My teen was bored!?!?

[ldo]

OT-we debated an Alaska cruise or a land-based trip last summer. We decided on land-based to Banff, Canada. It was all DIY (rental car and condo for a week) and thousands less than a cruise. Everyone loved it--from just walking around the town, eating fondue, hiking, white water rafting excursion, hanging out at the hottub, driving around looking at wildlife or watching some TV. It was a great trip and everyone said they would definitely want to go back to Banff again.

 

[Neesy228]

I didn't read all of the responses, but wanted to tell you that my oldest is almost 15 and we just got off a seven day Eastern Caribbean and he was bored -- but he didn't hesitate to tell me that while we were on board!

He's a computer kid, so to be without internet, was like turning off his world. He tried to go to Vibe on several occasions, but one time he came back and said no one was there except the counselors. One time, the activity they had in the navigator, wasn't what was actually happening in the club and the other time he said nothing was really going on. He gave up after that. There are a lot of sports activities in the clubs and he's not into sports. He did the aquaduck, but honestly, how many times can you ride a waterslide? And he watched movies, went to some shows, looked in the shops, but largely, he was bored. We had three sea days...and they were long days for him.

I will say that I saw *many* kids in his age group just hanging out throughout the ship - on the stairs in the evening was a favorite hang out spot or in the large porthole windows in the hallways - either alone or in groups of two or three. I felt like DCL had really missed this age group on our cruise. I'm not sure if it was the fault of DCL, the youth activities crew running the Vibe or if it's just the age of these kids (it is a tough age), but it was a noticeable flaw to me.

We opted not to rebook on board for several reasons (cost, we were PIF prior to the alcohol policy change, and the kids are getting older) and we are going to try another cruise line that has some better options for older kids to see if he feels differently.

I wouldn't book a long cruise if your DS doesn't want to go. Find a vacation that will make the entire family happy. I don't think he's spoiled, I just think it's a case of "different strokes for different folks." I'm pretty sure that my DS will never go on another cruise again when he leaves our home. It's just not his thing. However, his younger brother talks about getting a job for DCL when he gets older and working in Edge! Two totally different personalities.

 

[ldo]

our kids loved kids clubs until they aged out of the "kid" ones. We had to semi-force DD and DS to go to Edge and neither liked it. They did not go to RCCL or NCL young teen clubs at all. So, I think it is just the age. Plus, my college-aged teen and friend spent the an entire sea day in the room watching TV and sleeping--I just gave up!! And decided that DD would not be going on future cruises for a while.
For our next cruise with younger teens, we are going to use the sea days as a time to play board games at tables by the pool--like a 3 hour Settlers of Catan. I know I will have to make an effort to structure lots of family activities. DS is also a techie and although he has excellent athletic ability, doesn't like to do so on cruises, and doesn't like to compete. FYI-RCCL teens activities focus a lot on contests and athletics during the day (with clubs unstaff until after dinner).

 

[holula]

Maybe it's the cruise line. He's at an age where he may be more interested in the kinds of activities that are offered on Royal Caribbean, especially the larger ships...Flow Rider, Rock climbing walls, etc.

This was going to be my suggestion too. Or maybe cruising isn't for him.

 

[SleepyDeb]

I don't think he's spoiled. I think he was very polite trying to not ruin your vacation by not complaining. That's quite thoughtful, especially for a teenager.

If the EBTA is meant to be for his graduation, then it would be a great idea to let him pick the vacation, within reason. If he doesn't want to cruise, then that occasion wouldn't be a good time to push the issue.

 

[princess pooh]

OT-we debated an Alaska cruise or a land-based trip last summer. We decided on land-based to Banff, Canada. It was all DIY (rental car and condo for a week) and thousands less than a cruise. Everyone loved it--from just walking around the town, eating fondue, hiking, white water rafting excursion, hanging out at the hottub, driving around looking at wildlife or watching some TV. It was a great trip and everyone said they would definitely want to go back to Banff again.

We do the same every few years and we all love it. My kids actually preferred Banff to the Disney cruise we took!

