The launch of Disney Cruise Line in 1998 was a game-changer in the family cruise business. Now in its third decade of operation, Disney Cruise Line consistently tops the list of best cruise lines for families. And its newest ship, the Disney Destiny, is unquestionably one of the best for kids and teens ever made. But Disney isn’t the only major player in the family cruising space.
A host of other cruise lines, including Carnival Cruises, Princess, Norwegian, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, have helped usher in a new era of family vacations on cruise ships. With amenities like kids’ clubs, water parks, theatrical dining experiences, and kids sail free deals, there’s never been a better time to book a cruise. Even better, the best cruise ships for kids are also great for grown-ups. So you’ll definitely have plenty of options when it comes to family cruises.
1. Disney Destiny
Disney Cruise Line
The sheer volume of onboard entertainment options for families on the Disney Destiny takes things to a whole new level. From action-packed dinner-and-a-show experiences like Worlds of Marvel and Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King to The Santcum (a Doctor Strange-themed lounge) and the Incredibles-themed inflatable obstacle course, the ship offers a virtually endless supply of things to do.
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Sailings include a stop at one of Disney’s private destinations, Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This is always a highlight of any family cruise. The beaches at both destinations are exceptional. And seeing Mickey and Minnie out on the sand is fun too.
2. Disney Magic
Disney Cruise Line
While every ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet has a claim to be among the best cruise ships for kids, the original DCL family cruise ship deserves a special mention. The Disney Magic is the ship that launched Disney Cruise Line in 1998. With its constant improvements and upkeep, the ship doesn’t feel outdated at all.
Pirates, princesses, super heroes, and a thrilling water slide with a three-story drop are just a few of the fun features that make this a kid-favorite ship on one of the best cruise lines for families. In 2013, Disney added the AquaDunk, a high-speed thrill slide, and the Marvel Avengers Academy in the kids’ club. In 2018, a Tangled dinner theater restaurant made its debut.
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As one of the smaller ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Magic can be a less overwhelming experience for younger kids and first-time cruisers. (The fabulous Disney Wonder is similarly sized.) But there’s more than one reason to consider a Disney Magic voyage in 2026. The ship will be joining the Disney Wonder in Alaska for the very first time.
3. Disney Treasure
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line’s sixth ship, the Disney Treasure, is the ship for fans of the Disney theme parks. Venues inspired by classic attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea are among the highlights onboard. The sister ship of Disney Wish will also have a theater-in-the-round dining experience, this time themed to Pixar’s Coco.
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Disney Treasure has one of my favorite Broadway-style productions called Disney The Tale of Moana in the Walt Disney Theatre. This is one show that you are going to want to make a point to see on your sailing. Best of all, Disney Treasure sails seven-night itineraries to both the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean.
4. Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
A brand-new class of ship made its way to North America in 2024, and it started with Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Among the many firsts for Icon of the Seas is the AquaDome. This is the largest glass and steel structure on any cruise ship. There are also seven pools, six record-breaking waterslides, eight separate neighborhoods, and 40-plus ways to drink and dine. And don’t forget the three-level ultimate family townhouse. The innovative AquaDome is a peaceful oasis during the day and a vibrant hotspot at night with a 55-foot-tall water curtain and AquaTheater that hosts performances with divers, skateboarders, and robots.
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Thrill-seekers will love Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea with six waterslides. There’s also the Crown’s Edge, which is part skywalk, part ropes course, and 100 percent thrill ride. During the experience, you will dangle 154 feet above the ocean. And of course, you’ll also find the Royal Caribbean staple FlowRider surf simulator and the Lost Dunes mini golf course. Those looking to take it easy should head to Chill Island. Here, four pools spread over three decks with sweeping ocean views are the best spots to hang out on board.
Fans of Royal Caribbean will enjoy the Royal Promenade with 15 restaurants, bars, and lounges; Central Park, an open-air neighborhood filled with live plants and trees; and Surfside, the first neighborhood designed specifically for young families. The ship’s seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean family cruises all stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line’s award-winning private island.
5. Wonder of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships debuted in early 2022 and instantly ignited buzz that they might be the most kid-friendly cruise ships in the entire world. At 1,188-feet long and 18 decks tall, there’s plenty of room for families to spread out and find entertainment onboard the Wonder of the Seas. Two dedicated private teen spaces onboard make vacationing with teenagers a little easier.
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Grade school kids and even the littlest ones have it pretty great, too. For big kids, there’s an enormous multiple-deck play area called Wonder Playscape. For the youngest passengers, there’s the Adventure Ocean play area full of soft toys and games for toddlers. And a playground with climbing equipment gives them a space to work off their energy. Wonder of the Seas also has the most amazing family suites around. They come complete with two levels of space, an in-suite slide, table tennis, and plenty of room for the whole family.
6. Oasis of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
When it launched in 2009, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was the largest ship in the world, accommodating more than 5,500 passengers per voyage and cementing its place as one of the best cruise ships for kids. After a reimagining 10 years later, Oasis of the Seas is still a popular option for family cruises. It features a Caribbean-inspired pool deck, rock climbing walls, and the Perfect Storm trio of multistory waterslides.
7. Norwegian Viva
Norwegian Cruise Line
What makes Norwegian one of the best cruise ships for kids? For one thing, you’ll never hear “I’m bored” during your cruise. With its three-story race track, two escape rooms, The Rush and The Drop dry slides, The Wave waterslide, immersive virtual reality games, Topgolf simulator, mini golf, waterpark, splash ground, and kids’ clubs, your family’s biggest problem on the Norwegian Viva might just be deciding how to balance all the activities with quiet relaxation.
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The ship’s Observation Lounge has panoramic 180-degree views to soak in the scenery and relax. Alternatively, you can take Insta-worthy photos on Oceanwalk’s glass walkway. After playing the day away in port or on the ship, your family can enjoy dinner followed by a live performance of Beetlejuice: The Musical, based on the cult-classic Tim Burton film.
8. Carnival Panorama
Carnival Cruise Line
One of Carnival Cruise Line’s newer ships, Carnival Panorama, has many kid-friendly features. Panorama has supervised kids’ programs in three different age categories. There’s also a massive aqua park, the popular SkyRide aerial attraction, SkyCourse ropes course, and the first SkyZone trampoline park at sea.
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In addition, Carnival’s exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises provides “Seuss at Sea” experiences on family cruise vacations. Families can enjoy Dr. Seuss Bookville, Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, and the Seuss-a-palooza Parade. Based in Los Angeles, Carnival Panorama sails two to nine-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera in 2026.
9. Caribbean Princess
Princess Cruises
Made famous by the classic ’80s TV series The Love Boat, Princess Cruises now hosts more than two million passengers each year. Kid-friendly Caribbean Princess boasts family offerings, including Camp Discovery Youth and Teen Center, HD Movies Under the Stars, and the Reef Family Splash Zone (the line’s first splash zone at sea).
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Other features that earn the Caribbean Princess a spot on my list of best family cruises include its partnership with Discovery Inc. for “Discovery at SEA” activities, which feature Animal Planet and Discovery Channel programming, the Stanley the Bear experience, and JrChef@Sea cooking classes. In 2026, Caribbean Princess will sail from both Port Canaveral and Port Everglades in Florida, on weeklong to 20-day itineraries.
10. MSC Meraviglia
MSC Cruises
Unless you’re a hardcore cruise family, MSC Cruises might be the largest cruise line you’ve never heard of. One of the leading cruise lines in Europe, MSC is working hard to get a foothold in North America by offering great deals on family cruises. These include kids ages 17 and under sailing free on select departures.
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Family-friendly MSC Meraviglia launched in 2017 and features five different kids’ clubs for children from babies to age 17. Teens have their own space with a cinema, game room, and live stage. Meraviglia’s Polar Aquapark has three different waterslides, including a high-speed “champagne flute” that will keep kids lining up for more.
Families can play together in the vast entertainment area that has an MSC Formula One Racing Simulator and a two-lane bowling alley. There’s also a Sportsplex facility for basketball, tennis, squash, volleyball, pickleball, mini golf, and five-a-side soccer.
11. MSC Seascape
MSC Cruises
The U.S. flagship of the MSC Cruises brand, MSC Seascape, was designed with families in mind and offers a variety of options for onboard entertainment. The cruise line’s partnership with LEGO includes a DUPLO room for children ages three to six and a second LEGO room for kids ages seven to 11, with the opportunity to earn a LEGO Master Builder certificate. Teens have three different themed areas to engage with their peers.
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You have to check out Robotron on these family cruises. Robotron is a robotic arm ride that sends you 173 feet above the sea. You’ll also have a 360-degree view as you’re moved in different directions and flipped upside down. At night, Robotron offers a personalized DJ experience where you can curate your musical journey with colors and music preferences. MSC Seascape sails from Galveston, Texas, on Western Caribbean family cruises.
12. Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Cruises
An upscale cruise line with prices to match, Celebrity Cruises appeals to families with older children or multigenerational groups looking for luxurious family cruises. Celebrity Equinox is not the newest ship in the line (its inaugural sailing was in 2009), but this kid-friendly cruise ship received an extensive overhaul as part of the “Celebrity Revolution” in 2019 and continues to impress with its family cruises in 2026.
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Celebrity’s Camp at Sea kids’ program offers a diverse and constantly changing series of activities so that it’s “never the same camp twice.” And Celebrity Equinox has a host of STEM programming on topics such as astronomy, ocean creatures, and ship engineering, with behind-the-scenes tours of the belly of the vessel.
