Top 10 Best Cruise Lines for Families
A lot of people enjoy going on cruises for vacations. However, sometimes they choose a cruise line that isn't well-suited for their family, which can leave them with limited activities at sea.
Here are the top ten best cruise lines for families.
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Disney Cruise Line
I've been on several Disney Cruises, and yes, they're tailored specifically for families. There's really something for the whole family.
There are kid clubs available, plenty of kid events, and almost the entire pool area is catered to children. The restaurants are generally pretty family-oriented as far as theming goes, and of course, the Disney theming is very prominent, from the characters to the entertainment and the themes around the ship.
They really do a good job with their cruise ships for the most part. For families with children aged between 6 and 14, I highly recommend going.
Disney Cruise Line's ships were built for families. From the Disney-themed restaurants to the teen's club located in the ship's funnel, to people in Disney costumes wandering the ship, DCL is the best cruise line for families. They have waterslides, and the Dream and Fantasy even have a water coaster at sea!
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Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean offers some of the finest ships out there for families. Their Oasis- and Freedom-class ships feature the FlowRider, an onboard surfing simulator, youth programs, mini-golf, and other activities.
These are the biggest cruise ships in the world, way bigger and better than any other cruise line.
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Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is the go-to cruise line if you want an affordable cruise that will make your kids happy. They offer 3-7 day cruises at reasonable prices and provide activities like Camp Carnival, Circle C, Club O2, mini-golf, waterslides, and so much more.
The ship is very fun, and the kids' clubs are great!
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Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian is a good cruise line if you enjoy waterslides. They have lots and lots of waterslides. Don't worry. They also offer youth programs, and the Breakaway class ships even have mini-golf.
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Princess Cruises
In my opinion, Princess Cruises has one of the biggest innovations in cruising: freshwater pools. This allows your skin to not be irritated by the water. They also offer a mini-golf course called Princess Links, as well as teen and kids' programs.
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P&O Cruises
Normally, P&O goes for a more British style of cruising, but it also offers teen and kids' programs. The Ventura is a departure from their traditional style and is more family-oriented. They offer facilities, pools, and even a bungee cable (the type that you bounce up and down on, not the type where you dive down).
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MSC Cruises
While MSC Cruises may seem adult-oriented, they actually offer several facilities for younger passengers. First, they have a kids sail free policy, which allows children to sail free year-round. They also offer kids' and teens' clubs, waterslides, and plenty of spaces to just chill out.
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Celebrity Cruises
Although this cruise line markets toward leisure, it still offers plenty of onboard facilities for teens and toddlers. Celebrity Cruises provides four different groups for different ages of kids: Shipmates for ages 3-5, Cadets for ages 6-8, Ensigns for ages 9-11, and Teens for ages 12-17. They also offer shows onboard, and there are pools on their ships as well as the Celebrity-exclusive AquaSpa.
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Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises brings many things to the table, such as an F-1 racing simulator (not on all their ships) and Costa Kids (their youth program, I believe). As mentioned earlier, there are also plenty of places to relax.
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Holland America Line
Overall, HAL isn't as kid-friendly as other cruise lines, but they still have facilities such as Club HAL, The Loft, and many programs aboard. I would recommend HAL to those who prefer laid-back cruising.