Disney Cruise With Tweens: What Is It Like?
So what is that like cruising with tweens?
Will it be just you and your new Christmas mug at a trivia because your tween forgot about it? Possibly…
Will you sign up for all available tastings because all your tween wants to do is hang out with her new friends? Maybe…
It is if you are traveling with just you and your tween, like me.
If you are traveling with your partner and a tween then it is perfect: you get plenty of one-on-one time while the tween is hanging out with the new friends, and then enjoy family time during dinner.
Let’s look at how the tweens will be spending their time on the Disney Cruise.
Table of Contents
Edge
Overview
You will find the Edge, a hangout place for kids ages 11-14, on all ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Unlike the Oceaneer Club, you don’t need to sign up your tween for the activities at the Edge. They can come and go as they please.
The layout of the Edge on Magic and Wonder is different from Fantasy and Dream, but you can expect games, a large TV screen, a dance floor, and a crafts area in all locations.
Our recent cruise on Disney Magic was our first cruise since my daughter was old enough to attend the Edge.
I found the club area rather small, and it felt like the tweens got shafted: the Oceaneers Club ( ages 3-12) is the state of the art facility and just look at the Vibe, the teen club (ages 14-17):
But don’t worry, the tweens will still have a blast!
Hours of Operation
The Edge hours of operation vary (see a sample schedule below), but the club usually has an open house, when anyone can visit, for a few hours a day, and then they are open for tweens only.
Activities
The Edge is offering a variety of activities from Mario Cart tournaments to crafts. Though the counselors might have a plan, a lot depends on attendance and level of participation.
Here is a sample of activities at the Edge:
"Ice Breakers" on the first day of the cruise is a great way to meet new friends
My daughter’s favorite activity was a scavenger hunt when girls vs boys teams were running around the ship taking selfies with the objects on the hunt list. She also enjoyed trivia, and, clearly, bracelet making.
What Else?
A Disney Cruise is a perfect opportunity for tweens to explore their independence: there are plenty of activities to participate in with their new friends, while you can have peace of mind knowing they will be safe.
Check out the daily activities schedules from our cruise here.
My daughter made quite a few friends within her very first hour at the Edge. For the rest of the cruise, her day looked something like this:
The girls would start a group chat (see more on the chat below) right after breakfast and decide to meet, usually somewhere on the pool deck. If the Edge was not open, they would look for activities to strike their fancy or just hang out by the pool watching movies while eating pizza and ice cream.
Some of my daughter’s favorite activities were:
- Trivia contests
- Evening shows
- Movies
- Other games (she won the Generation Quest, and I wasn’t there to witness it 😢)
Disney Cruise Line Chat
Disney is switching to all things digital, and the cruise line is no exception. There are no more Wave phones in the cabins. The best way to communicate with your tween while they are out and about, and for them to get in touch with their new friends is to use the Onboard Chat function in the Disney Cruise app.
The tweens don’t need to create an account to use the Disney Cruise app. Once the phone is connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi, you can use the app just by entering your cabin number and last name.
You will need to give the tween permission to use the chat function.
Final Thoughts
My daughter absolutely loved cruising as a tween. She did like the Oceneers Club on the previous cruises, but she didn’t spend too much time there as she felt some of the activities were geared more towards the younger kids. But the tween club was a game-changer for her: she enjoyed the activities, and she had fun exploring the ship with her new friends. She still keeps in touch with her “cruise” friends.
Now when I ask my daughter where we should go on our next adventure, her only answer is “Disney Cruise!”.
I, on other hand, need to work on convincing friends to come with us on the next Disney cruise, so I don’t spend most of the time on the ship alone.
See our other Disney Cruise Line posts:
Explore the Disney Cruise Concierge experience – Is the splurge truly worth the magic? Find out in our in-depth review of all concierge perks!
Sip, savor, and sail in style! The Disney Dream Concierge Lounge review: location, hours of operation, service, and food & drinks offerings.
Explore Disney Dream cruise dining – menus and food pics. Your tasty voyage begins here!
