Teens on the Panama Canal

[dreamer17555]

So I already know that the PC cruises are mostly adults. It makes logical sense with taking kids out of school. However my son is homeschooled and I’m debating taking him if I can get a spot on the WBPC. However I’m absolutely worried that he will be the only teen on board and be completely miserable. Are there any other teens that go on PC cruises in the past. He doesn’t even need that many he just needs a friend or two.

 

[happycamper47]

Realizing it was the first crossing after covid, East Bound in November, there was supposedly only 28 kids on board. Hopefully someone, from the West Bound this year, will respond.

 

[msmama]

We went before COVID, but there were enough teens on board that my son didn't feel lonely. I would say there were more Edge age than Vibe age on that trip (so younger teens) but there were certainly older ones, as well.

We did the EBTA back in the spring and my son didn't really gel with the other kids (nothing bad, just rusty people skills after COVID and a large group of them got really close really fast) on the ship so he was mostly alone, but he still had a FANTASTIC time. It was more time with me than I was anticipating, but he loved all the trivia and even when he did go to Vibe, the counselors would play games with him and make sure he was included if necessary.

As a fellow homeschooler, I'm all about traveling when other people can't!!

 

[angel's momma]

I don't have a number, but I know that there were teens on this year's WBPC.

 

[otten]

Realizing it was the first crossing after covid, East Bound in November, there was supposedly only 28 kids on board. Hopefully someone, from the West Bound this year, will respond.

Those would have pretty much all been teens since that sailing didn’t allow kids under 12.

 

[lilsonicfan]

We were on this year’s WBPC and there were many kids in Edge, I don’t know about Vibe for sure. But this was in March and it coincided with our spring break. You could always book, and join one of the social media groups to see if any other families with teens are joining ?

 

[Intr3pid]

Our teens were with us on this year's WBPC in March, and they reported having about 30 kids at peak and 15 or so on average in Vibe.

 

[disneyfunfamily4]

We were on WBPC in March too. We took our 18 and 21 year old daughters. There were about 5-6 18-20’s and we saw a some small groups of teens running around. Not a lot but they all seemed to be having a fun time. It was honestly the best cruise ever! We loved it as did our kids.

 

[o&smom]

We have been on two PC cruises before Covid. Plenty of kids for both my daughter and son to have a great cruise and make lasting friendships.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We were on the WBPC cruise as well and it was our first PC sailing. When we were in line to enter the port terminal in NOLA, I only saw maybe 1-2 families with children. Once we were onboard we saw more but I think I heard there were around 50 total.
I never thought I'd see the day where the adult area was always packed but plenty, and I mean PLENTY of seats were available at the Mickey pool.
We asked our TA to book us on the Oct 2023 WBPC tomorrow. I was half tempted to try the EBPC to avoid that long EB flight home from San Diego, but the thought of turning clocks forward multiple times is a turn off.

If your son enjoys DCL, I would definitely take him. Bring a friend, if possible, if you're worried that there won't be enough teens. Once they're grown and working, it's not so easy to plan. Our kids (25 & 22) couldn't sail with us in March due to them getting very limited amounts of vacation time.

 

[KAS_73]

When we did the WBPC in 2020 I had a teen and a tween with me. There were tons of similar aged kids on that one, but it also lined up with March break. I'd heard from others who had done multiple PC crossings that there weren't usually many kids. Is there a thread for your cruise in the 'Meets' forum? Maybe you can get an idea there?

 

[darnheather]

My girls were 13 and 17 on our PC cruise. Dede had a good time but sometimes a difficult time being the oldest as she was set to turn 18 just a month and a half after the cruise. My report is here. Let me know if you have any questions.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/graduating-through-the-canal-wbpc-2019.3739802/

 

[racingfandj]

We did the WBPC in 2015. My oldest just mentioned at debarkation breakfast this morning that it was her favorite cruise, hands down. She turned 17 on that cruise. She and my then 7 year old both had a blast.

 

[sethschroeder]

We did the WBPC in 2015. My oldest just mentioned at debarkation breakfast this morning that it was her favorite cruise, hands down. She turned 17 on that cruise. She and my then 7 year old both had a blast.

How did you swing it? Home schooled or just take them out or aligned with school vacations as well?

 

[racingfandj]

How did you swing it? Home schooled or just take them out or aligned with school vacations as well?

We booked it as soon as the schedule opened, so had a year notice. They were in a small private school and I spoke with the principal and teachers in Aug about it. I believe the education they get from visiting places we go (Mayan Ruins, PC, etc) was worth missing some school and they could assign whatever they wanted to reflect it. The school sent packets of work and the girls sat and did a day at a time every morning before leaving the cabin.

 

[cruisecrasher]

We took our 13 and 15 year old on the WBPC in Vibe in March this year and it was fantastic! There were about 30 kids in Vibe, about twenty regularly went to the activities and were out until midnight, and the text group from that Vibe still has 11 of them chatting semiregularly four months later. They also all friended each other on social media and hang out through that as well.
Edit to add: our kids are homeschooled, but many of the kids on this particular cruise were not because it aligned with Spring Break.

 

[cruisecrasher]

Those would have pretty much all been teens since that sailing didn’t allow kids under 12.

The westbound in March 2022 definitely had kids down to at least age five...and younger.
The previous eastbound didn't allow for kids under age 12.

 

[otten]

The westbound in March 2022 definitely had kids down to at least age five...and younger.
The previous eastbound didn't allow for kids under age 12.

I was referring to the eastbound that had 28 under 18s.

 

[Megan1669]

So I already know that the PC cruises are mostly adults. It makes logical sense with taking kids out of school. However my son is homeschooled and I’m debating taking him if I can get a spot on the WBPC. However I’m absolutely worried that he will be the only teen on board and be completely miserable. Are there any other teens that go on PC cruises in the past. He doesn’t even need that many he just needs a friend or two.

I'm putting in my deposit for the WB trip tomorrow. Our son will be 14 at sailing.

 

[Flying Fish]

This thread is expensive... After rereading it this morning I decided to put a deposit down on the WBPC trip today. We have down the eastbound and loved it (but didn't love ending in Galveston). It was one of the best cruises we have ever taken, so we think we are going to do it again. It's sad how easy it is to talk any of us into another cruise.