The 7 Best Cruise Lines for Families

A family cruise can be fun or stressful depending on the kids. Some children may feel limited on a ship. But there are cruise options that are good for families. The Best Cruise Lines for Families have many activities and food that kids will enjoy.  

Each cruise line has activities for different age groups. Families can have shared experiences or kids can have fun in kid’s clubs.  

Let’s explore the Best Cruise Lines for Families that cater to all ages and preferences. 

Best Cruise Lines for Families

Here is the 7 best cruise lines for families: 

Royal Caribbean International 

Royal Caribbean has 28 cruise ships and will add another one, Utopia of The Seas, in July 2024. The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has the world’s largest ships and the tallest water slide at sea.

Royal Caribbean is a top choice for family cruises, whether guests have a toddler or a teenager. Royal Caribbean offers affordable and the best family cruises with discounts for kids and extra passengers. Kids always sail for free on Royal Caribbean cruises.  

The ships have family cabins and suites, including a Royal Family cabin that fits 8 people. The Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas is a large three-floor living space with a screening room, karaoke machine, in-suite slide, and a backyard that leads to the Surfside family neighborhood. 

There are many dining options, from casual to upscale restaurants. Johnny Rockets, a 1950s-style diner, is popular with kids and parents. The ships have Broadway-style shows for adults and family-friendly entertainment like parades and ice-skating shows. The spa offers treatments for teens.  

Royal Caribbean International offers trips to over 270 places in 61 countries on all continents. Guests can go to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  

What Makes Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line for Families? 

• Families enjoy the Royal Caribbean for its many fun activities such as ice skating, high-diving shows, splash parks, FlowRider, multiple pools, a 3D theater, waterslides, rock climbing walls, dry slides, mini-golf, laser tag, escape rooms, and zip lines. 
• Programs like Royal Tots and Royal Babies offer classes and activities for children aged 6 months to 3 years when accompanied by a parent.  
• Babysitting services and play spaces are also available. 
• Adventure Ocean has areas for different age groups: Aquanauts (3–5), Explorers (6–8), and Voyagers (9–11). Tweens and teens (12–17) have their own spots like the Living Room and Fuel disco.  
• Kids love Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean private island) in the Bahamas because of its fun waterslides and splash areas. 
• The newest ships, like Wonder of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas have even more cool stuff for kids, like the Ultimate Abyss slide.  
• Adults can also relax in places like the Solarium, where kids under 16 are not allowed. 

Disney Cruise Line 

Disney cruise line is famous for its theme parks and offers great family Friendly cruises. There are 5 ships including Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and the Disney Wish, which are popular among families with many itinerary options. 

The cruises depart from various ports like San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, and Galveston, offering trips to destinations in the Europe, US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. The Caribbean trips include a visit to Castaway Cay, a private island with a family beach, supervised childcare, splash pad, water park, and other fun activities.  

Disney Cruise Line has improved to cater to older kids, it’s still the best choice for young children. Disney cruises offer something for everyone, with activities like kids clubs, adult spaces, character meet-and-greets, and unique dining options. Stateroom options include Inside, Oceanview, Oceanview with Verandah, and Concierge, with family and accessible rooms available. 

The Disney Wish cruise is great for both kids and adults. The ship, launched in 2022, has 4 kids clubs for different ages. 

What Makes Disney Cruise Line the Best Cruise Line for Families?  

• Each ship has themed play areas like Marvel Superhero Academy and Star Wars.   
• Disney ships also have clubs for tweens and teens, with video games, karaoke, and a coffee shop feel. 
• The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are for kids aged 3 to 12, with different activities for younger and older children. The Oceaneer Lab has an Animator’s Studio and a mini sound studio. 
• There is also a nursery for kids aged 6 months to 3 years, which costs extra. Overall, Disney cruise line offers the best cruises for families and offers something fun for everyone. 
• Families with kids can have fun on water slides and meet Disney characters. Guests can also watch live shows of Disney favorites like The Little Mermaid.   

Carnival Cruise Line 

Carnival Cruise Line is known for being a fun cruise option that many families like because of the affordable prices and lively atmosphere with lots of entertainment options. They have 27 ships that leave from cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York City. Guests can choose from different destinations like Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean.   

The food options are varied, with three-course meals in the main dining room, a buffet on the deck, and specialty restaurants serving Italian, sake, and sushi. The cruise also has 24-hour room service and dining options that kids will enjoy, such as burger joints and Mexican restaurants. 

There are 4 types of cabins on Carnival ships: Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suite, and special rooms on some ships. They have cabins that can fit up to 5 guests and offer connecting rooms for more space.  

Family Harbor rooms are close to Family Harbor Lounges and come with perks like free babysitting. Cloud 9 Spa rooms offer spa amenities and priority spa reservations. Havana rooms are near the Havana Bar and Pool, some with hammock chairs outside.  

What Makes Carnival Cruise Line the Best Cruise Line for Families? 

• They offer exciting activities like the Bolt Ultimate Sea Coaster on two of their ships: Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. 
• Family friendly excursions include wildlife safaris, beach bonfires, and more.  
• Carnival also has a private island, Half Moon Cay, where Guests can enjoy a lot of activities. 
• Carnival’s Fun Ships have a variety of entertainment options like water parks, game rooms, ropes courses, and a deck-circling SkyRide. 
• Guests on board can enjoy many entertainment options like live shows, game shows like Family Feud Live, and a Punchliner Comedy Club. Some activities cost extra, like the IMAX theater. 
• There are kids clubs for toddlers, ‘tweens, and teens. 

