Best Cruises for Teens Teenagers, those hard-to-please opinion leaders, are in hot demand by the cruise industry. Both surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest that parents in search of a pleasant vacation would do well to not only consult but also seriously consider the input of teen members of the family. This age group — bearing that heady mixture of youth and adulthood — is one of the travel industry’s most demanding. And it’s no secret that a dissatisfied teen can create a messy imbalance even among an otherwise happy family. Cruise lines are interested in drawing teens, too, knowing that they have special impact on family vacation choices. And there’s another reason: Today’s teens are tomorrow’s twenty-something adult passengers. As such, a handful of cruise lines are creating special programs, facilities and amenities for the teenage cruise traveler. Highlights of these include: Teens-only discos, lounges and sun decks. Shore excursions geared (and limited) to teens. Youth spa programs on several lines that now offer treatments such as mother/daughter facials, father/son massages, spray tans and pedicures. From outward appearances — iPods, baggy jeans and general ennui — teens appear to be a homogeneous group. But, like the cruise lines themselves, teens come with distinct personalities — from party animals and sports jocks to nature lovers and computer junkies. Some teens enjoy organized activities, while others prefer roaming independently on a ship the size of a small town. And some are drawn to adventure and enrichment without the big-ship distractions. As such, matching your teen’s personality with that of the cruise ship is crucial. Consider these other points, too: Cruise length can be an important factor for busy teens, with short itineraries often working best. Families with both teens and younger siblings will want to select a ship with a solid children’s program, so the entire clan will be happy. Speaking from experience, here are our editor’s picks of best cruise options for families with teenagers. For the teen who is an uber-social party animal… Try: Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom Why: Carnival Liberty, the newest in the Conquest-line of the fleet, offers a unique-to-Carnival amenitity: the drive-in-movie-like Seaside Theater cinema screen that sits above the pool area. We also like the fact that its newly designed Without Batteries — the newest incarnation of a teen disco — is located not upstairs with the kiddie facilities but in the heart of the otherwise adult-oriented promenade. Best features: For older teens, 16 to 18 years old, there’s a mixer on the first evening, a Mocktail Party in the disco on the first formal night, and an afternoon Ping-Pong tournament. Each night, the Disco Dance Club opens from 9:30 to 10:45 p.m. for teens 12 to 18. At 10:45 p.m., the DJ announces that the Disco will reopen at 11 p.m. for guests 16 to 18. Younger teens can shift to another activity — like a movie, Karaoke or a swim. There are also teen spa services and a discounted teen shore excursion program where the kids vote on which tour to take. Beware of: You may never see your kids (which can be a plus or a minus). Also, dining is set-seating, set-tablemates in the ship’s main venue, though there are plenty of casual options. For the teen who is energetic and looking for all the comforts of home (and beyond)… Try: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas (or any of its other Voyager-class siblings, including Voyager, Adventure and Explorer of the Seas). Why: We picked Navigator of the Seas in particular because it offers a range of six-, seven- and nine-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Onboard, the 3,000-passenger ship is literally a floating playground with features that include an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, miniature golf course, full-sized basketball court and dedicated teen facilities. If the kids are looking for fuel, we heartily recommend a pit stop at either Ben & Jerry’s or Johnny Rockets. Best features: One big plus is that the ship’s youth program divides teens into two groups. Navigators (tweens, 12- to 14-year-olds) are wisely separated from the Teens (15- to 17-year-olds) for activities like Karaoke, toga parties and sports tournaments. Parents are banned from The Living Room, Back Deck and Fuel — the teens-only facility where teens can drink mocktails and dance the night away (until 2 a.m.). Beware of: Navigator is a huge ship and it can be easy to lose track of your teen (and unsupervised teens on big ships are one of the cruise industry’s biggest hassles). We’ll also warn you about this plus-and-minus factor: With fifteen Internet stations in The Living Room and Fuel — plus unlimited Internet access via laptop in all cabins — parents may need to exercise supervision. For the teen who is adventurous and into water sports… Try: Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf Why: The combination of a cool, five-masted sailing vessel — and a can’t-be-beat exotic itinerary. The ship will spend winter of 2005 sailing a new, six-night itinerary in the Mayan Riviera, with stops in Belize and Honduras. This is a fabulous itinerary for both history (Mayan ruins in particular) and scuba diving (not to mention excursions like a trip to Belize’s Jaguar Paw Resort, where guests literally fly between treetop platforms along zip-line cables). Best features: Back to the region’s appeal for scuba divers, Wind Surf is offering a Discover Scuba Diving Program, gliding by manta and eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, barracuda and reef sharks. The fairly priced dive program ($140) features a class by the pool, pool session, and supervised dive. The program is open to teens (the rule is 12 and above) though they must be accompanied by a parent. Beware of: This is definitely not a ship for younger children or pre-teens, so it’s pretty much off limits to multi-kid, multi-age families. There are no planned activities (or facilities) onboard for kids of any age. For the teen who is an urban (or suburban) sophisticate… Try: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl Why: These ships offer the ultimate in dining choice: 10 restaurants (all open seating), ranging from Tex-Mex to steakhouse and sushi to French. Not only does that mean terrific flexibility (particularly at dinner time) it also means teens can eat with — or without — their families. The ship is also strong