scavenger hunt

I'm thinking about sending my teens on a scavenger hunt onboard.

Not sure if it will be for one of the at sea days -- or for the week.

But I wanted to come up with some fun ideas that were a bit challenging.

My girls are 16 and 17 --- (going on 25, as many are these days)!!!!

Maybe something that they have to take pictures of to prove they were there -----

We will be on a thanksgiving cruise on the Zuiderdam HAL ship -- if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing them!

;)

This is a fantastic idea, I would be glad for those that have cruised before to supply ideas for us to use to create these scavenger hunts. That way I can put something together that may take several days to accomplish.

I'm doing the San Diego-Ensenada-cabo 5 day cruise. It can and should include things that are done fairly close to the piers ashore at the ports. of call.

I was even thinking about stuff onboard as well -- like getting a photo of the view from a certain part of the ship that may not be accessible to most -- I don't know what that would be but it would require them to ask one of the crew for access and see if they can get them to play along -- maybe the galley or the laundry room -- something behind the scenes.

Or getting a picture of something or someone random -- like a guy in a black speedo, or someone who needs waxing on his back -- or a crew member with braces.

I can think of lots of other things -- like trying to get someone to give them a gambling chip, getting a guest they don't know to say a rhyme and take a video of it, finding a person with a tattoo of a specific kind, the signature of the captain on a cocktail napkin (might be too hard to get), etc. etc.

There have got to be a bunch of things that they could collect, some easy and some not.

And yes, it should take several days -- let's brainstorm and see what we can come up with.

If I knew the ship better or knew more about the ports and cruising in general that would help but I just don 't.

My best friend and I were planning on making our own scavenger hunt for our cruise coming up! We'll both be armed with our cameras and searching the ship!!!! We're not planning on getting off the boat much during the port days, so we needed something to occupy us...

So far our only ideas have been similar to the ones listed on here... with a few exceptions

you can add things like "fruit carvings of birds" (they could normally be found at the buffet, I'm guessing)

picture of a seagull facing to the right...

blonde girl talking on a cell phone...

someone that looks like Aunt "sylvia" (insert your own person here!)

a brown food item on/from the buffet

I think when I finally sit down and concentrate I'll be able to come up with some more...

I'm thinking about sending my teens on a scavenger hunt onboard.

 

Not sure if it will be for one of the at sea days -- or for the week.

 

But I wanted to come up with some fun ideas that were a bit challenging.

 

My girls are 16 and 17 --- (going on 25, as many are these days)!!!!

 

Maybe something that they have to take pictures of to prove they were there -----

 

We will be on a thanksgiving cruise on the Zuiderdam HAL ship -- if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing them!;)

I believe it is very dangerous to send teenage girls off by themselves for a scavenger hunt! I retired from the travel field, have traveled all over the world & have heard some very scary stories about teenagers being left on their own..In addition have been on 13 cruises..

You must remember that a cruise ship is just like a small city.. Occasionally they have problems with crew & or passengers becoming unruly & committing crimes against their fellow crew members or passengers.. That is why each ship has a Security force & a brig...As a Young woman in my 30's, on my very first cruise, I was accosted by a steward.. Fortunately my cabin mate arrived in time, but I was very frightened.. Here on Cruise Critic last year we had a young woman who was accosted by a member of the crew...

Many years later our Son at 15 was approached by a man in Amsterdam.. It was two doors down from our hotel in an area that DH & I thought was safe..We permitted him to go into a Video game room & gave him a one hour curfew..15 minutes later he ran back to our room a very frightened young man..DH & I realized that we never should have permitted him to go off by himself..Fortunately nothing happened, but I honestly believe that you should be aware of these possibilities..Just last year a young girl by the name of Natalie Holloway, disappeared in Aruba, which we've always considered to be a very safe port...She has still not been found..

Knowing what we know now, we would never permit our teens to be out on their own either on shore or on the ship ...The teen program is fine but they should always be with a group & never anywhere by themselves, especially never ask to go into crew quarters, laundry, etc.. You must remember the 99.9 % of the crew are wonderful young men & women, who would never accost a passenger..But you also have to remember that they have been away from their wives & girlfriends for many months..

I'm always amazed when I hear of Parents going off on tours & leaving their youngsters & teens on the ship..