I wouldn't really be surprised if a teen wasn't really into disney cruises and I don't think it means they're spoiled. Not everyone is a cruise person and not everyone is into disney. I definitely wouldn't book a disney cruise as a grad gift for him!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

My daughter loved DCL when she was 8 and had a blast in the clubs. When we went again when she was 11, she no longer had and interest in the clubs and was perfectly content in laying on deck all day with us, plugged into her ipod and kindle. She went to the clubs while my wife and I had a Remy brunch and Remy dinner, but was bored stiff in them.

Given that she has outgrown the biggest allure for us of DCL (my nickname is "Safety Dad" and I figured that if any company was going to make sure my kid stayed safe in their clubs, it was Disney), we've booked our next cruise on NCL. Since the way she wants to spend her sea days matches up with how my wife and I want to spend our sea days, we're happy to pay half as much and move from an oceanview on DCL to a large balcony category room on NCL.

OP - maybe (and it pains me to say this) your son hasn't outgrown cruising, maybe he's just outgrown cruising on Disney?

 

[littleblackegg]

Ok... I don't "speak teenager" but I've been one. *Wink*

I think your son is really trying to tell you that he doesn't want to go on a Disney cruise... but he's scared to disappoint you.

I don't think he's a spoiled brat ... but it might be possible that you and him don't share the same taste (anymore)?

What does he wants? (It could be way cheaper than a 14 days Disney Cruise)

Agreed. I think he wants to go where the girls are.

 

[NZMUM]

Different cruises have different groups of people. It's really the luck of the draw if the teens get a group that they can relate to.
Our cruise in January was back-to-back on the Fantasy. The first week my 15yo son didn't do anything. He went to Vibe the first night but the the other times he went the kids he wanted to hang out with weren't there. He didn't say he was bored. But once we worked out he was on his own we did a lot of things together as a family. But he also liked to go to deck 4, listen to his music & draw. He does like alone time.
The 2nd week was completely different. He again went to Vibe & met a group that hung out together the whole week. We only saw him for breakfast & dinner.

 

[tltay2005]

Every kid is different, my 17 favorite thing was the food! Could care less about doing another cruise, so our OBB was just for us adults.

 

[Ofinn]

I agree with previous poster that said if it is for his graduation let him pick the vacation. Chances are anything he picks will be cheaper than a Disney cruise. My kids don't want to do any other vacation then a Disney cruise. I'm getting to the point where I hope they out grow it because the cost is getting out of hand.

 

[bumbershoot]

Did he attend the Vibe event on the first evening where they plan their cruise?

That's absolutely my question. Especially on DCL it seems to be absolutely vital to go to that first event. That's where they seem to meet friends and make plans. Every time the OP's son (or the other one talked about in this thread) went to the physical space for the teens, the teens were very likely all out DOING something that had been planned earlier.

From watching the experience of our tablemates on Royal, the teen club seemed to be a bit easier to get in with. They tended to hit the physical club space for about half an hour after dinner, before moving on to do things on the ship. They seemed to do this each evening. During the daytimes we would see him around the ship with his group of brand new friends, but they were always kind and welcoming to other teens, it seemed.

Not sure if it's a specific group thing or if it's the way the clubs are run on the different cruise lines.


Graduation trips...IMO they should be chosen by the graduate. (says the person who didn't have one from HS or college, and paid for my OWN post-grad-school trip)

 

[rcchello]

If it is for his graduation shouldn't what he wants enter into where you go. I have gone to Disney all the time including many Disney cruises and I agree with him that a trip To London would be a great change. It is the home to many great Disney stories for you - Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, the Great Mouse Detective. It is the home of Sherlock Holmes and many novels. London has museums the rival New York, Paris and Berlin. As a place to see plays in English you can only compare it to Broadway.

On a daytrip, you can see roman baths, stonhenge, the white cliffs, some of the greatest church architecture in the world.

Why don't you ask him why and what he wants to see in London. You might just find a thoughtful person inside your teen. My teens loved their trip to London and they spent at least one vacation a year in Disneyworld.

