I can't believe I'm saying this but....

[CamColt]

My 21 year old doesn't want to cruise!

He has been on 19 Disney cruises since he was 8 months old and LOVED them. We have a 4 night booked for February 15th but he just got a new bartending job and we figure Valentines Day weekend wont be good for him to get off. I'm willing to change it to April (when I get another vacation at work, and maybe a better chance of actually sailing), but he's not thrilled about going then either. He has really enjoyed the Edge/Vibe/1820 Society over the years and I think that is the issue.

Besides the obvious of being able to drink now, any other ideas of how to entice a 21 YO to cruise with his family? His brother will be 24 so it's not like he will be alone if he doesn't want to hang out with his parents, but he did point out they like different things on the cruise.

 

[plutolovr]

Maybe try a different cruise line. One that doesn't cater to families with young children. Royal Caribbean or Virgin Voyages would be good options. No kids allowed on Virgin.

 

[DCLMP]

My teens don't want to cruise if they have to wear a mask. They spend about 14 hours a day in the Vibe socializing with other teens so I can understand not wanting to talk and do activities with a mask on. I'm more of lay by the pool and read a book type person so I could probably tolerate it. My oldest turns 18 in two months and has no interest in cruising after that. I will take my 16 year old on a cruise when things become more normal.

I have no advice for you. I'm pretty sure my kids will have no interest in cruising with their parents at that age unless its some really exotic location that they are interested in seeing.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Try a different cruise line. Royal Caribbean has many cool things for twenty-somethings to do. Look at the oasis and the quantum class ships.

 

[CamColt]

Maybe try a different cruise line. One that doesn't cater to families with young children. Royal Caribbean or Virgin Voyages would be good options. No kids allowed on Virgin.

That is a good very good suggestion, however the reason I'm taking this cruise is I have an On Board Booking that I don't want to go to waste...and I miss DCL!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

He has a new and exciting job coming up that is important to him. The family and family cruises have always been in his life, nothing changes. So maybe it's time for the little fish to swim on his own and discover the world. Remember, the young salmon swims away but one-day returns to the home waters.

 

[Lauri]

By the time my kids were that age, they didn't want to travel with us at all anymore. So we get to keep cruising at half price! We still get together with them (they both live in different states), but now it's a lot less expensive to see them.

 

[FigmentSpark]

What was it he liked about the kids' clubs? Maybe if you use that as a jumping off point, you can show him how he could still have a cool, but more adult, experience.

Another thing you could do is vary up the excursions. Maybe he and his brother can go on one together... more adventurous than what you'd do and then you meet up at dinner.

Would they have their own room or share with you? That might also be a stumbling point.

Is there any pre/post cruise entertainment you can offer as part of the deal?

It might also just be wanting to do something that's different than all his other family vacations, but really, who passes up a cruise?

 

[OSUZorba]

I assume Disney has the young single meet ups they have on Royal. So its similar to the teen clubs, just without the specific area.

But I'd highly recommend looking at the Oasis class Royal ships. Much more appealing for a young adult, and something different. As for using your current deal, just leave him at home. My mom and I used to travel without my Brother, he didn't want to go, and then was always jealous when we got back.

 

[CamColt]

He has a new and exciting job coming up that is important to him. The family and family cruises have always been in his life, nothing changes. So maybe it's time for the little fish to swim on his own and discover the world. Remember, the young salmon swims away but one-day returns to the home waters.

By the time my kids were that age, they didn't want to travel with us at all anymore. So we get to keep cruising at half price! We still get together with them (they both live in different states), but now it's a lot less expensive to see them.

Oh I'm all for leaving the "kids" home, we have in the past, and were supposed to for 2 weeks this summer, but hopefully that will now be next summer. That's part of it too, I feel bad that we do leave them (we just went to WDW without them in August and Vegas last Nov) so I feel I do almost owe them. I know I don't "owe" them anything but you know what I mean. And our oldest DS is on board so I hate the thought of just leaving 1 kid behind, it worries me. If he didn't want to go I'd say, great, problem solved...party of 2!

....It might also just be wanting to do something that's different than all his other family vacations, but really, who passes up a cruise?

That is exactly what oldest DS was saying to him...free food, open bar (meaning it's on us), who says no to that???!!!

 

[DCSWO]

Cruise without them. Even though they are your children, they are adults. As a 21 or a 24 y/o, I would not have cruised with mom and dad - especially on a cruise line geared for ”kids”.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Oh I'm all for leaving the "kids" home, we have in the past, and were supposed to for 2 weeks this summer, but hopefully that will now be next summer. That's part of it too, I feel bad that we do leave them (we just went to WDW without them in August and Vegas last Nov) so I feel I do almost owe them. I know I don't "owe" them anything but you know what I mean. And our oldest DS is on board so I hate the thought of just leaving 1 kid behind, it worries me. If he didn't want to go I'd say, great, problem solved...party of 2!

I know what you mean. We were supposed to be on our last spring break cruise in March 2020. Got as far as Georgia when we got the news the cruise was cancelled. Now, I have a credit for my son, who no longer gets the same spring break as his brother and will be 18 in Dec. That was his last chance at the Vibe and he was looking forward to it. When he heard I'd rebooked for next year and it didn't align with his school, he was disappointed. I, too, feel like I 'owe' him a cruise for that. As parents, we do those things.

 

[AquaDame]

Have you asked what timing would be best for him..? I definitely agree its rough asking for time off when you're new to a job and still in the honeymoon phase. Maybe a little later on in the year he'd be ready for a break? Or, cruising over a time he'd already be spending with his family could work too versus requesting more time with him, if there is a birthday or other celebration time coming up!

