Thinking about a family cruise? You’re not alone! Family cruises have become super popular because they offer fun and relaxation for everyone. With loads of activities, entertainment, and dining options, family cruises are a great way to create lasting memories. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your perfect family cruise.
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Family-Friendly Cabins
When it comes to staying comfortable on a cruise, you’ve got plenty of options:
- Family Suites and Connecting Rooms: These are perfect if you want extra space. Family suites often have separate areas for parents and kids, and connecting rooms let you stay close while still having some privacy.
- Cribs and Strollers: Need baby gear? Most cruise lines provide cribs and strollers, sometimes for free or a small fee.
Onboard Activities and Entertainment
There’s no chance of anyone getting bored with all the activities available:
- Kids’ Clubs and Programs: These clubs are divided by age group, offering fun and educational activities for toddlers to teens.
- Family-Oriented Shows and Movies: Enjoy Broadway-style shows, magic acts, and movies under the stars—all family-friendly, of course.
- Adventure and Sports Activities: From rock climbing and mini-golf to water parks and zip lines, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Dining Options
Eating on a cruise is an adventure in itself:
- Family-Friendly Dining Venues: There are plenty of dining options, from casual buffets to formal dining rooms, with menus that cater to kids.
- Children’s Menus and Healthy Options: You’ll find special menus for kids with healthy and tasty options.
- Flexible Dining Times: Many cruises offer flexible dining times, so you can eat when it’s convenient for your family.
Childcare and Babysitting Services
Need some adult time? No problem:
- Babysitting Services: Many cruise lines offer babysitting services and kids’ camps, giving you a chance to enjoy some quiet time.
- Qualified Staff: The staff is usually well-trained, ensuring your kids are safe and having fun.
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Safety and Security
Your family’s safety is a top priority:
- Safety Protocols and Measures: Cruise lines have strict safety protocols, including secure check-in and check-out procedures at kids’ clubs.
- Medical Facilities: Onboard medical facilities are ready for any emergencies, with medical staff available 24/7.
Destinations and Itineraries
Pick a destination that works for your family:
- Popular Family-Friendly Destinations: The Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska are all great options for family cruises.
- Duration and Timing: Choose a cruise length that suits your family, and consider traveling during off-peak times for better deals.
Special Needs and Accessibility
Ensure everyone in your family is comfortable:
- Special Needs Accommodations: Many cruise lines offer services and accommodations for kids with special needs, including accessible rooms and trained staff.
- Accessibility: Cruise ships are designed to be accessible, with ramps, elevators, and accessible dining and activity areas.
Educational and Enrichment Programs
Mix fun with learning:
- Educational Activities: Many cruises offer activities like science workshops, cultural tours, and interactive exhibits.
- Enrichment Programs: Programs focused on cultural, scientific, or historical topics can provide enriching experiences for your kids.
Theme Cruises and Special Events
Add some extra magic to your trip:
- Themed Cruises: Some cruises have special themes, like Disney or Marvel, with related events and activities.
- Character Meet-and-Greets: Kids can meet their favorite characters, making the cruise even more special.
Popular Family Friendly Cruise Lines
Planning a family vacation? Look no further than these top cruise lines, which are perfect for families. These cruise lines have a mix of activities, entertainment, dining, and accommodations that will make your trip fun and stress-free. Here are some of the best family-friendly cruise lines for you to check out:
Disney Cruise Lines
Disney Cruise Line is all about family fun, offering a magical experience with Disney characters and themed entertainment.
Highlights:
- Kids’ Clubs: Age-specific clubs with activities like arts and crafts and interactive play areas.
- Entertainment: Broadway-style Disney shows, movies, character meet-and-greets, and deck parties.
- Dining: Rotational dining at themed restaurants with menus for kids.
- Accommodations: Family staterooms with split bathrooms and lots of storage.
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Royal Caribbean International
It operates four kids’ clubs on board its fleet under the umbrella of ‘Adventure Ocean’. Each club is specially formulated for each different age group with activities arranged accordingly. The six Vision-class ships each have two specially designed club rooms, one for younger children and a ‘teen lounge; area for older kids featuring its own disco and juice bar.
The company also has an ‘Adventure Science’ programme designed to make education fun through a blend of science and entertainment. Kids of all ages are involved in making rockets, ‘Flubber’ (slime) and bubbling potions.
Royal Caribbean is known for its amazing ships packed with activities for all ages, making it a great choice for families.
Highlights:
- Adventure Activities: Rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, surf simulators, zip lines.
- Water Slides: The Perfect Storm and The Blaster on some of their ships
- Youth Programs: The Adventure Ocean youth program offers science labs and sports for different age groups.
