How do the teens hook up?

[sfeisen]

I notice I did not have to register my my DS14 teen for the cruise. Is there some sort of icebreaker the first evening in the stack for teens to hook up?

Last time we cruised he didn't really love the Lab, but met a few boys and they played basketball and went to movies and swam.

I'm hoping he'll have a different experience this cruise.

Of course at 14, girls are a factor as well............

 

[birkner]

I notice I did not have to register my my DS14 teen for the cruise. Is there some sort of icebreaker the first evening in the stack for teens to hook up?

Last time we cruised he didn't really love the Lab, but met a few boys and they played basketball and went to movies and swam.

I'm hoping he'll have a different experience this cruise.

Of course at 14, girls are a factor as well............

If I remember correctly, there is a "Check out the Stack" time which starts around 1:30 after you check in for the cruise. They used to have the following after boarding but not sure if this is current info:

1. Welcome 411 - Get the Info! - The teens meet the counselors and find out about the activities in the days ahead.

2.Welcome Party - A relaxed and fun time where the teens can sing, dance or jsut hang out in their exclusive club.

My 13 year old GD is heading for the Stack the minute it is open to "check it out".

 

[sfeisen]

Thanks.....I hope I can get him to check it out!

 

[professorandmom]

Is there some sort of icebreaker the first evening in the stack for teens to hook up?

Personally, I would suggest avoiding the term hook up since it currently has connotations in "teen culture" - check the urbandictionary.com

Barb

 

[sfeisen]

Oh boy.....

Trust me....in NO WAY did I mean THAT!

 

[goofy4tink]

When we cruised, for the first time, in August, my 13 y/o dd was a bit nervous about how she would meet other kids. We all went to check out the teen area at the appropriate time after boarding. Parents were allowed in Aloft at that time, so we took some photos, dd got to know a CM or two and was given the 411 on when to come back and get to know the other teens. She went back and got to know a bunch of kids. She hung out with them quite a bit over the four nights we were there.

 

[AmberDaClown]

Personally, I would suggest avoiding the term hook up since it currently has connotations in "teen culture" - check the urbandictionary.com

Barb

From reading through threads, it would seem there have been teens caught/observed trying to do just that in various places on the ship.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Oh boy.....

Trust me....in NO WAY did I mean THAT!

LOL...that's the first thing I thought of when I read your post title! My DD15 had better not do any "hooking up" on our upcoming DCL trip! Making friends, hanging out, meeting up...all good. Hooking up? I don't think so!

But seriously, have your teen go to the Stack the very first night. That's when a lot of bonding happens and it can be harder after that.

Happy Sailing!

 

[LisaBi]

On our first cruise last year DS was 16. We had to prod him to go to the "411" in the Stack (it was like at 10:00 in the evening on the first night). Much to his surprise, he met some kids there, and we basically never saw him again the rest of the cruise (unless we could corner him somewhere on the ship and demand his presence at a certain time and place - like dinner).

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I do not have any teens, but since teen parents are reading this...... My DBF is going with us on our next cruise. She has teenagers. Tell me about the teen beach. I told her, it worries me, a bunch of teenagers on a beach half dressed with hormones flying. Tell me it's okay. We have cruised DCL times before, but my DK are still "clubing and labing".

 

[disneyholic family]

my son was 15 and 17 on our two cruises..
he spent almost all of his time with the teen club and LOVED it...

he said the counselors were outstanding and very funny - he still quotes some of their jokes 3 years later...

when we met the counselors on the first day, i was very impressed.....very professional......

by the way, for the worried poster, the teen club counselors are with them on the teen beach at castaway cay...

 

[The LK 4]

When we first got to our rooms in January, there was an invitation in the fish holder for my DS and for my nephew next door to us. I think it invited them to come up and check out the teen club during the day, and mentioned the 411 get together that night. We saw them for breakfast, the shows, and then dinner, and that was about it!

 

[frdeb1999]

My daughters were'nt impressed at all with the teen club. But then they were on the older end of the age range. They went a couple times and did make some friends. They said they had a better time outside the club doing things on their own. Which was fine. They did however enjoy the teen beach activities while on CC.

 

[kcashner]

DD celebrated her 13th birthday at The Stack (her choice), and has been back at least once a year since then.

A couple suggestions--go to the "cruise meet" section of this board and see if there is a thread for your sailing date. Put out a post asking about other teens sailing on that date, or start a separate "teens" thread (you'll might want to consider moderating it.) I've found that the kids enjoy "meeting" on line before the cruise. Usually their friends on line don't end up being the best buddy on the ship, but it is great to know a little about their fellow cruisers in advance.

Next, do go to the 411 session and welcome aboard party on the first night. The "explore the stack" session upon boarding is just that--show up, introduce yourself to the counsellors...come back that evening. There can be as much or as little programming in the Stack as the teens want--there are long lists of activities available by asking a CM for supplies. They spend a lot of time just "hanging out."

Yes, teens can misbehave. However, they are well supervised by the counsellors and watched by security. You know your child best.......

 

[rwrocksme]

From reading through threads, it would seem there have been teens caught/observed trying to do just that in various places on the ship.

Ohhhh....now those are threads I'd like to read!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes start a kids thread on cruise meets link it to the main cruise meets thread nad also ask for pen friends on the cruise meets thread, my kids do it and it helps them on the first day of the cruise to have kids they know.

 

[moviegirl11]

Personally, I would suggest avoiding the term hook up since it currently has connotations in "teen culture" - check the urbandictionary.com

Barb

Haha thats exactly what I thought the OP was refering to. I was thinking "Ok, a parent trying to help her teen hook-up... times sure have changed!"