Cruising can be a dream vacation, but will cruising with your teenager be smooth sailing? The beauty of unpacking only once, the unending ice cream line, and entertainment for the whole family is definitely something only a cruise can provide. But will your teen be excited to vacation with you? Or will you be the subject of intense eye rolls and groans? Here are my tips for planning the perfect cruise — teen approved!
Why Is Cruising Still Our Go To Vacation?
As my son has morphed into a moody teen, we wondered if cruising would hold the same draw. As avid travelers, I am constantly on a quest to escape reality. Previously, our son was easy to please. All that was needed for a perfect vacation was a pool, great food, and lots of fun activities. Done. Vacation planning has now become like Goldilocks. I must brave the turbulent seas of mood swings by planning just the right amount of adventure and down time. He wants to sleep until 10 and have his phone at all times. My husband and I, on the other hand, crave to be unplugged, soak up time together, and to get up and get moving. So is cruising the ideal balance of low key yet exciting that a teen will enjoy? We feel it is! And here is why.
Unlimited Food
Teens eat like they’re training for an Olympic sport. On vacation, the cost to feed these bottomless pits can be super expensive. The beauty of a cruise vacation is all the food is included. Oh, and did I mention they can eat all day if they want to?
Entertainment
Depending on the size of the ship you chose, there is a host of entertainment options to keep your teen busy. Some fun and noteworthy experiences include a teenager only club experience, sports, golf, go-carts, even indoor skydiving and water slides.
It’s Independence Day
On a cruise, we feel comfortable letting our son do his own thing. He can choose to lay in the room and sleep until 10. My husband and I can get up, get coffee, lay by the pool. My son can choose to go to the arcade or get his 100th ice cream of the day while my husband and I play trivia. Most cruise ships offer a messaging app in which you can keep track of your teen on the boat.
Tips For Planning the Perfect Cruise For A Teen
Planning the perfect teen-approved cruise requires a blend of strategic preparation and a touch of parental magic. Having sailed on several different ships, I have compiled a list of invaluable tips for planning the perfect cruise with your teen. Hoist the anchor, set sail, and let’s chart a course to the perfect teen-friendly cruise.
Are you ready?
Create a budget
Before you can choose the cruise ship and the itinerary for your perfect escape, you need to create a budget. Like any vacation, things can add up fast! Make sure you have a firm idea of how much you wish to spend on the vacation.
In addition to the cruise fare, keep in mind there are taxes, port fees, and travel insurance. These additional fees will add hundreds of dollars to the overall cost.
Should you wish to get off the ship in the ports, you will want to budget for shore excursions as well. This can range from $100-$300 per person, per excursion. (Check out my article on how to save money booking shore excursions.)
Do not forget the parking fees that await you when you return. They normally range between $15 and $20 per day depending on the port.
To save some money on your cruise, consider booking your cruise on a travel credit card. I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Not only do I get points for every dollar spent which can be used toward my next cruise or vacation, the card also provides travel insurance. This saved us about $400 on our last cruise!
Here is a link to sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I will gain points for this referral, and you will get 60,000 points toward travel for signing up. That equates to $750! It’s a win, win!
Choose a larger ship
Opting for a larger cruise ship when traveling with a teenager is akin to unlocking a treasure trove of benefits. These floating resorts offer an extensive array of entertainment options that cater to the diverse tastes of teens. From high-energy water parks and thrilling zip lines to dedicated teen clubs with engaging activities, larger ships ensure there’s always something exciting to do. The sheer size provides a sense of autonomy for teens to explore and make new friends. With multiple dining venues, Broadway-style shows, and a myriad of onboard activities, these ships transform the notion of a family vacation into an immersive and customizable experience, making every member, especially your teenager, feel like they’re sailing on their own adventure.
In addition to the variety of activities, restaurants, and shows, choosing a larger vessel can ensure a queasy-free journey. Cruise ships like the Oasis-class behemoths from Royal Caribbean offer enhanced stability and smoother sailing through choppy waters. The advanced technology and massive scale of these floating cities reduce the rocking sensation that smaller ships might encounter.
