With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right family-friendly Cruise holiday.
That’s why our cruise product manager, Astrid, has hand-picked the 6 best family cruises below answering commonly asked questions when planning a family cruise.
Whether it’s what cruise has the best kid’s club, or What are the onboard activities for kids as well as any additional family-friendly features, we’ve got you covered so you can set sail worry-free and create memories with your kids that will last a lifetime!
Royal Caribbean Cruises
A Royal Caribbean Cruise caters to everyone’s idea of extraordinary, where you and the kids can enjoy buckets of fun.
Kids Club
Craving a little grown up time? Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean and Royal Babies & Tots programs offer educational and entertaining activities for children of all ages.
Royal Caribbean also offers a Late Night Party Zone group sitting for children ages 3-11 between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. so you can enjoy a relaxing adults-only night on deck.
For older kids, there are teen-only spaces featuring a lounge, teen-only nightclub, theatre room, and arcades room, giving them the freedom to come and go as they please.
On-board activities for kids:
From climbing the Rock Wall to riding the waves on the FlowRider, and splashing around in the H2O Zone water park and Blaster Aqua Coaster, there’s an activity for everyone on a Royal Caribbean! Spend your days playing glow-in-the-dark laser tag, enjoying pool parties, mini-golf and so much more. End your day with spectacular entertainment suitable for all the family, including original productions and Broadway favourites.
These jaw-dropping activities are included in the price of your action-packed holiday.
Additional family friendly features:
Royal Caribbean ships offer spacious rooms designed specifically for families, ensuring everyone has plenty of space to relax and play. You can also indulge in family-friendly dining, from the Main Dining Room’s “My Family Time” Dining along with a variety of specialty restaurants with cuisine to suit all taste-buds ranging from the Far East to Italy to Wonderland.
Disney Cruises
If you want to visit and explore numerous destinations, enjoy a variety of onboard activities for all ages and have a hassle-free time while you are being taken care of 24 hours a day, then the Disney Cruise Line is the perfect choice for you.
Kids Club:
Disney Cruise Line offers something for children of all ages with their youth clubs, which are staffed with highly trained counsellors. They offer spaces dedicated to different age groups from infants to teenagers, such as the Oceaneer Club, the Oceaneer Lab, Edge, and Vibe.
On-board Activities for Kids:
The fun never stops on a Disney Cruise, with activities for all ages, including the AquaDuck water coaster, nemo’s reef, mini-golf, sports courts, live shows, and movies. Guests can also enjoy themed deck parties and meet-and-greets with their favourite Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters.
Additional Family-Friendly Features:
Disney Cruise Line is known for its exceptional dining experiences, including rotational dining that allows guests to dine in different restaurants each night while their servers follow them. For families with young children, there’s the Disney Junior Character Breakfast, and adults can indulge in adult-exclusive dining.
The staterooms are designed with families in mind, and there are even larger rooms that can accommodate families of five or more.
MSC Cruises
Given that it is a family-owned business, it is to be expected that MSC Cruises’ liners have been created with families in mind.
Kids club:
MSC Cruises provides five different clubs that cater to children from 0 to 17 years of age. Kids can look forward to a diverse range of activities, from sports, games, competitions, and parties, and can make new friends while having fun. The clubs are open every day, providing flexibility for families to plan their activities as they prefer.
Bringing a tiny tot along? MSC Cruises offer a BabyCare service which will give you the chance for some much-needed relaxation time.
On-board activities for kids:
Your children will never run out of fun things to do aboard the ship, with an array of options such as a zip line, waterpark, Himalayan suspension bridge, game rooms, and kids clubs. There are also plenty of family-friendly outdoor activities and magical night-time entertainment to enjoy, including tournaments and competitions.
And for any little builders, enjoy the LEGO® Experience On Board: an entire day dedicated to fun LEGO activities!
To make the most of your trip, you can opt for a Fun Pass package, which provides unlimited access to all your favourite attractions.
Additional family friendly features:
To give you added peace of mind during your time at sea, your kids will be issued with security bracelets – you can also rent beepers or DECT
phones if you want to be able to keep in touch at all times.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offer unique experiences in more than 300 destinations on all seven continents, you and your family can visit up to 8 destinations in one sailing while enjoying the many on-board family friendly experiences.
