Help for 1st time cruiser

[Szaftoo]

We are considering a cruise and thought we might get some input from people who have done it.

I spoke to our travel agent and was told the cruise is geared to 7 to 12 year olds. I have teenagers, age 16 and 19, and wonder if there would be anything for them to do while on the ship. Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[inkkognito]

Has your TA sailed on Disney? I would ask what that information is based on and ask for some specific examples. My husband and I don't even have kids, and we've sailed Disney 38 times. We've had teens at our dinner table several times and they all seemed to be having a great time. Some did the activities in the teen club and others just linked up with friends to hang out. They seem to like the activities like the teen junkanoo cruise in Nassau and the Wild Side excursion.
19 might be a bit harder, since that's too old for the teen club. The young adult age group seems to be a bit more neglected. We travelled with some friends who have a 19 year old son once, but he's the kind of kid who doesn't mind hanging out with his family so he came to the adult nightclubs with us each evening and also Palo.
Barb

 

[twoprincessesmom]

Oh my goodness! Every evening, the upper decks were PACKED with teens!! They even were all over the floor outside of one of the elevators just talking and hanging out!

I can't imagine there not being enough for them to do, especially if they are outgoing, those teens seemed to have met a lot of other friends!

Sharon

 

[MamaQuack]

Teens - I have a 13 going on 30 year old. He had an absolute blast on our July 24 cruise. Loved the shows, loved the basketball, pingpong, loved the endless food and soft drink selection, loved roaming the ship with his new found pals and watching all the "hot chicks" and totally loved the excursions. Yes, take your teens!!!!!!

MamaQuack

 

[kcashner]

We were on the Maiden Voyage--DD was in the Oceaneer's Club at that time. She went thru the Lab programs, and on our 10th Magic cruise, she celebrated her 13th birthday in The Stack (and loved it). We have numbers 11 and 12 booked already.

All of that is HER choice...we wouldn't be going if my teen didn't love it. Of course, I love it too. I have a problem with your TA telling you what ages he/she thinks it is appropriate for. I've met adults travelling alone, single adults alone, and kids of all ages.

What's good about DCL? No casino. Less smoking than on any other cruise ship. First run movies (guess who owns em?) Food, activities, entertainment, Castaway Cay....I could go on and on.

So...will YOUR kids love it...I can't say. But mine does.

BTW, I recently read a 2004 review of cruise ships book from the library. The review of the Magic made it pitifully obvious that the reviewer had never even been on the ship! There were MANY glaring inaccuracies. Of course, I could imagine a TA or potential customer believing the garbage that it contained.

 

[mmouse37]

I am with Kcashner.....we have 3 teens and we were also on the Maiden Voyage of the Magic. They were in the younger clubs then but have gone through all the clubs as they have aged over our 10 cruises....

They are now 20, 18 and 16 and now that 2 of them can participate in the adult programming they are still benefitting from DCL. It truly does appeal to all ages. My teens loved all the activities in the all clubs they have been in. Their best times were when they were 15-17....they met so many people in Common Grounds..teens they still keep in touch with!!!

MJ

 

[TJHutch]

We went on our first Disney cruise in Oct. 2002, and at the time of the cruise our dd's were 12 and 16 and they both enjoyed themselves very much. It sounds like to me that your TA hasn't been on a Disney cruise because Disney makes sure there is something for all ages to enjoy.Don't worry your kids will have a great time.

 

[Szaftoo]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

My agent has been on the cruise many times, always on some kind of trip with other agents. She is single, no kids, if that matters. She implied the only place for teens was the pool or something called the Shack.

You have all made me feel better and I will start working on our trip. Thanks again.

 

[Aisling]

My kids will be 13 and 20 when we go on our cruise. For the 13-17 group, there's a long list of continuous activities, even teen-only trips on Castaway Cay. I think your 16 y.o. old may enjoy the teen group very much.

My 20 y.o. is looking forward to the basketball, the shows, the over-18 cafe, meeting new people, just experiencing a cruise for his first time. He's not as much concerned about "what's there to do" as much as his younger brother. He has read online copies of the Navigator, so he knows there will be so much to do and see.

 

[crisi]

There have been a lot of complaints that older teens - and particularly young adults that have aged out of the teen club at 18 - are not catered to on the ship. Some of them don't have a great time - and would be happier on one of the big RCCL ships with rock climbing walls and indoor ice skating rinks.

Other people in this age bracket have a great time. And its going to depend on their expectations and what kind of people they are.

At 19 or 20 I would have been happy on a lounge chair with a book, eating dinner with my family, seeing the shows and a few movies, playing Disney trivia games - maybe dancing a little (and I don't care if its with people my age or not). My little sister would have preferred a cruise where there would have been more activity targeted to her age bracket - a rock climbing wall, more 19 year olds in the dance clubs (instead of a lot of middle age parents), a young adults mixer - and honestly more access to liquor.

Frankly, I can't blame a 19 year old for preferring a RCCL ship - any more than I can blame my family for telling our extended family "we will only cruise Disney with preschoolers and young elementary aged kids" when we were trying to plan a getaway. I don't want to risk a vacation on a less than great kids club, a saltwater pool, being nickle and dimes, or kids who are bored.

 

[Szaftoo]

Crisi, what is a RCCL? I am assuming it is another cruise line. Can you tell I know nothing about cruises?

 

[cindalu]

RCCL is Royal Carribean Cruise Lines.