- Entertainment: Broadway shows, aqua theaters, and 3D movies.
- Dining: A variety of dining options with flexible seating times and kid-friendly menus.
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Carnival Cruise Lines
It is the largest cruise line in the world with a modern fleet of ‘fun’ ships or ‘floating resorts’, Carnival offers informal cruising appealing to all ages and lifestyles.
Highlights:
- Water Parks: WaterWorks aqua park with slides, splash zones, and pools.
- Youth Programs: Camp Ocean for kids, Circle “C” for tweens, and Club O2 for teens.
- Entertainment: Family-friendly comedy shows, outdoor movies, and Seuss at Sea activities.
- Dining: Multiple dining venues with kids’ menus and flexible dining options.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising offers flexibility and a variety of activities, making it a great option for families.
Highlights:
- Youth Programs: Splash Academy for kids and Entourage for teens, with supervised activities and themed events.
- Entertainment: Broadway shows, live music, and interactive game shows.
- Adventure Activities: Ropes courses, mini-golf, and water slides.
- Dining: Flexible dining options with many restaurants catering to different tastes.
Princess Cruises
To make a family cruise package easier than ever, children can now travel aboard all Princess ships in the Caribbean and Alaska from the age of six months, with youngsters over twelve months old being welcomed on cruises in Europe and 18 month olds on voyages to more exotic destinations.
All Princess ships can cater for junior cruisers, while the three ‘Grand Class’ superliners offer fully equipped children’s facilities.
Highlights:
- Youth Programs: The Treehouse (ages 3-7), The Lodge (ages 8-12), and The Beach House (ages 13-17) with age-appropriate activities.
- Discovery at SEA: Programs and shore excursions with Discovery Channel for educational and interactive experiences.
- Entertainment: Movies Under the Stars, live shows, and interactive entertainment.
- Dining: Family-friendly dining options with dedicated kids’ menus.
MSC Cruises
Italy’s largest privately owned cruise line and it operates many ships that are family friendly with a lot of special activities onboard. These will keep children and teens of all ages busy.
During the school holidays there are special staff onboard purely to look after young children and arrange entertainment etc.
Highlights:
- Kids’ Clubs: Mini Club (ages 3-6), Junior Club (ages 7-11), Young Club (ages 12-14), and Teen Club (ages 15-17).
- Family Entertainment: LEGO and Chicco themed play areas and activities.
- Adventure Activities: Water parks, ropes courses, and sports courts.
- Dining: Varied dining options with Mediterranean cuisine and kid-friendly menus.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers a premium experience with a focus on family-friendly luxury and activities.
Highlights:
- Youth Programs: Camp at Sea with over 500 activities, including STEM programs and arts and crafts.
- Entertainment: Broadway-style shows, live music, and family-friendly movies.
- Dining: Gourmet dining options with dedicated kids’ menus.
- Accommodations: Family-friendly staterooms and suites with lots of space.
Costa Cruises
Offers excellent facilities for children, particularly in the Mediterranean but also on board its Florida based ships – Costa Victoria and Costa Romantica. During the school holidays, the ships run supervised clubs for children, offering a range of activities and entertainment. A communal baby-sitting service is also available.
P & O Cruises
With up to eight cruises from UK a month and cruises ranging from four days to over three weeks, P&O offers a vast array of itineraries encompassing the Mediterranean, Baltic’s, Atlantic Islands, Canary Islands and Norwegian Fjords.
P&O Cruises provides several family-friendly benefits:
- Generous Reductions: Children aged 12 and under typically pay half the adult ticket price, and children under 2 years old can travel for free.
- Family Cabins: Many ships, such as Arvia, Azura, Britannia, Iona, and Ventura, offer family cabins with pull-down beds or sofa beds. The pricing for families usually involves the first two occupants paying the adult price, with reduced rates for children aged 2-17.
- Family-Friendly Shore Excursions: P&O Cruises also offer a range of shore excursions designed for families, making it easy to explore new destinations together
Crystal Cruises
Offer family cruise travel aboard both six-rated ships Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony. Suitable facilities include: a selections of three-berth staterooms; ‘Waves’ and ‘Fantasia’ rooms dedicated for children’s entertainment with toys and video games; a choice of indoor and outdoor pools; table tennis and informal dining areas – burger and ice cream bars.
If more than fifteen children are travelling, special programmes are created with staff supervision, who can also provide a baby-sitting service by special arrangement. Children under 12 years pay fifty per cent of the minimum cruise fare when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests.
Let us wade through the 1000’s of cruises for you!
Jo, our cruise travel agent will personally search for the right cruise for you.