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Norwegian Cruise Line has 19 ships that travel all around the world with the Breakaway Class being popular with families. NCL is known for its relaxed atmosphere and unique freestyle cruising concept which means no strict dress codes or set dining times, and lots of entertainment and activities for families.  

The cruise line’s Freestyle Dining program lets you eat at different types of restaurants, from French to Brazilian to Japanese. There are also buffet and formal dining options available. The new Prima class ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, have an Indulge Food Hall with dishes from around the world. 

NCL ships are like floating resorts, with activities like pools, a waterpark, and a ropes course. Stateroom options include Studio, Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Spa, Club Balcony Suite, and The Haven, which is a luxurious set of rooms with a butler and concierge service. Guests can enjoy many restaurants and bars, including specialty options like Ocean Blue, Moderno Churrascaria, and Le Bistro. 

They are planning to offer longer trips with fewer days at sea and more time in ports in 2024 and 2025. Norwegian goes to many destinations like Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and more.  

What Makes Norwegian Cruise Line the Best Cruise Line for Families? 

• NCL also has a private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas, where guests can enjoy excursions for an extra fee. 
• Norwegian makes it simple to plan a family vacation with kids clubs, dining, and entertainment all included in one package. 
• Families can enjoy kids’ clubs, sports, and game shows like Price is Right.  
• The Galaxy Pavilion has futuristic games.  
• Norwegian’s latest cruise ships have activities like go-kart racing, laser tag, virtual reality games, and waterslides for families.  

MSC Cruises 

MSC Cruise Line is a top choice for families and provides the best cruises for families. It is a Swiss cruise line that offers upscale experiences and a variety of facilities on its 22 ships. These ships travel to different destinations like the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and more.  

MSC Cruise Line offers affordable Family Friendly cruises without extra frills. Families like to travel with MSC Cruises because they have special activities for kids, interactive tours, and kids clubs on board. They also have a LEGO day for families.  

MSC offers family and kids cruise packages with deals on flights and cruises. There are 3 package options – Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea – that determine what is included in the fare. 

There are 4 types of rooms on most MSC ships: Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, and MSC Yacht Club. The MSC Yacht Club rooms have extra services like a butler, access to the spa, and relaxation amenities. Family rooms are available for families of three or more, and there are special family cabins and suites.  

The ships offer a variety of dining and drinks options and entertainment, including concerts, live shows, and parties. There are different dining options on board, including a special kid’s corner at the buffet. Kids can use the My Smart Card to buy snacks, drinks, and play arcade games. 

What Makes MSC Cruise the Best Cruise for Kids? 

• MSC ships offer many activities for children of all ages, including babies and teenagers. They provide special clubs and childcare services for kids on board. 
• Shore excursions range from exploring Mykonos, Greece, to Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 
• Some MSC ships have virtual reality, a movie theater, and an arcade.  
• The ships also have outdoor areas with pools, splash zones, and waterslides. MSC runs a Family Explorer program for fun and educational shore excursions. 

P&O Cruise 

P&O Cruises is a British cruise line known for its family friendly cruises and activities, but it is not considered cheap like other family friendly cruise line. Their ships have kids’ clubs, family cabins, and sports like archery and basketball.  

What Makes P&O Cruise Line the Best Cruise Line for Families? 

• The newest ships, Iona and Arvia, have family dining options and a cinema showing family films. The main theater also has shown suitable for families. 
• The cruise line offers activities like kayaking and bike rides on shore excursions.  
• The kids club, called The Reef, is divided by age group and has fun activities and toys.  
• Children under two can go to the nursery with their parents. Kids can enjoy afternoon tea and pizza on board. Parents appreciate the free Night Nursery for children under four. 

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruise Line offers best family cruises because it has programs and activities for kids of all ages, lots of food choices for kids, and fun things to do for everyone. Princess cruises are good option for vacations with different generations. Princess has different types of rooms for families, like big suites and connecting rooms for more space and privacy. Some rooms have extra beds for kids. 

What Makes Princess Cruises the Best Cruise Line for Families? 

• The Princess Pelicans (ages 3 to 7), Shockwaves (ages 8 to 12), and Remix (teens 13 to 17) programs provide age-specific activities, games, and entertainment tailored to different age groups. Programs are supervised by qualified and experienced youth staff. 
• Princess has different places to eat for families, like casual and specialty restaurants. Most restaurants have food for kids and smaller portions.  
• Princess cruise ships have lots of fun things for families to do, like sports courts, mini-golf, outdoor movies, and game shows. Some ships have special pools and splash areas just for families with kids to enjoy safely.  
• Princess has fun trips for families, like water parks, theme parks, cultural tours, and beach days. 
• Princess ships have fun things like video game arcades, libraries with kids’ sections, and movie theaters for families.  
• Princess provides group nursery and babysitting services for an extra cost. This lets parents have time without kids while their children are looked after. 

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Afsheen Aslam

Hey! I'm Afsheen Aslam, a passionate cruiser and traveler beside chemist. I love exploring the world by sea and provide valuable insights and tips for first-time cruisers. From packing essentials to navigating onboard activities and shore excursions, I try to write practical advice and insider knowledge to ensure a memorable and hassle-free journey on the high seas.

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