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Cruising with Kids: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Thinking about taking your kids on a cruise? As a mom who has sailed with little ones (and learned a few things the hard way), I can tell you cruising with kids can be magical… but preparation is everything. Your experience will depend on the cruise line, destination, and the ages of your kids.

Here is what you need to know before you book.

Choosing the Right Cruise for Your Family

Where and when you cruise matters.

• Fewer kids: Alaska sailings, off-season trips during the school year, or cruise lines like Princess and Celebrity.

• More kids: Caribbean sailings, summer break, and family-friendly lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line.

Minimum age requirements:

• Most cruises welcome babies from 6 months old.

• Some itineraries with multiple consecutive sea days (e.g., Los Angeles to Hawaii, Transatlantic sailings) require babies to be at least 1 year old.

Addy was 7 months!!

Childcare Options by Age

Babies & Toddlers (6 months – 3 years, not potty trained)

I recommend Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Line because both have nurseries (with a fee) that are worth every penny.

• Embarkation day tip: Tour the nursery early. On Royal Caribbean, you can pre-select your hours. After your assigned hours are booked, you can call daily to check for additional availability.

Nursery on Navigator of the Seas! 

Picking up the girls after having fun together!

Royal Caribbean writes down your nursery appointments!

Ages 3 and Up

• Childcare is complimentary.

• Kids are grouped by age (varies by cruise line) into programs for preschoolers, older kids, preteens, and teens.

• Some lines allow older kids to sign themselves out with parental permission.

Some ships also have a common play area where parents are supervising their kiddos!

Staterooms and Space

• Families of five or more: Some cruise lines offer ultra-spacious cabins that fit up to six people. Book early! 

• If you have a baby, you can also request a playpen! 

The picture does not give the room justice and show how BIG it was!

We took more videos of the room...behind Amelia inside the curtain are two bunkbeds!

Inside the bunkbed area

Addy enjoyed watching the ocean go by : )

• Otherwise, you will need two cabins even for a baby. On our first cruise as a family of five, we booked two cabins because we did not know about the ultra-spacious cabins and only used one. Lesson learned! In out defense, we had a sitter lined up, but last minute, she could not come and we could not find anyone to replace her spot : (

• Stroller tip: Our Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double stroller fits ship hallways but not our cabin door.

We had to take a picture showing the stroller stuck lol 

Excursions with Kids

• We typically skip excursions with our girls to avoid the stress of being somewhere at a set time.

Port of the day: Cozumel! I believe the ship was there since 8 AM but this photo was taken around 12:30 PM. We took a taxi to a beach and made it back on time!

• Some cruise lines allow you to leave children onboard in the kids’ club while adults do an excursion. Check the policy before booking.

• We like to play it by ear, sleep in, see how we are all feeling, avoid being rushed, and figure it out once we are outside the ship especially if we have been at the same port before. Or, just enjoy the ship while everyone is out! 

Addy enjoying the baby splash area while dad and Aesir were out looking for monkeys : )

Enjoying lunch at the pool deck! 

Dining with Kids

• Every restaurant offers kid-friendly options like mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and fruit.

• Ask for kids’ meals to be brought first because it makes dining so much smoother, at least for us it does!

• Ships have high chairs and booster seats; some offer baby food or can puree meals for infants.

• We like to get a beverage package and share drinks with the kids (quietly).

Kids Menu!

Mac and cheese with fries and ketchup for the girls at dinner 

Room service! When you just need time to chill in the room : )

Bath Time

• Most staterooms do not have bathtubs. Disney is the exception, with bathtubs in all cabins.

• Alternatives: shower with the kids, bring an inflatable tub, or book a suite with a tub.

Laundry on Board

• Disney Cruise Line and Princess Cruises have self-service laundry facilities which is a huge help when traveling with kids.

• Royal Caribbean does not have self-service laundry, but you can use the ship’s paid laundry service.

• We like to pack light and do laundry onboard, or if needed, hand wash small items in the sink.

• Pack your detergent and dryer sheets if you are particular on the brand. If not, you can buy it onboard : )

Booking Extras Before You Board

Booking certain packages in advance usually saves money compared to onboard pricing. We like to pre-book:

• Couples massage or spa treatments! We had the blessing to schedule the girls at the nursery so we could go to the spa and enjoy a private hot tub!

• Specialty dining! It is definitely optional and the price is so reasonable compared to land restaurants. We feel that the food in the main dining is delicious and do not have a need to go. However, when it comes to celebrating a special event like a birthday, we might as well book it before boarding and get a discount ; )

Travis loves sushi and we book at least his favorite specialty restaurant!

• Photo packages! We love taking family pictures and might as well do it onboard. I love getting the girls matching dresses too! Depending on the cruise line, it will depend the type of packages available. 

We love taking photos onboard for formal night! Of course we were scrambling the last night of the cruise picking out our favorites. The photographers helped us by entertaining the girls <3

• Wi-Fi packages! Depending on your needs, it is not necessary especially if your goal is to unplug and detox from the online world. However, if it is necessary for your job or you like posting, why not book it beforehand.

• Arcade credit (we always use it!) With Royal Caribbean, we have gotten offers like for $80 you get $100 worth in arcade credit. You also have to remember who you added the credit to. For example, we added it to Amelia's card and only hers had the credit. Lastly, Royal Caribbean also sets a limit like $50? Per day to spend so if it is the last night to use it and need to use it all, you need to go to the customer service desk to change the limit. 

Enjoying the arcade!

Addy playing her baby way lol

Packing Essentials for Kids

• Overpack diapers, wipes, and children’s medication. Ship stores have very limited (and expensive) baby supplies.

• Bring favorite snacks that are packaged in their original container, especially if your child is picky.

We packed a box of 100 size 3 diapers for our 4 night cruise lol

Get Extra Help if You Want It

Cruising is for everyone including parents who want time to relax.

• Bring grandparents or a family member or friend along for built-in childcare.

• Hire a vetted onboard or destination babysitter.

• We even offer destination babysitting for vacationd and weddings.

Final Tip

Cruising with kids is different than cruising alone, but it can be just as enjoyable. Choose the right ship for your family, know what to expect, and give yourself permission to take it slow.

Harmony of the Seas was a great ship for the girls as it had plenty of things to do for the kiddos!

Addy loved the carousel and did not want to get off!! It was also complimentary!

Enjoying the hot tub as a family! Technically, kids who are in diapers cannot come in, but no one kicked us out lol That is why some ships have baby splash areas. Do not forget your swim diapers!

Enjoying the show at the AquaTheater!

Silent disco time!! We have so much fun! The headphones where slightly to big for the girls

What questions do you have about cruising with kids? Drop them in the comments or make a complimentary appointment! We love helping families plan stress-free sailings.

 

If you are hesitant, we will be going on:

• Navigator of the Seas November 3 to 7, 2025 out of Los Angeles 
• Celebrity Apex February 28 to March 7, 2026 out of Port Canaveral 

The more the merrier!!

With gratitude, 

Ana & Travis 

Cruise Planners 

702-482-7774 

December 2022

February 2024