Thursday, April 18, 2024

7 Best Cruise Lines for Families

cruise vacations for families

It’s easy to see why the new Disney Wish makes the grade as one of the best cruises for kids and their magic-loving parents. Before setting sail with Mickey and friends, be sure to consult this essential cruise packing list. While you are preparing your kids for your cruise (especially if they've never been onboard a cruise before), it helps to plant the seeds about the activities and facilities onboard designed just for them. This is also a good time to check height and weight limits for onboard activities — there's nothing more disappointing than showing up to a much-anticipated waterslide and realizing your kiddo is an inch short.

Carnival

Luxury cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will no doubt have a superb menu, but they may not be expert kid-pleasers like Disney Cruise Line when it comes to food. Beach time, boat rides, water sports, luaus and volcano tours combine for an epic family trip, with the ship taking the stress out of meals and transportation. Norwegian Cruise Line is all about giving cruisers options to create different versions of the perfect cruise vacation, all within the same ship. Families keen on rooming together can take advantage of frequent "kids sail free" fares and pay only the taxes and fees for children under 18 who are the third and fourth passengers in a cabin.

cruise vacations for families

WHY CRUISING IS THE BEST WAY TO

Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking River Cruises won for best medium ship and best ocean ship, respectively. Stateroom configurations range from inside to suites and can accommodate between 2 and 4 guests. This information can be found on the highlights page of each sailing’s itinerary.

MSC Seaside

Norwegian Cruise Line, with destinations around the world, features a wide range of family-friendly programs and activities. For children ages 5-12, there’s Splash Academy, with complimentary activities like sports, creative play, parties, and theme nights. Entourage, for year olds, features complimentary supervised activities such as video games, movies, music, art, and a special lounge just for them. While the kids are having fun, adults have a spa, adults-only pool, theater, casino, and private beach club. Opportunities for family togetherness include mini golf, scavenger hunts, family nights, casual dinners, and shore excursions. The Norwegian Prima, the newest ship in their fleet, actually features a three-level race track that all ages will enjoy.

Some of the ships have those famous rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks, FlowRider, and ziplining. The RCI supervised year-round youth program, Adventure Ocean, is targeted to kids 3 to 17 in five age groups, but the company also has a nursery program for ages 3 months to 36 months. If you have older kids, Norwegian may be the best cruise line for your family.

Odyssey Of The Seas

As for the food, the cruise line prides itself on buffet style at the Windjammer, specialty restaurants and complimentary favorites (like Loco Fresh, Sorrento’s Pizza and Park Cafe). If you’re looking for a table service, Royal Caribbean offers kids’ menu at their main dining halls, featuring pizza, spaghetti and chicken tenders. Imagine a family vacation during which you only have to unpack once, are offered age-appropriate amenities and never have to make the beds, do dishes or cook. Oh, there’s also an on-deck water park for kids, an outdoor theater, roller coasters, go-kart tracks, escape rooms, skating rinks, skydiving simulators, pools, hot tubs and restaurants all within a short walk. Kids will love the Celebrity cruises, pools, waterslides, and kids’ clubs, while parents can enjoy the spa, fitness center, Trivia contests, night clubs, and adult-only dining options. With so much to do onboard, families will never be bored on a Celebrity Cruise.

Best Entertainment Options

From cruises to exotic destinations like the Caribbean and Mexico to more relaxed sailings in Europe and Alaska, there’s sure to be a trip that appeals to every family member. And with Costa’s affordable pricing, families can enjoy a high-quality cruise without breaking the bank. 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.

If your family is anything like mine, you'll agree that the best family vacation ideas are the ones that give you a taste of summer when it's frigid back home. Its National Geographic Global Explorers program offers exclusive and family-friendly programming for kids and teens. If you and your family want to make the most of a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll want to check out Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and Amplified ships. These classes of ships feature even more exciting attractions including glow-in-the-dark laser tag and several on-deck pools.

cruise vacations for families

The LEGO Group has designed new play areas featuring a vertical LEGO wall, a tech experience, a LEGO parade and a “master builder” diploma award ceremony. I say "little ones" with tongue firmly in cheek because my teenage stepsons are easily a foot taller than I am. They love the comforts of home while traveling, especially when it comes to food — from pancakes to pizza, chicken fingers, French fries, and soft-serve — these teenagers love their American delights.

Cruising is the Best Vacation for Family Reunions and Group Trips - TravelPulse

Cruising is the Best Vacation for Family Reunions and Group Trips.

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Based on my decades of cruise experiences, let’s take a look at the best cruise destinations for families. Finding your crew’s just-right stay-place is easy, with spacious rooms designed with families in mind. Choose from rooms with endless ocean views or suites with wrap-around balconies. If you and your fam want a little extra privacy and space, you can reserve one of the ship's casitas. Each of these poolside cabanas comes with exclusive attendant service, delivering snacks and sips directly to you. When the Icon of the Seas launches in January of 2024, it will be the biggest cruise ship in the world.

On the ship, they can take part in NASA-inspired activities, including building a Mars Rover, hands-on learning about orbit, designing their own mission patch and more. This Norwegian Cruise line offers kids clubs which will allow parents to have some alone time. Kids clubs have daily activities, so you can pick which activities to join based on your preferences. The cruise ship offers laser tag, mini-golf, broadway musicals, waterslide adventures, and more. Their ships offer plenty of activities for kids of all ages and plenty of opportunities for parents to relax and enjoy some time for themselves.

Themed dining rooms, character meet-and-greets, Broadway-caliber shows, and deck parties are just some of the ways you can enjoy your time on a Disney cruise. Families can participate in family-friendly game shows, dance classes, and arts & crafts projects. There is also a kid-friendly pool and water slide for the little ones to enjoy. For those families looking for some quiet time, there is a library and an adult-only pool (called the Solarium). For starters, the ship has a waterslide park with two slides, a pool, and a splash pad for kids.

With small ships and itineraries visiting places like the Galapagos Islands and Arctic regions, a trip with Hurtigruten appeals to those with an explorer's heart. For people who aren't enchanted with the floating theme park feel of some mega-ships, but want to share a marine experience with their kids, this could be just the thing. You won't find Broadway-style stage shows or waterslides, but they do have hot tubs (some ships also feature infinity pools).

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Navigating Family Travel Like a Pro.

Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The Park Cafe venue is also found in the Solarium, so you can grab a bite to eat. According to Cruise Critic, the general age range of cruisers is 30 to 80 years old. You’re not likely to find a cruise line or ship that exclusively caters to 1 age group. Select ships feature a fully-immersive virtual reality experience, a movie theater, and an arcade room.

Consider destinations with calm waters, exciting ports of call, and warm weather for your first cruise. The Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mediterranean are the best destinations for your first cruise. A cruise through the Panama Canal is not just a trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; it is a trip through a wonder of modern engineering with a rich blend of art, cultures, and natural beauty. Cruising through Norway’s fjords, such as Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, provides breathtaking sights with waterfalls, rocks, and untouched beauty for family cruising. Penguin watching is one of the most enjoyable activities during an Antarctica cruise. Take your binoculars to observe thousands of penguins in their natural environment.

All you have to do is reserve your seats in advance via the Cruise Planner app or on board at the box office. This will ensure you can snag seats for everyone in your party in the same row or section. Read on for everything you need to know to have the best family vacation on this latest addition to the Oasis Class. We love the Vegas-style bright lights at the mini-golf course, the wood-paneled basement-esque open-air darts rooms and the beer pong, shuffleboard and pickleball court that comprise The Stadium on Deck 18. If an extreme adrenaline rush is your kid’s thing, then The Drop and The Rush slides are going to be a hit. The former is 10-stories tall and the first free-fall slide in the world that actually winds around the outside of a ship.

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