Cruise Types and Destinations
There are three different kinds of cruises: ocean, river, and expedition cruises.
Most people envision ocean cruises when they think about taking a cruise. Most cruise lines have at least a few ocean cruise ships in their portfolio and they most popularly frequent the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, and Hawaii.
River cruises have traditionally been more popular with older cruisers but are now appealing to the younger crowds as well.
Although Adventures by Disney and AmaWaterways have joined to offer river cruising for families, most cruise companies lack kid and family programs, and some openly prohibit children under the age of 18.
1. Disney Cruise Line
There are only 5 ships in Disney Cruise Lines’ portfolio, but Disney has plenty of cruise itineraries to choose from. It sails to popular destinations as well as unique places that families might not have considered, such as the Norwegian Fjords.
Sailings feature character experiences just like at the Disney theme parks. You’ll also find live shows, a spa, nightclubs, and lounges. Each ship also has various kids’ clubs for passengers as young as 3 years old (a fee-based nursery is available for kids under 3), as well as pools with waterslides and aqua play areas. Older kids can enjoy a little independence in spaces designed just for them where they can play video games, watch TV, and meet other kids their age.
Dining options aboard Disney cruises include main and casual dining as well as adult-exclusive dining options. There are almost a dozen restaurants, cafes, and snack shops on each ship. Some nod to beloved Disney movie characters, like Lumiere’s on Disney Magic and Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder.
Within each ship, there are 4 categories of staterooms: Inside, Oceanview, Oceanview with Verandah, and Concierge. Within most categories are family rooms with bunk beds as well as accessible rooms.
Shore excursions include private tours, culinary adventures, and accessible excursions in more than 25 countries. Guests especially love Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, when cruising select Caribbean itineraries.
Destinations:
- Alaska
- Australia and New Zealand
- Canada
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Hawaii
- Mexico
- Pacific Coast
- Panama Canal
- South Pacific
2. Royal Caribbean
Destinations:
- Alaska
- Arabian Gulf and North Africa
- Asia
- Australia and New Zealand
- Bermuda
- Caribbean
- Europe
- North America
- South America
- South Pacific
Number of Ships: 27
Royal Caribbean has a whopping 27 cruise ships in its portfolio with another, Utopia of The Seas, scheduled for delivery in 2024.
The cruise line features the world’s largest ships and the tallest water slide at sea. From arcades to roller coasters, there is never any shortage of thrill-seeking activities to find on board any Royal Caribbean cruise.
If you and your family want to make the most of a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll want to check out Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and Amplified ships. These classes of ships feature even more exciting attractions including glow-in-the-dark laser tag and several on-deck pools.
Alternatively, there are places on every Royal Caribbean ship where you can get away from the excitement and relax. In the Solarium, where kids under 16 aren’t allowed, soothing music helps you to decompress while lounging on a daybed or hanging out in a hot tub.
Royal Caribbean also has a private island exclusively for its guests. Coco Cay is located in the Bahamas and features a 13-slide water park as well as the region’s largest wave pools and freshwater pools.
Kids always sail free on Royal Caribbean cruises.
3. Carnival Cruise Line
Destinations:
- Alaska
- Australia and the Great Barrier Reef
- Bermuda
- Canada and New England
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Hawaii
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Panama Canal
- Papua New Guinea
- Tasmania
- South Pacific
Number of Ships: 24
Carnival Cruise Line has a reputation for being a party cruise line. However, the prices can rarely be beaten, which a lot of family travelers can appreciate.
Similar to Royal Caribbean, Carnival likes to wow its guests with nonstop fun. The onboard attraction Bolt Ultimate Sea Coaster — the first rollercoaster at sea — can be found on 2 of its ships: Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
There are 4 standard cabin types on Carnival cruise ships: Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suite. There are also specialty rooms on select ships.
Family Harbor staterooms and suites are located near Family Harbor Lounges and come with a free evening of Night Owls babysitting, among other perks. Cloud 9 Spa staterooms and suites offer Elemis toiletries, spa-branded bathrobes and slippers, and priority spa reservations. And lastly, Havana staterooms and suites are located close to the Havana Bar and Pool. Some suites come with hammock chairs in the outdoor area.
New Orleans native and Food Network star Emeril Lagasse is the newest Chief Culinary Officer for all 24 ships with 3 original restaurants. There are plenty of dining options to choose from across the fleet with cuisines including Italian, Creole, burgers, and teppanyaki.
Onboard activities include Family Feud Live, waterslides, karaoke, and The Punchliner Comedy Club. Most but not all activities are included in the cruise fare. The IMAX theater and a few other attractions incur an additional cost.
Family-friendly excursions and tours include a wildlife safari and beach bonfire on an Alaskan cruise, panoramas and painting in Grand Turk, and a stingray adventure in the Bahamas.
Carnival has a private island that it shares exclusively with Holland America called Half Moon Cay.
4. Norwegian Cruise Line
Destinations
- Alaska
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bermuda
- Canada and New England
- Caribbean
- Hawaii
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- Mexico
- Panama Canal
- South America
Number of Ships: 19
Norwegian Cruise Line is best known for being the most innovative cruise line. Notably, it has done away with traditional cruise concepts such as inflexible dining schedules and even dress codes.
Among the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet there are 8 different classes of ships of varying capacities and offerings. The class of ship that tends to be most popular with families is the Breakaway Class. The 2 ships in this class, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, each have a capacity of about 4,000 passengers. Between the 2 of them, they sail all over the world.
What makes this class of ships on Norweigan Cruise Lines so appealing to families is that it feels like a floating resort. These are the second-largest ships in Norwegian’s fleet. Activities on either ship include multiple pools, a waterpark, and even a full-size ropes course.
The stateroom categories aboard both the Norwegian Getaway and the Norwegian Breakaway include Studio, Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Spa, Club Balcony Suite, and The Haven. Within those categories are another 30 stateroom types to choose from, including a 2-bedroom family villa. The Haven is an exclusive set of staterooms at the top level of the ship that features a 24-hour butler, concierge service, and sundeck.
In addition to room service, guests aboard Breakaway Class Norwegian Cruise Line ships can enjoy almost 2 dozen restaurants and bars. Not every restaurant is included in your cruise fare. Specialty dining options include seafood restaurant Ocean Blue, Brazilian steakhouse Moderno Churrascaria, and French restaurant Le Bistro.
In addition to excursions that you can book for an additional fee, Norwegian Cruise Line has a private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas.
5. MSC Cruises
Destinations:
- Asia
- Bermuda
- Canada and New England
- Caribbean
- Egypt
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar
- Mediterranean
- Northern Europe
- South Africa
- South America
Number of ships: 19
MSC Cruises is a European-based cruise company with a growing footprint in North America and the Caribbean. It’s known for offering an affordable cruise option without a lot of the fluff of other cruise lines.
Even without a rollercoaster that jets out over the sea, MSC Cruises is still a popular option for family travelers.
For family cruisers in particular, MSC offers family excursions with special pricing for kids, and tours designed to be interactive as well as educational. There are also kids’ clubs aboard their ships in addition to the LEGO Experience on Board, which is a day dedicated to LEGO activities for the whole family.
Select ships feature a fully-immersive virtual reality experience, a movie theater, and an arcade room.
Passengers can expect the typical array of dining options aboard MSC Cruises as well as a special kids’ corner available at the buffet. There’s also a dessert corner and a wellness corner.
There are simply 4 stateroom categories aboard most MSC ships: Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, and MSC Yacht Club. Within the highest category of staterooms, MSC Yacht Club, guests can expect 24-hour butler service, complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, relaxation amenities, and more.
