5 of the Best Cruise Lines for Families

Looking for ways to pack your next family vacation full of vitamin sea? Well, you've come to the right place! No matter where you're going, cruise vacations are a great option for family travellers. Think all-inclusive dining options, onboard entertainment and activities, engaging kids' clubs, far-flung destinations and, of course, the huge perk of only having to unpack once.

That said, not all cruise lines are created equally when it comes to catering to your youngest passengers. And that’s where we come in. Prepare to weigh anchor and sail away with us as we explore the best family cruise lines available.

• Disney Cruise Line
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess^® Cruises
• Royal Caribbean

We can't talk about kid-friendly cruises without mentioning Disney Cruise Line. From immersive dining experiences in intricately themed restaurants (like Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure and Worlds of Marvel on Disney Wish or Rapunzel's Royal Table on Disney Magic) to Broadway-style live shows featuring the soundtracks to our childhoods — Disney knows a thing or two about entertaining kids and adults alike! Oh, and did we mention the unlimited soft-serve ice cream available on board?

There's something quite surreal about passing Elsa, Moana or Spiderman as you walk around the ship, and youngsters (and the young at heart!) will love being able to meet and interact with their favourite princesses, superheroes and Jedis. Disney is also the only cruise line to offer fireworks at sea, with the spectacular event taking place during Pirate Night on most itineraries.

Each Disney ship features plenty of onboard activities to keep everyone busy — ranging from trivia and lounges to drawing lessons and late-night movies. Swimming pools and aqua play areas are available on all ships (don't miss the exciting AquaDuck water coaster on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy) as well as peaceful adults-only zones for parents to unwind.

Wondering about kids' clubs on board? Disney has the whole family covered with the "it's a small world" nursery and Oceaneer Club for the little ones, plus dedicated spaces like Vibe, Edge and the Hideaway (on select ships) for older kids.

• Europe
• North America
• Caribbean
• Panama Canal
• Mexican Riviera
• South Pacific
• Asia (from 2026!)

Did you know? Disney Cruise Line has its own private island and peninsula in The Bahamas — Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay — exclusively available to cruise passengers sailing on select Caribbean itineraries!

If you're looking for a family cruise served up with a side of excitement, MSC Cruises has you well and truly covered! From the ROBOTRON robotic arm thrill ride on MSC Seascape that swings riders 53m above the sea to the MSC Formula Racer virtual reality experience (available on select ships) and exhilarating ziplines on the decks of MSC Seaview and MSC Seaside — no matter where you're sailing, there's plenty to get your heart pumping at sea.

Working up an appetite after all that adrenaline? There are special kids' menus available in the main dining room and even dedicated kids' buffet areas, so why not treat the adults to a date night at one of the onboard specialty restaurants while the kids eat dinner with their new friends?

Kids' clubs on MSC Cruises cater to youngsters aged six months to 17, and the best part? It's all included in your cruise fare! There’s something for all age groups — think Masterchef at Sea Juniors and Dance Crew competitions for tweens and teens, and guided activities and play areas for the little ones.

• Europe
• Asia
• Arabian Gulf
• Caribbean and Antilles
• Panama Canal
• Canary Islands
• South Africa
• North and South America

Did you know? LEGO^® is an exclusive entertainment partner of MSC Cruises, and every sailing includes a special LEGO^® Experience On Board — a whole day of LEGO^®-themed activities! Just make sure you're wearing shoes...

Sea days fly by on board Norwegian Cruise Line! With so many family and kid-friendly activities on offer, you'll be kept busy from dawn ’til dusk! Waterslides, splash parks, racetracks, laser tag, rock climbing, mini golf, video arcades and the longest ropes course at sea are just some of the activities waiting for you and your family on select Norwegian cruise ships.

As every parent, guardian and carer knows, flexibility is key when travelling (or just living!) with kids, and something that sets Norwegian Cruise Line apart from the other family-friendly cruise lines on this list is their very attractive Freestyle Dining offer. The lack of a rigid, pre-assigned dinner time is a huge perk and allows families to roll up to the Main Dining Room more casually when everyone is ready to eat, rather than trying to schedule the day around mealtimes. Oh, and while we're on the topic of food, if you do decide to spend a little extra on specialty dining, you'll be happy to know that passengers under 18 can eat for free as long as they order from the kids' menu!

