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Home / CRUISES / ALL-INCLUSIVE CRUISES / The top 5 teenage cruises

The top 5 teenage cruises

2023-01-17  Sophia Zackary

Best cruises
Any trip can be more difficult when undertaken with adolescents, many of whom believe they have outgrown the need for family vacations.

Students in high school frequently want their own private space, the opportunity for unrestricted exploration, and the luxury of time spent away from their parents or siblings. A cruise is one of the most convenient ways to give teenagers some independence without requiring them to give up all of the time they normally spend with their families.

Teenagers get the opportunity to socialise with their peers in hip areas specifically created with them in mind when they are onboard a cruise ship. Teenagers are free to consume snacks wherever they like while roaming the ship, and they can use their room key to purchase drinks or smoothies without first obtaining permission from their parents.

Your adolescent is sure to make new acquaintances while they are on board, regardless of how extroverted or reticent they are. Additionally, as a result of modern technology, pals will still be able to keep in touch with one another once the cruise is over.

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Teenagers can get the sense that they are not being continually watched by their parents on ships with a bigger passenger capacity, while adults can rest easy knowing that their children are never too far away.

A vacation with a set fee for lodging, food, and entertainment, in addition to a pre-planned schedule with interesting ports of call that are ideal for warding off boredom, would likely be very appealing to parents, who will likely value the ease with which they may plan their trip.

There is no shortage of cruise lines that provide excellent programming and activities for young passengers, but only a select handful go the extra mile. We have compiled a list of the top five cruises for young passengers here.

The Royal Caribbean (RCL)

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With 26 cruise ships currently in operation and more on the way, Royal Caribbean can entice vacationers with its enormous ships, some of which are the largest in the world, as well as a plethora of onboard attractions and entertainment, the majority of which are geared at teenagers.

The adolescent lounges are where the excitement and fun begin; they are stocked with video games, table games, and plenty of seating for meeting new people and striking up conversations. There is a bar just for teenagers that serves soft drinks and smoothies.

Teen club counsellors organise and monitor supervised events for the teens, such as sporting competitions and parties with themes. Because there is youth staff present at these activities, they are excellent opportunities for introverted adolescents who are interested in making new friends to break the ice and make introductions. The older children are separated into two groups according to their ages, those aged 12 to 14 and those aged 15 to 17, which enables the programming to be more appropriately geared toward preteens, adolescents, and young adults.

Teenagers have the freedom to come and go as they want thanks to the open-door policy of the teen club. They can spend the entire day in the lounge or use it as a gathering place for their new friends before heading off to explore the pool deck, sports court, and waterslides on their own.

The ships in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class, which are among the world's largest, are considered to be the greatest options for young travellers. The Allure, Harmony, Oasis, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas are all included in this category.

On these mega-ships, teenagers can participate in onboard activities such as mini-golf, a variety of waterslides, a 10-story dry slide called The Ultimate Abyss (on select ships), a FlowRider surf simulator, a zip line, an arcade, ice skating, a rock climbing wall, and laser tag. Other options include a rock-climbing wall, ice skating, and rock climbing.

Related: the top five cruise lines for families with children

Both the fun-filled shore excursions and the entertaining activities available onboard will appeal to families travelling together on one of these ships. For instance, Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas, departs from Port Canaveral on cruises to the Caribbean that last for a total of seven nights. These cruise itineraries include stops at teen-friendly ports of call in the Caribbean such as St. Maarten and St. Thomas in the Eastern Caribbean, where activities such as snorkelling and sunbathing are popular, and ports in the Western Caribbean such as Roatan, Honduras, which offer activities such as off-road Jeep rides and zip lining.

Teenagers are sure to have a good time on Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which features a sizable water park, many beaches to choose from, a variety of water sports, and plenty of food.

Norwegian Cruise Line

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The club-like hangouts and exciting activities that are available onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships make it an additional excellent choice for young travellers.

The majority of the ships in the fleet have a specific area reserved exclusively for teenagers called Entourage. Teenagers have their area to hang out in, play games, and take part in activities that are organised by adult staff members here.

