5 Best Cruises for Teens

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Looking for the best cruises for teens? You’re at the right place! This guide covers all the best options your teenager will absolutely love (and the rest of the familiy too!).

Traveling with teenagers can sometimes be more difficult than travelling with babies… The main challenge? Finding a destination or type of holiday that will make them want to go with their parents and leave their friends!

Cruises are an excellent option for parents who want to plan a family holiday with teenagers. Cruises allow teenagers to enjoy a degree of independence while spending quality time together as a family.

There are now a whole host of companies offering family cruises, but some are particularly interesting for families travelling with teenagers.

Here are the 5 best cruises for teenagers – they’ll make for an incredible family holiday and appeal to teens and their parents alike.

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When is the best time to take a cruise with teenagers?

The best time to go on a cruise depends on your destination. Before choosing a cruise, take the time to check which destinations are suitable for your holiday period.

Here’s a quick guide to help you plan your family cruises:

Caribbean

The best time to cruise the Caribbean is from December to mid-April. During this period, the weather is mild: dry and sunny. Avoid the hurricane season – it runs from June to November and generally peaks around mid-August and September. Although prices may be lower during this period, the weather is likely to have a negative impact on your family holiday plans.

Europe

Mediterranean cruises are very popular during the summer season. The months from May to September are the best time to go on a cruise in Europe, as the weather is ideal: sunshine and warmth are to be expected. The most popular European cruise destinations are also busiest and friendliest during this period.

Alaska

Summer is the best time to cruise Alaska, as the temperature is warmer and wildlife is more active. The most popular months are July and August: more heat and sunshine.

The best time for whale watching is from May to September. For those who would like to see the Northern Lights, which usually appear in winter and early spring, September is the best option. The cruise season generally ends in September in Alaska – so it’s the coldest month and the nights are longer and darker, allowing you to admire the colours of the North in the Alaskan sky.

In short, when it comes to choosing your cruise, the best time to visit your chosen destination is just as important a factor to consider as the cruise line.

5 best cruises for teens

1 – royal caribbean international

Royal Caribbean International is one of the best-known and most popular cruise lines for families. In addition to the Star of the Seas, which will be arriving in summer 2025, the company has no fewer than 28 ships, including some of the largest in the world. It definitely tops the list of the best cruises for teens. 

Royal Caribbean’s fleet of ships is also renowned for the wide variety of activities and sources of entertainment offered on board. Interesting activities for teenagers include climbing walls, mini golf courses, water slides, swimming pools, a surf simulator, arcades, zip lines and ice rinks.

Royal Caribbean’s youth programmes are also extremely popular. On board the ships, certain areas are reserved for teenagers. They can get together and have fun with other young people of the same age – without a parent in sight! Depending on the section, teenagers are invited to play video games, take part in DJ dance parties and go on treasure hunts on the boat. Every day, activities are organised especially for teenagers aged 13 to 17. There’s something for everyone – from sports tournaments to themed evening parties.

Among Royal Caribbean’s best cruise ships for teenagers are all those in the Oasis category (Allure, Harmony, Oasis, Symphony and Wonder of the Sea).

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, to be launched in January 2024, the Icon of the Seas, will impress the whole family with the largest water park ever built on a cruise ship. Teenagers – and all other members of the family – will find a range of activities to keep them entertained and happy during their holiday.

best royal caribbean ships for teens

• Icon of the Seas
• Symphony of the seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas

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2 – carnival

The festive and familiar atmosphere on its ships makes Carnival one of the best cruises for teens.

In fact, Carnival has reserved some of its most popular activities for teenagers. Depending on their age, they can have a good time with friends of the same age in Circle C (12 to 14 year olds) and Club 02 (15 to 17 year olds). These areas are equipped with televisions, video game stations, board game tables and dance floors. Movie nights, sports tournaments and dance parties are also regularly scheduled.

As well as these activities reserved for teenagers, the whole family can have fun in the pools, on the huge water slides or on the mini-golf course. What’s more, some of the latest boats even have rollercoaster-style rides on board. All the more reason to give the teenagers on your cruise a thrill and an adrenaline boost.

Finally, Carnival is renowned for offering affordable cruises. It’s for this reason – and for the wide variety of activities offered on board – that Carnival cruises are so popular with families.

best carnival ships for teens

• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Vista

3 – norwegian cruise line

Norwegian Cruise Line is another company that spares no effort to please families, from the youngest children to teenagers and parents. Teenagers will be delighted by the variety of activities available to them on board. The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet offers a wide range of fun activities for the whole family. These include water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag, mini-golf courses and sports fields (such as basketball, pickle ball and subsoccer).

