Are Cruises Worth it for Families?

The choice of the best cruise lines for families is an important factor in a successful trip that promises a lot of unforgettable memories and positive emotions.

Family cruises have transformed a lot and are now not the same as their predecessors. In the modern era, cruise lines are trying their best to satiate every family group irrespective of their size and age.

Deciding on a cruise line may not be an easy task for the first-timers going on a family cruise. This is why we’ve picked out some of the best cruise lines to choose from.

Best Cruise Lines for Families

When you’re on the lookout for a vacation that meets everyone’s expectations, some cruises stand out. Here are some of the best cruise lines for families:

1. Adventures by Disney

If you imagine a family cruise, Adventures by Disney presents family-friendly river cruises on AmaWaterways, which offer excitement for everyone.

Parents can spend time on activities like active tours, wine tastings, and castle and museum tours, while kids can enjoy the night with movie shows and more.

The fun part of the cruise is the fact that it includes nightly piano music, baking classes for the kids, and karaoke nights.

Moreover, the guides and local experts with whom you interact make the places you travel to more interesting, sharing with you stories about the locals, their customs and traditions.

These cruises allow you to explore the depths of Europe along the Seine, Rhone, Danube, and Rhine rivers, consequently making them a good family holiday choice.

2. MSC Seascape

The MSC Cruises goes the extra mile to ensure that family vacation planning is a breeze by offering its 4 to 14-night Caribbean cruises from Miami, Brooklyn, or Orlando.

MSC Seascape is a family-oriented ship equipped with 11 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, and 13 pools and aquatic activities.

For kids up to 17 years old, there are plenty of fun activities like sports, competitions, and parties in five different clubs, each designed for specific age groups so kids can hang out with others their age. 

The ship also provides services for babies and toddlers, giving parents the chance to enjoy some downtime and explore the ship’s dining and entertainment options.

3. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton is known for luxury, whether you’re on land or at sea. 

Their first-ever ship, Evrima, launched last summer and offers only suites. Families looking for quality time together will love it.

Kids aged four to 12 can enjoy a special program onboard, with a full-time youth counselor available for an extra fee per session. 

With 46 Mediterranean routes to choose from, you can relax and let the concierge handle all your travel arrangements. Just show up and enjoy the top-notch service the Ritz-Carlton is famous for.

4. Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Cruises presents a wide range of interesting activities for families, for example, the outdoor movie nights and the cupcake decorating workshops.

The program “Camp at Sea” is the main feature of this camp. It is a great place for older kids and teenagers to spend their time. There are about 500 activities available ranging from arts and crafts to cooking classes and sports.

Teens can go to silent discos, video game tournaments, or sports competitions and have fun. They can even spend their time with other teens on the vessel.

This autumn, Celebrity Cruises is going to debut a new cruise ship, called Celebrity Ascent, where you can enjoy all these activities and many others.

For grownups, there is a luxury spa with treatments created especially for kids and teens also, so the whole family can chill out together.

5. MS Santa Cruz II

Hurtigruten is about exploring and discovering. They provide the MS Santa Cruz II vessel which is a special one in the Galápagos Islands, with only 90 passenger capacity.

Families can pick from different routes like a 7-day trip focused on seeing wildlife or a 12-day journey following Charles Darwin’s path through the islands.

The ship has different types of cabins for solo travelers, couples, and families. 

There are also shared spaces like the Sky Deck, Science Center, library, gym, and hot tub where families can hang out together and enjoy the trip.

6. Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line is perfect for families with kids aged 2 to 17. Teens especially love it here.

They can join fun activities like the “Suess at Sea” parade and breakfasts with Dr. Seuss characters. Youngsters can even stay up late with the “Night Owls” program until 1 a.m. 

There’s also the exciting “Hasbro, The Game Show” where families can play giant versions of their favorite games to win prizes. 

And don’t forget the pools, water parks, mini golf, ropes courses, and Skyride on some ships for even more fun.

7. Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruises has amazing trips all over, but their Alaskan voyages are the best. The 7-Day Jeff Corwin’s Nature & Adventure Voyage on Sapphire Princess is a blast.

Kids aged three to 12 can join Camp Discovery for cool science activities based on Discovery Channel shows like MythBusters and Shark Week. 

There are special lounges for kids of all ages to hang out and make friends, plus Animal Planet shore excursions and outdoor movie nights for the whole family. 

There’s so much to do, even big families won’t get bored.

8. MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is a popular European cruise line that’s great for families. 

They understand that traveling with kids can be expensive, so they offer Family Cabins and Super Family Cabins where you pay for the room, not per person. 

They have special clubs for kids of different ages, from babies up to teens. 

Kids can enjoy LEGO and Chicco-themed activities, and the whole family can have fun in splash zones or pools. They even have interactive educational shore excursions!

If you have a baby, MSC Cruises offers a special laundry service just for baby clothes, so you don’t have to worry about mixing them with other laundry.

9. Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Cruise Line sails all over the world, offering lots of different destinations. On their Norwegian Prima ship, there’s something for everyone in the family. 

They have programs for babies, kids, and teens, with activities like playing games, doing sports, and making art.

For adults, there are plenty of things to do too, like relaxing at the spa, trying your luck at the casino, or watching a show in the theater. 

So while the kids are having fun, parents can enjoy some time to themselves.

10. Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is perfect for families with its Adventure Ocean Youth Program, keeping kids entertained with tons of activities. 

Teens have their cool hangout spots like Fuel, with a soda fountain and dance floor, and The Living Room, where they can chill with movies and games.

There’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy, from Broadway shows like “Grease” and “Mamma Mia!” to aqua shows, ice skating, parades, and parties. 

And don’t miss out on fun activities like surfing, rock climbing, mini golf, and even a skydiving simulator. Some ships even have a carousel.

Cruises are great for families because everything you need like food, activities, and places to stay are all in one convenient spot. 

Depending on the cruise you choose, you can visit multiple countries on a single trip. Many cabins even have bunk beds or suites so families can stay together.