The Best Cruises for Families: Our Ultimate Holiday Guide

The perfect family getaway awaits on board a luxury cruise holiday, where voyagers of every age will have the time of their lives.

Our guide to the best family cruise holidays will help you narrow down what matters the most to you. Are you seeking to explore immersive destinations around the world, to relax on board with a host of luxury facilities or enjoy moments of adventure and exhilaration thanks to the myriad of rides, attractions and experiences that many of these outstanding family cruise ships have available? It’s all in the palm of your hand when you embark on a journey across the seas. Combine all of this with exceptional dining, world-class entertainment and tranquil accommodations and there’s nothing you’ll want for.

Search our family cruise holidays.

Royal Caribbean International

If you’re a family in search of an adventure-fuelled holiday, this is the best cruise for you.

Explore far-flung destinations across the Caribbean, as well as hidden gems closer to home in the Mediterranean, while you get involved in a host of fun-filled activities on board Royal Caribbean International’s mega ships. Families can enjoy unlimited access to incredible attractions such as a waterpark and splash zone, surf simulator, rock climbing, ziplines and mini golf. The onboard neighbourhoods create dedicated spaces to suit all interests.

Spend your time at sea taking in the outstanding entertainment. With an ice skating rink, stage, AquaDome, AquaTheatre and open-air cinema, you’re sure to have a fantastic time whatever your age.

When it comes to dining, you won’t be disappointed. Multiple dining slots make it easy to get into a routine that suits your family’s needs, with the complimentary dining rooms offering an extensive kids’ menu. The Windjammer buffet restaurant is an excellent choice to satisfy any craving, while there’s also poolside venues for tasty snacks and adult-only spots for when you want to take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s babysitting services.

Disney Cruise Line

For young voyagers, and those who are young at heart, Disney Cruise Line offers the best cruises.

Prepare for magic and enchantment when you embark on the ultimate family cruise holiday. Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars attractions await across each of these amazing ships, with swimming pools, soft play and more to keep little ones having the time of their life. Character meet-and-greets, interactive activities, a royal tea party and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeovers are just a few of the bucket list experiences you can expect, while there’s also musical performances, film screenings of your favourite classics, parties and even fireworks at sea on selected itineraries.

While restaurants vary per ship, the whole family can look forward to dining in a venue themed to recreate the wonder of Disney’s best-loved films. Look out for spots like Animator’s Palate, Tiana's Place, Rapunzel’s Royal Table and many more. There’s also a myriad of adult-only eateries for extra special moments at sea.

Boasting some of the largest staterooms at sea, a holiday with Disney Cruise Line promises décor featuring Disney artwork and movie influences. You can also expect a split bathroom, meaning the whole family can get ready for fun-filled evenings more efficiently.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises offers multigenerational itineraries so that parents, grandparents and children can enjoy quality time together, create memories and discover exotic locations, making it one of the best cruises for families.

Flexible anytime dining is available, as well as a multitude of casual venues close by the swimming pools and sports courts – perfect for refueling after endless fun in the sun. Choose delicious dishes from the international buffet, which is sure to suit every palate, while the speciality restaurants are available for when you want a memorable experience of mouthwatering inventions and tantalising beverages.

During the day, families can utilise the Discovery at SEA programme for interactive learning and exciting activities, while the evenings are great for stargazing – how many constellations can you spot? Cultural presentations and guest speakers are a wonderful way to explore the destinations you’re visiting. With ports of call in North America, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Asia and the Pacific, there’s plenty of history and culture to immerse yourself in. Holidaymakers can also expect showstopping theatre performances, film screenings under the stars at the outdoor cinema, game shows and live music.

MSC Cruises

For a family cruise holiday that’s great value, MSC Cruises should be on your radar. With modern ships, child-friendly facilities and itineraries to locations across Europe and the Caribbean, you’ll want for nothing on your once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

MSC ships boast unique onboard attractions, including LEGO experiences, virtual reality and an F1 simulator. The latter can be found on selected ships across the Meraviglia, Seaside, Fantasia and World Classes. There’s also exhilarating waterslides and swimming pools to suit voyagers of all ages.

Choose between a delectable array of buffet and a la carte dining options showcasing iconic flavours from Mediterranean cuisine. With flexible dining and kids’ menus, you’ll find something to make the entire family happy.

Spend wholesome evenings together watching the incredible onboard entertainment. Theatre and acrobatic productions will leave you in awe, while there’s themed nights for dressing up and family game shows and interactive quizzes to really get you in the holiday spirit.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

If you want flexibility and freedom on your holiday, Norwegian Cruise Line is considered one of the best cruises for families.

NCL is known for its comfortable staterooms but you can take your family cruise to the next level by staying in The Haven. Offering a “ship within a ship” experience, you’ll have access to exclusive lounges, swimming pools and concierge services for even more luxury.

Fill your days with exciting activities, including rides down the numerous multi-storey water slides, go karting and laser tag. Or, if you’re feeling competitive, enjoy a game or two on the sports courts. Evenings are filled with spectacular Broadway-style shows, live music and side-splitting comedy acts. With something happening all day and night, there’ll never be a dull moment on an NCL cruise holiday.

Eat as and when you’re hungry thanks to this liner’s no fixed dining concept. Choose between outstanding steakhouses, Italian restaurants or live Teppankayi cooking experiences. There’s also international dining available in the main dining and buffet venues.

The world is your oyster with a family cruise holidays. Discover exotic destinations and make life-long memories on your next getaway. Book now with Destination2Cruise.