Royal Caribbean curtails Adventure of the Seas renovation

Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International is scaling back renovations to the Adventure of the Seas, citing extensive hurricane damage at the Grand Bahamas Shipyard in Freeport, where the work was scheduled to take place.

Freeport suffered the greatest destruction anywhere in the Bahamas from Hurricane Matthew's pass last month.

Royal Caribbean said the Adventure will still exit drydock on Nov. 14, but without many of the improvements that had been planned. Some will be added on the first few sailings after drydock.

Grand Bahama Dockyard

In a letter to travel partners, Royal Caribbean said work will continue on the Dual Racer water slides, FlowRider and Splashaway Bay aqua park with a new opening date of Dec. 10.

Royal Caribbean said its premium steakhouse, Chops Grille, won't open on the Adventure until early next year. In the meantime, Giovanni's Table will offer select items on the Chops menu.

Plans to add Izumi, a Japanese restaurant, have been shelved.

Also, the introduction of new suites and staterooms "is no longer possible at this time," the letter said. Royal Caribbean and travel partners will be contacting guests who had booked those rooms to discuss re-accommodation.

Boleros Latin Lounge

Improvements that will open for the initial sailing after the drydock include Boleros Latin lounge and the two-story mini-golf course.

In addition to storm damage at the shipyard, Royal Caribbean cited the global rerouting of cargo ships carrying equipment and materials as a factor in the modified renovation plan.

Launched in 2001, the Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class ship. In 2014, it received "Royal Advantage" upgrades, including an outdoor movie screen, digital signage, ship-wide WiFi, new Concierge and Diamond lounges, and the changeover of the Portofino restaurant to Giovanni's Table.

Royal Caribbean to invest $61M on Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International will debut a new array of amenities on the 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas, after a $61 million refurbishment this November.  

Originally introduced in 2001, the ship will be fitted with new dual racer waterslides, the Cyclone and Typhoon; a FlowRider surf simulator; and Splashaway Bay, a children’s aqua park.

The ship will debut a FlowRider surf simulator this fall.

New culinary and entertainment venues include an Izumi Japanese Cuisine; Royal's signature steakhouse, Chops Grille; and Boleros Latin Lounge. 

The ship will also receive an additional 100 cabins and a new Suites Lounge.

The Adventure is Royal Caribbean’s fifth ship to undergo revitalization, and will be the brand’s largest ship revitalization investment yet, Royal said. 

The Adventure offers southern Caribbean itineraries from San Juan.

Crazy Things to Do on a Cruise Ship

Crazy Things to Do on a Cruise Ship

Walk the Plank on the Norwegian Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class of ships.

In the challenge of attracting new cruise passengers while at the same time keeping veteran cruisers hooked, largest cruise line companies roll out original industry-first activities. 

There was a time when limbo, shuffleboard and miniature golf were the craziest activities found on a cruise. But today, thrill-seekers can practice their surfing, go ziplining or strap on a bungee cord, all without leaving the cruise ship. One of the biggest changes is just how many experiences passengers can enjoy these days. The world's largest cruise ships have a mind-boggling array of dazzling entertainment.

The trend started with waterslides, rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks but quickly escalated to levitating cocktail bars, skydiving simulators and the latest high-tech entertainment on board the newest cruise vessels. With fun attractions like these, guests may never want to leave.

Cruises are no longer just sedate affairs, as the following adrenaline-pumping activities can attest. Sea days full of dozing by the pool in an alcohol stupor are over, so let us reveal the WOW side of cruise life with 20 crazy on board experiences that will leave you breathless.

