Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids 

Freedom of the Seas ship offers short cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. CocoCay has beaches, a play area, splash park, and a pool for babies and toddlers. There are also barbecues and tram services to help parents manage a day at the beach with their kids. 

• Royal Babies & Tots Nursery 

Royal Babies & Tots Nursery is for kids aged 6 to 36 months (about 3 years). Parents can leave their little ones at the Royal Babies and Royal Tots clubs with trained childcare staff while they have fun. Parents can use this nursery for a fee of $6 per hour during the day and $8 per hour in the evening.  

• Baby Splash Zones 

Freedom of the Seas has a special area for young kids called the Baby Splash Zone. It has gentle water sprays, colorful features, and interactive sculptures for kids to play with. Swim diapers are not allowed in swimming pools on Royal Caribbean ships to prevent disease spread. Some ships have Baby Splash Zones with shallow water, water fountains, and spray jets for babies to play in. These zones are in Splashaway Bay or the H2O Zone. 

• Splashaway Bay 

Splashaway Bay water park has water slides, cannons, pools, and whirlpools for young children and preteens. Children must be potty trained and not wearing a diaper to go on the slide. The maximum weight allowed is 300 lbs. and the minimum height required is 42 inches. Swimming wear is required. 

• Thrill Island 

Thrill Island is one of the new neighborhoods on Icon of the Seas. It offers many outdoor activities, including Category 6, the biggest water park at sea. The waterpark has six slides, such as Pressure Drop, the first open free-fall slide on a cruise ship, and Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea. Other slides include Store Surge, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Chasers. Crown’s Edge is a unique combination of a skywalk, ropes course, and thrill ride.  

• Ripcord® By Ifly® 

Royal Caribbean has a skydiving simulator called RipCord by iFLY. It is safe for children as young as three years old and weighs less than 230 lbs if under 6 feet tall, or less than 250 lbs if 6 feet or taller. 

• Surfside 

Surfside is a new neighborhood designed for young families at the back of the ship. It has a splash area with waterslides for kids and an infinity pool for adults. There is also a beach-themed carousel, playground, arcade, and several family-friendly restaurants.  

• Mini Golf 

Mini golf is a fun game for families on Royal Caribbean ships. It is free and kids can play as much as they want without needing a reservation. Kids as young as four or five can play without any age requirement. They can hit the balls and practice math while keeping score. 

• Ice Skating 

Ice skating is a fun activity for families to enjoy together. There is no age limit for ice skating on Royal Caribbean ships. Children under 6 can skate with a parent or guardian who is on the ice with them. Kids and adults who haven’t skated before may find it a bit challenging since there are no skating aids. 

• FlowRider 

The FlowRider is a 40-foot-long surfing machine where kids can surf standing up or boogie board on their knees. Kids need to be at least 52 inches tall to boogie board and 58 inches tall to stand up and surf. This means the FlowRider is good for kids around 9 years old and older, depending on how tall they are.  

Note: FlowRider surfing is a risky sport that can cause serious physical harm or even death. 

• Zip Line 

The Oasis-class ships have a fun zip line feature. Kids can zip above the Central Park area. To ride the zipline, kids need to weigh between 75 and 275 lbs. and be at least 52 inches tall. This means kids around 10 years old and older can enjoy this activity, depending on their size. The zip line is included in cruise fare and no reservation is needed. 

• Ultimate Abyss Slide 

The Ultimate Abyss slide is the tallest slide at sea, over 150 feet above sea level. The height limit for this slide is only 44 inches and the maximum weight limit is 300 lbs. It is suitable for kids around five years old and older. Only one person can ride the slide at a time, so children cannot ride with their parents. 

• Rock Climbing Wall 

The climbing walls on Royal Caribbean ships are 40 ft tall. Children must be at least 6 years old to climb. It’s for all levels of climbers. Kids don’t need a reservation for this free activity. The walls provide a good workout and great views from the top. 

• Sports Court 

If teenagers enjoy basketball, volleyball, or soccer, they can participate in tournaments or play with friends whenever they want. 

• Social 180 

Social 180 is a place for tweens and teens on Odyssey of the Seas. It has an indoor lounge and an outdoor patio. This friendly space gives teens their own spot to have fun on the cruise. 

• Teen Spaces 

Teens onboard have the freedom to choose how they spend their time. There is a new space just for 13 to 17-year-olds. It has a gaming lounge, music, movies, and places to hang out with friends. There is also an outdoor patio to relax. 

• Seaplex® 

The ship has a SeaPlex area for tweens and teens to enjoy different activities like basketball and table tennis. There is also an arcade where kids can play games and win prizes. For those who like virtual reality, there is a special area in SeaPlex where they can experience different digital worlds with exciting adventures and puzzles. 

• North Star® 

Royal Caribbean takes adventure to new heights with North Star. This observation glass capsule offers 360-degree views from over 300 ft above the sea, providing amazing views all around. To ride, kids must be at least 42 inches tall (or 48 inches to ride alone) and weigh a maximum of 300 lbs. 

• Bumper Cars 

Tweens can drive bumper cars and have fun speeding and bumping around. Riders must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches tall with a guardian, or 8 years old and 48 inches tall to ride alone. 

• Laser Tag 

In laser tag, players move through a dark course with a laser gun, shooting players from the other team. Kids can join either the robot group or the alien team. It is suitable for children aged 5 and older who are at least 40 inches tall. 

FAQs – Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids