Hey teens out there!

[coloradogirl13]

I know, I know. I have seen people ask about this ten times already. What is the teen area on the Wonder? I know that it is either Common Ground or it is ESPN Skybox. Which one is it? Also do you get bored or have your teens gotten bored on the cruise?

 

[aprilgail2]

We had an almost 15 year old with us and she was bored out of her mind. She cried the whole time wanting us to fly her home from Cozumel!! I think she is the exception and not the rule though. I talked to a group of teenagers one night in the internet cafe and they said they were having a great time.

 

[coloradogirl13]

Man, now im scared!

 

[SeaSpray]

We cruised a month ago with our 2 sons who are 16 and 13 years old. My older son had a pretty good time on the cruise. He spent almost all of his time in the Stack. I know he did kareoke, the scavenger hunt, pizza & movie night, and some other activities, and also just hanging out there. My younger son liked the Stack the first few days but then he stopped going there because he said it mostly older teens and no one his own age. So ended up meeting other kids his age at the arcade and spending time with them playing air hockey, ping pong, video games, etc. Neither of the stepped foot near the Goofy Pool, and I don't blame them. There really is no pool area for the teens on the cruise where there aren't a LOT of little kids. When we cruise in 2 years my older son will be 18 so he can hang out at the adult pool with us, but my younger son will only be 15, but I'm hoping he'll enjoy the Stack more.

So to answer your question, neither of my sons were bored on the cruise, but they spent their free time doing different things.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure if I should answer as I am a few years removed from being a teen....

But in general--I have cruised at ages 9, 15, 19, and my honeymoon.

Our family loves cruising and we would always make the best of it. Parents let us roam freely--something we could not do at home...super late curfews (like 10 or midnight), better than at home, food everywhere, and we were into the cheesy bingo games and of course the shows.

Had DCL been around when we sailed at my age--my mom would've taken us in a heartbeat and we would have LOVED it--and I haven't even been on it yet.

Of course at 19--it was back when 18 and up could drink on the ships in international waters--but I think all the ages are now 21 (I know for certain on the wonder). But I had the stern parent lecture--and only had maybe 1 drink in 1 day--if at all during the cruise.

At 15--I had met a buddy who was one of my tablemates s well as my then 11 year old sister. At 19, I had my then 15 year old sister and 13 year old brother. I think as long as you have someone to hang out with--it should be okay--but if you are the solo kid in your group (or there is a big age difference between you and a sibling), then that could make a big difference. Meeting a friend on board could make a huge difference in your enjoyment level. This is I think for any cruise line. I went on cruises at times when they did very little for kids/teens and they just do soo much more for you guys now.

No reason to be scared. AS with any adventure in life--it is what YOU make of it. If you think you will be bored--it probably will be boring...but if you have a hand in picking your port excursions--figuring out what on ship you would like to do and make the best out of those opportunities--then you should have a great time. Me and my sister--preplanned our cheesy bingo games, pool time,slide time, dance club time (in the clubs we were allowed in), show time et cetera.

Perhaps posting questions on the activities that interest you--might give you an idea of what to expect.

Aprilgail--did the 15 year old in your group not click with anybody--or is she an introvert or any other underlying factor to why you think she didn't enjoy the cruise?

 

[Rombus]

Mind if a 20 year old answer? i was on the ship when i was 16, Only time i was bored was after dinner till i got back to the room, Mainly because the clubs opened and teens weren’t allowed in there, and i wasn’t too interested in the shows, Most of the time i hung out in the hot tub with some other people i met on the ship.

I still remember the first night on the ship it got bad enough that waves from the main pool soaked us in the hot tub! it was awesome!

Now in retrospective, i cant wait to go next summer since ill be 21 and can go to the comedy club (the only one i was interested in anyway) and experience the adult side of the cruse!

 

[wdwmom2]

I will answer for my 2 teens, ages at time of our Wonder cruise 12 and 17. I never saw them except for dinner. They were always off somewhere with others their age. They meet people very easily, which helps alot. They never came in to the wee hours of the morning. I believe the teen area on the Wonder is called Common Grounds. They had a blast and would go back in a heartbeat. They are two teens that get bored very easily and boredom was never a problem for either of them. We cruised this past April and they still e-mail the friends that they made on the ship. Their pics are in my sig.

Go, have fun. And remember, most of the others in your age group are probably looking for someone to hang with. So go say hello and start up a friendship. There is some type of "meet and greet" the first night on the ship. I believe in Common Grounds. It would be in the Teen Navigator. Go to it!!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh

Aprilgail--did the 15 year old in your group not click with anybody--or is she an introvert or any other underlying factor to why you think she didn't enjoy the cruise?

She went to the Stack twice but didn't care for it...said none of the kids there were really friendly. She doesn't care for the pools but I can't blame her there, The Mickey Pool is for little kids, the goofy pool was full of jumping 9 -11 year olds and she couldn't go to the adult pool. Her boyfriend was home and she was whining about missing him....just a whole combination of things. She actually went with a good attitude and was right at the Stack to hook up with other kids but it just didn't work out. Only place she was happy was the internet cafe so she could talk to the people back home on the computer! Needless to say in May she is not coming on the cruise again with me and my daughter and her mom and step dad are going on the Disney cruise in April and she will be staying home.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
She went to the Stack twice but didn't care for it...said none of the kids there were really friendly. She doesn't care for the pools but I can't blame her there, The Mickey Pool is for little kids, the goofy pool was full of jumping 9 -11 year olds and she couldn't go to the adult pool. Her boyfriend was home and she was whining about missing him....just a whole combination of things. She actually went with a good attitude and was right at the Stack to hook up with other kids but it just didn't work out. Only place she was happy was the internet cafe so she could talk to the people back home on the computer! Needless to say in May she is not coming on the cruise again with me and my daughter and her mom and step dad are going on the Disney cruise in April and she will be staying home.

I remember those days--traveling when I had a boyfriend at home. The agony. That could be tough.

Coloradogirl13--Post looking for other teens and tweens that will be on your cruise--perhaps here first and then if their is enough interest, perhaps you can do your own cruisemeet thread on the meets boards. Communicating via e-mail at first will help break the ice and make it less intimidating at the meet and greet on that first night.

Good luck.

 

[antmaril]

We are taking my DS 18 and his girlfriend (17) on the four-day Wonder cruise on 2/13/05. I am very hopeful that they will have a good time. It would be a little better if she were 18, but I'm sure it will be fine. I wish my parents had taken my boyfriend (now husband of 30 years) on a cruise with us at that age. How bad can it be????

 

[coloradogirl13]

So far I know of only one teen who is going on the same cruise as I am and he wont even know untill Christmas (his mom told me). This is also kind of off topic but does it get really cold at night?

 

[DisneyGirl421]

I'm a 16yr old and was on the DCL 2x as a teen (13 and 15 at the time) and i had an AWESOME time. I was literally never bored.
It helped that I was on the DISboards and had found teens my age that would be on the ship at the same time, so when we got there I looked for the green ribbons.. we met and we instantly clicked. But i did make other friends as well, and now, well over a year since the last time i was on (july 03), I STILL talk to the girls I met online.
I love the dances at night. they are awesome. they end at like 1:30am, and then afterwards, me and the girls I made friends with would go up on deck 10 in the front and just talk for awhile. Plus, the teen beach at castaway cay is so much fun.