Cruising With Adult Sons; RSSC?

[4yanx]

My wife and I have cruised in the past, but never with our sons until last week when nine family members took a cruise on Carnival (Elation). Now, my sons are 22 and 19 and we have always taken them to five-star restaurants and world-class hotels and resorts since they were wee lads. Too, we have done an equal amount of “by the seat of the pants” traveling. As such, they appreciate the finer things in life but, at the same time, are not snooty or pretentious in where they stay or what they eat. Both sons just LOVED their first taste of cruising and want to go again ASAP, but both commented that they thought the food would be better, the service more personalized, the onboard activities not so “lame” (hairy chest contests, etc. went over quite poorly with them), and fellow passengers would be those with which they had a bit more in common. I REALLY don’t mean to sound stuck up here and I do not say this in the spirit of thinking we are better than others because we are richer or smarter than others, but it seemed that most males their age on Carnival were either Harley/Dale, Jr. T-shirt wearers who slurred their way around the ship with a beer in each hand and most of the young ladies appeared only at the dining room or on deck to get a tan.

We consider ourselves very lucky that ours sons still want to travel with us at all and so we are looking for a cruise that will better meet their interests. My wife and I have done Crystal and think the ages of passengers might be TOO heavily skewed toward older folks. While they do relate well to people of any age, I’m sure they’d like to have people their own age with whom to associate and TALK, even if it’s only for 10 days or so with Mom and Dad.

OK, so they like fine food and fine restaurants at dinner, but like room service for breakfast and a buffet at lunch. They'd like to dabble in the Casino, but are not huge gamblers. My older son likes to have a drink or two but is no lush. Both like live music, but rock and jazz, not classical. Both enjoy stage productions, but not every night. Both love comedians. Both like shore excursions both educational and recreational. Both would have huge interest in a lecture/discussion of what we were going to see or do while cruising as opposed to where to buy gold chains or tequila in port. Both would be more comfortable with a cooking class or ice carving demonstration onboard as opposed to watching a “Survivor” contest or participating in a Scavenger Hunt. Both like a good gym for lifting but needn’t have sauna or aroma-therapy, etc.

Our home port is San Francisco and we’d prefer to cruise out of there, if possible. Does Radisson sound like a cruise line we’d ALL enjoy, or do you think we’d be happier on, say, Celebrity (which wife and I have done and enjoyed)? As an aside, Carnival’s customer service is the worst I EVER seen in a service industry and I’d never book with them again, regardless of how good the cruise itself might be, so please don’t suggest giving them another try.

[see sic]

While I have no doubt you and your family would enjoy going

on an RSSC cruise, I hope your sons get along well with each other

because it will be possible they could be the ONLY 20-somethings

on board.

 

In March 2004 I took the Seven Seas Mariner to the Mexican

Riviera. I am in my early 40's and I was one of the youngest

people on board. There were NO kids or young adults of any kind.

 

I just got off a few days ago from the Dec 17 Mariner 10 day

chirstmas cruise to Mexico again. There were MANY kids on board-

mostly youngsters under 12 or young teens in the 16 to 18 range.

 

I heard a crew member mention, the next cruise after ours--a 14 day

Panama Canal cruise from LA to Fort Lauderdale Dec 27 had NO kids on

board and it was almost sold out. (I don't know for sure--just

going by what he said to me)

 

So when you go makes a big difference. I have been on 3 Mariner

sailings, and I have a few observations for you:

 

The evening entertainment is limited at best.

The Horizon Lounge has had some soft/lounge-type singing

in the evening, while good ,it may not be what young adults are

looking for.

 

The shows in the Constellation Lounge can be good when the

whole cast performs their broadway-type of productions, but

they do not preform those type of shows every night.

 

The remaining nights are solo lounge acts and medioce comedians.

We had a pianist on our Dec 17th christmas cruise who was good.

 

The observation lounge on the Mariner has either a piano player

or on some cruises there is a harp player on board.

