Best Cruise Lines & Cruise Ships for Kids
When you plan a family cruise, ensuring an enjoyable experience for your kids is crucial. Unhappy children can quickly put a damper on the trip. That's why it's essential to choose a cruise ship that caters to both parents and kids, creating a harmonious vacation for everyone.
The top cruises for families provide a wide range of activities and entertainment options for kids under 18. They offer diverse dining choices that cater to young and teen tastes, ensuring no one goes hungry. These cruises prioritize family-friendly accommodations and onboard services, making your voyage smooth and enjoyable. Plus, they create opportunities for children to meet and socialize with peers, enhancing their cruise experience.
No matter your family size or budget, you can discover fantastic sea vacations that will leave your kids exclaiming, "This was the best cruise ever!" at the end of the week.
Discover the ideal cruise vessel for your upcoming voyage by exploring our recommended cruise ships designed to cater to both children and adults.
MSC Seascape
On the MSC Seascape, you'll find a floating mega-resort that caters to kids of all types. What sets this ship apart is its Robotron amusement park-style ride. Here, three riders at a time secure themselves into seats attached to a robotic arm, which then takes them on a thrilling journey, twisting and turning over the ship and the sea.
For the water enthusiasts, the Pirates Cove Aquapark offers slides, a splash zone, and a rope bridge. If your kids prefer virtual adventures, they can enjoy F1 race car simulators, VR motorcycle racing, a 4D movie theater, and a video arcade. Families can also split into teams for sports court competitions or engage in organized games that make use of the latest technology to challenge guests of all ages.
The ship's Doremi Land kids club has a Lego theme and provides dedicated spaces for babies, kids, and teens. Covering 7,567 square feet, it features two Lego rooms – one for younger kids with Duplos and another for older kids with regular Lego bricks. Teens have their own spaces, including a gaming area with VR options, a hangout area with ping pong and foosball, and even a dance club.
And don't forget to indulge in the incredible pizza, including dessert options slathered in Nutella – a treat the whole family is sure to enjoy.
Sun Princess
When it comes to family entertainment, Princess' new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess, set to debut in 2024 and beyond, promises to stand out among the fleet.
Sun Princess will introduce a significant upper-deck activity zone named Park19, a perfect fit for kids. This zone spans three decks and offers nine sun-soaked activities. Among the attractions are the Sea Breeze Rollglider (similar to hang-gliding on an elevated track but safer), a climbing structure with obstacles and a slide, a ropes course, a splash zone, and a sports court.
Inside the ship, Firefly Park will provide kid programming and family play spaces for children aged 6 months to 7 years. Tweens and teens will have their dedicated hangouts – Neon Grove and The Underground – equipped with comfy lounge furniture and a variety of video and other games.
Carnival Celebration
When you step aboard a Carnival ship, you're in for a social and fun-filled experience where passengers and crew alike are ready to connect, share stories, and enjoy the voyage together. If your family enjoys meeting new people and creating lasting memories, you'll feel right at home on Carnival Celebration, the line's new and spacious ship.
For outgoing kids, there are fantastic opportunities to make friends onboard. The Family Harbor Lounge, Camp Ocean, and Dr. Seuss Bookville are great spots for younger cruisers to socialize. Older kids will appreciate the teen and tween clubs, conveniently located near Guy Fieri's burger stand and the video arcade.
Carnival Celebration, along with its near-identical twin Mardi Gras, offers an exclusive attraction: Bolt, a thrilling top-deck roller coaster. A ride on Bolt not only provides an adrenaline rush but also serves as the perfect Instagram-worthy moment and bragging rights for kids on vacation. The Ultimate Playground area on the ship is where young cruisers can challenge their newfound friends to a round of miniature golf, waterslide races, basketball, or conquer the ropes course.