best cruise line for teen as well as 50 year olds?

dlwray · #1 (**permalink**) August 19th, 2008, 04:44 PM

I'm 47 and my wife is 51 and we are planning a caribbean cruise for april
2009 and want our 16 year old son to have plenty to do but want a relaxing
exprience for ourselves. I'm sure my wife and I would like HAL but my son likes to stay active and hang with kids his age. What is best compromise so we all will have good exprience.

Mike M · #2 (**permalink**) August 19th, 2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlwray

I'm 47 and my wife is 51 and we are planning a Caribbean cruise for April
2009 and want our 16 year old son to have plenty to do but want a relaxing
experience for ourselves. I'm sure my wife and I would like HAL but my son likes to stay active and hang with kids his age. What is best compromise so we all will have good experience.

It really depends on your son and how active he is. It sounds like you do want him to have plenty to do so my recommendation is: Royal Caribbean.

You can find places to kick back and relax and your son can enjoy himself with their activities.

Their larger ships, (Voyager and Freedom class) will definitely give him plenty to do. I personally love the Radiance class ships. I find them the most beautiful ships at sea.

Carnival would be my second choice, but if you lean toward HAL then Carnival "could" be more outside your comfort zone. Then again, I'm in your demographic and no cruise line is outside of my comfort zone.

Take care,
Mike

Trip · #3 (**permalink**) August 19th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Exactly what Mike said!!!

colorcrazie · #4 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2008, 02:46 PM

We are HAL fans and still love Carnival. Took our 2 teenage nephews on a Carnival cruise in May and they had a ball. Haven't been on Royal in years because the ships are too big for me to get around easily. But, Carnival did seem to have a lot of ways for young people to meet up for activities.
Marty

dlwray · #5 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2008, 04:37 PM

Great, thanks for the advice!

LisaK · #6 (**permalink**) August 25th, 2008, 11:43 AM

Royal Caribbean would be my first choice, Princess my second

seadog2 · #7 (**permalink**) August 25th, 2008, 09:49 PM

One more thing to consider. March/April is spring break time. I'm sure that there will be plenty of action for your son. If your concern is to have plenty for him to do then yes Royal Caribbean or Carnival is your best choice.

rollerdonna · #8 (**permalink**) September 21st, 2008, 03:57 AM

We are in our early 50's and 60's and have travelled with a teenage son 5 times on Carnival, and once on Celebrity. On Celebrity he was bored to death as there were not many kids his age.
On Carnival he always found a group to hang out with and have a good time, besides he LOVED the free ice cream and 24 hour pizza!

donna

colorcrazie · #9 (**permalink**) September 21st, 2008, 02:12 PM

WHen we took my 2 teenage nephews on Carnival in May, one was ALWAYS at the pizza bar and the other in a hot tub eating ice cream!
Marty

misguidedangel · #10 (**permalink**) September 21st, 2008, 02:41 PM

Carnival for general overall fun. Conquest class ships and up have )2 club and arcade for the teens.

RCI if he is into rollerblading, rock climbing, skating.....but if he don't like any of those and justs wants to hang out with kids his age, then Carnival..

One lady at our table has cruise with RCI many times, but when she compares the two she says she always has more fun on Carnival. Service and ship amenities are the only thing she says is marginally better on RCI...She's been on 31 cruises and is 80 years old..