The best cruise ships for those who never want to grow up

Wouldn’t it be great to be a kid again?

Even if you’re just a few years out of school and only beginning your toils in the workforce, you’ve probably already found yourself pining for those carefree days of childhood.

Maybe you want to relive the thrill of endless afternoons racing your friends around go-kart tracks or hunting them down in laser tag battles. Maybe you want to be back at the arcade, rolling 100s in Skee-Ball. Maybe you just want to spend a day getting soaked at a water park again — without needing the excuse of bringing a child or grandchild along to do it.

We’ve got some good news: Your misspent youth is still there, waiting for you — on a cruise ship.

One of the biggest trends in cruising over the past couple of decades has been the transformation of mass-market cruise vessels into giant floating megaresorts that offer every sort of amusement known to humans — from massive water coasters to bumper cars and skydiving simulators.

Often, these amusements were designed with teens and tweens in mind. After all, family cruising is one of the hottest things in the industry these days. But a quick glance at all the millennials, Generation Xers and, yes, even baby boomers waiting in line for many of these attractions on ships proves they aren’t just for young cruisers.

Indeed, if you’re the kind of person who has never wanted to grow up — and aren’t we all — there are few more enticing vacations than a week spent on one of today’s giant megaships.

But it’s only in the last 15 years or so that we’ve begun to see truly over-the-top fun zones at sea. And we do mean over-the-top. In the last few years, we’ve seen cruise lines add everything from sprawling go-kart tracks to a roller coaster to the top of ships. Deck-top water parks with multiple waterslides are increasingly common. So are features like surfing simulators, zip lines, virtual reality play zones and even ice skating rinks.

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Among cruise lines marketing to North Americans, there are four lines, in particular, that have been at the forefront of the trend: Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

These four lines dominate the world of big, bustling megaresorts at sea, with vessels that are as much as twice the size of the biggest cruise ships that existed 25 years ago.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

For the biggest array of back-to-your-youth amusements, you’ll want to stick to the newest, biggest ships from each of the brands, which also boast an overabundance of restaurants, bars, showrooms, spas and casinos. They are, as your kids would say, sick. Or is it dope? While you’re waiting in line for the go-karts, you can ask the nearest 15-year-old.

Here are the five ships that we rate the best for reconnecting with your inner child (along with 12 similar sister vessels that expand your choices to 17).

Icon of the Seas

Line: Royal Caribbean

Similar sister ships: Star of the Seas (debuting in August)

If your goal is to relive your childhood on a cruise ship, we can think of no better vessel than Icon of the Seas. It is, quite simply, the ultimate floating fun zone.

At 248,663 gross tons, Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and it’s packed with every sort of amusement you could imagine, including six monster waterslides, a surfing simulator, a rock climbing wall and a ropes course-style attraction.

There also are multiple pool zones, a miniature golf course, a sports court, an ice skating rink and an entire kiddie splash zone at the back of the ship.

In addition, the interior of Icon of the Seas is chock-full of restaurants, bars, a spa, a casino and a giant theater that’s home to Broadway productions.

Unveiled in 2024, Icon of the Seas is the first of an all-new series of giant Icon Class vessels that Royal Caribbean has just begun rolling out. You’ll find many of the same attractions on a soon-to-debut sister ship, Star of the Seas.

Where to find it: Icon of the Seas sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Miami.

Utopia of the Seas

Line: Royal Caribbean

Similar sister ships: Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas

At 236,473 gross tons, Utopia of the Seas isn’t quite as big as Icon of the Seas. But it’s close. And it’s packed with a similarly over-the-top array of amusements.

Among the most exciting attractions on the vessel are two surfing simulators, two rock climbing walls, a zip line and a trio of giant waterslides in a water park called The Perfect Storm.

The ship also features multiple pool zones, a miniature golf course, a basketball court, an ice skating rink and an entire Jersey Shore-like Boardwalk area with its very own handmade carousel.

Whether you’re a teenager or teenage wannabe, you’ll also get a rush from The Ultimate Abyss — the longest slide ever on a cruise ship. It drops nine decks (from the Sports Zone on Deck 16 to the Boardwalk area on Deck 6). Royal Caribbean says this is a 10-deck drop, but don’t be fooled: There’s no Deck 13 on Utopia of the Seas.

In addition, the interior of Utopia of the Seas is loaded with restaurants, bars, a spa, a casino and a giant theater that’s home to Broadway productions.

Unveiled in 2024, Utopia of the Seas is the newest and biggest of Royal Caribbean’s six Oasis Class vessels, which began debuting in 2009 and are among the biggest ships in the world. You’ll find many — but not all — of its attractions on the other Oasis Class ships, too, and all six of the ships are mind-blowing in their size and offerings.

Where to find it: Utopia of the Seas sails short cruises to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando).

Norwegian Encore

Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Similar sister ships: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape

At 169,116 gross tons, Norwegian Encore isn’t quite as super-sized as Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. But it still features a huge array of over-the-top activities to excite your inner child.

