Sunday, March 31, 2024

The 11 Best Cruise Lines and Ships for Families and Kids in 2024

best cruise line for family of 5

The older ships aren’t quite as fun, but waterparks and slides feature heavily and there’s definitely a kid-friendly vibe across the whole fleet. 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. The free-of-charge kids’ clubs for three to 12-year-olds are out of this world. Celebrity's 11 ships serve a more upscale crowd and are known for having more sophisticated cuisine, amenities and activities than its sister line, Royal Caribbean. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site.

MSC Cruises

It's the perfect place for them to relax or play games with their friends. Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative ships and thrilling onboard activities like rock climbing walls, zip lines, water parks, and even ice skating rinks. The cruise line also offers educational and entertaining programs for children. Celebrity Cruises is renowned for its modern luxury style and attention to detail, making it a popular choice among families seeking a refined, yet relaxed cruising experience. Carnival cruises are packed with entertainment options for the whole family. From water parks and game shows to movie theaters and live music, there’s never a dull moment.

Cruise Types and Destinations

While the kids are at play, indulge in the ultimate date night with your partner in adventure. Kick things off with a dinner to remember, followed by a glass of your favorite wine at Vintages or a singalong session at Schooner Bar. Then keep the party going long into the night at a live stand-up comedy show before you take a whirl on the dancefloor at Club Twenty. Every night is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy some of the best entertainment at sea.

Night Best Of MediterraneanDetails

best cruise line for family of 5

They also offer family cabins so you can all stay together (up to 10 people). Royal Caribbean offers something for everyone with its world-class cruise ships, innovative onboard activities, and wide range of itineraries. From Norway, Greece or Rome, MSC is the best cruise line for families that want to take their young explorers out to the open sea—and this one has a ton of amenities to keep them busy in the meantime. 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.

Best for All Ages

Carnival Cruise Line has a reputation for being a party cruise line. However, the prices can rarely be beaten, which a lot of family travelers can appreciate. Disney Cruise Line is at the top of this list because it does a really fantastic job of catering to every member of the family. It has managed to bring the magic of Disney theme parks to the middle of the ocean — even the fireworks shows. Kick family bonding up a notch at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas — voted Best Private Island Experience by Travel Weekly readers.

The stateroom categories aboard both the Norwegian Getaway and the Norwegian Breakaway include Studio, Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Spa, Club Balcony Suite, and The Haven. Within those categories are another 30 stateroom types to choose from, including a 2-bedroom family villa. The Haven is an exclusive set of staterooms at the top level of the ship that features a 24-hour butler, concierge service, and sundeck. Ocean cruises are what most people have in mind when they think of taking a cruise.

20 Best Cruise Lines In The U.S. (Ranked By Rating) - TheTravel

20 Best Cruise Lines In The U.S. (Ranked By Rating).

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What Is the Best Cruise Length for Kids?

Eat dinner every night as a family and try new regional foods together. Satisfy everyone's personal tastes with a delicious variety of casual dining options, special kids' menus in the Main Dining Room, and the ability to cater to individual dietary preferences upon request. Princess does the cooking and cleaning so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most. Carnival Cruise Line is synonymous with fun and offers a wide range of entertainment options for the whole family. Their Family Harbor Cabins and Suites are designed specifically for larger families, and they also offer an exclusive Family Harbor Lounge for guests to relax and enjoy.

Their renewed chefs offer original dishes made with the finest ingredients, ensuring an incredible dining experience. The cruisers can enjoy various complimentary, specialty, and family dining options that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. The Princess Cruise Lines feature plenty of dazzling live shows from performers around the globe.

At MSC, dining is elevated to give kids just as amazing (and sometimes luxe) food options as the adults. Assessed by nutritionists, the menu features fun dishes for all ages, including babies from 6 to 12 months. The buffets each have a Kids’ Corner and all the specialty restaurants have a menu, so your kiddo can find a meal that they’ll like. Splash Academy has a variety of activities for kids, like creative play and games, that are offered only when the ship is at sea.

Expedition cruisers seem to be less concerned about the dining options, however, Lindblad does boast that the dining is delicious and sustainably sourced. Ritz-Carlton is a Marriott Bonvoy brand and as such, you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points when sailing the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. You’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent on the price of your cruise and hotel package and 1 Elite Night Credit per night of your sailing. Redemptions start at 180,000 Bonvoy points to save $1,000, followed by 90,000-point increments to save $500.

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids club has a variety of activities, many with an adventure and science theme, making the vacation fun and educational. Aquanauts is for kids ages 3 to 5, Explorers is for kids 6 to 8, and Voyagers is for kids 9 to 12, and the activities and physical spaces are age-appropriate. There are also programs for tweens and teens with hangout spaces and arcades.

Whichever of their 26 ships you set out on, the cruise line is all about having a good time. My first cruise (along with my 80-year-old grandmother) was on a Carnival. The company prides itself for having activities and amenities for every generation through dance parties, trivia and live performances. The kids clubs are divided by age, and care for babies and toddlers under 3 is included in the fare. The fleet has 22 ships with European-inspired touches that travel to more than 200 destinations around the world.