 

There is a late-night lounge called "STARS" --(I think) on the Mariner

but frankly, every time I ever walked by it, it was always empty

and saw very little action at any hour. During the day, it is sometimes

used as the "KIDS CLUB".

 

I don't gamble myself, but there seemed to be alot of people in the

casino each time I walked by it. I think there were some 25 cent

slot machines, but I recall the minimum bid on the blackjack table was

pretty high. I can't throw my money around too much in the

casino---I work too hard to make it.

 

The RSSC crowd is USUALLY on the older side, and many of them

are well-traveled who are not looking for lots of action/entertainment

and walking around the ship in the evening you can feel like you are the

only person on board sometimes. I think many passengers hit their

bed right after dinner.

 

If your sons are good at keeping themselves busy and finding their

own way to have fun, then they should have a good time, but if they

can't---then I just don't know.

 

thanks, see sic

[cwc]

If your sons are into water sport, Tahiti will be a good choice. PG generally have more younger people onboard and it is scuba dive heaven.

 

Oh, only 8hr flight from LAX (we are from SJC).

[4yanx]

Thanks to both of you. Some very good points you make, SS, they are appreciated. CWC, we are from Saratoga. Small world!

[see sic]

You are welcome 4YANX.

 

One other thing I forgot to mention:

 

If you do book an RSSC cruise, it is possible the "Enrichment

Lecture" could have NOTHING to do with where you are cruising to

or what you are going to see.

 

On board our Dec 17th Mariner Mexican Riviera cruise, I THINK there

was a talk about Mexico itself one day, but MOST I recall an

enrichment talk one day about "Celebrities and their Jewelry."

Another talk about "Taking pictures of Celebrities" and another talk

about the "British Royal Family"--and this was all on my Mexican

Riviera Cruise.

 

I suppose the enrichment classes could have been good--I did not

attend any of them. Just don't assume it will always be where you

are cruising to....But then again, I don't think I really would want

to hear 10 days straight about Mexico, Mexico, Mexico anyway.

 

I live in Southern California so I hear more than enough about Mexico

than I care to.

 

thanks, see sic

[Dreps]

In addition to Tahiti--which I agree, I think your sons would love--there tend to be more young people on the Alaskan cruises, which are easy to get to from San Francisco.

 

-----------

 

Eugene

[Iamboatman]

In Alaska we had one of the most engaging lecturers. She spoke of so many different aspects of Alaska and with style and flair. Whales, glaciers, anthropology, etc. Very on topic and very much timed with where we were at the moment. In fact, many of her talks were broadcast on deck becuase, alas, that's where we were.

 

Enrichment lectures can be very different when the cruise's location doesn't lead to the passengers wanting a week's worth of lectures on, say, Mexican history.

[Charsie]

4Yanx, my daughter is 19, her interests sounds similar to those of your lads, and I know she would enjoy a Radisson cruise. I've been on a few, and while I haven't taken her along yet, I know she'd have enjoyed any of them. As previously suggested, in all likelihood, especially the Paul Gauguin.

 

If they enjoy your company and each others' company, they'll have a blast, regardless of the ages of fellow passengers. My daughter enjoys the interaction regardless of the age - and there's always the entertainment staff (generally young) who make themselves quite available on board for conversation/interaction with the passengers, we always enjoy a lot of laughs with the crew.

 

Try the PG, and take it from there. Just don't tell my daughter, she'll be jealous! I'm on the Navigator next month, and she's STILL not coming!

