slides, mini golf, bowling, even zip lines you should check our Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. Their newer ships offer some of the best activities on the seas. Their are several threads comparing the cruise lines and even a dedicated Royal area here. Or, head over the Cruise Critic for everything cruise related.

I have been to the Grand Canyon

 

[Mitura]

Definitely do a cruise. My boys are 16 and 12 and have been cruising for 6 years now.

They love the freedom, the sports the kids clubs (which now is a "teen hang out club"). And the kids clubs are cooler than any hangout space at home. I have to set a curfew for them to be home by 2 AM!

My 16 yo is Austic so he loves movies.

The thing about the Disney cruise is yes it is Disney but you don't have to do all of the Disney things.

If you want the immersive experience the cruise will definitely give you that. With enough to do for everyone, even for you mom and dad!

 

[cadien]

There are lots of adventure parks with activities like ziplining, snorkel, river tubing and cenote diving (google xel-ha, xplor, and xcaret) and ruins to explore at Tulum and if you venture on a longer excursion, Chichen Itza.

I second this.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Dis friends, I really need some advice. We are WDW vets, and did our first DL trip in August of 2018 (and had a terrific time!). For all of our trips, we've stayed on property, as we really enjoy the Disney bubble. We are looking to do something a little different for spring break this year, so I consulted a local TA for some advice. Here's what I told her about my family (myself, DH, DS 17, and DS 14) and what we're looking for in a spring break trip the last week of March, 2019:

1. We love Disney. We've had amazing experiences at both WDW and DL. We love the resorts, the food, and the rides. My teen boys are active and go from one ride to the next; when we take a midday break, we swim in the resort pools. They like going off on their own in the parks and doing their own thing for a time without mom and dad around, and we feel comfortable giving them the freedom to do this. They are responsible and they stick together, and they know the parks well. We are a family that doesn't do characters, parades, or shows...we'd rather eat yummy food and hit the attractions hard.
2. We want to go someplace new for spring break, 2019...so not WDW or DL.
3. As the gal who pays for the trip, I like the all inclusive feel of a WDW package, so I want an all inclusive experience.
4. Because we have never traveled outside the US with our boys, we are open to doing this. We know that our boys will not be able to be nearly as independent as they are at Disney parks, and that's OK.
5. Our boys are active, so we have no interest in going and plopping on a beach for a week. We need to do stuff...swimming, snorkeling, hiking, zip lining, etc. and we also need good food.

Our TA took this info and proposed three options: a Grand Canyon trip (not all inclusive and not warm at the end of March, but lots of action with hiking, stunning views, Jeep tours, etc.), a trip to Mexico in an all inclusive resort (warm weather and lots of activities, but I've heard stories about safety issues with tourists in Mexico), or a Disney cruise on the Dream.

I'll be honest, a cruise was not even in my thought process. We've never taken a cruise. While I've heard amazing things about Disney cruises, I've often assumed that the main draw for them are characters and shows. My boys do not dig shows, and merely tolerate characters during the few character meals we've done through the years at WDW. However, the TA indicated a Disney cruise would give me the all inclusive experience I'm after, great food, warm weather, activities, and she assured me the cruise ship itself (like the Disney parks) would be safe for my boys to navigate solo for short periods of time (definitely not once we disembark, obviously). She said when we get to cruise stops, there are lots of activities we can take part in, which sound fun. However, I'm worried my boys will be bored on the ship itself.

So, I'm turning to Dis folks who are Disney cruise vets. All of these options are roughly the same price and fit our budget, so they are all equal from the financial perspective. I need to know if I should heavily consider a cruise for our family trip, or if I should eliminate at cruise from the mix. Right now, both my hubby and boys are cruise skeptical, I think because they have Disney princesses and shows in their heads?

So, give it to me straight. Would a Disney cruise fit our teen boy family needs? Sell me on it, or give the straight scoop about why this probably wouldn't be a good choice for us.

Thank you, in advance, Dis peeps for all of your advice and information.

I would definitely recommend a cruise but would suggest a week long on the Fantasy or one of the new Carnival, (Vista or Horizon), or Royal Caribbean, (Quantim or Oasis class), ships. We have 2 teens, (17 and 18), who still love the Disney ships but they also like the other ships.

The beauty of cruising is your kids can be doing their own thing and you don’t have to worry about them, just meet up for meals or to check in on occasion and you’re good to go. I honestly don’t think they’d be bored at all, but think the 4 day cruise will go by way to fast.

 

[cruiser21]

I have two teen boys that have grown up on Disney cruising. I think you'll have a great time. The Western itinerary is probably better for active teens. Warning though you may never see them on the ship.

