Planning a family vacation can be exciting, and cruises are increasingly becoming a top choice for families seeking value and adventure. The appeal of a cruise lies in its ability to cater to every age group, offering a plethora of activities and amenities that ensure both kids and adults have an unforgettable experience. This list of 10 cruise lines, recognized by both cruising experts and readers, stands out for their exceptional family-friendly offerings. These lines excel in providing experiences tailored for families, from spacious family cabins to kid-approved dining and onboard entertainment like water parks and engaging kids’ clubs.
10. A-ROSA River Cruises
For families wanting to explore Europe’s scenic rivers, A-ROSA River Cruises provides an intimate and culturally rich experience. Accommodating families of up to five in their spacious cabins, A-ROSA makes river cruising accessible and comfortable for larger family units. The smaller size of river cruise ships, hosting around 280 guests, fosters a cozy and connected atmosphere, ideal for family bonding. Children are well-catered for with a dedicated onboard Kids Club offering age-appropriate activities, allowing parents to relax knowing their children are entertained and engaged. Furthermore, A-ROSA designs shore excursions with families in mind, ensuring that exploring destinations along the Rhine, Danube, and Seine rivers is enjoyable and educational for everyone.
9. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is renowned for its “freestyle cruising” concept, which translates to a flexible and activity-packed vacation perfect for families. NCL excels in providing a wide array of onboard activities, ensuring there’s never a dull moment for any family member. From thrilling go-kart racing and expansive water parks to rock climbing walls, the entertainment options are boundless. Simultaneously, NCL offers exceptional kids’ programs, thoughtfully designed to give parents some valuable alone time while children are engaged in age-specific, supervised fun. The variety of family accommodations further enhances NCL’s appeal as a top cruise line for families, making it easy to find the perfect space for your crew.
8. Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is synonymous with magical family vacations, and for good reason. Beyond the enchanting character meet-and-greets with Mickey and Minnie, Disney cruises offer a comprehensive family experience. Onboard, families can enjoy thrilling waterslides, creatively themed kids clubs, and spectacular live Disney shows reminiscent of the Magic Kingdom, complete with fireworks at sea. Dining becomes an adventure with uniquely themed experiences inspired by beloved films like “Frozen” and “Star Wars.” For Caribbean itineraries, a highlight is a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise featuring a dedicated family beach, snorkeling lagoon, and a water park, ensuring a perfect blend of relaxation and Disney magic for families.
7. UnCruise Adventures
For adventurous families seeking immersive and nature-focused vacations, UnCruise Adventures is an exceptional choice. Specializing in destinations like Hawaii, Alaska, the Galapagos, and Baja California, Mexico, UnCruise curates excursions that bring families closer to nature and wildlife. In Alaska, families can embark on hikes, kayak through stunning waters, try paddleboarding, and spot bears and orcas in their natural habitat. Hawaiian cruises offer opportunities to snorkel at night with giant Pacific manta rays, hike volcanoes, and enjoy local feasts and musical jam sessions. UnCruise Adventures further sweetens the deal for families with a $500 discount for young adventurers aged 8 to 17, making these enriching experiences more accessible.
6. Holland America Line
Holland America Line delivers a premium cruise experience aboard its mid-sized ships, thoughtfully incorporating family-friendly programs and excursions. Their dedicated youth programs cater to a wide age range, from toddlers to teens (ages 3-17), with engaging activities tailored for each group. Younger children can enjoy pirate treasure hunts, while ‘tweens can participate in themed parties, and teens have their own space with gaming tournaments and poker nights. Holland America’s family-friendly shore excursions are equally impressive, ranging from whale watching and kayaking to glaciers to zip-lining and wildlife encounters with penguins and even green monkeys, creating memorable experiences for every family member.
5. Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International’s fleet is designed with family fun at its heart, making it a top contender for the Best Cruise Line For Families. Their ships are packed with attractions that appeal to all ages, including thrilling water parks, multiple swimming pools, and a vast array of entertainment options. Dining is a breeze even with picky eaters, thanks to the diverse and family-friendly culinary choices. Beyond their popular tropical routes, Royal Caribbean offers itineraries that span the globe, from Alaska and Asia to North America and the South Pacific, providing families with a world of destinations to explore together.
4. Quasar Expeditions
For a more intimate and educational family cruise experience, especially to unique destinations like the Galapagos, Quasar Expeditions stands out. With their smaller yachts, the 16-guest Grace Yacht and 32-passenger Evolution Yacht, Quasar offers personalized Galapagos adventures. Their family-friendly guides are adept at introducing children to the Galapagos’ unique flora and fauna, bringing to life the science that inspired Charles Darwin. While kids learn and explore, adults can enjoy the luxury and relaxation expected from a small, high-end cruise line. Family memories are made through activities like swimming with sea turtles, sharing beaches with seals, and even extending the adventure with add-on family safaris to Patagonia.
3. Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea embodies a spirit of lighthearted fun that resonates with guests of all ages, making it a surprisingly great option for families. While the adult-themed beverages are available, the core focus is on creating a joyful and relaxed atmosphere. Onboard entertainment is infused with a Caribbean vibe and features live music, game shows, karaoke, and theater performances to keep everyone entertained. Kids clubs ensure younger guests are engaged, and dining options like the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar are sure to be a hit. Unique experiences such as stingray encounters and swimming with dolphins further enhance the family appeal of Margaritaville at Sea cruises.
2. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line, often referred to as “The Fun Ships,” lives up to its name by offering a vibrant and family-focused cruise experience. Understanding the needs of families, Carnival provides cabins that can comfortably accommodate up to five guests, along with connecting rooms for larger groups. Practical amenities like 24-hour room service and kid-friendly dining options add to the convenience. Carnival’s clubs for toddlers, ‘tweens, and teens are well-regarded, ensuring age-appropriate activities and supervision. The onboard entertainment is constantly expanding and includes water parks, game rooms, ropes courses, and the unique deck-circling SkyRide, providing endless fun for families.
1. Adventure Canada
For families seeking an extraordinary and educational travel experience, Adventure Canada tops the list. Specializing in cruises to the awe-inspiring Canadian North on smaller sailing yachts and robust exploration vessels, Adventure Canada offers a journey of a lifetime. Expert-led excursions are designed to introduce young travelers to a wide range of subjects, from archaeology and botany to glaciology. Through interpretive hikes, photography outings, and other unique programs, children learn about the wonders of the North in an engaging and hands-on way, making Adventure Canada the ultimate choice for families wanting an enriching and adventurous cruise vacation.
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The Experts
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Ben Souza
Ben Souza is a world traveler who has visited 40+ countries, taken over 70 cruises, and flown nearly one million miles. He serves as the editor of Cruise Fever.
Don and Heidi Bucolo
Don and Heidi Bucolo are the husband and wife team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Their love for cruising began after taking their first cruise together back in 2007. Having spent over 180 days at sea on more than 30 cruises with various cruise brands, they have learned a thing or two about planning and executing the perfect cruise vacation. The couple was voted as one of Porthole Cruise‘s Top 10 Cruise Influencers and is featured in the new book Cruising Interrupted. You can find them on the web and social media sharing detailed cruise ship reviews, port guides, packing tips and planning tips to help travelers “sea the world, one port at a time.”
Ilana Schattauer
Ilana Schattauer is a cruise travel expert behind Life Well Cruised, a popular website and YouTube channel that provides valuable insights into the world of cruising. As a seasoned writer and content creator, she shares valuable cruise tips and travel guides. Her platform is dedicated to sharing cruise advice, destination tips and firsthand experiences to help travelers plan their cruises with ease.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 200 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes “he said, she said” cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
Mimi Slawoff
Mimi Slawoff is a Los Angeles-based travel journalist whose childhood summers in Europe fueled her passion for travel and learning about other cultures. A former Los Angeles newspaper reporter, Mimi writes about outdoor adventures, cruising, cultural attractions, hidden gems, and travel tips for AAA and numerous print and digital publications. She is also the author of Oldest Los Angeles (Reedy Press, 2022). Mimi is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. Follow her on X @Mimitravelz and Instagram @Mimitravels.
Ming Tappin
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry since 1994. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian and American travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 70 cruises and has experienced over 25 ocean, river, and expedition cruise lines combined.
Nathan Diller
Nathan Diller covers cruises and travel news for USA TODAY. His work has also appeared in the Washington Post’s travel vertical, By The Way, DCist and elsewhere. He is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School. He can be found on X and Threads.
Paul Thornton
Paul’s just completed book, The Joy of Cruising Again, is his fourth and follow-up to the fun, upbeat, award-winning Amazon bestseller The Joy of Cruising, and [Cruising Interrupted](https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Interrupted-follow-up-formerly-known/dp/1098344650). The books are anthologies of passionate cruisers with fascinating stories and have included a TV star, Grammy winners/nominees, a Poker Hall of Famer, entrepreneurs, and global cruise personalities, but mostly “ordinary” cruisers with extraordinary stories. Readers can learn more about The Joy of Cruising trilogy here. Besides continuing to cruise as much as possible, Paul hosts The Joy of Cruising Podcast, a weekly conversation with one of the dozens of passionate cruisers featured in the books as well as other global cruise personalities. Paul is originally from Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. After serving in the US Army and simultaneously earning a bachelor’s degree in business, he attained his MBA and then spent concurrently, 17 years in corporate management, and 23 years in small business ownership. After leaving corporate, he started a career in higher ed. He earned a doctorate, attained tenure as a business professor, and subsequently moved into administration in Dean or Executive Director positions before retiring in 2021. Paul lives in Mooresville, North Carolina with his wife Cheryl and considers cruising with their children and grandchildren life’s ultimate escape. Paul longs to cruise as much as the people he writes about in The Joy of Cruising Trilogy.
Sherry Laskin
Sherry Laskin caught the cruising bug when she was eight years old and is still passionate about ocean and river travel. In 2004, Sherry began her writing career focusing on travel trade publications and segued into several years of serving on cruise industry advisory boards for Norwegian Cruise Line and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). When it was suggested that she write for consumers, she started an award-winning cruise blog in 2010. With over 200 cruises under her belt, including 22 transatlantic crossings and 65 countries, Sherry recently added train travel to her repertoire at TravelUpClose.com. Sherry also shares her hiking adventures at ReadyGoHike.com.