1. Cirque Dreams & Dinner. During a Cirque Dreams & Dinner on board Norwegian Epic, passengers get a play with food. The 265-seat theater pairs mealtime with a show that features hula-hooping, acrobatics, aerialists and singing. The entertainers perform circus-style tricks as waiters serve dinner amid the chaos.Norwegian Breakaway followed up with its Jungle Fantasy show. The latest take on NCL dinner theater, Illusionarium, debuted on Getaway. The show comes complete with special effects and magicians. 
2. Lawn Club. Natural carpet is rolled out with the Lawn Club on Celebrity Cruises and the Central Park on Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Allure of the Seas. It features rambling pathways and abundant flora, including flower beds and shade trees. The floating parkland offers tasteful restaurants and and shops reminding Fifth Avenue. Celebrity's Solstice-class vessels have a half-acre of green grass on their top decks, ideal for bocce or croquet. Passengers can also order baskets and have picnics. 
3. Formula 1 simulator. If your kids want to take a spin, tell them to go have fun. No time to worry if they crash the car while driving 200 mph. MSC Cruises' Fantasia-class ships give speed lovers permission to enjoy speed in a Formula 1 simulator. Guests climb into the driver's seat of a car that whines, bumps and bounces like the real thing. With Costa Cruises' Grand Prix simulators, guest "drivers" simulate the sensation of zipping around a racecourse from a Grand Prix-style car, tricked out with lots of gadgets, sounds and movements. 
4. 4D cinema. The 4D theaters, found on Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, offer real-life sensory shocks as squirts of liquids, pumped-in smells, quivering seats and visuals invading your personal space. Thankfully, all seats come with belts, so not to become part of the on-screen action. 
5. Planetarium at sea. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 brings the stars out, even on cloudy nights. In the only one at sea planetarium, housed in the Illuminations, stargazers sit beneath a huge dome sparkling with celestial glitter. On a 7-day cruise astro-geeks can explore galaxies with three different shows. Members of the Royal Astronomical Society are at hand on select voyages. 
6. Magic PlayFloor. Floors and walls come alive, just like in the movie "Fantasia." Go see it for real on Disney Fantasy and Dream. On the Magic PlayFloor, kids stomp around on the virtual game board. The Enchanted Art inspires jumping, but more as a response to artworks which move and talk without warning. Minnie Mouse poses as Mona Lisa, and Mickey Mouse, as Steamboat Willie. Once the show is over, all images go back to their dormant selves. 
7. Moving Bars. The Rising Tide bar on Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas really is moving. It travels like an elevator between the Central Park and Royal Promenade neighborhoods on Decks 8 and 5, respectively. A roundtrip takes 30 minutes, with 10 minutes reserved for embarkation and debarkation and 20 in motion. 
8. Ice bars. The temperature inside Norwegian Epic, Breakaway, or Getaway's Svedka ice bar is Arctic. The bars are made of ice, including sculptures and furnishings, which are themed to reflect Miami on Getaway and New York City on Breakaway, and are illuminated by bulbs glowing like the northern lights. The bars provide a rack of gloves and hooded coats to keep hands from freezing to the ice glasses and buttocks from sticking to the ice-cube seats. 
9. Brewing onboard. Several varieties of German beer are crafted in the microbreweries on AIDAblu,AIDAmar, AIDAsol and AIDAstella. The braumeisters of the German cruise line can produce up to 265 gallons of beer a day. One unexpected ingredient is seawater, minus the salt. Guests can sign up for brewing workshops to receive a "brewing diploma" onboard. 
10. Waterworks. The AquaTheater, found on Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, could be just another pool on board, until you notice it's 18 feet deep and nearly 21 feet long, with passengers taking scuba lessons in it. The venue shines when the moon comes up and the natural light goes down. Then, the area transforms into a unique 700-seat AquaBroadway. The shows include a choreographed musical, starring divers, aerialists and gymnasts, as well as a trapeze act creating the illusion of Spiderman climbing up water. 
