What Is the Best Cruise Line for Families?
Family-friendly cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises are all strong contenders, but the best cruise line for your family depends on the ages of your kids, the type of activities you enjoy, and how structured you want your days at sea to be.
What are the best cruise lines for families?
In This Article:
Royal CaribbeanDisney Cruise LineCarnival Cruise LineNorwegian Cruise LineMSC Cruises
Royal Caribbean
FeatureAvailabilityBest Family-Friendly FeatureLate Night Party ZonePrice$ – $$$Dining$0 to $130 (premium dining) Approximately 10 to 20 total restaurants on each ship, with at least seven included in the dining package price.Kids ClubYesTeen ActivitiesYesWater ParkSeveral per ship, plus the Thrill Waterpark at Cococay (not on board ship)Childcare AvailableYes, for a fee. Some childcare services are included in the cost of your cruise.
Royal Caribbean may be the best option for families seeking a kid-friendly cruise that isn’t overtly geared toward children. It’s a great option for families with children who want to pack plenty of adventure and variety into their days at sea while still enjoying the cruise experience.
Royal Caribbean is my pick for family-friendly cruising that isn’t over-the-top or overtly designed for kids. Your kids will have plenty to enjoy, but you won’t feel as if you’re on a kiddie cruise.
My favorite thing about Royal Caribbean is the selection of onboard recreational activities for both kids and adults, including rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, zip lines, and the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea.
Family-Friendly Features
All Royal Caribbean ships offer family-friendly dining options, incredible entertainment, and memorable onboard activities, all of which are part of your all-inclusive price.
Additionally, the cruise line offers a range of programs for young children and lounges designed specifically for older children. Teenagers have access to a wide variety of activities on board, with younger and older groups able to participate in ice skating, table tennis, rock climbing, and more.
The ships also offer opportunities for parents to enjoy some time alone dancing, dining, or visiting the onboard casino, while younger kids are supervised in the Adventure Ocean kids’ care program. The program’s Late Night Party Zone provides after-dark supervision for children ages 3 to 11 from 10 pm to 2 am, allowing parents to enjoy a kid-free evening.
The most popular excursion for cruisers is a Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island located in The Bahamas. Guests enjoy free entry to five stretches of beaches and unlimited dining at five island food spots.
A favorite feature of the island for the whole family is the Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. Upgraded amenities are also available for an extra fee.
If you prefer to swim onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas‘ 40,000-gallon Royal Bay Pool is the largest freshwater pool you’ll find on a cruise, perfect for a refreshing plunge, relaxing, or playing games on the pool deck. And the line’s Star of the Seas invites cruisers to visit the biggest waterpark at sea, Category 6.
Dining
Dining on Royal Caribbean cruises is flexible and family-friendly, with options that work for different schedules and picky eaters. Programs like My Family Time Dining help younger kids finish their meals without frustration, so parents can relax and enjoy their vacation.
Families can choose from casual buffets, main dining rooms, and specialty restaurants, making it easy to find something everyone enjoys. Whether your children want familiar favorites or want to try something new, the Royal Caribbean dining plans have you covered.
Most meals are covered in the cost of your cruise, but some specialty restaurants and premium dining experiences cost extra, and certain drinks or menu items may also have additional charges.
Best Ships for Families
Royal Caribbean’s most kid-friendly cruise ships include Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, and Star of the Seas. Other Royal Caribbean ships considered great for families include Oasis of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas.
Disney Cruise Line
FeatureAvailabilityBest Family-Friendly FeatureDisney Live ShowsPrice$$$ – $$$$Dining$0 to $145 (specialty/premium dining)Approximately 10 to 20+ total restaurants on each ship, with three main dining rooms included in the dining package price.Kids ClubYesTeen ActivitiesYesWater ParkYes, on certain ships.Childcare AvailableYes, for an additional cost.
As you might expect, Disney Cruise Line is one of the best when it comes to family-friendly cruises. It’s obviously the best option for Disney fans of all ages, but it’s also great for family cruisers, whether they’re dedicated fans of the brand or not.
In a nutshell: Families will have plenty to do on a Disney cruise, even if indifferent to princesses and woodland creatures. However, it might not be worth the extra cost if you and your kids aren’t Disney enthusiasts.
Family-Friendly Features
Disney cruise ships offer a range of age-based kids’ clubs, along with character experiences and family entertainment. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if the Disney theme parks were on water, that’s exactly what you’ll get with a Disney cruise.
My favorite feature on Disney cruises is the shows. You can see a live performance of Beauty and the Beast on Disney Treasure and Disney Dream, or a live performance of Frozen on Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy, or Disney Destiny.
In addition to Disney-themed entertainment and endless ways to enjoy the brand, cruisers find staterooms that are typically more spacious and comfortable than on most cruise ships. The rooms are well-suited for traveling with children, featuring privacy curtains, storage space, and divided bathrooms with separate sinks.
There are also plenty of features you’ll find on Disney cruises that are similar to what you’d find on other cruises.
For example, Disney Cruise Line has a private island called Castaway Cay, similar to Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line’s newest private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera, opened in 2024 and features Bahamian-inspired design and cultural elements.
Disney Cruise Line also makes it easy for parents to have some alone time while at sea. For an added fee, they can enjoy a romantic dining experience at one of the ship’s fine dining restaurants while kids of all ages are safe and supervised at one of the ship’s kid or teen clubs.
Dining
Meals are included in the cost of most Disney cruises. Your cruise fare covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, plus snacks, soft drinks at beverage stations, and ice cream. Dining on Disney Cruise Line’s private island is also included.
As you might expect, Disney Cruise Line offers plenty of kid-focused dining touches, from familiar favorites and flexible menus to themed restaurant experiences designed to keep the littles cruisers engaged and entertained at mealtime.
Keep in mind that Disney Cruise Line’s dinner-and-a-show experiences can extend dining times. There are some specialty dining experiences, as well as alcohol and certain extras that cost more.
Best Ships for Families
Disney Cruise Line offers Caribbean, Bahamian, and European cruises. There are currently eight ships in the Disney fleet, including Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, and every one is designed for family travel.
While Disney Cruise Line is a great option for “Disney families,” it may not be the best choice for those who aren’t brand enthusiasts. These cruises are geared toward children and may lack some traditional cruise features that adults value.
Carnival Cruise Line
FeatureAvailabilityBest Family-Friendly FeatureBOLT: Ultimate Sea CoasterPrice$ – $$$Dining$0 to $150 (specialty dining)Approximately 8 to 15+ total restaurants on each ship.Kids ClubYesTeen ActivitiesYesWater ParkYesChildcare AvailableYes, with a fee for the Night Owls program.
Veteran cruisers consider Carnival Cruise Line as the fun party cruise line, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they offer plenty of features for people of all ages. I consider Carnival Cruise Line the best option for families looking for onboard fun at an affordable price.
Family-Friendly Features
Family-friendly features on Carnival ships include trampoline parks, ropes courses, and water parks. Carnival Cruise Line ships offer kids’ clubs for younger cruisers, separated by age group: Turtles for children under two, Penguins for ages two to five, Stingrays for ages six to eight, and Sharks for ages nine to eleven.
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One thing I love on Carnival ships is the Family Feud Live game show. Groups of five or more must audition for a chance to be contestants, but everyone is invited to join the audience during the games. Family Feud is available on non-European, non-Australian, and non-South Pacific seven-day-plus cruises.
If you’re sailing on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, or Mardi Gras, make sure you set aside time for you and the kids to ride the Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster. As if it wasn’t thrilling enough to ride a roller coaster while sailing, this coaster is special. Riders control their speed while enjoying a 360-degree view of the ocean.
There’s also the Carnival SkyRide. It’s a suspended, pedal-powered bike ride located high above the top deck on select ships like the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon. The cost of this attraction is included in your cruise fare.
Dining
Dining Carnival is designed to be flexible and family-friendly, with many meals included in the cruise fare, except for Steakhouse Selections, Bonsai Sushi Ship, and certain drinks.
Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast and dinner in the main dining rooms, along with changing menus, kid-friendly options, and casual buffet choices. Ships also offer Sea Day Brunch on days the ships are at sea.
In addition to the standard menus in the main dining rooms, children’s menus are also available.
