Wherever there is talk about kids on cruise ships, there is debate. Some believe that cruises should be strictly grown up holidays, whereas others see them as the perfect family holiday option. In reality, cruises can be both. Some cruise lines do not cater for children well at all, and because of this, very few families cruise on their ships. However, there are other cruise lines (and I don’t just mean Disney!) that cater to kids exceptionally well. Below I explore some of the best cruises for kids, for any families out there who are looking to book a cruise holiday:
First up is Royal Caribbean who have some very impressive family activities and entertainment onboard. As well as rock climbing, ice skating, mini-golf and roller blading, some of the ships have zip lines and flow riders – appealing to kids of all ages!
Royal Caribbean also have an excellent kids club program, dividing their younger guests up into 6 separate groups. They cater for babies and toddlers right through to teenagers just pushing adulthood. The kids club is known throughout the industry for being of a very high standard, with workshops for crafts and sciences, video games, computers, and even a dedicated nightclub for teens.
Particular ships to note include: Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.
Next up is Carnival, and two of their ships – Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic have outstanding kids features. There are multiple pools to be enjoyed and even one of the largest at sea water parks! Who could say no to that?
There are also fantastic kids clubs which accept tots as young as two. In the kids club, children can dabble in arts and crafts, have talent competitions, go on treasure hunts, make t-shirts and generally have lots of fun.
To be continued…