 

[CamColt]

Have you asked what timing would be best for him..? I definitely agree its rough asking for time off when you're new to a job and still in the honeymoon phase. Maybe a little later on in the year he'd be ready for a break? Or, cruising over a time he'd already be spending with his family could work too versus requesting more time with him, if there is a birthday or other celebration time coming up!

Unfortunately, I'm the issue with that. I get Christmas break, February and April. Of course the summer too, but we hopefully have 2 weeks in Hawaii, including a cruise for mid/late July so we really couldn't do another cruise this summer. Our OBB expires in August.

 

[jane01jp]

My 21 year old doesn't want to cruise!

He has been on 19 Disney cruises since he was 8 months old and LOVED them. We have a 4 night booked for February 15th but he just got a new bartending job and we figure Valentines Day weekend wont be good for him to get off. I'm willing to change it to April (when I get another vacation at work, and maybe a better chance of actually sailing), but he's not thrilled about going then either. He has really enjoyed the Edge/Vibe/1820 Society over the years and I think that is the issue.

Besides the obvious of being able to drink now, any other ideas of how to entice a 21 YO to cruise with his family? His brother will be 24 so it's not like he will be alone if he doesn't want to hang out with his parents, but he did point out they like different things on the cruise.

We have two grown children (24 year old young man and 21 year old young woman). Our son will go with us if his girlfriend can come along. Our daughter prefers hanging out with her friends. It is quite natural for young people to not want to hang out with their parents.

 

[o&smom]

We are foreseeing this same dilemma. We were supposed to be taking a pregraduation cruise next April on the Fantasy. He has been requesting this for years. His last time in the Vibe, on his favorite ship! We will be moving that one in the next week since things are so up on the air still. We have rescheduled for the beginning of next Oct on the Wonder. He still says he does not want to cruise if we have to wear masks. He enjoys hanging out and talking with friends he meets on the cruise, and cannot picture that with masks. My feeling is that we have had to wear masks in our state for months now, so it REALLY will not feel any different by next Oct. He does not know that we have booked one of the side by side one bedroom concierge rooms, and my husband and I have talked about allowing him to have some friends over to watch movies, and eat room service as an option that feels more normal. We never allow our kids to go to other staterooms or have kids in ours, but we feel modifications are in order during this time. We do not know what the future beyond that hold for travel with him. He does talk about cruising Disney with his friends, but it will be interesting with scheduling family cruises for all of us in the next few years as he starts college and then working full time.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

I would ask your 21 y/o to please come on this cruise with the understanding that it will be your last family cruise. And from here on out, don’t include him in your vacation plans anymore. I felt the same way when I was his age, I think it’s normal although I’m sure very sad for mom & dad! But it would be nice if he would agree to go on one last family cruise where you can all savor being together and know that it’s the last time (for a while, at least.)

 

[CamColt]

We have two grown children (24 year old young man and 21 year old young woman). Our son will go with us if his girlfriend can come along. Our daughter prefers hanging out with her friends. It is quite natural for young people to not want to hang out with their parents.

Trust me, they really haven't hung out with us on cruises for years now, LOL! I've had to force them to come to dinner. Once in a while we would get lucky and they would do something with us, and I would make them get of the ship with us when we were at a new port (just planning to stay on board this cruise), but that has been about it. They enjoyed the clubs and the freedom a little too much.

I would ask your 21 y/o to please come on this cruise with the understanding that it will be your last family cruise. And from here on out, don’t include him in your vacation plans anymore. I felt the same way when I was his age, I think it’s normal although I’m sure very sad for mom & dad! But it would be nice if he would agree to go on one last family cruise where you can all savor being together and know that it’s the last time (for a while, at least.)

That's nicer than how I say it...I've been nagging him relentlessly. No really, I have been working on him, reminding him how nice it is to just be on the cruise, and how great it will be after this year. He might be coming around a little. I do think at this point we have a better chance of him going in April than February, so I'm leaning toward that.

 

[3monkeys4me]

Quite honestly even my high school senior doesn't want to travel with us all that often anymore if it isn't somewhere that she hasn't been. She loves to travel and seems to enjoy spending time with us but she doesn't really want to take time off of work or away from her other responsibilities. I try to focus on her amazing work ethic and less on how bummed I am that she doesn't want to travel with the family as often as she used to. We have a trip planned for summer after her graduation and while I hope it isn't our last family vacation together I realize it very well may be our last for awhile.

OP, your son has cruised before he knows what is offered and what to expect. It sounds like he is just working towards his future which is a good thing. If the April trip will work better for his work schedule than I would absolutely do that. I hope he is able to join you!

 

[debster812]

My 21 year old doesn't want to cruise!

He has been on 19 Disney cruises since he was 8 months old and LOVED them. We have a 4 night booked for February 15th but he just got a new bartending job and we figure Valentines Day weekend wont be good for him to get off. I'm willing to change it to April (when I get another vacation at work, and maybe a better chance of actually sailing), but he's not thrilled about going then either. He has really enjoyed the Edge/Vibe/1820 Society over the years and I think that is the issue.

Besides the obvious of being able to drink now, any other ideas of how to entice a 21 YO to cruise with his family? His brother will be 24 so it's not like he will be alone if he doesn't want to hang out with his parents, but he did point out they like different things on the cruise.

OK--let's get past the fact that your youngest is 21, and your oldest is 24 which should not really shock me, because my DS is 23--I feel like they should all still be elementary aged since that's what they were when we 'met'

DS will still come on the odd vacation with us, and it's so hard to let go, realize he's got his own life, and does things with his friends, girlfriend, etc. Trying to entice him right now to join us in the Keys for Thanksgiving.

If you figure it out, let me know!