Cruising with Teens – Should I take my Teens on a Carnival Cruise?

After recently embarking on our first ever cruise with kids (teenagers), I’m here to tell you, going on a Carnival Cruise with your teens could be your ultimate family holiday!

Cruising with teens might sound like an unusual choice, but a cruise gives you all-inclusive accommodation, dining and entertainment while you travel to new destinations. Carnival Cruise Line Australia also has plenty on board for every age group, which makes it surprisingly easy to keep everyone happy.

A bonus of a Carnival cruise holiday is that nobody has to drive, there are no missed flights or other forms of transport to worry about, and your room (and all your stuff) travels with you without you having to re-pack every second day. This equals a stress-free holiday for everyone (including the chief holiday planner themselves)!

But surely hard-to-please teens won’t have enough to do on a cruise, I hear you say? Wrong! In fact, we found teens were one of the most well catered-to age groups aboard our cruise on the Carnival Encounter! Read on and we’ll tell you why…

Carnival Encounter’s Halloween Cruise

Firstly, a bit about the cruise we embarked on –

Squeezing in a quick mid-term, pre-exam adventure at sea, we headed off on the Carnival Encounter for one of their ‘Halloween’ cruises, which run through the month of October annually. Armed with our own spooky decorations for our stateroom and cabin door to really get in the mood, we boarded a few days prior and were on the ship for the day of Halloween.

With on-board Halloween theming in the form of decorations, activities, and spooky food, this was the perfect cruise to take as a family. Kids of all ages could take part in the fun, culminating in Trick or Treating, creepy dance contests, and activities galore on the day of Halloween itself, and all of these were included in our cruise fare.

While this one was technically a ‘Halloween’ cruise, none of the time-honoured Carnival Cruise favourite events were forgotten. The ever-popular ‘Elegant Evening’ (where guests can dress in their fanciest best and enjoy themed photo opportunities and more), and ‘80s Rock-N-Glow Party’ night (think glow sticks, leg warmers, fluoro, and mullets) were each allocated their night, and our fellow guests went all out!

Things for Teens to do on a Carnival Cruise

Whether you’re booked on a 3-day or 10-day cruise (or even longer), your teens will never be bored on a Carnival Cruise! There are dozens of included activities to take part in every day, as well as additional paid ones they’ll love too.

Our best tip is to download the Carnival HUB app before you board and connect to the Carnival free Wi-Fi when onboard to view and ‘like’ activities to add them to your schedule for the day. The app will then remind you before the activity is due to start, giving you plenty of time to get from where you are to the activity location.

Your copy of the ‘Fun Times’ schedule will also be delivered to your room each day and includes the full list of fun on offer for that day (it also makes a great holiday souvenir for junk-journaling teens!).

Dining

We’ll get this one out of the way first, because it’s a pretty big part of the fun on a cruise. Our days were governed by a family goal to try out all the food options on board (although we failed miserably and are truly regretting all those desserts we simply could not fit in!).

Carnival Encounter features 3 included dining restaurants – Waterfront Restaurant, Angelo’s, and Dragon Lady, as well as a buffet-style venue, The Pantry. By default, you are booked on a rotational basis into each of the three restaurants for dinners throughout your cruise, with The Pantry being a come-as-you-please option that’s open several times throughout the day.

On top of this, the Encounter has some additional-cost dining options that are perfect if you’re celebrating a special occasion, including Trattoria (which also serves up free pizza from 11am-4pm daily which is great for hungry teens!) and Luke’s Bar & Grill (a fine dining option brought to you by Aussie celeb-chef Luke Mangan).

Special one-off dining experiences on board include High Tea, Chef’s Table, Yum Cha Express, and the extra-special Dr Seuss Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, which all do attract an additional cost, but are great to include in your cruise itinerary if you’re looking to make it extra-memorable.

For a casual meal or snack throughout the day, there’s also Luke’s Burger Bar, the Seafood Shack, a Pizzeria, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Avalon Café, and Charlie’s Bar.

Your teens will never go hungry on your cruise with all of these food options!

TIP: If someone in your family is celebrating a birthday, be sure to let the crew know – they will have ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to them at any opportunity.

Pools

Next up on your teen’s daily planning schedule for days at sea has got to be Carnival Encounter’s pools and slides!

With larger pools on board for all ages to enjoy, including the Family Pool, the Lido Pool (also home to ‘dive in’ movies playing at select times), and the Byron Beach Club Pool (available only to those with Byron Beach Club access), as well as spas/hot tubs, and shallow-depth toddler pools for your tiny family members, they’re sure to find an option that pleases them.

