What is the best age to start cruising with kids?

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.



While the "best" age is subjective, many travel experts consider the ages of 7 to 10 to be the sweet spot for a first cruise. At this age, children are typically tall enough to meet the height requirements for most of the exciting onboard activities like water slides, go-karts, and rock-climbing walls. They are also old enough to stay in the specialized kids' clubs (like Disney’s Oceaneer Lab or Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean) independently, giving parents some much-needed relaxation time. Furthermore, kids in this age bracket are usually "potty trained" (a requirement for most cruise ship pools due to health regulations) and can handle the walking required in various ports of call without getting overly fatigued. If you prefer a more "magical" experience, ages 4 to 6 are wonderful for character interactions, but you may face more logistical hurdles regarding naps and pool access. Starting at age 7 ensures the child is old enough to remember the trip vividly while still being young enough to be enthralled by the sheer scale and novelty of a floating city.

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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.

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Cruising offers a chance for the entire family to sail together, yet with something to do for all ages. So whether you're traveling with a one-year-old, a ten-year-old, or something in between, everyone will have a chance to make the most of their vacation.

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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.

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Yes, many ships offer family-friendly cruise activities. Programming might include parades, deck parties, fireworks displays, water shows and breakfasts or meet-and-greets with favorite characters. Some lines have video game systems and host tournaments, and most have arcades.

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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.

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And while going overboard on cruise ships is a rare incidence, it does happen occasionally – young children that climb on the railings are particularly at risk. Kids roam free. While cruise ships are confined areas, they are large and full of safety hazards.

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Yes, you can bring a 3 year old to a cruise ship. But you need to be very careful about them. Although the cruise ship has many amenities and services for kids, it is the parent who will need to take care of them. The cruise ship has everything that will keep your kid busy, and he or she will enjoy it to the fullest.

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Guests 12 and under may not be assigned to a balcony stateroom without a relative or guardian (25 years of age or older) traveling in the balcony stateroom with them. Can be separated by up to 3 staterooms from a relative or guardian (25 years of age or older).

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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.

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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.

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Safety is very important to cruise lines. The kids clubs and nurseries all have gated access, meaning people can't just wander in; both kids and adults must be buzzed in by youth staff. Parents must sign the youngest kids in and out; older kids can sign themselves out but cannot leave without alerting a staff member.

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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.

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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.

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The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and ...

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Original U.S. State Certified Birth Certificate or a certified copy; or an original Consular Birth Abroad Certificate from the U.S. State Department. Read more about birth certificate requirements. Guests age 15 and under are NOT required to have a photo ID, just the birth certificate.

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