What is the best age for kids on a Disney cruise?

While 4-12 is the best age group for a Disney cruise, it's evident that Disney cruises have something for everyone. Toddlers participate in activities and see their favorite characters. Teens bond with peers in their own lounge. Adults unwind with luxury amenities.



While Disney Cruise Line (DCL) caters to all ages, many experts and families consider the "sweet spot" to be between 4 and 10 years old. At this age, children are tall enough for most water slides (like the AquaDuck), are fully potty-trained (a requirement for the main pools and the elaborate Oceaneer Club), and are at the peak of "character magic" where meeting Mickey or a Princess is a transformative experience. Younger toddlers can enjoy the "it's a small world" nursery, but this requires an extra hourly fee and they cannot participate in the free youth clubs. Tweens (11-13) and teens (14-17) have their own dedicated spaces like Edge and Vibe, which are fantastic for independence, but the quintessential, wide-eyed Disney wonder is most profound in the elementary school age group. Furthermore, kids in this range are usually old enough to remember the trip vividly while still being young enough to find the themed dining and deck parties completely immersive.

People Also Ask

The minimum age to sail aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship is 6 months on the day of sailing; however, the minimum age for Transatlantic, Panama Canal and Hawaii itineraries is one year on the day of sailing.

MORE DETAILS

Cruises are fun for kids of all ages, and there are plenty of activities to keep your toddlers entertained. Kids under the age of 3 can enjoy Toddler Time at the ship's playroom, where they'll be able to play with educational toys and interact with other kids around their age.

MORE DETAILS

At 0-3 years old, your child may not be old enough to prefer Disney cruises over other cruise lines. They won't know its Disney, but the ambiance provides a Disney and family-friendly experience which babies and toddlers may still enjoy; the music, songs, characters and themed restaurants and activities.

MORE DETAILS

Tweens Club Tweens can head to Edge, an exclusive hangout for young Guests ages 11 to 14. Inside, all kinds of fun await, including the latest music and video games plus a near endless array of engaging activities.

MORE DETAILS

Disney's Oceaneer Club and Lab are the two clubs for kids ages three to 12 on all four Disney cruise ships. Parents can drop off their kids anytime between roughly 9 a.m. and midnight or 1 a.m., and trained youth staff will watch the children and lead them in a wide variety of activities.

MORE DETAILS

**NOTE** Teenagers will be Charged adult fares (13-17). Child rates apply to ages 3-12. Children ages 0-2 pay 50% of the child rate. This does not impact access to areas of the ship that are designated as “18 and over” (like the spa, adults-only pool, and the adults-only restaurants (Palo and Remy).

MORE DETAILS

Were there a lot of kids on our cruise? Yes, but Disney's kids clubs are so stellar that many parents with whom we spoke said their little ones didn't want to leave. For anyone who doesn't relish the idea of screaming youngsters on the pool deck, that's a good thing.

MORE DETAILS

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

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 is a limited time promotional offer that allows for guests 12 or younger to receive a free cruise fare. This offer is only available during active dates. To secure a Kids Sail Free promotion on a reservation, all applicable names and dates of birth must be given when making a reservation.

MORE DETAILS

Based on average cruise fares and accounting for inevitable extras, we recommend that a family of four should budget an estimated $10,000 for a Disney cruise vacation. Of course, it can be done for less — and way more. This figure accounts for a five-night sailing at a cruise fare of $300 per person, per day.

MORE DETAILS

The cost of a Disney cruise can vary dramatically based on your needs and sailing preferences. However, you should expect to spend at least $1,000 on a cruise for two passengers. The price goes up from there depending on your cabin selection, trip duration and destination choices, among other options.

MORE DETAILS

Ships & Cruises ? Frequently Asked Questions What documents will be required when I check in for my cruise? A: At check-in, all Guests must present valid passports or other acceptable proof of citizenship. All travelers are required to have a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

MORE DETAILS

Currently, there are only a few stateroom categories that sleep six to eight castaways in a single stateroom. Among them are the Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder as well as the Concierge 1- and 2-Level Royal Suite with Verandah options on the highly-anticipated Disney Wish.

MORE DETAILS