Choose A Ship With Teen-Approved Ship Activities
One of the most important tips to planning the perfect cruise it to research the ship. Choosing the right cruise ship is critical for a memorable family vacation. Onboard activities should cater to all family members. Opting for a cruise based solely on price, especially if the ship is small and outdated with few activities, might result in a less-than-remarkable experience.
One of our absolute best vacations we ever took was on the Norwegian Bliss. This boat had something for all of us! Go-carts on the top deck, laser tag, and an incredible slide for Brady, a brewery for my husband, and The Beatles for me!
Check out my review of the Norwegian Bliss here.
Include Your Teen In The Planning
Have you ever included your teen in the planning process for your vacation? If not, I recommend it. Though they may have some unrealistic objectives for the perfect vacation, including your young adult in planning your cruise is a must.
First, and I feel the most important aspect of including them in the planning process, is they will see what things cost. Reality bites and our teenagers should learn this early on. Does your teen know how much things cost? If they did, would they appreciate the experience even more?
Secondly, they will have buy in. If they helped to plan an excursion, got to weigh on choosing the ship or itinerary, they will be excited for the trip. I am not saying let them make the final decision–well unless they are offering to pay for it. But maybe let them assist in narrowing down options or give them an opportunity to argue for a particular excursion, location, or activity.
Purchase Your WiFi and Drink Package Before You Sail
The WiFi package is a VIP pass to escape awkward family photo ops and those cringe-worthy moments during the “Captain’s Table” dinner. With the power of Wi-Fi, your teen can transform into a social media ninja, sharing envy-inducing posts of their dazzling cruise life while conveniently cropping out any evidence of family sing-alongs or dad’s attempts at salsa dancing.
Save Money on WiFi
If you plan on investing in the Wi-Fi package for your teenager to use while on their cruise vacation, I recommend purchasing the plan prior to setting sail. The price difference between pre-booking it and booking while onboard is significant.
The WiFi on Norwegian Cruise Lines’ ships is pretty sketchy while we had zero complaints regarding the WiFi package on our most recent Royal Caribbean cruise. If you want to know the reality of what you are paying for, check out reviews from past guests. You will see some cruises and newer ships tend to have been WiFi reviews.
Drink Packages
Whether you wish to have the unlimited alcoholic drink package for yourself or you wish to get a drink package for your teen, buy it before you get on the ship to save time and money. Though you can likely purchase drink packages on the first day on the boat for the same money you would have spent prior to the cruise, you can pay it off before starting your vacation and you can get a drink as soon as you board instead of waiting in a line to purchase the package.
Huge shout out to Royal Caribbean for providing complimentary Refreshment Packages on our last cruise aboard the Odyssey of the Seas. Wow! Talk about amazing! My son felt like such a grown up drinking his mocktails. I am a coffee snob and the specialty coffees were amazing!
Splurge on the Balcony
If you had asked me several years ago if I would recommend splurging on a balcony cabin, I would have said, “no way! Unless you were taking a cruise to Alaska or Hawaii. Then I would have said, Yes, Yes, Yes! My philosophy was always to save that extra money to book really awesome excursions because you are not going to be in the room that much.
Fast forward to now! I am changing this advice now that my teen is taller than I am and weighs almost 200 pounds.
If you have a teen the size of an adult and you plan to share a room with a total of at least three people, splurge on a balcony room! You are going to need the extra room. Trust me! We learned this lesson the hard way.
Pack For Your Adventure
If you have not been on a cruise in the past, there are definitely some items I recommend you pack to make your cruise extra special. You can read my article, 8 Packing Necessities For Every Cruise Vacation.
In Summary
If the prospect of endless buffets, avoiding chores and schoolwork, and a vacation where your room travels with you has not convinced you to book a cruise immediately, I have failed! From teen clubs to go-carts, there’s enough to keep even the moodiest teen disgruntlement at bay (sometimes literally).
What do you think? Is cruising with teens smooth sailing? Do you have any tips for planning the perfect cruise that I missed? Drop me a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/424393964902997659/About the Author:
Hi! I’m Chris. I’m a mother, wife, college professor by trade and micro-influencer by hobby. I am a bargain hunter, jack of all trades, and master of chaos.
Thank you for reading my random thoughts on travel, my stories of life as an under appreciated mother of a teenager, and my easy recipes that have won no awards but instead my family’s love and adoration (which is WAY better, right?).
