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We get asked about cruise lines all the time. Between our own trips and helping hundreds of families figure out which cruise line to book through this blog, we’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t when you’re traveling with kids.
Here’s how we rank 11 cruise lines for families, including a couple of smaller ones that might surprise you.
And before you ask, we’re leaving off Virgin Voyages and Viking because they’re adults-only. So yeah.. they don’t belong on this list!
#11: Holland America Line
I’m going to be upfront here. Holland America is a fantastic cruise line. The food is great and the ships are beautiful.
But for families, it’s not it.
The average passenger age on Holland America skews significantly older. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re bringing a 7-year-old who wants waterslides and a kids club, this isn’t where you want to be.
Holland America does have a kids’ program, but it’s bare-bones compared to what other lines offer. On some sailings, there might only be a handful of kids on the entire ship.
If you’re traveling with older teens who are happy to enjoy adult-oriented activities, Holland America could work. But for families with younger kids, I’d look elsewhere.
SHARING THE TRAVEL BLOGGING SECRETS THAT MAKE US $10,000+ PER MONTH
UnCruise is a totally different animal from everything else on this list. These are small ships with fewer than 90 guests. You won’t find any kids clubs, waterslides, or buffets.
Their Alaska itineraries are what earn them a spot on this list. They’re some of the most incredible family travel experiences you can book.
Their “Kids in Nature” sailings are specifically designed for families, and they welcome kids of all ages. These sailings include kayaking past glaciers, watching whales from the deck, skiff rides through fjords, and guided nature hikes.
But the downfall (and why it’s so far down on this list) is that it’s not cheap, and the sailings are limited.
Their family-specific departures book up fast, sometimes a full year in advance. This is for families who want adventure and nature over pool time and arcades.
If your kids are the type who’d rather spot a bear than ride a waterslide, UnCruise is worth every penny.
#9: Costa Cruises
Costa is owned by Carnival Corporation, so you’d think the family experience would be similar to Carnival. But it’s not.
Costa caters primarily to a European market, and the onboard experience reflects that.
The kids’ clubs exist, but the food quality has been a consistent complaint. Buffet areas tend to get overcrowded, and the variety isn’t great. For picky eaters (aka most kids), this can be a real problem.
Costa does offer some solid Mediterranean itineraries at competitive prices. But if you’re an American family looking for a smooth, easy cruise experience with your kids, there are much better options on this list.
Margaritaville at Sea flies completely under the radar for most families, and that’s a mistake.
This smaller cruise line won Newsweek’s #1 Best Cruise Ship for Families in 2025 and has been named a top pick in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards three years running. For a cruise line that most people haven’t even heard of, that’s impressive.
They currently have two ships. Paradise sails out of Palm Beach, Florida, and Islander sails out of Tampa.
Paradise does short 2 to 5 night sailings to the Bahamas and Key West, and Islander offers longer 4 to 10 night itineraries to the Caribbean, Mexico, and beyond.
The ships are older and smaller compared to the mega-ships from Royal Caribbean or Carnival, so don’t expect waterslides or roller coasters.
One of the nice things about Margaritaville at Sea is that kids sail free on select dates. Not to mention cruise fares in general are relatively low for adults, too. For a family wanting to dip their toes into cruising without a huge financial commitment, it’s a good cruise line to consider.
The trade-off is limited destinations, older ships, and you won’t find the massive kids’ programming that the big lines offer. But check it out for a quick, affordable family getaway from Florida.
#7: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity has been making moves to be more family-friendly in recent years, and I’ll give them credit for that. Their newer ships have improved kids’ programming, and the Camp at Sea program offers activities for kids ages 3 to 17.
But Celebrity is still very much geared toward couples and adults. The ships have a sophisticated vibe that’s clearly designed for adults. Things like lounge pools rather than splash pads.
The food on Celebrity is excellent, probably the best in this price range. And if you have older kids or teens who appreciate nicer things, Celebrity could be a great fit.
For families with younger kids who need constant entertainment and a high-energy atmosphere, though, there are better options on this list.
#6: Princess Cruises
Princess is the romantic, relaxed cruise line. It’s a good option overall, but families aren’t really the target audience.
Their kids’ program is decent. It’s broken into age groups and offers a mix of activities. But the kids’ areas on most Princess ships are smaller than what you’ll find on Royal Caribbean or Carnival, and the overall energy level is lower (but maybe that’s a good thing!).
Princess does well for families on Alaska itineraries. If you’re planning a family cruise to Alaska, Princess has some of the best options with incredible shore excursions and beautiful ships designed for scenic cruising.
The Discovery at Sea programs in partnership with the Discovery Channel are super cool for kids who love animals and nature.
But for a Caribbean family cruise where the kids want waterslides, roller coasters, and a packed schedule of activities? Princess isn’t the go-to.
#5: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian has some real strengths for families. Norweign has adopted no assigned dining times and no dress codes, which works well when you’re chasing kids.
The Kids Sail Free promotions can save you a lot of money, too. And the newer ships like Norwegian Prima and Viva have some incredible features, including a three-story go-kart track that kids (and adults, let’s be real) go wild for.
The kids’ club covers ages 3 to 12 with themed activities, and Entourage is the teen program for 13 to 17 year olds.
The downfall with Norwegian is the nickel-and-diming. It has a reputation for charging extra for just about everything, and it can add up fast when you’re traveling with a family.
