High School Senior, 18 years old. Activities?

[WisconsinFan]

One reason we picked our next cruise on Liberty of the Seas is that it has the rock wall, the flow rider, the ice rink and so on because our high school senior is 18. It is our understanding that even though he is still in high school he won't be able to be part of the teen club. I am correct? He didn't want to go on a cruise where "he wouldn't have anything to do". On all of our other cruises he was part of the youth programing. This past June on our Alaska trip we never saw him! Lurking on some of the other boards here it appears some lines will allow high school seniors who are 18 with a student ID participate with the other teens, so I was wondering if that is the case with Royal?

 

If not, what else can you tell me about what your 18-20 year old did? I wish that the lines would try and come up with some sort of organized activities for these young adults, perhaps dodge ball or basketball games, special time for the rock wall, ice skating....it would at least allow them to meet others their age.

[newbiecruiser09]

MY understanding is the many 18-20 yos just "hang" at the different venues. I know they can go into the casinos and I believe some bars (but can't drink). I saw a lot of older teens/20's playing basketball most of the time on the sports deck too.

[fitbix]

Sadly, we have been in touch with RCCL about this very subject and they will not back down. My daughters senior class is doing a cruise and several will be 17 and most 18 yr olds. Some of the families of this class has cancelled due to the fact they all want robe together. Maybe if enough people complain they will eventually do some programming for the 18 to 20 yr. olds

[WisconsinFan]

Yes, that was what we were afraid of, and that is why we picked a ship with lots of things to do. This is a group that needs some programing....even if it is really informal.

[popcicle]

It's tough, but you have to understand where the cruise line is coming from as well. At 18 you are considered an adult whether you act like it or not and unfortunately from a legal point of view you will be held accountable as an adult for things you do. At 17 you are still considered a minor. My son is autistic and acts several years younger than he really is, we have had many struggles with youth activities were he is classified as an adult now. That being said I totally understand your frustration at not being able to join in.

[cb at sea]

An 18 year old won't be part of the "teen" activities, but most older teens don't participate, anyway! They tend to meet up, and hang out where they want. They do "adult" things...except for drinking.

 

If you have a "special needs" thing...like autism or some other problem, then you should contact the "special needs" dept....they can facilitate other options for you.

[js]

The 18-20 year olds, in my opinion, are the least thought of on the cruise.

We cruise RCCL often and my kids enjoy the clubs.

On our next cruise, my ds will be 15 (still ok) but my dd will be 19. Sure she can go to the casino and clubs but not drink but who does she go with if I don't bring a friend and she doesn't want to hang with her parents? When the kids, even the older ones, go to the clubs, they can meet new kids and even if they are not in the clubs, they now "know" each other and can hang out but not 18-20.

 

I know they have an 18-20 meet/greet on the cruises but I have heard they are not well attended.

[Easy Goer]

We are going on the Allure Mar 25. We have a 18 yr old daughter high school senior. I am under the impression that if we waive our rights such as gambling tobacco ,curfew and other assorted vices that she could participate in the 15-17 teen club at night.We will also bring idenification that she is still in high school. I know each ship is different,but you have to sell the fact that a 18year old is better off with high school kids than with older college kids

[cruiseguy1016]

Have him check out the roll call for the sailing. See if there are others in his age group. DD did this last year before our cruise. She "met" a lot of kids her age. They started a Facebook group. They had many activities planned before they even got on the ship. Once they met up on the ship, they were together all the time. They always had things to do.

[derrick22]

Tough age.

Our DS just turned 21.

He last cruised when he was 19 and said he wouldn't go again until he was 21 or could bring a friend.

Yes there are organized activities for the 18-20 y/o's but not many attended.

DS loved the teen club when he was younger.

This cruise he is bringing a friend so that problem is eliminated.

[EllaDuChien]

We sailed on the Freedom last year which is the same class as the Liberty with many of the same activities. My son participated in a few soccer games with older teens that were organized by the staff. There are a few things, not many, but keep reading the daily activities list and you will catch them.

[javakaiser]

I'm going on Allure on March 11 with 3 kids (14,16 and 18). We called RCI a few times and got contradictory info. Called last time and demanded a clear answer. They said the 18 should be allowed in the teen club. Not exactly a clear answer but they seemed pretty sure. I'm hoping the age limit is just there so they can kick out older kids who may be causing problems for younger ones.

 

Ours just turned 18 last week and would definitely prefer to hang out with his brother and sister than with me and his mom in adult clubs. I'm hoping he'll also be able to go to the other teen activities (like the teen skating) that don't happen in the teen club.

[Artemis]

OP, just throwing this out there: Is it within the realm of possibility to entice a friend to join the fun? That's how we resolved the same dilemma with our HS senior last spring, and he and his pal (who had never cruised before!) had the best week together. It was a perfect grad gift/memory maker before they parted ways to go off to college. The other family covered the friend's cheap air ticket (or used FF miles, I can't recall) + 50% of an inside GTY...it was a bit of a splurge for all, but really very satisfying.

 

Whatever happens, he's clearly an experienced cruiser and will figure out how to make his own fun!

[4bythebeach]

Yes the 18-21 year olds are pretty much forgotten :( We unfortunately do not go on as many cruises at this time because of that. Our family vacations have now been more land based until the boys are old enough to enjoy the adult activities offerred of cruises.

[LittleMissMagic]

My sister and I are in the 18-20 year old group. While it is unfortunate that Royal Caribbean doesn't do much for this age group, we still have a great time. We usually just meet people around the ship. My sister is very outgoing, so if she sees someone that looks our age, she talks to them. We did go to the "Club 18-20+" Meet and Greet on our last cruise and ended up meeting some people that were fun to hang out with at night. It's not organized by the ship - there is no staff member there to coordinate the meeting, so you really just have to go and look around for the other people your age. Kind of awkward, but it's awkward for everyone, so no worries!

 

They also have adult tournaments on the sports deck that anyone 18 and older can enter.

[LeeGrant]

I think most 18 year olds would be in the bar (once they have signed the waiver!) They would not want to hang around youth groups now they are considered to be an adult.

 

Never could understand why an 18 year old can be married for 2 years, vote, drink, smoke, have children - yet RCI consider them to be minors and say they must be next to or opposite their parents.

 

Very stupid rule.

[WisconsinFan]

The hard part ends up for the 18 year old who is still in high school and not yet part of the college group. I turned 18 just about 5 weeks before entering college (and the drinking age was 18!), I was very young for my class. My son is still in high school and the drinking age is 21. I don't think the club/bar thing is a big deal for him -we live in Wisconsin, kids are allowed in bars with their parents at all times. For us, it is strange when we go somewhere with our kids and are waiting for a table and can not wait in the bar. This happened to us in Seattle last year, waiting for a table in a hallway while people with dogs could go into the bar. Oh well.

 

Happy news for us. Last night my son found out that a friend from high school was going to be on the cruise. We made him call him just to be sure when he got home as one of his other friends was going to be on "the Liberty" but leaving from Miami. It took my son a long time to help this other kid realize he was on the Carnival Liberty and not Liberty of the Seas :D

[swedish1]

We just had this conversation with our son who just turned 17 and he is concerned about a possible 2013 cruise when he will be 18.

 

I wish RC could come up with a policy that would let 18 year olds, that are still in High School, to participate in the teen activities in the teen room.

 

p.s. we're from Wisconsin as well

[gerif]

We just had this conversation with our son who just turned 17 and he is concerned about a possible 2013 cruise when he will be 18.

 

I wish RC could come up with a policy that would let 18 year olds, that are still in High School, to participate in the teen activities in the teen room.

 

I can understand 18 year olds who are still in high school wanting to be with other high schoolers in the teen area - and believe that this is possible IF they agree to not have other 18 year old privileges such as the casino and the disco after 10 p.m.

