← Cruise basics

basics

First cruise with children

How to plan a first cruise with young children: choosing a line, length, cabin and pace.

First cruise with children
First cruise with children

Your first family cruise

A first cruise with children is mostly about pace: enough to do, enough rest, and no rush on travel days.

Choose the line for your family

  • Disney for characters, shows and rotational dining. Its flyer lists three and four night Bahamas trips from Port Canaveral. Youth clubs are included; the nursery costs extra.
  • Royal Caribbean for big family ships. Its Adventure Ocean youth program is complimentary, and it lists a separate program for babies 6 to 36 months. Icon of the Seas has Surfside, a neighbourhood built for families.
  • Carnival for a casual, lively ship. Camp Ocean, for ages 2 to 11, is included (late-night Night Owls sessions cost extra), and Family Harbor cabins on Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras carry their own perks.
  • Virgin Voyages is adults only.

Choose the length

Three nights is quick and gives a taste. Four nights with a sea day is often the easiest first trip, because children get a full day to enjoy the ship. A week suits children who already travel well.

Choose the cabin

Check bed layouts for everyone sharing, where the cabin sits relative to lifts and kids' areas, and what is above and below. Connecting cabins can work better than one crowded room.

Plan the money

Gratuities are not in the fare on these family lines. Some attractions cost extra: Carnival's BOLT has a charge and height limits, and at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Thrill Waterpark is paid while Splashaway Bay is free. Decide in advance which extras you will say yes to.

Plan the days

  • Look up kids' club ages and hours for your ship.
  • Keep one port day simple.
  • Check height and age limits for attractions before you promise them.

Before you go

Arrive the day before. Keep swimwear, medication and snacks in a day bag, since cabins may not be ready and luggage arrives later.

Sources

Line policies, prices and inclusions change. We check the current terms for your sailing rather than quoting fixed figures.

Example

A family of four chooses a four-night Disney Wish sailing from Port Canaveral with a sea day before trying a full week.
First cruise with children
First cruise with children
First cruise with children
First cruise with children

Floreo tip

Start short. A three or four night cruise tells you how your children take to ship life before you commit to a week.

Reviewed by a Floreo advisor.

Cruise Match

Want an advisor to narrow this down?

Tell us what matters to you. We’ll turn it into a practical shortlist and help with the details.

Find my cruise

Prefer to talk? Call or text us(877) 279-9078text