Cruising ranks high on the list of family vacation options because it offers something for all ages. But careful planning can mean the difference between a fun-filled escape to the sea and a meltdown-filled disaster.
First, pick the right ship. Second, pick the right itinerary. Both should take your children’s ages into account — your goal is to satisfy the kids and the adults, at least some of the time.
I’ve cruised extensively with my child (whose bunkmate was often Grandma), so I’ve done some research for you. Here's my list of cruises I wouldn’t hesitate to take children on, from tots to teens.
The best cruises for families with babies
Most cruise lines require children to be at least 6 months old, though a few lines increase that to 12 months for longer cruises or for sailings to remote destinations with two or more consecutive sea days. Traveling with an infant can be daunting, but choosing the right ship can go a long way toward making a cruise delightful.
MSC Seaside, Miami, Fla.
MSC offers two options for keeping kids under three entertained: Baby Care, a nursery service available eight hours per day (for a fee), and Baby Time, a fully stocked play area where parents can stay and hang out with their littles. Three- and four-night itineraries from Miami are the perfect length for a baby's first cruise, with stops in Nassau, Bahamas, and the line's private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Cunard Queen Elizabeth, Miami, Fla.
For intrepid parents dreaming of a longer cruise in the Caribbean, Cunard's Night Nursery is just the thing. The first-come, first-served babysitting service is included in your cruise fare, giving parents the freedom to dine and dance the evening away. Itineraries range from nine-night Western Caribbean routes to 12-night Eastern routes, both at surprisingly affordable prices.
The best cruises for families with young children
Once your tots begin to walk (and run!), your ship target shifts dramatically. Surviving with your parental sanity intact requires a relatively short cruise with play spaces and programs designed to keep busy kids active and entertained. Disney is an obvious choice, but don’t overlook Royal Caribbean's mega ships with entertainment for all ages .
Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas, Port Canaveral, Fla.
Royal Caribbean’s Babies & Tots Nursery for kids six months to three years old is a great way for parents to squeeze in a little child-free time (for a fee), and the Aquanauts program for ages three to five includes games, crafts and music. The ship also has a Baby Bay splash zone where diapers are allowed. Options include three- and four-night sailings to Nassau and the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Disney Wish, Port Canaveral, Fla.
If your little Mouseketeers are ready to hit the high seas, Disney Wish is a fabulous choice. Its home port of Port Canaveral makes it easy to combine a cruise with a visit to the Kingdom, and cruising truly doesn't get more family-friendly than a Disney ship. Itineraries offered are three- and four-night sailings that include Nassau and a stop at the line's private island, Castaway Cay.
The best cruises for families with tweens
Cruising with kids ages 7 to 12 can be a breath of fresh air. For one thing, you can finally feel confident in booking weeklong cruises. But that doesn't mean you get a free pass on careful planning. Woe is the parent who books a cruise with lackluster kids' clubs or one that visits ports with nothing of interest for their tweens. Here are my top two choices for this age group.
Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, Los Angeles, Calif.
Ovation of the Seas is the ideal cruise home base for families. It's got bumper cars and pools galore, plus food and entertainment options kids will love. The four- and seven-night Baja California itineraries include a stop at Catalina Island, where you may have a tough time choosing between an amazing five-line zip-line course, back-road tours to see the buffalo or kayaking in the clear waters along the coast.
Norwegian Escape, Miami, Fla.
Norwegian Escape is a right-sized ship for cruising with kids. It doesn’t feel overwhelming, yet it has all the features your tweens expect. From water parks and miniature golf to a ropes course, there's plenty to do onboard. Western Caribbean itineraries visit Roatán and the line's private island destination, Harvest Caye, along with Cozumel and Costa Maya, providing ample water and beach fun in every port of call.
The best cruises for families with teens
Teens can be the toughest family members to please when it comes to picking a cruise. The trick is often ensuring there’s an active schedule on board, which lets teens feel just a touch more grown-up. My favorite teen-friendly destination is Alaska, and my favorite cruise line for teens in any destination is Celebrity .
Celebrity Beyond, Miami, Fla.
The adult feel of Celebrity Beyond is unmistakable from the minute you board. The line's Camp at Sea kids' program includes a teen club and activities like silent disco parties, sports tournaments and video games. The ship has an abundance of connecting rooms and family-friendly suites. It cruises the Caribbean throughout the summer, with active ports of call, including Puerto Rico , St. Kitts and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Carnival Miracle or Carnival Spirit, Seattle, Wash.
Cruising in Alaska has a sense of adventure that works in your favor when it comes to finding interesting things for families with teens to do together. Adventurous excursions include everything from dog sledding to kayaking among Alaska's wildlife and marine life. These two Carnival sister ships come fully loaded with enough family-friendly fun to keep pace with teens. Alaska itineraries for both are seven-night round-trip routes from Seattle, eliminating the more complicated flight schedules of one-way routes.
The best cruises for multigenerational family trips
Grandparents cruising with grandchildren generally go one of two ways. Either it's one or more grandparents traveling along with the whole family, or sometimes the older generation takes the grandkids on a cruise without parents at all. And there are great options for both.
MSC World America, Miami, Fla.
For three-generation family cruises, MSC ships are perfect. Grandparents can opt for rooms in the elegant Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship area, enjoying a more luxurious setting, while their adult kids and grandkids cruise in the main ship area, complete with water parks and child-friendly fun. World America , the line's newest ship, offers seven-night cruises from Miami, most with stops at the private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Carnival Jubilee, Galveston, Texas
Carnival Jubilee tops my list of multigenerational family ships, with enough fun for every age and kid-friendly food options at no additional cost, including Big Chicken and Guy's Burgers. Family Harbor staterooms offer an exclusive breakfast area and a family hangout lounge. The ship sails seven-night cruises from Galveston to the western Caribbean year-round.
