If you are considering going on a cruise with your family, you are not alone. More and more families are choosing getting aboard a ship and sailing away. People are simply loving this way of family vacation. With summer in the horizon, we wanted to share some great Tips For Cruising with Kids to consider and put to good use when you decide is it time to say Ahoy Mates!
This is a sponsored post. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Cruising with your family is a wonderful vacation idea. The first thing to do is to choose a cruise-friendly to your party. Kid-friendly might not be the same as kid-tolerant. Not to worry, we have the inside scoop on the best cruises for families. Once you have chosen your cruise, consider these point on cruising with kids and your type of room. Regardless if you aim to relax, play, be active or reconnect on board, these tips from the experts at iCruise will help ensure you focus on all the good and keep the not so good at bay.
Best Tips For Cruising With Kids
These tips are true lifesavers. We are including not only the things you need to know when cruising with kids but some ideas to look at that will help you decide on the best cabin for your tribe:
Tips for cruising with kids plus a few things to know
- Pack a carry-on bag with sunscreen, swimsuits, flip-flops, etc. so families can begin enjoying the ship right when they board. Luggage may take a while to arrive at the rooms.
- Bring inflatable beach balls, floaties, etc. that the kids can enjoy playing in the pool. They are easy to pack and cheap so you can leave them behind.
- Reserve onboard activities before sailing
- Carnival and Disney have limited number of strollers for rent. Royal Caribbean and Princess do not offer them.
- Bring a small inflatable pool for kids who are not potty trained. Kids not potty trained are not allowed in the pools. (Exceptions: Disney’s Splash Zones and Royal Caribbean’s Baby Splash Zones do allow children to swim without being potty trained.)
A word on your family cabin or suite:
- Disney’s bath-and-a-half set-up; rooms that include pullout sofas & pulldown bunk beds
- Carnival Vista’s Family Harbor cabins offer free access to the Family Harbor Lounge, which offers a buffet breakfast, daytime snacks and ice cream, specialty dining for kids, TVs & computers, board games, & a free night of babysitting
- Norwegian’s cabins and suites for families offer access to exclusive pools and sun decks, restaurants, & lounges
- Cabins and Suites that are mid-ship have less motion and will help reduce the likelihood of developing seasickness
- Request a crib, playpen, & bathtub as soon as you book. Most ships have limited supply. (Most rooms only have a shower, not a bath)
- Find out what is located above/below/around your cabin. Cabins located by late night entertainment spots, the engine room, elevators will be noisier than other locations.
- Triple and quad occupancy cabins are possible to find. Most ships have a third or fourth bed that pulls down and can be retracted during the day.
- Newer ships have a variety of connecting cabins. (cabins with interior connecting doors) Gives you twice the amount of space and two bathrooms.
- Family suites can sleep 5-8 people and have at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a large common area, and a balcony. These are limited and may need to be booked 6+ months in advance.
- Celebrity Cruises: 80% staterooms offer an ocean view and 74% have private balconies.
Have more questions? Need more assistance? iCruise experts can definitively answer all your questions and set you sailing in no time! What are you waiting for? The ocean and all the fun to fave on a cruise calls you!
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Meg says
These are great tips, especially when traveling for little ones. I have friends who won’t take their young children, but they are so missing out! There is so much for them to do. My daughter loved the kids camps when she was small. Love crusing!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
My husband and I are huge cruisers! It’s our favorite type of vacation. We will have a baby soon so these are great tips!
Kate Andrews says
I bet a cruise is a great way to vacation with kids. Your room is right there!
Marysa says
I would love to take my kids on a cruise – I’m sure they would have a blast! It helps to have some tips to keep everything going smoothly.
Vyjay Rao says
Cruising is so much fun. It combines traveling with leisure and relaxation. A great way to spend quality time with family and kids too. These are some really sensible tips for a cruise with kids.
Esther Irish says
We cruise with our kids and love it. I haven’t cruised with Disney though. It looks fantastic! The suites look like a dream!
Stephanie Parrell says
I dont have kids but I have been thinking about going on a cruise and doing a bit more research into it. I think one day when i have kids I would totally take them on a cruise!
Jennifer L says
Oh I can imagine the key word is bring distractions. I’ve never traveled with kids before, but im always amazed by parents and their amazing inventive skills to keep their kids entertained and happy.
Natalie says
I’ve never been on a cruise. it sounds like so much fun! A really good tip about bringing a carry on bag.
Amy h says
We are hoping to take a cruise sometime in the future with the kids. It’s all about timing, and waiting for the kids to get just a little older, so they enjoy the cruise as much as we would.
Vanessa Delia says
I have never cruised with kids before, but I could see this being handy for sure. Keeping them happy and busy is the way to do it!
Heather says
We took our oldest daughter on a Disney cruise just after her third birthday. Our youngest is now three years old and I know she would absolutely love the experience. Taking kids on a cruise is such an amazing family vacation, these are great tips.
Desiree says
Such great advice! We haven’t taken our daughter on a cruise yet. I will definitely keep these things in mind when planning one!
Khushboo says
I don’t have kids yet but will surely pass on these tips to my sisters who have 2 kiddos. Loved the insightful post 🙂
Meeta says
My 15-year-old and I would love to go on a cruise but my husband is just never to keen. It’s such a great way of discovering different regions – from the water side.
Heather says
We haven’t taken our kids on a cruise yet. In fact, I haven’t been on a cruise since I was a kid. I can’t wait to go though.