Picture this: you’re planning your next family vacation and a cruise may be the perfect fit. Now you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of options for family cruise lines and ships within those lines. With so many cruise lines serving families and a handful of new ships debuting every year, narrowing down your choices can be challenging. But it doesn’t have to be if you know how to sift through each line to find something your crew may enjoy.
Just like every member of your family, every cruise line has its own “personality.” Royal Caribbean is all about thrill-seeking fun, Disney Cruise Line focuses playful magic and family bonds, and Norwegian Cruise Line is the free-spirited option. Peel back the layers even more, and you’ll find that each ship within those larger brands has nuance.
Just remember: Bigger is not always better. An example of this is Norwegian Cruise Line, whose Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss (two of the line’s largest ships) have a more mature, adult-centric vibe onboard that’s not really conducive to sailing with junior cruisers.
To help you determine the best option, here are nine cruise lines I recommend, plus their most kid-friendly ship. (Sailing with babies or toddlers? Here’s a more comprehensive breakdown of the best cruises for kids under 5.)
1. Disney Cruise Line
There’s no denying Disney Cruise Line is one of the best cruise line for families. Even those who don’t consider themselves “Disney fanatics” are moved by the magic around the ship. Cutting-edge technology and entertainment are central to nearly every experience, from dining to the production shows.
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The kids’ clubs feature distinctly themed spaces for kids to do everything from reading and crafts to supervised science projects. Even better, Disney has the most robust care options for all ages, of any line. They’re split into three groups: Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab (ages three to 10), Edge (tweens ages 11 to 14), and Vibe (teens ages 14 to 17).
On the sun decks, families can enjoy swimming pools (including one just for the youngest cruisers) and water slides. Thoughtfully designed staterooms with ample storage, bunk beds, big (oftentimes split) bathrooms, privacy curtains, and other features are the icing on the cake.
Best Disney ship for kids: Any ship is a great option for families, but my favorite is the Disney Magic. The ship is one of the smaller options in the current fleet, making it easy for families to get around. I also love that the ship features plenty of spaces for adults to enjoy some time alone around the vessel. If you’re traveling with a little princess, do not skip Rapunzel’s Royal Table. The dinner show is part of your cruise fare, and everyone joins in the fun to celebrate Rapunzel’s birthday.
2. Royal Caribbean
Adventurous spirits are drawn to Royal Caribbean for its long list of thrill-seeking activities. A rock-climbing wall, surf and skydiving simulators, the Splashaway Bay water park, wet and dry slides, and other recreational fun underpin a youthful energy onboard. Bigger ships keep the upbeat vibe going with themed “neighborhoods.” For example, the Boardwalk with its merry-go-round and casual eateries.
Kids can retreat to the Adventure Ocean youth club, a massive space that caters to different age groups: Aquanauts (three to five), Explorers (six to eight), Voyagers (nine to 11), plus tweens and teens (12 to 17). Littles, six to 36 months, have special programming as well. Various family cabin categories ensure there’s something for everyone.
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Best Royal Caribbean ship for kids: Icon of the Seas is my pick for the best Royal Caribbean ship for kids. This is especially true if you’re traveling with tweens and teens. The ship is full of adventures, from rock climbing and surf simulators to escape rooms and an ice skating rink. When it’s time for some family bonding, enjoy a meal at any of the onboard restaurants before heading to the theater to see The Wizard of Oz. It’s one of my favorite shows at sea.
3. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Families with older kids who love nature and science may enjoy National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Expedition cruises sail around the world so you can experience things like adorable puffins in Iceland, views of glaciers in Alaska, searching for blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands, and more.
What makes these itineraries so unique is that you and the crew truly never know what’s going to happen. For instance, I recently took a trip with the brand to Iceland. One day we hiked to the Arctic Circle and another day we enjoyed a calmer expedition to Diamond Beach to see the glacier ice that washed up against the black sand.
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National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions offers immersive programming for young adventurers, called Explorers in Training. Some of the activities that may be offered include directing a nature documentary in Alaska, collecting plankton and learning about the microscopic creatures in Baja California, and more.
With most of your time spent off the ship in nature, life onboard is pretty laid-back. There’s no kids’ club, but most ships do have a pool or hot tub as well as a lounge space for games and low-key entertainment. Because of this, I recommend these types of cruises for families with tweens or teens who are really into outdoor adventure and science.
Best National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions ships for kids: Instead of a specific ship, the better option with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is to choose a specific itinerary. If your kids love birds and cold weather, Iceland is ideal. Warmer weather and marine life are abundant in Baja California.
4. Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney is a group travel brand from Disney. It offers exceptional river cruise itineraries for families looking for a unique vacation in storybook settings. River cruises take place throughout the year in a host of beautiful European countries like France, Germany, Netherlands, and more.
What makes Adventures by Disney river cruising so special is nearly everything is taken care of by expert Adventure Guides. All your family needs to do is show up. From the moment you arrive at the airport to the moment you leave the ship for the final time, you’ll experience special moments that can only come from Disney. For instance, every night you’ll get a Disney trading pin that showcases the activity for the day, you’ll have exclusive access to some of the world’s best cultural treasures, and even some Junior adventurer only experiences so adults can enjoy some alone time too.
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Best Adventures by Disney ship for kids: Just like National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, the best way to pick the right cruise for your family is to actually look at the itinerary over the ship. Disney partners with AmaWaterways for its Adventures by Disney river cruises. Most of the brand’s river cruise ships are pretty similar. So what’s the best itinerary for kids? I love the Danube River Cruise. There are plenty of kids activities at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, plus a day trip to Salzburg to live out your best Sound of Music dreams.