Take note that Entourage is not included with the new Norwegian Prima package. Instead, the Splash Academy, which is the programme for younger children, uses the same club space as the teens, and there are supervised activities for teens that take place throughout the ship.

The Breakaway-Plus-class ships operated by Norwegian are among the fleet's most family- and teen-friendly cruise ships. On the Norwegian Encore, for instance, teenagers can race around a go-kart track that is located on the top deck and extends out 13 feet over the side of the ship.

The laser tag game at Encore, which has an Atlantis theme and allows youths to compete in teams against one another, is located outside as well. They can compete against one another in virtual reality games at the Galaxy Pavilion, or they can try to escape the onboard escape room.

Related: the best cruise ships for families with children

The fact that many of the activities that teenagers will want to participate in (like the Galaxy Pavilion and the go-kart track) cost extra and are not inexpensive are a drawback of sailing on any of the Norwegian ships. If this will put a strain on your financial plan, you may either put aside a little bit more money or talk to your teenagers about contributing to the expense.

The Norwegian Encore will travel to a variety of intriguing ports of call all over the world. This year, the ship departs from Miami to the Caribbean from January through April, spending one day on each trip at its private island, Great Stirrup Cay. After that, it sails to Alaska from May through October, spending the remaining days of the season there.

Teenagers may find a vacation in the Arctic particularly appealing because they will have the opportunity to observe wildlife, kayak on glaciers, and hike on glaciers.

Carnival Cruise Line

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Carnival Cruise Line is the best option for cruisers on a tight budget who are travelling with teenagers.

Teens will find a lot to love, and parents won't have to worry about blowing the family budget to make sure that everyone has a good time. There are lots of dining options that are included in the price, as well as free activities and hangout areas outside of the adolescent clubs.

Circle C, the tween club on board, is geared at children aged 12 to 14 years old, while Club O2, which is geared toward adolescents aged 15 to 17 years old, offers a wide variety of activities for teenagers to participate in. Young passengers are invited to participate in themed dance parties, competitions in sports and video games, and movie nights that are organised by counsellors working in various areas of the ship.

The Excel class of ships, which includes the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and the forthcoming Carnival Jubilee, are sure to be a hit with teenagers looking for an exciting vacation.

Teenagers can ride the BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, which is available on the two Excel-class ships that are currently in service, and race around the ship's uppermost deck at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

Thrill seekers have their choice of three different waterslides to ride at Waterworks, including a relatively moderate twister and a heart-pounding drop slide. On the ropes course, adolescents have the opportunity to demonstrate their bravery by walking on a board that is suspended high above the water.

The Waterworks attraction and the ropes course are both incorporated into the overall cost of the cruise; however, the BOLT ride costs an additional $15 per person, per ride.

Related: Some of the craziest attractions that can be found on a cruise ship

Summer Landing, which is located in the stern of the ship, is another area where teenagers may hang out and relax. They can lounge on the expansive couches and watch sports on any one of the many televisions located here. Table games such as foosball and shuffleboard are also available here, as are free ice cream dispensers that guests can feed themselves from.

When famished teenagers grow hungry, they can head to one of the many restaurants that are included, such as the BlueIguana Cantina, Big Chicken (designed by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal), or Guy's Burger Joint (by celebrity chef Guy Fieri).

Both the Carnival Celebration and the Mardi Gras set sail from Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively, for destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The normal length of a cruise aboard any ship is seven nights; however, shorter and longer itineraries are also available.

Teenagers have the option of seeing historic forts or trying out the regional cuisine in the Eastern Caribbean, while in the port city of Cozumel in the Western Caribbean, they have the choice of taking a culinary class or touring ancient Mayan cities.

The Walt Disney Company's Cruise Line.

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Even though Disney Cruise Line is traditionally thought of as the cruise line for families with younger children, it is still a viable option for vacations for families with teenagers. The ships provide areas that are catered exclusively to older children and ensure that they never have to interact with a performer in costume (or their parents).

Edge is geared toward guests between the ages of 11 and 14, and Vibe is designed for guests between the ages of 14 and 17. Both of these areas may be found onboard Disney cruise ships.

