Which Cruise Lines Are Best For Teenagers?

Top Activities For Teens On A Cruise Ship 

Every parent knows that teenagers can be a tricky bunch to please, at the best of times. And a grouchy teenager certainly does not make for a happy family holiday, particularly if you’re all together on a ship at sea.

In recognising the influence of the teenager on parents looking to book a cruise holiday, Cruise Lines have become more creative in designing activities, facilities and events to ensure that teens can also enjoy themselves while onboard a ship.

However, of course, teenagers are not all the same; each having their own interests, from sports to technology or creative activities. So, to help you find a cruise line that will keep your unique teenager entertained, we’ve selected some of our favourites. 

Royal Caribbean

Best for: The adventurous teen

Royal Caribbean cruises are great for teenagers, having curated an impressive variety of teen-specific activities and amenities specifically for this age group. And for teenagers who love the thrill of adrenaline and adventure, there’s plenty on offer within their fleet. 

They can perfect their surfing skills on the 12-metre long FlowRider®, race a friend through three storeys of twisting, turning water fun on the dual racer slides of The Perfect Storm℠ or scale the Rock Climbing Wall, reaching 12m above deck.

For those who also enjoy a bit of chillout time after raising their adrenaline levels, Royal Caribbean have designed a teen lounge; a space for your young adults to mingle with others in a safe and more subtle environment. Movie nights are also hosted on the pool deck, where teens can join together to watch their favourite Hollywood films.

The fun continues onshore when cruising to the Bahamas and visiting Royal Caribbean’s Thrill Waterpark® at CocoCay®, where waterslides and wave pools bring further exhilarating excitement.

Princess Cruises

Best for: The sports-loving teen

For sport-fanatic teenagers, Princess Cruises has an excellent range of activities to cater for this. In its sports centre, teams can enjoy games of basketball, tennis, volleyball and badminton- sure to release any built-up energy! There’s also a miniature putting green, golf driving cage, ping pong tables, giant foosball and bean bag toss.

Furthermore, they can also head over to the Beach House. Developed specifically as a contemporary teens’ hangout lounge, it offers a place for teens to socialise and connect: with hip-hop dance classes, video game tournaments, dodgeball, basketball, and late-night movie viewing all available.

A highlight of the trip for many teens, Princess Cruises' Rock the Boat Party gives them the perfect occasion to dress up and walk their very own red carpet; all before enjoying an evening of mocktails, specially curated awards and, of course, partying the night away with new-found friends.

MSC Cruises

Best for: The high-tech teen

MSC Cruises certainly had the tech-teenager in mind when designing their fleet of ships, with aqua parks, games arcades and dedicated teens’ spaces all located onboard. At The Drone Academy, teenagers can be trained on high-tech drones, navigating obstacles in a relay race – a pretty spectacular sight at night, thanks to the fluorescent effects and glowing drones.

Meanwhile, teenagers, who enjoy piecing together clues to solve a mystery, can try to unravel the puzzles of Spy Mission: an immersive, roaming spy experience that takes place throughout the ship, with a host of prizes at stake.

NB: The Drone Academy and Spy Mission only available on MSC Grandiosa

Disney Cruises

Best for: The coolest teen

Once your teenager has realised that Disney is not only for younger children, but for people of all ages, they’ll discover that Disney has created the coolest teen-exclusive hangout haven just for them.

Vibe is a lounge with a laidback coffee bar, serving fruit smoothies and non-alcoholic drinks. Kick back on comfy sofas with overstuffed lounge cushions, perfect for chilling out with friends.

In this stylish space, teens can sing along to their favourite tunes with karaoke, bust some moves in designated dance classes, along with internet access and board games also available.

Tweens don’t have to look on in envy either, as they too have their own specially designed area. Known as Edge, it offers movies, games, art, crafts and more.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Best for: The laid-back teen

Norwegian Cruise Line is renowned for its laid-back approach to cruising, and this translates to their activities for teens. Entourage is their very own teens-only hangout zone.

Home to the Entourage Youth Program, designed for ages 13 to 17, your teenager can enjoy activities such as singing, dancing and craft projects, football, basketball and dodgeball games, and even themed evening party events- like Glow, White Hot Party, and College Night.

Outside of the sessions, teenagers can chill out in Entourage, enjoying movies and video games, as well as utilising the self-serve food and soft drink stations. During these times, the centre is unsupervised but still has surveillance.