 

[sayhello]

If he really wants to go to London, might I suggest you check out the London/Paris Adventures by Disney trip? ABD is FANTASTIC at getting the kids engaged, and keeping their interest. If you pick at trip during the summer, there's likely going to be a lot of kids in his age range on the trip. Just a suggestion!

https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/europe/england-france-vacations/

You could do some pre-days in London, and if he's a Harry Potter fan, you could go to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour just outside of London, and see the Harry Potter play if it's still running by then.

Sayhello

 

[kddlm]

My DD LOVED Edge when she was almost 13. We are going this spring break and she will be almost 16 and is excited for Vibe! Just hoping she will not be disappointed. She is very social and mingles easily. Being it is a spring break cruise hopefully there will be alot of kids in her age group. She is bringing a friend from home as well and has hyped it up so much for her based on her last experience. Will make sure they go to the meet on the 1st night for sure!

 

[daisydog2]

So we cruised in Sept, and everyone had a blast (or so I thought). It just came out yesterday that my 15yo son was bored on the ship. He told me he watched 7 movies- some in room, some in theater. He went to the shows with us, we swam, rode the aquaduck, etc. There were times he was on his own- like during our remy dinner, and our sea day mixology. He did go to Vibe, but said there was rarely ever anyone there. He said he wandered the entire ship. He didn't want to tell me he was bored during the cruise because he didn't want to disappoint me. I am just shocked. But on the other hand, I'm also wondering what he could have done to avoid boredom. It was just a 4 day cruise and we did the dolphin swim at Blue Lagoon, and he did the teen excursion at CC. So he had full days off the ship. There was only one sea day, so not a lot of time to be bored. He does tend to do stuff with friends, and I guess is not that great at entertaining himself without his friends. But, but... still. Even if I was alone, I would never be bored on a disney ship.

This all came up when he told me he wanted to go to London for our next vacation, and I told him we were thinking of doing the EBTA in May 2018 for his graduation. Then he told me he was bored on a 4 day cruise, and I thought, dang it, how are we going to do a 14 day cruise with all those sea days?

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else can chime in on how their teenager kept themselves occupied, busy and entertained. If I were a teen, I would have been riding the aquaduck all day, in fact, I wish I had done it more. We shopped, wandered the ship, ate, swam, etc. I don't know. I wonder now if considering another cruise at all, let alone a 14 day cruise, would be a bad idea for my spoiled brat, er, I mean, son. lol

 

[daisydog2]

We have one son, 14.. We are not "cool" enough to hang out with, on any vacation. So, to make sure every one is happy, we have always taken a friend with us.. It can be expensive, but it is worth the trouble... My husband and I can have some us time, and the kids can have time without the parents around..We make sure it's a friend that knows us well and knows the house rules, and they are made aware, upfront, that they will have to spend some time with us, it is a family vacation afterall ...Just a thought....

 

[Anisum]

I was about that age for my second Disney cruise. I went with family and at the time was more interested in adult activities than I was in Vibe. Consequently I spent a lot of times with the adults in our group except when they went to mixology and such at which point I was kind of lonely. Although Disney tries very hard to make the cruises fun at that age teens can be easily bored. I think the situation really depends on whether or not there are a lot of kids/teens to make friends with it can be kind of boring when they're on the ship.

I don't think not liking cruises makes him spoiled there are many people who feel trapped when they're out at sea. Even adults. I have family members who hate sea days. It just depends on the sort of person you are.

 

[disboo]

BTW, if your son was a little bored on the trip, and refrained from telling you so you wouldn't be disappointed, then you are raising a kind and mature son. Congratulations!

 

[hardis5]

I think a lot of the reason many teens do not enjoy DCL or any cruise line is (and several PP have eluded to) you are literally disconnecting them from the outside world. No online gaming, no constant social media updates, no constant texting.

For many of the reasons adults may enjoy a cruise (the disconnect...though I admit needing some internet connectivity to read my daily paper) teens will feel the opposite in not liking a cruise.

Parents often will not realize or recognize the constant connect their children have with their devices until that is removed. You can see it where there is free wifi and they reconnect. Some may not admit to their child's online or social media addictions, but a cruise essentially has their child withdraw cold turkey. The same as with any addiction, I would not like the cause of my withdrawal (however good it may be for me). For me if DCL did not serve coffee, I'd be cruising elsewhere in a heartbeat (my one admitted addiction).