18-21 age group...what if....

[Elizanessie]

....RCCL were to create something for the 18-21yrs age group onboard, what do you think would suit them?

 

There is sometimes a meet up held for this age group but is that really enough..surely RCCL could do more for them...but what ?

 

What do your 18-21yr olds like to do when cruising, would they like their own area perhaps? Their own events?

[CodyC815]

I took 6 cruises while I was in that age group and honestly I was never once bored or felt the need of assigned activities. I'm probably an exception, just being on a ship is fun for me, but with the exception of drinking they're not exactly limited to activities. Maybe a meet and mingle for people in this age group on the first or second day so they can make friends, but I don't feel they would need all the pre-planned activities of the younger groups. Just my 2-cents :o

[Sugar*Magnolia]

This is definitely the toughest age bracket on board. Noted in the Cruise compass on our last cruise was a Meet up for 18-20 pre- Sail Away on the Promenade (ExOTS) at Weekend Warrior. The problem with this initial meet up is the majority of folks, especially that age group have not yet read the compass, so they dont know about it. Days following the 18-20 club continued to be in the compass announcing to meet at the Chamber. On our cruises, these have never been attended by many. I think this age group likes to be involved with the CD [beleive it or not, lol], and example would be the Cake Decorating on stage. Also, other then the cruise compass, activities for this age group need to be announced overhead, and then announced again. :-)

 

Our kids are currently 22 and 18. We've been cruising with them for about 10 years.

[cruiseguy1016]

I think they should plan some events for this age group. A meet and greet the first night. Maybe some dancing, for this group only, in one of the venues. They don't activities planned all day long but maybe a couple spread out through the day. Something to give them options.

[marci22]

Rather than meeting in the Chamber, or a sequestered type of area, have the meet and greets or a daily meeting spot somewhere on the promenade or in the centrum (depending on ship). It would be nice if the CD could host one of the earlier meetings. If it was in a casual, drop-in type setting, maybe more people would be inclined to check it out.

[Annefran]

Host Elizanessie thanks for starting this thread. My DD just turned 18 on our last cruise this past Fall. She has said to me in the past that she didn't want to cruise once she turned 18 because she couldn't get into the teen lounge anymore. Especially since she's still in High School (she's a senior). It seems that is usually where she would meet her friends on the first day for the duration of our cruise. I agree with CruiseDivaNJ (Hi Stacey) that this group is overlooked on most cruises. We are cruising April and DD already has some friends from NY that are going. So she will be OK. But for the future, I would like to see RCI have more daytime activities for this group or possibly a club for them to be able to go to throughout the day like Fuel. This way they could stop by at any time, to see if their new friends are there and make plans for the day etc. Hopefully RCI will help this forgotten group of cruisers. Happy Cruising!

[elcuchio24]

When I cruised at this age, I always had a blast. Never an issue, at least for me!!

[marci22]

But for the future, I would like to see RCI have more daytime activities for this group or possibly a club for them to be able to go to throughout the day like Fuel. This way they could stop by at any time, to see if their new friends are there and make plans for the day etc. Hopefully RCI will help this forgotten group of cruisers. Happy Cruising!

 

That is a good idea.

[atush]

I haven't cruised with mine since they were over 18, and having boys I am not sure how well they would take to organised activities- but I bet girsl would esp if it was dressed up as a party of some sort. But a pub quiz (they can drink on the ships and this is one of my 20 yr olds fav activities with friends at univ or home) would be good, maybe some things on the sports deck like a mini golf tourney etc.

 

And a thing in the dance club with current dance and indie music as they won't like the lame stuff we dance to ;-)

[Annefran]

That is a good idea.

 

Thanks Marci! Happy Cruising!

[galavant3]

I have three in this general age group and cruising is their favorite way to vacation! They enjoy the shows, karaoke, quest, pool games, sports etc.

 

I think more effort could be put into the initial "meet and greet". Better advertising and maybe prizes for attendees. Maybe a free soda? After all, this age group will be the paying passengers of the future!