Teenagers will especially enjoy the Vibe club on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream because it allows them to spend hours making new friends, playing games, and hanging out in the pool or on an outdoor deck specifically designed for them with chairs.

Inside, teenagers will find their very own bar where they can get Coke and smoothies to order, the latter of which is included in the price of the trip for all passengers sailing on Disney ships.

Edge at Disney Dream and Fantasy is designed to look like an urban loft and amazes preteens, teenagers, and young adults with its video game stations, lit dance floor, and sophisticated picture booth. A little-known detail about these two ships is that each of them has a funnel that houses Edge. (There's no need to be alarmed; it's not a functional funnel!)

Related: Ways to cut costs when booking a vacation with Disney

Teenagers who aren't interested in hanging out in the teen clubs will still have lots of options for things to do while they're on board. The AquaDuck is a water coaster that can be found on both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. It allows children to ride around the ship and goes out over the side of the ship and down the funnel.

In addition to that, they can get together with their new acquaintances and play a game called Midship Detective Agency. This is an interactive game that takes passengers throughout the ship to search for clues hidden in "enchanted" artwork and contribute to the solution of a mystery. Teenagers can come to the onboard movie theatre after supper with their families to watch first-run films from Disney's portfolio of studios such as Marvel and Star Wars.

The Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy currently set sail from the ports of Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively. On the majority of their voyages, these two ships will make a call at Disney's island, Castaway Cay. Here, adolescents can spend time alone at the Teen Hideout, where counsellors have an entire day's worth of activities scheduled for them to participate in.

It's also a good deal for the parents if you ask me. Serenity Bay is the adults-only beach on the island, and it is conveniently located just a short tram ride away from the Teen Hideout stop. Here, Mom and Dad can get some much-needed relaxation.

Expeditions led by Lindblad.

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Teenagers that are interested in nature, science, and photography will thoroughly enjoy going on an expedition cruise. If you think that describes your adolescent, one of your greatest possibilities is Lindblad Expeditions. This company collaborates with National Geographic to produce kid- and family-friendly programmes under the name National Geographic Global Explorers.

Teenagers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities on every trip to Alaska, Baja, the Galapagos, and Antarctica. These activities include earning their "driver's licence" for a Zodiac, snorkelling among sea lions, or kayaking beside penguins.

The activities are planned and led by National Geographic field educators, who can respond to virtually any question that teenagers might have in a manner that is personal to them and easy for them to comprehend. The role of field educators also includes encouraging teenagers to venture outside of their comfort zones to have a better understanding of the world around them.

Teenagers have the opportunity to learn how to take images and movies at a documentary level from a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor while they are on board the ship. Once they disembark, they will be able to put these newfound talents to use.

The new National Geographic Islander II, which sails to the Galapagos year-round, is one of the ships that participate in the National Geographic Global Explorers programme. Other ships that participate in the programme include the National Geographic Resolution, which travels to Alaska and Antarctica, and the National Geographic Venture, which travels to Baja Mexico.

Parents need to be aware that expedition cruises do not follow the standard format of a cruise vacation. These expedition vessels are often quite small, carrying less than 200 passengers at a time. It's possible that teenagers won't run into many other children their age.

The final destination is the primary focus of these cruises, and there is very little onboard entertainment available. It is possible that the Wi-Fi connection on these ships will not be strong enough to accommodate teenagers who wish to access their social media accounts. This is because these ships operate in more distant places.

Bottom line


The greatest cruises for adolescents are those that provide not only staffed teen clubs but also an abundance of ship-wide activities that adolescents can participate in on their own, with their family, or with the new friends they make while on board.

But regardless of the cruise company you select, travelling with teenagers on a cruise is a wonderful vacation that the whole family can take pleasure in. Teenagers can experience a sense of independence by hanging out with their friends while their parents are free to let them roam freely around the ship.

In addition, after spending the day apart, your family may find a new way to bond when they sit down together for dinner and talk about the activities they participated in during the day.

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2023-01-17  Sophia Zackary