Family travel is a great way to get some quality time in with your kids, even teenagers. Most teens think family travel is similar to torture, but the right family vacation can be fun for everyone. Many cruise lines have activities geared toward teenagers’ fun and amusement.
Teen programs cater to a typical teenager’s schedule; most activities begin in early afternoon and last into the late evening, allowing kids to sleep in. Enthusiastic, youthful staff works diligently to ensure cruising teens will have fun while meeting new friends, but your adolescent will be free to come and go at the leisure.
The following major cruise lines provide a small example of the activities available across the industry.
Image via Flickr
Carnival
Teenagers love to party. There’s nothing that provides an atmosphere for good times like loud music, food, beverages, and other youths. Your teen can enjoy pool or deck parties while soaking up the sun or swimming. Unattached kids can mingle and meet other singles at the singles parties or enjoy “virgin” martinis, daiquiris, and other cocktails at the “mock-tail” party. It is always entertaining to judge others’ singing talent or lack thereof at a karaoke party.
Royal Caribbean
Active youths will enjoy Royal Caribbean’s on-board rock climbing and in-line skating program as an alternative to lounging around. For kids who are more apt at digital challenges, an arcade challenge is a great place to meet others with similar interests and skills.
Each week staff hosts dance parties where teens can rock the night away under brilliant lights and to pulsing beats. On formal night, there is a “prom” on ship, where teens get trussed up in their best dresses and suits for an evening of fun, friendship, and fancy digs.
Image via Flickr
Disney
Most teens would go on a Disney cruise hesitantly; Disney is known to cater to a younger audience. There are ample activities for adolescents that will prove otherwise. Youths have an entire deck area to themselves—a great place to get away from younger siblings. Disney hosts pajama and dance parties.
Teens can expand their knowledge by creating their own movie or taking animation lessons on board.
Princess
Princess cruises offer many teen-only activities like the teen movie night and teenage-only dinners. Youngsters will enjoy the free time from the family while hanging out with others their own age. Teens will love exploring and scouring the ship during the scavenger hunt and belting out tunes during karaoke after stuffing their bellies with pizza at the pizza party.
These are just a few examples of teen-centered activities. Right now there are many cruise lines offering some cheap tickets discount travel options, which are readily available in the Internet, to help you find the right family cruise for your brood.