 

Also, expanding on the pool game idea, maybe some pool games/activities just for this age group. I know my kids like to hang by the pool during the day.

 

Maybe reduced limit gambling for them for an hour or so on a sea day. Also, reduced cost bingo would be fun. Mine like the casino and bingo, they just can't afford it!

 

I think they might already do this but sports competitions just for the 18-25 age group...volleyball, dodgeball, basketball etc. Maybe a rock climbing competition (if they don't already have it).

 

I think this is an easy age group to please...they just like to be active.

 

Great question Elizanessie! Thanks for posting!

[Elizanessie]

...But for the future, I would like to see RCI have more daytime activities for this group or possibly a club for them to be able to go to throughout the day like Fuel. This way they could stop by at any time, to see if their new friends are there and make plans for the day etc. Hopefully RCI will help this forgotten group of cruisers. Happy Cruising!

 

I like this idea too. As they can't drink alcohol onboard until they are 21 (unless in Europe) then having their own place to hang out would be a great idea.

 

Music,dancing, perhaps DJ lessons ?

 

How about computer gaming ?

 

What about sports ?

 

Now I know they are on a cruise and maybe should be thinking "cruise things to do" but if they were to meet up with others in their age group they could then go out there afterwards and enjoy "cruise stuff" together.

[mdvlprof]

Getting kids that age to do anything......herding cats. Just got back from a cruise [Disney, not RCI]. DD went to the college-age things, three times. She was the only one there. Made friends elsewhere. She had fun, tho.

[Annefran]

I like this idea too. As they can't drink alcohol onboard until they are 21 (unless in Europe) then having their own place to hang out would be a great idea.

 

Music,dancing, perhaps DJ lessons ?

 

How about computer gaming ?

 

What about sports ?

 

Now I know they are on a cruise and maybe should be thinking "cruise things to do" but if they were to meet up with others in their age group they could then go out there afterwards and enjoy "cruise stuff" together.

 

More great ideas! My DD would love most anything that gets a group of teens her age to get together and mingle. ;)

[CodyC815]

I think more effort could be put into the initial "meet and greet". Better advertising and maybe prizes for attendees. Maybe a free soda? After all, this age group will be the paying passengers of the future!

 

Also, expanding on the pool game idea, maybe some pool games/activities just for this age group. I know my kids like to hang by the pool during the day.

 

I think they might already do this but sports competitions just for the 18-25 age group...volleyball, dodgeball, basketball etc. Maybe a rock climbing competition (if they don't already have it).

 

I like both these ideas. Has RCL ever done water volleyball or is there too much liability in that? I think that would be a blast if they would close one pool for a few hours and reserve it just for that.

[wmunley]

I cruised a number of times at this age but now that i am reaching 30, this was a while ago. RCCL still offered the waiver to be able to drink for the under 21s. Also, I did not participate in any of the planned activites and (shocker) always had a blast hanging out with my family. These days I can see it being much tougher for this age group...

[galavant3]

I like both these ideas. Has RCL ever done water volleyball or is there too much liability in that? I think that would be a blast if they would close one pool for a few hours and reserve it just for that.

 

Excellent idea! I've seen it but don't recall if it was on a cruise ship or a land based resort. I can't imagine the liability would be any greater than anything else.

[Elizanessie]

I have three in this general age group and cruising is their favorite way to vacation! They enjoy the shows, karaoke, quest, pool games, sports etc.

 

I think more effort could be put into the initial "meet and greet". Better advertising and maybe prizes for attendees. Maybe a free soda? After all, this age group will be the paying passengers of the future!

 

Also, expanding on the pool game idea, maybe some pool games/activities just for this age group. I know my kids like to hang by the pool during the day.

 

Maybe reduced limit gambling for them for an hour or so on a sea day. Also, reduced cost bingo would be fun. Mine like the casino and bingo, they just can't afford it!

