Thursday, April 11, 2024

The 7 Best Cruise Lines for Families of 2024

family on cruise

Kids can try out the buffet or main dining room to get everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to a mini margarita pizza. MSC also offers in-room dining menus in case your kiddo gets a little restless at the dinner table. Plus, the cruise line is especially loved for being sensory- and autism-friendly, offering a wide range of services like priority checking, Camp at Sea flexible grouping and more. Aside from main and casual dining options, Disney Cruise Line offers interactive dining experiences (like Animator’s Palate and Royal Court Royal Tea) for the whole family. There’s also adult-exclusive dining in case parents want a romantic dinner away from tantrums and time outs.

Royal Caribbean Exclusive: Family Cruise on ICON OF THE SEAS in August - The Jerusalem Post

Royal Caribbean Exclusive: Family Cruise on ICON OF THE SEAS in August.

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:30:00 GMT [source]

Why Royal Caribbean Ships Are Great for Kids

family on cruise

Character meet and greets replete with Mickey and friend, princesses and superheroes are a frequent occurrence. Pulling off the perfect family holiday isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to cater for different ages and preferences. There may also be an additional concierge lounge available to these passengers. Some concierge rooms are suites, but not all concierge rooms are actually suites. Other lines might have special kid lunches and dinners as part of the youth programming, though typically kids clubs close during mealtimes. Dinners in cruise ship main dining rooms and specialty restaurants usually run more than an hour -- longer than the typical family meal at home.

Best Kids Programs

Whether you’re looking to relax by the pool, enjoy some time at the spa, or get active with the kids at bumper cars and laser tag, Royal Caribbean International has you covered. A heavy load of museums and historical sites can sometimes bore preschoolers -- and even teens. With active teens, look for itineraries with plenty of options for bike tours, hiking and water sports. European cruises are somewhere in the middle, depending on how you structure your days. If a mix of parks and palaces are on your schedule, then little kids might be fine -- if you can hack the overseas flight and jet lag. Browse the available activities during your booking phase and opt for the ones that you will enjoy of course, but especially what your child or children will be excited about.

Why are cruises a good vacation for a large family?

It tends to be based on staff availability, and children must be one year or older. Cruise lines are aware of a whole host of dietary restrictions and do their best to accommodate. If your child is vegetarian or vegan, gluten-free or diabetic, or has any other food allergy or restriction, simply let your cruise line know in advance of sailing, and talk to the maitre d' on embarkation day. Also, if you are planning on a sharing a cabin, you can save money on your family vacation by looking for discounted third- and fourth-passenger fares that apply to anyone.

Make your next family vacation something truly special on the Celebrity Equinox through the Celebrity Cruise Line. Dive into the Horizon pool, which is open day and night (although there are dances and parties at night, so maybe visit sans kids). This inviting ship is the home of D Lounge, the family-friendly hangout zone with dance parties, games, and hours upon hours of fun.

Decorate your cabin door

Hold a quick, informal planning meeting at dinner or before bedtime and plan out which activities you’ll be participating in the next day. Kids feel safer, more confident, and behave better when they know what to expect. This might go against all of your large family instincts, but with cruising, less is more! Cruise cabins are typically smaller than hotel rooms, and storage can be limited. Do a “virtual tour” of the cruise ship and discuss all the exciting activity options.

Take a dip in a pool, chill out in a hot tub, play every sport imaginable (from shuffleboard to mini golf), and catch a tan at the Reef Family Splash Zone, a mini water park with games, pools, and water features. If you want to splash and play on your family vacation, you can ride the AquaDunk or AquaDuck water coasters, romp in Donald’s Pool or Goofy’s Pool, or enjoy the sparkling pool at Mickey’s AquaLab. A family cruise line will keep your children entertained day and night. I’ve rounded up seven of my favorites, which I’ll share in the first part of this guide. Generally, cruise lines won't provide strollers, diaper pails, bottles or bottle warmers for your little ones.

Cruise Activities for Young Adults — Ages 18-20

Geysers send water high into the sky, splashing down and refreshing your children all afternoon. Large cruise ships have medical centers onboard; riverboats are never far from an on-land hospital or medical center. If your child gets sick or injured, he or she will be treated by the ship's doctor. If the child is seriously ill, the doctor may require you to disembark the ship and seek treatment on land. If your child is more adventurous, she can order off the adult menu (request a half portion if necessary) or dine with you at specialty restaurants serving Asian, Italian, French, Brazilian and other cuisines. On some lines, kids can eat for a discounted rate at the extra-fee venues.

Participants have themed parties, play sports, do arts and crafts, and engage in treasure hunts. Then I’ll recommend the most kid-friendly cruise ships for booking your next vacation. That might mean that you keep the littlest kids with you at all times, allow older kids to leave the kids club on their own only if they go directly to you or your room, and let teens have free range. Or you might choose differently, based on your family's customs and personalities.

During each night of Hanukkah, a celebration and candle lighting is held for Jewish guests, and latkes are served daily for lunch in the Lido Market. And on New Year’s Eve we ring in the New Year with festive dining, sparkling wine toasts, live music and dancing — it’s truly a Dressy Night to remember. For your convenience, a variety of optional beverage packages are available for sale to accommodate the varied needs of your family. Guests ages will learn the secret handshake and be granted a special code word to unlock an exclusive list of Club1820 events made just for them. Inspired by the great outdoors, this cozy center is filled with sports activities and comfortable places for kids to explore, hang out and lounge.

Plus, the ships have complimentary all-you-can-eat pizza and soft serve that’s available through the wee hours. Carnival is known for being the most entertaining and party-filled of the bunch. Whichever of their 26 ships you set out on, the cruise line is all about having a good time.

For those families looking for some quiet time, there is a library and an adult-only pool (called the Solarium). Dine in style at one of the ship’s restaurants or enjoy a casual meal at one of the cafes or bars. Daytime activities include dance classes, language lessons, art auctions, and more, while evening entertainment features Broadway-style shows, live music, and movies under the stars. For starters, the ship has a waterslide park with two slides, a pool, and a splash pad for kids. Families can also enjoy the ship’s mini-golf course, zip line, rock-climbing wall, and sports court. The smaller ships also tend to be the older ones, often with fewer balcony cabins or family-focused staterooms, restaurant options and glamorous top-deck attractions.

Onboard the ships, plenty of family cabins and loft suites mean room for the family to spread out. There's even a Royal Family cabin that sleeps eight, and Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas’ Ultimate Family Suite with a two-deck slide, LEGO wall and games aplenty. Every family's travel style is different, however, so these are certainly not the only ships to consider.

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