I have a 16 and 18 year old on a first time cruise which is booked for 5th August. I'm hoping they don't hate it! Any ideas on how to make this a succesful holiday!

Get them involved in the planning. Let them have a stake in it. Discuss and select the shore excursions as a family. Talk about dining options with them--early, late, your family alone or big table with others. Have them study deck plans; ask their opinions; what shipboad acitvities look good to them.

Half the fun of a cruise is in the planning and anticipation. If they see you getting excited about, they'll get excited about. Teenagers like to act like it's not cool to like things their parents like--but they will follow your example.

Besides, what's not to like?

Hello JohnH, and welcome to cruise-chat.

From looking at the Celebrity Web site, I see you will be going to Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Santorini, Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy; Florence, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; and Barcelona, Spain.

I agree with f-mattox to involve your teens in the planning, both for the ship and ports. As they might not want to read through tour books (my son doesn't), perhaps you might rent for them some popular movies that were filmed in some of these locales. That should get the excitement going.

Once on board, your cabin will receive a daily program listing the events for the day and evening. Seek their opinions in making those onboard plans. Extra copies are available near the purser's desk (bottom of the grand staircase), so they can each have one. (Or, you can ask your cabin steward to provide extra copies each day.)

The only downside I can anticipate is that there are some activities your 18-year-old will be able to enjoy, but the 16-year-old won't. One of these is the relaxing Thalassotherapy pool outside the spa (although your younger teen can enjoy the rest of the spa).

Still, it sounds like a wonderful family vacation, and I am sure you will create many great memories.

Thanks for all the advice. Between their exams i'll find time to do the planning with them. Sounds a great idea and i'm more than happy to go where they want to go.

You're welcome -- happy to help. Just be sure to pick a few activities that you want to do, too.

The Millenium has activities posted daily for most age groups. I think your family is in for a wonderful vacation. I know we enjoyed the swimming pool and the hydropool. I just returned on June 7 and loved the Millie. Met some fine folks and am still daydreaming about the beautiful places we saw.

Penny/Tampa

Thanks Penny, i'll look for the daily advice. Just wondering if it's expected for the younger members to wear formal dress on the formal nights. I have a 12,16 and 18 year old.

Celebrity is a touch choice for teenagers. With the exception of breaks, i.e, spring,Christmas and so forth the guests lean to the older crowd, 50+. My two teens, 19 and 21 had to rely on conversations with crew members. You might have a better go at it because it's summer. Let me know how it goes as we have given up on them due to the age factor. Great line however.

John, the dress suggestions extend to teens, too. We rented a tuxedo for our son, but he would have been fine with a suit and tie on formal nights.

Jelly, i'll let you know how we get on re mixing with other people of their age. Before booking I asked Celebrity re the age profile and they thought it would be varied due to the time of year with school hols etc.

Lisa thanks for the info re the formal dress, i'l arrange a dark suit and tie as I can't see the 12 year old going further than that!

John,
My family will be on the Celebrity, August 5th trip as well. I have three daughters (22,17 & 15) and one son (11). We picked Celebrity for the first time. We have done RCCL in the Caribbean a few times, once with kids. We have let the kids look through all the excursions and they are not into it as much as the Caribbean more fun activities but still into it. The kids are all excited about going to Europe for the first time. I like to stress the age of everything in Europe, Our oldest tourist sites are 400 yrs old. Things being built 1000 yrs ago is amazing. The movie Gladiator is good to watch for Rome and then seeing the Collusiem. The movie The Italian Job is set in Venice at the begining. I have recorded several shows on the travel channel anout Rome and Venice. They are excited about hiking a Volcano in Naples. I think that we all will be so tired each night from site seeing that after dinner and a show my kids will be headed to sleep(I know I will be). During sea days they will have plenty to do exploring the ship and swimming.

It's good to know they will have at least two kids their age on board. I am sure they will meet at some time.

Let me know if there are excursions that your boys seem to like.

Mark

Hi Mark,
You seem to have started the planning already i.e Volcano climbing!! I have started to think about keeping everyone interested as well. Venice is great but I suppose the art is to look at it through teen eyes! When we went there Murano was great for a walk around touristy shops and it is pretty as well. We have just started to look at things, but the Volcano idea is one i've never thought of.
I suppose the trick is to have a bit of interest for eveyone. My 12 year old boy made sure it was the Millenium we booked based on various research he had carried out re the quality/space on the boat. This is our first cruise and I really don't know how it will turn out but everyone's up for it.

We are booked on this sailing also. Am sailing with my mom and my almost 14 yo daughter. Glad there will be other teens on board. Wish there is a way to get them to get to know each other prior to the cruise.

Hi the connections have been added!! Thanks for the information,