For over 18s, there’s also The Oasis; a zone especially for adults wanting some quiet, kid-free space to themselves.

TIP: Pool/beach towels are provided, so there’s no need to pack them in your suitcase!

Edge Adventure Park

Your teens may well spend their entire days at sea at the top of the ship on level 16, where they’ll find high-adrenaline fun at the Edge Adventure Park.

Featuring twin tunnel waterslides that extend out over the edge of the ship, a zip line, a rock climbing wall, a bridge walk, and the ‘Titanic Experience’, you won’t see your teens until they’re ready for something to eat! There’s even a laser tag experience, held most afternoons/evenings for Edge pass holders in the Altitude Nightclub.

With the exception of the waterslides (which are free to ride for all guests over the age of 5 and taller than 120cm), the Edge is accessed by purchasing an ‘Edge Pass’ for the duration of your cruise.

TIP: We found the ‘Extreme Pass’ to be great value, giving our teens unlimited access to all Edge activities on every day of our cruise.

Sports Court

Higher still on the ship, on level 17 you will find the sports courts. With basketball, shuffleboard, and volleyball on offer, active teens can get outside and burn off some energy with new friends they’ve met on-board.

Kids’ Club

Carnival’s kids’ clubs are a great way for kids and teens to meet others around their age on-board. Carnival separate clubs for different age groups and separate spaces are set up with age-appropriate inclusions for each club, and best of all, there’s no additional cost for these (with the exception of Night Owls)!

Daily kids’ club activities can be found in your Carnival HUB app or your Fun Times daily flyer so you can plan ahead.

The different clubs include –

• Camp Ocean (ages 2-11): This kids’ club is further divided into smaller age groups, where kids can enjoy themed activities and games, crafts, movies, and more, at specific times.
• Circle C (ages 12-14): For the tweens, this club steps up the activities to include all of the above, as well as outdoor movies, night-time dance parties, sports, and more.
• Club O2 (ages 15-17): Older kids have their own dedicated hang-out space, with video games, karaoke, and more.
• Night Owls (ages 11 and under): Outside of kids’ club hours, parents can book their young ones into Night Owls for an after-hours kids’ club that runs as late as 12am (for a nominal fee).

TIP: Register your kids and teens for kids clubs via the Carnival HUB app before your departure and they’ll have the option of attending any of the fun activities on offer at their relevant kids’ club.

Level Up Arcade

Open 24 hours for all ages (note: under 18s must be accompanied by an adult anywhere outside of their cabin after 1am), the Level Up Arcade on Carnival Encounter features a selection of arcade games. Load their Sail and Sign card with credit at the arcade entrance and your teen can play ‘til their heart’s content.

TIP: Look out for the ‘Power Hour’ times listed in your Fun Times guide or Carnival HUB app, where you can play any of the arcade games for half the credits per game.

Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea

Yep, you read that correctly – you can even create your very own Carnival Build-A-Bear at sea! Extremely popular, and usually held only once per sailing, this is an official Build-A-Bear workshop where you can stuff your very own bear or animal, placing your wish-filled heart inside before selecting a cute outfit for them to wear.

Paired with the Carnival-themed clothing and accessory options, it makes the perfect souvenir from your cruise (note: an additional cost does apply to this activity).

TIP: Check out your HUB app or Fun Times to see when the Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea is happening on your cruise and be sure to be there early to line up and get a number.

Craft Activities

Free daily craft activities in the Encounter Hotel not only cater to the whole family, but also provide the opportunity to create a keepsake from your cruise. Crafts we took part in included a shell necklace/bracelet activity and a Halloween-themed spooky felt keyring.

TIP: Whilst there’s plenty of craft packs to go around, get there early for a table where your family can all sit together.

Trivia, Karaoke and Party Games

Really playing into that Carnival Cruise party spirit, the support from the crowds will have your teens braving the mic to belt it out. Karaoke is held in the Encounter Bar or Piano Bar in the evening and the huge range of song choices available means the whole family is sure to find their faves (a family rendition of MMMBop, perhaps?).

The trivia options onboard Carnival Encounter are almost endless also. Scheduled for multiple times a day, your teens could score themselves a Carnival ‘medal’ for their 80s, surfing, Beatles, Friends TV show, or even general trivia knowledge.

Carnival’s other fun party games include ‘Guess the Song’, ‘Deal or No Deal’, daily puzzles, and more.

TIP: We found some of the most inclusive activities on board to be the free ones like trivia and karaoke. All abilities were welcomed and fully supported by our fellow guests.

