Exciting onboard activities for teens to enjoy on cruise ships
If you’re questioning whether your teens would enjoy a cruise, the answer is simple: Absolutely. In fact, there are so many activities for teens on cruise ships that they may never want to leave!
Carnival is one of the best cruise lines for family holidays because we design our cruises with every family member in mind, including teenagers.
Teens on a Carnival cruise will find many teen-only spaces and activities just for them. Whether your teen is a gamer, a social butterfly or a thrill-seeker, they will have so many things to do on a cruise, their only request will be to stay longer.
Let’s take a look at all the exciting things your teenager can experience on board a Carnival cruise.
Why teens will never say ‘I’m bored’ on a Carnival cruise
Parents of teens will be all too familiar with the “B” word. Rest assured, you won’t hear your teens complain about being bored at any stage of your Carnival cruise. With dedicated Carnival cruise activities for 13-year-olds to 17-year-olds, our family cruises are designed with non-stop fun for teenagers of all ages in mind.
Carnival cruises offer specially catered teen activities and age-based hangout zones, so your teens will always have something to do and someone to hang out with, no matter what their interests are. Depending on which cruise ship you choose, they’ll find everything from mini-golf and arcade games to sports zones, waterslides, the EDGE adventure park and a library, as well as organised activities like scavenger hunts, trivia and sporting matches.
Download the Carnival HUB App to find out what’s going on each day. Plus, to make it even easier for your teens to fill their days, we deliver a daily schedule to your door each morning. You’ll find so much that your teen’s only problem will be fitting it all in!
Chill spots made just for teens
Your teen will love hanging out in Carnival’s dedicated teens-only spaces, which are cleverly divided into age groups so your teens always get to hang out with other kids their own age.
Circle ‘C’ Lounge is for 12 to 14-year-olds, and Club 02 is a space designated for 15 to 17-year-olds. Each teen lounge offers a mix of planned activities and free time, and is a place teens can make new friends, watch movies, listen to music, dance, sing karaoke, play board games and participate in sports activities. There’s no sign-in/out policy, either, so your tweens and teens can come and go as they please.
Take a look at our full range of youth programs here.
Food your teen will love
Something else you won’t hear your teen complaining about on board a Carnival cruise? How hungry they are. Every Carnival cruise ship is loaded with dining options catering to all ages and tastes.
The main dining room is a great place to enjoy breakfast as a family before your teens head out to the kids’ club, water parks or sports courts. Some of our most popular lunch and dinner venues for teens are Guy’s Burger Joint for mouthwatering burgers and Pizzeria del Capitano for authentic pizza made with Italian flour. On Carnival Splendour and Carnival Luminosa, you’ll find Lido Marketplace – our ever-popular buffet with kid and teen staples including chicken nuggets, chips and noodles. And on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, The Pantry will satisfy your every craving.
If your teens are looking for snacks to tide them over between meals, you can’t go wrong with ice cream or frozen yogurt at Swirls. The best part is, most of our food is included in your cruise fare, so you won’t have to worry about your teenagers going rogue and blowing your budget!
Action-packed fun for teens who hate sitting still
If your teen is the kind of kid who isn’t going to be happy lazing around, a Carnival cruise ship is the perfect place for them. Port day activities and shore excursions aside, there is so much to do on a Carnival cruise.
Let’s start with our waterslides and pools. For an adrenaline hit, your teens will love the waterslides on Carnival Splendor, including Green Lightning, our water slide with an 11.3 metre free-fall drop. For thrills combined with killer views, we’ve got Twister – a waterslide that sits high above the ship.
Have teens with a serious thrill for heights? Check out EDGE adventure park on Carnival Adventure and carnival Encounter. Flying foxes, rock climbing and an epic bridge roof walk – this activity will keep your adventurous teens entertained for hours.
If you have a sporty teen, they’ll love playing some basketball on our unique court surrounded by the ocean in every direction. (Don’t worry: there are nets!) Or they can go for a run on the jogging track, hit the mid-ship pools (which just happen to be next to the ice cream spot!) or challenge each other to a round or two of mini-golf.
No matter which ship you choose, there is constant adventure to be had on every Carnival cruise.
Plan your family’s perfect cruise today
Nighttime is go-time
The fun doesn’t have to end when the day does. A Carnival cruise offers plenty of late-night action that your teen will love, with Circle C (12–14 years) and Club O2 (15–17 years) hosting fun activities like dance parties, high production theatre shows, live music, movies, board games and theme nights.
The extended hours at our teen clubs mean your teens can hang out in a fun and safe environment with other kids their own age, while you enjoy a quiet drink at one of our bars.