 

I think they might already do this but sports competitions just for the 18-25 age group...volleyball, dodgeball, basketball etc. Maybe a rock climbing competition (if they don't already have it)

 

Fantastic ideas there :D

 

I wonder sometimes if 18-21yr olds don't want to take part in some of the activities onboard because there are older folks there. So if it was their own age group that might help them to get more involved in what the ship offers.

[rncruiser]

My son, 19, did not really enjoy our last cruise, which was his first without the teen club. I tried to introduce him to other teens at our Meet and Mingle, but they never got together again. He particaipated in some of the adult activities, but I think he would have preferred activities just for the college-age group. He recently told me that it was hard to meet up with people because they couldn't communicate with each other. The teen club gives the kids a set time and place for them to meet up, without having to have cell phones or computers to know when and where to meet.

[cb at sea]

At 18, you're legally "an adult", so whatever adults do, they should enjoy! If you haven't figured out how to "entertain yourself" by then, ...well, that's too bad! Your life will be quite limited if you need "planned" activities all the time as an adult!

[Stags14]

At 18, you're legally "an adult", so whatever adults do, they should enjoy! If you haven't figured out how to "entertain yourself" by then, ...well, that's too bad! Your life will be quite limited if you need "planned" activities all the time as an adult!

 

I agree with this completely. When I was 18-21 (30 now, memories are clear) I remember what I was doing and I had no interest in doing "teen zone" type of things. It was more about sneaking booze and meeting girls (sorry parents, but these are college years).

 

And getting off at the island stops was even better b/c you could do whatever. Of course, I think organized sporting events would be great for these groups to go to - but they should not require staff hours or special meetings - they can just go to the normal events. These kids are adults/becoming adults, they really shouldn't require that much guidance to be social... sorry but that's my take.

[akcruz]

At 18, you're legally "an adult", so whatever adults do, they should enjoy! If you haven't figured out how to "entertain yourself" by then, ...well, that's too bad! Your life will be quite limited if you need "planned" activities all the time as an adult!

 

It's not necessarily the planned things that this group needs as much as a place for them to meet and hang out WITHOUT the true adults around. We sailed when my DD was 19 and she tried going to the meet and greets but they were held either in the disco or on the promenade at a time when they were packed with everyone else. No specific area for them to meet in so she just wandered for a bit and ended up coming back to hang out with us. If they had a place to meet up (just say under 25 singles??) they could more easily meet others with similar interests. My DD did meet a few others her age, but never ended up doing anything with them as they only wanted to sneak alcohol and go back to someone's cabin. Not her thing!

[Elizanessie]

At 18, you're legally "an adult", so whatever adults do, they should enjoy! If you haven't figured out how to "entertain yourself" by then, ...well, that's too bad! Your life will be quite limited if you need "planned" activities all the time as an adult!

 

Those over 21 have activities planned for them by RCCL...so why cant RCCL have activities planned for those 18-21yrs ?

 

It is not so much planned activites...it is somewhere they can meet up. They can't go into the teens area...too old...and if they go to bars to meet up they can be frowned upon by older folks...so if they had their own place to meet others in their age group then everyone has somewhere they can relax.

[galavant3]

At 18, you're legally "an adult", so whatever adults do, they should enjoy! If you haven't figured out how to "entertain yourself" by then, ...well, that's too bad! Your life will be quite limited if you need "planned" activities all the time as an adult!

 

For my kids, this isn't really the issue. They love to cruise with or without planned activities. Those in this age group are traveling without a spouse (for the most part). They may not necessarily want to spend every minute with their parents (and vice versa). It would just be nice if meeting others in this age group was facilitated somehow. I don't think it is about planned activities so much as it is making it easier to meet others their age.

[Stags14]

When I was that age I had no problem hanging out inside the pubs and whatnot... it's not an issue until you make yourself stick out. They can go there... or they can meet at the pool, or just wherever. Near the sports deck...