Luxury Mediterraen Cruise with 18 year old

My husband and I are thinking about taking a luxury Mediterranean cruise in July/August. We will be traveling with our 18 year-old son, who would be very unhappy with a restrictive dress code, like no jeans or shorts or T-shirts. Any suggestions?

This will be our second cruise, so we don't know very much about the whole process. All inclusive is appealing.

Thanks for your help!

What cruiseline? They aren't all equal, in regards to "suggested dress"....

The lines with the smaller ships will have fewer "entertainment" options...and probably few that would interest an 18 year old.

You should probably speak to a travel agent that specializes in the "luxury" lines, and see which would be a good fit for a teen....and realize that there probably will be few others of his age group to "hang" with.

The least formal of the luxury ships that cruise the Med. is Sea Dream Yacht Club. Here is a link to their website (hopefully) http://www.seadreamyachtclub.com/ . While we have not sailed this cruise line, they receive very high ratings. It sounds like the kind of cruise young adults would really enjoy. Their dress code is quite casual.

Next would probably be Regent. They have "Elegant Casual" for their daily dress code. On Regent, your son could wear just about whatever he wants during the day, but, after 6:00 p.m. would have to wear a button down shirt and long pants (not jeans:-)

Regent, definitely, of the mainstream lines. As Travelcat says, no mandatory formal nights, all he'll need are some nice shirts and a pair of khakis or two. Jeans are fine for day wear.

Ihopeihelped, when you say a luxury cruise line I am not sure if any fit the little bit of information that you described.

However, with or without dress codes I would not consider taking an 18 years old on Sea Dream. The 18 year old would be absolutely bored out of their mind.

You need to define what you mean about the dress. If you are talking about the daytime no problem. But if you are talking about the evening, I know of very few cruise lines where it would be proper to wear Jeans or T Shirts at night.

So, if you want some advice please elaborate a little more what you mean about dress.

Keith

If you mean jeans and shorts for daywear, then any ship would be fine. But that kind of clothing would not be proper for the evening. Also, jeans in the Med in summer would be very uncomfortable as it's terribly hot and humid there in the summer.

I agree with Keith that Sea Dream would not be a good choice for a teenager as he will be bored to tears. For that matter, lines like Seabourn, Silversea and even Crystal don't generally attract older teens. But if your son goes into this knowing that there will be virtually no activities or entertainment for him, then it doesn't matter which line you choose. But if you decide on Crystal, Seabourn or Silversea he will have to bring a suit for evenings and non-jeans slacks and a nice shirt for the semi formal and casual evevings unless he has room service every night.

As I mentioned, I have not been on Seadream. I'm surprised to hear that it would be boring. It is a small ship, but, has very port intensive itineraries that arrive early in the morning and depart late in the evening (I was looking specifically at the Istanbul - Athens itinerary -- which has wonderful ports). What I found of most interest -- not only to me but for younger adults the following (copied from website).

What would yachting be without the proper toys. Aboard SeaDream, you get to play with the water toys from the yacht’s marina. Each yacht features a large retractable water sports Marina providing a variety of water sports activities including kayaking, a Zodiac for water skiing, a banana boat, tubing, boarding, wave running, snorkeling, Sunfish<SUP>®</SUP> sailing, swimming, a floating island and the assistance of the yacht’s Marina staff.

The Marina also has personal watercraft (PWC). The use of "Personal Watercraft" is subject to local and national rules and regulations. In many jurisdictions, personal watercraft use is either unlawful or subject to licensing. SeaDream will continue to use them where legal and authorized by local and national regulations.

As I mentioned, I have not been on Seadream. I'm surprised to hear that it would be boring. It is a small ship, but, has very port intensive itineraries that arrive early in the morning and depart late in the evening (I was looking specifically at the Istanbul - Athens itinerary -- which has wonderful ports). What I found of most interest -- not only to me but for younger adults the following (copied from website).

 

What would yachting be without the proper toys. Aboard SeaDream, you get to play with the water toys from the yacht’s marina. Each yacht features a large retractable water sports Marina providing a variety of water sports activities including kayaking, a Zodiac for water skiing, a banana boat, tubing, boarding, wave running, snorkeling, Sunfish<SUP>®</SUP> sailing, swimming, a floating island and the assistance of the yacht’s Marina staff.

 

The Marina also has personal watercraft (PWC). The use of "Personal Watercraft" is subject to local and national rules and regulations. In many jurisdictions, personal watercraft use is either unlawful or subject to licensing. SeaDream will continue to use them where legal and authorized by local and national regulations.

The focus of Sea Dream in the evening is food and long meals and conversation in the dining room. It is no place for a teenager.

We are talking about ships that are 4,300 tons and capacity to carry a maximum of 108 passengers.

They are suited for selected adults. The evening is all about exceptional cuisine and service.

There is essentially no evening entertainment; except of a solo musician or a duo.

Not the kind of cruise line that I would recommend for any teenager and I would be selective on which adults I would recommend this for.

Again, we need to get more facts from the OP before coming up with recommendations. As we have even learned from this board, when someone says luxury that doesn't necessarily mean a cruise line in the luxury category is the right one.

Keith

Thank you for your fast responses!

I selected luxury because I prefer being on a smaller ship with larger rooms. I don't want to be herded. I imagine that the larger cruise lines herd people, but perhaps I'm wrong.

I also like the idea of all inclusive so the drinks and gambling, etc. aren't always pushed on me to make money.

At the same time, the 18 year old would like to meet other people his age, and he prefers a casual dress code. Perhaps there are no luxury cruise lines that meet this criteria? After 4 years of boarding school dress codes, he would just like to hang out over the summer.

Any other cruise lines that might meet our needs? I haven't even thought about whether or not we get connecting rooms or a suite with an extra bed.