Deck Parties & Music Events

We’ve already mentioned the theme nights on-board, but coming hand in hand with these theme nights are the fun-filled deck parties, including the not-to-be-missed Sail Away Party, where you can get into the cruise spirit with your fellow cruisers.

Our teens loved the Silent Nights silent disco, where headphones were distributed and everyone could choose from two music channels or one silent channel and bop ‘til they dropped with the provided foam glow batons.

TIP: Welcoming all guests, some deck parties are held outdoors if the weather is good, and are moved inside if the weather is not so great, so be sure to check the HUB app for updates as this can change throughout the day.

Tips for booking your next Carnival Cruise with teens

How old are your teens? Whilst they’ll be all set for activities and fun on board no matter what their age, we highly recommend considering their ages and everyone’s needs when determining the cabin type you book for your cruise.

Is everyone happy to sleep in single bunks?

Do you need more than one bathroom?

Would you like some space to escape to?

Is everyone in your family an early riser (or do some of you like to sleep in?)?

Do you need to be able to get fresh air (in case of travel sickness)?

All of these things are important factors to consider and, whilst you will likely be spending very little time in your stateroom, you need to think about making the most of that time to get comfortable sleep.

It’s very hard not to disturb your cabin mates when getting up during the night to visit the bathroom (seasoned cruisers will know all about those automatic lights in the walk-through wardrobe!), so, if sleep and comfort is important to you, then you might like to think about booking –

• a cabin with a balcony – fresh air and a view!
• interconnecting cabins – more space, and two bathrooms (just keep in mind that each stateroom must have an adult over the age of 18 on the booking)!
• a suite – more spacious and usually contains more sitting space that’s separate to the beds.
• mid-ship – middle of the ship cabins (from front to back) located on a lower deck will feel the movement of the ocean less and are perfect for those who experience or are concerned about experiencing sea-sickness.

Of course, if you all sleep like rocks, then an internal stateroom (one with no windows or balcony) will save you money! You really won’t be spending much time in your room (there’s a 300-metre long ship with 17 decks to explore, after all!), so if you’re just after a comfortable place to sleep, then you can go budget-friendly.

TIP: I know we’ve said it before, but birthdays are a really big deal on Carnival Cruises! Make sure you let the crew know if anyone in your group has a birthday while on-board and they will be made to feel extra-special.

Special Needs Considerations on a Carnival Cruise

Special needs are very well catered-to with Carnival Cruise Line Australia, and inclusivity is a given. Whether your family’s needs are invisible, dietary, or physical, those needs will be considered and accommodated.

Sunflower lanyards are available onboard to signal an invisible special need such as ADHD or Autism, and the crew are well-trained to recognise and make adjustments for these needs wherever possible. Sensory bags are also available (including useful items such as headphones for use throughout your cruise, to be returned at the conclusion).

Food allergies are of high importance, and separate menus for your food allergies or intolerances can be provided, with the ability to order meals in advance for the next day to accommodate these dietary requirements.

Wheelchairs, walkers, and prams are also well catered to, with lift access to most areas of the ship. Dis-embarkment options on port days can vary, with some ports featuring a proper dock and some only having gangway paths to tender ships to reach shore. Again, it’s recommended you contact Carnival prior to your cruise to make sure things go smoothly with embarkment and dis-embarkment if you are not able-bodied.

When booking, you may also like to consider booking a balcony cabin for that little extra outdoor space. This could be a peaceful escape for any family members feeling overwhelmed.

TIP: If familiarity is beneficial to your special needs family, book the same restaurant daily and request the same table. You’ll likely be allocated the same waiter also (or you can request this), making it a more relaxed experience.

About Carnival Cruise Line Australia in Brisbane

Departing from Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba, Carnival Cruise Line Australia’s Encounter and Luminosa ships sail to many destinations year ‘round, with the Encounter departing exclusively from Brisbane. With domestic destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach, and Cairns, and international stops such as Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Singapore, you can even do a short three-day cruise out to sea and back if you’re really not sure if cruising is for you.

Themed Cruises

Themed cruises are common with Carnival Cruise Line Australia, and with comedy cruises, Christmas and New Year cruises, and even 80s and 90s cruises on offer, you can choose to really live it up on the high seas for the entire duration of your trip. From babies and toddlers to the elderly, Carnival Cruises cater to every single guest and the crew go out of their way to ensure everyone feels part of the fun.

Themed cruises and other Carnival cruises book out many months (often years!) in advance, so check out their sailing schedule today to plan ahead.

The writer and her family travelled as guests of Carnival Cruise Line Australia. Costs were covered.

First time cruising? Take a look at our first timer’s guide, which gets into the nitty gritty of things to consider and ways to be prepared for your cruise adventure.