Did you teen enjoy the cruise experience?

[anolaw]

We will be doing a 4 night cruise 12/10/06. By then our daughter will be 13. I am a little concerned with her being around older teens. I don't know if she will have much in common with an older group. She still plays with beanie babies, no interest in boys or makeup. Thank God!

Just wondering if you had a younger teen did they enjoy the teen's activities. I just can't see my daughter wanting to hang around in a coffee house set up.

Thanks,

Nicole

 

[CarolAnnC]

My teens were 15 and older during our cruises and they loved the teen group. The important thing is to make sure she attends the 411, the meeting the evening of embarkation. Most of the kids are introduced at that time to the others, and friends form quickly.

You can also consider dropping her down an age level to the 12 year olds. She would have to stay with the group for the entire cruise, if they do allow this. No hopping back and forth between groups. Good luck to yu!

 

[aprilgail2]

The 14 yer old we brought HATED it...she was begging to be flown home from cozumel! The first night she went to the stack but never went back. We thought for sure she would have loved it and been off doing her own thing but most of the time she sat in the room watching TV or reading. Never can tell LOL! Needless to say she won't be coming on the next cruise with us!

 

[mickeyfan9194]

My DS13 LOVED the cruise, although he didn't like the Stack. He did go there once, and never went back. Instead, he had a great time in our room watching movies, playing video games, and ordering room service. He also went to the theater on board, the arcade, Scoops, talked with cast members, and joined us for dinners & evening shows. He's not exactly a social butterfly, but he loved the independence to do what he wanted when he wanted to. For him, it was a perfect no-stress vacation, and he can't wait for our next cruise.

 

[my3princesses]

Our 13 year old daughter only participated in the teen club once to do the animation "craft" and she said it was kind of boring (and thought everyone else there seemed bored as well). She said if she had a buddy to hang out with in the "Aloft" she may have participated more.

Our other two daughters could have gone to the "lab" and we did go as visitors a few times to play on the computers and do a few crafts (but only because we couldn't go to CC so we needed something to do).

Our plan was to spend time with the kids on this holiday anyway so we really didn't want them to be in the clubs. There was still plenty to do as we all went to the movies twice, played in the arcade, played Bingo and sat on deck and played games and read. This passed the time well enough.

She did not swim at all (although she loves to swim) as she is 5'7" and wouldn't have been able to find room in the small Goofy Pool to actually swim. I considered taking her over to the adult pool as she could pass as an 18 year old but she didn't want to get in trouble. I would have loved to get her into the spa for some treatments as well but she again is too young.

I think at this age (as it can be hard to find new friends sometimes) it is good opportunity to spend some quality time together. They have a print out of what is going on in the teen club and they can come and go as they please. Maybe if your daughter goes to the first meeting she might meet someone to hang out with, or if she chooses not to there is plenty of other things to do.

 

[CaribGirl]

DD will be 15 when we cruise, and is at that age where not really a kid anymore yet not an adult. No friends cruising with us. Not sure if she will have fun.
Read somewhere on this board that there were some spa packages for kids on special trips but never found anything on it. She would've enjoyed that.
That said I agree with previous poster that this is a family vacation and the idea is that we spend time together as a family.

 

[DCLgodess]

my sister (13) has a blast each time we go. She never seems to get bored. she makes friends quickly though. Last time she made friends and we hardly ever saw her.

 

[zeke11]

My teens were 17, 16 and a few weeks away from 13 on our last cruise.

My 17 yo and 16 yo did not have any interest at all in the club, although they would have had each other to go with -- but still, no way.

My almost 13 yo would have been allowed in the teen club (we received permission cause I thought she would go with the older sisters), but she didn't want to go alone since they weren't going.

She ended up going to the kids club just a couple of times.

For the most part, all 3 of the girls enjoyed the cruise immensely, but found their own fun. Didn't care about the club.

Kris

 

[Praise2Him]

My DD14 went to the Stack for the 411 and never went back - no bad reason, just didn't click with anyone. She preferred watching movies, hanging around the pool with me, playing ping pong with me (it was a mom/daughter trip), etc. She enjoyed the cruise because she LOVES Disney, but didn't feel it necessary to go to the teen club, there was plenty to do otherwise.

 

[allears]

Our DD went on her first cruise at 15 and has been back at 16 and 17. She has loved it! She enjoys the entire cruise experience and made friends on each cruise. September was her first time with the Stack, but the kids used to have dance parties at the ESPN sky box a lot, so it was kind of the same. We found that many of the teenagers sinced up to the same schedule; sleep until their parents make them get up so they can have the room cleaned, showered, sun bathed, showered, joined their families for the show and dinner and then off to the teen club until the wee hours.

This past September my middle son was now old enough, 14 to join the teen club. He loved the stack, liked the counselors and found some buddies and had a great time.

My kids also enjoy family time and spend a good bit of time by choice with us. I think it all depends on your child, their personalit and what they expect. If any parent expects that the clubs will entertain their kids and keep their interest every minute, that just doesn't happen. With our younger son, 8 we pick and choose with him what activities he wants to participate in. Our older kids do the same on their own. .

They were recently given the choice of going to Disney World next February with their favorite Aunt, Uncle and cousins or go on another cruise, they picked the cruise hands down!

 

[geffric]

DS13 went to the stack and loved it.. we never saw him except for dinner ( which was mandatory) . he made several friends there, they played on the sports deck, hung out together, hung at the stack .. had the best vacation of his life ..