Where do kids sleep on cruises?

Many cabins have pullman beds that decend from the ceiling (and can be folded up during the day). If you go to the floor plans for your ship and find your cabin most lines have some sort of symbol that will tell you whether the cabin has a sofa sleeper and/or one or more pullman.



On modern cruise ships in 2026, kids typically sleep in specialized Pullman beds, sofa beds, or designated family staterooms. Many standard cabins are "quad" rooms, meaning they feature two twin beds (convertible to a queen) plus two upper berths (Pullman beds) that pull down from the ceiling or walls, accessible by a small ladder. In newer "Edge-class" or "Icon-class" ships, cabins often include a sofa that converts into a twin bed or a bunk bed setup. For larger families, dedicated Family Staterooms offer enough space for five to six guests, sometimes featuring a separate "nook" with bunk beds for children and two bathrooms to ease the morning routine. Additionally, cruise lines provide portable cribs or "Pack 'n Plays" for infants upon request at the time of booking. Connecting rooms are also a popular 2026 option, allowing parents and children to have separate sleeping areas while maintaining an internal door for safety and access.

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However, in general, minors under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a responsible adult in the same stateroom or a connecting stateroom. Some cruise lines may have family suites or cabins that can accommodate families with children. These cabins may have a separate sleeping area for children or bunk beds.

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Yes, family cruises are a great vacation option, though cruise lines do not permit you to bring infants younger than 6 months old on typical sailings. (On most exotic and transoceanic sailings, children must be 1 year or older.)

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Most cruise lines provide cribs or Pack 'n Plays for toddlers to sleep in. These are typically available upon request and may be subject to availability. Some cruise lines offer staterooms with a pull-out sofa or bunk beds, which can be a convenient option for families with multiple children.

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Safety Measures in Balcony Staterooms It would be very difficult for a small child to reach that lock unless they pulled a chair over to the door and climbed on it. The balconies also have walls and railings with plexi-glass that are at least 42 inches or taller.

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Adult Focused Cruise Options and Amenities
  • Carnival Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.
  • Silversea All-Inclusive Ultra-Luxury Cruises.
  • Seabourn Luxury Cruises.
  • Windstar Small Ship Cruises.
  • Oceania Cruises.
  • Azamara Luxury Cruises.


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When you are booking your cruise, you can request your crib then. You can sleep with your baby in the bed, but this may mess up their sleeping schedule. If you don't want them to sleep in a new bed, you can also bring your own portable crib.

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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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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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The pricing structure for a cruise is totally different from that of transportation, entertainment or dining, because it is all three in one. Not only does a child pay the same fare as an adult, but a solo traveler pays the same as or close to the same fare as two adults.

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Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID. Children under 16 years of age, who do not have a passport or Photo ID, must have a copy of their birth certificate or their parents Medicare Card.

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Minimum Age to Sail Babies must be six months old to cruise. For Atlantic and Pacific crossings, world cruise segments and many of the exotic itineraries, children must be at least one year old. Children younger than two who sail as the third or fourth passenger in a cabin generally cruise for free.

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The U.S. Public Health Service requires that only children who are toilet trained are permitted to enter swimming pools and spas aboard cruise ships. Even if your child isn't toilet trained, he or she is welcome to enjoy the water play areas on board each ship while wearing a swim diaper.

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No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.

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You will want some kind of stroller or baby carrier for taking your child around the cruise ship and in port. Some cruise lines, like Carnival, have rentals available; MSC offers loaners. You will need to store strollers in your cabin, so we recommend bringing a small umbrella stroller, rather than a large baby jogger.

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Toys, games & entertainment Whether you are lounging around the ship or spending some downtime in the cabin, most children will need to be entertained via a tablet, toy or book. It is always good to bring a variety of options so you can keep them interested, but not too many that your cabin turns into a toybox.

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Children under the age of 16 who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada are exempt from the passport requirement for land and sea border crossings.

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