CRUISING WITH TEENAGERS

Who says taking teenagers on a cruise ship is difficult.  With todays
cruise line industry, more and more cruises are being designed around
specific age groups such as teenagers.  Although you will discover some
wonderful options to include Disney Cruise Lines, if you want a cruise
line that truly caters to teenagers, you might want to consider the
cruise ship Mariner of the Seas.

Other families that have taken teenagers on this cruise say it was by far
the best experience, much better than imagined.  This particular
cruise ship is actually the second largest in the entire world.
Weighing in at 142,000 gross tons, just 10,000 gross tons under number
one, Queen Mary II, the experience for the whole family is unmatched.
For one, the decor of the ship is designed to please a younger age.  Even
better, this cruise ship has a mall that runs the entire length of the
middle portion, a great place for teenagers to gravitate.

Then, there are 12-deck high atriums with glass elevators on each end of
the ship and the Royal Promenade, which resembles a busy street full of
wonderful shops, bars, restaurants, and the fabulous bakery and
restaurant combination called the Cafe Promenade where you can buy
goodies and food anytime day or night - all the food being free!  Other
exciting aspects of the Promenade include actors and mimes that are
there to entertain, parades to attend, places to get free ice cream, and
much more.

Teenagers also love the sports deck and swimming pool area.  In fact,
Mariner of the Seas offers three swimming pools as well as six hot tubs,
something the family would enjoy.  One of the more distinct pool areas is
called the Solarium.  Here, you will find a magnificent swimming pool
with two hot tubs that remain open all day and night so if the parents want
an escape from the kids, they can spend some quality time alone.  Next
door to the Solarium is the primary pool area, which is perfect for
teenagers and adults.  This area of the cruise ship features several
bars and a huge pool deck where you can relax or sun tan in any one of the
hundreds of chairs.

The sports deck is a favorite onboard the Mariner of the Seas cruise ship
where things such as a basketball court, inline skating rink, a
climbing wall, miniature golf, and other fun things to do are offered.
In addition, the teenagers love the clubs that are designed just for
them.  Open to kids 15 to 17 years of age, they can choose from the 'Fuel'
or
'Living Room.'  With the Fuel, teens can have a blast dancing to a state of
the art sound system, huge dance floor, and bar that features only
non-alcoholic beverages.  The Living Room is a little more laid back
where numerous sofas, a large television, computer room, and a bar are
featured.

The great thing about both the Fuel and Living Room is that teenagers can
spend time in a safe, structured environment where they will have a
great time while meeting other teenagers onboard the cruise ship.  For
the parents, this provides peace of mind knowing their teen is in a good
place so they enjoy other benefits of the cruise.  Just imagine letting
your teenager head down to the Fuel where they can dance to some of the
latest music hosted by top DJs while you ballroom dance, take in a show,
gamble, or simply sit back and sip on tropical cocktails while relaxing
on the deck, watching the moon and the stars.  The cruise ship staff is
highly professional, going out of their way to ensure every teenager
and family member has an amazing time.

Depending on the cruise taken on the Mariner of the Seas, you will visit
a number of wonderful ports of call such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten,
Nassau, the Bahamas, etc.  These tropical islands make the ideal place
to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and get involved with other water sports.
There is tons of shopping, places to eat, and exceptional opportunity
for learning about history and local culture.  From $the minute you
board this cruise ship to the time you disembark to go home, you will be
shown an unbelievable time of fun and adventure.

Now, keep in mind that Mariner of the Seas is just one cruise ship great
for teenagers.  Others that you might look into include Adventure of the
Seas, Carnival Glory, Carnival Spirit, Voyager of the Seas, and
Celebrity Constellation.  The prices are all very affordable but keep
in mind that while they all share many similarities, each are unique.