Family Cruises and Cruising with Kids

What Is a Family Cruise?

A family cruise is a vacation on a cruise ship designed to accommodate travelers of all ages, from infants to grandparents. These cruises combine accommodations, dining, entertainment, and activities in one floating resort, making it easy for families to relax, explore, and enjoy time together.

• Onboard children's programs and teen clubs
• Family-friendly shore excursions and activities
• Staterooms and suites designed for multi-person occupancy
• All-inclusive dining and entertainment options

Why a Family Cruise?

• Tremendous Value: Cruises are virtually all-inclusive vacations. One price includes accommodations, meals, onboard activities, kids programs, and entertainment.
• Hassle-Free Vacation: On a family cruise, there's no shopping, cooking, or cleaning. No lines, no rental cars, no gas bills, no worries. You unpack once and let the crew take care of the rest. From twice-daily cabin service (including fresh towels) to 24-hour room service, it's all included.
• Multi-Generational Floating Resorts: Today's state-of-the-art cruise ships offer something for everyone. With rock climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, rollerblading tracks, pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, movie theaters, sports bars, libraries, video arcades, kids' programs, spa services, shopping, cooking classes, enrichment seminars, guest speakers, yoga, and more. There's plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
• Convenient Home Port Departures: With ships departing from 22 ports across the United States and Canada, cruising has never been more convenient. You can find a departure port within driving distance of many major cities, including Miami, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Galveston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Seattle, saving your family hundreds on airfare.
• Family Dining: When was the last time everyone sat down together for dinner? On a family cruise, you can make it a nightly tradition. Cruise lines ensure your family enjoys a delicious meal together every evening. Want a quiet night without the kids? No problem! Alternative dining options are always available. Best of all, there's no cleanup.
• High Satisfaction Vacations: Cruises consistently rank among the highest in guest satisfaction across the travel industry. Studies show that families who cruise together often return for another trip within two years. A family cruise is one of the easiest ways to keep everyone happy.

Cruising with Kids

In addition to these reasons for choosing a cruise for your family vacation, here are a few more things families traveling with children should know.

Family-friendly cruise lines offer onboard children's programs staffed by certified youth counselors. Participation in these fun and educational activities is optional, but many parents find it's actually hard to get their kids to leave. Programs are available both on sea days and while the ship is in port.

Children are typically grouped by age into three or four categories, each with its own dedicated space and age-appropriate activities. Some ships even feature teen clubs. The minimum age to participate is usually 2 or 3 years old, and children are generally expected to be potty trained. However, some cruise lines require kids to be at least 5 years old.

While some cruise lines, such as Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, guarantee children's programs on every sailing year-round, others offer them seasonally or only when a minimum number of children are onboard. In these cases, availability is usually confirmed within 60 days of sailing.

Cruise ships offer a variety of stateroom options for every budget, including suites, balcony staterooms, ocean view staterooms, and interior cabins. Each family can choose the option that best fits their needs and budget. Some cabins can accommodate four or five guests in one room, so families with small children may not need to book more than one cabin. Depending on your family, here are a few things to know about cruise ship accommodations:

• Triple and Quad Occupancy Cabins: If you have young children and want them to stay in the same room, it's possible to find a cabin that accommodates more than two guests. Many ships offer cabins with a third or fourth bed that pulls down from the wall or ceiling. These beds can be tucked away during the day so they're out of your way. Your cabin steward will set them up each night and store them again in the morning.
• Connecting Cabins: Newer ships offer a variety of configurations designed for families. One popular option is connecting cabins with interior doors, similar to hotel rooms. This provides extra space, a separate sleeping area, and often an additional bathroom. As with hotels, you will be paying for two rooms.
• Family Suites: Family suites are a great option for groups of five to eight guests. These accommodations typically include two bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, spacious living areas, and balconies that are perfect for gathering together. Because availability is limited, families interested in these suites may need to book up to a year in advance.

Family Cruises FAQs

• Programs typically start for children aged 2-3 years, with teen clubs for ages 13-17. Age minimums vary by cruise line.

• Most family cruises include meals, onboard activities, entertainment, and children's programs. Some excursions and specialty dining may be extra.

• Some cruise lines allow infants under the age of 2 to travel at reduced rates. Cribs or bed rails are usually available upon request.

• Yes, many lines offer evening babysitting for an additional fee, though availability varies. On ships without formal late-night programs, private in-cabin babysitting may be limited and not always guaranteed. In most cases, an additional fee applies.

• Triple/quad cabins, connecting rooms, and family suites are ideal for groups of 3-8 people.

• Yes, select ports and excursions offer age-appropriate activities for children. Some lines even offer kid-focused excursions. If your itinerary includes a private island, children's programs may also be available.

• Yes, most cruise lines provide meals specifically designed for children, in addition to standard dining options.

Best Cruise Lines for Families

For more information about each individual cruise line's Children and Teen Programs, click the links below:

			Carnival Cruise Lines The Most Popular Cruise Line in the world with a Las Vegas-style atmosphere specializing in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico with convenient departure points around the US. more info
			Celebrity Cruises Gorgeous ships, subdued elegance, pampering service and gourmet cuisine all make Celebrity one of the most talked-about cruise lines in the industry today. more info
			Costa Cruise Line Boutique cruise line with an Italian flair that appeals to an international clientele wishing to sail the Caribbean during the winter or Europe and Mediterranean in the summer. more info
			Disney Cruise Line The dream-makers at Disney have created a unique vacation experience by defining separate areas for families, kids and adults. Combine your cruise with a stay at Walt Disney World. more info
			Holland America Line A traditional cruising style with a comfortable refined social environment creates a loyal clientele by providing quality, consistency and Asian-style service to destinations around the world. more info
			Norwegian Cruise Line The casual and contemporary atmosphere of Freestyle Cruising offers flexible and enriching cruising experiences to unique itineraries like Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and Bermuda. more info
			Princess Cruises Big ships with surprisingly intimate, romantic atmospheres and personalized service attract both first-time cruisers and experienced travelers on itineraries all over the globe. more info
			Royal Caribbean International Perfected the floating resort by boasting incredible, innovative ships and by offering both elegant relaxation and active adventure all in one vacation to destinations worldwide. more info