I have always thought the perfect vacation is one filled with fun, relaxation, and ease. I want to escape the daily routine and have someone else cater to my needs. This is why cruising has always suited our family well. We began cruising as a family when our daughter was four and never looked back. The amenities, itineraries, and activities have suited each one of us at every stage of life. Although most cruise lines offer some type of teen activity, our experiences have been with Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.
Our daughter was only four when she cruised for the first time. While she was old enough for the amazing kids’ clubs on the Disney Cruise Line fleet, she usually opted to stay with us. She wasn’t much for making new friends and preferred doing family activities, which I wasn’t going to complain about. However, a few years ago, as she approached her teens, this dynamic shifted, and we suddenly had an independent teenage cruiser. Although this change took me by surprise and spiked my anxiety, I knew it was time to let her explore her independence while balancing family time on vacation.
That’s when I truly began to understand the benefits of cruising with teens.
Benefits of cruising with teens
Dedicated & supervised hangout areas
On both cruise lines that we frequent, there are specific areas where only teens of a certain
age may congregate. These teen clubs are supervised by cruise line staff and require admittance via a designated wristband or key card.
On several Royal Caribbean ships, the teen hangout area includes both indoor and outdoor activities. The indoor space features board games, video games, and foosball, while the outdoor amenities include oversized chess, Jenga, a smoothie bar, and sometimes a teen-only hot tub area. For families cruising with teens, these spaces provide a perfect balance of supervised independence and socialization.
These areas offer the perfect place to meet up with cruise friends while not overtaking common areas for other guests. Plus, as a parent, you can rest assured knowing your child is in a safe environment surrounded by peers of a similar age.
Onboard amenities
In addition to the usual arcade, pool, and deck activities, many of the newer, larger ships offer a wide range of extra attractions. We have experienced the following at sea:
- Zip Lining
- Wave Rider Machine
- Mini Golf
- Ice Skating
- Laser Tag
- Escape Rooms
- Water Coasters
- Silent Discos
No other vacation we’ve taken has provided such a variety of activities. With so many options, cruising with teens ensures there’s never a dull moment for your family.
Onboard spending and limitations
Another perk of our child getting older is teaching the concept of responsible spending. While most things are included in your cruise, some perks require an additional charge. Most cruise lines allow you to set up your child’s spending account with a daily limit. You can also pre-purchase drink packages that include soda and smoothies on cruise lines where soda is not included. This makes cruising with teens even easier, as they can enjoy small privileges while learning financial responsibility.
Cruising with teens rules (made by us and the cruise line)
Nightly curfew
Each ship has a strict curfew for passengers under 18. We love that this is non-negotiable, meaning our daughter can’t argue over what she thinks her curfew should be. Breaking this curfew comes with strict penalties for repeat offenders, including the possibility of being removed from the ship at the next port. For parents cruising with teens, this rule provides peace of mind while ensuring accountability.
Communication
Most cruise lines have their own communication app available to passengers. In addition to this messaging app, we usually purchase the internet package so we can communicate via iMessage. One of our rules is that our daughter must always message us before moving to a new location. Even if she’s just heading one flight of stairs down to grab a drink, she has to let us know. When cruising with teens, having clear communication expectations helps balance their independence with parental oversight.
Check-in times
Since this is still a family cruise, we like to schedule specific times to spend together and enjoy activities. For example, if we have a pool day, we’ll plan to meet for lunch. If there’s a family-friendly event we’d like to attend, we make sure to check in at a designated time. Cruising with teens allows for a flexible schedule that caters to both their desire for independence and quality family time.
