Your Guide to Family Cruises!

Updated 11/07/22

With kids’ clubs, family staterooms and family-friendly excursions aplenty, there’s more choice than ever for cruising families.

Cruises are a brilliant holiday option for families of all ages as they offer so much choice for everyone. However, if you are new to cruising it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. Luckily, we have a list of cruise lines whose ships are absolute kiddie heaven.

Cruise Lines

There are several mainstream cruise lines which market themselves as family-friendly. These include:

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly ships are packed with amazing activities for the whole family. Their kids’ club ‘Adventure Ocean’ caters for a wide range of ages, from 3-5 year old aquanauts to their 15-17 year old older teens group and everything in between. Tiny tots are well looked after too.

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises are another wonderful family friendly choice. We especially recommend them to younger families, as they have a free night nursery for little ones aged 6 months to 4 years. The chefs are also happy to puree fruit and veg for your baby on request. Their kid’s club ‘The Reef’ also accepts kids a whole year younger than most cruise lines, with ‘Splashers’ catering to kids aged 2-4.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offer some of the best cruises for families. MSC are introducing electronic bracelets so parents can keep track of their kids from their phone, which is perfect if you have a little explorer on your hands! The cruise line also provides a baby club that caters for tots aged 0-3 and is also fabulous for older kids with Masterchef-at-Sea, sport competitions, waterparks, 4D cinemas, and F1 simulators. Teens will love MSC cruises too, thanks to their drone academy, dance crew competition, flash mobs and teen discos.

NCL

If your kids love to clown around, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Splash Academy could be perfect for them, as it offers the opportunity for youngsters to learn circus tricks. Or if the big top isn’t their thing, maybe they’ll enjoy Norwegian’s waterslides, thrilling high ropes course, speedy go karts, games of laser tag, or 2 storey Wii wall.

Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line are another excellent family cruise line, particularly for younger kids. Like P&O, their kids’ club- Camp Ocean- starts at 2 rather than 3 and caters for youngsters all the way up to 17, splitting them into smaller clubs based on age. There are loads of activities on-board that are perfect for kids, like build-a-bear workshops and Dr Seuss themed events, as well as waterslides and spray fountains. And if your group includes toddlers, there are buggies for hire on-board.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises are a fantastic line for families of all ages. Camp Discovery has a fun outdoors vibe, with The Treehouse catering for kids aged 3-7, The Lodge for 8-12 year olds, and The Beach House for teens. Under 3’s can also use the facilities at certain times with parental supervision and jarred stage 1 and 2 baby food is sold on-board.

Princess cruises are especially well suited for families with older kids. The Beach House has a trendy nightclub aesthetic and serves an array of delicious mocktails, making them one of the best cruises for teens. And if you’re a family with grown-up kids, Princess Cruises also has club 1820 which hosts secret events and parties for 18-20 year olds.

Best Destination for a Family Cruise

Of course, most families won’t spend their entire cruise on-board the ship – you’ll probably want to spend some time exploring the ports too. Here are some of the best cruise destinations with great ports for families:

The Caribbean

It goes without saying that the Caribbean makes a great destination for any holiday, but it is especially enticing for families. Children will love playing on the endless beaches and paddling in the turquoise sea. Older kids will have the time of their lives scuba-diving or jet skiing. The stunningly picturesque scenery is sure to be a big hit with teenage Instagram-lovers.

The Mediterranean

For parents wanting to sneak some education and culture into their kids’ holiday, the Mediterranean is ideal. With amazing historical sites in Croatia, Italy, and Greece, your child will learn and have fun. Enjoy a thrilling day of sightseeing, with magnificent ruins and fascinating museums to explore. Or, if you’d rather have a chilled out day, Mediterranean ports are full of excellent foodie spots and great beaches for sunbathing and chilling out.

The Baltics

If you’re worried your kids will dislike in the southern heat, try the Baltics for a milder climate without losing out on any of the fun. Your little one will think they’ve stepped into a book of fairy tales when they see the beautiful German castles and Finnish forests.

The Bahamas

Perfect for a relaxed family holiday, the Bahamas has a wonderful laid-back vibe. You can sunbathe and catch some rays. Or, if you have an energetic brood that needs tiring out, try snorkelling, exploring the tropical wildlife or head to a water park. If you cruise with Royal Caribbean, you’ll have access to the amazing private island of CocoCay, where you’ll be able to shoot down North America’s tallest waterslide.

Dining on a Family Cruise

Mealtimes can be a big worry for parents on a cruise – especially if your kids are picky eaters.

Luckily, on most all-inclusive family cruises there is a buffet, formal dining, and snack bar options so there will certainly be something the whole family will love. There are also a la carte restaurants, which cost extra but are definitely worth it. Youngsters will especially love the restaurants on-board Royal Caribbean ships, which include a New York style pizza place and a cool 50’s diner.

There is no need to be intimidated by the idea of attending the formal restaurant on-board with your kids. Waiters are happy to provide colouring and other means of entertainment for your little ones. And if you’re worried about the kids making you late for formal dinner sittings, certain liners offer flexible dining, so you can show up whenever works for you. These are:

-Norwegian Cruise line

-Princess cruises

-P&O Cruises

-Carnival cruises

Booking a Family Cruise

For most families, the only time they are able to take a trip is during the school holidays. If this is the case for you, make sure you book early, as school holidays are peak times for cruises and they book up fast. If you have a baby or toddler, however, we recommend booking in low season (usually autumn) as it’s often a lot cheaper.

Before you book your cruise there are a few things to consider. If you have a baby, you may need to check the minimum sailing age on your chosen liner.

You’ll also have to decide what type of cabin you want to book.

• Inside cabins are great for parents with a baby as they generally fit a queen bed with room for a travel cot.
• For families with bigger kids, balcony cabins are a little larger, have an outside balcony space, and often a sofa bed.
• If you have teens who want a little independence, opting for interconnecting cabins can help the holiday run a lot more smoothly. You may lose your child discount when choosing this option, but it can be worth it to avoid the arguments that can ensue when sharing a small space with a teen.
• If you want to splash out and treat yourself to loads of space, family staterooms are like mini apartments with separate sleep areas and sometimes an extra bathroom.
• To cruise in absolute luxury, book a family suite which has all of the above plus living areas and other bonuses like a private butlers and priority check in.

What to pack for a family cruise

Packing for family cruises can be overwhelming so we’ve provided a list of almost everything you might need:

Suitcase

• Swimsuits
• Flip flops
• Armbands
• Formal wear
• Formal shoes
• Comfy clothes
• Comfy trainers
• Towels for beach days
• Baby monitor
• Travel guides
• Underwear
• Raincoats
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toiletries
• Suncream

Carry On

• Passport and travel documents (including any health and safety documentation required)
• Entertainment
• Chargers and plug adapters
• First aid kit
• Tissues/wipes
• Sunglasses

If you’ve decided a cruise is the family holiday for you there are luckily tons of amazing family deals available on our website! We hope your family has an incredible time on whatever ocean adventure you choose.