Cruises for teenagers

[SecretSquirrels]

I was thinking of a cruise next year, we will have two teen boys of 15 and 17 and someone said they are popular with teenagers. I've never been on a cruise before so wouldn't know where to start. Any tips suggestions welcome. No long haul flights though, so sadly not Caribbean.

We have cruised with p and o. Been on Oceana, Ventura and Azura.Both Ventura and Azura excellant for teenagers. Teenagers club runs till 1.00am.They have a 2 week timetable prinited, activities include rock school, sports , discos, pool parties.

I agree with Marbeth. Last year I took my teens, then aged 14 and 16, on a 7-night cruise on P&O's Oceana. They said it was their best holiday EVER (and we've done Dom Rep, Florida, Egypt, etc). They both looked close to tears when we had to get off!

I'm thinking about booking a 10-night cruise on Ventura for next year, sailing from Southampton and visiting various ports in Spain and Portugal. If I had the cash, I'd go on a 14-nighter round the Med (from S'ton) on Royal Caribbean's Independence or Adventure of the Seas - truly amazing for teens, and something to please all ages, eg, you can leave them on board whilst you do excursions. In fact, I guarantee you won't see your DC for the duration.

We've also been on a Caribbean cruise on Independence of the Seas, but like you, would not do long haul flights again. IMO, going from Southampton is completely stress free, but the weather can be dodgy until you get to the Northern Spain area. A spot of bad weather doesn't really bother me, tbh, and certainly didn't affect my DC's enjoyment .

Thanks for that. I hadn't thought of going from Southampton. We live up North so it's a long way but might be no worse than a London flight. Presumably more of a British feel to a P&O cruise? Which would be good from their point of view - easier to make friends.

P and O is mainly British.Certainly all children were from the UK. Friends did Royal Caribbean fly cruise , their children did not enjoy any clubs due to most of children not speaking any English.
Although we live in the south we always travel down day before. Normally on board by 12 the next day having lunch and holiday begins.
One adavantage of p and o is at port normally the shuttle buses are free into town whereas Royal caribbean you have to pay £10 pounds per person for each shuttle .
Talkshows our first cruise was on oceana for seven nights.

Aah Marbeth, Oceana was great, but as you say, Ventura/Azura even better - so I'm hoping to try one or the other soon, although my DS will be 18 next year, so probably won't come.

Regarding comparing P&O and Royal Caribbean - P&O much more British, and drinks, etc, much cheaper. I think RC has the edge on food and entertainment (in my limited experience). But my DC would choose P&O as they liked hanging out with fellow Brits - although they also had a ball on RC in the Caribbean hanging out with mainly American kids. RC cruises from S'ton would have predominantly British passengers anyway. So not much to choose between them really.

Cruisecritic.com and Cruise.co.uk have loads of reviews on every cruise ship you could think of.

I know it sounds bad but they really would prefer English speaking guests. We holidayed in a predominantly German hotel this year and it was disappointing they couldn't chat up girls make friends.I think you've sold it to me. I'll check out those websites, I'm a veteran at researching and booking all kinds of holidays on t'net but when I started looking at cruises it was all very different.
DS1 will be 17 next year and possibly his last family holiday with us (although if he enjoys it enough he might be tempted again as long as I am paying).

SecretS, I know what you mean about English-speaking guests, my two would be the same.

Have fun with the research - that's all part of the whole 'holiday experience' in my opinion!