Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship For Kids: Royal Caribbeans Oasis Of The Seas
Royal Caribbean features some of the biggest ships in the world with some of the most thrilling activities for families. Oasis of the Seas recently underwent a $165-million transformation to include even more adventures and modern amenities that will keep your crew smiling from port to port. Splash the day away on the Caribbean-inspired pool deck, aqua park and three waterslides. You can climb two rock walls, zipline across deck nine, try your best to stand tall on twin FlowRider surf simulators, and squeal your way down The Ultimate Abyss 10-story slide.
Oasis of the Seas sailings depart Miami for the Caribbean through May 2020 after that, Oasis of the Seas will head to New York City and become one of the largest ships to sail from the Big Apple. Seven-night cruises to The Bahamas include a Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbeans private island that features a huge water park with the tallest slide in North America and Chill Island, where you can bliss out by the warm, turquoise waters.
Seven neighborhoods aboard this ship transport you to places like Central Park for open-air walks amongst greenery and around lively restaurants, and Boardwalk, which is reminiscent of Coney Island, featuring a carousel, games and a dessert shop. Shows at the AquaTheater enthrall cruisers with high-diving, acrobatics, aerial tricks and other exuberating antics. Families love the glow-in-the-dark laser tag, escape room , mini-golf and ice skating.
Best Cruise Ship Cabins For Your Family
Cruise ship cabins look so cute and cozy for a couple. What happens when you put a family of four all in one room on a cruise ship?
First off, not all cabins can sleep that many people. Pick a room thats too small even if it has enough bunks and sofa beds for everyone — and youll be tripping all over each other, making a mess of the limited floor space, and fighting over who showers first.
Choose the right cabin or combination of connecting rooms, and youll be luxuriating in separate bedrooms and roomy balconies. You might score a room close to the kids club or a family suite with extra perks that make it easier for parents to navigate traveling with children.
Whether youre looking for cruise ships with two-bedroom suites or any cabin that accommodate a family of six, here are the best cruise ship cabins for your family on five big-ship cruise lines.
Interior With A Courtyard View
On some of todays largest vessels, like Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas, youll find some interior rooms that have a window overlooking a courtyard area of the ship. On Allure, you can book a 191-square-foot Promenade View Interior that accommodates five with two twins that convert to a king, a double sofa bed and a pull-down bed. A bowed window affords views to the Royal Promenade.
Courtyard View Pricing: Seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary aboard Allure of the Seas out of Barcelona in July 2020 in a Promenade View Interior from $1,086 per person based on four $1,091 per person for a Central Park View Interior based on four.
You May Like: How Far Is Rome Airport To Cruise Port
Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Encore
- Number of guests: 3998
- Year: 2019
Norwegian Encore is our favorite in the Breakaway Plus class of ships and is the sister ship to Joy and Bliss. If you find an itinerary to your dream destination, and you are lucky enough to be on one of these ships, then you will not be disappointed. These cruise ships are spectacular, and true works of arts.
Best Traditional Cruise: Tauck
- Ship Name: MS Savor
- Itinerary: Bratislava, Slovakia Vienna, Austria Melk, Austria Passau, Germany Prague, Czech Republic
Adventure tour provider Tauck has been in the travel industry since 1882, and in addition to a number of land tours, the company operates its own fleet of river vessels. Tauck has dedicated family voyages called Tauck Bridges, but the more traditional themed cruises have excursions that are aimed at adults. Built in 2014, the 130-passenger MS Savor has a gorgeous main atrium with a dripping chandelier, a putting green, and some innovative features like loft-style cabins with windows that open with the touch of a button. On the Musical Magic on the Blue Danube river cruise, interactive musical workshops, onboard performances, and themed excursions like a trip to the Opera House in Bratislava or a private performance at a palace in Vienna are included.
Take a look at other river cruising options with some of the best European River cruises.
Read Also: Amsterdam Cruise Ship Terminal
Understanding Cruise Line Ship Classes
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.
Related Post:Best Cruise Ships for 2021
Brand New Ships For An Even Greater Experience
As the delays the cruising industry has suffered due to the Pandemic can eventually be put behind us, the cruising industry will get back on its feet again.