11. Waterslides. Kids of all ages can't resist the hair-raising steepest waterslide at sea. Both Carnival Spiritand Carnival Legend feature the Green Thunder, part of the top-deck water park. Carnival Waterworks also boasts a Twister Waterslide and SplashZone for smaller kids. The AquaDuck water coaster on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy twists and turns for 765 feet over and around ships' pool decks. One elbow of the coaster protrudes 12 feet off the vessel and 150 feet above the sea. The AquaDunk waterslide onMagic offers a 3-story-high thrill ride, including a tumble through a trap door into a translucent tube shooting out 20 feet over the side of the ship. Other notable waterslides include Norwegian's Free Fall (on Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway) with twin "free fall" slides dropping guests at speeds of up to 26 mph; the Speedway Splash on Carnival Sunshine, with 235-ft-long dual chutes and special lighting effects; and MSC Cruises' Vertigo (MSC Preziosa), offering 390 ft of colorful turns and twists, including a spin over ship's edge from 18 decks high. 
12. Marina Water Sports. Board one of the SeaDream yachts if you are a speed demon. Both offer high-speed watercraft from a retractable watersports platform. The marinas also feature stand-up paddleboards, glass-bottom kayaks and Laser sailboats. Today every decent yacht is equipped with water sports toys likesailing dinghies, jet skis and kayaks. On board SeaDream I and SeaDream II are also experts on hand to give instructions. 
13. Zip lines: Fly through the air. Passengers aboard Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas can strap on harness and speed up through the air on the intra-ship zip line. Set on the Sports Deck, the Peter Pan-esque activity is not for the acrophobic as the wire is suspended 9 decks up and with a diagonal course of 82 feet across ship's atrium. Don't forget to wear secured footwear: otherwise, fellow cruisers strolling through the Boardwalk below may end up with flip-flops in their ice cream cones. 
14. Walking the plank. After mastering some challenges on the ropes courses aboard Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway, get ready for The Plank. This extraordinary 15-centimetre-wide board extends 55 metres above the open ocean and 2.5 metres over the side of the cruise ship. But at least the brave ones have to wear a harness. 
15. FlowRider. The surf's always up on Freedom, Oasis and Quantum-class Royal Caribbean ships. The FlowRider surf simulator generates waves on the top of a cushioned platform. Guests can catch their waves standing up or belly-down. The tide is faux, but humiliation and pain can be real. However, it's fun and challenging - surf conditions are always the best. 
16. Robot bartenders. One of the greatest novelties aboard Quantum of the Seas is its Bionic Bar, featuring a duo of robot bartenders who dole out drinks to charmed guests. In a "mixology meets technology" futuristic setting, passengers order cocktails from a tablet device. The pair prepares mixed drinks while shaking and stirring, with a system based on the assembly-line technology used to manufacture cars. 
17. SeaPlex. Royal Caribbean really reached the top with the activities on board its Quantum of the Seas. One of the innovative features is SeaPlex, the biggest indoor active spot at sea that boasts a roller-skating rink, circus school and bumper cars. 
18. The North Star. Another innovation from Quantum of the Seas (repeated on the Anthem), the North Star observation pod swings passengers away from ship's deck for a 15-minute ride with bird's-eye panorama. The glass-enclosed capsule (modeled on the London Eye), has room for 14. It is attached to a mechanical arm extending to over 300 feet above sea level, and out over the side of the ship, for unparalleled 360-degree views over the vessel, port and sea. 
19. Skydiving simulator. The innovative Quantum-class ships of Royal Caribbean, including Anthem of the Seas, have rolled out a great deal of industry-firsts. These include such WOWs like RipCord by iFLY, the first skydiving simulator at sea. Thrill-seekers are asked to attend an informational session in order to learn the rules of play. Then they gear up in a flight suit, protective headgear and goggles. It's time to dive on into the glass-enclosed, 23-foot-high vertical window tunnel for a gravity-defying simulated skydiving. The whole time guests will be safe in the hands of a pro so to enjoy the minute-long floating. As a bonus, the instructor usually puts on a show of flying tricks and sensational flips in the air machine. 

