The 7 Best Cruise Lines for Families of 2024

Table Of Content

• Don’t sweat the details — they’re all taken care of so you can focus on making lifelong family memories.
• What Are the Best Cruises for Families?
• How I Chose the Best Cruise Lines for Families
• Celebrity, Holland America and Princess
• Can You Sail From the UK?
• Carnival Panorama
• GETAWAYS THE WHOLE CREW WILL LOVE

Entourage, for year olds, features complimentary supervised activities such as video games, movies, music, art, and a special lounge just for them. While the kids are having fun, adults have a spa, adults-only pool, theater, casino, and private beach club. Opportunities for family togetherness include mini golf, scavenger hunts, family nights, casual dinners, and shore excursions. The Norwegian Prima, the newest ship in their fleet, actually features a three-level race track that all ages will enjoy. The only thing I knew about cruising was from my 58-year old aunt, who was constantly traveling all over the Caribbean via ship. From her, I thought cruises were basically laying by the pool all day, checking out the views and eating at speciality restaurants.

Don’t sweat the details — they’re all taken care of so you can focus on making lifelong family memories.

All other age groups will have a great time too, although it’s worth noting that their friends in the kids’ club will probably speak a variety of languages. If you’re looking for an unforgettable family vacation, look no further than Allure of the Seas. This cruise line offers something for everyone, with a variety of activities and amenities that will keep your family entertained from start to finish.

What Are the Best Cruises for Families?

Some staterooms overlook the majesty of the sea, and others have a virtual balcony. Activities like story time, theater, art, and science will enchant the young’uns, who you will definitely want to bring, as kids sail free. Norwegian Cruise Lines visit Asia, New England, Florida, Alaska, the Bahamas, Canada, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Europe, and Hawaii. Eat well no matter the cuisine you and the family crave, from simple burgers to Brazilian steakhouses, Japanese food, seafood, or global cuisine.

How I Chose the Best Cruise Lines for Families

Aside from the buffet and 24-hour spots, newer ships offer the Indulge Food Hall. They are set up like a food market, where you can order from any station and have it all brought right to your seat. It was a great experience trying out new dishes and having a family-style meal. If you have older kids, Norwegian may be the best cruise line for your family. Zoom around the largest race track at sea, immerse yourself at the high-tech Galaxy Pavilion or take a plunge on the water slides.

Carnival is known for being the most entertaining and party-filled of the bunch. 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.

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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. Celebrity Cruises are catered to families, with excursions, programs, and activities for kids and adults. They even offer autism-friendly activities, which are highly inclusive. There are even kids’ clubs to give parents a break to enjoy nightclubs, fitness facilities, or the adults-only pool.

Disney Cruise Line

From arcades to roller coasters, there is never any shortage of thrill-seeking activities to find on board any Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean has a whopping 27 cruise ships in its portfolio with another, Utopia of The Seas, scheduled for delivery in 2024. We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Every night is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy some of the best entertainment at sea.

Carnival Panorama

The Disney Cruise Line collection has recently expanded, adding Disney Wish to the ever-growing fleet. This ship has some claims to fame you’ll only find here, such as theatrical Frozen or Avengers-themed dining experiences. Departing from Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, set sail for a world of adventure aboard the MSG Meraviglia. This ship sails to New England and Canada and delights the entire voyage. The nautical-themed staterooms are cozy and spacious for families, and split bathrooms, portholes, and private verandas also set the mood. Kids will fall in love with the Wonder Playscape, which offers puzzles, games, climbing walls, and slides.

GETAWAYS THE WHOLE CREW WILL LOVE

As such, the ships are much like a theme park at sea, and are geared towards family cruising. The ships have the "It's a Small World" nursery for babies and supervised children's programs year-round for ages 3 through teens. Families with children of all ages are welcomed and entertained with movie nights under the stars, silent disco parties, archery tournaments, cupcake decorating, laser mazes, and many other activities to share. Celebrity Cruises has created a Camp at Sea program for junior cruisers by partnering with world-renowned companies like Anturus, Xbox, Fat Brain Toys, and others to offer fun-filled, interesting activities.

Daytime activities include dance classes, language lessons, art auctions, and more, while evening entertainment features Broadway-style shows, live music, and movies under the stars. For starters, the ship has a waterslide park with two slides, a pool, and a splash pad for kids. Families can also enjoy the ship’s mini-golf course, zip line, rock-climbing wall, and sports court. Costa also offers something for everyone in the family with its diverse itineraries. From cruises to exotic destinations like the Caribbean and Mexico to more relaxed sailings in Europe and Alaska, there’s sure to be a trip that appeals to every family member.

The company prides itself for having activities and amenities for every generation through dance parties, trivia and live performances. Included with your stay are kids and teen programs and access to the H2O Zone Water Park. The park boasts waterfalls, water cannons, pools, and sculptures the kids can climb. Geysers send water high into the sky, splashing down and refreshing your children all afternoon. The kids and teen programs include Camp at Sea for kids between 3 and 12.

In addition to room service, guests aboard Breakaway Class Norwegian Cruise Line ships can enjoy almost 2 dozen restaurants and bars. Specialty dining options include seafood restaurant Ocean Blue, Brazilian steakhouse Moderno Churrascaria, and French restaurant Le Bistro. Family vacations should be stress-free, and Royal Caribbean makes it easy to fuel your wanderlust without worry. You can book unforgettable shore excursions, onboard activities and shows online before you board, making the planning process a breeze. Families can have a great time on any cruise line, hanging out by the pool, visiting exciting new destinations and simply spending time together.

But they do have some good facilities for kids, including splash parks and dedicated teen rooms that are age-appropriate. Affiliations with Peppa Pig are great for younger kids, including themed water areas and activities in the younger kids’ clubs. When considering the best cruise lines for families, you should look at all the options and decide which aligns best with what you and your kids will enjoy.

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. Ocean cruises are what most people have in mind when they think of taking a cruise. Most cruise lines have at least a few ocean cruise ships in their portfolio and they most popularly frequent the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, and Hawaii. Cross-country skiing in Antarctica, visiting sea lion colonies, and spotting bears and bald eagles are among the guided outings that will earn bragging rights back home.

Stateroom configurations range from inside to suites and can accommodate between 2 and 4 guests. This information can be found on the highlights page of each sailing’s itinerary. Expedition cruisers seem to be less concerned about the dining options, however, Lindblad does boast that the dining is delicious and sustainably sourced. The all-suite Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection features ocean views from every room, as well as 6 restaurants and in-suite dining. Guests can enjoy Southeast Asian cuisine from contemporary restaurant Talaat Nam or check out Mediterranean restaurant Mistral. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection struggled to set sail when its first yacht was delivered during the height of the pandemic.