Question for parents of teens

[Praise2Him]

My DD will have just turned 14 when we go on our cruise. She's not at all into typical "teenage" stuff (boys, clothes, etc.) She still loves the Princesses, tea parties, playing with Barbies, etc. Will she be out of place in the Teen Club?

 

[GrumpyMom1]

She might be. My DD was 14 when we went last year and is into all of the typical teenage girl stuff, but felt there were too many older teens at the club. Luckily, we had another 14yo girl seated with us at dinner and they became instant friends and spent the whole cruise together. They met up with some other kids their age and they all just hung out.

But there are a lot of activities at the club that she may enjoy. She should at least go to the club on the first night when they have the 411 meeting. That way she can get a feel for it and maybe make some friends.

 

[invaderzim]

I can relate - my daughter sounds exactly like your daughter at that age. On our first cruise she was 13 and felt uncomfortable in the teen club, so they let her go down to the Oceaneers Club.

However, since then they have refurbished the teen club on the Magic and moved it into the stack (the old ESPN club) and I've read it is bigger, much more activities, including a movie viewing room, games, etc. Plus there's lots and lots of windows. She will probably meet a lot of children her age now since the teen club has really blossomed.

 

[Jillie]

I too think she will feel out of place there. Most of the teens my 14yo daughter and and her 15yo friend saw were definetly more into the "cool" teenage mode than not!
She and her friends just hung out together and reallt stayed away from the club.

 

[Cruise04]

My dd was kind of the same way. But she still went and did some of the activities. She made a good time out of it. I would also encourage her to go to the 411. There may be kids there her age that are in the same boat.

We also had two way radios with us and she took one when she went to the club. That way if she didn't like what they were doing a particular night, she'd call me and let me know where she was going and what she was going to do. It was very helpful and then she also had a bit more freedom too (she's a very responsible kid).

 

[goofysgirl]

I have two like yours, so they were able to pal around together. They found a few others like them and made their own good times. The Stack is a much better place than the old Club, and they found plenty to do, and were still able to be the kids they are. They had plenty of stories about the cool teenage kids with smoking and making out, but they steered away from it, and these kids hung out away from the Stack. So she might feel a little aprehensive at first but encourage her to go she will meet someone like herself to pal around with, I think the real "cool" kids are a minority to ours! Happy sailing
:

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

On our 5/22/04 cruise my DD was barely 13. She went to the 411 the first night. It just wasn't for her. She spent her time with us. Went to shows etc... and had a blast.

I really think the teen club is not good for those younger teens.

 

[ivanova]

it will depend on the group of teens on the ship - last year our DD was 13 and had no problem, because she was able to hook up with other teens her age (level of interest & maturity) - otherwise she may have stuck to us like glue

 

[kcashner]

My DD turned 13 on the Magic. She is a classical musician and studies 2 instruments at the local university. She has always been taught at home, and doesn't relate well to "normal" teens--she's much better with adults and/or little kids (who look up to her).

All that said, she had a blast in The Stack. On our cruise, most of the teens were in the 13-14 range, and they did crafts, played games, etc. There is a fair amount of free time in the teen program, and a list of activities that can be done at any time (just ask the counsellors for supplies...) I really think the key to fun in The Stack is making a friend before you go. Check out the "cruise meets" section of the boards, and see if there is another family with a same aged teen....then e-mail the mother. If you and the mom seem to get along, let the teens e-mail/chat with each other. Then you have an instant connection when you board.

 

[tvguy]

My 13 DD and 17 DS checked out the kids stuff, and stayed with us, like they did on our HAL cruise.
But, this was a family vacation, a time for us to be our kids friends, not mom and dad for a week.
We did the HAL cruise in June 2002, and it blew our kids minds to hang with mom and dad as friends, they loved it. Found out the old folks can be a lot of fun. So they expected the same on our NYE 2003-04 Eastern on the Magic.
However, we did spend more time in the cabin than expected, since we got upgraded to one with a Verandah. Verandah's rock, but I don't think I would pay the $1,600 extra for it.

 

[Praise2Him]

Thanks for all the input!

Hopefully we'll be able to "meet" someone here on the boards around the same age before we go.

We'll definitely check out the 411 and see if she makes a friend or two and go from there.

If not, we'll hang out together...it is a Mom/Daughter cruise after all!

*OT to kcashner: My dd went to public school grades 1-4 and private Christian school 5-8. She asked me to homeschool her next year and we're both looking forward to it! Do you teach classical, by any chance? Feel free to PM or email me with any homeschool hints for a beginner. Thanks!
Lisa

 

[Bethipooh4]

My DS just turned 14 and we just returned from the Wonder. There were maybe 5 or 6 14 yr olds, and they banded together and hung out as a group. Truthfully except for dinner, we never saw him. He did go on the teen jam at Nassau and said he had a blast. He loved Common Grounds.