Family Cruises

 

Family Cruises

Both on board and onshore, a cruise has something for every member of the family, regardless of age.

Most fleets are jammed back with innovation, from hydrotherapy pools to WiFi internet service. On board activities include typical cruise ship fare such as talent shows, karaoke, and movies as well as more modern diversions like surfing, ice-skating, rock climbing, video games, and more. Cruise lines also offer youth programs, organized by age, with appropriate activities provided for each grouping. Additionally, there are now special hangouts on board for older children, such as arcades and lounges or teen-only nightclubs. Babysitting is usually available for an hourly rate.

All in all, a family cruise vacation is by far the easiest way to please everyone From the littlest kids, to Mom, Dad, and even grandparents, cruising offers a unique opportunity to spend both quality time together as a group as well as individual exploration. The wide range of family-friendly activities and amenities, coupled with the excitement of visiting several destinations in one single vacation, make cruising an unbeatable value.

Select a line to view specific family cruise information.

Carnival | Costa | Disney | Holland America | MSC | NCL | Princess | Royal Caribbean

*All information is subject to change at the discretion of the cruise line.

Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival is all about big fun, and that translates into plenty of crowd pleasing, high-energy activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Age Requirements: Minimum age for sailing is 6 months, with the exceptions of Transatlantic, Hawaii and South American cruises, which are 12 months. Guest must be 18 years of age or older to play the tables and the slot machines. Guest must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board.

Activities & Facilities: Below is a sampling of what you’ll find on a Carnival Cruise

Youth Spa program where kids can enjoy being pampered alongside their parents.
Watersides(the one on the Carnival Freedom is 214 feet long!) and Water Works Park.
The Seaside Theater, a 12-foot-high by 22-foot-wide LED screen located poolside on the Lido deck showing movies, sporting events, concerts, and other special programming.
Every 7 day voyage has a special “family afternoon”, the high light of which is an ice-cream eating contest.
On their Mediterranean itineraries, Carnival now offers “Family Fun Tours.” These cultural tours for families include a private yacht cruise on Turkey’s Bosporus, with views of ancient temples and palaces, and the world’s seventh-largest diamond. Or, while calling at Izmir, you can tour Ephesus (one of the seven wonders of the world) and end the day with a visit to the train museum, featuring the largest collection of steam engines in Europe.
A golf course, jogging track, arts and crafts center, soft play area, computer lab, and a video wall.
The adult-only Serenity Retreat provides a relaxing area on deck to unwind
Other activities include: Talent shows for kids, family parties in the disco, family scavenger hunts, karaoke, and “Name that Tune.”

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Camp Carnival: Ages 2 to 11. Camp Carnival includes a wide range of activities designed for children in three different age groups – Toddlers, Juniors, and Intermediates. All children are supervised by staff who have experience and/or education in child-care. Kids get their own menus, featuring all their favorites like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza, macaroni & cheese, hamburgers and more.
Circle C: Ages 12 to 14. A spot where young teens can cruise, chill, and connect with others. Cool activities, awesome facilities and lots of great new friends to add to their text-mail lists. The activities (think games, dance parties, outdoor movies and more) are supervised and created just for them. The friendly and experienced staff at Circle “C” wants to give your teens the best vacation experience possible. All activities are coordinated by a Circle “C” Director and dedicated to keeping the activities fun for young guests.
Club 02: Ages 15 to 17. Club 02 activities are designed to be a little more relaxed. Teens can hang out with their friends and watch a movie, listen to the latest music, play video games or join karaoke jam sessions. Carnival even sets up teen-only shore excursions so young adults can enjoy the sites and sounds of each port of call with their peers. Every activity and event – from basketball and volleyball, to ping pong and high-energy dance and pool parties – has been specially created with teens ages 15-17 years old in mind.
Babysitting is available for children as young as 6 months; after age 8, kids can go to evening hours at Camp Carnival, for free, until 10 p.m. Babysitting charges are a reasonable $6 per hour for the first child and $4 for each subsequent child in the same family.

Stateroom Accommodations: Carnival has some of the largest standard cabins in the industry, with inside staterooms as big as 185 sq feet and ocean views up to 190. These staterooms can accommodate up to five people. Their Conquest and Splendor Class ships have 230 sq foot Family Staterooms with floor to ceiling windows. It’s a lovely alternative to a verandah, as the extra room allotted to the balcony goes towards the overall square footage of the room. . .but you still have the benefit of a marvelous view! The Cartoon Channel is available on in-room TV’s. All cabins on Spirit and Conquest class ships feature refrigerators.

