Science, technology, engineering, and math really do go hand-in-hand with fun. And a cruise is the perfect way to open your mind to learning. If you think about it, there’s science in action all around you: gazing at the night sky, visiting world-class museums, exploring the natural world with an expert, and even marveling at the behind-the-scenes world of your ship.
On a seagoing vacation, the whole family can participate in STEM adventures, from preschoolers to grandparents. Challenge yourself to try new experiences in this wonderful world—and you’ll come home brimming with newfound knowledge and treasured memories.
1: Astronomy Nights
Love looking at the heavens? There’s no better place than the open ocean on a dark night, far from any light pollution. No surprise, then, that cruise lines often lay on special stargazing events. You may find there’s an astronomer on board to point out planets and constellations and deliver lectures on space exploration. Or perhaps you’re interested in a cruise that will take you into the path of a solar eclipse, or in search of the Northern Lights.
Stargazing
Celebrity Flora
As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you’ll be astonished at the blanket of glittering stars that emerges when you’re out at sea, away from the lights of the shore. You’ll need to be high up on your ship, on a deck where the lights are either dimmed or out. Of course, the darker the skies, the better your chances of a fantastic night of stargazing. Check out the Dark Skies campaign to learn about the quest for reducing light pollution.
There are plenty of cruise destinations with excellent stargazing potential. The Galapagos Islands, many of which are uninhabited, are extraordinary for stargazing. The small ship Celebrity Flora has a special stargazing platform where guests gather after dark and a crewmember points out the planets and constellations, with binoculars provided.
Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Canary Islands
Spain’s Canary Islands are also a great place for stargazing; the number of observatories on the mountaintops are a clue to this. Three locations—La Palma, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura—have Starlight Reserve status, granted to places that show a commitment to preserving the quality of the night sky.
Some cruise lines offer full astronomy-themed voyages with experts on board to point out the constellations and give lectures about space. Others take you to places where you can learn more about the stars. On Celebrity’s cruises to Hawaii, for example, you can visit the Imiloa Astronomy Center and learn about the Hawaiian culture in the context of astronomy, wayfinding, and science.
Interactive Astronomy Sessions
Celebrity Flora
An interactive session will teach you to identify constellations and planets for yourself. If you’re used to the night skies of the Northern Hemisphere, there’s much to discover if you head south to, say, Australia, or South America. This is where you’ll see the brilliant Sirius, Alpha Centauri, and Canopus stars, as well as the large and small Magellanic Clouds, galaxies more than 179,000 light years away. And the Southern Cross, which has guided seafarers since time immemorial.
With or without an expert, you can explore the night sky during your cruise via an app. There are several excellent apps for stargazing fans; try Stellarium, which points out stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and comets. Skyguide is another one worth trying. Put your phone onto “red” mode, for better night vision, open your app and watch as the heavens reveal themselves.
Special Events
Seeing a celestial event from a cruise ship can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In 2026, a total solar eclipse will take place on August 12 and multiple cruise lines will be positioning ships around Iceland and Greenland, in the path of totality. Take up your position on deck, not forgetting your protective eyewear, and gaze in wonder as the moon passes in front of the sun, plunging the world into temporary darkness.
Northern lights in Alaska
Many cruise lines offer a chance to search for the aurora borealis. Aurora spotting is a compelling reason to choose Celebrity’s late-season Alaska cruises; once September arrives, there’s a good chance of seeing the northern lights dancing across the sky. Alaska has barely any light pollution, which makes your chances even stronger. Check out the likelihood of a sighting at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website, which has accurate space weather forecasts.
In continental Europe’s northernmost locations, you won’t see stars at all. Head as far north as possible around June 21, the summer solstice, and you can experience the strange phenomenon of the midnight sun. This far north, the sun only skims the horizon, and while the light fades a little, darkness never falls. At Norway’s North Cape, the midnight sun is visible from May 14 to July 31.
2: Marine-Focused Excursions: Dive into Ocean Science
Celebrity Flora
A cruise can take you to some of the best places in the world for learning about the underwater world, whether you’re a novice snorkeler or an experienced diver. You don’t even have to get wet; there are plenty of sustainable excursions to observe whales and dolphins in the wild. Learning more about marine life and the marvels of the world’s oceans is always an awe-inspiring experience.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving for Marine Biology
Snorkeling in Grand Cayman
Swim among sea turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, and reef sharks in the Galapagos. In the Caribbean, Bonaire offers some of the best diving and snorkeling; here, among the 350 recorded species of fish, you can expect to see turtles, rays, barracudas, parrotfish, sea horses, and the rare frogfish. The island has an astonishing 85 dive sites, 54 easily accessible from the shore.
On a cruise to Australia, you can marvel at the dazzling corals and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef. Or head for Central America; Belize has some of the best diving in the world, including the Great Blue Hole, a giant sinkhole created some 150,000 years ago.
Oceanographic Labs Onboard
Lab, Celebrity Flora
Some cruise ships feature working laboratories where scientists carry out research in everything from marine life to climate change and sea pollution. The scientists get to travel to places that would be prohibitively expensive for them on a research vessel. Cruise guests get to observe their work and participate in real scientific research, making the arrangement a win-win.
Whether or not your ship has a science lab, you can conduct your own work via a number of citizen science projects. If you’re a fan of large marine mammals, download the Happy Whale app. If you spot whales, photograph their tail flukes and upload your pictures to the app. Each animal has an individual fluke and the app, thanks to the contributions of thousands of citizen scientists, is able to track whales’ migratory patterns around the globe.
Other popular citizen science activities include the Secchi Disk Study, which monitors the presence and health of phytoplankton, microscopic creatures that are critical to the food chain, and Eyesea, a global project to map and record incidences of ocean pollution.