In addition to all these activities that will keep young and old entertained and amused on board, a section of the ship is specially reserved for teenagers. NCL’s youth programmes include the Entourage centre. This is an area reserved for teenagers on all the company’s ships. Young people aged 13 to 17 can meet up here to watch films, play video games, do sports or simply hang out with friends. In the evening, the Entourage centre turns into a dance floor where young people can party – without parents!

The atmosphere on board NCL’s ships is fairly relaxed, which generally suits teenagers just fine! There are a number of restaurants to choose from – from the fanciest to the most casual ones. The dress code is also very relaxed, which is particularly appealing to families travelling with children and teenagers.

Teens will also be keenly interested in NCL’s private island, CocoCay, where they’ll find beautiful beaches, large pools, water parks and even a hot air balloon.

The company frequently offers promotions that allow 3rd and 4th passengers to travel free of charge. This is a great offer for families looking for affordable cruises. Given the affordability of these cruises and the range of activities offered on board, NCL has some of the best cruises for teens on the market.

best norwegian cruise line ships for teens

• Norwegian Viva (the most recent NCL ship – built in 2023)
• Norwegian Encore
• For short cruises: Norwegian Sky 
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Bliss
• As of 2025: the Norwegian Aqua 

4 – disney cruise line

Although Disney is generally associated with toddlers and younger kids, it’s undoubtedly one of the best cruises for teens too. Disney, in both its cruises and its theme parks, does nothing by halves to impress its visitors.

In fact, the whole family will be completely charmed by the Disney magic on board. In addition to activities accessible to all passengers, such as shows, water parks and themed activities with Disney characters.

What’s more, Disney reserves exclusive programming for teens and pre-teens who board its ships. Pre-teens aged 11 to 14 are invited to the Edge to enjoy a host of great activities. In this exclusive room for pre-teens, they can play games, watch films, take part in supervised creative activities or simply get together and have fun with other travellers of the same age.

For teenagers aged 14 to 17, Vibe is the place to be. This place, reserved for teenagers, provides them with a place to get away from it all, where they can enjoy autonomy and independence. Many interesting activities for this age group are organised daily: video games, TV shows and films, karaoke, games, music and much more. In the evening, youngsters are invited to come and celebrate the holidays at the dance party!

The restaurants, entertainment, activities and exceptional quality of service aboard Disney Cruise Line ships make Disney cruises the best cruises for teens.

What’s more, teens are also treated to special, exclusive programming on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Disney entertainers are on hand to greet teens as they arrive on each ship. Teens can enjoy a private pool and activities designed especially for them.

The atmosphere on board these ships is truly magical. The vast majority of travellers who opt for Disney cruises are families travelling with young children and teenagers. They’ll be well looked after and will find it easy to make friends.

Finally, Disney cruises all have themes…. Disney themes! So you’ll be able to see and meet lots of Disney characters on your sea voyage.

best disney cruise line ships for teens

• Disney Magic
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wish

5 – MSC cruises

The Italian cruise line MSC is renowned for its affordable prices. Children under the age of 18 travel free on board MSC ships. This is a great incentive for families looking for the best cruises for teens.

MSC’s fleet of ships also offers interesting activities for young people and teenagers. Depending on the ship, different activities are offered, such as movie theatres, sports tournaments, water slides and an F1 simulator.

The décor of some of MSC’s 23 cruise ships is inspired by fun themes. For example, the MSC Seashore pays homage to New York City. There are sections reminiscent of Central Park and Time Square.

Teenagers are at the heart of MSC’s cruise programming. Activities may vary from ship to ship. For example, on some ships, including the MSC Grandiosa, there is a teen prom night on every cruise. On some ships, teenagers can also enjoy a game of bowling with their friends or relax at the spa, where hair and beauty treatments are offered.

best MSC ships for teens

• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Seashore
• MSC Euribia
• MSC Seascape
• MSC Meraviglia

Conclusion – Best cruises for teens

Cruises are an excellent option for parents who would like to plan a family holiday with their teenagers. The cruise lines identified in this article allow teenagers to enjoy time alone or with their friends, but also allow families to spend precious time together. This list of the best cruises for teenagers will help you plan your next family sea trip.

Have you ever taken a cruise with a teenager? What was their favourite activity?