Kids club:
Celebrity Cruises caters to kids of all ages with their children’s cruise program, Camp at Sea, which is renowned for its customizable structure. They offer an extensive range of 500+ activities, with a unique schedule tailored to the preferences young travelers on every voyage. Spanning arts, sports, science, technology, and more, Camp at Sea guarantees that every child, regardless of their hobbies, will relish their family vacation with an abundance of entertainment and engagement. Open every day from 9:00am – 10:00pm and a Slumber Party from 10:00pm – 1:00am is offered nightly on a sign-up basis.
On-board activities for kids:
With endless entertainment options from cooking classes to a movie night under the stars, your family will never be bored. There are pools, a basketball court, a lawn club, silent disco parties, archery tournaments and so many more activities to share. And at night, be wowed by Broadway-style shows, comedians, and live music. But if there is one activity you must do while on-board a Celebrity Cruise it is the Le Petit Chef Dining Experience! Watch your tabletops come to life with an animated fusion of entertainment and dining, it is simply one of the most unique dining events in the world and perfect for all the family to enjoy.
Additional family friendly features:
Celebrity Cruises offers spacious staterooms that can accommodate families, with interconnecting rooms available. Dining options include both casual and formal restaurants, with kid-friendly menus and healthy options for everyone. There is also an array of family-friendly shore excursions at over 300 port destinations.
Norwegian Cruises
Norwegian Cruises is renowned for its family-friendly features that cater to all ages, but is especially perfect for families with older kids. From exciting onboard activities to exceptional dining experiences, Norwegian Cruise Line offers something for everyone. Do note that the Norwegian Spirit Ship does not offer Youth Programs.
Kids club:
Norwegian cruises offer complimentary youth programs for children aged six months to 17 years old.. The programs are divided into age groups, and the activities and amenities vary depending on the age range. The clubs feature everything from video games to scavenger hunts, arts and crafts to sports, and even supervised pool time.
On-board activities for kids:
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a wide range of on-board activities and entertainment for families. The line’s ships feature multiple pools, water slides, mini-golf courses, basketball courts, and rock-climbing walls. Additionally, families can enjoy live entertainment, including Broadway-style shows, comedy acts, and musical performances. Norwegian Cruise Line also offers themed cruises, such as Nickelodeon at Sea and the LEGO Experience at Sea, which feature special activities and events for kids.
Additional family friendly features:
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a range of dining options, including casual buffet-style dining and more formal sit-down restaurants. The line also features a variety of family-friendly staterooms, including interconnecting rooms and suites that can accommodate up to six guests. Families can also take advantage of the line’s shore excursions, which offer fun and educational experiences at each port of call.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a popular choice for families looking for a fun and memorable vacation. Enjoy voyages of discovery and reconnection that everyone from grandkids to grandparents can share.
Kids Club:
Princess Cruises offers a complimentary youth program, Camp Discovery, for kids and teens aged three to 17. The program features age-specific activities and amenities, including arts and crafts, science experiments, sports, and video games. Princess Cruises also offers a “Family Fun Fair” event, where families can enjoy games, face painting, and other fun activities together.
On-board activities for kids:
Princess Cruises offers a range of on-board activities and entertainment for families. With multiple pools, sports courts, mini-golf courses, and movie theatres, there is something for every interest.
You can even choose a themed cruise, such as the Discovery at Sea program, which features educational activities and experiences for families such as top-deck stargazing and an indoor planetarium with real-time views of planets, stars and galaxies.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the nightly entertainment also, with The Voice of the Ocean musical competition, the High Seas Heist mystery challenge and Can You Survive? game show.
Additional family friendly features:
Princess Cruises tantalise your taste buds with a variety of dining options, from laid-back buffet-style dining to elegant sit-down restaurants. Their family-friendly staterooms are top-notch, with interconnecting rooms and spacious suites that can sleep up to eight guests. And when it comes to shore excursions, Princess Cruises offers an array of exciting and educational experiences at each port of call that families won’t want to miss such as animal planet excursions.
Need more help deciding which is the best Cruise for you and your family? Speak to one of our cruise experts, at American Holidays we are always eager to help you find the perfect family cruise to make unforgettable memories!