Last updated: . Updated ship-specific pool and children’s-club guidance, cabin and excursion planning, historical sailing and price context, dining and fare inclusions, motion-sickness precautions, and linked-destination and account-term qualifications. Date information added October 30, 2026.
Our family boards Celebrity Equinox
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Many parents may wonder if a cruise with kids is worth the splurge, especially with the hefty price tag that often comes with it. Is it truly a vacation worth the investment? After several cruises (we were on our sixth cruise when I first wrote these notes), we’ve discovered that cruising offers a unique type of getaway that our whole family can enjoy.
These memories come from our cruises around the time of the original January 2025 article. Prices, room benefits, clubs, and onboard services described here reflect those sailings; check the exact line, ship, itinerary, cabin, and booking conditions for your trip. Before you set sail on a cruise with kids, there are a few key ground rules to keep in mind.
1. Cruises may not be the best with babies and toddlers. Cruise passengers are often older and retired, so kids can sometimes be a bit of a mixed bag. Some may get frustrated by the noise and energy, while others might be charmed and shower you with compliments.
That said, some cruise lines offer special baby clubs and amenities designed specifically for younger children, which can be a game-changer. If you’re traveling with little ones, it’s important to carefully review the amenities and policies of the ship to ensure a smooth experience.
2. Kids clubs can be a fantastic option, but hours and age requirements differ by line and ship. On that cruise, the kids club ran from 9-12, 2-5, and 7-10 pm. Port-day childcare and paid extended sessions depend on the sailing, so check its current daily program. Celebrity currently lists Camp at Sea for fully toilet-trained children aged 3–17; its scheduled complimentary sessions exclude embarkation and disembarkation, while extended hours carry fees.
Sometimes, I’ve come across kids clubs with lower age limits, offering options for younger children. Another alternative is for parents to bring their little ones to a playroom, where they can play under parental supervision. Embarkation- and disembarkation-day arrangements vary by sailing; check its daily program. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised on this 12-day cruise to find that the kids club has been open every day so far, with no scheduled breaks.
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3. Choose the right cruise line. We’ve only sailed with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. I prefer Royal Caribbean, but when I first wrote this from Europe, we saw fewer options for their large ships.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Disney Cruises, but the price has kept us from booking one so far. The quotes we considered felt too expensive for us, so I hadn’t been able to justify the splurge (even though I’m a huge Disney fan!). Personally, I’d prefer concierge services over a character meal, but I might change my mind one day if we decide to treat ourselves to a Disney Cruise. MSC Cruises are another option to compare; check the family amenities and total fare for the specific sailing.
4. Note the on-board amenities, especially if you are planning a more extended cruise with many sea days. Our kids have loved the hot tubs, unlimited ice cream in the buffet, the game room, slides and playgrounds, surfing, mini-golf, and basketball courts. Big ships can even have race-course tracks, zip-lining, and more! Celebrity requires full toilet training for pools and hot tubs and says guests under 16 must have a parent or adult guardian in a hot tub. Check the posted rules on your ship.
5. Opt for a larger room. Not only will you have more space to spread out, but check the deck plan as well as the room size. A larger cabin is not automatically closer to the dining room or other places your family will use. This saves kids and parents’ frustration as you don’t battle the elevators as much, can run to your room for forgotten items, etc. It may not seem like a big deal, but splurging on these small things can make a huge difference in your vacation.
6. Embrace occasional room service. On that sailing, the kids tended to get progressively more tired as the days went on, so I occasionally mandated a nap for all. We saved time and money by ordering room service, which was included in our room type on that booking. That was a convenient benefit on our booking; room-service fees and included items vary by cabin and sailing.
7. Pre-pay for amenities on board. Booking your cruise well in advance often gives you access to great deals on these extras. For example, on that sailing, we pre-paid around $1,000 for five specialty restaurants for our family of seven. While it may seem like a big expense, the quality of these meals has made it well worth it.
One of the restaurants on board was Le Petite Chef, a favorite on that sailing. We also had one in our home city of Lisbon, where we paid $100 per person at the time. That was $700 for seven.
On that cruise, we visited Le Petite Chef three times for about what one visit would usually cost at the time. We also dined at Murano, an incredible French restaurant that would easily run us around $100 per person in any major city. We saved our last specialty restaurant experience for sushi with the grandparents. Of course, sushi for seven isn’t cheap, so we feel like the specialty restaurant package more than paid for itself. The pre-paid meal package has been totally worth it for us, giving us the chance to enjoy some amazing meals as a family.
We also pre-booked our wifi package (worth every penny as the standard wifi is worthless) and non-alcoholic drink package. With drinks running $7-10 each on board, this also has paid off very well.
8. Use an expert. I wish I could take credit for some of these tips, but most of what I’ve learned comes from our travel agent, Deb. I’m happy to share her contact information with anyone—she works remotely, and we’ve never even met in person! The cruise world, much like Disney, has so many details and intricacies that can be hard to navigate, with a steep learning curve. A travel agent can help compare cabin options and packages. Compare the total price, inclusions, and booking terms rather than assuming an agent always has the cheapest offer.
