Families come in all shapes and sizes and so do cruise holidays! Our cruise experts share their ideas, tips and recommendations on the best cruises for families, whether you are travelling with ‘smallies’, teenagers or young adults:
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TIPS
- Kids clubs are broken into different ages so there is generally something for everyone, from toddlers to tweens. They generally start from age 3 but this will depend on the cruise line. This allows parents to enjoy dinner together while the young cruisers eat with their friends.
- Are your kids too young to take on a cruise holiday? Check out age guidelines for the cruise line and if they have a minimum age (this could be as young as 6 months old).
- Check if baby sitting services are available.
- Some cruise lines will offer this service so kids can stay onboard while parents/adults take a day excursion.
- All cruise lines offer family cabins from larger suites to interconnecting cabins. Some cruise lines have fantastic family suites including Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises.
- Check out the trips, excursions and activities available.
- Pick the right time of the year for the destination and the right level of activity.
- Look out for ‘kids sail free’ offers.
- Bear in mind older smaller ships are not really suitable for kids/teens.
- With multigenerational holidays, family cruises and generally travelling as a bonding experience for different generations, it is important to find an experience that keeps everybody entertained, the best cruises for families are those where there is something for everyone to enjoy!
TOP 5 CRUISE LINES FOR FAMILIES
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean has won several awards for best family cruise line. Their water slides, sports facilities and entertainment are a huge hit with families. Their Adventure Ocean programme caters from babies as young as 6 months of age and also have a babysitting service available onboard. Parents can spend quality time together while the little ones have fun and even get off during the day to go on a shore excursion while kids stay on board.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
One of their top suites has a cool slide from upstairs to downstairs! Some Norwegian Cruise Line ships even have a race track!
MSC CRUISES
Having partnered with Lego, MSC Cruises have some really cool features onboard. There are bottle making stations in the main areas and offer strollers onboard, ideal for those with babies and small children.
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity Cruises run a fantastic ‘Camp at Sea’ programme, catering for different ages and varied activities from art and food to science and technology.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Cruises include kids activities in the Camp Discovery from 6 months of age and have many facilities for families with kids of all ages.
A ROSA CRUISES
A Rosa often run special offers for families looking to experience river cruising in Europe. They run kids clubs for children from 4 years of age to 15.
CRUISE DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES
- When booking for a family its more important to get them on the right ship than the itinerary itself.
- Orlando and cruise is really popular combination you can enjoy Orlando’s famous theme parks for a week and cruise for a week from Florida.
- Mediterranean Cruises are also very popular as tweens want to see Rome’s iconic monuments and Barcelona FC soccer stadium.
- Families with older kids and young adults with an interest in adventure and nature might enjoy cruising to places like Alaska and the Norwegian Fjords; or taking a once in a lifetime expedition cruise.
- River cruises are also a great option for older kids, teens and young adults, who might be interested in the local culture, and activities along the river. Popular river cruise destinations include the Rhine, Danube and Douro in Europe but there are also some extraordinary exotic destinations that would be an unforgettable family holiday, such as Egypt and the Nile River, Vietnam and Cambodia or India.
- Find inspiration on our website: CRUISE DESTINATIONS
We hope you find these tips and ideas on best cruises for families useful. Talk to our award-winning cruise team for more advice and planning your next family cruise!
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