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8 of the best family-friendly cruises for the summer holidays, with lots of activities for kids
Kids are well-catered for on a holiday at sea during a family-friendly cruise
The school holidays might be just around the corner, and while cruises tend to get booked up in advance, it is not too late to secure a cabin for a fantastic family-friendly cruise this year.
A cruise can be a great way to enjoy a fuss-free family holiday with the kids, and while going away in the school holidays is always going to be expensive, cruising can work out more affordable than a hotel or resort when you consider that meals are included and you get round-the-clock entertainment. Plus, you could be waking up in a new destination each day, offering the chance to explore multiple exciting and different ports throughout your trip.
Children will have fun sleeping on bunk beds or sharing a sofa bed in family cabins, and there’s the option to book interconnecting rooms so they feel really grown up. The main dining rooms typically offer kids’ menus, and there will be dedicated sections in the buffet with child-friendly dishes – perfect for picky eaters!
Read more: The best cruise ships to travel on in your lifetime
On a cruise, parents can enjoy a little downtime too, by signing little ones up for the (often) free kids’ clubs on board. Perfect if you need a break and the chance to relax and enjoy the adult-only areas of the ship while your kids enjoy all the wonderful, stimulating entertainment on board, delivered by trained and approved staff.
Many ships also have attractive activities outside of the kids’ club that the whole family can enjoy, such as sports areas for football, tennis, pickleball and basketball, as well as karaoke and quizzes. Some ships have even become floating entertainment resorts, with swimming pools, waterparks, slides and even rock climbing walls, bumper cars and ice-skating rinks.
Here is our pick of the best cruise lines for a family-friendly holiday.
Read more: The best cruise deals for summer 2025
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has to be the ultimate family-friendly cruising brand.
There are meet-and-greets and immersive dining experiences across the fleet, so you are almost guaranteed a picture with Mickey and other fan favourites.
Waterslides and rides are commonplace on Disney cruise ships, and attractions differ per vessel.
Disney Dream and Fantasy passengers can enjoy the AquaDuck, a 765-foot-long water coaster that speeds around the ship and finishes in a lazy river.
Disney Magic has a more high-octane AquaDunk, where passengers start in a standing position on the slide before the floor drops and they plunge three storeys down a waterslide. The ship also has a more child-friendly double-looping Twist and Spout waterslide in the on-board AquaLab waterpark. The Twist and Spout waterslide can also be found on Disney Wonder
Read more: Expert tips on how to save money on a cruise
Disney Wish and Disney Treasure have an AquaMouse water tube coaster that zips passengers around the ship while being entertained – and splashed – all while watching a classic Mickey cartoon. If you want time away from the kids, there is babysitting available for an extra fee in the It’s a Small World Nursery. And for those aged three to 10, the free on-board Oceaneer kids’ clubs are perfect. Oceaneers can hang with Woody and friends in the Toy Story-themed Andy’s Room on Magic, Dream, Fantasy and Wonder.
Kids can also join the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars-themed room on Dream, Wish andTreasure.
Alternatively, they can hone their world-saving skills in the Marvel Super Hero Academy on Magic, Wish, Fantasy and Treasure.
There is also a more craft-oriented Fairytale Hall aboard Treasure that has three princess-themed rooms, Rapunzel’s Art Studio, Belle’s Library and Anna and Elsa’s Sommerhus.
The ships also cater for tweens, with an Edge lounge for 11- to 14-year-olds where passengers will find a dance floor, music and video games. Those aged 14-17 can also use the Vibe teens-only lounge, and there is even a dedicated spa for this age group aboard Disney Dream, Fantasy and Magic.
Read more: The best Disney cruise ships
MSC Cruises
The daily planner on MSC Cruises is packed with family fun, including quizzes and pool games, while ships such as MSC World Europa offer bumper cars and roller skating in the Sportsplex.
Many of its ships such as MSC Virtuosa, Euribia and World Europa have on-board arcades, 4D cinemas and F1 simulators.
You will also find great waterparks and slides. For example, MSC Virtuosa and Euribia have an aqua park, high-speed racing slides and also a high-ropes course that takes you over the sea.
MSC Seaside has a zip-line that takes you from deck 20 to 18 while getting a 360-degree view of the ship and the water.
MSC World Europa has interactive waterslides, including one where you wear a virtual reality headset and another with a scary vertical drop at the start.
There is also the Venom dry drop slide that takes you on a fast and thrilling ride down 12 decks, providing great views of the ship.
The cruise brand’s newest ship, MSC World America, is also currently sailing the Caribbean from Miami and includes stops at its private island Ocean Cay in the Bahamas.
MSC Cruises has five dedicated kids’ clubs – from babies all the way up to age 17 – across its fleet. Parents can attend MSC Baby Time play sessions with children up to age three, and there is also a Baby Care service during set time slots where you can leave your child while you enjoy the ship. Both services are free and allow a maximum of 15 babies at a time.
The Mini Club welcomes children aged three to six years, and passengers can play with Lego and take part in other events such as sports activities. There is also a family disco with kids’ club mascot Doremi.
Passengers aged seven to 11 can attend the Junior Club, which hosts Masterchef at Sea Juniors baking competitions as well as football tournaments. Video games and karaoke sessions are also available.
Young Club caters for 12- to 14-year-olds and has more of a grown-up atmosphere with football tables, interactive games and movie sessions, as well as sports tournaments and a space to socialise and make new friends.
Teenagers aged 15 to 17 can attend the Teen Club, with activities including sports, dance contests and Wii, Xbox and PS4 competitions and a teen disco each evening.
Princess Cruises
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Princess Cruises may not offer the massive waterslides of other family-focused cruise ships, but it is still kid-friendly with on-board swimming pools, games, activities and entertainment for all ages. Passengers can enjoy the Reef Family Splash Zone aboard Caribbean Princess, an interactive splash pad with a giant whale feature that will entertain kids of all ages with showers, sprays and a water jet from the whale's spout. A family-focused area with pickleball and basketball courts, as well as a jogging track and splash pad is set to feature on Star Princess when it launches in October 2025.
For those worried about safety on board, parents can easily keep track of where their kids are through the Medallion wearable device that each passenger is given.
You and your kids can also have fun spotting Stanley, a cuddly bear who takes part in photo opportunities, crafts and storytime sessions.
As for kids’ clubs, The Treehouse offers activities such as crafts and games for three to seven-year-olds surrounded by fluffy toys. There is a space for eight to 12 called The Lodge, which has sports activities, games consoles, air-hockey, table tennis and board games and a hang-out lounge. Young passengers can also take part in Jr.Chef@Sea cake decorating competitions.
Teenagers up to the age of 17 are given a beach-themed lounge to socialise in, and there are movie nights, table football and a Rock the Boat Party.
Royal Caribbean
Many Royal Caribbean ships are a paradise for thrill-seekers of all ages. Icon of the Seas boasts the largest waterpark and waterslide at sea – Frightening Bolt – among its six on-board slides. This will be replicated on the new Star of the Seas when it launches in August 2025.
You will also find top slides and attractions across the fleet, such as Perfect Storm, a complex of slides including a speedy headfirst ride through translucent tubes. Available on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships — Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, as well as Explorer of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.
Several ships, such as Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas have a FlowRider surfing simulator, and for dry attractions, you’ll find rock climbing walls, bumper cars and ice skating as well as the iFLY skydiving simulator on ships such as Anthem of the Seas.
Additionally, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas also have a North Star observation capsule, giving passengers an aerial view more than 300 feet above the ship and sea.
If you want brain teasers, some ships, including Navigator of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas have escape rooms. And if that’s not enough to keep them occupied, Royal Caribbean also has kids’ clubs.
Aquanauts aged three to five are invited to Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean area, featuring a soft play, toys and science experiments. Royal Caribbean’s Explorers programme for six to eight-year-olds has educational, scientific sessions such as Fossil Fever and Meteorology Madness, as well as arts and crafts and dance parties. Nine to 11-year-olds can attend the Voyagers club, which organises sports tournaments and video game competitions. And from age 12, tweens and teenagers can hang out and play table football in the Living Room, watch films in the Fuel Teen Club or play in the on-board arcades.
Read more: The best Royal Caribbean cruises
P&O Cruises
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There is plenty of family fun to be found on P&O Cruises’ ships.
Five of the British brand’s ships are child-friendly: Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Azura.
During school holidays, ships such as Azura, Iona and Arvia offer tots, teens and grown-ups circus skills classes, a unicorn workshop, superhero school and put on pirate and dinosaur-themed shows in the Ocean Performance Academy. There are also meet-and-greets with Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, as well as family shows with Sooty and Sweep and Basil Brush.
As for kids’ clubs, six-month to two-year-olds can play with age-appropriate toys and games (when accompanied by an adult). If you want babysitting while you relax, this is available for children aged six months to four years old.
Read more: The best P&O Cruises holidays
Toddlers up to age four can attend Splashers, which has a softplay area, toys, books and activities. Five to eight-year-olds can sign up for Surfers, where passengers can watch movies and create their own puppet shows. Nine to 12-year-olds are invited to the Scubas room, which features air hockey, computer games, pool and chill-out areas. And children aged 13 to 17 can socialise in the H2O Children’s Club, where there are parties and quiz nights as well as a fitness club.
P&O Cruises has started giving parents the chance to book and pay for spaces in their kids’ clubs in advance for those aged five to 12, to avoid missing a slot. Though it is still free to book when you are on the ship.
Cunard
Cunard may be better known for its luxury experience, but that doesn’t exclude the kids.
Cunard’s Play Zone for children aged two to seven across all ships features themed days, arts and crafts, games, books, puzzles, toys and computer games. There is also a sheltered outdoor play area where youngsters can ride on cars and tricycles.
From age eight to 12, the Kids’ Zone arranges sports games, arts and crafts activities and of course, games console competitions such as Mario Kart. In the Teen Zone, for 13- to 17-year-olds, teenagers can take part in deck sports, discos, quizzes, as well as tennis tournaments and team games.
There may not be any slides on any of the Cunard ships, but there are plenty of swimming pools, with five on Queen Mary 2. Kids are also welcome to enjoy Cunard’s trademark white-glove afternoon tea.
Norwegian Cruise Line
For adventure-seeking kids and parents alike, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea on its newest ship, Aqua, which launched in April 2025. There is also a 10 storey vertical drop slide and a pickleball court.
Passengers will also find water parks and slides on other NCL ships, such as the Epic plunge that ends in a large water bowl on Norwegian Epic.
Kids’ clubs or youth programmes are available on most Norwegian ships except for Norwegian Spirit. There is a Splash Academy kids’ club for ages three to 12 that features game shows, sports challenges and scavenger hunts. And teens aged 13-17 are given access to the Entourage lounge, full of video games, movies, art and crafts and music.
Marella Cruises
TUI-owned Marella has plenty to offer kids, especially as food and drinks are included, so your loved ones can fill up on snacks and soft drinks all day long without you having to worry about the bill.
Activities on Marella ships include escape rooms, swimming pools, cinema screens and rock climbing walls, in addition to evening entertainment. There are also kids’ clubs and teen hangout areas. Other than the adult-only Marella Explorer 2, all of the brand’s ships are welcoming kids on board this summer.
Read more: The best Marella ships and Tui cruise deals for 2025 and 2026
There is a free kids’ club called M Club for children aged three to 11, which has movie sing-alongs, puzzles, quizzes and treasure hunts. Kids will also be treated to movie nights and visits to meet the captain on the bridge.
Parents with children under three years old can also attend Babytainment classes to chat with other mums and dads and get little ones involved with everything from nursery rhyme sing-alongs to baby ballet.
Cruise lines offer deals on sailings year-round. The busiest period for cruise deals is at the start of the year between January and March, known as ‘wave season’ when brands offer discounts on fares or extra on-board credit to help fill their ships for the year ahead.
There are benefits to booking early, as you can secure a cabin you want, especially if you need space for four or more people, as these rooms can go quickly.
Prices do tend to get more expensive the closer you are to a departure date, but fares can also drop throughout the year, and you could grab a bargain by booking at the last minute when there is more urgency to get passengers on board.
What facilities are onboard for kids?
Most family-friendly ships will offer kids’ clubs split by age range, where you can leave your children to play games and take part in interactive activities while supervised by staff. Teenagers may also get their own hangout space with video games and their own discos. There may also be organised sports and games that children can get involved in with their parents. Other facilities may include arcade rooms, rock climbing walls or go-karting.
The kids’ club is usually free, but P&O Cruises has started letting parents pay before boarding to reserve a slot.
Read more: The best adult-only cruise brands
Are there babysitting services onboard?
Some cruise lines provide babysitting services in the evening for young children, which is usually chargeable.
Are there excursions catered to family days off the ship?
There will be plenty of family-friendly excursions on offer, such as trips to the beach, waterparks or zoos. Age limits for excursions will often be displayed online. Excursion prices for children are often cheaper than adults, but it is still worth shopping around to see if you can get the same experience cheaper by booking directly and arranging your own travel.
What is the luggage allowance for kids?
Children have the same luggage allowance as their parents, usually up to 23kg. This is useful for a large family, especially if you are cruising from the UK, as you won’t need to worry about packing light. You can take plenty of gadgets to keep your kids occupied, as well as changes of clothes if they get dirty or need to plan for various party nights.
Read more: Cruise packing tips, revealed
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