Considering a cruise vacation? Many cruise lines are trying to entice travelers—specifically those looking for family cruises—with incentives to head for the high seas, including promotions that let kids sail free on new bookings. So, whether it’ll be your first cruise vacation or you’ve lost count of how many sailings you’ve been on, why not do it with free cruise fare for the kids?
Kids Sail Free Cruise Deals for 2022
With an assist from the experts at Cruise Critic, we’ve compiled a complete list of major cruise lines that will let kids cruise free or at a significantly reduced price 2022. Additional cruise fare savings onboard these kid-friendly cruise lines also put a vacation within reach for families looking to balance tighter budgets with the strong urge to return to normalcy and have an adventure together again.
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1. Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has a loyal family following that appreciates its extensive kid-centric offerings, including kids clubs, family-oriented entertainment options, endless pools and water play areas, menus built with kids’ palates in mind, a private island oasis called Perfect Day at CocoCay, and even kid-centered spa options.
Royal Caribbean offers kids sail free promotions at certain times throughout the year, allowing children aged 12 and under to cruise free. You can find the latest offers here. If you don’t see a kids sail free promotion, check back often, as they can go quickly once offered.
2. Norwegian Cruise Line
Another cruise line that caters to families, Norwegian is offering some seriously good deals on 2022 itineraries, including up to 70 percent off for the guest on an itinerary and loads of “Free at Sea” perks. Norwegian also frequently offers kids sail free deals.
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The cruise line typically offers up to five freebies with its “Free at Sea” promotion: free open bar, free specialty dining, free excursions and port expenses, free Wi-Fi, and best of all, kids sail free rates for the third guests and fourth guests in your group (for select cruise departure dates; exclusions on Thanksgiving sailings, Easter sailings, and spring break may apply). Visit NCL.com to learn more about this offer.
3. MSC Cruises
Kids aged 18 and under sail free on select cruise departures with MSC Cruises, while tots aged two and under always sail free.
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MSC also offers an all-in-one pricing option for single parents or guardians traveling with up to three kids. With this offer, the adult is charged full cruise fare, the second guest under age 18 pays 60 percent of the adult fare, and the remaining children are charged reduced fares. For more information or to check the valid cruise departure date for these offers, check out MSC Cruises.
4. Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises regularly allows children aged 17 and under to cruise free when staying with the first two qualifying guests aged 21 or older in the same stateroom. The line’s kids sail free offer is available on select cruise departure dates. For more information, visit Crystal Cruises.
Editor’s note: Following the bankruptcy of its parent company, Crystal Cruises ceased operations in January 2022.
5. Holland America
Cruising to destinations as far and wide as Asia, Alaska, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Indonesia, Holland America offers kids cruise free promotions on select voyages. Its current deal is lets children 17 and under cruise for free on select 2022 voyages when you book by February 28, 2022. The offer applies to third or fourth guests on select sailings. For more information, visit Holland America.
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This story about kids sail free deals was originally published in September 2020. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.
