Top 5 Best Cruise Lines for Teens
If you’re planning on cruising with your teenage children, you’ll want to know that there are plenty of activities and amenities onboard to keep them entertained. It’s not always easy to travel with teens, so you’ll want to ensure that you’ve booked a cruise that’s suitable for them, as well as the rest of your family.
Luckily, there are plenty of cruises for families that have something for everyone; no matter what their age. From water slides to bowling alleys, cinemas and beyond- there will never be a dull moment for them. Keeping them occupied throughout the cruise, they’ll have a fun and unforgettable holiday.
Read on to find out about the best cruise lines for teens, including the best cruise ships for teens and the best family friendly accommodation!
1) Royal Caribbean
If you’re looking for a getaway that’s guaranteed to keep your teens happy, look no further than a Royal Caribbean cruise. With so many different things to do onboard their ships, from exhilarating water slides, to video arcades, dazzling entertainment in the AquaTheater and rock climbing walls, they’ll have a blast. There are also dedicated teen spaces throughout their fleet for 13-17 year olds, which include gaming lounges, seating areas, outdoor patios and more.
Teens also have clubs which are split into two age groups: younger teens aged 13-14 and older teens, aged 15-17. For the younger teens, there are hosted movie nights, open mic nights, talent shows, sports games, pool parties and other similar activities organised throughout the cruise. For the older teens, there’s activities such as karaoke, themed nights, pool parties, movie nights and more.
Best Royal Caribbean Attractions for Teens
- FlowRider Surf Simulator (fleet wide)
- Ultimate Abyss water slide (Oasis Class ships)
- RipCord by iFLY (Quantum Class ships)
- Bumper cars (Quantum Class ships)
- Perfect Storm water slides (Oasis Class ships)
- Laser tag (Oasis Class ships)
- Zip line (Oasis Class ships)
- Ice skating (Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class ships)
- Escape room (Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class ships)
Best Family Friendly Accommodation on Royal Caribbean
Although there’s of course the option to book two separate staterooms on your Royal Caribbean cruise, if you want to share a room with your teenage children, there are several other family-friendly options available. The top family-friendly accommodation onboard Royal Caribbean ships include:
- Family Oceanview Stateroom
- Family Junior Suite with Balcony
- Royal Caribbean 2 bedroom Grand Suite
- Royal Caribbean Grand Loft Suite
- Royal Loft Suite
- Ultimate Family Suite
Read more about the top Royal Caribbean suites here.
Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships for Teens
2) Disney Cruise Line
Another cruise line that’s renowned for being family friendly is Disney Cruise Line. And whilst it may be considered to be the best cruise line for younger children, there are lots of activities onboard that will also appeal to teens. For example, there are swimming pools, water slides, video arcades and even the Chill Spa, which is a teen-only spa suitable for 13-17 year olds.
Alongside the Chill Spa, across the fleet there is Edge, a dedicated area for kids aged 11-14, which hosts crafts sessions, video games and quizzes, along with Vibe, a area for 14-17 year olds that’s furnished with comfy seating, flat screen TVs and games consoles.
Best Disney Cruise Line Attractions for Teens
- Disney’s Oceaneer Lab (fleet wide)
- AquaMouse (Disney Wish, Disney Treasure), AquaDuck (Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy) and AquaDunk (Disney Magic) water slides
- Disco nights (fleet wide)
- Basketball courts (fleet wide)
- Goofy’s Sports Deck (Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy)
- Worlds of Marvel restaurant (Disney Treasure)
Best Family Friendly Accommodation on Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has lots of accommodation options for families, including the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom and Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom. If you’re looking for a little more space however, or if you want to treat yourself, Disney also offers a wide selection of suites across their fleet. These include:
- Concierge 1 Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
- Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
- Concierge 1-Story Royal Suite with Verandah (Disney Wish)
- Concierge 2-Story Royal Suite with Verandah (Disney Wish)
- Concierge Wish Tower Suite
Read more about the top Disney Cruise Line suites here.
Best Disney Cruise Line Cruise Ships for Teens
- Disney Treasure cruise ship
- Disney Fantasy cruise ship
- Disney Wish cruise ship
- Disney Dream cruise ship
3) MSC Cruises
Third up on the list is MSC Cruises. A cruise line that dates back to 1970, by 2025 it will have 23 ships in its impressive fleet with the introduction of the extraordinary MSC World America. Across its fleet there are attractions that teens will love, including dedicated onboard spaces (the Young Club for kids aged 12-14 and the Teen Club for 15-17 year olds), activities and entertainment that’s designed just for them.
