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Michele
Guest
We'll be on Carnival's Victory for spring break the week of March 23, 2003. I have a 12 year old that will enjoy the kids club, but how about activities for a 16 year old. Any suggestions?
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Nanatravel
Guest
Encourage your teen to participate in their Teens Only club. They will have activities including time in the disco when the adults are not there and alchol is not served. Most Carnival ships have the water slide as well as great pools, too. Once your child meets another teen, they will be OK.
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truluv
Guest
Encourage your teen to go to the 1st night teen meeting, even though she'll tell you that it's for losers. That's where all the teens go to check each other out and to complain about how lame the program is -- but by the end of the stupid games, she'll have met several other teens and will start to hang out in a group. If she doesn't meet other kids that first night, not to worry. There are always nice teens who try to draw others into groups when they see them alone, and sooner or later she'll connect up with a group. Our teenage boys (soon to be 15 & 17 -- we're crusing on Glory in August) always meet new friends on our cruises. On a Spring Break cruise, the ship will be LOADED with teens.
The kids are allowed in the disco before 11:00 (sometimes this varies) and then are supposed to leave. Depending on the ship & security, sometimes they're allowed to stay. Often they find a quiet lounge or hallway, where they congregate, or they eat ice cream & pizza all day, go to the shows in groups, play video games, and just "hang." I don't think the teen activities are usually well-attended, except for karaoke. By the end of the cruise, they're usually frantically taking pictures of each other and exchanging e-mail addresses.
You might suggest to her that if she finds a special friend or group of kids, they should go ahead and get formal pictures taken as a group when the photographers are set up -- why not? The photographers are used to it, and either you or she may want to buy one as a souvinir (sp).
Have a great cruise!
The kids are allowed in the disco before 11:00 (sometimes this varies) and then are supposed to leave. Depending on the ship & security, sometimes they're allowed to stay. Often they find a quiet lounge or hallway, where they congregate, or they eat ice cream & pizza all day, go to the shows in groups, play video games, and just "hang." I don't think the teen activities are usually well-attended, except for karaoke. By the end of the cruise, they're usually frantically taking pictures of each other and exchanging e-mail addresses.
You might suggest to her that if she finds a special friend or group of kids, they should go ahead and get formal pictures taken as a group when the photographers are set up -- why not? The photographers are used to it, and either you or she may want to buy one as a souvinir (sp).
Have a great cruise!
L
LindaP
Guest
Truluv,
You hit it right on the nose. We have a 16 year old and last year we went on the Victory..he refused to go to the teen meet and greet the first night..so it did take a couple of days of him to get in with a group of teens, but once he did we never saw him except for in the room..He did however say that it was the best vacation he every had and we are going back on the Victory in 5 days Feb 16th and I bet this time hewill go to the Teen get together...and have a wonderful time..hanging out with others his age.
You hit it right on the nose. We have a 16 year old and last year we went on the Victory..he refused to go to the teen meet and greet the first night..so it did take a couple of days of him to get in with a group of teens, but once he did we never saw him except for in the room..He did however say that it was the best vacation he every had and we are going back on the Victory in 5 days Feb 16th and I bet this time hewill go to the Teen get together...and have a wonderful time..hanging out with others his age.
J
jimmieandcaroline
Guest
I have the Camp Carnival programs from the Paradise including the teen program at the following link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimmieandcaroline100
Maybe this will help.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimmieandcaroline100
Maybe this will help.
S
Slainte
Guest
Thank you, your suggestions about going to the teen meet the first night out was very helpful...I had my 15 year old son read the posts. Truluv your comment on teens telling you it's for losers and how lame it is really sounds exactly like something my teen would say..lol..I'll be sailing on Pride on 3/29...(Only 10 days away!!!)....with my 15 y/o son and you have given me good ammo to force him to get out there to meet and greet......After reading your posts he told me he definetly will go...Thanks again.
Nora
Nora
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traveltime
Guest
truluv said it perfectly! My (soon to be 18yr. old) son has been on 3 cruises with DH & me, and we're going again this June. We're taking him & 2 other 18yr. old guys for their graduation gifts. My son LOVES to cruise now, but let me tell you, the first time - well, truluv sounds like she recorded my son on video! After the first "lame" meeting, we only saw my son during mandatory check-in times. He still keeps in contact with kids he has met on the last cruises.
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NinaMre
Guest
After graduation (in June), I'm going on the Carnival Pride with two friends. Are there usually a lot of other teens on the cruise around that time? Do all of the Carnival ships have that 'Teen Meet' night?
~Nina
~Nina
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traveltime
Guest
Nina, I think you will LOVE the Pride! My son (then 17) thought it had the best disco (or whatever you all call a dance spot) of any ship he has been on. We sailed the Pride last June, and the ship was full of teens. My son & his friend just walked around the first night, then went to the disco after dinner & met kids that way. If you are graduating, I'm assuming you are 17 or 18yrs old. I believe the *teen meet* is for younger teens - I hope someone else can tell you for sure. You shouldn't have any trouble meeting other kids your age. Try posting in the teen section here, too. Have a wonderful trip!
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NinaMre
Guest
Donna, Thanks for replying! I'm sure we'll have a great time. And thanks for telling me about the teen night. 
That could've been embarrassing. Hope you have fun on your cruise!
~Nina
That could've been embarrassing. Hope you have fun on your cruise! ~Nina
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traveltime
Guest
Nina, you're welcome, hon! I'm still hoping that someone else, though, can give you a definate answer about the teen meeting. If not, then check your Carnival Capers paper that will be in your cabin. It will have all sorts of information for you. I asked my son if he knew if there was a meeting or not, and he wasn't sure. You'll have a wonderful time, regardless.