We wait with anticipation and great excitement to see the ships that have undergone renovation in dry dock or new cruise ship that are waiting to launch ready for the 2022 season and beyond. What can we expect? Check out list of the ships that are coming soon to brighten our landscape and offer us more the type of vacations and cruising holidays that we love so much.
Meet the Author
Mattias has nearly 2 decades of travel industry expertise, working with tour operators, airlines, IT providers, hospitality suppliers, cruise lines and everything else in between that makes the travel industry tick. more..
Recommended Reading: New Jersey Cruise Port Parking
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.
Cirque De Soleil At Sea
As an alternative there is a smaller theatre that offer the Cirque de Soleil shows at an additional cost. We recommend booking dinner and the Cirque de Soleil show package from home before you sail as it is popular. But apart from some of the stand-up comics evenings we have to admit that we gave the theatre shows mostly a miss whilst on board. We prefered instead to spend time in the bars, lounges and on the dance floor.
Don’t Miss: How To Visit Alaska On A Budget
The 11 Best Cruises For Kids
Our editors independently selected these items because we think you will enjoy them and might like them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
Taking a cruise is a bucket list item the entire family can check off together. But some cruises are more kid-friendly than others.
For example, ships sailing under the mouse flag do a good job at minimizing “meltdowns” according to Condé Nast Traveler‘s Senior Editor, Corina Quinn. “Disney does a great job carrying its expertise from the parks into the cruise experience,” she said. Quinn, who did a Disney Cruise with her young nephews in December, said they even saw two films on the ship that were currently in theaters.
If your kids are too old for costumed characters, don’t worry. We found plenty of cruises designed for preteens and teens too. From Caribbean cruises that stop at private Bahamian islands to an Alaska “uncruise” and even a Southeast Asia adventure on the Mekong River, here are 10 bucket list-worthy cruises the whole family can enjoy.
Best for ages: 3-10
Where: Florida to the Caribbean, New York to Canada or Bermuda and California to Mexico
Price: Rates for adults on the 3-night Caribbean cruise start at $714. Rates for children start at $477.
Best for ages: 2-12
Where: Fort Lauderdale, Princess Cays, St. Thomas and St. Maarten
Price: from $663/person
Best for ages: 8+
Getting On Board Quantum Of The Seas
Forget about rising at the crack of dawn to catch an early-morning flight! We arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre at the leisurely time of 10:30am ready for our cruise vacation onboard the Quantum of the Seas. Even though we wouldnt be departing for a few more hours, judging by the crowd, we werent the only ones looking to board earlier to make the most of our time onboard the amazing ship. Who wouldnt want to when you enjoy lunch onboard and have first dibs at checking out its extensive facilities?
Once we cleared customs and made our way towards the ships gangway, we looked up in awe. The Quantum of the Seas is massive, weighing 168,666 tonnes with 16 decks that can carry up to 4,905 passengers in its 2,090 staterooms and suites.
Recommended Reading: How Much Are 7 Day Cruises
Best Cruise Ships For Kids 2020
Considering a cruise for your next family vacation? You might be surprised to see how many cruise ship options there actually are! To help you make your decision, weve chosen the most innovative and entertaining cruise ships for kids. In 2020, sail away on one of these cruise ships for kids, and youll be on cruise control in no time!
Tips For Traveling With Teens
When you choose to take your family on any one of these seven cruises, your teens will thank you. Packed with fun, teen-specific activities, these cruises cater to everyone in the family. Whether you have a teen who loves rock climbing or one who just wants a pedicure and a glass of fizzy soda, these cruises are sure to deliver amenities that will make everyone in the family happy. Additionally, many cruise lines offer teen-specific travel tips to help families better plan their upcoming adventure.
Once you’ve chosen your cruise, ensure that you’ve adequately prepared everyone in the family. Do some research to make sure that nobody needs additional vaccines or medications prior to the cruise, and consider purchasing international travel insurance if your cruise will take you out of the country.
There is nothing quite as beautiful, majestic and exciting as a cruise, and families with teens can rest assured that these companies understand their needs. Designed to offer a fun, relaxing experience for everyone in the family, these cruise lines will take the burden of being entertainer and parent off your shoulders. So go ahead, kick your feet up and relax as your teen enjoys any one of the fun, unique, teen-specific activities these cruises have to offer.