3: Explore the Ship’s Engineering
There’s something fascinating about what goes on below deck on a ship, whether you’re interested in the science behind feeding a couple of thousand passengers and crew or the workings of the engine room.
Behind-the-Scenes Engineering Tours
Many cruise lines offer behind-the-scenes tours, which are always popular. A crewmember will take you to the galley, the engine control room, the laundry, and the bridge. You’ll learn about how the ship’s provisioning works—a science in itself given that on a typical mid-sized ship, up to 25,000 meals daily need to be prepared.
The engine control room always wows visitors with the sheer complexity of its operation, not to mention the heat and noise. You’ll learn about multiple systems beyond the engines, from air conditioning to plumbing. You will also see the laundry room, with its massive machines that run day and night, and the bridge, where some of the most advanced navigation equipment in the world ensures maximum efficiency and safety.
Celebrity Cruises has taken great steps to demystify the inner workings of its cruise ships. Follow the popular Captain Kate McCue on Instagram for daily updates when she’s on board on everything from navigation to leadership.
Sustainable Technology on Ships
Celebrity Apex
Sustainability at sea has come such a long way over the last decade. Celebrity Cruises, for example, is working towards zero waste. Some 85 percent of waste is already recycled, repurposed, or sustainably disposed of in a waste-to-energy facility.
Each new ship is equipped with shore power, removing the need to run the engines when in port. The new Edge-series ships are 20 percent more efficient than their predecessors, with advanced technology that removes 98 percent of sulfur dioxide and 97 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions.
4: STEM-Themed Cruise Activities for Kids and Families
Camp at Sea
Cruise lines are getting increasingly creative at making science, technology, and math all part of the fun in their kids’ clubs. And none of this is as routine as being in school; kids might learn anything from navigation to conservation and robot-building. Some cruise ships even have age-appropriate science labs on board.
Family-Friendly Science Shows
Some cruise lines offer science shows to entertain the whole family, with demonstrations and hands-on activities covering anything from fossil hunting to making an erupting volcano—in a controlled environment, of course. Kids can learn to create and animate cartoon characters, steer the ship via a simulator, and make their own “Space goo”, a delightfully messy slime or putty. There’s a growing trend, too, for cruise ships to have their own escape room games, where families work as a team to solve cryptic clues.
STEM Scavenger Hunts
Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Elements of STEM can easily be built into a scavenger hunt, whether it’s on board the ship or in port. Families could join an activity at Alaska’s Icy Strait Point, for example, which involves exploring the forest trails and beaches in search of anything from shells to plants. Or you could design your own scavenger hunt on board; crewmembers are usually only too happy to be part of the fun.
STEM-Themed Shows and Movies
Look out for movies and shows during your cruise with an educational theme. You’ll find movies available on your stateroom TV, as well as on the big screen on deck.
Some of the best STEM-themed movies for older kids and adults include Hidden Figures, the true story of African American women who worked at NASA in the 1950s. Or Apollo 13, a nail-biting story of problem-solving at its most extreme. Younger kids will love The Lego Movie, a saga of good against evil in a world made entirely of colored bricks.
5: Combining Travel and STEM Learning: Ports of Call with Scientific Value
STEM adventures are not limited to what’s on board your ship. You can find fascinating and fun educational activities in just about any port of call. Perhaps there’s a planetarium, an amazing science museum, or a tour run by a local conservationist.
Explore Volcanic Islands
Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Fascinated by volcanoes? A cruise can whisk you to any number of thrilling volcanic hotspots. Iceland is one of the best for insight into plate tectonics; visit Thingvellir National Park to see where the Eurasian and North American plates are pulling slowly apart. Take the Into the Glacier tour to walk inside and underneath the enormous Langjokull Glacier.
In the Canary Islands, pick your way across lunar-like landscapes of lava fields on Mount Teide, Spain’s tallest mountain. Take a tour up Sicily’s Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, and walk on lava that’s still warm. Learn about volcanoes and their role in shaping local culture and beliefs in Hilo, Hawaii. Or visit the Galapagos Islands to see how plants, birds, and animals have adapted to life on a landscape created by lava.
Visiting Science Museums and Planetariums
Vasa Museum, Stockholm
You’ll find superb museums as part of any cruise itinerary. Take a cruise to Wellington, New Zealand and visit the national museum, Te Papa, which has a magnificent collection of fossils, plants, and animals, including the world’s only colossal squid. Take the family to Stockholm and visit the Vasa Museum, housing an almost intact 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage. Put your own ship design skills to the test at an interactive game and see if you can craft a vessel that floats, unlike the top-heavy Vasa.
The Hong Kong Space Museum is fantastic for all things astronomical, including a spectacular planetarium show. Amsterdam’s Science Centre NEMO, meanwhile, has five floors of interactive workshops and labs where the whole family can conduct experiments.
Natural History and Geology Tours
Humpback whale in Alaska
Cruise lines offer all manner of excursions related to the natural world. Alaska, for example, is one of the best destinations in which to observe wildlife, from bears and bald eagles to whales and dolphins.
To marvel at some of the most dramatic karst landscapes in the world, go to Vietnam’s Halong Bay, where hundreds of jungly, sheer-sided rock formations are scattered across the sea. There’s similarly jaw-dropping scenery at Phang Nga Bay, off the Thai island of Phuket.
Visit New Zealand’s majestic Milford Sound to learn about glaciation. Or again, Iceland, a geography lesson in itself with active volcanoes, creaking glaciers, and vast, ice-carved valleys ablaze with purple lupine flowers in summer.
Camp at Sea
You may never have thought about it, but science comes to life on a cruise. Whatever your age and interest, there’s always something to learn, a place to study, a wonderful museum to visit. Plan your seagoing adventure now and open your eyes to the wonderful world of STEM.
