Table Of Content
Kids eat free at most restaurants in the lounge, and you can take advantage of entertainment like board games and movies. The 4D cinema experience makes you feel like you’re racing on a freeway or experiencing other immersive scenes without leaving your seat. The Robotron is a thrilling amusement ride, and the Flight Simulator lets you take to the skies while still safely on the ship.
Best Cruise Lines for Families (and Their 12 Most Kid-Friendly Ships)
And luxury travelers interested in expeditions and educational cruising with their families will be delighted to cruise with Lindblad Expeditions, Celebrity Cruises, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Those interested in river cruising can also bring the kids along on Adventures by Disney River Cruises in Europe. All 3 of the dining venues aboard The Gauguin offer a well-thought-out menu with both formal and informal dining options. Lindblad Expeditions ships carry as few as 28 guests and at most 148. As such, cabins and suites vary across the company’s fleet of ships. It’s a little difficult to find out on your own which suites would accommodate more than 2 people or if you can get connecting cabins, though they do exist, as well as standard double-occupancy suites.
The 8 Best Cruises For Teens 2024 - Forbes
The 8 Best Cruises For Teens 2024.
Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Why Princess Cruise Ships Are Great for Kids
It’s known for offering an affordable cruise option without a lot of the fluff of other cruise lines. Family-friendly excursions and tours include a wildlife safari and beach bonfire on an Alaskan cruise, panoramas and painting in Grand Turk, and a stingray adventure in the Bahamas. Onboard activities include Family Feud Live, waterslides, karaoke, and The Punchliner Comedy Club. The IMAX theater and a few other attractions incur an additional cost. There are only 5 ships in Disney Cruise Lines’ portfolio, but Disney has plenty of cruise itineraries to choose from.
CardMatch
The teen’s club was an absolute blast and there were so many activities to do onboard. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. It seems to be smooth sailing ahead for the cruise industry, according to recent reporting.
Children can do arts and crafts, sing karaoke and play video games. The kids' club on NCL Epic has a jungle gym, plenty of room to roam and a cool interactive light-up dance floor. From kid-friendly activities to family rooms and family cruise packages, Disney cruises are packed with family-pleasing extras.
The Royal Caribbean Kids' Club
Onboard restaurants successfully keep kids entertained while allowing parents to enjoy the meal, as well. All ships feature the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where children are transformed into princesses, pirates, knights and sea captains. In short, Disney family cruises are excellent choices for families and leave little room for boredom for everyone. More than two-dozen dining options, including casual eateries like a hot dog joint and a New York-style pizza joint, as well as a variety of upscale specialty restaurants, meaning no taste is overlooked.
The NCL kids' menu includes lots of kid favorites, including waffles, chicken fingers, pizza, freshly prepared pasta, soft-serve ice cream and more. Kids 12 years old and under dining with their parents at specialty restaurants eat for free (but only from the complimentary kids’ menu). Norwegian's casual atmosphere makes it one of the best options for a family cruise -- particularly for families who don't want to be beholden to strict dining times, venues and dress codes. Its affordable rates make it a great pick for those looking for cheap family cruises, too. While P&O Cruises cannot be included in the “cheap family cruises” category, this time-honored British cruise line has long been popular for its packed program for young sailors and families.
Off the ship, Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay, is a great place for families to spend the day together. There’s a playground, water sports, and plenty of beach space to relax and soak up the Caribbean sun. Carnival Cruise Lines has long been a favorite of families cruising with young children.
Onboard the ships, plenty of family cabins and loft suites mean room for the family to spread out. There's even a Royal Family cabin that sleeps eight, and Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas’ Ultimate Family Suite with a two-deck slide, LEGO wall and games aplenty. Anthem of the Seas has a more sophisticated vibe, but many of its attractions are great for families. You can even get started customizing every aspect of your vacation from the moment you book. Browse and save big on onshore experiences, beverage and specialty dining packages, spa treatments and more when you reserve in advance online through Cruise Planner. That way, you can go straight to enjoying your vacation as soon as you come aboard the ship.
If parents want some late-night fun, group babysitting is available for a fee for kids ages 3 to 12. There are live shows for kids, fireworks, pools, splash pads, deck parties and more. Since kids will often be separated from their parents, most cruise lines issue wristbands to children listing their muster station and other information so staff knows where to take them in case of a shipboard emergency. Teens might roll their eyes at the ever-present Mickeys, but Disney Cruise Line does not ignore its older kid guests. Tweens and teens get their own cool hangouts, Edge and Vibe, with video games, foosball and hip seating areas. No one will be surprised that entertainment juggernaut Disney offers an amazing family cruise experience.
If you're after fun on dry land (or at least when you're in port), MSC runs a Family Explorer program, which melds education with fun shore excursions that are designed to be interactive for the whole family. For a kid-friendly Alaska cruise, families on select Alaska sailings can embark on a search for Bigfoot (like the TV show "Finding Bigfoot") or participate in a crab-sorting challenge (inspired by "Deadliest Catch"). This cruise line is also hot on its kid-friendly shore excursions, such as kayaking, bike rides, trips to beaches, boat tours and to the summit of volcanoes or snow-covered mountains. Disney family rooms offer room-dividing curtains, bunk beds with twinkle-light constellations and plenty of storage. The spacious bathrooms in most cabins allows folks to shower in one while someone else is using the toilet in the other. No one does kid-friendly cruises better than Royal Caribbean® — the cruise line voted Best Overall for 21 years running by Travel Weekly readers.
Participants have themed parties, play sports, do arts and crafts, and engage in treasure hunts. Celebrity Cruises are catered to families, with excursions, programs, and activities for kids and adults. They even offer autism-friendly activities, which are highly inclusive. Dine in style at one of the ship’s restaurants or enjoy a casual meal at one of the cafes or bars.
Whether it’s getting a burger at Guy’s Burger Joint, heading to the buffet or going to the dining room for a sit down meal, there is something for everyone. Carnival Cruises is known for having many different dining options that every member of the family can enjoy. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Disney Cruise Line is typically more expensive than other family-friendly cruise lines, the report states. If planning a trip, you should expect to pay at least $1,000 on a cruise for two passengers and the price goes up from there, according to NerdWallet.