The 20 Best 'Free' Things to Do on a Cruise

The 20 Best 'Free' Things to Do on a Cruise

Cruise travelers who feel like they get onboard and immediately start emptying their pockets of nickels and dimes are not alone. Today's mainstream mega-ships offer an ever-increasing number of eating, drinking and entertainment options that levy fees atop the base fare. Long gone are the days when a perilous bar bill was the only onboard financial concern. Surcharges and add-ons are here to stay. But there are plenty of noteworthy experiences still included in the ticket price, including Vegas-style shows, thin crust pizza and simple pleasures like free toothpaste or shaving cream. Sure, (optional) surcharges are the new at-sea reality, but it's still more than possible to find $0.00 on your final bill. Check out our list of the best "free" cruise offerings, and share your own favorites in the comments below. Wondering what's not included in the fare? See our story on hidden fees -- and how to fight back. 1. Blue Man Group. Norwegian Epic is one of only a handful of venues in the world where you can watch the confused blue mutes of the Blue Man Group perform their out-of-this-world percussion-and-paint mime melee -- and it's surcharge free. So put on your poncho, and get ready to get splattered. 2. Cruising's Best Pizza. Long prized by Cruise Critic readers for its best-at-sea slices, Carnival gave its cooked-to-order pizza a makeover on Carnival Breeze in 2012. And it got better. We're not talking wood-fired-from-Naples good, but the palate-pleasing pies exhibit an impressive balance of (thin) crust, sauce and cheese -- and they come fresh from the convection oven fee-free. It's rolled out that pizza on numerous ships across the line. 3. Sunset Over the Ocean. It's one of the most beautiful sights in nature, and it doesn't cost a 15-cent piece extra. Grab a loved one's hand (or your favorite cocktail), walk over to the ship's railing, and take a deep breath. You've seen it before, sure, but watching the sunset over the ocean never fails to give you that, "I'm on vacation, and life is good" moment. Enjoy. 4. Ham & Cheese Croissant-wiches. When is a sandwich more than just sliced bread and filling? When it's Royal Caribbean's addictive ham and cheese mini-croissant, a flaky, cheese-y, three-bite morsel topped with lettuce, tomato, mustard and mayo. The fee-free mini-wich has long been a staple in Royal Caribbean's signature 24-hour Cafe Promenade. One word of warning: Post-cruise 'wich withdrawal can be severe. 5. Big-Screen Wii Battles. If you've been honing your video-gaming skills, but never had an audience who could appreciate your expertise, you're in luck. The entire Norwegian Cruise Line fleet is outfitted with Nintendo's interactive gaming system, Wii. "Boxing," "bowling" and other tournaments are offered on most sailings. We recommend you show off properly on the two-story screen in the atrium. 6. All-You-Can Eat Indian. To us, the lack of line for Carnival's fee-free Tandoor dining option is hard to fathom. The aromatic grab-and-go counter, typically open for lunch, serves up Indian comfort food made by the line's Indian cooks. Dig into grilled meats and fish, curries, daals and basmati rice alongside essential accouterments like mint chutney, raita and achar (pickle). 7. Dancing Lessons. Country line-dancing, waltz and tango, the electric slide -- cruise ships are great places to try out a variety of dance genres without enrolling in Arthur Murray classes (which would levy a fee besides). It's okay to have two left feet -- until you try out your new steps during pre-dinner live music. The couples there have been burning up dance floors for decades. And on P&O Cruises there's also the opportunity to learn some moves from the professional dancers of Strictly Come Dancing onboard selected sailings. 8. Milk and Cookies. You're lounging poolside in the afternoon, and all of a sudden you get a craving for something sweet -- but you're perfectly comfortable and don't want to move. What do you do? If you're onboard a Princess cruise, you relax while the waitstaff bring over fresh, soft-baked cookies and ice-cold milk. And then you silently wish that you could afford to employ someone to do the same for you at home. 9. Free Cabin Toiletries. We can't figure out why, but finding Carnival's famous complimentary in-cabin toiletry baskets always inspires a stupid grin. Inclusions rotate, but on our last Carnival cruise, we sucked on cherry Ludens, and kept hair frizz-free with Pantene conditioner and teeth from turning brown with Arm & Hammer whitening toothpaste. It's the little things. 