JMO..Betty

I believe it is very dangerous to send teenage girls off by themselves for a scavenger hunt! I retired from the travel field, have traveled all over the world & have heard some very scary stories about teenagers being left on their own..In addition have been on 13 cruises..

 

You must remember that a cruise ship is just like a small city.. Occasionally they have problems with crew & or passengers becoming unruly & committing crimes against their fellow crew members or passengers.. That is why each ship has a Security force & a brig...As a Young woman in my 30's, on my very first cruise, I was accosted by a steward.. Fortunately my cabin mate arrived in time, but I was very frightened..

 

Many years later our Son at 15 was approached by a man in Amsterdam.. It was two doors down from our hotel in an area that DH & I thought was safe..We permitted him to go into a Video game room & gave him a one hour curfew..15 minutes later he ran back to our room a very frightened young man..DH & I realized that we never should have permitted him to go off by himself..Fortunately nothing happened, but I honestly believe that you should be aware of these possibilities..Just last year a young girl, believe her last name was Holloway, disappeared in the Caribbean & she has still not been found..

 

Knowing what we know now, we would never permit our teens to be out on their own either on shore or on the ship ...The teen program is fine but they should always be with a group & never anywhere by themselves, especially never ask to go into crew quarters, laundry, etc.. You must remember the 99.9 % of the crew are wonderful young men & women, who would never accost a passenger..But you also have to remember that they have been away from their wives & girlfriends for many months..

 

I'm always amazed when I hear of Parents going off on tours & leaving their youngsters & teens on the ship..

 

JMO..Betty

I know its so scary and I've talked to others who said that they saw young women in their teens getting looks and more from crew members --- I hate to have to watch them every second -- helicopter parent syndrome, but they have to be safe for sure.

Perhaps the laundry room thing isn't such a hot idea -- just brainstorming here.

For the record, I never ever intended having my girls get off the ship or go anywhere in port unattended.

I do plan for them to do some things on their own -- but always together -- tag team/buddy system. I'm not one to hang out in a bar or go someplace not with my teens and not check in with them.

I do plan to take a cooking class (which they have no interest in) -- while they are at the pool and hope that this is safe enough.

As always, we will assess the situation -- and act accordingly -- erring on safety. My girls are great about devulging who is a creep on board to me and also letting those creeps know in public and very loudly that they don't like the way they are being looked at.

Thank you for your post -- and your concern. I do appreciate it.

My best friend and I were planning on making our own scavenger hunt for our cruise coming up! We'll both be armed with our cameras and searching the ship!!!! We're not planning on getting off the boat much during the port days, so we needed something to occupy us...

 

So far our only ideas have been similar to the ones listed on here... with a few exceptions

 

you can add things like "fruit carvings of birds" (they could normally be found at the buffet, I'm guessing)

 

picture of a seagull facing to the right...

 

blonde girl talking on a cell phone...

 

someone that looks like Aunt "sylvia" (insert your own person here!)

 

a brown food item on/from the buffet

 

I think when I finally sit down and concentrate I'll be able to come up with some more...

These are fun!

I almost thought about them doing something that would give them each letter of the alphabet and possibly animal vegetable mineral --- ie. A - an apple from the buffet (pretty simple), U - umbrella from an umbrella drink at the bar, S - sand from one of the beaches, F - a picture of a fish, etc.

Might be too boring for teens...dunno yet -- need to keep thinking on this.

I like the ideas and it sounds like fun. I think having them get pictures of themself with whatever they are looking for might add to some great memories later on. When I have put scavenger hunts together for my daughter and her friends I always tried to make it a clue that they had to figure out. As an example, they had to find the restaurant that had two huge horses out in front which was PF Changs, that sort of thing. Maybe you could make clues as to what the job description is and they have to get pics with that person such as the head purser, nurse, head waiter/cook?

Keep us posted on what you come up with though and how it works out!

Believe it or not there is a thread talking about Cruise Ship Crime & the incidents of sexual abuse on Cruise Ships on the Holland American Board...You might want to take a look at it:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=630513

this is really scary...Hope you enjoy your cruise with your girls..Betty

I like the ideas and it sounds like fun. I think having them get pictures of themself with whatever they are looking for might add to some great memories later on. When I have put scavenger hunts together for my daughter and her friends I always tried to make it a clue that they had to figure out. As an example, they had to find the restaurant that had two huge horses out in front which was PF Changs, that sort of thing. Maybe you could make clues as to what the job description is and they have to get pics with that person such as the head purser, nurse, head waiter/cook?