Extras: Provides pagers for parents while children participate in the youth programs. Carnival is one of the only lines that allows its child care staff to change diapers.

Costa
Age Requirements: Minimum age for sailing is 6 months for Caribbean, and 12 for other itineraries. Drinking age is 21 for any vessel leaving from a United States port. The drinking age is 18 from any vessel leaving from a non-United States port. Guests under age of 18 are not allowed to use the gambling or spa facilities.

Activities & Facilities: Below is a sampling of what you’ll find on a Costa Cruise

Basketball, volleyball, table tennis, bowling, and shuffleboard
“Squolympics” (Olympics for young athletes and friends of Squawk, the shipboard mascot)
Games room: Younger guests can have hours of fun in a pirate ship or giant Lego brick room, with a vast assortment of video games.
Karaoke, Bingo, Talent Shows
Treasure hunts
Teen Disco
Lessons: dancing, language, magic, juggling, pantomime, and more.

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Mini: For Ages 3 to 6 *. A variety of arts & crafts activities, such as costumes, sculpting, and coloring are available. Sport activities are also offered, along with treasure hunts, dancing lessons, and more.
Maxi: Ages 7 to 11: A variety of arts & crafts activities, such as costumes, sculpting, and coloring are available. Sport activities are also offered, along with treasure hunts, dancing lessons, and more.
Teen Junior: Ages 12 to 14*: In addition to traditional arts & crafts and sport activities, older children can partake in talent shows, juggling, dancing, and magic lessons, video editing and recording.
Teen: Ages 15 to 17: In addition to traditional arts & crafts and sport activities, older children can partake in talent shows, juggling, dancing, and magic lessons, video editing and recording. Older kids can also enjoy themed evenings, such as Cupid’s Night, or different dance parties.
Babysitting: Costa provides group babysitting. Mini and Maxi Club nighttime group baby-sitting, held in the children’s area, is a free of charge baby-sitting service until 1:30 am. There is no night time baby-sitting service available for children under 36 months of age.

* Children under the age of 3 are allowed to enter and stay in the room only during certain times (not during busy times in high season) and must be accompanied by an adult. Teen Junior is only active during certain periods.

Extras: Costa organizes a “parents night out,” where kids spend the evening with other guests of their age at a themed dinner (Themes include: Squawk, Pirates, Circus, Video games world, Halloween, WWF in the Jungle or Underwater), followed by activities designed especially for them.

Special Kids Menus are available with every meal. Options like spaghetti, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, and ice cream are offered. A Boys & Girls beverage card is available for purchase. It allows for 10 non-alcoholic drinks.
Disney
The original pioneer in family cruising, Disney is great for younger children (and those who are still young at heart!). Cruising on Disney is a lot like visiting one of their theme parks. . .except there’s more water. Almost everything onboard has a film theme, and many of your favorite characters will be sailing right along with you.

Age Requirements: Infants under 12 weeks old will not be allowed to travel aboard Disney Cruise Line ships. The drinking age is 21, for both ships, on all itineraries.

Activities & Facilities: Below is a sampling of what you’ll find onboard a Disney Cruise

Quarter Masters is a cozy spot featuring the latest video games hits, as well as air hockey, where Guests of all ages can get their game on while onboard.
Studio Sea, a family entertainment center, is a television studio-themed hotspot where parents and children are invited to sing, dance, play games and enjoy live entertainment together.
Mickey’s Pool, for the youngest set, is located on one side and an adults-only pool is located on the other. Goofy’s Pool is in the center for families in general
Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, has a family beach in addition to a teen beach and an adults-only beach.
Palo Restaurant is the adults-only dining facility onboard.
The Walt Disney Theater, features shows and movies
Themed deck parties with costumes, dancing, and fireworks.
Other activities include “animation fun,” where families can learn how to draw Disney characters; “eco quiz,” showcased on the Ariel View screen above the family pool; and a magic workshop.