Best Ships for Families
Some of Carnival Cruise Line’s ships, like Carnival Panorama, Carnival Horizon, and the larger ship Carnival Vista, are more kid-friendly, while the SEA line of ships is designed for cruisers 21 and older.
Norwegian Cruise Line
FeatureAvailabilityBest Family-Friendly FeatureThrillplex Amusements and AttractionsPrice$$ – $$$$Dining$0 to $60 (premium dining). Approximately 10 to 20 total restaurants on each ship.Kids ClubYesTeen ActivitiesYesWater ParkYesChildcare AvailableNo, but the Late Night Fun Zone provides two hours of evening supervision.
Norwegian Cruise Line might not be the first one that comes to mind when you think “family friendly,” but they’re a great option for families who want affordable cruising.
They often run deals that allow second, third, and fourth cruises to sail for free, and their Free at Sea program lets you customize your experience with specialty dining, excursion credits, and more.
Additionally, ships offer a variety of “thrills at sea.” This includes activity zones with various attractions like go-kart racetracks, waterslides, laser tag, ropes courses, and more. Two of the best-loved experiences are the Ocean Loops in the Aqua Park and the Galaxy Pavilion virtual gaming wonderland.
The Norwegian Aqua features the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea.
Dining
In addition to basic dining options, the Free at Sea program allows cruisers to include one or more specialty dining experiences depending on the length of their cruise.
Upgrading to Free at Sea Plus means you get the usual program inclusions, as well as 50% off the cover charges of additional specialty dining nights. Cruisers 13 and under dine for free when they order from the kids’ menu.
Family-Friendly Features
Of course, Norwegian Cruise Line also offers a variety of family-friendly activities you’ll find on other ships, including ropes courses, kids’ clubs, and kid-friendly entertainment.
Splash Academy offers supervised activities, such as scavenger hunts or arts and crafts, for younger children ages 3 to 12. Entourage is the perfect solution for older kids ages 13 to 17, as they can hang out, play video games, or have fun at the teens-only nightclub. Kids can also enjoy theme nights, including Glow, White Hot Party, and College Night.
Parents can also have some evening time alone while their kids are supervised at the Late Night Fun Zone, available from 10 pm to 12 am.
Best Ships for Families
NCL’s most family-friendly ships include Norwegian Breakaway, as well as Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Spirit does not offer youth programs.
MSC Cruises
FeatureAvailabilityBest Family-Friendly FeatureThemed play zones and kid-friendly excursionsPrice$ – $$$Dining$0 to $80 (specialty/premium dining). Approximately 10 to 20 total restaurants on each ship, depending on ship size.Kids ClubYesTeen ActivitiesYesWater ParkYes, but with limited featuresChildcare AvailableYes, for an extra fee
MSC Cruises blends affordability and onboard entertainment for a family vacation that offers fun, memorable activities.
As Europe’s largest cruise line, MSC Cruises takes parents and kids to more than 200 destinations throughout the world. Trips often include a visit to the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line’s private island located in The Bahamas.
Family-Friendly Features
MSC Cruises’ ships offer exclusive family decks, as well as splash parks and themed areas for kids. Some ships also have virtual reality and simulator games. The company has also partnered with LEGO and Chicco to create play zones and spaces designed for children as young as toddlers.
Accommodations are also family-friendly, featuring interconnecting cabins or family suites for larger families and multiple families traveling together.
In addition to the onboard family-friendly amenities, MSC Cruises offers kid-friendly excursions. Excursions are led by professional guides and include visits to historical monuments and natural attractions designed to be engaging, educational, and accessible for all ages.
MSC Cruises ensures excursions are affordable for families by offering discounted rates for children ages 3 to 13 and free admission for children ages 2 and younger.
Dining
Dining on MSC Cruises offers a wide range of options. Main dining rooms and buffet restaurants serve international and Mediterranean cuisine and are typically included in your cruise fare, with meals offered daily across multiple venues.
Families will also find kid-friendly menu choices and flexible dining settings that make mealtimes easy and enjoyable for younger guests. For an additional cost, specialty restaurants and dining packages offer upgraded culinary experiences with diverse global menus.
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Best Ships for Families
The cruise line’s most family-friendly ships include MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, and MSC Bellissima. All three ships offer dining, activities, and amenities suitable for people of all ages.