Best MSC Cruises’ Attractions for Teens
- Aqua Park (MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia and MSC World Europa)
- Zip Line (MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside)
- Himalayan Bridge (MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia and MSC Virtuosa)
- F1 Simulator (MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia and MSC Preziosa and MSC Virtuosa)
- XD Interactive Cinema (MSC Virtuosa, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida)
- Luna Park Arena (MSC World Europa)
- Robotron rollercoaster (MSC Seascape)
Read more about the attractions kids, teens and adults alike will love on MSC Virtuosa in our blog - Top 10 Highlights Onboard MSC Virtuosa.
Best Family Friendly Accommodation on MSC Cruises
When booking your MSC getaway, you might be wondering which type of accommodation will be best for your family. There are lots of options to choose from, including connecting rooms. But if you want to stay within the same accommodation, there’s also following options:
- Deluxe Ocean View Fantastica
- 2-Bedroom Grand Suite
- Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Jacuzzi
- Yacht Club Royal Suite
Your family might also opt for a room that comes with access to the MSC Yacht Club. To find out more about this, along with what benefits your family will receive, check out our blog - Is MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club Worth it?
Best MSC Cruises’ Cruise Ships for Teens
4) Carnival Cruise Line
If you’re looking for the ultimate family-friendly cruise experience, look no further than Carnival Cruises. Vibrant ships that are full to the brim with activities, your teens will love exploring all of the ship’s attractions. From mini golf to video arcades, the teen-only ZSpa, Dive-in Movies and Sky Zone (on Carnival Panorama), your teens will have plenty to do throughout your getaway. And with 23 ships in their fleet, you’ll be able to choose the best ship for you and your family!
Best Carnival Cruises’ Attractions for Teens
- Circle “C” - for teens aged 12-14 (fleet wide)
- Club O2 - for teens aged 15-17 (fleet wide)
- Ropes Course (fleet wide)
- BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster (Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras)
- Thrill Theater (Carnival Horizon, Carnival Vista)
- WaterWorks water park (fleet wide)
- SkyRide (Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Vista)
Best Family Friendly Accommodation on Carnival Cruises
As Carnival Cruises is so family-orientated, there are lots of accommodation options available for those travelling with their family in tow. A mixture of spacious staterooms and suites, you’ll easily be able to find the best accommodation option for your budget and needs. Some of the best family-friendly accommodation onboard Carnival Cruises include:
- Havana Cabana Stateroom
- Family Harbor Ocean View Stateroom
- Family Harbor Ocean View Suite
- Carnival Excel Aft Suite
Best Carnival Cruise Line Cruise Ships for Teens
5) Norwegian Cruise Line
And finally, there is Norwegian Cruise Line. Another major cruise line that’s popular with families, there’s 19 ships within their fleet. All featuring extraordinary amenities and attractions, Norwegian Cruise Line is a great option if you’re travelling with teens.
Not only is there a dedicated teen’s youth program called Entourage for teens aged 13-17, but several activities available throughout their ships, including themed events (such as the College Night, Glow and White Hot Party), sports areas, video games, art projects and more.
Best Norwegian Cruise Line Attractions for Teens
- Aqua Park (Norwegian Escape)
- Mini golf course (Norwegian Bliss)
- Ropes course (Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Encorse, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Bliss)
- Swimming pools (fleet wide)
- Go-karts (Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Bliss)
- VR area (Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy)
Best Family Friendly Accommodation on Norwegian Cruise Line
Like Carnival Cruises, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly accommodation on Norwegian Cruise Line. Whether you all want your own space or you’re happy to share a stateroom, there’s plenty of different staterooms available throughout the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, including:
- Family Oceanview
- Family Balcony Stateroom
- Family Suite
- Family Club Balcony Suite
- The Haven Penthouse Suite with Balcony
Best Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ships for Teens
Book Your Family Getaway with Iglu Cruise
Whether you want to sail to the Mediterranean, Caribbean or another destination with your family, Iglu Cruise has a getaway for you. Offering a wide selection of different cruises from a huge variety of cruise lines, you’ll be able to find the best cruise for you. Discover our all inclusive family cruises and book a holiday of a lifetime with your loved ones today.
You can also discover our other family-related blogs, including - Best Family Cruises Summer 2024, Life onboard as a Teenager, What’s the Cruising Experience Like for Teenagers Onboard Holland America Line.