Which Cruise Should I Sail with My Family?

Are you looking to take your little ones on a cruise but worried about finding the right fit for the whole family? Look no further because I've got the inside scoop on the top 5 kid-friendly cruises!

Cruises are a fantastic way for big families to gather together because there is bound to be something for everyone. You can spend as much (or as little) time as you want bonding with all your relatives. Our kids loved the all-you-can-eat dinner rolls and ice cream, beach hopping from one port-of-call to the next, and being able to decompress back in our cabin just about anytime they wanted. The grown-ups enjoyed the endless smorgasbord of food, on board entertainment, and activities that kept everyone busy from morning to night.

Disney Cruise Line

Best for those who love pixie dust: Who doesn't love Disney? If you say you don't, we may have to stop being friends. Kidding! (Or am I?) This cruise line is perfect for families with young children who are obsessed with all things Mickey Mouse. If your kids have outgrown the Fab Five, don't sleep on the Marvel and Star Wars experiences! From character meet-and-greets to themed activities and dining, there's definitely something for everyone. Plus, parents can relax at the adults-only areas while the kids are having a blast at the kids' club.

Disney cruise lines have unique rotational dining for dinner service where your party (and the dining room staff dedicated to your group) move from one themed dining experience to the next each night so there's always something new for your impatient toddler to marvel at while you enjoy your multi-course meal.

Disney's newest ship: The Disney Treasure is upping the ante for cruise ship experiences with the new Fiesta on the High Seas interactive Coco dining experience and a heroic musical quest with Moana on stage for the first time.

Royal Caribbean

Best for never having a dull moment: If a Disney cruise is too hard on the wallet, look into our favorite - Royal Caribbean. This cruise line has everything a family could want and more! With activities like mini-golf, rock climbing, ice skating, and unlimited carousel rides, your little ones will never be bored. And if your teenager is too cool for family time, they can hang out at the teen-only areas and make new friends.

On our recent sailing on the Wonder of the Seas, we were blown away by the Cirque Du Soleil like aqua theater performance. And there seemed to be more activities than time for older kids and adults including Flow Rider surfing, zip line, laser tag, an escape room, and the world's tallest slide at sea, The Great Abyss.

Royal Caribbean's newest ship: Icon of the Seas. All 5 of the world's largest cruise ships belong to Royal Caribbean and Icon takes the cake as biggest of them all. Sail dates through 2026 are open! Plus, keep an eye out for sailings on Star of the Seas launching summer 2025 which will be the next in the Icon class.

Carnival Cruise Line

Best for tight budgets: Carnival is the ultimate party cruise, but don't worry, it's still kid-friendly! With water parks, mini-golf, and even a Dr. Seuss-themed area, your kids will be in heaven. And for the parents, there are plenty of adult-only areas to enjoy some peace and quiet. Plus, if you've ever wondered what it's like to ride a roller coaster at sea, the newer Carnival boats (Mardi Gras and Celebration) are the places to do just that.

Carnival Cruise line is known for being more affordable, some trips sail for as little as a couple of hundred dollars per person. They also charge a bit less than their rivals when it comes to for-purchase add-ons like drink packages and specialty dining.

Carnival's newest ship: Carnival Jubilee first set sail December 2023, and sail dates all the way through 2027 are available to book now!

Norwegian Cruise Line

Best for those who want to venture further from home: If your family loves adventure, then Norwegian is the cruise for you! From zip-lining to racing down waterslides, there's never a dull moment. This cruise line also boasts go-karts on some of their newer ships to race ahead of the competition. Plus Norwegian cruise line visits more ports than any of the other cruise lines mentioned above which makes it a great choice for globetrotters.

Norwegian's newest ship: Norwegian Viva has all of the over the top experiences you'll find on the Norwegian Prima so your final decision may be determined more by destination. Eyeing a cruise around the Mediterranean? This could be the best ship to take you there.

Princess Cruises

Best for luxury seekers: Last but not least, Princess Cruises is perfect for families who want a more upscale experience. This is the luxury line owned by the Carnival Cruise line. They eased off the rollercoasters and rock climbing walls, and shift the focus more towards enriching activities like stargazing on the top deck of the ship or afternoon tea. With activities like cooking classes and wine tastings, parents can indulge in some luxury while the kids have a blast at the kids' club. Plus, the ship's pools and splash areas are sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours.

Princess's newest ship: The Sun Princess like the Norwegian lines will visit more global destinations, featuring longer tours of Europe, the Iberian peninsula, and the Mediterranean.

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Additional Tips to Make the Most of Your Cruise

When Bigger Really is Better. When deciding which cruise to embark upon, after you've settled on dates and location, the next deciding factor should be how new the ship is. Think of each new ship that's built as being that cruise line's chance to one up their competitors. The newer ships, tend to be bigger, have more amenities, and attract the best staff and highest calibre performers. If it's your first time cruising, spend a little more to do it in style.

Book early! Sailing dates for the following year are often announced more than a year in advance. New sailings are typically released in November and December, and others around March and April. Right after the dates are announced, you have the most choices for rooms and have the best chance of getting the exact dates and room type you want.

By booking 12, 18 or even 24 months in advance, you have the luxury of watching the price and making a price adjustment if there is a lower price offered. In most cases you pay a non-refundable deposit to hold your reservation and the remaining balance is not due until closer to the departure date (90 days prior to sailing).

Last minute deals (6-8 weeks before sailing) DO exist, but they tend to be during slow season – think hurricanes or while school is in session. So if you don't have that kind of flexibility, it's best to book as soon as you know when you want to go!

Stay close to the action. We like to book rooms near the middle-decks of the ship so that when the elevators are packed like sardine tins we can also take the stairs to get to where we're going. Mid-ship, lower decks also happen to be the best if you or your kiddos get sea-sick. We always pack sea-bands and Dramamine just in case, because ours get carsick and airsick, but we have yet to need either on a cruise! Check out all my tips for motion sickness here!

Save on the photo package. All the cruises have professional photographers on board and especially on formal or semi-formal nights, this can be a great opportunity to add some professional portraits to your family photo albums. Purchasing the package in advance (before you set sail) will save you money and we've always found the unlimited digital prints packages to be worthwhile and costs less than booking a family portrait session back home.

Support your friendly, neighborhood travel agent. I know in this day and age it's straightforward enough to book travel on your own, but when it comes to cruising there's nothing to lose and everything to gain by going through an agent to book!

You'll want to find a travel agent that won't charge you any fees (they are paid solely through commissions from the cruise line or agencies). We let Brittany over at Fairytale Journeys take care of us and she's a gem. Agents get early access to special promos and deals and will know exactly when new sail dates are announced. A good agent, like Brittany, will monitor those price drops for you and make sure you're booked at the best rate.

Plus an agent can save you time booking tours, excursions, and onboard extras the moment they become available. For our Disney World vacations, Brittany woke up at 5am to book our hard to get dining reservations the day our reservation window opened!

Fly in the day before. If you have to hop on a plane to get to your boat, give yourself some peace of mind by planning to arrive in your departure city at least the day before. This way, if your flights are delayed for any reason, you literally won't miss the boat!

The return flight can usually be booked for the afternoon after returning to port, but check your ship's itinerary and arrival time, and remember it could take 2-3 hours from the ships arrival time to actual complete disembarking.

There you have it! The top 5 kid-friendly cruises that will have your whole family having the time of their lives. Just remember, the most important thing is to relax and have fun. Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen! Happy cruising!