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On the family vacation you’ve been waiting for onboard the best cruises for kids. From whale-watching in Ensenada to post-card pretty shores in Puerto Vallarta and lounging on Cabo’s world-famous beaches — make memories that last a lifetime. The cruising experience is all about enjoying the flexibility to cruise your own way, with a huge choice of dining options and places to relax and have fun, and no real set dining times. A-ROSA river cruises cost a lot less than some other premium river cruise lines, and kids up to 15 sail for free when travelling with a paying adult. The fares are all-inclusive too, so they’re actually quite good value.
Princess Cruises
According to Cruise Critic, the general age range of cruisers is 30 to 80 years old. You’re not likely to find a cruise line or ship that exclusively caters to 1 age group. There’s not an expectation for the yachts to frequently be teeming with children, but the cruise line expects to host more young passengers during summer and holiday school breaks. Even without a rollercoaster that jets out over the sea, MSC Cruises is still a popular option for family travelers.
How we chose the best family cruises
A-ROSA is without a doubt the pioneer for this market, and their modern ship Sena is beautifully appointed, packed with great tech and fantastic for kids. It has spacious family cabins that can sleep up to 5, and a kids club with dedicated spaces on-board – something you won’t find on most river cruises. Younger kids will also love Space Cruisers, which debuted on Carnival Celebration.
Dining Delights: Kid-Friendly Menus and Family Dining
For the best access to the characters, plan ahead for the special Pajama Jam breakfast ($20 per person), where PJs are encouraged as kids dance along with the friendly character hosts. Whether hanging out with other cruisers or checking out games, sports and parties, our teen-only spots are the places to be. Our Teen Program also allows older kids the freedom to come and go as they please.
5 Best Cruise Ships for a Family Reunion Cruise - Cruise Critic
5 Best Cruise Ships for a Family Reunion Cruise.
Posted: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
MSC Cruises is a family-owned cruise line that’s focused on making it easy for families to explore the world. Learn new languages, cultures and cooking skills in immersive onboard programming and interact with people from all over the globe. MSC Seaside is one of the best cruise ships for kids because it sails year-round to the Caribbean from Miami. Caribbean Princess also debuted The Reef Family Splash zone in the summer of 2019. One of the best water parks at sea, this water play pad, pool, Jacuzzi, lounge and bar area is the perfect place for families to enjoy sunshine or shade with kid-friendly mocktails in hand.
With so many cruise-with-kids choices, it’s tough to choose the right cruise line or ship. It gets even more difficult if you are trying to plan a family reunion when family members have such different travel styles. And the relatively new Virgin Voyages, which we experienced in 2023, doesn’t allow kids under 18, but is great for families with older or adult children.

One of the newest ships, A-ROSA SENA, was the first river cruise ship built with families in mind, so this is definitely the best ship to choose out of the fleet. From time to time they offer reduced kids’ prices, with children able to sail from as little as £1, which makes for fantastic value for money. Over the years I have grown up exploring the best cruise ships for kids, with holidays often consisting of all twenty members of my family. As a travel aficionado, I’ve observed that the cruise suites for families which stand out are those that blend comfort with a splash of innovation.
Immersive Princess entertainment
When it comes to creating unforgettable family memories, not all ships are created equal. So, without further ado, here are our ultimate picks for the finest Royal Caribbean cruise ships for kids. They are the beating heart of a child-friendly cruise ship, offering a variety of engaging and educational activities. Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean® stands out, catering to different age groups from tiny tots to hard-to-please teens.
Holland America Line’s Vista Class
Princess welcomes babies, toddlers and preschoolers to the world of cruising with services and amenities that make life easier for their families as well. These young guests are welcome in Camp Discovery when accompanied by a parent. Mini-Suites and Full Suites offer full-sized bath tubs, and wash bins for showers are available. And fresh, pureed foods (fruits, veggies and rice) are available in the main dining room, specialty restaurants, and Horizon Court or World Fresh Marketplace. A Princess family cruise is a perfect chance to celebrate together while enjoying the hundreds of amazing activities taking place on Princess ships from morning to night. Going the extra mile in accommodating its youngest sailors, Norwegian offers a special Nickelodeon Bedtime Kit ($45), where a themed blanket, pillowcase, nightlight, and evening turndown keep with the playful theme.
Alaska is an amazing destination for a family vacation with kids, and Royal Caribbean bases four ships up north every summer. The Studio B ice skating show and original musical "Effectors II" are perfect for older kids. My daughter was especially wowed by the slackliners, aerialists, dancers and divers we saw at the AquaTheater. Kids ages 8 to 12 may also enjoy Wonder's escape room, sports court, minigolf course, carousel, promenade parades and arcade.
At Ritz Kids, children ages 4 to 12 years old have the opportunity to participate in unique activities based on where they’re traveling. Programming mainly focuses on sustainability, marine life, sailing, and arts and culture. Royal Caribbean also has a private island exclusively for its guests. Coco Cay is located in the Bahamas and features a 13-slide water park as well as the region’s largest wave pools and freshwater pools. Take a dip in a pool, chill out in a hot tub, play every sport imaginable (from shuffleboard to mini golf), and catch a tan at the Reef Family Splash Zone, a mini water park with games, pools, and water features.
And Princess-exclusive, Broadway-caliber stage shows from award-winning composer Steven Schwartz are a dazzling way to bring everyone together. You'll also find plenty of opportunities for audience participation with The Voice of the Ocean musical competition, the High Seas Heist mystery challenge and Can You Survive? The new Adventure Ocean® youth program is designed to ignite the imagination. There are endless ways to satisfy kids' curiosity in the Adventure Ocean® Aquanauts group.
Whether you want to try your hand at zip lining or prefer staying on the ground and playing bowling, grab yourself a MSC Fun Pass to try out these activities throughout your trip. All the ships also show Broadway-level shows, live music and immersive performances that will even have your teen engaged in the theatrics. My Family Time Dining is offered for the first seating time in our main dining room, for children ages three to 11.
Cruise ships like Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaside, and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge are known for being very kid-friendly. With the inaugural voyage on the horizon, I am convinced that Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is setting a new standard. The concept of travel for families becomes reimagined, pioneering an unsurpassed adventure that seems to whisper in anticipation of the laughter and awe it aims to inspire. When it comes to cruise pricing, we’ve found MSC to generally be the lowest in the industry. For instance, there are a number of 7-day cruises departing Miami that come in at less than $500 per person for an interior cabin before taxes and fees.
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