Our Travels: A Caribbean Cruise with Teenagers on Spring Break
AAA’s Kathy Taves Reene shares tips from a recent Caribbean cruise that her son and his friends loved.
Grant Reene and father Mark Reene parasailing in Key West
Kathy Taves Reene
Q: What inspired you to take a Caribbean cruise with your family?
A: We were planning a senior class trip for my son, Grant, and his four friends. They were excited about being on a ship, seeing several destinations, and having things to do. They did not want to just go sit on a beach—they wanted to be active.
Q: How did you decide which cruise to take?
A: I contacted my AAA Travel Advisor, and she offered a variety of options and noted that she planned lots of senior class trips and cruises. I also searched online and looked at the cruise options for the days we could go on vacation. Beyond dates, we wanted to select a cruise ship with options for the boys, and a basketball court was very important to them!
Q: How long had you been planning the trip? Any planning advice?
A: I decided 4 years ago that I would plan a senior class trip for my son and his friends. I started looking at options with my friends about a year in advance, but no one was ready to lock in until 6-7 months before spring break. We kept checking airline flights over the course of the week and were able to save $150 per ticket by taking our time and being diligent. Our agent was able to send us a small refund when the cruise rates were lowered by the cruise line.
Q: What was your favorite island and why?
A: Of all the destinations we visited, Cozumel was our favorite. We signed up for an excursion to a beach resort and the boys enjoyed big pools that weren’t crowded and jet skiing on in the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean.
Q: What other excursions did you take? Which did you enjoy the most, and why?
A: Grant and his friends rented jet skis and had a great time. In Key West, they parasailed and rented mopeds so they could check out the town.
Ready to plan your cruise? Check out these Caribbean cruise excursions you’ll love.
Read MoreQ: What amenities did you and your family members enjoy the most?
A: My husband and I enjoyed the shows at night the most, but most of the other families really enjoyed hanging by the pool. The boys would stop by for short check-ins as they explored the ship throughout the day. One of the parents made a trip to the casino every night, and 3 of the 4 boys (those over 18) played Black Jack for the first time. No big winners or big losers here, but lots of fun for the kids and some of the parents.
The ship was kind enough to amend their standard table setup in the dining room for our 12-person group. We enjoyed trying anything and everything on the menu and spending a little time with our kids each day. Our waiter and his attendant were fantastic. Probably one of our favorite “extras” we purchased in advance was the drink package. It may not have been cheap, but it was fun drinking as many non-alcoholic frozen drinks as I wanted. (Try the Miami Vice!)
Q: Did this trip change you? If so, how?
A: This trip created lifelong memories for my son and his friends—it was a shared experience they will never forget. It brought them even closer by sharing an inside cabin room and spending every minute together for a week. They also met other kids on the boat, and they bonded quickly, which I think is giving them confidence as they all venture off to different colleges in just a few months.
Q: Where are you going next?
A: I want to cruise on the Mediterranean and explore Spain, France and Italy for the first time. If we travel to Cozumel again, I would definitely do the dolphin experience. I heard that excursion was fantastic!