Best for: Families with tweens or teens
Why: Older kids need distractions and special attention; Royal Caribbean gives them both. Depending on the ship, the line taps into teens' and tweens' bottomless well of energy with rock climbing walls, ziplines, ice and inline skating, surf and skydiving simulators, water slides and basketball and volleyball courts. For its youth programs, Royal Caribbean wisely splits up tweens and teens into their appropriate age groups. It also treats the underage crowd like mini-adults with such sophisticated amenities as spa treatments designed especially for the primping generation and their adolescent needs; DJ lessons; teens-only casino nights; backstage tours of the ship; and no-elders-allowed lounges where they can dance, drink mocktails and socialize with their new pals until past their parents' bedtimes. The packed schedule, overseen by an attentive crew, lets parents enjoy their own downtime without worrying about their charges growing bored and antsy.
Runner-up: Norwegian Cruise Line appeals to teens with its exclusive spaces (clubs and lounges for teenagers), sophisticated parties and theme nights (black-light Glow Party and a dress-up, dinner-and-a-show evening), and pop culture and retro-hip activities (bowling, Nintendo Wii U, "American Idol"-style shows). Plus, late-night dining venues and top-deck activities like water slides, rock climbing walls and ropes courses will keep the hardest-to-please cruisers busy and happy.