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Flounder’s Reef Nursery: A Little Mermaid themed daycare center geared towards children up to 3 years of age.
The Oceaneer Club: Children 3 to 7 years of age can dress up as their favorite princess or hero, play computer games and enjoy a wide variety of supervised activities throughout the day. Many times activities are scheduled by age (e.g. 3-4 year olds and then 5-7 year olds)
The Oceaneer Lab: This children’s activity center located is the ideal place for children 8 to 10 years of age on the Disney Magic-and 8 to 12 years of age on the Disney Wonder- to play games, use computers, conduct experiments and enjoy a wide variety of supervised activities throughout the day. Again, activities are often scheduled by age (e.g. 8-9 year olds, 10-12 year olds)
Ocean Quest: Ocean Quest is a children’s activity center on the Disney Magic. It is an interactive play space designed to look like the ship’s bridge, where kids 11 to 13 years of age can steer a virtual ship, play video games, watch television and participate in arts and crafts with kids their own age.
The Stack: The Stack lounge, a teens-exclusive activity center located on the Disney Magic, is a trendy haven where teens ages 14 to 17 can make new friends, watch television, play video games, listen to music, surf the Internet and enjoy a variety of social activities throughout the day.
Aloft: Aloft, a teens-exclusive activity center located exclusively on the Disney Wonder, is a hip hangout where teens ages 13 to 17 can make new friends, watch television, play video games, listen to music, surf the Internet and enjoy a variety of social activities throughout the day.
Group babysitting is available for children 12 weeks to 3 years old in Flounder’s Reef Nursery. Guests may book babysitting times online in advance of embarkation or may sign up their children on embarkation day. The facility is open for select hours every day. Rates and times are subject to change and space is limited.

Stateroom Accommodations: Before family staterooms became standard on cruise ships, Disney already featured them. Today, they still have some of the best family staterooms at sea, mainly due to their “bath and a half” concept (the shower/tub is in a separate room from the toilet and sink). Their 304 sq-ft Family Deluxe Staterooms and Verandahs can sleep up to 4 or 5 people and come with a privacy curtain that separates the sitting area from the beds (making it easy to turn on a light without disturbing a sleeping child!). Disney also has three different types of one or two-bedroom suites that can sleep five to eight people, as well as 268-square-foot Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah that are great for families of three to four people.

Extras: Disney provides portable cribs, Diaper Genies, bottle warmers and bumper rails for the bunk beds, plus room service menus that include several children’s specialties from macaroni and cheese to fresh cut fruits and veggies, and Mickey-shaped ice cream bars. Families traveling with babies are given priority cabin service so that little ones can nap undisturbed in the afternoon. Disney also boasts an online service that allows passengers to pre-order baby supplies and have them delivered to their stateroom (provided by Babies Travel Lite). There are over 1,000 brand-name baby products to choose from, including diapers, baby food, infant formula and specialty travel items.

Holland America
Holland America Line has earned a reputation for great service within the industry, as noted by their tagline “A Signature for Excellence.” Cruising with Holland America is a wonderful option for multi generational families that vacation together. They have all the relevant facilities for children, but still maintain an atmosphere of sophistication that adults will appreciate.

Age Requirements: Holland America will not accept reservations for infants under 6 months old at time of sailing. For trans ocean crossings, or other itineraries which the Medical Department feel present a significant risk, infants must be a minimum of 12 months of age at embarkation. Guests 18 years of age and older can gamble. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to guests under age 21.

Activities & Facilities:

The Oasis : Secluded area on deck especially for teens. Features a waterfall, laser light show, and a state of the art sound system. (The Oasis is not available on all Vista-class ships)
Arcades, Sony PlayStation, DDR
Basketball, ping pong, tennis, volleyball, walk-a-mile
Putting green and bocce ball on the MS Prinsendam
State of the art spa with hydrotherapy pools
Movie theaters (with fresh popcorn)

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Club HAL (Kids): Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, arts and crafts, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo, pirate treasure hunts or a farewell pizza party. Children in the Kid’s age group must be toilet trained. Children in pull-ups or diapers are not allowed in the youth facilities, due to mandates from US Public Health. Exceptions to this rule cannot be made.
Club HAL (Tweens): Tweens, ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend.
The Loft : Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, karaoke sessions, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos. When there are more than 100 children on board, a HAL Talent Show is offered.
Kids & Teens Culinary Arts Center Program: HAL Kids Culinary Workshops offer children a unique and fun learning experience. Kids will learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, new ingredients and how to follow recipe instructions. Aside from the fun involved, cooking encourages kids to think about numbers and measuring, cleanliness, safety and time management. All the workshops are hands-on where questions are encouraged and having fun is a must! HAL Kids Culinary Workshops are geared toward two age groups; ages three to seven and ages eight and up. Teenagers 15 and up may participate in the adult classes.
Babysitting: Services are available through the Front Office for a small surcharge for children 3 years of age or older. This service is provided by staff on a volunteer basis, and may not always be available. Babysitting service is not offered while the ship is in port, although Club Hal does offer activities for children aged 3-12 between 8:00am and 4:00pm on port days. Special kid-friendly birthday parties can also be arranged with advance notice.

