Think a Disney Cruise is only for families? Think again! There is a wonderful spa, an adults-only pool, and after 9 PM, a number of bars and clubs strictly for adults. For an extra charge, there is a gourmet adults only restaurant, available by reservation only.. Most of the children's activities are confined to one deck. On Disney's private island, there is one side of the island reserved for adults only.. There is an extensive seafood buffet offered at lunchtime.
Also, if you have teenagers in your family, here are some reasons why they would love a cruise vacation:
In a teenager’s mind, there’s nothing worse than spending a vacation with the family. To them, a trip with the ‘lame’ parents and ‘bratty’ little brother is filled with confined spaces, no personal freedom and limited interaction with other teens. Cruising just might change their minds.
Cruise lines have been working overtime to please teens, creating “cool” areas, shore excursions, spa programs and more geared especially for the teen set. Why go to such great lengths? Because one disgruntled teen can ruin the entire trip. And parents can’t relax unless they know everyone in their brood is in a good mood, which makes cruises the ideal choice.
Below you’ll find a list of cruise lines and what they offer for teens. Armed with this information, you’ll have the upper hand in convincing your teen that a week with the fam island-hopping in the Caribbean or cruising past glaciers in Alaska won’t be so bad. One word of warning: some of these cruise lines offer so many options for your kids, you may barely see them for the entire vacation. Sounds blissful, doesn’t it?
Royal Caribbean International
When you cruise with Royal Caribbean, you’re not just going on a vacation, you’re embarking on an adventure! Onboard the most innovative ships at sea, your entire family will love racing up the rock-climbing wall, catching a wave on the FlowRider® surf simulator or learn how to sky-dive on the RipCord® by iFLY®. Adventure Ocean groups give teens the freedom to come and go as they please for sports, themed parties, movie nights and more. Teens can also meet and relax in the laid-back lounges and dance late into the night at teen-only nightclubs.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Reflection docked in Valletta, Malta
Celebrity’s Camp at Sea is designed to make sure children of all ages enjoy the cruise as much as you do. The program is powered by partnerships with cool companies like Lonely Planet™, The Frost Science Museum and Xbox, resulting in hundreds of programs divided into four categories: Art, Recreation, Culinary and S.T.E.M. The cruise line also offers special teen-focused spa services, such as peroxide-free laser teeth whitening, mani-pedis and deep-cleansing facials and hair treatments.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising is all about flexibility and freedom. Your teens can eat where they want (with 13+ restaurants to choose from), when they want, and with whom they want (hopefully that includes you). Other highlights for teens include Entourage, a special space for teens filled with video games, movies and music; and wild themed parties like College Night, White Hot Party and Glow.
Princess Cruises
From special onboard guests with cruise partner Animal Planet™—such as Puppies in the Piazza on Alaska cruises, and Parrots in the Piazza in the Caribbean—to being in the audience, or even on stage, during The Voice of the Ocean music competition, teens will find numerous Instagrammable moments on board. Plus, at the teens-only Beach House, they’ll enjoy late-night movies, hip hop dance classes and video game tournaments.
Are you cruising to the Caribbean but want an option other than typical shore excursions? What else is available to cruise passengers who want something that’s both affordable and entertaining? Resort passes.
Such passes offer all-day access to resort amenities like pools, lounge chairs, water sports equipment and activities, food and beverages. Some even may include meals at upscale restaurants and daytime use of resort rooms, depending on the number of open accommodations.
What’s great about such passes is that they are affordable on just about any budget, are often less expensive than shore excursions and provide just enough extras to keep cruise-visitor beach bums occupied and comfortable.
Have you ever wondered how a cruise ship operates? Many cruise lines offer behind-the scenes tours.
