The 5 best cruises for teens

Table Of Content

• Additional Disney Cruise Features for Kids (Including Family Rooms)
• Best Value Cruise For Teens: Carnival Cruise Line, Mardi Gras
• FUEL TEEN CLUB
• Kid-Friendly Cruises on Disney Cruise Line
• Why Royal Caribbean Ships Are Great for Kids
• Best Cruise For Teens With Educational Offerings: Princess Cruises, Enchanted Princess

On select ships, teens can enjoy virtual reality experiences, participate in animation classes, and even learn how to DJ. Additionally, Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, offers a teen-only beach where teens can enjoy water sports, beach volleyball, and even a floating platform known as the Teen Hideout. To plan the best cruise for teens, look for activities they will enjoy on any particular ship.

Additional Disney Cruise Features for Kids (Including Family Rooms)

With the push of a button, these staterooms allow you to transform your living space into an extended oceanscape, fresh sea breeze included! Or you can choose to upgrade to a Panoramic Suite, where floor-to-ceiling glass windows deliver the wow factor with a clear line of sight to the dazzling AquaDome. Consider a Sunset Corner Suite with a wraparound balcony for seemingly endless ocean views. If you have thrill-seeking adolescents in your family, you know that jaw-dropping attractions make fun vacations for teens. The Category 6 Waterpark onboard the ship is home to a whopping six record-breaking slides, including the Frightening Bolt, a vertical drop waterslide that's the tallest at sea. Teens can also test their courage on the Pressure Drop℠, the first open free-fall slide at sea, for some gravity-defying fun.

Best Value Cruise For Teens: Carnival Cruise Line, Mardi Gras

You can, for instance, find a 6-night cruise onboard Freedom of the Seas starting at $445 per person in March 2025. The other Oasis Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet are Wonder of the Seas (2022), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Allure of the Seas (2010), and Oasis of the Seas (2009). For a truly unique dining experience, take them to Le Petit Chef, an immersive dining experience where a 3D animated chef prepares the night’s meal right on your table. Allows guests to enjoy as many soft drinks as they like for a fixed price for the duration of the cruise.

FUEL TEEN CLUB

For teens who are curious about different cultures and history, cultural and historical tours provide a fantastic learning experience. These excursions take them on a journey through time, allowing them to explore ancient ruins, visit museums, and immerse themselves in the local traditions and customs. You'll find children's menus in the main dining rooms on all MSC ships and kid-friendly options at the buffets as well.

Princess Cruises Kids’ Club

They have plenty of fun activities going on throughout the day and there are always things to do. Royal Caribbean is a groundbreaker when it comes to delivering hair-raising rides and amusements, including a head-spinning number of industry firsts loved by adrenaline-seeking teens. Voyager of the Seas first offered an ice rink and climbing wall way back in 1999, while Freedom of the Seas debuted the ultra-realistic surf simulator, FlowRider, in 2006. With fewer high-octane thrills, Princess Cruises are ideal for simple pleasures.

Kid-Friendly Cruises on Disney Cruise Line

And as part of Disney's rotational dining program, everyone will have the opportunity to create a character that's brought to life at Animator's Palate. Following right behind Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, MSC World Europa currently holds the title for sixth largest cruise ship in the world! Each ship has a water park, pool deck, mini-golf, and Waterfront, which is a quarter-mile oceanfront deck where you'll find restaurants, bars, and seating areas. Teens will love the three-level go-kart track, water slides, world's first free-fall dry slide at sea, tech immersive mini-golf course, and Indulge Food Hall to try new cuisines from around the world.

Plus, you and your teen can thoroughly enjoy all of the outdoor activities, so it’s great for family bonding. We also recommend Princess Cruises if you are planning group travel with older family members. There are plenty of places to find peace and quiet, lounge with a good book, or sit back and watch the kids play. Nightly entertainment is more of your standard cruise-ship fare, but it’s well done and should be engaging for the entire family. Routes can take you through the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, or international destinations. Off-ship, you can enjoy tropical activities like snorkeling as a family or send them off to the teen camp where counselors will show them the best of your destination.

Teenagers can be notoriously hard to please, but these days, there are plenty of cruise ships with offerings they can enjoy. Cruise lines have consistently been meeting demands for more recreational activities and thoughtful amenities by incorporating everything from onboard zip lines to jaunty teen-only spaces. Today, the best cruises for teens offer plenty of choices for every type of teen traveler, from floating theme parks to carefully-considered family shore programs. The Oasis class ships, including Allure, Harmony, Oasis, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas, offer a wide array of activities specifically designed for teenagers. From mini-golf and water slides to surf simulators and rock climbing walls, these ships provide endless opportunities for adventure and excitement.

Additionally, consider booking during off-peak seasons or taking advantage of last-minute offers. By being flexible with your travel dates, you can often find great deals that will make your teen’s dream cruise more budget-friendly. For teens who love the water, snorkeling and water sports excursions are a perfect choice.

This cruise line is also hot on its kid-friendly shore excursions, such as kayaking, bike rides, trips to beaches, boat tours and to the summit of volcanoes or snow-covered mountains. Onboard restaurants successfully keep kids entertained while allowing parents to enjoy the meal, as well. More than two-dozen dining options, including casual eateries like a hot dog joint and a New York-style pizza joint, as well as a variety of upscale specialty restaurants, meaning no taste is overlooked.

The silent disco and planned movies and activities on the pool deck were a particular draw for this age group. There are few small kids on Celebrity cruises, which means that the pools and hot tubs usually have more space for teens to hang out. Since it’s generally marketed toward an older crowd, you might question whether it’s one of the best cruises for teenagers. Some teens will enjoy lounging under a sun umbrella with a good book by the beach, while others will want to dive into the gorgeous reefs and explore the vast marine life that inhabits the island. If they ever went through a pirate phase, a cruise to Bermuda is sure to bring it back out in full force, as there are plenty of snorkeling and scuba diving excursions that visit ancient shipwrecks. Go river tubing in Grenada or snorkel with the kids in an underwater sculpture garden in the Caribbean Sea.

Look for ships that offer a wide range of options to cater to different interests and preferences. Whether your teenager is into sports, arts and crafts, or technology, there should be something for everyone. From rock climbing walls and sports courts to art workshops and cooking classes, cruise ships with diverse activities ensure that teens never run out of things to do.

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It’s a tricky balance for many teens, since they’ll be repelled by overly cheesy programs but possibly bored with the adults-centered offerings. Currently, Disney Dream and Fantasy depart from Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively. Most sailings on these two ships will stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, where teens can enjoy time on their own at the Teen Hideout, where counselors have an entire day of activities planned.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Freestyle Cruising” concept provides non-stop fun with its teen-exclusive spaces and thrilling attractions like go-kart tracks and virtual reality areas. The most fun cruise ships know that onboard activities are just as important as onshore excursions. That’s why all of our ships give young adults the freedom to explore on their own with unique onboard entertainment. The Beach House invites teens ages to meet their peers in this surf-themed hangout. With movies, video game competitions and dance classes, they can stay entertained while making lifelong friends.

Our itineraries include voyages on the West Coast and the Caribbean, so guests can visit iconic stateside cities or enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the tropics. For adults 21 and older, experience Wine Country without the extra fees of hotels and transportation. Taste perfectly ripe champagne, or dine al fresco with a picnic in the vineyards. In the Caribbean, embark on a thrilling speed boat ride to Passion Island, where complimentary food and beverages await.