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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.
1. Carnival Cruises via Flight Centre
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
Teen-only parties? Occasional pool parties
2. Royal Caribbean via Flight Centre
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
3. Norwegian Cruise Lines via Flight Centre
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
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
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
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.
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates when you pay in full within 3 days of booking. Destinations include France, Amsterdam, Paris, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on 4,7 and 10+ nights cruise to Caribbean and The Bahamas. Plus kids sail free on select cruises when sailing as 3rd or 4th guest. T&Cs apply.
Available for travel from January 2021 - June 2022 and includes accommodation, meals, guides and transfers. Plus get an extra 21% off when you choose My Own Room. T&Cs apply.
Available for travel from January 2021 - June 2022 and includes accommodation, guides and transfers. Plus get an extra 21% off when you choose My Own Room. T&Cs apply.
Up to $550 savings + up to 40% off Australia cruises
Available on select cruises departing from 2021-2022 with Royal Caribbean Cruises. Destinations include Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Vanuatu, New Zealand and more. T&Cs apply.
Plus get free drinks, upgrades, tips and Wi-Fi on board. Available on select voyages in 2021-2021 to Melbourne, Sydney, Vancouver, Los Angeles and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates with Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Destinations include Bahamas, USA, Canada, Spain, Italy and more. T&Cs apply.
Available for travel at 26 August 2021. Sample price departs from Sydney aboard Carnival Splendor. Destinations include Mare, Isle of Pines and Noumea. Includes drinks and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Auckland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night Comedy Cruise.
Up to 30% off + Kids sail free with Norwegian Cruise Lines
Plus get up to USD$1,000 OBC, free Wi-Fi at sea, specialty dining and drinks on select voyages in 2021 - 2022. Destinations include Miami, Bahamas, San Francisco, Canada and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2021 with Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night cruise with Royal Caribbean.
Plus get free drinks and 10% off shore excursions on select voyages in 2021. Destinations include Barcelona, Croatia, Italy, Amsterdam and more. T&Cs apply.
Stephanie Yip is the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for Travel Weekly, Escape, Showpo, The Nibbler and Hostelworld. She was also the editor of kids magazine DMAG. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney and has visited 55 countries (and counting).
A cruise in summer helps you to see the sights without all the crowds. Visit the best destinations for February with the ideal weather for extending your summer fun.
Cruise sooner than you think with interest-free payment options through Australia’s top cruise and travel companies where you can book now and pay later.
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