Best Cruise Lines & Cruise Ships for Kids

When you plan a family cruise, ensuring an enjoyable experience for your kids is crucial. Unhappy children can quickly put a damper on the trip. That's why it's essential to choose a cruise ship that caters to both parents and kids, creating a harmonious vacation for everyone.

The top cruises for families provide a wide range of activities and entertainment options for kids under 18. They offer diverse dining choices that cater to young and teen tastes, ensuring no one goes hungry. These cruises prioritize family-friendly accommodations and onboard services, making your voyage smooth and enjoyable. Plus, they create opportunities for children to meet and socialize with peers, enhancing their cruise experience.

No matter your family size or budget, you can discover fantastic sea vacations that will leave your kids exclaiming, "This was the best cruise ever!" at the end of the week.

Discover the ideal cruise vessel for your upcoming voyage by exploring our recommended cruise ships designed to cater to both children and adults.

MSC Seascape

On the MSC Seascape, you'll find a floating mega-resort that caters to kids of all types. What sets this ship apart is its Robotron amusement park-style ride. Here, three riders at a time secure themselves into seats attached to a robotic arm, which then takes them on a thrilling journey, twisting and turning over the ship and the sea.

For the water enthusiasts, the Pirates Cove Aquapark offers slides, a splash zone, and a rope bridge. If your kids prefer virtual adventures, they can enjoy F1 race car simulators, VR motorcycle racing, a 4D movie theater, and a video arcade. Families can also split into teams for sports court competitions or engage in organized games that make use of the latest technology to challenge guests of all ages.

The ship's Doremi Land kids club has a Lego theme and provides dedicated spaces for babies, kids, and teens. Covering 7,567 square feet, it features two Lego rooms – one for younger kids with Duplos and another for older kids with regular Lego bricks. Teens have their own spaces, including a gaming area with VR options, a hangout area with ping pong and foosball, and even a dance club.

And don't forget to indulge in the incredible pizza, including dessert options slathered in Nutella – a treat the whole family is sure to enjoy.

Sun Princess

When it comes to family entertainment, Princess' new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess, set to debut in 2024 and beyond, promises to stand out among the fleet.

Sun Princess will introduce a significant upper-deck activity zone named Park19, a perfect fit for kids. This zone spans three decks and offers nine sun-soaked activities. Among the attractions are the Sea Breeze Rollglider (similar to hang-gliding on an elevated track but safer), a climbing structure with obstacles and a slide, a ropes course, a splash zone, and a sports court.

Inside the ship, Firefly Park will provide kid programming and family play spaces for children aged 6 months to 7 years. Tweens and teens will have their dedicated hangouts – Neon Grove and The Underground – equipped with comfy lounge furniture and a variety of video and other games.

Carnival Celebration

When you step aboard a Carnival ship, you're in for a social and fun-filled experience where passengers and crew alike are ready to connect, share stories, and enjoy the voyage together. If your family enjoys meeting new people and creating lasting memories, you'll feel right at home on Carnival Celebration, the line's new and spacious ship.

For outgoing kids, there are fantastic opportunities to make friends onboard. The Family Harbor Lounge, Camp Ocean, and Dr. Seuss Bookville are great spots for younger cruisers to socialize. Older kids will appreciate the teen and tween clubs, conveniently located near Guy Fieri's burger stand and the video arcade.

Carnival Celebration, along with its near-identical twin Mardi Gras, offers an exclusive attraction: Bolt, a thrilling top-deck roller coaster. A ride on Bolt not only provides an adrenaline rush but also serves as the perfect Instagram-worthy moment and bragging rights for kids on vacation. The Ultimate Playground area on the ship is where young cruisers can challenge their newfound friends to a round of miniature golf, waterslide races, basketball, or conquer the ropes course.