Need another reason to plan your next family vacation with Norwegian Cruise Line? Youth and kids' clubs are included in your fare and are ready to welcome passengers aged three to 17.

• North and South America
• Mexican Riviera
• Caribbean
• Bermuda
• Panama Canal
• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• South Pacific

Did you know? Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to offer a racetrack at sea, with Norwegian Joy debuting in 2017. Today, five of the cruise line's ships include racetracks and it's possible to reach speeds of almost 50 km/h behind the wheel. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road so you don't get distracted by those incredible ocean views on the horizon!

Another one of the best cruise lines for families is Princess^® Cruises thanks to incredible onboard entertainment and its cutting-edge MedallionClass^®, which makes personalizing your family vacation a breeze. You and the kids can use your wearable Medallion^® devices to find and communicate with each other on board, easily access your stateroom (no more forgetting the key card and getting locked out!), customize your dining times, order snacks and more.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly activities on board Princess^® cruise ships, including mini golf, dance classes, swimming pools, air hockey and video games, to keep passengers of all age groups busy at sea. Keen to keep the party going after sundown? Unwind with Movies Under the Stars^®, plus Deal or No Deal and the Voice of the Ocean competitions — yup, you'll get to vote and watch those iconic red chairs spin (or not spin) live! Princess^® Cruises has also partnered with Stephen Schwartz of Wicked fame to launch a series of exclusive musical performances for passengers to enjoy.

Onboard youth and teen clubs are included in your cruise fare and cater to kids aged three to 17 with a packed program of activities, competitions and dedicated hangout spaces.

• North and South America
• Mexico
• Caribbean
• Panama Canal
• Europe
• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• South Pacific
• Antarctica

Did you know? Princess Cruises' popular Movies Under the Stars^® offering is available on every ship and projects Hollywood blockbusters onto a massive 300-square-foot screen above the ship's pool deck. Grab some free popcorn and snuggle up for the perfect family movie night at sea!

Famously innovative, Royal Caribbean operates an award-winning fleet and was the first to introduce facilities like ice-skating rinks and rock climbing walls at sea, setting it apart from other cruise lines. Today, Royal Caribbean remains one of the world's leading cruise lines and is perfect for family cruise vacations to destinations all over the world!

Onboard activities vary depending on which Royal Caribbean ship you're sailing on, but some of the most popular ones include the RipCord^® by iFly^® skydiving simulator, FlowRider^® surfing simulator and the Blaster^® — the longest waterslide on a cruise ship. You'll also find dance classes, ziplines, pickleball courts, bumper cars, escape rooms and more to keep you entertained at sea. Trust us when we say the hardest part of your trip will be dragging family members away from the ship for shore excursions!

And speaking of shore excursions, Royal Caribbean boasts an impressive collection of private islands and exclusive beach locations, including CocoCay in The Bahamas (home to the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean), Labadee in Haiti and Lelepa in Vanuatu (the Southern Hemisphere's first private cruise destination), so you'll definitely want to make the most of your time on shore.

This cruise line doesn't do things by halves, so it won't surprise you to find out that the Royal Caribbean fleet offers an award-winning kids' club! The Royal Caribbean Adventure Ocean^® youth programs cater to kids aged three to 12. There's also a range of dedicated spaces and activities available for the older kids to make sure everyone has a blast on board. 

• North America
• Caribbean
• Europe
• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• South Pacific

Did you know? Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to feature Tony Award^®-winning Broadway shows, and past productions have included CATS, Grease, Mamma Mia! and more. A family theatre night is an absolute must while sailing with Royal Caribbean.

Feeling inspired to dive headfirst into your next family cruise vacation? We've got an ocean full of offers available, so check out our current cruise deals or chat with a Cruise Expert today to start planning the perfect voyage.