on entertainment for young folks, and future American Idols can participate in a Junior Star Seeker competition, with winners receiving a free cruise and a chance to perform for fellow passengers. Best features: Teens will gravitate to the teen-only club/disco as well as the ship’s video arcade, basketball court, paddle tennis and giant chessboard. Organized social activities include a farewell frat party the last evening, an afternoon dance party and a pool party. A discounted beverage card is available — for $34.50, your teen can order 20 smoothies and other nonalcoholic drinks. Another plus, particularly for families based in New York and the mid-Atlantic? The ship sails, year-round, to the Bahamas and Caribbean from New York — which means airfares aren’t necessarily required. Beware of: Some of the ship’s smaller dining venues are very popular (Tex-Mex and Le Bistro, for example) and reservations are a must, available one day in advance. A handful have surcharges (not to mention one that actually has an all a la carte menu). For the teen who is relaxed and low key… Try: Windjammer’s Legacy Why: This casual, relaxed cruise is perfect for teens who like to venture off the beaten path, complete with sleeping under the stars and dining in flip flops and bathing suits. Best features: Shore excursions that active, nature- and water-oriented pursuits and an easy-going, just-about-anything-goes atmosphere on board. Beware of: This is a no-frills vessel and entertainment is pretty limited; teens should be self-motivated (i.e. enjoy solitary pursuits like reading and more social ones like conversation with fellow passengers). For the teen who has younger siblings… Try: Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess and Emerald Princess Why: These ships offer something for every conceivable age group (we love Caribbean Princess for the same reason). For teens in particular, there’s a dedicated teen facility, a video game arcade, four pools, a huge gym and a nine-hole putting course complete with golf simulator. We also love the choice of itineraries ranging from Europe to the Caribbean. Best features: The teen center on this ship really is fine. It’s got a private whirlpool and sun deck, big-screen television, Nintendo, Karaoke and juke boxes. Recently added to the ship is Princess’ fabulous outdoor theater, “Movies Under the Stars.” We also love the flexibility of dining options offered by Princess’ Personal Choice so that families can dine together some nights … and kids can eat with other like-aged passengers on others. Beware of: With so much to do on the ship, there’s a risk that teens may not experience the destinations — such as the history-, archeology- and marine-rich Mayan Riviera and the history-, archeology- and culture-rich Europe. For the teen who is already an exotic eco-adventure traveler… Try: Lindblad Expeditions’ Islander Why: This is a great choice for a bonding trip between mom and teen (or dad and teen). Two hundred years after Charles Darwin’s famous voyage of the Beagle, the Galapagos archipelago remains amazingly pristine, a place where animals are still unafraid of people. This 48-passenger ship offers an unforgettable nine-night adventure, where passengers meet marine iguanas and giant tortoises, penguins and sea lions, boobies and albatrosses. Best features: Survival of the fittest isn’t an issue aboard the Islander. After a day exploring the wild and rugged islands, teens (who incidentally are treated as adults rather than a subset of a cruise line’s youth program) will return to a comfortable ship and cabin. Naturalists lead daily excursions via four Zodiacs which make it possible to access landfalls and cruise alongside reefs. The ship carries wetsuits and snorkeling gear, key for playing in the water with curious sea lions. We were surprised — and pleased — to find that even on this small ship there are two Internet stations for remote emailing. Beware of: Reaching the Galapagos takes time and money, with flights to Quito, Ecuador, and then Baltra Island in the Galapagos. For the teen who is traveling on a multi-generational family trip… Try: Holland America Line’s Ryndam, Statendam, Maasdam, Veendam, Zaandam, Volendam, Amsterdam and Rotterdam Why: Statendam-class ships really stand out because of the teens-only facility. Teens have their own space at the Oasis, an outdoor area toward the ship’s stern featuring a cave and waterfall, as well as the Loft, a bright, comfortable lounge designed to resemble an artist’s studio. Activities run the gamut, including dance lessons, arcade games and sports tournaments (and there’s a disco). Teen shore excursions like rock climbing and kayaking are also available. Teens with laptops can surf the Internet using an in-cabin connection or via wireless in public areas of the ship. Best features: What really smokes, though, is its outdoor Oasis. This newly constructed area, completely outdoors, feels like it’s a shade removed from Gilligan’s Island, with hammocks, a fabulous optically lit waterfall, and Adirondack-style chairs — and the atmosphere is even further developed by the exterior, rimmed with wood slats, not to mention faux pineapples and palm trees (and vending machines for snacks and beverages). Beware of: The ships offer a set-seating assigned-table meal situation in their main restaurants though the lido buffet is open most nights and room service options are fairly plentiful. For the teen who is internationally savvy… Try: Star Clippers’ Royal Clipper Why: Star Clipper’s 227-passenger, five-masted flagship sails from historic port to port in the Western Mediterranean on 7-, 10- and 11-night summer and fall itineraries. From the Coliseum in Rome to the famous Greek Theatre of Sicily, this voyage is ideal for teens who like history and sailing. Best features: A platform lowers from the ship’s stern for water sports. Teens can climb the mast to the crow’s nest and watch the dramatic hoisting of 42 sails each morning. Beware of: This ship attracts primarily European passengers, so teens need to be open to other languages and cultures. In general, teens will need to entertain themselves. There are no children’s programs or menus for younger siblings. –by Susan Jaques, a Los Angeles-based writer whose favorite travel adventures are with her husband and teenage son and daughter. In addition to Cruise Critic, Jaques’ articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Magazine.

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