The 6 Best Kid-Friendly Cruises for Your Family Cruise

Table Of Content

• Choosing Your Ideal Disney Cruise Destination
• Best Cruises for Kids: The 6 Most Kid-Friendly Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships
• Why Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Are Great for Kids
• What to Expect on an MSC Family Cruise
• Affordable Cruise Lines for Families (Kids Sail Free Deals)
• Why Disney Cruises Ships Are Great for Kids
• What to Expect on a Holland America Family Cruise

Additionally at certain times of the year, Royal Caribbean will have Kids Sail Free promotions. For example, at the time of writing this article, a 5 day Bahamas cruise leaving out of Miami that is $350 per adult in an interior cabin before taxes. This cruise is part of the “Kids Sail Free” promotion, so you will only have pay the taxes and port fees for your children. Please note that prices vary and depend on many factors, including date of booking and date of sailing. The great thing about cruising with Carnival, is that they have great promotions year round.

Choosing Your Ideal Disney Cruise Destination

Jaimie and I splurged on an adults-only night out at the specialty restaurant Palo. The laid-back line famous for "Freestyle" cruising, meaning relaxed dress codes and dining whenever and wherever you want, has also seen an increase in families onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ships feature kid-size furniture in the buffet restaurants, and plenty of larger and connecting cabins.

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Best Cruises for Kids: The 6 Most Kid-Friendly Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships

The company has also found "tremendous success" in its private jet-based "cruises," Alejandro Reynal, the president and CEO of Four Seasons, told BI in a statement. The company also promises a lounge and marina that will open onto the water, giving guests direct access to activities like snorkeling or windsurfing. The company says the 95-suite vessel will debut in January 2026 and cost a minimum of $20,000 per weeklong sailing. It sails round-trip from Seattle and visits Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, BC, with scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord.

Why Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Are Great for Kids

For families seeking expert guidance on planning an amazing Disney Cruise within budget, we highly recommend partnering with The Vacationeer. Their specialized Disney Cruise travel agents offer valuable insights and exclusive perks. The thoughtful travel specialists at The Vacationeer provide complimentary and unparalleled support in designing your dream Disney Cruise package down to every last detail.

Norwegian Escape

Many children dream of space travel, exploring the moon and planets as an astronaut. And while a life-size rocket is something you won’t see on cruise ships, NASA experiences have become one of the most talked-about parts of the Carnival Celebration cruise. When this brand-new ship sets sail, kids ages 2 to 11 can blast off with the Space Cruisers program, developed in partnership with the Kennedy Space Center. On the ship, they can take part in NASA-inspired activities, including building a Mars Rover, hands-on learning about orbit, designing their own mission patch and more. Imagine a family vacation during which you only have to unpack once, are offered age-appropriate amenities and never have to make the beds, do dishes or cook. Oh, there’s also an on-deck water park for kids, an outdoor theater, roller coasters, go-kart tracks, escape rooms, skating rinks, skydiving simulators, pools, hot tubs and restaurants all within a short walk.

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Breakaway and Getaway feature five multistory waterslides, as well as The Plank, an eight-foot walk (part of the ropes course) that extends off the edge of the ship and out over the sea. For the under twos, there’s a nursery with its own area and organized activities. Keep in mind that children in this age group need to be accompanied by their parents/guardians at all times.

Affordable Cruise Lines for Families (Kids Sail Free Deals)

Look for bigger ships with plenty of amusements; smaller and older ships might not have as many kid-friendly attractions. Standard cabins hold a maximum of four people, but Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class ships have many connecting cabins, about 25 per deck, of different configurations -- quads that connect to quads or quads to doubles. Royal Caribbean has plenty of different suite configurations that sleep four if you simply want more space. One interesting addition aboard inside cabins on Navigator, Quantum and Anthem of the Seas is the "virtual balcony" -- window-size TV monitors playing a live feed of what's happening outside.

Disney Wonder's weeklong Alaska cruises sail round-trip from Vancouver, so all Americans, even kids, will need passports to fly in to the departure port. The ship visits Juneau, Ketchikan and either Skagway or Icy Strait Point, with glacier viewing at the Stikine Icecap. Seven-night Alaska cruises sail round-trip from the easily accessible port of Seattle and visit Sitka, Skagway and Juneau, Alaska; as well as Victoria, British Columbia.

Additionally, be sure to check the cabin’s layout and configuration to ensure it comfortably accommodates your family. Some cabins have options for extra beds or sofa beds, making them suitable for families with more than two children or larger groups. If you’re looking to embark on a memorable and exciting family vacation, booking a cruise is an excellent choice. With a wide range of activities, entertainment, and amenities available on board, a cruise offers something for everyone in the family.

Four Seasons plans to expand its high-end hotels and resorts portfolio with a luxury 222-guest cruise ship. It's then up to you whether you spend you pre- or post-cruise time in the Kenai Fjord area, in Anchorage or traveling north to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or into the Arctic. Families with a little more vacation time might want to tack a visit to the Alaskan interior before or after their cruise, either independently or with a cruisetour.

Adults-only solariums are perfect for parents and grandparents, and there are a plethora of dining and evening entertainment options. Anthem of the Seas has a more sophisticated vibe, but many of its attractions are great for families. No matter what cruise line you choose to travel with, you’ll have a memorable vacation that the whole family will enjoy. Although, Celebrity Cruises doesn’t have water slides and thrill rides, they do offer a luxury family-friendly experience.

On select Carnival cruise ships, you’ll find water slides, water parks, roller coasters, ropes courses and entertainment, like Family Feud Live as well as other family-friendly shows. Remember to do thorough research, consult with travel professionals or the cruise line directly, and involve your family in the decision-making process as much as possible. One of the highlights of a cruise vacation is the opportunity to explore exciting ports of call and participate in various shore excursions and activities. To make the most of your family cruise, it’s important to review and book the excursions and port activities that interest your family.

The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab allow children ages 3 to 12, with programming geared toward younger children in the Club and older children in the Lab. Disney ships, including the newest, Disney Wish, which debuted in 2022, are ideal for families with kids ages 4 to 11, as Disney has the best facilities, food options and programs for this age group. Known worldwide for its epic theme parks, Disney offers some of the best family cruises. Onboard the ships, plenty of family cabins and loft suites mean room for the family to spread out. There's even a Royal Family cabin that sleeps eight, and Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas’ Ultimate Family Suite with a two-deck slide, LEGO wall and games aplenty.

Kids 12 years old and under dining with their parents at specialty restaurants eat for free (but only from the complimentary kids’ menu). Norwegian Escape offers one of the largest ropes courses at sea, as well as one of the largest water parks at sea. While all ships have parent-child play areas and care for babies 6 months to 3 years, only NCL Escape offers drop-off, extra-fee childcare for very small children in the Guppies Nursery. The two-story Splash Academies on Norwegian Escape, Breakaway and Getaway are the line's largest kids clubs at sea, home to high-tech games, a circus school and a small cinema. We love that kids can experience finger sandwiches and cakes at the children’s afternoon tea -- and there’s no shortage of pizza and complimentary ice cream onboard.