The 11 Best Cruise Lines and Ships for Families and Kids in 2024
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The new Wonder of the Seas is the world’s largest ship with plenty of ways to play — for everyone in the family. River cruises offer many advantages, from visiting a variety of destinations to the intimate size of the ships. Recognizing their appeal largely to travelers in the 50+ age range, river cruise companies are taking steps to attract younger travelers. Adventures by Disney and AmaWaterways have teamed up to create river cruises especially designed for families, adding trained Adventure Guides and activities aimed at diverse interests. Disney’s Adventure Guides supervise young kids (minimum age five, suggested age eight and up) and teens with events like welcome parties, movies, and Disney-themed games.
Are cruises family-friendly?
With just 1 cruise ship in its fleet, Paul Gauguin takes cruisers to ports that larger cruise ships can’t access. Lindblad Expeditions ships carry as few as 28 guests and at most 148. As such, cabins and suites vary across the company’s fleet of ships. It’s a little difficult to find out on your own which suites would accommodate more than 2 people or if you can get connecting cabins, though they do exist, as well as standard double-occupancy suites. As a tip, the best way to book a Lindblad Expedition cruise with your family may be to work with a travel advisor to ensure that you’re making the right investment.
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The amount and frequency of activities can often depend on how many children are on each sailing. Ships have water parks, 4D cinemas, arcades, bowling, simulators and more. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has 19 ships divided among nine classes.
Cruises
Outside of the kids club, families can race in a Formula One simulator, experience virtual reality, get soaked in a water park or brave their fear of heights on a suspension bridge. The kids clubs are divided by age, and care for babies and toddlers under 3 is included in the fare. Once the kids are on board, there are a variety of activities for them in Disney's Youth Clubs.
Celebrity Cruises
Both Adventure Ocean and the Royal Babies & Tots programs provide care and educational activities for kids in different age groups. Adventure Ocean also offers a Late Night Party Zone group sitting for children ages 3-11 between the hours of 10 p.m. And 2 a.m., so you can enjoy a stress-free adults-only night out on deck.
Adventures by Disney River Cruises
An array of staterooms exist to choose from on Celebrity Cruise ships, including family verandahs that sleep 5. Celebrity Cruise ships also feature staterooms that cater to solo travelers as well, so when traveling with a group, no one has to feel obligated to share a room. Camp at Sea is Celebrity Cruises’ kids’ club for kids 3 to 17 years old. Activities range from arts and crafts for the youngest age group to video game tournaments, scavenger hunts, and movie nights for older kids.
The 5 Best Cruise Lines for Families and Kids
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If parents want some late-night fun, group babysitting is available for a fee for kids ages 3 to 12. There are live shows for kids, fireworks, pools, splash pads, deck parties and more. Keep in mind most cruise lines require children to be at least 6 months old at the time of sailing; however, the minimum is 1 year old for some sailings. Expedition cruisers seem to be less concerned about the dining options, however, Lindblad does boast that the dining is delicious and sustainably sourced. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection struggled to set sail when its first yacht was delivered during the height of the pandemic.
With all of that in mind, here are the best cruise lines for families and kids. But either way, the square footage matters — even more so if you’ll spend quite a bit of your time onboard the ship. Cruising has long been a popular way for people to travel, especially for those that are retired. There’s something about getting to enjoy an endless amount of food, drinks, and onboard activities while the ship takes you from one destination to another. While the kids are at play, indulge in the ultimate date night with your partner in adventure.
Cobranded Cards
Dining options aboard Disney cruises include main and casual dining as well as adult-exclusive dining options. There are almost a dozen restaurants, cafes, and snack shops on each ship. Some nod to beloved Disney movie characters, like Lumiere’s on Disney Magic and Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder. Entertaining kids on any vacation is usually top of mind when planning a trip. A kid-friendly cruise line will have entertainment for its youngest sailors. Kids’ and teens’ clubs, pools, and water slides are just a few of the kid-specific amenities that you’ll find on a lot of the cruises on this list.
Some of these activities are included in the fare, while others have an additional fee. 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. All ships have a variety of dining options, including a main dining room, specialty restaurants and other casual options for all kinds of diners.

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. For example, Power of Plankton investigates the world of tiny marine organisms and their importance. Art projects, cooking groups, competitions, and programs managed by counselors keep everyone engaged while they learn and have fun at sea.
Certain nightclubs and lounges are only for adults, as are some pools, the spa and at least one restaurant. If a family cruise vacation is on your list, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. Whether you prefer nonstop energy and lots of things to do or a more laid-back and low-key vibe with luxury amenities and excursions, there is a cruise line for you and your family. All 3 of the dining venues aboard The Gauguin offer a well-thought-out menu with both formal and informal dining options. Lindblad Expeditions aims to be the premier expedition cruise line.
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. 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. The cruise line features the world’s largest ships and the tallest water slide at sea. From arcades to roller coasters, there is never any shortage of thrill-seeking activities to find on board any Royal Caribbean cruise.
There’s not an expectation for the yachts to frequently be teeming with children, but the cruise line expects to host more young passengers during summer and holiday school breaks. MSC Cruises is a European-based cruise company with a growing footprint in North America and the Caribbean. It’s known for offering an affordable cruise option without a lot of the fluff of other cruise lines.
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