Cruising has become a very popular activity for families. For many, it’s a great option, because there are typically lots of different activities and amenities that appeal to different generations.
Each member of the family can usually find something they enjoy doing, and then can come together in the evenings during the days at sea. You’ll also be able to visit multiple destinations – without repacking and checking into different hotels during your vacation.
In recent years, there’s been so much emphasis on family cruising – from commercials and ads on TV to brand-new cruise ships loaded with amenities being introduced. If you are wondering what cruise lines are best for family, here is our overview with five great options.
Have you cruised on any of these popular cruise lines? Leave us a comment below.
Disclosure: We’ve cruised at no cost on several of these lines and have experienced others through local tours. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you. All opinions are my own.
The Best Cruise Lines for Family Vacations
Except for Virgin Voyages (which is exclusively adult-only), most standard large cruise ship lines do have some amenities and activities for kids. You’ll need to look at the specific lines and ships to see what is offered. The cruise lines that we are listing below are cruise lines we’ve personally experienced, either as a cruiser or for a one-day visit.
If you are reserving a new cruise, consider booking with Get Away Today.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has truly raised the bar on amenities and activities at sea. In recent years, they’ve launched several ships, including Odyssey of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. We’ve been thrilled to sail on Royal Caribbean four times in recent years and have always enjoyed our experience.
They have several different classes of ships, with varying amenities. So, you’ll want to review the specifics of the cruise ships that you are considering before booking.
Popular amenities on Royal Caribbean ships include the following:
- Kids’ clubs
- Water slides
- Mini golf courses
- Pickleboard/tennis/basketball courts
- iFly
- FlowRiders
- Ziplines
- Bumper Cars
- Climbing walls
- Slides
- Escape Rooms
The kids’ clubs on Royal Caribbean are comprehensive, with different offerings for the various age groups. This includes a teen club, a story time area, Adventure Theater, Adventure Arts, and Adventure Science areas. These clubs can be a great way to keep your kids entertained and can also be a away for your kids to meet other kids.
Royal Caribbean also offers entertainment appealing to kids, including parades. If your ship stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, amenities include a splash pad, pool, and water park (access must be purchased separately).
When cruising, you can stay organized with our 10 page downloadable cruise planner printables.
Princess Cruise Line
I wasn’t familiar with the specifics of the Princess Cruise Line until I had the opportunity to visit the Emerald Princess while she was docked at the Flynn Cruiseport Boston. During my time on the ship, I was impressed with the three kids’ clubs, which offer dedicated space for kids’ activities.
All 16 of the Princess Cruise Line ships offer three kids’ clubs – the Tree House, the Lodge, and the Beach House. These are themed based on the title and are separated by age. While I didn’t have kids with me onboard this visit, I did get to peek into the kids’ clubs and see the variety of activities and amenities offered.
In addition, Princess Cruise Line shines when it comes to multigenerational travel, as they offer something for everyone. Discovery™ and Animal Planet™ shore excursions are exclusively offered through Princess.
MSC Cruise Line
Like with Princess, I wasn’t familiar with the MSC Cruise Line until I had the chance to visit the MSC Meraviglia during a stop in Boston last fall. This European cruise line has become increasingly popular in the United States and offers lots of activities and amenities for families.
MSC has a partnership with LEGO for their five different kids’ clubs (Doremiland Kids’ Club), making them unique and fun to visit. While amenities will vary by the 23 cruise ships, the MSC Meraviglia offers many other amenities that are popular with kids (especially teens).
These include a ropes course, Sportsplex, a 4D theater, an F1 racing simulator, a flight simulator, and a bowling alley. The new, upcoming ship, the MSC World America is offering even more LEGO experiences, including a LEGO Game Show and LEGO Parade. It will also offer the fleet’s largest kids’ club.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line, which is known for offering fun at sea, currently has 27 cruise ships in its fleet. These ships offer some fun and innovative activities at sea, including a program developed with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for kids aged 2-11. The other kids’ programming includes Camp Ocean, Circle “C”, and Club O2.
In addition to these kids’ clubs, there are other amenities on the ships. They do vary based on the specific cruise ship you are choosing. But, some options include Waterworks waterpark, mini golf, a ropes course, SkyRide, IMAX, and SkyZone. They also offer Zumbini (developed by Zumba and BabyFirst) as well as Seuss at Sea.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is really the gold standard when it comes to family-friendly activities on cruises. The line’s five cruises (with several others on the way), offer beautiful, themed kids’ clubs, as well as family-friendly Disney shows, character interactions, themed restaurants, and much more.
In terms of amenities, Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer as many thrilling activities as some of the other lines. But, they do have some great options, including the AquaDunk, AquaDuck, and AquaMouse (on different ships).
Because of the variety of kid-friendly activities, you’ll find there are always lots of families on these ships. This can make it easier for kids to make friends in the kids’ clubs.
When booking a cruise, we do recommend considering the amenities and activities of both the cruise line and the specific ship you are sailing. But keep in mind that the itinerary is also important.
