The Best Cruise Lines for Kids & Families

Table Of Content

• Free Vacation Planning Services
• Are there luxury cruise options available for families with kids?
• Which cruise destinations are popular for family cruises in 2024?
• Airline Reward Programs
• The 5 Best Cruise Lines for Families and Kids
• What makes a cruise ship perfect for a family vacation?
• Answered: What’s the Cheapest Time to Take a Cruise?

Teens love the high-thrills attractions of Norwegian ships, like go-karting on outdoor race tracks at speeds of up to 30 mph. The underdog on our list, MSC Cruises might not be a household name yet, but any cruise line that has a partnership with Lego should be on every family's radar. Broadway musicals, festive parades, water acrobatic performances and ice skating shows wow the crowds on sea days. Want to try surfing, sky diving, rock climbing, laser tag, go-karts or zip lining?

Free Vacation Planning Services

The best family cruises need to be the ultimate people pleasers, and Wonder of the Seas will please your toddlers and teens equally. On-deck waterslides, go-karts, escape rooms and never-ending soft serve! My Family Time Dining is offered for the first seating time in our main dining room, for children ages three to 11. Kids enjoy their meal within 40 minutes of seating, before heading to the evening's Adventure Ocean activities. Whether hanging out with other cruisers or checking out games, sports and parties, our teen-only spots are the places to be. Our Teen Program also allows older kids the freedom to come and go as they please.

Are there luxury cruise options available for families with kids?

Disney Wish has four kids clubs divided by age, but the main Oceaneer Club for 3- to 12-year-olds has an all-new and exciting grand entrance. Kids get to enter the club by slide — and once inside, can explore the club's spaces themed to "Star Wars," fairy tales, Marvel and Disney Imagineers. Princess welcomes babies, toddlers and preschoolers to the world of cruising with services and amenities that make life easier for their families as well. These young guests are welcome in Camp Discovery when accompanied by a parent. Mini-Suites and Full Suites offer full-sized bath tubs, and wash bins for showers are available. And fresh, pureed foods (fruits, veggies and rice) are available in the main dining room, specialty restaurants, and Horizon Court or World Fresh Marketplace.

Which cruise destinations are popular for family cruises in 2024?

You could, for example, climb Fat Margaret, one of the best preserved of the city’s 45 stone defensive towers. Fat Margaret was once a prison and gunpowder stores, and today houses a branch of the Estonian Maritime Museum, showcasing an ancient wreck and Stone Age fishing gear. Kids will be awe-struck by Santorini for the sheer fact that it’s an actual volcano, where sugar-cube houses spill over vertiginous black cliffs that plunge into the deep sapphire sea.

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Get more from family time with the MedallionClass experience on all ships. Easy embarkation and customizing dining preferences, including pace, means fewer meltdowns. Interactive games and the fast, reliable MedallionNet® Wi-Fi keep the gang entertained. And you’ll always be able to find the kids (or the adults!) anywhere on board.

The 5 Best Cruise Lines for Families and Kids

Disney Wish Cruise Review: What to Know Before Going - The Everymom

Disney Wish Cruise Review: What to Know Before Going.

Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

That’s why the most family-friendly lines won’t just have lots to do, but also plenty of similar-aged kids. This way, they won’t feel alone on the ship and have plenty of new friends to meet. And if you’re traveling with other generations, such as grandparents, the appeal of a cruise just gets stronger. Ships can appeal to all ages from two to 102 years old, providing something to enjoy no matter how mobile or active someone is… or what activities they like. Meanwhile, everyone can still be in the same area, offering the opportunity to spend plenty of time together as well. Families can have a great time on any cruise line, hanging out by the pool, visiting exciting new destinations and simply spending time together.

All-hours pizza and ice cream will keep the whole family fueled up for the interactive "Family Feud Live" show. Inspired by the great outdoors, this cozy center is filled with sports activities and comfortable places for kids to explore, hang out and lounge. Uniquely themed centers host engaging activities specially designed to help them play, huddle, create and discover. Sometimes, the cruise line has a promotion where kids 12 and younger sail free. Whether you want to chill out or all-out dance, drop by teen-only spaces where you can hang out late.

From kid-friendly activities to family rooms and family cruise packages, Disney cruises are packed with family-pleasing extras. That includes a kids' pool and family pool along with the popular AquaDuck water slide on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, while you'll find the AquaDunk on Disney Magic and AquaMouse on Disney Wish. Disney Cruise Line has done a lot more to accommodate tweens and teens -- but its ships offer the best cruise for small kids, hands down. We prefer the line's biggest ships, Disney Wish, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, but the refurbished Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are great choices for Disney family cruises, as well.