Family Cruises: The Ultimate Family Vacation

best cruise line for family of 5

Certain Costa Cruise ships, such as Costa Esmeralda and Costa Toscana, also have babysitting services for families traveling with babies. The Norwegian Cruise line is very flexible when it comes to the dining system, so many eateries onboard allow families to plan their meals according to their liking and provide them with many food options. The largest Concierge-level suites can accommodate up to 7 people, so you can easily find a stateroom for your needs by providing the number of guests while booking.

Teens Cruise Activities — Ages 13-17

See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. Also, free kids meals at extra-charge restaurants mean parents can sample Brazilian, Japanese, French or seafood dishes while the littles gobble up pasta and chicken fingers. Casual all-day options suit fussy eaters who need unfussy dining areas.

Is Royal Caribbean or Carnival more kid-friendly

If you’re looking for a hassle-free cruising experience where your every need is taken care of, then you can’t go wrong with Disney Cruise Line. Sounds like family vacations just got a whole lot easier with Disney Cruise Line. They also have programs for each age group, including the Splash Academy (3 to 12) and Entourage (13 to 17).

Best Family Cruise Destinations

best cruise line for family of 5

Norwegian ships are also some of the most innovative and modern at sea, so you can be sure you’re getting a top-notch experience. The prices are very competitive on MSC Cruises, and they often offer discounts and promotions that can save you even more money. Add in the fact that their ships are top-notch and offer a ton of amenities, and it’s easy to see why MSC Cruises is such a great choice for families. Beyond the baby center, they even offer guests a baby laundry service to make life extra easy for parents on board. I'm a writer, editor and consultant who has covered luxury travel and cruising for the last ten years.

best cruise line for family of 5

Beach time, boat rides, water sports, luaus and volcano tours combine for an epic family trip, with the ship taking the stress out of meals and transportation. After a hard day of play, worn-out families can refuel at a variety of restaurants, including burger and milkshake mecca Johnny Rockets, Italian and Mexican eateries and an all-day buffet. Disney thinks of all the little things that can help parents have a stress-free trip with kids in tow. From split bathrooms (allowing one family member to take a bath while another uses the toilet) to waiters who will cut up your child's food, Disney Cruise Line takes the pressure off parents. Cruising makes for a unique cruising experience to spend with your family and have quality time together.

Sports, games, physical activities

Teens might roll their eyes at the ever-present Mickeys, but Disney Cruise Line does not ignore its older kid guests. Tweens and teens get their own cool hangouts, Edge and Vibe, with video games, foosball and hip seating areas. The adult guests can also view main-stage productions with music, incredible acrobatics, and acting. On such a cruise ship, you can play Deal and no Deal, inspired by the popular game show, or play Bingo Express. With MSC Cruises, you can visit amazing destinations and have an exciting vacation with your family.

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The Best Cruises for a Family of 5: Cheapest & Biggest Cabins

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The cruise lines listed above all have special programming for kids and guests of all ages. If you and your family want to make the most of a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll want to check out Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and Amplified ships. These classes of ships feature even more exciting attractions including glow-in-the-dark laser tag and several on-deck pools.

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The renowned chefs make a signature dish every night and offer destination dishes that represent the destination you are about to visit. The chefs from the Princess Cruise Lines offer many tasty dishes that tell stories of their own.

With an array of dining options, including casual eateries and specialty restaurants, every meal is a culinary delight onboard a Princess cruise. MSC Cruises offers a unique blend of European charm and modern amenities, making it a top pick among families. The MSC Seascape, one of their most family-friendly ships, offers spacious family cabins with connecting doors, perfect for larger families. Onboard, you’ll find a dedicated children’s area filled with video games and fun activities conducted by friendly crew members. Kids will love the Celebrity cruises, pools, waterslides, and kids’ clubs, while parents can enjoy the spa, fitness center, Trivia contests, night clubs, and adult-only dining options.

Get the kids set up with one of the on-ship Camp Discovery programs including The Treehouse (3-7), The Lodge (8-12) and The Beach House (13-17). In partnership with Discovery, your kids will have immersive hands-on activities, sports competitions, dance classes, movie nights and science programs. Did we mention they even have a secret club for young adults, 18-20, too? They’ll need to know a special handshake and code in order to get in. On board, Disney Cruise Line offers youth clubs, movie theaters and themed pools.

The MSC Cruises have spacious ocean-view cabins for larger family groups. However, you can also choose from the variety of connecting family cabins suitable for accommodation for up to 10 people. There are also duplex suites, grand suites, royal suites, and other cruise accommodations. The Norwegian Cruise line has family mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, and inside staterooms. Also, most of their ships have 2-bedroom family suites near the kids’ area. During your Princess cruise voyage, you can also take a dip in the sparkling freshwater pools or relax in the hot tubs.

The Camp Ocean space takes on a slumber party feel with movies, arts and crafts, snacks and more. For parents who want to get out and have some late-night fun, the Late Night Party Zone for kids and teens offers extended hours after 10 p.m. The Royal Babies & Tots program is for the younger set, ages 6 months to 3 years, and is on most ships. There is a cost for nursery services, and some even allow parents to drop off their kids outside of set program times. All ships have a variety of dining options, including a main dining room, specialty restaurants and other casual options for all kinds of diners.

Pack a swimsuit in your carry-on so you can dive into adventure early. Discover the magic of Alaska, where snowcapped mountains, towering forests and misty fjords dare you to deny their majesty. And cross once-in-a-lifetime experiences off your list together — on one unforgettable journey. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.

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