Things like specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, etc. It all comes at a cost. You can get great deals upfront, but the onboard spending will catch up with you quickly.
Note: If you find a great deal on Norwegian, especially with their Kids Sail Free promo, it can be worth it. Just budget carefully for onboard expenses.
#4: MSC Cruises
MSC has been climbing the ranks for families, and their pricing is hard to beat. Kids 17 and under sail free on most sailings when sharing a cabin with a parent. That alone makes MSC worth a look if you’re on a budget.
Their newest ship, MSC World America, launched in 2025 and has more family-friendly features than any other ship in their fleet. The top-deck family fun zone is massive, and the kids’ clubs have gotten a major upgrade.
MSC also offers a solid all-inclusive model that bundles drinks and Wi-Fi, which is rare on most ships.
MSC is a European-based line, so the vibe is a bit different from what American families might expect. Service quality has been inconsistent based on what we’ve heard from others, and we have some friends that said the dining areas were overcrowded.
But for the price, especially if you’re traveling with multiple kids, MSC offers a lot of value that’s hard to ignore.
#3: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival gets a bad reputation in some circles, and I think a lot of it is unfair. It’s by no means the fanciest cruise line, but it’s not trying to be. For families, especially families on a budget, Carnival can be a good option.
Carnival has a kids program that’s like summer camp at sea with age-based groups and a schedule of activities.
Many Carnival ships have BOLT, which is a roller coaster on top of a cruise ship. A ROLLERCOASTER. Your kids will lose their minds.
There’s also the WaterWorks water park, Seuss at Sea for the little ones, and dedicated teen hangouts.
The food has improved dramatically in recent years, too. The newer ships have a ton of variety.
Where Carnival falls short is in the overall vibe and asthetics. The ships can feel crowded and some of the older ships in the fleet are showing their age.
#2: Disney Cruise Line
I mean, it’s Disney. You already know it’s going to be magic.
Disney Cruise Line is in a league of its own when it comes to creating a family experience. The character meet-and-greets, the themed dining, the Broadway-quality shows, the attention to detail in every single corner of the ship.. it’s hard to beat.
For kids under 10, there is genuinely nothing better.
The Oceaneer Club is an incredible kids’ space themed around Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Animation, and more. Your kids will be tied up for hours. And that means you get to sneak off to the adults-only areas, which are surprisingly nice on Disney ships.
The cabins are designed for families, too. Split bathrooms (love this), blackout curtains to divide the room, and enough space that you don’t feel like you’re living on top of each other.
Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, is beautiful. It’s clean, organized, and a lot better than other private cruise islands.
So you might be wondering.. why isn’t Disney #1?
It’s the price.
Disney Cruise Line is roughly twice the cost of Royal Caribbean for a comparable sailing. A 7-night Disney cruise can easily run $1,500 to $3,500 per person. For a family of four, you’re looking at $6,000 to $14,000 before flights and extras.
Remember, you’re paying for the Disney magic, and it is truly special. But for many families, that price tag is just too steep, especially when there’s a cruise line that offers an incredible family experience at nearly half the cost.
If budget isn’t a concern and your kids are Disney-obsessed, book the Disney cruise. You won’t regret it.
#1: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for families.
And it’s not just us saying that. Royal Caribbean won the 2026 TPG Award for Best Cruise Line for Families, and it wasn’t even close.
The ships are insane.
We’re talking waterslides that launch you off the side of the ship, surfing waves, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks (like.. WHAT??), zip lines, and some of the biggest kids’ clubs at sea.
Icon of the Seas, which launched in 2024, has the largest water park at sea and a neighborhood literally called Surfside that’s designed specifically for young families.
Their kids’ club program is free and covers ages 3 to 12 with age-specific groups. Teens get their own spaces and activities too. The programs are excellent, and the staff genuinely seems to love what they do.
Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, is fantastic for families. It has the largest water park in the Caribbean, the tallest waterslide in North America, a wave pool, a helium balloon ride with really neat views, and both a family beach and a calmer area for parents who want to chill.
And speaking of budget, Royal Caribbean offers incredible value compared to Disney. You get a comparable (and in some ways better) family experience at roughly half the price. They frequently run Kids Sail Free promotions, which makes the math even better for families.
The food has improved significantly in recent years, with a good mix of buffet and specialty dining.
Royal Caribbean is not perfect. The ships can feel massive and overwhelming on embarkation day (especially for first-time cruisers), and some of the most popular things like the waterslides can have long lines during peak times. But those are minor complaints when you look at the total package.
If you’re planning a family cruise and you want the best combination of entertainment, kids’ programs, value, and overall experience, Royal Caribbean is the one to book.
There you have it! 11 cruise lines ranked from worst to best for families.
Every family is different, and the right cruise line for you depends on your budget, your kids’ ages, and what kind of experience you’re after.
Whatever you choose, a family cruise is one of the best vacations you can take with your kids. Mike and I are huge fans, and we think you will be too.
Gemma George
Gemma is a road trip obsessive who's logged tens of thousands of miles crisscrossing the U.S., from national park loops to small-town diner detours. She knows the best scenic drives, the truck stops actually worth stopping at, and how to pack a cooler that survives a week on the road. When she's not behind the wheel, she's deep into hiking and the outdoors, scouting trails and campgrounds for her next adventure. On the blog, she shares road trip itineraries, U.S. destination guides, and practical tips for hitting the road with confidence.
