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What Is The Best Cruise Line For Kids

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The Best Alaska Cruises For Families

Best Cruise Lines And Cruises For Kids

Nothing is as easy as finding cruise vacations that suit the needs of your family. Even so, you can never go wrong with an Alaskan cruise. Taking a family cruise to the state is something that youve undoubtedly considered.

Alaska is breathtakingly beautiful but also radiates the calmness of nature, which your whole family will love.

If youre planning a leisurely cruise to Alaska, here are 13 of the best cruises to consider.

Disney Cruise Lines Disney Fantasy

Most Fun Features: January through March, this ship hosts the Star Wars Day at Sea, an all Star Wars extravaganza with photo ops with stormtroopers, Chewbacca and more, plus Jedi training, trivia, movie screenings, and fireworks. The rest of the year, kids and grown-ups will love the stage show version of Aladdin.

Best Eats: The main dining room here is decoratedget thisas a royal palace, and theres a Royal Court Tea thats hosted by Disney princesses. Heres where to splurge and where to save on a Disney Cruise.

Cruise Itineraries For Family Cruising

When looking to book a cruise the cruise itinerary and destination is also important for families wishing to cruise. At certain times of the year cruise itineraries will be more catered to families such as school holidays or christmas with planners packed with activities.

Some destinations are better suited for families such as the Caribbeans beaches or destinations such as Norway for children. Perhaps flying is not your thing? You could always take a cruise from Southampton?. Cut out the hassle of the airports and go straight into holiday mode by boarding a ship. There are many cruise itineraries which sail out of Southampton where you can start your holiday the minute you board.

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Royal Caribbeans Harmony Of The Seas

With its seven neighbourhoods, including the kid-friendly Boardwalk, the worlds largest ship has enough action-oriented amenitiesfrom an ice rink and carousel to a zip line and the tallest slide at seato keep kids of all ages entertained. More than three football fields long, Harmony holds up to 6,272 passengers.

Best for: Daredevil kids and their parentsbut theres lots for tiny tots, too.

Coolest itinerary: Seven nights round trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the Western Caribbean, with calls on Falmouth, Jamaica Cozumel, Mexico and Labadee in Haiti, Price: from $924 per person.

Why its great: Its a marvel of engineering and imagination: big, bold and playfulwhat kid wouldnt love meeting Shrek or getting soaked by a drench bucket in the splash park?with multiple oceanview and interior cabins that let little ones be safe as you enjoy the sunset.

Your kids will love: The stomach-dropping slides if theyre brave enough and tall enough to try the 10-storey-high Ultimate Abyss or Perfect Storm slide trio and yummy fun on a bun at Boardwalk Dogs . Younger kids can interact with Dreamworks characters or cool off at Splashaway Bay.

Youll love: The sophistication of Central Park and the familiar old-school fun of Grease, The Musical.

Kids Clubs Age Ranges On P& o

7 Best Cruise Ships for Kids (rated by a 16 year old kid)

Each ships children clubs are slightly different, but the Reef clubs are separated in to different age groups.

  • Splashers is age 2-4
  • Scubas 9-12
  • H20 is the cool club for teens aged 13-17.

P & O also offer Carefree nights a Night Nursery which is available free of charge on all family friendly ships for children aged between 6 months and 4 years of age.

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Msc Cruises For Families

MSC are amongst the best cruises for families with ships packed with tons of great things to do for all ages. Their babies, kids and teen clubs have a range of activities and are partnered up with top childrens brands such as LEGO and Chicco. Offering multiple dining choices and plenty of onboard activities this family friendly cruise line are always a safe bet.

Some of their most recent and newest ships are the

Activities & Outdoor Fun

Cruisers comparing Harmony of the Seas vs. Carnival Vista will find boisterous, active fun on both ships. But while many of the daily events are the same , the attractions each ship offers differ significantly.

First, what they have in common: Both have outdoor mini-golf and a basketball court that can convert into a volleyball court or occasional soccer pitch. Both have evening comedy clubs . Both have multiple pools: four on Harmony and three on Vista.

Both also have water parks but what you’ll find in each differs.

On Harmony, you’ve got the Perfect Storm trio of water slides, appropriately named Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell, as well as the family-friendly Splashaway Bay with smaller slides, water cannons and drenching buckets. Nearby is the Abyss, a dry slide, which begins in the Pool and Sports Zone at the back of the ship and drops riders some 100 feet to the Boardwalk.

Vista’s Waterworks park has the psychedelically themed Kaleid-O-Slide, a twister water slide, the PowerDrencher bucket and the kids-only SplashZone.

Now the big differences: On Harmony you’ll find an ice skating rink, the Puzzle escape room, a Boardwalk-style arcade with classic carnival games , the FlowRider surf simulator, climbing walls and a zipline.

