Destiny Summer 2011 with teenagers

[Bispham Boo]

Hi all
I've cruised before (Cunard QM2 & Thomson Calypso - loved them both). DH has only done Cunard (started him off too high?). Anyway, we are thinking of taking the boys on their first cruise - Med Renaissance next July on Destiny. They will be 19 & 15 when we go, so too old for the Kids Club.
Any feedback on the food, pools, loungers, etc would be welcome. Do people dress up for the Captain's cocktail party/gala night, and is there any sort of ballroom dancing (for beginners :D)?
Thanks.

[Huddersfieldtourist]

Hi all
I've cruised before (Cunard QM2 & Thomson Calypso - loved them both). DH has only done Cunard (started him off too high?). Anyway, we are thinking of taking the boys on their first cruise - Med Renaissance next July on Destiny. They will be 19 & 15 when we go, so too old for the Kids Club.
Any feedback on the food, pools, loungers, etc would be welcome. Do people dress up for the Captain's cocktail party/gala night, and is there any sort of ballroom dancing (for beginners :D)?
Thanks.

19 year old may feel isolated as I would expect no others of his age. 15 year old less so if school hols 28 July departure.Most kids on this ship tend to be up to 15/16 and more younger than older.No ballroom dancing on this cruise. Most get dressed up for the cocktail party - jacket and tie is a minimum really many wear a DJ and bow tie. Food is more Calypso than Cunard. Lido Cafe is ok in Summer but note it is more like a buffet cafe.Loungers - usually no issues. Pools - ok but smaller than they look in the brochure as part of both of them is only a few inches deep. Thomson ships do not have the facilities for teenagers that others eg Royal Caribbean have. The 15 year old may be of an age where he can not stay on the ship on his own without someone in the booking party if three of you want to get off and he does not - you will have to check with Thomson the age cut off - I think it is 16 but not sure.

[1160451]

Huddersfield is spot on.

I would not think the Destiny is suitable for 19 year old.

They are suppopsed to do Ballroom Dancing at 6pm everynight for an hour, but it is to recorded music and the person who put it together must have never danced a waltz or a quickstep, so after first night nobody went. All we danced 3 weeks ago on the Destiny was the jive and the Cha Cha to the live bands. That was on the Med Renaissance too.

Yes people do get dressed up for the Formal evening, on last cruise on Destiny there were less DJ than 2 years ago but still over 50 % of men wore DJ I think.

I think you will be better on RCI for your 2 boys.

Hope you have a good cruise wherever and whoever you cruise with.

[Jixie]

I had 2 weeks on the Destiny this summer with my 19 year old son and 18 year old daughter. They had a brilliant time and became friendly with the entertainment staff who they sat with most evenings. My son used the gym each day and went on a couple of excursions and was off the ship most times it docked. There were a few other teenagers and they made friends and we have seen one of the families in the uk a few times since.
My children are very outgoing and are able to easily chat to people of all ages which helped. I dont think hormonal, sulky teens would enjoy a cruise( but would they enjoy anything?!) Cruising with teenagers was great as they could not totally escape but could go off with their friends if they wanted. We knew they were safe and as a family we had some real quality time together which was needed after a year of A levels. I think enjoyment on a cruise for teenagers depends on the facilities on the ship and the type of people they are. The entertainment in the day and during the evening was great. A couple of evenings we even spent playing cards in "Blakes Bar."
My son wore a dark suit and a black bow tie for the formal night the second week...the first week he lent his tie to a chap on our table who forgot his!
I presume the dancing is for the adults, not the kids. We did not see much of the ballroom dancing, but my daughter and I did go to a line dancing class which was great fun. No boys there though. We also joined in with the shufflebord, basketball and various other activities.
They have both said they want to go on more cruises if they go on holidays with me. Bit expensive though!

[Julessmiles]

We haven't been on the Destiny but have been on the Spirit & Celebration in the summer school holiday season. There were teenagers of ALL ages there and they all "found" each other, socialised together and got on really well - meeting up during the day around the pools, sports areas etc if they were on the ship and in the evenings they used to meet up & watch entertainment together etc, go to the discos; there were some teenagers who even used to sit together in the main restaurant in the evening rather than with their parents.

They were a great bunch - my daughter was 13 and had a great time - she spent a lot of time with us but also had a lot of fun with the other teenagers - never any trouble, all really well behaved, having a good time and the entertainment staff were all really good with them too, getting them to join in etc.

[Huddersfieldtourist]

"even used to sit together in the main restaurant in the evening rather than with their parents".

Not possible on the Destiny with its fixed dining and pre arranged tables

[Julessmiles]

"even used to sit together in the main restaurant in the evening rather than with their parents".

Not possible on the Destiny with its fixed dining and pre arranged tables

I wasn't aware that you had to have fixed seating on the Destiny! I was highlighting the fact that the teenagers on board socialised really well and made an effort to enjoy themselves and get on with others which I thought was great !!

[goonersue]

There is early or late sitting for dinner on the Destiny. Breakfast and lunch are 'open' seating, although they tell you where to sit!

The early or late sitting for dinner is great though, as you usually share a table with other people, and so you have other company other than your OH or party, and you get to know about other peoples lives.

[Tarquin]

It really depends on your 19 year olds wants and needs. We took our 19 and 18 year old daughters and they loved it, but they are happy to stay with ma and pa and chill for the week.

That may sound a bit sad to some youngsters but they blow the dust out of their gills when they want to and this was a family holiday not an 18-30 Ibizan head bang.

I honestly can't see how anybody, of any age wouldn't like a cruise.