One of the reasons cruises have become a vacation phenomena is the ability to make good on their pledge to provide fun for all ages and interests — and teenagers, of course, are no exception.
When it comes to planning a family vacation, teenagers can often be the toughest members of the family to please. Teenagers fall into a unique category: They are at an age when they are beginning to mature and discover the adults they are going to grow into, and have out-grown many aspects of a vacation that appeal to kids, but since they are still learning to navigate the adult world, they’re not ready to venture out on their own completely independent of adult supervision.
Another factor to consider is that teenagers, while they all fall into the same age range, are at a phase in their lives where they often have vastly different interests and personalities than their peers. Think of a high school yearbook, and all of the different personalities, styles, groups, teams, clubs, opinions, interests and many other aspects of person that define the students in the yearbook as individuals.
A perfect vacation for a family traveling with teenagers is one where teens have opportunities to balance time spent with their parents with time spent and hanging out with other travelers their own age, and which offers a broad range of activities and diversions for teenagers to choose from. This is why cruises are ideal for families with teens.
All the major cruise lines have features onboard their ships that are geared specifically to teenager passengers, including “Teens Only” sections including nightclubs (with juice and soft drink bars), sundecks, and lounges. Some cruise ships even offer teen-specific spa treatments and shore excursions. Typically, these activities are led and supervised by a certified member of staff, an adult recruited from teaching and educational programs at colleges and universities, in order to find staff that has training and qualifications necessary to work with kids and teenagers.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is another top choice for families with teens. Ships like Adventure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and of course, their new Oasis of the Seas (which is currently the largest cruise ship in the world) cater well to passengers of all ages who like to dabble in a variety of onboard diversions, particularly those who enjoy being active. Ice-skating, rock climbing and the sports courts appeal to all ages, and there are dedicated teen lounges called The Living Room, as well as teen discos and an outdoor area dedicated to teens.
Disney Cruise Line strikes a perfect balance for families who are traveling with both younger children and teenagers. Most teens won’t be as enthusiastic as their younger siblings when it comes to character meet-ups, they will enjoy events like deck parties and karaoke, and their own places to hang out, play games, listen to music and more.
Carnival Cruise Line is very popular with families, and has plenty to offer teenage passengers. Carnival Liberty, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Freedom rank high on the choice of ships. Favorite features include: The Seaside Theater (a poolside cinema) which boasts with a large LED screen (22 feet wide) and an incredible sound system and shows movies, sporting events and concerts; late night parties in the teen-only disco for passengers 15-17 years old, as well as organized sports and games; 12-14 year olds have their own events, including parties, games and sports. Teens have something to do just about every hour of the day, which makes time spent as a family always feel like a choice and not an obligation.
Get started planning your cruise today by booking online at discountcruises.com, or calling 1-866-457-SHIP to speak with one of our cruise experts.