10. Surfing at Sea. At-sea surf simulators first debuted onFreedom of the Seas, offering passengers a chance to surf and boogie-board, minus the ocean. It's now on a number of ships throughout the Royal Caribbean fleet. Although it's free to participate, you'll have to sign a waiver, hold on to your bikini top and embrace the possibility of public humiliation by way of wipeout. Not the daredevil type? It's also free to grab a seat on the nearby bleachers and enjoy the spills. 11. AquaSpa Cafe. With its AquaSpa Cafe concept, Celebrity Cruises is out to prove that healthy cruising is not an oxymoron. The bathrobed, post-gym or -spa treatment crowd flock to the fee-free venue, which proffers salads, sushi and other light-fare foods alongside a few a la carte items (grilled pork, poached salmon). The standard location, Celebrity's lovely adults-only, glass-covered Solarium, provides just the right backdrop for the guilt-free offerings. 12. Poolside Milkshakes. Most ships do free soft-serve ice cream, but Oceania Cruises steps it up a notch with three flavors of milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) made to order by the pool deck. The ambience is way nicer than a diner, but the treat is just as tasty. 13. Outdoor Movies. The flicks may not be first-run, but admission is free, and you can bring in treats from your cabin or the buffet without having to smuggle them under your jacket. Lido Deck movie screens are even more romantic than the real deal, with prime viewing from the pool by day and on snuggly loungers covered with warm blankets (and popcorn!) at night. 14. Climbing the Mast. Tall ship line Star Clippers lets you embrace your inner pirate by allowing passengers to climb one of the masts up to a crow's nest lookout. As you sway gently, high above the ocean, you'll get one-of-a-kind views -- if your eyes aren't shut tight in acrophobic terror. (Don't worry though: the line doesn't let anyone climb without a harness.) 15. People-watching. There is no better free entertainment than positioning a chair in a high-traffic zone on the pool deck, promenade or atrium and watching the antics of your shipmates. From fashion snafus to bizarre behavior and juicy conversations overheard, what you witness on a cruise ship can rival the best reality TV. 16. Time to Make Eat the Donuts. Sick of paying extra for sweets at the "specialty cafe"? Step out onto Oasis of the Seas' Coney Island-style Boardwalk, and grab a surcharge-free donut at the onboard, er, donut shop. With a rotating lineup of flavors from glazed to key lime, you're sure to find something you'll like. (Coffee and other items are also available there, but you'll pay up to $4 for them.) 17. Broadway Onboard. In the mood to see a Broadway show without paying Broadway ticket prices? You're in luck. Check out "Hairspray" on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, "Chicago" on Allure of the Seas, "Saturday Night Fever" on Liberty of the Seas, "Rock of Ages" on Norwegian Breakaway or "Legally Blonde: the Musical" on Norwegian Getaway. You can also catch West End and TV stars such as illusionist Derren Brown and classical singing star Russell Watson. And the best thing about this entertainment? -- it's all gratis. 18. Bathrobes for All. Carnival takes a proletariat approach to cabins -- there are no 1,000-square-foot suites with baby grand pianos on the Fun Ships. And everyone, from the inside cabin occupier to the passenger in the modest-sized suite, gets a bathrobe. Who is to decree that only cruisers with money should be able to spend their post-shower moments in comfort? Not Carnival. (Note: Holland America also provides robes to all.) 19. Coronary Burgers. If you're craving a complimentary heart attack on a bun, give one (or several) of Guy Fieri's burgers a try at Guy's Burger Joint. This fee-free venue will be added to the pool decks of 14 Carnival ships through 2015, offering burgers on buttered buns with a choice of toppings like blue cheese crumbles, onion rings and chipotle mayonnaise. 20. Mini-Golf. For anyone who wants to avoid crowds and catch some sun without lazing by the pool, top-deck mini-golf is a great option -- and it's free. Offered on some Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Princess and MSC ships, to name a few, the courses generally aren't a full 18 holes, but they can still be challenging, as your putting will be affected by the ship's movement. For an even more competitive twist, join a mini-golf competition, usually offered once per sailing.