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Best Activities: Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL Getaway

  • Ship Name: Norwegian Getaway
  • Itinerary: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Mazatlan, Mexico Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Norwegian Getaway has five water slides, including the fastest at sea, plus two swimming pools and four hot tubs. Theres also a massive sports complex with a ropes course, rock climbing wall, and basketball court. Teens have their own space called Entourageduring the day, its a clubhouse with theater workshops, themed events, pool parties, and more but in the evening, it becomes a teen dance club. Getaway is also home to some fabulous live entertainment including production shows, standup comedy, and their own rendition of Deal or No Deal. Norwegian also hosts freestyle dining, so families have more flexibilities about where and when to dine.

Fun Isn’t Just For Adultsteens & Tweens Program

Best Cruises for Kids | What Cruise Line is Best For Children

Whether hanging out with other cruisers or checking out games, sports and parties are on your tween’s agenda, our teen-only spots are the places to go. Our Teen program also allows older kids the freedom to come and go as they please. They’ll love it so much the only thing you might wish for is a little more time with your kids.

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Best Alaska Cruises For Kids And Alaska Family Cruises

There is something very special about taking your kids with you on an Alaska cruise. Watching a glacier with your children as it calves explosively into Glacier Bay, panning for gold, seeing their face as they spot a whale for the first time or to watch a totem pole being built are all memories that you, your children or your grandchildren will never forget.

Nature and kids go hand in hand. Everyone loves the great outdoors and the cruise lines have figured that out. The reason that families are flocking to Alaska is that the cruise lines are more welcoming and better equipped than ever to handle young children and teens.

Alaska Cruises provide a rare opportunity for kids to learn about and appreciate nature, wildlife and the environment, to share those experiences with their family and at the same time, have a blast!

Several cruise lines visiting Alaska cater to and provide facilities and services for families. If you have young children or teens, we recommend Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, or Carnival for their kid programs, teen programs and babysitting services.

Additional Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

As mentioned above, the cruise lines Breakaway-class features many of the same amenities as the brands larger Breakaway-Plus class of ships. These include the Waterfront with bars and lounges, as well as their own signature entertainment in the main theater along with Howl at the Moon, a dueling pianos bar.

Both Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway actually have more outdoor activities that are included in the cruise fare, such as a waterpark featuring drop slides and an aqua park for the little ones. Both ships also have a full-fledged ropes course complete with zip lines and a plank that extends off the side of the ship, as well as mini-golf courses.

Many of the same restaurants exist on these ships too, offering a mix of up-charge and complimentary dining venues with over 15 different options to choose.

For those looking to go big, both classes of ships have the Haven. This exclusive area of the ship features its own private pool, restaurant, bar, and other perks available to only guests with staterooms in this category. The Havens larger rooms offer more comfort and luxuries than your typical stateroom cabin. Of course, rooms in this secluded part of the ship do come at a premium!

Evaluating Norwegian Cruise Line

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Best Cruise Lines For Adults

One of the best things about cruising is that there are almost as many different types of experiences to be had as there are ships on which to have them.

While cruising is incredibly popular as a family vacation, an increasing number of adults are opting to leave the rest of the clan behind and enjoy a vacation on their own.

Fruity drinks? Check. Gambling money? Check. Family trips are all well and good, but getting away with your fellow adults is downright sweet.

Understanding Cruise Line Ship Classes

Best Cruise Ship for Families Winners: 2018 10Best Readers ...

Broadly speaking, cruise lines are large companies that manage a fleet of ships. Some of the worlds largest cruise lines have dozens of ships.

Each cruise line has its own standard venues, entertainment offerings, and style. So, by investigating each cruise lines general approach to cruising, you can decide whether it is a good fit for your familys next cruise vacation.

Within a brand, there are also different offerings between ships. For instance, Royal Caribbean International has 28 cruise ships available to book through 2022. It would take you hours to research each ship individually just for that one cruise line. Not to mention, Royal Caribbean is just one of over 60 international cruise lines.

Hence, its important to note that each cruise line offers different groups of ships. These classes of cruise ships often feature specific amenities or venues found only on those vessels. While there might be slight differences between ships within a class, they are largely identical.

So, when comparing cruise vacations, you can focus on which classes of ships best appeal to families.

In this guide to the best cruise lines for families, we attempt to highlight the cruise lines and the cruise ship classes within the brand that we would recommend for multi-generational travel parties.

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Additional Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships

If you are concerned about the size of these massive vessels, the Freedom-class of ships offer many of the same restaurants, bars, and nightlife as its bigger sisters but are 40% smaller.

These vessels can also offer more unique itineraries, as they can dock at smaller ports. There are three ships in this class, including the newly amplified Freedom of the Seas. This ship has been enhanced with new dining and onboard activities.