Stateroom Accommodations: Holland America does not have a dedicated family class stateroom, however their staterooms tend to run a little larger than industry standard and most of their ships have a higher ratio of verandahs and suites. Their Lanai staterooms have access to the Lower Promenade, making it convenient for families to walk directly into the center of ship activities and dining facilities.

Extras: Holland America serves a wide variety of kid-pleasing food, including special sandwiches, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. Baby food, high chairs and booster seats may be requested in advance of boarding.

HAL Youth Programs recognize that some children may have special needs. Special needs children are invited to attend activities based on their chronological age. HAL Youth Programs have many staff trained to work with special needs children. Guests should make HAL aware of this when booking their reservation.

MSC
Anyone with children and an eye on their budget will appreciate sailing on MSC. All kids ages 17 and younger sail for free until November 1, 2010. After that date, children ages 11 and under will continue to sail free. Taxes are extra.

Age Requirements: Minimum sailing age is 6 months for the Caribbean and 12 months for other itineraries. The drinking and gambling age is 21 and older on all ships.

Activities & Facilities: MSC ships have specially designed spaces for children: video arcades for older kids and playrooms for younger ones. Kids spaces provide a wide selection of toys that appeal to all ages, such as checkers, chess, stencils, cards, blackboards, modeling clay, plasticine, colors, group games and much more.

Children’s Programs & Babysitting: A highly qualified staff is employed to entertain members of the children’s program. Children’s entertainment is organized into three different age categories

Mini Club, for children from 3 to 6 years
Junior Club, for children from 7 to 12 years
Teenagers Club, for passengers from 13 to 17 years

Extras: MSC offers a children’s menu.
NCL
NCL is known for their “freestyle cruising,” which allows for a lot flexibility based on your individual needs. This is especially true when it comes to their dining options, which feature open seating and allow teens to sit with OR without their parents.

Age Requirements: Infants under six months of age are not eligible to travel on NCL ships. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, NCL permits guests between the ages of 18 and 20 to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of an accompanying parent or legal guardian on the same sailing when the vessel is outside the US state territorial waters.

Activities & Facilities:

Enroll your teen into the Teen Passport Program. For $34.50 they can order 20 smoothies and other nonalcoholic drinks, attend an afternoon dance party with a DJ, pizza and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a farewell party on the last evening
Video arcades, basketball courts, paddle tennis and giant chessboards
Newer ships have onboard bowling and rock climbing walls
Junior Star Seeker competitions
Splash pool (inside of the Kids’ Club)
Family pool and adults-only pool options

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Juniors: Ages 2 to 5, this program features storytelling and painting, developmental activities, arts and crafts, age-specific games, treasure hunts, and other family activities
First Mates: Ages 6 to 9, this program features Wii, pizza making parties, age specific games, crafts and classes, and other family activities.
Navigators: Ages 10 to 12, this program features Wii, sports activities, family activities, arts and crafts, parties, scavenger hunts, and team-building challenges.
Teens: Ages 13 to 17, this program features Wii, sports activities, parties and movies, teen dinners, team-building challengers, and access to the Teen Dance Club where kids can hang out and have fun with their friends.
In addition to their complimentary youth programs, NCL offers even more supervised fun for the kids. “Port Play” and the “Late Night Fun Zone” are both fee-based group-sitting services for kid’s ages 2-12. The cost is $6 per child per hour, and $4 per each additional sibling in the immediate family per hour.

Stateroom Accommodations: Newer NCL ships have anywhere between 30 to 33 stateroom categories. This means that there are several suites and junior suites that can interconnect with regular staterooms to create 2, 3, 4, or 5 bedroom configurations for families of varying size. Their 360-square-foot Family Suites feature two interconnecting cabins that sleep up to eight people and include two separate bathrooms. The larger cabin has two single beds that convert to a queen and a sitting room with a full-size sofa bed. The connected cabin features two lower single beds and two pull-out upper single beds. If you feel like splurging, the 572-square-foot Courtyard Villas feature a bedroom with queen-size bed, separate children’s bedroom, and one bedroom with a luxury bath with whirlpool tub and separate shower. Family-friendly amenities include cribs, in-room refrigerators and towel animals at turndown; the Cartoon Channel is available on stateroom TV’s.