If they're super active I would check out other cruise lines too. Some of them have rope courses, rock walls, go-cart, ice skating, zip lining. Disney has a water coaster and that's about it. What Disney does well is keeping the teens busy if they like to socialize with other teens. The Vibe is pretty awesome from what I've been told. My kids have never been bored on the ship. I have to drag them off kicking and screaming at the ports.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Dis friends, I really need some advice. We are WDW vets, and did our first DL trip in August of 2018 (and had a terrific time!). For all of our trips, we've stayed on property, as we really enjoy the Disney bubble. We are looking to do something a little different for spring break this year, so I consulted a local TA for some advice. Here's what I told her about my family (myself, DH, DS 17, and DS 14) and what we're looking for in a spring break trip the last week of March, 2019:

1. We love Disney. We've had amazing experiences at both WDW and DL. We love the resorts, the food, and the rides. My teen boys are active and go from one ride to the next; when we take a midday break, we swim in the resort pools. They like going off on their own in the parks and doing their own thing for a time without mom and dad around, and we feel comfortable giving them the freedom to do this. They are responsible and they stick together, and they know the parks well. We are a family that doesn't do characters, parades, or shows...we'd rather eat yummy food and hit the attractions hard.
2. We want to go someplace new for spring break, 2019...so not WDW or DL.
3. As the gal who pays for the trip, I like the all inclusive feel of a WDW package, so I want an all inclusive experience.
4. Because we have never traveled outside the US with our boys, we are open to doing this. We know that our boys will not be able to be nearly as independent as they are at Disney parks, and that's OK.
5. Our boys are active, so we have no interest in going and plopping on a beach for a week. We need to do stuff...swimming, snorkeling, hiking, zip lining, etc. and we also need good food.

Our TA took this info and proposed three options: a Grand Canyon trip (not all inclusive and not warm at the end of March, but lots of action with hiking, stunning views, Jeep tours, etc.), a trip to Mexico in an all inclusive resort (warm weather and lots of activities, but I've heard stories about safety issues with tourists in Mexico), or a Disney cruise on the Dream.

I'll be honest, a cruise was not even in my thought process. We've never taken a cruise. While I've heard amazing things about Disney cruises, I've often assumed that the main draw for them are characters and shows. My boys do not dig shows, and merely tolerate characters during the few character meals we've done through the years at WDW. However, the TA indicated a Disney cruise would give me the all inclusive experience I'm after, great food, warm weather, activities, and she assured me the cruise ship itself (like the Disney parks) would be safe for my boys to navigate solo for short periods of time (definitely not once we disembark, obviously). She said when we get to cruise stops, there are lots of activities we can take part in, which sound fun. However, I'm worried my boys will be bored on the ship itself.

So, I'm turning to Dis folks who are Disney cruise vets. All of these options are roughly the same price and fit our budget, so they are all equal from the financial perspective. I need to know if I should heavily consider a cruise for our family trip, or if I should eliminate at cruise from the mix. Right now, both my hubby and boys are cruise skeptical, I think because they have Disney princesses and shows in their heads?

So, give it to me straight. Would a Disney cruise fit our teen boy family needs? Sell me on it, or give the straight scoop about why this probably wouldn't be a good choice for us.

Thank you, in advance, Dis peeps for all of your advice and information.

With teen boys I would do a more active cruise line with more food options. Our disney loving teen likes other lines more than dcl because other lines have more physical activities like ropes courses, flow riders, etc. But most importantly, other lines have a wider variety of food available than dcl- big priority for teen boys.

 

[buzzrelly]

But most importantly, other lines have a wider variety of food available than dcl- big priority for teen boys.

A wider variety of food? I can’t even imagine. What else could they get that’s not offered on DCL?

 

[piglet1979]

We just went on our first Disney Cruise back in August. My kids were 12 and about a week shy of 11. They have deemed this "The Best Vacation Ever". They were both able to go to edge and loved it. DD (11) also went to the kids club because her favorite counselor was there. We hardly saw them. The rooms have wave phone. It is a cordless phone that can only call certain places (you can call between the 2 wave phones and any of the kids clubs). My kids took one and we had the other. They spent a lot of time in Edge but would go get food, go to other areas to play trivia and stuff. They would just call and let us know. We got to relax in the adult only area. I did make the kids go the shows with us and also eat dinner with us. We also ate breakfast together. So we had our family time but they also had their time. We did do a few characters meets but not many. For me there was not much Disney unless you wanted it.

I will warn you about sea sickness though. I had been on 2 other cruises before this one. One 14 years ago and one 13 years ago. I was fine on both trips. This trip not so much. As soon as I stepped foot on the boat I felt a little queasy. I put on the sea bands and then was ok. The second the boat untied from the doc I was very nauseous. I happened to bring Bonine with me just incase the kids needed it. Well I was the one that needed it. I was done for for the night. I tried to make it through dinner but only lasted maybe 20 minutes before I raced back to our room. I took 2 bonine a day plus the sea bands for the rest of the trip. I never felt great but good enough to enjoy the trip. The staff was great and very helpful with giving me tricks that they have used. I saw one of our severs the next morning (the second day) and he remembered me even though I was only there for a short. He stopped me to see how I was doing.

I think a cruise would be great as long as no one gets sea sick. I would avoid Mexico. The stuff I hear about what happens there scares me. it feels like they could careless about who they hurt. The Grand Canyon would be nice but would depend on the weather for me. I wouldn't want to go when it was too cold.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

A wider variety of food? I can’t even imagine. What else could they get that’s not offered on DCL?

It does sound crazy and I am not a huge food person, but our teen much prefers how buffets on other lines are open at night and not just for breakfast at lunch. Plus, much more choice and variety on the buffets. Also, the quick service type food is far superior on other lines. Just a lot more choices and a lot more hours where things are open.
Another thing I forgot to mention is that Disney shuts their pools so early.