Loading Page...

Are cruises with kids fun?

Loads of laughter and unforgettable experiences go hand-in-hand when cruising with your kids. Royal Caribbean's games, events, and cruise activities for kids are going on all over the ship throughout the day and into the evening hours, making family time a great time.



Cruises in 2026 are arguably the most "fun" vacation option for families due to the sheer scale of modern onboard amenities. Major lines like Royal Caribbean, Disney, and MSC have essentially turned their ships into floating theme parks. Depending on the ship, kids can enjoy multi-story waterslides, go-kart tracks, surf simulators, and even dry-slide "abysses." Most ships offer age-segregated "Kids' Clubs" (typically included in the fare) where children can play games and do crafts under professional supervision, giving parents some guilt-free adult time. For teens, there are dedicated lounges with gaming consoles and DJ workshops. Beyond the activities, the "all-you-can-eat" nature of the buffets and 24-hour pizza stations makes dining with picky eaters incredibly easy. It’s a rare vacation style where both the children and the parents can actually feel like they’ve had a "break."

People Also Ask

The perfect age for taking your kids on a cruise is when they are old enough to be excited about the experience -- when they want to check out the ship and get excited about exploring in ports of call. Maybe they are more attracted by daily ice cream, pool time and Ping-Pong than cultural immersion, but that's OK.

MORE DETAILS

The intimate ships of high-end lines like Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (or ultra-premium lines, such as Oceania Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Azamara and Viking Ocean Cruises) are refined, dignified and geared to adults.

MORE DETAILS

A seven-night cruise is usually the best option for a family getaway. While your wallet or schedule might require a shorter sailing or permit a longer voyage, plan a week-long vacation — at least for your first cruise or two.

MORE DETAILS

Keep young children under close supervision at all times. The guardrails on most cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which makes them a challenge for a young child to scale, but kids should definitely not climb them or sit on top. And it's a good idea to be careful any time you're near the edge of the ship. 2.

MORE DETAILS

Kids Sail Free offer details The exact offer details may vary, but Royal Caribbean's Kids Sail Free offers are usually consistent in their basics. Third guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger on select 4 nights or longer sailings are eligible for free cruise fare.

MORE DETAILS

Resorts could offer a pricing structure that's one flat rate per night for guests no matter their age, but they don't tend to do that. Teenagers will generally cost less than adults, kids will be less than them, and babies under age two may cost less or even be free.

MORE DETAILS

However, balconies on Carnival ships are solid Plexiglas (so there are no gaps for little ones to try to squeeze through) and by law are all over 42 inches tall, making falls extremely unlikely.

MORE DETAILS

Most of the cruise activities and tours are geared toward adventurous, active adults, with lots of walking/hiking. Mobility | Many of the tours are interactive, with lots of brisk walking, so I recommend guests have a certain level of mobility available.

MORE DETAILS

In very general terms, cruising attracts adults ranging in age from their 30s through to their 80s, and you will not find a ship full, exclusively, of 20 year olds.

MORE DETAILS

To ensure your whole family can rest easy at sea, we've broken down the family lodging options onboard the most popular cruise lines into two types: designated family cabins (rooms or suites intended for families); and family-friendly staterooms (which anyone can book, but may have space and amenities useful for family ...

MORE DETAILS

Children who are not toilet trained (and those in diapers or swim diapers) are not allowed in any of the water facilities on board, as per United States Public Health Services. Toilet trained children should be taken on frequent bathroom breaks. Water sports include pools, spray parks, waterslides and whirlpools.

MORE DETAILS

Family staterooms are cabins designed to accommodate families. The amenities vary by cabin type and by cruise ship, but most can sleep at least four and sometimes up to 10. These cabins might have sleeping areas in separate rooms or have a room-dividing blackout curtain that you can pull closed for privacy.

MORE DETAILS