Royal Caribbean’s Teen Club: Inside The Living Room on Navigator of the Seas [Photo Tour]
The Living Room on Navigator of the Seas
Moving Up to The Living Room: What Royal Caribbean Offers for Tweens & Young Teens
As a mom of a brand-new 12-year-old, I knew this cruise would be a turning point. We’ve cruised a lot as a family, and up until now, my son loved everything about Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s kids club. But on this cruise, it was time to “age up” — he was officially old enough for The Living Room, Royal Caribbean’s teen space for ages 12 to 17 on Navigator of the Seas. It offers some daily activities or meetups, but it's less structured than Adventure Ocean.
On Navigator of the Seas, the teen club is tucked away in the aft of the ship near the sports deck (which has: basketball court, ping pong tables, and even foot soccer). It’s definitely got a teen hangout vibe — complete with couches, video games, and groups of teens just chatting or doing their own thing. It even looks like a real lounge you'd find at home, which might be why they call it “The Living Room.”
What to Expect from The Living Room
Video Gaming Area in the teen club
On embarkation day, we encouraged our son to check it out during the first-night welcome event — that’s usually the best chance to meet other kids. There were only a few teens inside: one playing video games and a small group of cousins chatting in a corner. That was it. There were some activities planned every day but if there are not enough teens who want to participate, the staff will cancel the activity.
To be fair, this was a 3-night cruise, and longer sailings might create more chances for friendships and group games. But it felt underwhelming, especially for a 12-year-old who’s eager to meet new people but not quite confident enough to walk into a room full of high schoolers.
Teen Programs: Royal Caribbean Cruises vs. Carnival Cruises
On other cruise lines, the teen programs are split more narrowly by age. For example, Carnival Cruise Line separates tweens and teens with:
Circle C (ages 12–14)
Club O2 (ages 15–17)
That smaller range makes a big difference. My niece has met so many friends on Carnival Cruises in Circle C — she always feels included and age-appropriate. We rarely even see her as she’s running around doing scavenger hunts or participating in fun games. On Royal Caribbean, grouping 12-year-olds with 17-year-olds can feel like a leap, and I think a lot of younger teens opt out because of that.
What My Son Thought
After the first night, my son chose not to go back to The Living Room. There just wasn’t much structure, and the vibe felt more like “hang out quietly” than “let’s do something fun.” That might work for older teens who already have a friend group, but for younger tweens, it felt like a missed opportunity. We listened to how he felt and decided not to push — his feelings were valid. While we had hoped he’d make some fun cruise memories independently, we’re also soaking in this phase where he still enjoys doing things with us. For now, we’re happy to make those memories together.
Navigator of the Seas Miniature Golf
Basketball Court on Navigator of the Seas
Other Teen-Friendly Activities on Navigator of the Seas
Luckily, Royal Caribbean shines when it comes to activities outside of the club. Here’s what kept my 12-year-old busy and smiling:
Basketball
Ping pong
Mini golf
Water slides & the FlowRider
Ice skating
Laser tag
Game shows
Trivia
Pickleball
Even without a thriving teen club experience, he was never bored.
Final Thoughts from a Cruise-Loving Mom
I’m not quite ready for my son to “age out” of kids’ clubs — and honestly, I wish Royal Caribbean hadn’t either. Twelve is still such a fun, in-between age, full of curiosity and energy. But on this sailing, the teen club just didn’t offer much for that age group. Twelve-year-olds may look grown up, but many still crave a sense of structure, guidance, and activities. Throwing them into a room with 15-17-year-olds without programming can feel overwhelming — not empowering.
It used to be that cruising meant fully unplugging — no texts, no notifications, just ocean views and real connection. But now, with more affordable internet packages, many teens are still glued to their phones, even at sea. I was surprised by how many teen cruisers were scrolling or streaming instead of engaging with the ship around them. My son doesn’t have a phone yet, so it really stood out — and honestly, I kind of miss that old-school cruise feeling of being totally disconnected. I remember waiting in line for a computer at the internet lab at sea to quickly check my emails and send an email to my family.
I think the first night should be a big party or kick-off. Teens are more likely to come back to the club if they make a friend night one. I picture a lively, no-pressure kickoff event hosted by energetic teen staff (think scavenger hunts, music games, snacks) can make that first connection happen. Yes, I included all of this in my post-cruise survey.
Can 11-Year-Olds Join the Teen Club?
Yes! If your child is 11 and you feel they’re ready, you can sign a waiver to allow them to "age up" into the teen program. It’s helpful if they’ve already outgrown Adventure Ocean or want to stay with an older sibling or friend. Just keep in mind — The Living Room covers ages 12 to 17, which is a wide spread. That can make it intimidating for younger kids.
I didn’t title this a full “review” of The Living Room because my son only went once. These are just our personal experiences from one short cruise. We weren’t offered any perks or compensation from Royal Caribbean — just sharing our honest, mom-tested take for other families with tweens trying to figure out if The Living Room is worth the hype.
FreshCruiser Tip: If your tween is hesitant about the teen club, don’t stress! Give it a try, they can come and leave as they want so there’s no pressure to commit!
If your tween has tried The Living Room, I’d love to hear what their experience was like. Drop a comment or message me on Instagram @FreshCruiser!