Cheryl & Don Tepool

Age: 50
Occupation: Secretary & Acct. Mgr.
Number of Cruises: 8
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
Ship: Grand Princess
Sailing Date: July 7th, 2002
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean

I read a lot of reviews preparing for our cruise on the Grand Princess. However, none of them had any information on traveling with teenagers or children. Princess did have many activities but not as many as Carnival. As parents, we liked the pampering we got on the Grand Princess. Our teenagers (girl, 15; boy, 18) seemed to like the large groups of teenagers and activities on Carnival. Although you have rules at home, take time to review procedures aboard ship. Curfews will certainly be different on board, since teen activities are scheduled all day and into the night. Remember that you’ll have a good time if your children are happy!

Top Ten Things to Think about when Traveling with Teens

Check your bill often at the Purser’s Desk. Do Not, I repeat, Do Not wait until the last day for a surprise. One poor man’s bill was $3,000 with no explanation from teenagers…Also, internet charges are high!
Four in a cabin (ocean-view, no balcony) is a tight fit but can be done (Storage space is at a premium)
The room steward is efficient but gets off work at 2:00 p.m. Our teens were often still sleeping after 2 since they stayed up half the night. Try to compromise and let them sleep ‘til 1:00…
An 18 year old can get off the ship without parental consent – as we found out |
An 18 year old can drink on St. Martens Island, as we found out
Coke cards are a good buy at $20 for the week
There were a lot of hot tub parties for the 13 – 17 age group
Take an electrical (octopus) plug for hair dryers, curlers, DVDs, etc
Take a plastic box or shoebox to hold hair products, make-up, hairbrushes, etc.
Take a small plastic dish for your room keys, change, watch, etc. (the desk area is small)

Book Early

This was our eighth cruise and our children’s fourth. The Grand Princess limits the number of children, so book early. We booked in January for a July 7 cruise. Third and fourth passengers were $299 plus port charges. When our friends checked into the same cruise in May, third and fourth passengers would have been $1,100!

Arrive Early

We always try to arrive between 11 – 12:00 noon. Why not get on board and have lunch, check out your surroundings, and start early? Processing and departure with Princess is the best! No hassles.

Dining

Many people we spoke with chose “Preferred Choice” dining,” (choosing a different dining room and time each evening.) We chose first seating for two reasons. Our kids always knew where to meet us at 6:00 p.m. and our waiters got to know us personally – bringing us tea and extra desserts each night. Our waiters were from Mexico and Hungary; and we would have loved to bring them home with us. We were a little disappointed at not sitting with other people, but I’m sure we could have changed it, had it been a problem. The food was good, but not as good as our Alaska cruise. (Pastas were bland, according to our son, Chef Boy R Nate.)

Optional Tours

We snorkeled at St. John Island with the New Wave Tour. The trip there was quite an adventure – loud music and a great speed boat ride with two crazy tour guides. Fruit and shrimp were served on the way back – better than most tours we’ve taken. Honeymoon Beach was a beautiful, secluded place with lots of colorful fish. The water is so turquoise!

At St. Maarten, we sailed in the America Cup Regatta Race. If you are looking for a relaxing trip, don’t choose this one. All 18 of us had specific jobs: Grinders, Assistant Grinders, Wenches (Rope-pullers), Bartender (not that you can drink while you’re sailing), and Time Keeper. Our Stars & Stripe Sailboat won the race, but I never figured out how…What a great experience for the kids! After racing, you are dropped off in St. Maarten for shopping or underage drinking (as my son preferred).

Many people went on shopping trips, buying expensive jewelry with no duty or tax. We prefer to spend money on “adventures for the kids and kids-at-heart!” (Not many places in the Midwest you can race a sailboat or snorkel!)

Rooms

We were more cramped in this room than previously. I’m not sure if it’s because the children are more adult-like or because the room was actually that much smaller. I do know there was less drawer space and closet space than on Carnival. However, who can’t live with a smaller living space for the price we got!

General Space

There were lots of places to go to get away from people if you wanted a quite space. Several pools were designated Adult Only, and there was a wonderful spot on the back of the ship that was perfect for reading & watching the water. There were almost 3,000 people on board, but it didn’t feel crowded. What a neat trick.

Activities

Don & I joined several groups and played Trivia, $100,000 Pyramid, Family Feud, and Ping Pong. The Casino seemed to be a happening place the first night. One man won $40,000 on the $5.00 slot machine. I was extremely happy with the $62 I won the first night on $0.25 slots. Bingo was too crowded to win much and the evening shows were ok. The dancers are fabulous and comedians pretty funny. For someone who is usually in bed by 10:00 each night, there was plenty to do til the wee hours. The disco is a hot spot for late night adventures. It’s like a spoiler on the back of the ship & has a moving sidewalk to take you up there! The lighting is awesome.

Comments

We’ll definitely cruise with Princess again. What a way to go!

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