Answered: What’s the Cheapest Time to Take a Cruise?

We give the nod to Carnival when it comes to cruising on a budget because we believe they offer more things for families with kids to do on the ship. That said, there’s still plenty of kid-friendly activities aboard MSC, including an arcade with full bowling lanes on some ships, waterslides, and a kids waterpark. Additionally, many of the public health protocols put into place during the pandemic not only help cruisers stay healthy but enhance the family cruise with kids experience. You will see more complimentary restaurant options (more seating spreads out the crowds.) Enjoy more outdoor space, more servers at buffets, more individual servings at meals and more shore excursions offered for smaller group.

Browse and save big on onshore experiences, beverage and specialty dining packages, spa treatments and more when you reserve in advance online through Cruise Planner. That way, you can go straight to enjoying your vacation as soon as you come aboard the ship. Every night is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy some of the best entertainment at sea. Royal and Regal Princess have outdoor play areas with a jungle gym for kids ages 3 to 7, and another for teens with a teens-only hot tub and space for outdoor parties. From the splash park aboard Caribbean Princess to expanded kids' clubs, batting cages, and laser shooting ranges aboard Royal Princess and Regal Princess, there's a lot to love. Norwegian's casual atmosphere makes it one of the best options for a family cruise -- particularly for families who don't want to be beholden to strict dining times, venues and dress codes.

These family cabins transform into sanctuaries, where the laughter and stories of the day’s adventure echo into the tranquility of the night. As someone who thrives on the frontline of family travel trends, I’ve seen firsthand how cruise lines implement innovative teen clubs, adventuresome recreational activities, and cozy nooks perfect for chilling out. This onboard fusion ensures that while cruising teens revel in independence, they are never too far from opportunities to reconnect with family. Embarking on a quest to find the best cruises for teens isn’t simply about selecting destinations; it’s about discovering the cruise ships equipped to deliver teen-centric excitement and relaxation.

What makes this class of ships on Norweigan Cruise Lines so appealing to families is that it feels like a floating resort. Activities on either ship include multiple pools, a waterpark, and even a full-size ropes course. Coco Cay is located in the Bahamas and features a 13-slide water park as well as the region’s largest wave pools and freshwater pools. Dining options aboard Disney cruises include main and casual dining as well as adult-exclusive dining options. There are almost a dozen restaurants, cafes, and snack shops on each ship. Some nod to beloved Disney movie characters, like Lumiere’s on Disney Magic and Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder.

One of the line's newest ships, MSC Seascape, features Robotron, a three-seat robotic amusement ride that's a hit with thrill-seeking families. Families keen on rooming together can take advantage of frequent "kids sail free" fares and pay only the taxes and fees for children under 18 who are the third and fourth passengers in a cabin. Families don't need to pull out their wallets to feed ravenous teens or sugar-fueled children. Guy Fieri burgers and barbecue, burritos for breakfast and lunch and Shaquille O'Neal's fried chicken are all included in your cruise fares.

The ship sails from Barcelona and Rome (the port of Civitavecchia) this summer and fall. You are paying one price for lodging, entertainment, and food (though specialty restaurants may be extra). Parents love the supervised kids and teen programs and activities designed for families to do together (think family game shows on board).

It may seem odd that two of our top ships for kids haven't debuted yet. However, like Icon of the Seas, Princess Cruises' new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess will be heads and shoulders above the rest of the fleet in terms of family entertainment. If you're booking a multigenerational family cruise for 2024 or beyond, you will definitely want to keep this kid-friendly cruise ship in mind. New on the Caribbean Princess®, the Reef Family Splash Zone is the perfect place to relax, have fun and enjoy the water.

Step into treasured plantain homes in martinique where you can learn about the production of the island’s most cherished crop. At the end of your tour, taste bananas straight from the field as you admire historic creole architecture. At your next stop, hop in a 4x4 jeep wrangler and journey along tree-studded roads and up grandiose mountains for breathtaking views of st. Kitts. Or stroll by pastel-colored houses and boutiques lining the cobbled streets of pelourinho, a unesco world heritage site, and relive brazil's portuguese colonial past. During your last few days, visit the 125-foot christ the redeemer statue and the iconic rio de janeiro cathedral for insight into the country’s rich spiritual history that has influenced cities around the world. Wherever your journey takes you, capture timeless photos and make awe-inspiring memories for your children along the way.