For starters, there are two serious waterslides on the deck top — Aqua Racer and Ocean Loops — that are sure to get your heart racing. Ocean Loops, in particular, is a doozy. It’s one of those horrifying “drop” waterslides that start with you standing above a trap door that opens to send you plunging downward. At one point, you go spinning over the side of the ship.

Still, the standout feature for fun seekers on Norwegian Encore is its massive go-kart track. Nearly 1,150 feet long and sprawling over two decks, the Norwegian Encore Speedway is truly a sight to behold. It includes four sections that extend up to 13 feet over the sides of the vessel. Just to amp things up a bit, it also has a middle-of-the-track observation area where your family and friends can shoot you with “lasers” that’ll give you a power boost.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour, as I experienced firsthand during a test run when Norwegian Encore debuted.

Norwegian Encore is also home to a massive gaming and virtual reality zone. Called Galaxy Pavilion, it has an amazing lineup of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators, hang-gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality “Jurassic Park” jeep ride (watch out for dinosaurs!).

Just be warned that none of these attractions come cheap. You’ll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap race on the go-karts.

Norwegian Encore’s sister ships — Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — offer many of the same features, but the lineup varies from one vessel to the next. Only Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy have go-kart tracks, for instance, and their versions of the attraction aren’t quite as big.

Where to find it: Norwegian Encore spends its winters sailing to the Caribbean out of Miami. During the summer, it sails to Alaska out of Seattle.

Mardi Gras

Line: Carnival Cruise Line

Similar sister ships: Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee

Leave it to the “Fun Ship” line to come up with what just may be the ultimate playground at sea for people who never want to grow up. Unveiled in 2021, this 17-deck-high megacruiser, the new flagship for Carnival, has all sorts of deck-top amusements, including — we kid you not — a full-blown roller coaster.

Dubbed Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first-ever roller coaster at sea is far from the biggest roller coaster in the world, with just under 800 feet of track. The coaster vehicles — which hold two people each — only will reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. But you’ve got to give Carnival top marks for chutzpah.

Other fun-focused diversions on the top deck of Mardi Gras include one of Carnival’s signature WaterWorks water parks with multiple waterslides, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course.

Mardi Gras was the first of a new series of bigger Carnival ships designed to take the line’s Fun Ship shtick to a new level, and it has since been joined by two more vessels, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

In addition to a top deck full of amusements, it also has a far broader array of suites than earlier Carnival vessels and new dining venues such as the first Emeril Lagasse restaurant at sea. It’s also notable as the first ship from a North America-based line designed to operate on liquified natural gas. The fuel is touted as being cleaner than traditional ship fuel.

At around 180,000 gross tons, Mardi Gras and its sisters Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee are each nearly 35% bigger than Carnival’s next-biggest ship, Carnival Panorama, and among the largest new ships to debut in the last five years.

Where to find it: Mardi Gras sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Port Canaveral.

MSC World Europa

Line: MSC Cruises

Similar sister ships: MSC World America (debuting in April)

The newest ship from fast-growing MSC Cruises is its biggest ever — and packed with more fun-focused activity zones than we’ve ever seen on a vessel from the line.

Nearly 20% bigger than the next biggest MSC Cruises ship, MSC World Europa is home, for starters, to what may be the most impressive water park ever on an MSC Cruises ship. Dubbed the Aurora Borealis Aquapark, it has kiddie splash pools and three giant waterslides that are on a scale rarely seen at sea.

Just a few steps away is the serpent-themed entrance to Venom Drop @ The Spiral, a 10-story slide (dry, not wet) that swirls down to the Promenade area below.

Related: MSC World Europa cruise ship review: A top pick for megaresort lovers

Also in this same general area, but indoors, is the MSC Sportplex, an arenalike space where you’ll find such rarely-seen-on-ships activities as bumper cars and roller skating. (If you’re familiar with the SeaPlex on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey Class ships, you’ll have a sense of what this is. Just know that it’s much smaller than Royal Caribbean’s version.)

In addition to periodic bumper car sessions, which cost 7 euros ($7.20) per ride, the MSC Sportplex is sometimes open for no-extra-charge open-play basketball, tennis, football and volleyball sessions. It’s a multipurpose space that can be reconfigured, with one activity possible at a time.

Still, it’s not just top-deck activities on MSC World Europa that will set off your fun meter. The interior of the vessel is home to one of the most sophisticated Formula 1 race car simulators anywhere.

MSC World Europa also houses a multisensory, motion-simulating XD theater.

Designed to hold an astounding 6,762 passengers with every berth filled, MSC World Europa also offers a sprawling, three-deck-high interior promenade called the Galleria, which is loaded with dining venues, bars, shops, a casino, a spa and multiple theater and entertainment spaces.

A sister ship to MSC World Europa to be called MSC World America will have a similar array of attractions when it debuts in April, with a number of new venues to boot. It’ll be based in North America year-round, with sailings to the Caribbean.

Where to find it: MSC World Europa sails year-round in the Mediterranean out of multiple ports, including Marseille, France, and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome).