{"id":4994,"date":"2025-09-09T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T22:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/behind-the-seas\/?page_id=4994"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T05:52:00","slug":"activities-teens-to-enjoy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/behind-the-seas\/life-onboard\/activities-teens-to-enjoy\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Cruise Ship with Teenagers Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re 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!<\/p>\n

Carnival is one of the best cruise lines for family holidays because we design our cruises with every family member in mind, including teenagers.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at all the exciting things your teenager can experience on board a Carnival cruise.<\/p>\n

Why teens will never say \u2018I\u2019m bored\u2019 on a Carnival cruise<\/h2>\n

Parents of teens will be all too familiar with the \u201cB\u201d word. Rest assured, you won\u2019t 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<\/a> are designed with non-stop fun for teenagers of all ages in mind.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll find everything from mini-golf and arcade games<\/a> to sports zones<\/a>, waterslides<\/a>, the EDGE adventure park<\/a> and a library<\/a>, as well as organised activities like scavenger hunts, trivia and sporting matches.<\/p>\n

Download the Carnival HUB App<\/a> to find out what\u2019s 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\u2019ll find so much that your teen\u2019s only problem will be fitting it all in!<\/p>\n

Chill spots made just for teens<\/h2>\n

Your teen will love hanging out in Carnival\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Circle \u2018C\u2019 Lounge<\/a> is for 12 to 14-year-olds, and Club 02<\/a> 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\u2019s no sign-in\/out policy, either, so your tweens and teens can come and go as they please.<\/p>\n

Take a look at our full range of youth programs<\/a> here.<\/p>\n

Food your teen will love<\/h2>\n

Something else you won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019s Burger Joint<\/a> for mouthwatering burgers and Pizzeria del Capitano<\/a> for authentic pizza made with Italian flour. On Carnival Splendour and Carnival Luminosa, you\u2019ll find Lido Marketplace<\/a> \u2013 our ever-popular buffet with kid and teen staples including chicken nuggets, chips and noodles. And on Carnival Adventure<\/a> and Carnival Encounter, The Pantry<\/a> will satisfy your every craving.<\/p>\n

If your teens are looking for snacks to tide them over between meals, you can\u2019t go wrong with ice cream or frozen yogurt at Swirls<\/a>. The best part is, most of our food is included in your cruise fare, so you won\u2019t have to worry about your teenagers going rogue and blowing your budget!<\/p>\n

Action-packed fun for teens who hate sitting still<\/h2>\n

If your teen is the kind of kid who isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with our waterslides and pools. For an adrenaline hit, your teens will love the waterslides on Carnival Splendor<\/a>, including Green Lightning<\/a>, our water slide with an 11.3 metre free-fall drop. For thrills combined with killer views, we\u2019ve got Twister \u2013 a waterslide that sits high above the ship.<\/p>\n

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Have teens with a serious thrill for heights? Check out EDGE adventure park on Carnival Adventure and carnival Encounter<\/a>. Flying foxes, rock climbing and an epic bridge roof walk \u2013 this activity will keep your adventurous teens entertained for hours.<\/p>\n

If you have a sporty teen, they\u2019ll love playing some basketball on our unique court surrounded by the ocean in every direction. (Don\u2019t worry: there are nets!) Or they can go for a run on the jogging track<\/a>, hit the mid-ship pools<\/a> (which just happen to be next to the ice cream spot!) or challenge each other to a round or two of mini-golf.<\/p>\n

No matter which ship you choose, there is constant adventure to be had on every Carnival cruise.<\/p>\n

Plan your family\u2019s perfect cruise today<\/a><\/p>\n

Nighttime is go-time<\/h2>\n

The fun doesn\u2019t 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\u201314 years) and Club O2 (15\u201317 years) hosting fun activities like dance parties, high production theatre shows, live music, movies, board games and theme nights.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

For an all-family affair, head to one of our iconic deck parties. Show your kids how it\u2019s done at our ’80s Rock-n-Glow party<\/a> or our Silent White Hot Night party<\/a>. It\u2019ll be non-stop laughs all \u2018round.<\/p>\n

Games, arcades, and digital escapes<\/h2>\n

If your teens are happy to find their own fun, rest assured, there\u2019s plenty to keep them busy.<\/p>\n

For the gamers, we\u2019ve got the Video Arcade<\/a>, with a huge array of games, and open to players of all ages, 24 hours a day. Or they can hit the games zone<\/a> for everything from physical challenges to board games, trivia games to scavenger hunts.<\/p>\n

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For other digital escapes, your teen will love our Dive In movies<\/a>. We\u2019ve also got onboard WiFi so they can find a quiet space to keep in touch with their friends back home.<\/p>\n

Top tips when cruising with teens<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Staying safe<\/h3>\n

Carnival cruises offer supervision in all our kids\u2019 zones and activity areas, and our vigilant staff make sure all kids are safe. Plus, with our kids\u2019 hangout areas split into age groups, you can rest assured your teens will be hanging out in safe, age-appropriate environments.<\/p>\n

What works (and what doesn\u2019t)<\/h3>\n

One of the most important things you can do when cruising with teenagers is to consider their interests and \u2018vibe\u2019. You\u2019ll all have so much more fun if you\u2019re heading to destinations everyone is interested in and with activities you all enjoy.<\/p>\n

If your teen is a movie buff, for example, a cruise to New Zealand<\/a> to see the Lord of the Rings<\/a> filming destinations will be right up their alley. If adventuring in the great outdoors is more their thing, they\u2019ll love a trip to the Pacific Islands<\/a>, Papua New Guinea<\/a> or Bali<\/a>, where they can go hiking<\/a>, snorkelling<\/a> or white water rafting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find the right space<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re on board, also consider your teen\u2019s 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<\/a> that interest them the most.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Consider your timing<\/h3>\n

Another thing to consider is the time of year you travel for your family holiday. For instance, if you\u2019re thinking about taking your teens out of school and cruising during term time, it\u2019s worth noting that there won\u2019t be as many other kids on board.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Check out some of our teen-friendly destinations<\/a><\/p>\n

Get packing sorted before you set sail<\/h2>\n

Encourage your teen to pack their own bag<\/a> so they\u2019ve got everything they need for the best cruise experience. Throughout their stay, they\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n