5 Great Cruise Ships for Teens

New cruise ships have teen appeal down to a fine artBy: Marilyn Green

Mini-golf can be a shared experience for the family. // © 2014 Norwegian Cruise Line

Teenagers are notoriously picky, caught between childhood and adulthood and ready to reject anything that borders on childish or dull. The cruise lines — aware that these are not only very influential members of the family when it comes to vacations, but also tomorrow’s adult cruisers — have gone to great lengths to provide this group with a kind of onboard paradise without disturbing the rest of the passengers. The most successful ships have features that draw the whole family together while offering teens their own space, with skilled and hip supervision.

Teen clubs and facilities are getting larger, extending to private sundecks, discos, spa services, refreshments and even pools. In this digital era, cutting-edge technology is a necessity, as is social media access. Many ships separate younger teenagers from the older ones, sensitive to the gulf between the rapidly changing age groups.

Families with teens can choose from connecting rooms, suites and special family accommodations, depending on finances, family culture and the age and maturity of the teens. For larger family groups, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are all offering accommodations that can sleep five or six people.

Teenagers are as diverse in their tastes as adults. What pleases an athletic teen will not necessarily excite an animal lover or a passionate Internet or video game devotee. The ship, itinerary and onboard culture need to be considered in making decisions for teens as well as adults.

Oasis of the Seas
It’s hard to imagine any teen, regardless of taste or temperament, getting bored on Oasis. Whether hanging out with other teens in their own space or trying out the FlowRider surfing simulator, the rock-climbing wall, the ice-skating rink, the zipline, the basketball court and more, teens will have lots of options on this state-of-the-art ship.

Royal Caribbean set up a teen advisory board, which resulted in offerings such as the Scratch DJ Academy, a youth spa and very trendy teen-only areas for ages 12-14 and 15-17. The staff hosts theme nights, karaoke competitions and more. Plus, young adults have a mind-boggling number of casual dining options, including Johnny Rockets, boardwalk candy and the Wipeout Cafe.

Besides connecting rooms, families with teens can opt for family cabins that sleep up to six people, lofts with bedrooms upstairs and downstairs or the Presidential Family Suite with enough space for 14 people.

Carnival Breeze
Carnival Breeze features quaint cabins — 230 square feet with two bathrooms and sleeping arrangements with drop-down bunks that open up the space by day.

During waking hours, teens can enjoy the poolside theater or the Thrill movie theater, with special effects added to the 3-D entertainment. The WaterWorks aqua park has the 320-foot Twister waterslide and the SportSquare has plenty to keep a whole family involved, including a lighted basketball court, a suspended ropes course, 18 holes of mini-golf and outdoor workout stations. The Breeze’s comedy clubs have graded entertainment for various levels of sophistication as well.

Carnival also splits tweens and teens, with Club 02 for cruisers 15-17 and Circle C for 12- to 14-year-olds. Supervised parties that last long after most of parents have gone to bed will make teens happy, as does a trendy dance floor with great lighting effects, 16 television screens, a bank of computers, a soda bar and pizza, T-shirt decorating and game nights. There’s even a youth spa that offers treatments from body scrubs to hair braiding.

On shore, teens can join their families or go on teen-only supervised trips such as dolphin encounters or mountain-biking excursions.

The Breeze is also loaded with casual dining delights, including the burger joint of chef Guy Fieri, sushi and 24-hour hand-tossed pizza.

Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway has a lot to offer young adults, including five multi-story waterslides, with a pair of stomach-flipping free-fall slides and side-by-side slides for racing. There’s a formidable ropes course along with The Plank waterslide, extending eight feet over the sea, plus plenty of team sports for all ages to enjoy.