9. Pack well. My cruise packing list for families includes more packing tips, but cruises are limited in what you can buy. I forgot my tennis shoes and had to get some in port, which wasn’t ideal. There are also random things you might love to have with you on a cruise, such as card games, swim goggles, sunscreen, cold medication, etc. If you have any medications or items you need from time to time, bring them! Shops and medical services vary by ship; do not rely on finding a particular medicine or essential item onboard. Check medicine and prohibited-item rules before packing.
The good news is cruises are used to passengers packing A LOT. With formal nights, casual nights, varied activities, and more, cruise passengers generally are not packing light. Check the cruise line’s luggage guidance as well as any airline or transfer limits, and leave enough space in your cabin to store your bags.
10. Compare cruise-line and independent excursions. You may get some onboard credit with the cruise ship and wish to apply that to a fun-looking cruise excursion. Compare the full itinerary, price, and return-to-ship arrangements. Our experience below made us wary of shopping-focused tours. Cruise-line excursions can have benefits: Royal Caribbean states that it waits for guests delayed on its own excursions or arranges their return if the ship cannot wait. Independent guests are responsible for returning before departure.
We did a Turkish rug experience in Turkey thinking it’d be cool to see how these factories work. It was not fun at all. We felt very pressured to buy an overpriced rug, to the point that the guide was shaming those who did not buy in the group! We saw the same merchandise an hour later in town for less anyway. Before booking a factory-themed visit, ask how much time is devoted to production, shopping, and sales presentations. Our rug visit felt much more like a pressured shopping stop than the factory tour we wanted.
11. Book experiences outside the cruise. If you want to see something in port, book your own experience outside the cruise. Compare prices and inclusions; an independent tour is not guaranteed to be cheaper. Royal Caribbean says it will not wait for guests who are late returning from independent excursions; cruise-line-booked tours have different return arrangements. Policies vary, so check your cruise line’s rules, the tour’s return plan, and the ship’s all-aboard time before booking.
You can either wait until the last minute (booking the day before, for example) or expect some potential loss with this. Compare cancellation terms, port changes, transport distance, and the ship’s all-aboard time before deciding. Savings and experience depend on the particular tour. My parents took this route on our Greek Cruise last year and had much better guides and tours than we did when booking excursions through the cruise.
12. Stay onboard in port. If you aren’t going a bit stir-crazy, consider not even getting off! We didn’t get off for Rome on our Mediterranean cruise, as we had already explored the city when we lived there for a month. There wasn’t anything we needed to see, and we loved having a day on the less crowded ship to do some activities and hang by the pool.
13. Budget for laundry services. On this 12-day cruise, I knew we’d need to do some laundry. We are going to Orlando right after and won’t have access to laundry there either, so it’s inevitable. It’s also spendy! Check whether your sailing offers a laundry package or promotion.
We cashed in on the “fit as much as you can in one bag” deal for $60 and crammed absolutely everything we could into that bag! However, this was mostly just underwear, socks, and a few pants for everyone. We’ve still washed our workout clothes in the shower to save some dough (since we are working out every day).
1. Convenient, Bundled Vacation. Our cruises have made some family logistics easier once we were on board. Which transport, meals, entertainment, and baggage services are included depends on the line, ship, and fare, so check the booking details before assuming everything is covered.
2. Entertainment to the Max. Cruises offer nearly endless entertainment for a variety of crowds. You’ll get a printout in your room each night of dozens of activities, shows, games, etc. for the next day. I downloaded some movies to watch together as a family, but they aren’t that needed considering how much we have access to on this cruise. I’ve been pleased with the variety of things to do, as well as the option to just relax in the sun, take a nap in a sun chair or your room, or play a game in the game room.
3. Kids Clubs! Need I say more? Kids club is every parent’s BFF. Parents get a break for a few hours while kids get to make new friends who continue to be on the same boat for their entire journey!
We are usually too worn out to make friends with the other parents, but we did have one cruise in which we had a couple of meals with the parents of a new friend to our kids. Our kids have even stayed in touch with past cruise friends, and we had a meet-up in Lisbon later with a family we met on a cruise.
4. Family Bonding Time. One of my favorite parts of a cruise is all of the different versions of family time you can experience. Take a kid for a one-on-one date, take the older kids surfing, go on a romantic dinner date as parents, nap with the toddler in the room and give them some quiet time, etc. You can get all kinds of time together on a cruise. I also love the meal times together for dinner or the quick lunches on the go as we float to the next activity.
5. Dining Made Easy. On our sailings, the buffets and specialty restaurants gave us plenty of choices. Dining hours and what is included vary by ship and fare. Celebrity offers 24-hour room service with fees and exceptions; that does not mean buffets or included dining stay open all day. Check the daily schedule and fare inclusions. This takes a lot off your plate as these can be real concerns during regular travel. Picky eaters love cruising!! You might want snacks for port days; check the destination’s food and customs rules before carrying anything ashore. I like to grab some croissants, cheese, ham, and apples and make some on-the-go snacks for walking around a new city.
6. Check for Extra Costs. Potential extras can include alcohol, laundry, room service when it is not included in the cabin, and the minibar. Fees and package inclusions differ by sailing and fare, so check the full terms before booking. Some cruise lines offer selectable packages, but a package is not automatically included in every fare.
On our last cruise, we did a glass-blowing class but used a bit of our onboard credit we got at booking. Our final bill was $23. This is amazing after 12 days at sea!
Glassblowing on a cruise
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1. Cabin Size. Even family-friendly staterooms can feel cramped, especially on longer cruises. I recommend spending time outside your room (for a movie, for example) to cut down on these feelings.
2. Crowds. On our most recent transatlantic sailing, we found the ship less crowded than shorter sailings, though larger ships can still feel overwhelming, particularly around pools and buffets during peak times. We tend to time our visits to these places at off-hours or use room service.
If you have concierge services, there are sometimes specialty dining restaurants or suite-level restaurants you can use, pre-reserved tables in main dining, or other hacks to cut down on this. However, it can feel really crowded at times.
On our summer Greek cruise, we could rarely get a good chair by the pool to watch the kids while they swam. This was tough as a mom, trying to look between the older adults and monitor the pool (and trying to keep my kids from splashing all the adults).
On our most recent transatlantic cruise, we only had one lunch that was very crowded, and we circled the dining room, looking for seats. We finally asked to sit with a couple that had taken one of the large tables for eight. They weren’t thrilled when my kids all piled in, but what else was there to do? After this, we simply went to the dining room about 30 minutes before lunch and sat at the table we wanted. We did some planning or played a game.
3. Limited Port Time. As I said before, a cruise is not a good way to explore a new location. You are extremely limited in your time to explore (usually something like 9 am to 3 pm), so trying to see anything away from the port is problematic. Port stops often allow only a few hours to explore. Families with young kids may find this schedule stressful, especially when packing in activities or managing naps.
4. Excursions Are Expensive. Compare cruise-line and independent options as discussed above, including the itinerary, return arrangements, cancellation terms, and full cost. Ask about shopping stops and expected tips before booking.
5. High Cost. Cruises can be pricey, especially for families requiring larger staterooms or suites. Extras like shore excursions, specialty dining, and internet access can quickly add up. For one Royal Caribbean booking, the Aqua Suite was the option we found for keeping our family of seven together. While this is amazing, it’s expensive.
That was our room arrangement for that booking, rather than a rule for every ship. Thankfully, when I first wrote this, our oldest was about to turn 18 the following year (where did the time go?!), and we can now have a child room with her in a separate room. Cabin capacities and rules for children in separate or connecting rooms vary by cruise line, departure region, and ship. Confirm the exact occupancy and adult-supervision requirements before booking. The rooms are generally small, so it’s a tight situation.
6. Motion Sickness. Long sea days, particularly in rough waters, can cause seasickness. This can be tough on kids, especially those prone to motion sickness. I’m prone to motion sickness and have felt it a bit on this long transatlantic adventure. We previously linked Dramamine and behind-the-ear patches, but these are not suitable for everyone. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about age-appropriate options, side effects, and contraindications before travel, especially for children. The CDC advises against scopolamine patches for children. Do not assume an adult medicine or patch is appropriate for a child. Other options sometimes suggested include bracelets for motion sickness, getting enough sleep, and keeping your eyes on the horizon. CDC notes that studies have not shown acupressure bands to work better than placebo; ask a clinician or pharmacist about options for children.
7. Screen-Free Challenges. Internet access is often slow and expensive, which can be a downside for families reliant on digital entertainment. As we were cruising over Thanksgiving, I downloaded some Christmas movies to my tablet before the cruise.
There would be no way we could watch movies without downloading them. We opted for the premium internet and can download it over an entire day. On the flip side, it’s also a good excuse to unplug and connect as a family.
8. Over-Stimulation. With endless activities, constant entertainment, and bustling public spaces, kids (and parents) can become overstimulated. Planning quiet time is essential. Expect some tantrums… eating too much dessert can give you a tummy ache, and too much luxury can make even the best kids a bit irritable.
9. Unpredictable Weather. Weather can impact outdoor activities, pool time, and port stops, disappointing everyone. It’s good to have backup plans for indoor fun. Bring some games you’ve been wanting to play!
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Cruising with kids can be an incredibly rewarding way to vacation, offering the perfect blend of relaxation, entertainment, and family bonding. However, it’s important to set realistic expectations, plan ahead, and choose the right cruise line and itinerary for your family’s needs. From kids’ clubs and endless activities to easy dining and seamless logistics, there are countless reasons to consider cruising as a family-friendly travel option.
Follow these tips, keep your family’s priorities in mind, and don’t hesitate to consult a travel expert to maximize your cruise experience.
With a little planning and the right mindset, cruising with kids can be one of the most memorable and enjoyable vacations for your entire family. So pack your bags, set sail, and get ready to make some amazing memories on the open seas!
Travel Tip: This Charles Schwab Debit Card may reimburse eligible ATM withdrawal fees under account terms. Currency-conversion costs and some other fees are not reimbursed; check current account terms before travel.
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Transatlantic Cruising With Kids: What We Learned on a 12-Day Voyage
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Taking a Greek Cruise as a Family
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