 

Charlene

[greenleafhill]

My family just returned from the Voyager's 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise (Dec. 17-27), and I would like to offer my advice regarding taking your young adult sons with you. We were a multi-generation group, including my parents (in their 80s), my sister and her husband and 2 young kids, 10 & 6, and my husband and me with our 2 daughters 16 & 12. I was MOST impressed by Radisson, and think that if you pick a more action-oriented cruise such as the one we were on, over Christmas, or perhaps one in Tahiti, that your sons will have a blast. There were about 50 kids on our cruise, ranging from infants to college-age, and EVERYONE that I saw seemed to be having a great time. My daughter went para-sailing and jet-skiing in St. Thomas with a couple of slightly older brothers ( a cruise-sanctioned excursion) and we all went river-tubing in Dominica (even my parents!) and took an excursion to Virgin Gorda while we were in Road Town, Tortola. There was no time to get bored as we were in port all days but 3. Some older teens frequented the casino in the evening, but my daughter LOVED karoke night in the Horizon Lounge (she sang 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin with her aunt!) and we all thought the professional entertainers were FIRST-RATE. In fact, we went to almost all of the late evening shows in the Constellation Theater. The 4 singers, all American, and the 6 dancers, all British, were incredibly talented. Ayler and Justin, the 2 male leads, were extremely charming and easy to talk to and were often seen about the ship mingling with the guests. This troupe of 10 are on the current Voyager world cruise...perhaps you could join the cruise in Asia for one segment? So, there is plenty to do aboard ship and onshore. I also enjoyed the enrichment lectures ( we had a guest lecturer from Toronto who spoke 3 times on the subject of Neuro-linguistic Programming, or NLP). I think that any teen/young adult with the right mindset (an independent thinker) would have a fabulous time on the Voyager or Mariner: there are no inane contests, no crowds to battle for tours onshore, a decent gym, great little library, etc. etc. Hope this helps!

Stephanie in Palo Alto, CA

[Smokeyham]

What great information everyone has been posting.

 

I'm 44 and single and will be joining my mid-70's parents for a cruise through the Panama Canal in April/May 2007 aboard Mariner, and am a bit worried by some of the things I've read in other posts about their not being any singles activities and the passengers all being considerably older. If anyone has done an RSSC cruise through the Panama Canal and can give me any feedback on this I would appreciate it.

 

Also, one the best cruising areas for younger folks is Alaska. It seems to attract a younger/more active crowd and I very much enjoyed a cruise on Holland America lines in that area. It didn't have the Carnival/Hairy Chest atmosphere, but it did have a really fun night life with great places to dance and lots of great activities for cruisers of all ages.

 

Thanks.

 

Gordon

[HomeLover]

Gordon, I am a few years older than you, and I did the Mariner Panama Canal cruise in 2004. Perhaps I have a different outlook than many. I find interesting things to do, and I do not care about the age. I went horseback riding in Huatulco, and a canopy tour in Costa Rica. I was supposed to try scuba in Grand Cayman, but got sick. So, although these are not specific tours for singles, there are things to do that can be fun. As singles go on RSSC, there are very few around our age. Lots of couples , but not singles. Have fun.

[Tika]

I am the mother of five grown sons I offer you my input most sincerely to your question.

I have cruised on many different cruise ships some to mind would be a good call if they want to be on a Mega ship with 2000 + pax or more but I think from your description of your son's likes and dislikes

I would without a doubt choose the Paul Gauguin for a fantastic cruise experience !!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Honky tonk. The destination, scenery, ambiance, water sports, excursionns (wave runners etc. ), the "Beautiful Gauguines", food etc. etc. can't be matched. On our last PG cruise there were families with young children, teens, young adults basically multi generational and everyone found there special place for fun and enjoyment.

 

Just my thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Smokeyham]

Homelover,

 

Thanks so much for the response. It sounds like there are lots of fun things to do, but not so many activities specifically for singles. Glad you had a good time!

 

Gordon

[jhp]

4yanx, I too am the mother of 4 20-somethings. I have taken them on both the PG and the Mariner in Alaska, and they had a great time! Even though there weren't a lot of young people on the PG other than honeymooners, they managed to stay quite busy and happy with all the watersports. In Alaska, there were more people their ages. I went to bed long before them, so have no idea whether they connected with other young people at night in the bars! You really can't go wrong with either destination. If it's all the same to you, I'd let them call the itinerary!