For shorter cruises, the cruise line offers 3 and 4-night cruises on two recently amplified ships, Navigator of the Seas and . These vessels are perfect for a quick weekend getaway cruise. All cruises on both ships visit Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

Finally, Royal Caribbeans Quantum-class ships are also ideal for a family cruise vacation, possibly in a cold weather destination. These ships feature an abundance of one of a kind attractions to keep cruisers of all ages entertained. The Seaplex is home to bumper cars and roller skating, as well as gaming areas. There is also the high-flying North Star and the skydiving simulator, RipCord by iFLY.

In addition to the main theater, Quantum-class ships are also home to the dynamic Two70. This entertainment venue includes original production shows enhanced with digital screens and robotics. This class of ships also contains the Music Hall, with tribute bands and live performances most nights of the cruise.

Odyssey of the Seas will be the first Quantum Ultra-class ship when she debuts in 2021.

Royal Caribbean International For Families

Royal Caribbean international certainly know how to entertain!. They are known for all round family thrill seeking activities and are considered one of the best cruises for families. Their cruises are second to none with innovative ways to enjoy yourself with zip wires, splash zones and best known for multigenerational family groups.

The Oasis-class ships are the largest in the fleet and the largest ships in the world. These game changer ships are made to leave lasting memories. These ships have won awards for Best for Entertainment, Best Individual Cruise Ship and Best Large Cruise Ship, and its no wonder as they are packed with thing to do for all ages and you will have an absolute blast!

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Best Large Cruise: Caribbean Cruise On Royal

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

  • Ship Name: Allure of the Seas
  • Itinerary: Cozumel, Mexico Costa Maya, Mexico Nassau, Bahamas

Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas is the third largest cruise ship in the world and every inch of it is jammed packed with things for families to do. For the adventure and sports types, theres a surf simulator, ice skating, rock climbing, basketball, volleyball, and ziplining over the ships boardwalka walking promenade thats home to a carousel. In the evenings, there are Broadway shows and the one-of-a-kind Aqua Theater with high-diving and acrobatic acts. The kids clubs are some of the best at sea: with a hands-on science adventure lab and Imagination Studio where kids can create paintings and sculptures. On the Caribbean cruise, passengers are also treated to a day in Nassau, where kids can explore the island’s history, as it was once home to famous pirates and buccaneers.

Best Cruise Lines For Families: Carnival Cruise Line

Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship for Kids!

For those with younger children, Carnival Cruise Line is a great family cruise option at a cheaper price point than Disney. So, it makes our list of the best cruise lines for families.

Currently, Carnival Cruise Line is in the midst of a restructuring. Four vessels from the fleet have been scrapped this year. Further, some of the remaining older ships are now going through extensive updates to receive the brands Fun Ship 2.0 updates.

This means that most of the Carnival Cruise Line ships now offer many of the same dining, onboard activities, and amenities regardless of class.

For families, Carnival Cruise Line offers some of the best casual and complimentary dining options. Like other cruise lines, it also offers a traditional main dining room, with both set dining times as well as the flexible Anytime Dining on its vessels.

All ships feature standard amenities like a fitness center, onboard shopping, as well as a casino. Newer vessels feature the Cloud 9 Spa, which also boasts a thermal suite.

The companys Playlist Productions are family-friendly night time shows that are shorter in length than typical cruise ship entertainment. Other entertainment options include shows, like Hasbro Game Night and Lip Sync Battle, that will appeal to both adults and kids.

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Norwegian Cruise Line For Kids

Norwegian loves families and is fast becoming one of the best family friendly cruise lines. There are so many onboard amenities and a childrens clubs for all ages. While adults are relaxing at the spa or sipping a cocktail kids can attend supervised youth programs where they can play with their friends, learn to circus skills, play dodgeball or attend themed parties. There are childrens menus which are available in all of the restaurants.

Best Cruise Lines For Families: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator of the freestyle approach to cruising. This mean that there are no set dinner times or table assignments. On all Norwegian Cruise Line ships, cruisers can choose where they want to eat, when they want to eat. These vessels have a variety of complimentary and specialty restaurants that offer diverse menus.

For those looking for flexibility and some of the newest onboard activities, Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the best cruise lines for families.

The lines newest class of ships is the Breakaway-Plus class. These innovative vessels boast a number of features that make them the perfect option for families with kids of all ages.

We have sailed on several ships in this class, as well as the slightly smaller Breakaway-class, and highly recommend them. These ships offer cruises in several regions of the world, making them a great option if you are looking for an itinerary outside of the typical Caribbean cruises.

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Top 10 Cruise Ships For Families

Fancy a family scavenger hunt, disco dancing, a foot massage with your kids, or maybe a cooking class? Its all possible on a family cruise that is all about spending time together away from the usual routines of school and work.

Multi-generational cruising is also big news, with cruise lines providing innovative programs that bring family members together while also offering age-appropriate entertainment. Some cruise lines have babysitting facilities so parents can enjoy a night out, and you will find there are more family staterooms being added to new ships due to high demand.

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