18 year old - What to do - Thoughts Experiences

[pe4all]

I have read in a couple of posts that some ships (I think Dream is one) had a meet and greet for 18-20 year olds. Maybe if you do a search of this board.... good luck, and have a great cruise!

[danvinson]

I'm wondering if anyone found out if there is a meet and greet for 18-20 year olds. My daughter will turn 18 a week before we leave on our cruise (Jan 1, 2011 - Carnival Freedom). It is a first cruise for my dd and ds. We are traveling with extended family but had hoped she would meet others her age as her cousins are 6 and 9.

 

Anyone? Thanks! Dori

[sbnuggie]

Howdy,

 

wow over a year ago I posted this question, ah the memories. Anyhow, we did take our 18yr old nephew on the conquest cruise with us. I even asked John Heald on his blog before we left if Carnival had anything for this inbetween age. Short answer: no not really.

 

There was talk of adding an informal meet/greet but on our cruise there wasn't one. He met a couple of other people his own age but never quite hit it off so he ended up hanging with just boring old Uncle and Auntie.

 

However being the good uncle that I am, I promptly taught him how to play craps and 21 and the responsibilities that come with becoming an adult and gambling. We went to the R-Rated comedy shows and just hung out.

 

Some nights he would just go off by himself and play at the arcade, go watch a movie up on the lido deck, play bags with other people.

 

He says he had a great time, loved learning how to gamble and going to the R-Rated shows. Says that made him feel more "adult" but did state he wished he met more his age. At that age group, like being over 21 you have to work hard at finding friends etc...

[med2cruise]

We were on the Liberty in July with DD 18 and DS 21. Neither one complained about being board. We were able to meet people on the roll call for our ship that had kids the same age. By 5:00 on the 1st sailing day my kisd were off. DD was able to get into the bars and comedy clubs and had a great time.

 

They had such a blast we are going next year.

 

Karen

[Deckhawk]

I wouldn't worry too much about Club O2. If he is 18, he isn't going to want to hang out there unless there is a cute teen supervisor on the staff. At 18 he can come into the adult club. I'm sure he'll be able to find something to do there. At 18 he won't be bored at all...

[Naomi John]

Everyone is still referring to an 18 year old as a kid. Last time I checked, 18 year old is an adult, (in the USA, and some places 17), except to drink, gamble, be free of their parents income, etc.

 

They can vote. Oh and buy cigarettes. Go figure.

 

But, in some states, a 14 year old is an adult, no wait 12 in some, depending on the crime they commit.

 

To protect society from them, they are an adult, to protect them from society, they are a child.

 

It's a wonder parents and their offspring are confused.

[nrdsb4]

Girls can be far more mature, emotionally, than boys at that age. When I was just 18 I was seeing a girl that was almost 16. We really liked each other and I was totally respectful;). Well, her parents didn't like the age difference so they tried to break us up by putting an APB on my car when we went out one night. This was at 10:30pm. Really unfortunate....and no, there's not more to the story as far as drama goes. I was a good kid:).

 

My youngest is 16. Even now, and definitely when she was 15, I would have been uncomfortable with the idea of her dating an 18 y/o. I wouldn't set out a blanket "no," but I would have to know the young man and his family very very well, and even then I would say yes only after a lot of consideration. The only reason I can think of for putting out an "APB" on the car of a male adult would be if he disrespected our decision to not allow our daughter to date him and took her out without our permission.;)

[hunniebee724]

We were on the Miracle in August and there was a Meet & Greet for 18-20 year olds. We had several in our group but none went to the meet & greet so I don't know how it went. They did end up meeting people their age on the ship and spent a lot of time hanging out with them throughout the cruise.

[plum90]

i am 19 and me and my mom will be cruising on the carnival pride this sunday! its our first cruise and are really excited to be going :D ... my only concern is that i keep reading all these posts about how your kind of lost being in the 18-20 age group. its a lot easier to meet new people when you already have a friend or sibling with you, which i will not. does anyone know if they do have a meet and greet or anything of that nature i could attend to meet some new people around my age? :confused: and would the staff do anything if my mom bought me a drink or two?

[Carolin]

Sometimes they post a get together for 18-20 year olds. I'm not sure how well this is attended. I do suggest you go to the singles meet and mingle. Also, check out the disco and piano bar. Chances are you will run into people there as well as by the pool. Regardless, I think you'll have a great time.

[arpie05]

plum - as you are new to the boards - you need to go to Roll Calls and then look for your ship and sailing date under Carnival. There will be a thread of people chatting - some for almost a year :p - that will be on your cruise. That is how you will find out if someone your age will be onboard.

 

If this is your first cruise, you will have a card, a blue credit card type that opens your room door, allows you off the ship. It has your photo in it. It also has age. It's called a sail and sign card. If your id says you are under 21 and you have a drink - you will get into trouble. If you look over 21, then .....

 

(I don't know if still the policy but when we sailed on NCL they used to allow over 18 to drink once in international waters if parents gave permission, part of registration process)

[big_schots]

My son was 20 when we went on the Conquest, this past August. They had a meet and greet for the 18-20 year olds, posted in the Fun Times. It was held the first (embarkation) night in the Disco. It was at 7:30 P.M., right before the late dinner seating. He said around 20 people showed up, and it was hosted by one of the entertainment staff. Each person gave a brief introduction, and they played a few ice-breaker games. It lasted around 45 minutes. He didn't really hang, or spend a great deal of time, with any other kids, but he briefly chatted throughout the cruise when he crossed paths with a few of them. That was the only formal activity that they held for this age group throughout the entire cruise. It was certainly better than nothing, but my son seemed to find the casino (poker) more to his liking. :rolleyes:

[mennaa]

Plum90, I started going cruising with just myself and my mom when I was 18, I'm now 21. As long as you enjoy the time with your mom and have fun you should have a great time. I don't know about a meet and greet type thing but every year we have met a ton of people that I would see around the ship and a few nights would hang out with at the piano bar or casino. As far as drinks, my mom would let me have the occasional drink (it's vacation, why not) on the ship and the crew didn't say anything. Your mom will just have to purchase the drink for you under her sign and sail card (yours has you are under 21). Also on the ports the drinking age is usually 18 and not strictly enforced! Have so much fun!

[hockeygirl14]

I'm 18 - last year we cruised and I was 17, friend was 18. We were on NCL so she could go out at night to the adult bars, whereas I could go to the teens club. We were also traveling with 2 boys who were our age (family friends). Anyways, most of the kids in the teens club sat outside of it and just hung out. He will probably have no problem meeting new friends !

Have you considered bringing a friend or cousin similar in age?

[cls624]

Yes, your mom can buy you a drink or 2!! We did it for our daughter and her friend.

Mom has control over how many drinks she buys you.

As someone already said, drinking age will be 18 on the Islands.

 

HAVE FUN!!!:D:p:):rolleyes::eek: