Unpopular opinion: It’s OK to take your kids out of school for travel. What they’ll experience from seeing the world is a whole other level of education and enrichment. Plus, it gives the family time to recharge from their busy day-to-day schedules.
While my family and I tend to be more intrepid travelers, lately I’ve been craving a vacation that involves less hassle to plan. Hello, cruising.
What I love most about a cruise is that you get to see multiple countries in one trip, while unpacking only once. You have a variety of family-friendly activities, restaurants, and more right outside your stateroom door—and all of it can be a great value for your money. Fuel your wanderlust, and join me in my international cruise-planning mom era with these six magical itineraries.
1. Iceland Intensive Cruise
Ship: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Silhouette
One of the most unique and rugged landscapes you can visit is Iceland, and there’s no better way to explore the country than via cruise ship. Celebrity Cruises features a short July and August season that circumnavigates the country every year. The seven-night itinerary starts in Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavic, before visiting three other coastal ports of call, Seydisfjordur, Akureyri, and Isafjordur.
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Iceland is exciting for a family cruise, especially for those with kids who love animals and science. Throughout the sailing, you’ll be able to go waterfall chasing, hike up rugged hills, and spot plenty of seabirds.
I also suggest building in a few extra days to your Iceland trip to enjoy Reykjavik. The city is very walkable, with a host of restaurants (including an iconic hot dog stand), a handful of museums, and hot springs.
Ship highlights for families: Even though it’s one of the older ships in Celebrity’s fleet, Celebrity Silhouette still has a lot to offer families, especially those with older kids and teens. Enjoy playing some card games overlooking the dramatic landscapes in the Panorama Lounge, or send the kids off to Camp at Sea while the adults indulge at the spa. And teens who love Broadway will love the theater show, On Broadway, along with other performances on the ship throughout the week.
2. Norwegian Fjords
Ship: Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Line is known for its over-the-top magical vacations at sea, and that’s only amplified with a cruise on the Disney Wish to Norway. The summer season is quite short, with just two weeklong sailings, but it is nice that you don’t have to take your kids out of school for this one.
There are two different itineraries. One goes to Kristiansand, Olden, Alesund, and Haugesund, Norway, and the other ventures to Bergen, Hellesylt, Alesund, and Stavanger, Norway. No matter which one you choose, you’ll be enchanted by the incredible fjord views, charming towns, and local culture. Both cruises are round-trip from Southampton, England, so you can also spend some time pre- or post-cruise in the United Kingdom for an even more exciting vacation. The port is just a quick hour train ride from London.
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Ship highlights for families: The Disney Wish, like all of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, was built specifically with families in mind. The beautiful ship features plenty of princess motifs, including a Cinderella-themed Grand Hall. Of course, kids will love the onboard kids clubs (for young cruisers ages six months to 17 years old) and water slides. And when it’s time for some family play time, Hero Zone is the spot to be with its pick-up sports games, table-top games, and inflatable obstacle course.
3. Southeast Asia with Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam
Ship: Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess
If you’re willing to wait a little longer for a cruise, Princess Cruises has an incredible two-week round-trip option from Singapore with stops in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The series of cruises takes place at the end of 2027 and into 2028 on Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess ship.
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One highlight of the sailing takes place in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, where guests can tour the Mekong Delta or visit a local market to collect the necessities for a hands-on cooking class. There’s also an extended port stop in Bangkok, Thailand, which is ideal for those who want to try authentic Thai cuisine, see the stunning temples around the city, or set out for some independent exploration.
Ship highlights for families: There’s also plenty of sea days built into the itinerary, allowing you and your family some time to rest and enjoy all that the ship has to offer. Diamond Princess features kids clubs for the littlest cruisers, ages 3 to 17, plus multiple pools and hot tubs, deck parties, and more. Just know that this isn’t one of the line’s newer mega-ships, so while it has some for kids, the ship and port-intensive itinerary may be better for older kids and teens.
4. Greek Isles: Santorini and Athens, from Istanbul
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva
Greece is one of those destinations that’s best explored by ship, because it allows you to see more than one island. Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, Olympia, and Corfu round out the alluring isles on this 10-night itinerary, which is offered during the summer months, so you don’t have to worry about your kids missing any school days.
Norwegian Viva also will give you a taste of the Balkans—one of my favorite regions of Europe, due to its rugged beauty and persevering energy—with stops in Kotor, Montenegro, and the Croatian cities of Split and Dubrovnik. This is where families can truly tap into their adventurous sides. The cruise wraps up in Venice, where you can unwind on a gondola ride.
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The sailing begins in Istanbul, a city bursting with palpable culture and ornate beauty—qualities that can also make it overwhelming to explore on your own. For this reason, I recommend linking up with a tour operator (my go-to is Ada Vegas Travel) when you arrive at least a day or two early, to help you navigate the only city in the world that covers two continents.
Ship highlights for families: Splash Academy kids’ club for ages three and up; activities such as go-kart racing, an escape room, a water park, two dry slides, and an interactive mini-golf course
5. Osaka & Tokyo Overnights Cruise
Ship: Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas
Japan is all the rage these days, and I’m here for it. The country has been on my wish list since I was a kid, awed by its well-preserved, ancient traditions that co-mingle so seamlessly with its modern ingenuity. And exploring via cruise ship can give you a taste of what each region has to offer without having to plan the travel route yourself.
Spectrum of the Seas spends part of its season in Asia, with a handful of sailings to Japan. This eight-night sailing likely will require some days away from school, but because of how long it takes to get there, you’ll want to maximize your time. The first sailing of this season also coincides with the tail-end of cherry blossom season—a once-in-a-lifetime sight you don’t want to miss.
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This “feast for the senses” sailing takes you from Shanghai, China, right to the heart of Japan with an overnight in Osaka and another in Tokyo. Expect to be left totally speechless by the scenery, learn about Japan’s samurai past, feel at peace in ancient temples, and see your kids become more adventurous eaters.
Ship highlights: Adventure Ocean kids’ club for ages three and up, with an optional nursery for littles as young as six months; activities such as skydiving and surf simulators, a water park, rock-climbing wall; and cabins specifically designed for families
6. Bon Voyage! France Family River Cruise, from Paris
Ship: Tauck ms Lumiere
When I embarked on a Viking River cruise through the South of France in 2016, I told myself I’d return someday with my future husband and children. The region is a wonderland for families, where the towns thrive but lack “big city” crowds; the scent of lavender and sweet baked goods wafts through the air; a slower pace encourages wandering; and carousels abound, making for fun, impromptu rides. (I rode on as many carousels as I could—no shame.)
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What I love about Tauck Bridges’ seven-night itinerary is that it includes two nights in a Paris hotel before the five-night cruise, which stops in Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, and Lyon. The line makes it effortless for families to enjoy their trip, with shore excursions, meals, and unlimited drinks all wrapped into the cruise fare. Summer departure dates also mean guilt-free planning.
On this cruise, families will get to visit a private ranch in La Camargue—known as “French cowboy country—for a hayride and traditional Provencal lunch. Other standout experiences include early access to the Musée Marmottan Monet (exclusive to Tauck Bridges), a Van Gogh-inspired chocolate painting class, and a game of petanque played with locals.
Ship highlights: Destination-inspired activities for the whole family, as well as onboard amenities such as a putting green and hot tub
Editor’s Note: This story contains reporting from FamilyVacationist’s Senior Theme Park and Cruise Editor, Megan duBois.