5. Princess Cruises
“The Love Boat” cruise line continues to set the stage for families who love tradition and a slower pace. This makes Princess Cruises an excellent choice for those with teens and young adults. Some of the line’s most revered traditions include Movies Under the Stars (complete with popcorn and cozy blankets), guided stargazing, and family cooking classes.
Every ship comes with Camp Discovery. The kids’ club divided as follows: The Treehouse (ages three to seven), The Lodge (ages eight to 12), and The Beach House (ages 13 to 17). Some ships also have their own kid-friendly accoutrements, such as the Reef Family Splash Zone on Caribbean Princess, and batting cages and simulated laser shooting range on Regal Princess and Royal Princess.
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Best Princess Cruises ship for kids: Sun Princess is one of the newest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet. The ship hosts activities for kids, from the wide-ranging kids clubs to family-friendly games and trivia. As night falls, head to the Dome for movies under the stars and live acrobatic performances.
6. Norwegian Cruise Line
Free-spirited families, rejoice. Norwegian Cruise Line rides its own wave in the mainstream cruise industry, with no set dining times or dress codes. This makes it easy for families to savor the seemingly endless activities onboard. There’s a nice mix of adventure and relaxed fun, so everyone in the family can go at their own pace, whether they want to take on a water slide or two, or simply enjoy live music in one of the many onboard lounges.
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Standout features, which vary by ship, include bowling, rock-climbing and rappelling walls, a ropes course, multisensory slides, and waterparks. The Splash Academy kids’ club hosts kids ages three to 12, while teens 13 to 17 also enjoy their own space with Entourage.
The entertainment onboard is varied and plentiful, ensuring everyone in your family has something to look forward to in the evenings. Additionally, the diversity in dining options means even picky eaters will be satisfied. I especially love Indulge Food Hall. Here, you can order from a tablet on your table and try a wide range of cuisine from Indian and Asian to Mexican and an entire station dedicated to desserts.
Best Norwegian ship for kids: Norwegian Prima is ideal for families with kids of all ages. The ship features plenty of family-friendly fun, from competitive go-karting and mini-golf to a duo of dry slides that hang off the side of the ship. For something a little more relaxing, you can enjoy one of the infinity pools onboard, and kids even have their own water play area near the top decks of the ship.
7. A-Rosa
River cruise lines are quickly gaining steam as a top family vacation option. A handful of companies have cultivated the best river cruise itineraries for kids, but only one cruise line has built a ship with everything a family could want.
On A-Rosa’s Sena river cruise ship, you’ll find a kids’ club, a children’s pool, a putting green and other top-deck games, and a plethora of activities including designing your own t-shirt, a treasure hunt on the ship, and face painting. Parents and caretakers will love the added comfort of large staterooms, family tables at the restaurants, and special menus for kids.
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It’s all enough to keep your children busy when excursions aren’t taking place. And the family-specific tours (a la Comics Station Antwerp, an indoor theme park inspired by Belgian comic heroes) are definitely something you don’t want to miss.
Best A-Rosa ship for kids: A-Rosa Sena, for all of the reasons listed above. Just know that this ship only sails on the Rhine River.
8. MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises’ Mediterranean roots add a sprinkle of culture to its ships. The big draw for families, however, is the breadth of offerings across its fleet.
Ample dining options, impressive kids’ clubs and programming, and outdoor recreation ranging from ropes courses to water parks and pools, depending on the ship, are among the highlights. Connecting cabin categories, as well as suites in MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club—a private enclave with its own rooms, pool, and restaurant—offer more space for families who need it.
Partnerships with LEGO and Chicco baby gear amp up the offerings in the children’s club. Youth programming includes a Baby Club for tiny cruisers ages 0 to three, a Mini Club for three- to six-year-olds, and Juniors Club for seven- to 11-year-olds. Kids 12 to 14 and 15 to 17 have access to their own Young Club and Teens Club, respectively.
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Best MSC Cruises ships for kids: The best MSC Cruises ship for families is MSC Seascape. The massive vessel features 15 dining venues, 19 bars, over a dozen pools, a robotic rollercoaster at sea, and a massive water park for kids. If you have the budget to splurge, I highly suggest booking a cabin in MSC’s Yacht Club. The conceierge-level accommodations come with a host of extra perks, from included Wi-Fi and a dedicated butler to expedited embarkation.
9. Carnival Cruise Line
When I say “not all ships are created equal,” Carnival Cruise Line is one of the first cruise lines that come to mind. From party-centric short sailings to more family-minded mega-ships, there’s a Fun Ship for every type of cruiser. Many of Carnival’s ships feature adventure-packed sun decks with everything from ropes courses to roller coasters. Plus, there’s plenty of areas for adults to catch the relaxing vibes of the open ocean.
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Carnival ships all offer Camp Ocean youth clubs. Organized into three age groups—Penguins (two to five years old), Stingrays (six to eight years old), and Sharks (nine to 11 years old)—it treats kids to arts and crafts, music, games, and on newer ships, bigger and more enchanting spaces. Other family highlights include mini bowling, outdoor movies, and a Dr. Seuss Bookville reading space.
Best Carnival ship for kids: If you’re looking for a cruise ship with all of the bells and whistles, Carnival Mardi Gras (or it’s sister ships, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee) is worth your vacation dollars. The ship has six themed zones, including an entire section of the ship dedicated to pools and waterslides. The Lido zone is also where you’ll find the best burgers at sea at Guy’s Burger Joint.
Editor’s Note: This story features reporting from Gina Kramer.
