Why: Norwegian 's casual atmosphere makes it a great choice for kid cruises, particularly for families who don't want to be beholden to strict dining times, venues and dress codes. Norwegian's newer ships offer all the mega-ship bells and whistles families have come to expect though we found Norwegian Encore and Bliss to have a more grownup vibe, so it's not making our list of top family-friendly ships. Kids Club: Norwegian's Splash Academy features separate activities for kids ages 3 to 5, 6 to 9 and 10 to Children can do arts and crafts, sing karaoke and play video games.
Epic's facility has a jungle gym, plenty of room to roam and a cool interactive light-up dance floor. The two-story Splash Academies on Norwegian Escape, Breakaway and Getaway are the line's largest children's spaces at sea, home to high-tech games, a circus school and a small cinema.
Entourage is a space for teens 13 to 17, and it has air hockey, video games, plush couches and flat-screen TVs. Entourage turns into a teens-only nightclub at night. Late-night group babysitting is available for a fee. While all ships have parent-child play areas and programming for babies 6 months to 3 years, only Norwegian Escape offers drop-off, extra-fee childcare for very small children in the Guppies Nursery.
Kid-Friendly Features: Popular activities throughout these ships include rock climbing and rappelling walls, climbing cages, bowling lanes and impressive water park areas. Epic has a foot-long corkscrew tube and the Drainpipe, a foot tube that empties into a giant funnel.
Breakaway and Getaway have five multistory waterslides, as well as The Plank, an 8-foot walk part of the ropes course that extends off the edge of the ship and out over the sea. Escape offers one of the largest ropes course at sea, as well as one of the largest water parks at sea. All four have two main pools, including a separate kids pool.
Epic also has 46 two-bedroom family villas that sleep up to six people, while Breakaway and Getaway have 20 two-bedroom villas. On Escape, the Haven has two-bedroom family suites that sleep up to six passengers, and there are an additional 40 family mini-suites that feature bathtubs.
Why: Princess ' ships include expansive programs, facilities and accommodations for parents and children. Two of the line's newest and largest ships, Royal and Regal Princess, have even more great additions for families, including expanded kids club spaces, more dining options, a batting cage and laser shooting range, a bigger pool deck with a water and light show and poolside cabanas The reason we are not including Sky Princess in this list is that the pool deck lacks any kid-friendly elements and there is no video game arcade onboard.
Further, as part of the expansion of its partnership with Discovery Communications, Princess is revamping the youth spaces on several of its ships to include lively, modern decor.
All the ships on our list have either received or will receive the makeover. Discovery-inspired programming, which includes fun and educational activities, has rolled out fleetwide. Activities might include a scavenger hunt themed around Caribbean sharks, hands-on "Mythbusters"-style challenges, learning the science of magic, junior ranger programs and general cruise favorites, such as video game tournaments, art projects and storytime.
The kids clubs are outfitted with foosball, air hockey and even Skee-Ball. Teens can choose from sport tournaments, themed parties, dance classes and late-night movies.
Royal and Regal Princess have outdoor play areas with a jungle gym for kids ages 3 to 7, and another for teens with a teens-only hot tub and space for outdoor parties. Movies Under the Stars is the line's huge outdoor movie theater that plays poolside features on the top deck after the sun sets. The square-foot screen broadcasts kid- and teen-friendly movies, as well as fun-for-the-whole-gang blockbusters, and live sporting events and awards shows.
Another cool offering: Parents are welcome to attend the Jr. Chef Sea Program, a hands-on chef-led cooking class that takes place in a shipboard kitchen, alongside their budding-chef kiddos. The Discovery connection extends beyond the kids club to whole-family programming. Shark Week at Sea offers shark-themed games and activities for the whole family on select summer cruises, while families on select Alaska sailings can embark on a search for Big Foot a la the TV show "Finding Bigfoot" or participate in a crab-sorting challenge inspired by "Deadliest Catch".
Princess marks select shore excursions as Discovery Family Tours, which are targeted at families with kids ages 3 to 12 and involve hands-on activities that connect kids to the destination. Animal Planet tours are ideal for parents and kids who want to see whales, sharks, sloths and other critters up close.
Find a Cruise. Cruise Tips. You may also like Dismiss. Princess Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean International. Harmony of the Seas vs. Anthem of the Seas. Carnival Vista. Collectively, the ships offer ice skating rinks, simulated surfing machines, zip-lines, bumper cars, laser tag, carousels, and thrill slides. The Adventure Ocean program for ages includes fun science experiments, while teens get to party in their own disco. Royal is one of the few lines sailing close-to-home this summer: The 3,passenger Adventure of the Seas , topped with twin racing waterslides, sails from Nassau, Bahamas, to Cozumel.
Book now : royalcaribbean. The family-centric vibe includes waitstaff who are experts in dealing with fussy eaters, and cabins with one-and-a-half bathrooms.
Teens will especially enjoy the thrilling waterslides. Book now : disneycruise. The line caters to families in a big way with waterparks and twisting slides, outdoor ropes courses, and video arcades. Family Harbor cabins and suites come with access to a private family lounge for breakfast, snacks, and video-game play.
Aboard the Disney Dream, Donald gets his due with AquaDuck, a 4-deck-drop water coaster the first at sea that zips riders through transparent tube. The host of Disney-themed kids programs get points for their organization; costumed characters—Mickey, Minnie and friends—keep the pre-school set happy. Character greetings and Broadway-style productions with a Disney twist of course make this 4,passenger vessel a hit with the young and the young at heart.
The Disney wand waved in , turning Disney Magic into a modern member of the sailing Mickeys. Even more cool: kids can train as superheroes at Marvel Avenger Academy.
Magic also added the adults-only AfterHours bars and nightclub, making Magic sweeter for everyday heroes — mom and dad. Kids also love the two surf simulators, tallest waterslide at sea, a zip line above the Boardwalk and rock climbing wall, while parents will appreciate the Ultimate Family Suite.
On the Disney Fantasy, kids programs are Disney-crafted and predictably high-quality; the older set loves bulleting down 4-deck-drop AquaDuck water coaster. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique delights kids with princess or pirate makeovers. Mom and Dad can refresh at Quiet Cove Pool. A highlight for young passengers is the DreamWorks Experience, where kids can interact with their favorite characters from Shrek , Kung Fu Panda and the penguins of Madagascar.
Amazing acrobatics at the AquaTheater, surf simulators, an old-fashioned carousel, two rock climbing walls, a zip line, mini golf and classic carnival games at the Boardwalk Arcade mean kids can kiss boredom goodbye.
Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. Thanks to their excellent travel value, more and more families are turning to cruising when planning their vacations. These 10 cruise lines cater to young passengers in many ways, including family friendly at-sea experiences bumper cars, bowling and waterparks to name a few , family cabins and kid-approved dining options.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Don and Heidi Bucolo are the husband and wife team Read More. Their love for cruising began after taking their first cruise together back in Having spent over days at sea on more than 30 cruises with various cruise brands, they have learned a thing or two about planning and executing the perfect cruise vacation.
You can find them on the web and social media sharing detailed cruise ship reviews, port guides, packing tips and planning tips to help travelers "sea the world, one port at a time.
As well as maintaining an award-winning blog, she also works as a freelance writer and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. Sherry is editor and creator of CruiseMaven.
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