Teenagers can be some of the hardest people to please. They’re at that time in their lives where the worst thing in the world is to be seen with their parents. So being stuck with the family on a cruise ship can seem like a nightmare.
If that’s the case with your teen, then turn their frowns upside down with the plethora of activities on these cruise line.
They offer everything from wicked waterslides to teenage lounges, so they won’t have to “hang” with you if they don’t want to.
High schoolers get to be independent onboard and onshore with Carnival Cruises' specially designed teen-only shore excursions.
Some cruises have stacks for teens to do onboard on their own, but when the ship docks it's likely they'll be moaning and groaning about having to do boring tourist stuff with the folks. Not with Carnival. This cruise has supervised shore excursions exclu
Teenage lounge? Circle C for 12–14 year olds, O2 Club for 15–17 year olds
Teen activities: Dive-in movies by the pool, sports deck, WaterWorks, Hasbro – The Game Show
With its award-winning youth program and separate youth clubs for kids and teenagers, pleasing everyone in the family is a breeze with Royal Caribbean.
The kids will be happy to know that inside the teens-only lounge, there are no set activities or programs. All there is are spaces to hang out, games to play and parties to attend. If they choose to sit in a corner and twiddle their thumbs, that's their p
Teenage lounges: Yes
Teen activities: Teen spas, video arcades, rock climbing, DJ academy
Teen-only parties? Yes. Theme dinners, pool parties, teen-only nightclub
Dedicated family cruise packages and unique activity programs is only the tip of the iceberg for teens sailing with Norwegian.
If artistic and fun is your teenager's style, then Norwegian is the perfect fit. On top of its supervised hangout space, which is filled with video games, music and movies, the liner offers activities from sports and music jams to circus tricks and graffi
Teenage lounge? Yes
Teen activities: Music jams, balloon sculptures, graffiti workshops, circus skill workshops, acting workshops, dodgeball, soccer, swimming
Teen-only parties? Norwegian hosts supervised College Night, White Hot Party and Glow teen-only parties
From dedicated XBox stations to GoPro movie projects, the tech-savvy iGeneration is bound to flip when they get wind of the interactive experiences that await them on a Celebrity Cruise.
The fun begins once they get their hands on the console. From there they can participate in gaming theme parties and tournaments against their peers. They also have a private hangout space where they can make friends, play sports and chill.
Teenage lounge? The X-Club
Teen activities: iTake GoPro video projects, Cooking@Sea, gaming time
Teenagers aren't kids. Fact. So MSC doesn't treat them like they are. Instead the cruise line gives them the freedom to play it their way.
MSC offers a teens-only club space, which is open until 11pm, as well as activities such as sports, video games and spa and hair treatments. Teen-only events include a white teen party, MSC flashmob and formal night.
Teenage lounge? Yes
Teen activities: Sports tournaments, dance contests, teen spa treatments
Teen-only parties? Yes. Includes a white teen party, formal night and special Generation Dinner
Hailed as the Best Family Cruise Line by Out And About With Kids magazine in 2014, P&O Cruises caters to all members of the family with four dedicated kids clubs to suit various ages.
For tweens 11–14 years old, the place to be is HQ. It's the ultimate chillout space with movies, video games and karaoke sessions. For teenagers 15–17 years old, there's HQ+. It's a more adult version of HQ that features a movie-making studio and teen jam
Teenage lounges: HQ and HQ+
Teen activities: Jam bands, movie-making, movies
Teen-only parties? No.
Top teenage friendly cruise features and which lines have them:
If your teen things cruising is for an older crowd, just refer to this list of teen-approved activities you can do onboard ships. Depending on the line and package you book, they're not all included in the cruise fare, so we'd recommend checking with the line directly to see if there are any extra costs associated with the activity.
Activity
Cruise line(s)
Zip lining/Flying Fox
P&O
Royal Caribbean
Laser tag
P&O
Rock climbing
P&O
Royal Caribbean
Waterslides/Waterpark/Splashpads
Carnival
P&O
Royal Caribbean
Segway obstacle course
P&O
Surfing
Royal Caribbean
Ropes course
P&O
Indoor Skydiving
Royal Caribbean
Dodgems/Bumper cars
Royal Caribbean
Ice skating
Royal Caribbean
Basketball court
Carnival
P&O
Royal Caribbean
Video arcade
Carnival
Royal Caribbean
Importance of cruise travel insurance
Family holidays are expensive enough and a lot of work goes into planning the perfect getaway - especially when it comes to hard-to-please teenagers. You shouldn't need to worry about any added expenses or stress if your trip doesn't go according to plan.
Getting cruise travel insurance can cover you in more ways than just a regular travel insurance policy, including cover for missed shore excursions, cabin confinement and even medical evacuations if an emergency happens on board. Having the right cover will also come in handy if something were to happen to anyone in your family on the holiday - not just your teen.
Top teenage-friendly tour deals and flights
Deal
Australia tours, sightseeing and cruises from $22.44
Save on selected tours and cruises in Australia with these special offers at Viator. Book for as low as $22.44. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy huge discounts on selected day tours, attractions, cruises, and other activities for the whole family at Experience Oz. Limited time offer. T&Cs apply.
Discount applies on brochure price of select Carnival Cruise vacations. Valid on select 3- to 7-night Carnival Cruises departing Brisbane on select dates for 2024. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2023 with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night cruise with Carnival Cruises.
Available on select travel dates until 2025, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Get up to 40% off cruises + drinks & Wi-Fi included + up to $400 onboard credit + kids sail free at MSC Cruises. Destinations include the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Europe. T&Cs apply.
Up to 50% off Norwegian cruise line + FREE open bar, dining, and Wi-Fi
Get up to to 50% off sailings aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line and enjoy unlimited drinks, FREE specialty dining, and FREE Wi-Fi at sea. Limited time offer. T&Cs apply.
Available on select cruise dates. Destinations include Alaska, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and more aboard popular cruise liners such as Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and more.
Available on select travel dates with Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night Bahamas cruise with Carnival Cruises. Destinations include Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Italy and Alaska. T&Cs apply.
Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio
Staying at an Ibis, Mercure or Sofitel? No need to pay.
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