While a family cruise is the perfect holiday for family members of all ages, one thing’s for certain, travelling with children can often cause some feelings of anxiety. Worrying about keeping little ones entertained and ensuring they maintain a relatively normal routine is often the main concern for most parents.
However, with a safe and exciting environment onboard a modern cruise ship, children will feel like they’ve stepped aboard their very own floating playground. In this blog, we will delve into the details of children’s entertainment available across a variety of cruise lines, ships and itineraries. Plus, some additional cruising tips for parents.
Organised kids’ entertainment at sea
As well as the many facilities and amenities, from swimming pools to go-karting, crazy golf, zip lining and more, several cruise lines will offer organised kids entertainment, allowing parents to take a break, while the kids are well looked after. For younger children, kids’ clubs are perfect for days at sea.
With activities arranged for the children throughout the day along with the support of trained members of the crew, the little ones can enjoy activities including:
- Arts and crafts
- Movie evenings with treats
- Video games
- Scavenger hunts
- Games
- Sports tournaments and competitions
With the many amazing facilities onboard modern cruise ships, the kids’ clubs have been well organised and designed to provide endless entertainment for the children onboard the ship and at different times throughout the cruise duration.
The best cruise lines for young children
When it comes to organised kids’ entertainment at sea, several cruise lines excel in providing enjoyable experiences for young children. Here are some of the best cruise lines known for their family-friendly offerings:
Royal Caribbean International – Possibly one of the best cruise lines for families, Royal Caribbean International and its fleet of modern cruise ships are renowned for their family-friendly activities and entertainment. From day to night, the cruise line is dedicated to the delivery of world-class entertainment for passengers of all ages. The kids will be especially taken care of with both the Adventure Ocean and the Royal Babies & Tots programmes. Providing care for children within various age groups, with fun and educational activities throughout the day. Plus, with family-friendly evening entertainment every night, the kids will be entertained every second of the holiday.
Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival is another excellent cruise line for families. With kids and teen-friendly activities and entertainment, from Dr. Seuss at Sea to Camp Ocean and Sport Square, there are plenty of facilities and specially designed activities for children to enjoy while spending their time at sea, perfect for days at sea and breaks between port stops. The entertainment available onboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship is undoubtedly some of the best at sea.
MSC Cruises – MSC Cruises offers a variety of kids’ clubs and entertainment options, including LEGO-themed play areas, DOREMI Studio Club, and family-friendly shows such as Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
Norwegian Cruise Line – Rated the top large-ship cruise line for families, NCL offers an excellent selection of cruise itineraries as well as activities and entertainment at sea for families of all ages. For families travelling with children, there’s a wide range of complimentary offerings, including free kids’ clubs, free dining, and free fares for 3rd & 4th guests. The complimentary kids’ clubs offer activities for children up to the age of 17, with free babysitting available for when the parents want an evening alone.
Extra tips for parents with children onboard a cruise ship
Below we recommend some of our expert top tips for parents cruising with children:
- Make use of babysitting services for when you want a special date night. While your family holiday is special for all of you, having one night to yourself will ensure you both make the most of your holiday and get some time to spend together. The babysitting services onboard cruise ships are available at various times and are run by expert childcare providers. Your children will be safe and well cared for.
- Pack some of their favourite toys and activities. While the cruise ship will be equipped with endless entertainment, your kids may want a tiny slice of home to help them feel more comfortable in their new environment. The size and environment of a large cruise ship can be overwhelming at first, especially for small children. Having a comforter like a special teddy or blanket may help soothe them.
- Choose a cruise line that offers dining for families. Cruise lines best for families will have a wide variety of dining options including family-friendly restaurants and mealtimes. This will help you to maintain a normal eating routine with your children but also ensure they are catered for and are enjoying the foods they know and love while onboard.
- Bring a stroller or small pram for babies and toddlers. Despite the size of your cabin, a small stroller may be suitable for young toddlers and babies, particularly when moving around the ship. Due to the size of most family cruise ships, your young children could tire quickly, and a stroller may be the perfect solution for moving them around the ship with ease. It’s important to check first with the specific cruise line that you have booked with, to ensure that prams and strollers are allowed onboard.
Book a family cruise online
At Supercruises, we have made it even easier for families to find, browse and book cruises. With cruise itineraries and destinations from some of the world’s leading cruise lines, you can book a cruise that suits you and every member of your family. Step aboard a luxury modern cruise ship and enjoy all the perks a family cruise has to offer. Book your family cruise with ABTA Protection online today.