 

What I really don't understand is the big hoopla about the 18-20 year old group having nothing to do. They can do anything the 21+ group can do except drink alcohol. Surely, their having fun cannot solely depend on being able to consume alcohol, can it? If so, it's a pretty sorry commentary.

[Artemis]

Hi, gerif, don't guess you've had any teens?! No, of course it's not all about alcohol! But they are at an awkward age, transitioning from a life that's been organized for them by parents, school, extracurriculars, Cruise Teen Group Activities, etc. to adulthood, where life is a blank slate, and you have to figure out what's on offer and how to spend your time. It's a natural developmental step! And we adults model social behavior like, "New Cruise Friend, let's meet later at the Schooner Bar," even if we don't plan to imbibe. They can't do that, and really, suggesting they meet at the card and games room just doesn't cut it with 18-year-olds. :)

[swedish1]

I can understand 18 year olds who are still in high school wanting to be with other high schoolers in the teen area - and believe that this is possible IF they agree to not have other 18 year old privileges such as the casino and the disco after 10 p.m.

 

What I really don't understand is the big hoopla about the 18-20 year old group having nothing to do. They can do anything the 21+ group can do except drink alcohol. Surely, their having fun cannot solely depend on being able to consume alcohol, can it? If so, it's a pretty sorry commentary.

 

I don't think under 21 should be allowed in the casino's just as it is in Las Vegas. Also, never have had as issue with the 21 year old drinking age.

 

However, I would think that 18 year old High School Students really would like the option of being able to be with other High School Students.

[WisconsinFan]

"What I really don't understand is the big hoopla about the 18-20 year old group having nothing to do. They can do anything the 21+ group can do except drink alcohol. Surely, their having fun cannot solely depend on being able to consume alcohol, can it? If so, it's a pretty sorry commentary. "

 

girf, I work in higher education. Freshman students need help in making new friends. We spend a great deal of time training our RA's (who live on the floors in the res halls) to plan events, post things on bulletin boards and in general coax these new students out of their rooms and out and about. The RA's plan bowling nights, ice cream socials, movie nights, shopping trips. They even knock on new students doors and invite them personally. Artemis is correct. They aren't as likely to be outgoing as an older undergraduate who has learned how to make new friends in class.

 

Personally, I don't get why those under 18 can be in the clubs until 10:00 PM and then have to get out but watching others drink after 10:00 requires you to be 18.

[Artemis]

WisconsinFan, forgot to say, congrats on the happy coincidence of the friend cruising on YOUR Liberty! :D

[WisconsinFan]

Thanks! We got very lucky on this one. Otherwise he might just be hanging out with mom and dad ;). He has a 13 year old brother that I believe will be very busy with the teen group. He loves the sports activities that are organized by the staff. If we don't know where he is, all we have to do is go to the sports court :D

[cruiseguy1016]

I'm going on Allure on March 11 with 3 kids (14,16 and 18). We called RCI a few times and got contradictory info. Called last time and demanded a clear answer. They said the 18 should be allowed in the teen club. Not exactly a clear answer but they seemed pretty sure. I'm hoping the age limit is just there so they can kick out older kids who may be causing problems for younger ones.

 

Ours just turned 18 last week and would definitely prefer to hang out with his brother and sister than with me and his mom in adult clubs. I'm hoping he'll also be able to go to the other teen activities (like the teen skating) that don't happen in the teen club.

 

On every cruise we have been on with our kids, 18 year olds are ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN in the teen clubs.

 

 

I think most 18 year olds would be in the bar (once they have signed the waiver!) They would not want to hang around youth groups now they are considered to be an adult.

 

Never could understand why an 18 year old can be married for 2 years, vote, drink, smoke, have children - yet RCI consider them to be minors and say they must be next to or opposite their parents.

 

Very stupid rule.

 

This is only an option (on RCI) for European sailings. The waiver is no longer an option for sailing to the Caribbean. You must be 21 to drink alcohol.