Best Cruises for Families

Planning a family holiday doesn’t have to be a challenge. If you wish to explore the world in ultimate comfort and style, while enjoying quality time with your loved ones, it doesn’t get much better than a cruise holiday. After all, modern cruise ships are basically just huge floating resorts, packed with luxury facilities that ooze multigenerational appeal. The best cruises for families offer a perfect blend of age-appropriate activities, high-quality kids’ clubs and adults-only spaces, ensuring there’s something for every family member to enjoy. Plus, a cruise holiday allows your family to explore multiple destinations while only having to unpack once – sounds like a win-win to us! So, whether your idea of a family holiday involves exploring ancient Mediterranean cities or beach-hopping across the South Pacific, here are the best kid-friendly cruises to consider:

Royal Caribbean

A Royal Caribbean cruise is a wonderland for families, with a spectacular range of onboard experiences that cater to cruises of all ages. Some of the line’s cruise ships feature water parks and zip lines, while others boast ice skating rinks, bumper cars and laser tag. Plus, with the widest variety of entertainment at sea, there’s plenty of fun to be had after dark as well.

Royal Caribbean also offers some of the most engaging and educational youth programmes at sea. Your little ones will have a blast doing science experiments and putting on plays with the Adventure Ocean program (ages 3-12), while the Teen program allows your older kids to hang out with others their age.

Every family is different, which is why you can choose from a range of different accommodation options with Royal Caribbean. For families on a budget, Royal Caribbean offers spacious Interior Cabins, along with connecting cabins to accommodate larger groups. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Family Suite (only available on some ships) comes complete with an in-suite slide, air hockey table and a dedicated ‘Royal Genie’.

Wherever you want to go, Royal Caribbean can take you there. This cruise line offers a range of immersive itineraries, spanning from two nights to over two weeks! Plus, for those who don’t want to travel too far with the little ones, Royal Caribbean sails year-round from Brisbane and Sydney, visiting sun-drenched destinations across the South Pacific. Royal Caribbean is without a doubt one of the best cruise lines for families.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is one of the best cruise lines for multigenerational families. Set sail on one of the fleet’s Breakaway or Prima class ships to whirl around a kart racing course, zoom down waterslides and explore a virtual reality world, complete with laser tag and escape rooms.

Plus, NCL offers a host of youth programmes that allow your kids to hang out with others their age, perfect for when they tire of hanging out with mum and dad! Splash Academy (ages 5-12) offers creative play and sports activities, while Entourage (ages 13-17) is a hip hangout space where teenagers can enjoy video games, movies and discos.

As we mentioned, NCL has plenty on offer for parents and grandparents as well. Sip cocktails in the sun at the adults-only Vibe Beach Club or indulge in a pamper session at Mandara Spa. At night, why not enjoy Broadway-style entertainment, including shows like Kinky Boots and Burn the Floor, before grabbing a few drinks at one of several onboard bars?

One of the best things about NCL is the freedom and flexibility they offer, which is perfect for those travelling as a family. NCL is known for their ‘Freestyle Cruising’, which allows you to dine and explore at your leisure. Plus, with the ‘Free at Sea’ program, you can enjoy all-inclusive family cruising, with everything from specialty dining and onboard beverages included in your package.

MSC Cruises

If you and your family enjoy exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, MSC Cruises offers some of the best family-friendly cruises in that area. MSC’s itineraries will see you exploring places across Africa, the Middle East, South America, the Mediterranean and beyond. Plus, they offer a range of shore excursions to suit every travel style, from ‘Active & Adventures’ to ‘Culture & History’. They even offer shore excursions that are specifically catered to families!

For those seeking a fun cruise ship for families, choose a sailing on one of MSC’s newer vessels. These ships offer plenty of activities that families can enjoy together, including bowling, sports tournaments and aqua parks. MSC is also renowned for its Family Discos, Family Game Shows and special LEGO Experience Day, complete with Lego challenges and a parade!

MSC also offers a chance for each family member to branch out in pursuit of their own interests as well. Parents and grandparents can enjoy a traditional Balinese massage at the MSC Aurea Spa, savour a romantic dinner or spend a glamorous evening in the onboard casino, while the little ones have a blast in the kids’ club.

Speaking of the kid’s club, MSC offers a fantastic range of programs across five different age groups! Plus, this cruise line is one of the only ones to offer a ‘Baby Club’ for babies and toddlers under three years old, so you can leave your little one to play while you enjoy some well-earned kid-free time. It doesn’t get much more kid-friendly than an MSC cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line

Choose Carnival Cruise Line if you want to set sail on some of the best cruise ships for families. Each Carnival ship is packed with onboard experiences the whole family will love, including waterslides, mini golf, ropes courses and showstopping musical productions. Plus, the exclusive ‘Seuss at Sea’ program encourages the little ones to read Dr Suess classics, with The Cat in the Hat making an appearance at a Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, complete with themed food!

Carnival also offers plenty for adults to enjoy, including martini tastings, cocktail-making competitions and the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. Another aspect of Carnival that families will love is the sheer amount of included onboard dining experiences. From pizza bars and burger joints to endless buffet options, no family member will ever complain about being hungry.

With staterooms that are perfectly sized for families, you’ll always sleep comfortably when sailing with Carnival. Plus, the fleet’s Vista and Excel class ships offer specially-designed ‘Family Harbour’ staterooms and suites. Choose one of these cabins for exclusive access to the Family Harbour Lounge and one free evening of ‘Night Owls’ babysitting service.

Most Carnival itineraries chase the sun, visiting tropical destinations across the Caribbean, Hawaii and beyond. Plus, this cruise line sails year-round from Brisbane and Sydney, offering close-to-home trips to places like the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific.

Discover best cruises for families at My Cruises

The best part about a cruise family holiday? How easy it is to plan, of course!

By booking a cruise holiday, everything from accommodation and transport to activities, dining and entertainment is included in a single cost. Plus, when you book with My Cruises, you’ll also receive exclusive Bonus Extras like flights, hotel stays and so much more.

To find the best cruise for your family, get in touch with our Cruise Experts or start exploring our Hot Deals!