Many cruise lines encourage passengers to bring their children along while others remain neutral and some understandably discourage children. Before you take the youngsters along, consider where you're going and the cruise line you'll be travelling on. Think about the child friendly facilities on board. Consider also the impact of children on your fellow passengers. Consult your travel agent to learn of kid friendly cruise lines and the right line for you and your family.
Consider also your destination. Will the children find it to be fun or will it be BORING? Remember, today’s kids can get very bored very quickly. Their minds have to be kept active which means they need to have their activities changed frequently.
Age appropriate facilities and activities are on board just for the youngsters. Many of the onboard children's programs are very comprehensive and serve to build the individual child. Some of the kid friendly facilities you can expect to find aboard today’s cruise ships are:
Special dining room facilities on the lido decks
These facilities include lower tables and seats, kid height warming tables, food kid's like such as Pancakes, Fruit Loops, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Mac 'n Cheese, French Fries, Pizza, Cookies and Ice Cream
Organized play activities
We’ve seen groups of them on supervised parades through the ships. They sing and carry on having a real good time for themselves.
Small children's clubs
Many of the lines provide organized facilities for the little tykes to play in and to be with children their own age.
Intermediate Children's Clubs 
These facilities and activities are just for tweens. Again, they are age appropriate and limited to children of the same age bracket.
Teen Clubs
These facilities are off limits to adults and focus on activities and games that teens enjoy. There are even organized and well supervised dances and night clubs.
These three clubs are well supervised by trained childcare crew members.
Do children cruise for free?
Rarely, but when kids are third and fourth passengers in a stateroom, they travel at a substantially reduced fare on all cruise lines. Infants under six months of age are not eligible for travel on most ships. Consult your travel agent or cruiseline.
Are babysitters available?
Most cruise lines offer group sitting for ages 2-12 for a nominal fee with the counselors. In addition to regular sitting hours of 10 pm - 1 am, group sitting is available in port from 9 am - 5 pm. Private babysitting is not available on most lines.
Are there any pool regulations?
According to United States Public Health (U.S.P.H.) regulations, no diapers of any kind, including those marketed as "swimmers, are permitted in the swimming pools or Jacuzzis." Other regulations apply on specific ships.
Kid Friendly Cruise Lines
Carnival
Disney Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess
Royal Caribbean
Kid Neutral Cruise Lines (Offer Children’s programs on many sailings)
Celebrity
Holland America Line
Regent
Non-Kid Friendly Cruise Lines
Crystal
Oceania
Silversea
.jpg)