Also Check: Why Are Disney Cruises More Expensive
Disney Cruise Line Disney Magic
- Number of guests: 1754
- Year: 1998. Updated 2018
When it comes to family entertainment, nostalgia and pure fun, Disney is hard to beat. From super musical theatre shows to super heroes , Disney offers up their heart-warming quality we have come to expect, year after year, cruise after cruise.
We love Disney Magic for its friendliness and intimacy. Whilst the ship is old the renovations and modernizations are bang up to date.
The family pool area may not be huge but we dont think your kids will notice with all the other activities on offer. And for an escape the adults can enjoy the larger adult-only pool at the front of the ship.
Service is paramount as you would expect from Disney, and its service with a smile at all times. The staff pay attention to details and everything in your cabin is geared towards making light of travelling with kids. Everything around you will be Disney, from the music you hear playing, the costume characters in the dining rooms, to your mickey-shaped deserts. So if you just cant get enough of Disney and especially if you have young children, this cruise ship is for you, despite the high-end price tag that follows.
Family Dining And Live Music
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining but we like Giovannis Italian kitchen and wine bar. You get rustic family-style dining with the traditional Italian dishes that everybody loves. Also on offer will be Poolside BBQ and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, both highly popular with families.
For music lovers you will love the Music Bar where you will find live music and fantastic dance floors. The Spotlight Karaoke venue is always a highlight of the cruise where you can sing your heart out in front of other guests. This is one of the most popular venues onboard Royals ships and great fun. All in all it is safe to say that Oasis of the Seas offers some of the very best family fun at sea.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is Disney Cruise Insurance
Amenities Activities And Accommodations
At the heart of any cruise ship is what the ship offers onboard, and where you will call home during your vacation.
Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships have four basic types of staterooms: inside, oceanview, balcony and suite cabins. These types of cabins offer varying amount of living space and luxuries, and the some ships have more impressive cabins than others.
Ultimately, the decision for which room you want is a question of what you can afford, but the larger and newer ships tend to offer the most expansive and luxurious accommodations.
What you do onboard is what makes Royal Caribbean stand out, and you will find various signature activities, fun things to do and multitudes of dining choices across an expansive layout.
Each cruise ship is made up of a different combination of onboard offerings and over the last decade, Royal Caribbean has varied these amenities considerably from ship to ship. So it behooves you to figure out which are the most important and pick the right ship for you.
The Oasis Class Perfect For Kids And Active Families
Sister ship to Harmony, Allure and Symphony which all belong to Royals Oasis class, Oasis of the Seas gives you some of the best adventures and entertainment at sea. Recommended for families and adventurous, lively couples, Oasis was the first ship built in the Oasis class and has undergone a complete renovation in 2019. Expensive? Yes. Value for money? Absolutely.
Start with a ten-story high slide thrill in a tunnel, the Ultimate Abyss, that delivers you safely to the boardwalk deck. Learn to surf on their wave riders on the top deck, or meet new friends in a game of glow in the dark laser tag. Adventure is the name of the game here.
There are great kids clubs and if you are travelling with teens. They will have their own lounge and a new dedicated outdoor deck area where making new friends will be easy. Your kids can even try out a Mission Control Apollo 18 escape room.
The pool decks have been completed revamped. Expect a Caribbean style pool area with more bars, whirl pools and a variety of seating including day beds and cabanas.
Read Also: Can You Use Marriott Points For Cruises
Best Modern Cruise: U River Cruises
Courtesy of U by Uniworld
- Ship Name: The A
- Itinerary: Haarlem, Netherlands Düsseldorf, Germany Cologne, Germany Koblenz, Germany Rüdesheim Germany Frankfurt Germany
Geared towards millennials, U River Cruises takes a hip approach to river cruising, with modern, stylish ships featuring chic rooftop lounges with ice bars and fabulous, trend-setting dining venues. Theres also yoga, paint and wine classes, and themed cruises that bring special guests onboard, ranging from celebrity drag queens to famous tattoo artists. On the 120-pasenger A ship, cabins include adjustable mood lighting, USB ports, built-in Bluetooth speakers, and luxurious baths with heated mirrors and plush bathrobes. Plus, theres dedicated rooms for solo travelers or groups of three. On the Rolling on the Rhine cruise, the ship stays late in port, with night excursions in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and others included in the fare.