For an all-family affair, head to one of our iconic deck parties. Show your kids how it’s done at our ’80s Rock-n-Glow party or our Silent White Hot Night party. It’ll be non-stop laughs all ‘round.
Games, arcades, and digital escapes
If your teens are happy to find their own fun, rest assured, there’s plenty to keep them busy.
For the gamers, we’ve got the Video Arcade, with a huge array of games, and open to players of all ages, 24 hours a day. Or they can hit the games zone for everything from physical challenges to board games, trivia games to scavenger hunts.
For other digital escapes, your teen will love our Dive In movies. We’ve also got onboard WiFi so they can find a quiet space to keep in touch with their friends back home.
Top tips when cruising with teens
At Carnival, we know that giving teens autonomy over their schedule can go a long way towards making an unforgettable holiday for the whole family. That’s why we offer a mixture of set programs and come-as-you-like spaces that let teens choose where they go and what they do on board.
Staying safe
Carnival cruises offer supervision in all our kids’ zones and activity areas, and our vigilant staff make sure all kids are safe. Plus, with our kids’ hangout areas split into age groups, you can rest assured your teens will be hanging out in safe, age-appropriate environments.
What works (and what doesn’t)
One of the most important things you can do when cruising with teenagers is to consider their interests and ‘vibe’. You’ll all have so much more fun if you’re heading to destinations everyone is interested in and with activities you all enjoy.
If your teen is a movie buff, for example, a cruise to New Zealand to see the Lord of the Rings filming destinations will be right up their alley. If adventuring in the great outdoors is more their thing, they’ll love a trip to the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea or Bali, where they can go hiking, snorkelling or white water rafting.
Find the right space
When you’re on board, also consider your teen’s interests when choosing shore excursions and be sure to let them enjoy some independence. Give them free rein to explore the ship, make new friends and take part in the onboard activities that interest them the most.
Of course, it’s also good to keep some boundaries in place and set some ground rules before you go. Many of our families like to set check-in times and use dedicated communication channels like the Carnival HUB App or even a notebook left in your cabin. Insisting on at least one family meal per day and balancing independence with shared family activities will also ensure a happy family holiday for everyone.
Consider your timing
Another thing to consider is the time of year you travel for your family holiday. For instance, if you’re thinking about taking your teens out of school and cruising during term time, it’s worth noting that there won’t be as many other kids on board.
Given that hanging out with new friends in the teen zones is a huge part of the experience, you might be better off travelling during the school holidays when your teens are more likely to meet like-minded mates.
Check out some of our teen-friendly destinations
Get packing sorted before you set sail
Encourage your teen to pack their own bag so they’ve got everything they need for the best cruise experience. Throughout their stay, they’ll need:
- Clothes for the length of the trip, including swimming costumes (we recommend bringing a few pairs), smart casual clothes for the restaurants, and outfits for themed nights onboard
- A backpack or day bag for trips ashore, as well as appropriate footwear and things like goggles or snorkels for any onshore activities you’re planning
- Plenty of sunscreen.
Your suitcase will be delivered straight to your cabin, so we recommend bringing a carry-on bag so your teen will have things they need on hand to jump straight into the action. Items your teen should pack in their carry-on bag include:
- Change of clothes
- Swimming costume (because they’ll undoubtedly want to head straight to the pool)
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Any devices they can’t live without
- A book
- Any medication or other essentials they might need (including seasickness medication if they suffer from seasickness or this is their first cruise and you’re yet to find out!).
Beach towels and dryers are provided on board all Carnival cruises.
Give your teens their best holiday yet
To ensure the best possible cruise with a teen of any age, we’ve got a few tips and tricks up our sleeves from seasoned cruisers. Here is some of our best advice for cruising with kids and teenagers:
Involve your kid in the planning. Before you book your cruise, share the options with them and let them voice their opinions and preferences.
Choose a destination – and a ship – that will suit each member of your family. While each ship and its itinerary are jam-packed with things to make a memorable holiday for every traveller, Carnival’s offerings vary from cruise to cruise, so it will pay to double-check all the details, including the ship’s facilities and what each port has on offer, before locking in your cruise.
Choose a family-friendly cabin. You can’t beat a good night’s sleep, so choose a stateroom that will comfortably fit your entire party.
Encourage your teen to get involved and choose their own fun as much as possible. They’ll love their taste of independence as they explore the cruise ship and pick their activities each day. They’ll also love making new friends to share these experiences with, and they might even discover new favourite hobbies, activities, foods and places.
Relax and have fun! This is your holiday too.
No matter which cruise you’re thinking of going on with your family, there are so many things to do on a Carnival cruise, you and your teens will make memories for a lifetime. Start exploring, consider the loads of Carnival cruise teenager activities on offer, and get ready to come aboard.