Entourage is Norwegian’s teen program for ages 13-17. The club has snacks and sodas, an arcade, multi-player action games and a disco at night.

Norwegian, which broke the rigid tradition of dinner seatings and opened up entertainment and dining arrangements with its “freestyle” schedule, has as many dining venues as a small town. Teens can satisfy their appetites with choices including 24-hour pizza, fish and chips, sushi and Teppanyaki.

The brand-name entertainment onboard is a huge plus for teen passengers as well as adults: Second City comedy sessions are a big draw and, until 11 p.m., teenage passengers are allowed entry into the Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club.

Family accommodations include the Haven’s 603-square-foot, two-bedroom Family Villas that can accommodate as many as six guests. Villas offer two bathrooms as well as living and dining rooms. Family staterooms in various categories sleep five, and there are plenty of connecting room combinations to book as well.

Royal Princess
Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess offers a number of enrichment classes among its 40-odd adventures — from ceramics to digital photography in the ScholarShip program. The giant-screen Movies Under the Stars are designed to appeal to all ages, and a batting cage and a laser shooting range offer active entertainment. Among other sports options are Princess Links (an onboard mini-golf course) and basketball as well as tennis, bocce and croquet on artificial lawns.

Royal Princess’ teen club, Remix, is designed for 13- to 17-year-olds, and the line responded to teen feedback by creating a private outdoor area with a lounge, wading pool, sunbathing area and space for alfresco parties and all sorts of competitive games. Indoors, teens have a very trendy lounge area, hip-hop dance classes, a DJ booth and video game tournaments. Mocktail parties and formal gatherings, including a group trip to see live shows, are offered as well.

Teens can hit the creperie or the new bistro options in the buffet when they get hungry. Other choices include a crab shack, a fondue restaurant, a pastry shop, a pizzeria and barbecue beside the pool in the evenings.

Fifty staterooms onboard can be connected, the most on any Princess ship, and there are 36 suites ranging in size from 440 to 705 square feet that sleep up to four people. Royal Princess also has four-berth inside cabins, outside cabins and mini-suites.

Disney FantasyDisney has been a pioneer in family accommodations, with its split bathroom design making life much easier for family groups. The Fantasy offers a variety of configurations that serve groups of up to five people, including 241-square-foot Deluxe Family Oceanview staterooms with queen-size beds, a convertible sofa and pull-down beds. Concierge suites also accommodate as many as five guests and have a whirlpool tub and a walk-in closet.

During waking hours, the AquaDuck, the first watercoaster at sea, ranks high among features for all ages. The length of 2½ football fields and speeding out over the sea, the ride offers thrills to please even the most cynical teen. Deck parties and onboard movies are popular nighttime activities.

Tween club The Edge welcomes 11- to 13-year-olds and is in the forward funnel of Fantasy. It has a huge wall of video monitors for playing games, computers with access to social networking sites and porthole views of the AquaDuck. For teens 14 and older, Vibe has its own splash pools, lounges and club. They also have access to computers, complete with social media apps that allow them to share every move they make. Vibe also features a smoothie and soft-drink bar, plasma televisions, a dance floor and an adjacent sundeck. Karaoke, Internet gaming, dance classes and more are available, and adults are not allowed, apart from staff members. Teen-only shore excursions are also available on Castaway Cay, which offers a private teens’ retreat on the beach called the Hide Out.

Animator’s Palace combines food with the pleasure of seeing your own hand-drawn figures animated and shown during dinner, and Flo’s Cafe offers pizza, wraps, burgers and chicken tenders to meet teen tastes.

It’s no accident that the top ships for teens are all recent ones. Cruise lines are constantly raising the bar, creating more dedicated facilities and bells and whistles that are hard to match on older vessels. Upcoming ships promise even more excitement for this fickle yet important demographic.