Cruise Ships
Cruises have always been popular getaways for families. Walt Disney World has always been an expert source when it comes to pleasing kids and parents. But once these kids hit their teens, there’s the potential for frowns, despite Mickey Mouse’s best attempts to be cool. What can Disney do on its cruises to ensure smiles from this chillin’ age group?
Enter Teen Beach. “We have an area on Castaway Cay, our private island [in the Bahamas], that is reserved exclusively for teenagers,” says Lisa Broschart, Disney Cruise Line’s Manager of Youth Activities. “Teens can participate in activities such as raft building, sand football, volleyball, water games and hang out with each other.” Broschart says there are also ‘teen only’ excursions off Castaway Cay like kayaking, biking and snorkeling.
Independence is also key in pleasing teenagers, says Broschart. Disney allows teenagers to come and go as they please while onboard, while parents must sign kids ages 12 and under in and out of the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.
Disney Cruise Line, tel. 800-951-3532, http://Disneycruise.disney.go.com
The Westin St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
The teen market is also big business at the Westin St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The resort’s Teen Center features air hockey, foosball, video games, surround sound and more. There are also various teens-only activities offered, including parasailing adventures 200 feet above the island, kayak trips to beaches where teens can snorkel and explore, tennis clinics on six lighted courts and salsa lessons. A captain will take teens anywhere they want to go around the island on Teens-Only powerboat excursions. Water skiing is included at no extra cost, and teens can cruise out to a deserted island with a boom box and Frisbee.
Teen Travel Planning
As with any vacation, planning helps ensure a good time, especially when teenagers are part of the baggage.
- Talk about expectations.
“It’s a good idea to ask your teen to write down or discuss with you ahead of time his or her expectations for the trip,” says Donna Smallin, best-selling author of The One-Minute Organizer. “That way, if your daughter or son says that they expect that they can stay out until 3 a.m. since they’re on vacation, you can discuss it and set the record straight so there are no surprises."
- Establish guidelines.
Lisa Broschart, Disney Cruise Line’s Manager of Youth Activities, says, “It might be a good idea to establish guidelines with the teens about checking in with the family throughout the day and remember to set evening curfews before cruising.”
- Review the packing list.
Smallin says that packing for a vacation with a teen can be exceptionally challenging. “Many teens will want to pack their entire wardrobe with lots of ‘just-in-case’ clothes. Go over the itinerary and help them write a list of what to pack, accordingly,” she says.
- Have them earn vacation money.
Money is also an issue for teens when on vacation, but with some planning it can be a non-issue, says Smallin. “Have a garage sale before your trip and encourage your child to sell the things they haven’t used or worn in years.”
For more materialistic youth, Shelly Blyth, the resort’s personal shopper for teens, will tell your kids where to find the coolest reggae CD’s, ear cuffs and toe rings in nearby laid-back and funky Cruz Bay. She will also advise older teens on shopping opportunities in St. Thomas, which they can visit on the resort’s boat, and (for a fee) take teens on shopping excursions sans-parents.
The Westin St. John Resort & Villas, USVI, tel. 340-693-8000, www.westinresortstjohn.com. Rooms start at $444/night in June.
About a week after we’d returned home from our successful week vacation at Smuggs, Alex began to plan our next vacation. “It must have a teen club,” he said. “And no trees!” Wink.
Additional reporting provided by Aaron Butzen.
Comments
1 Comments on this article | read all commentsDays Gone By
by speckle614 on March 6, 2008
Man I miss being a teenager. They didn't have these kinds of programs when I was a teen.