 

Keep us posted on what you come up with though and how it works out!

AzPam -- the clue thing is so fun -- great idea -- thank you.

When my daughter turned 10 -- we took her to Disneyworld and when at the Magic Kingdom I had planned this fantatic surprise for her. I hired a Fairy --- this fairy left messages and clues for her all over the park -- it was incredible -- she'd be on the haunted house ride and in the dark she'd get something thrown at her that was glow in the dark and when we got out, it was another clue to go to a different ride, etc. etc. The final prize was a sliver charm bracelet with all of her favorite characters on it.

She loved it and I've never come clean about this to this day!

So what you are proposing reminds me of that in some ways -- thank you --I will keep all posted on what we come up with.

:D

How about sending them a clue that will lead them to the salon to have their hair done for formal night or somehting like that? My daughter always enjoyed a formal up-do and thought it was a special treat.

I love your story about Disneyworld. That is something you both will always remember and treasure, even if she doesn't realize you were the fairy!

How about sending them a clue that will lead them to the salon to have their hair done for formal night or somehting like that? My daughter always enjoyed a formal up-do and thought it was a special treat.

 

I love your story about Disneyworld. That is something you both will always remember and treasure, even if she doesn't realize you were the fairy!

Marvelous idea Pam -- I was planning on having them get their hair done and doing it this way would be extra fun.

I was also thinking of having them do things that were random acts of kindness -- put those on the list and let them have at it.

What do you think of that idea?:)

I was also thinking of having them do things that were random acts of kindness -- put those on the list and let them have at it. What do you think of that idea?:)

I think THAT is a brilliant idea!!!

I think THAT is a brilliant idea!!!

Its that pay it forward idea --

I hope they spread it to others -- can you imagine a ship where all sorts of people are being kind --- wow -- talk about giving thanks on a thanksgiving cruise!

And to think how great the girls will feel about themselves for being so kind to strangers.

How about having them help a Sr with their tray in the buffet or something like that? Something I always find interesting is sharing a table in the buffet with an older couple and asking them to share their story about how they met, how long they have been married or something along those lines. I love the idea of having them do acts of kindness but also at a loss to think of many for a cruise ship. If they are the chatty type maybe you can have them find the most interesting job occupation? But that could kind of go back to the safety issue too. Gotta be careful these days!

to winemistress45 - be aware there is no age to meet bad people on a ship, once we had a couple sitting at our table for supper asking everybody, to give them money to play for us at the Casino, they promissed to double our pledge.

Another HAL cruise, another couple paid the waiter to get the stateroom number of a couple at the table, they called them to express them not to show at supper, they prefer to invite their friends, so for confidentiality not to good

I read this on another roll call:

:D Can I bring?

I will be sailing on the Millenium the last week in March. Since I've read on these boards that there is a problem with chair hogs,I would like to know if I can bring my own lounge chair to set up poolside?

Also since there are restrictions on bringing liquor on board,is there enough room on the Sky Suite verandas to set up a personal sized still,approximateky 3'X5' so that I can brew my own moonshine?

I've also heard that the entertainment can be of only fair quality. I saw in today's paper where a local escort service is advertising "Novel entertainment" for all occasions.Do you think if I brought one of these entertainers, they would let them perform for the other passengers?

So that give you an idea, that there is all kind of people on cruise ship. For us, even for free, we do not want to cruise with HAL again, especially with the Zuiderdam, nothing much to do: bad hair day, eat more weight less, fetching teaspoon at the bottom of the pool, napkin folding, sticking shells on a carboard frame, ribbon's roses, etc... very interesting for teenagers... may be visiting back scene, back kitchen...

Don't leave your kids unattended, you never know

planning our 6th cruise next March

Believe it or not there is a thread talking about Cruise Ship Crime & the incidents of sexual abuse on Cruise Ships on the Holland American Board...You might want to take a look at it:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=630513

 

this is really scary...Hope you enjoy your cruise with your girls..Betty

Hey Betty,

You need to stop scaring this woman. She just wants to set up a fun scavenger hunt for her girls. She seems to be aware of all the precautions she needs to take. So let's stop attempting to freak her out.