If your kids are foodies, they'll love the variety of casual eateries on board. You can meet up with friends or family at no-fee spots like Shaq's Big Chicken restaurant and the Street Eats venues offering dumplings, meat on a stick, and loaded French fries. And don't forget the all-hours pizza and ice cream to keep the whole family fueled up for the interactive "Family Feud Live" show.

Norwegian Encore

When it comes to teens, Norwegian Encore offers a slightly more mature atmosphere compared to some family-oriented ships, but it's a hit with adolescents due to its onboard attractions. The ship's upper decks beckon older kids with one of the largest go-kart tracks in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and an open-air laser tag arena, perfect for exciting battles under the night sky. Additionally, a substantial virtual reality playground offers rides and games that surpass the typical cruise ship arcade.

Parents, take note that passes for the go-kart race track, virtual reality games, and laser tag come at a cost. Be ready to budget for these activities to ensure your teens have a blast.

In the evening, teens can satisfy their appetites with a variety of dining options, including tacos, hibachi, barbecue, and 24/7 burgers and comfort food at The Local. They might even agree to join you for a show as cool as "Choir of Man," knowing that they can retreat to the late-night hangout spot for teens, Entourage, to socialize with their peers.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

Even before its launch, Royal Caribbean's upcoming ship, Icon of the Seas, is poised to become one of the top choices for families with kids, and here's why. On this expansive vessel, children will find a plethora of activities to keep them engaged. From a thrilling six-slide water park to an adventurous ropes course, a surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, sports court, and Surfside—a dedicated deck filled with play areas and family-friendly restaurants, there's no room for boredom.

For those who enjoy captivating performances, you'll be treated to ice skaters performing incredible jumps on a ship that's swaying with the waves, and acrobatic divers executing breathtaking flips and splashes in the AquaTheater, situated high on the ship beneath a glass dome. Don't forget to catch the pizza and parades on the Royal Promenade, Icon's indoor shopping hub.

Additionally, the ship will introduce innovative family cabins and suites designed to cater to guests of all ages. Among them, the Ultimate Family Townhouse will offer a sprawling three-floor living space complete with a screening room, karaoke machine, in-suite slide, and a backyard leading out to the Surfside family neighborhood. This ship promises a fantastic family cruise experience for all.

Disney Wish

When you embark on a Disney cruise, you'll find that it's not just the kids who have a blast – there's plenty for adults to savor as well. This is particularly true on the recently launched Disney Wish in the summer of 2022.

On Disney Wish, there are four distinct kids clubs tailored to different age groups. However, what sets it apart is the captivating entrance to the main Oceaneer Club, designed for kids aged 3 to 12. Imagine your kids sliding into the club, setting the stage for an adventure within. Inside, they can explore spaces themed around "Star Wars," fairy tales, Marvel, and the creativity of Disney Imagineers.

With Disney Wish, the entire family can look forward to an unforgettable cruise experience, where both kids and adults can have a fantastic time.

When you step aboard Disney Wish, there's a world of family-friendly experiences waiting for you. For the young cruisers, there are exciting features like the kids club. But the fun doesn't stop there.

Junior cruisers can enjoy two movie theaters screening the latest Disney movies, Broadway-style shows featuring beloved tales like Aladdin and the Little Mermaid, and dining experiences that transport you to Arendelle from "Frozen" and the immersive Worlds of Marvel.

Adults have their share of delights as well. There's a "Star Wars"-themed bar and exclusive fine dining venues for an elegant culinary experience.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the best cruise line for kids, it's evident that families have a myriad of exciting options to consider. From Disney Cruise Line's magical adventures to Carnival Cruise Line's high-energy fun and Royal Caribbean's action-packed offerings, each cruise line brings its unique charm. Regardless of your choice, the joy and laughter of your children are guaranteed. When it's time to plan your family cruise adventure, look no further than Cruisebound. As the ultimate platform for booking cruises online, Cruisebound provides you with access to the best cruise deals, ensuring that your family’s dream cruise is not only unforgettable but also budget-friendly.