Extras: Parents are given pagers for when children are in need of a diaper changing, however they cannot leave the ship if any of their non-toilet trained kids are in a youth program.

Princess
Princess is another great line to consider when sailing with a family comprised of several different age groups. They have a great focus on enrichment, for both parents and children alike.

Age Requirements: The minimum passenger age is 6 months on Alaska and Caribbean cruises, 18 months on Exotic cruises and 12 months on all other cruises. The drinking and gambling age is 21 and older on all ships.

Activities & Facilities:

Pelican’s Perch: A supervised play area especially for kids on Princess’ private island, Princess Cays. The playground is managed by shipboard youth staff and provides a secure place for children while parents enjoy the many beach amenities and water sports offered. Pelican’s Perch is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
California Science Center: Young passengers will be enthralled with award-winning science programs geared toward their particular ship’s destination. Whale watching, chemistry experiments, building and racing sailboats, marine biology studies, and squid dissection are just some of the activities that may be offered.
Youth Dinners: As part of the Princess Youth and Teen program, junior cruisers can participate in two special dinner evenings designed for each age group. Younger passengers will enjoy dinner without parents and in the company of new friends in one of their ship’s many eateries. For teens, one of the two evenings will feature a formal get-together in one of the main dining rooms, complete with photographs and a group night out to enjoy many Princess evening offerings.
Scholarship @Sea: This innovative educational program for adults offers an array of contemporary enrichment activities in such areas as photography, culinary, computers, and art.
State of the art Lotus Spa
The Grand and Golden Princess have a special deck space for kids that comes complete with a Whale’s Tail splash pool.
Teens have a separate hot tub and deck area just for them.
Movies under the stars.
Arcade games, ping pong, and juke boxes.

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Princess Pelicans: For children ages 3 to 7. This program offers activities such as arts & crafts, backstage tours, movies and cartoons, scavenger hunts, and talent shows. Birthday parties and pajama parties will be hosted for the children. Afternoon ice-cream is provided, along with kids-only dinners.
Shockwaves: For children ages 8 to 12. This program offers activities such as arts & crafts, backstage tours, movies & cartoons, scavenger hunts, talent shows, “edutainment” programs & services, and shipboard Olympics. Pizza and ice cream socials are hosted, as well as birthday parties and dance parties.
Remix: For teens ages 13 to 17. Remix offers activities such as sports competitions, late night movies, t-shirt painting, karaoke, casino night, DJ workshops and hip-hop dance classes. Dance parties, pizza parties, and “mocktail” parties are hosted.
Pete’s Pals: Youngsters who participate in Princess Youth events will take home a limited-edition member of Pete’s Pals as a way to learn more about endangered species in the areas in which Princess sails. On each cruise, Princess will issue a specially designed plush animal – beginning with “Pelican Pete,” the program’s mascot. In conjunction, kids will learn about the plight of many such threatened and endangered creatures, including white pelicans, manatees, sea turtles and bald eagles.
Babysitting: Children under 3 are not permitted in the Youth Center unless accompanied by a parent at all times. Youth Center staff cannot administer medication, bottle-feed, change diapers, or provide meal service. Private in-cabin babysitting is not available on any Princess ship. All children must be potty-trained.

Stateroom Accommodations: Princess’ larger ships offer 500- to 600 sq ft Family Suites that can accommodate six to eight passengers. The suites consist of two separate staterooms that are connected by a large living room and oversized private balcony. Usually one of the bathrooms includes a tub. Although it varies by ship, Boomerang and Cartoon Network are usually available in all staterooms. Family suite availability is smaller than on many other lines, so make sure you book well in advance if you’d like one.

Extras: Provides pagers for parents while children participate in the youth programs.

Royal Caribbean
For the family that craves action and adventure, Royal Caribbean is sure to impress. Their ships boast some of the most unique and innovative features at sea.

Age Requirements: Minimum age for sailing is 6 months, with the exceptions of Transatlantic, Hawaii and South American cruises, which are 12 months. Guests eighteen (18) years of age and older are welcome to play in the casinos (for all Alaska sailings, guests must be 21 years of age). Guest must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. However, on cruises departing from European and South American countries, where the legal drinking age is typically lower than 21, a parent may sign a waiver allowing an 18 to 20 year old to consume alcoholic beverages.