I'm thinking of the cruise more as a floating hotel than a resort, but son bores easily.

Suggestions are welcome. You can direct me to another place if you think luxury cruises just won't work here. Thanks.

I looked up Regent. It sounds like something I would love, but has an elegant casual dress code:

Dress Code: Elegant Casual wear includes skirt, or slacks (no jeans) with blouse or sweater, pant suit or dress for ladies; slacks (no jeans) and collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. While Elegant Casual is always appropriate, during Formal Optional evenings featured on longer cruises, guests may opt for a more formal choice of clothing including gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies; tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suit with tie for gentlemen.

I can't think of any luxury cruise line where at night (at dinner) someone can wear jeans and a t shirt. In fact, there are just not many cruise lines where that is possible.

Yes, there are cruise lines in each and every category of crusing that are less formal than others but I think you really will need to be more flexible about the jeans/t shirts, otherwise you are talking about going on a very large ship, where many items are add ons and you will need to find one with much more casual dining.

Keith

The bottom line imo is that no luxury line is suited for an 18 year old unless he/she is an extraordinary young person who is capable of entertaining and amusing himself. It is highly unlikely though not impossible that there will be any other people that age. I can understand the OP wanting larger suites and no herding but that will mean sacrificing the son's good time. Even if he were allowed to wear whatever he wants it's still not a good fit.

You said your son bores easily? Then with all due respect, none of the luxury lines would be for him. Believe me, there are no bells and whistles on the luxury lines that would keep a teen who is easily bored entertained.

Luxury lines don't necessarily mean large cabins, so that is a fallacy unless you pop for a suite. Regent has the largest cabins in the luxury market, but again, I've not found Regent, or any luxury line for that matter, to be particularly teen friendly---there's no teen program and nothing like a video game place to hand out in.

Another fallacy is that somehow all inclusive means a better deal, or that you're having drinks pushed on you on the mass market lines to help their bottom line. I've never had drinks shoved on me, or pressure from anyone to purchase drinks on a mass market line. If you don't drink a lot, you're really subsidizing all the other passengers who do drink a lot when you cruise on an all inclusive. So in all reality, with the higher prices you'll pay for an all inclusive cruise line, you're really paying for all the alcohol even if you don't drink much. As for the casino, I'm not sure what you mean by the gambling being shoved on you, but no one forces you to go into the casino on any ship. And they do have casinos on the luxury lines.

As for your cabin, there are not many cabins on the luxury lines, except Regent, that have room for an adult child unless you go with their top suites. Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea have very few triple cabins.

If you go with a smaller ship, you're going to sacrifice some of the things that you desire. Smaller ships won't have many, if any, other teens for your son to meet. Smaller ships don't have the entertainment or activities that keep a teen occupied. The luxury lines are more formal than mass market lines. And even if he dressed up for dinner each night, passengers on the luxury lines do not go back after dinner and change into shorts and casual clothes.

Have you thought about Cunard and purchasing a suite in either the Queen's or Princess Grill category? Those are luxury cabins where you have your own dining room apart from the larger main dining room. The only problem with that is the Grill Class dining rooms are very formal in the evening.

You might want to check out Azamara or Oceania. They are a step below the luxury lines, but they are more upscale and are casual all the time. But again, the only problem is that very few kids are on those lines.

If you consider a mass market line, I would suggest either Eclipse, Equinox or Solstice from Celebrity. They are beautiful, newer ships, have very nice itineraries and you will not have the herd mentality that you'd find on Carnival, NCL or Royal Caribbean. Plus, they're not the behemoth ships like Oasis, Freedom or the others that are way huge. You could book their Family View suite, which has two bathrooms and more than enough room to provide you some privacy. They tend to have quite a lot of kids on board, and activities that would keep an older teen happy. I've been on Solstice and Equinox and the teens seem to be very happy. And, unlike the luxury ships, your son can find casual alternate dining on those ships so he would never have to dress up, while you and your husband could enjoy the very good food in the main dining room.

Kitty9 has given you a lot of good advice.

I do think that you should sit down with a very experience TA and talk all of this out with him/her. Find a travel specialist who has sailed on the many different cruise lines.

If you son is not willing to get dressed up at night (more than blue jeans and a t shirt) it really is going to rule out most of the cruise lines. And, I just think based on what you have said a luxury cruise line will not work for him.

I would also recomment picking up a copy of the book that is written by Douglas Ward, and published by Berlitz and is updated each year. The title changes almost each year but the title for the 2010 guide is cruising and cruise ships. It provides a lot of good information on the cruise lines and excellent writeups on each cruise ship. It will be helpful. You can order it on amazon.com or from other places such as Barnes & Noble or Borders.

Keith

Thank you for all your helpful suggestions.

I'm looking into the other cruise lines, and I guess that I will reserve a luxury cruise for me and my husband only. I'm also looking into the book suggested above.

He doesn't refuse to get dressed up, but he certainly prefers not to do so.

Usually I plan things out way in advance and do my own bookings, so I do not use a TA. This is last minute, so it looks like a TA would be helpful. All the cruise line websites seem to like TAs.

Any additional thoughts from this experienced group are appreciated. Thanks again!

Ihopeihelped, when you say a luxury cruise line I am not sure if any fit the little bit of information that you described.

 

However, with or without dress codes I would not consider taking an 18 years old on Sea Dream. The 18 year old would be absolutely bored out of their mind.

 

You need to define what you mean about the dress. If you are talking about the daytime no problem. But if you are talking about the evening, I know of very few cruise lines where it would be proper to wear Jeans or T Shirts at night.

 

So, if you want some advice please elaborate a little more what you mean about dress.

 

Keith

At that age I would have loved it. We were kind of spoiled that way by our parents. We went to gourmet restaurants before we were 6 years old.