Activities & Facilities:

Nursery: A colorful nursery for young children, staffed with trained professionals and offering activities designed by Fisher Price and Crayola.
Scratch DJ Academy: Mix with the masters and get schooled in the art of spinning records. (Available on select ships.)
Aracde that offers diversions like air hockey tables, standard arcade games, driving games and prize-redemption games like Stacker, where players have a chance to win an iPod or Shuffle. Larger vessels also feature interactive dance games like Dance Dance Revolution and Pump It Up.
“Build & Grow” with Lowe’s workshops: Parents and children, can take part in constructing and decorating a Lowe’s wooden cruise ship.
On newer ships like the Oasis of the Seas, there is a Boardwalk dedicated to old-fashioned seaside amusement parks. It features an arcade, a Zip Line, and the world’s first at-sea Carousel. Oasis and Allure of the Seas are also host to the AquaTheater, a specialty venue featuring world-class high-dive acrobatics, synchronized swimming, and dazzling fountain & light shows.
RCI’s private islands, CocoCay and Labadee, offer family beach activities like state-of-the-art Aqua Parks and Luc’s Splash Bash. Older kids can try parasailing, snorkeling, or they can soar along Labadee’s new Mile Long Zip Line. Younger children (ages 3 to 8), accompanied by their parents, can experience a special driving adventure on the Fisher-Price Power Wheels® Track, featured on CocoCay.
Teen Casino
Theater & Shows, “Drive In” Movies & Pool Parties
Ice-Skating, Ice Shows
Rock Climbing Wall, Basketball court, FlowRider surf simulator
Game Shows and Trivia Contests
Open Mic Nights & Family Discos

Children’s Programs & Babysitting:

Royal Babies & Royal Tots: Ages 6 months to 36 months. These programs offer interactive play sessions for children and their parents. The 45 minute sessions were designed by early development experts at Fisher Price and include age appropriate activities designed to expose children to new ideas by combining play time with learning time.
Adventure Ocean: Ages 3 to 11 (children are separated into smaller groupings based on age. 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds, and 9-11 year olds). Adventure Ocean is a complimentary program of fun and educational activities open to all junior cruisers. Children are separated by age, and given the opportunity to learn about local customs, perform cool science experiments, and make great new friends.
Teens: 12-14 and 15-17 teen groups are allowed the freedom to come and go as they please for sports, themed parties, movie nights and more. Teens can also meet up and chill out in the laid-back Living Room lounge, or cut loose at Fuel, the teen-only nightclub. Every member of Royal Caribbean’s teen staff holds a college degree in education, recreation or a related field and has experience working with youth ages 3-17.
Sitters-at-Sea: Babysitting is offered both in a group setting, and individually in your stateroom. Children must be AT LEAST 1 year old. Approximate Rate: $10.00 per hour for one or two children within the same family or $15.00 per hour for three children within the same family.

Stateroom Accommodations: Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class ships offer family staterooms in a whopping six different categories, all the way from the 600 sq. ft Royal Family Suite to the 330 sq ft Inside Family Stateroom. The Royal Family Suites has two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one with tub), a living area with a sectional sofa, an entertainment center with a 30-inch flat-panel TV, and a large balcony with an al fresco dining table for eight. The 335 sq ft Promenade Staterooms offer a sleeping alcove with bunk beds, sleeper sofa, a bathtub, and window seats that overlook the Royal Promenade. Inside and Oceanview Family staterooms have curtained-off sleeping alcoves and a sleeper sofa, and a walk-in closet. Older ships in the Voyager and Radiance classes also offer family accommodations, although they are not as large and do not have as much variety. Consider a Grand or Junior suite if travelling with a larger family on an older Royal Caribbean ship. Family friendly amenities include children’s books for bed time reading, cribs and kid-friendly fare from room service, and the Cartoon Network, which is available on stateroom TVs.

Extras: When your child is enrolled one of the youth programs, Royal Caribbean provides you with a pager so that you can be reached anywhere on the ship.

In addition to Fisher Price Activities Menu and Juice and Unlimited Soda Packages for families, Royal Caribbean offers My Family Time Dining. This allows Expedited Dining and Adventure Ocean Pickup Service, so kids can receive their meals within 40 minutes and then join in on some onboard activities, while parents dine at their leisure. Their Children’s Vitality Food menu offers options to help families promote and maintain healthier eating practices. Plus, on select nights, the youth staff hosts dinners in the more casual restaurants, where kids get to eat with other kids while parents enjoy the evening alone.