Here’s what you need to know about taking kids of all ages on a family cruise.

If you’d love to try a cruise but want to wait until your kids are the right age, the good news is there’s no perfect timing. These days there are so many different options available to families who want to go on a cruise. There are pros and cons to each stage of parenting/childhood, so let’s look at what to consider depending on your kids’ ages.

We’ve been doing our own research into a family cruise. It seems to be an affordable way to have a holiday where everyone gets to have fun. I’ve heard both sides though, friends who regretted going on a cruise, and others who just absolutely loved it. Here are some of the tips I’ve learned:

How Old Should Kids Be to Go On a Cruise?

cruises with Babies and Toddlers:

Lots of cruise lines cater to young families and have things like cots, high chairs and soft play areas. Make sure you pick a cruise line with dedicated early childhood care providers if you want to take advantage of onboard daycare! Going with a cruise that provides for babies and toddlers means the staff will be super experienced with those age groups, and they’ll cater to your needs better even in situations like boarding/docking.

You can cruise with babies, but it’s definitely not an age where you can take advantage of all the ship has to offer.

Preschoolers and early schooling (ages 3-6):

These days cruises have plenty of fun spaces for kids, but they can be very stimulating and overwhelming places for toddlers and babies.

This is an awesome age to get kids into the kids club, and make the most of the kids entertainment and scheduled activities! Many family-friendly ships have programs for kids age 3-6. This is the beginning of an easy, fun holiday option for families!

The kids will be excited for the trip, but a huge ship can also be an overwhelming, tiring and overstimulating experience, resulting in tantrums and mood crashes you may not have expected.

Another thing to be aware of is that if your kids are not used to going to daycare, doing it on a big ship may not go so well. We’ve had friends whose kids refused to go into the kids clubs, and so the parents didn’t end up getting to do the activities they hoped for. It made for a long week. If you want to take advantage of the kids clubs, make sure you prep your kids emotionally so they’re excited and know what’s coming. Maybe consider inviting friends/cousins if that would help them go in together.

There are so many affordable cruise ships for families and kids, I don’t recommend picking one that’s *not* tailored to families *unless* you’ve got older teens.

Middle Childhood (ages 7-11):

This is an ideal age for kids to go on a cruise. They are usually confident and independent enough to enjoy kids clubs and children’s entertainment. They’ll be desperate to try all the fun things. And they’ll have a bit of discipline and patience for the waiting/lining up, admin parts of the holiday. And you parents can enjoy the break, get to try more fun activities yourselves, and join in making memories with them.

cruises with Preteens and early Teens (12-14)

This is a perfect age for family cruises if you go on a ship with age-appropriate offers and entertainment. The kids will be young enough to love the AWESOME options and have energy to do everything. They’ll be old enough to remember the trip and mature enough to follow safety rules. Some cruises have fantastic fun experiences they may not get elsewhere – water parks, video game lounges, cool shore excursions etc. They’ll likely make new friends which will add to the experience too.

cruises for Teens (15+)

Yes do it! This is another amazing age where your kids will love the fun and cool activities on the ship. Many cruises offer various activities for older teens, including art and culture classes, sports activities, fun shore excursions and cool gaming rooms. Teens may be reluctant to spend a week with their family, but really cruises can be quite a social experience anyway as they meet other kids. Teens will also appreciate the size of the ship and getting to go to new countries or cities, which makes it an easy way to travel while also ensuring they get to have heaps of fun.

Things to consider when planning and researching your family holiday:

Family room sizes. Some ships cater better for families and sleeping arrangements with more kids than others.
Destinations and Duration: Figure out what would work best for your family. Younger children will likely not cope as well with a longer cruise, as they often prefer familiarity and routine. The stimulation and tiring activities can get a bit much after a few days. Whereas teens may need a few days to settle in and get comfortable! Check the suitability of the ports you’ll be visiting too.
Policies: Check the policies of the cruise. Many cruises may not refund your kids club payments if your toddler refuses to go. Some have age restrictions on different activities, which can be disappointing if you’ve hyped up a water slide your kid isn’t able to go on.
Medical considerations: Try to prepare for if your kids get sick, take what you need to minimise stress while onboard.
Passports: If your cruise crosses an international border, your kids will need a current passport.
If you’re travelling with children, a family-cruise is almost always going to be a better option than a general cruise. The staff are way more experienced, the onboard activities and programs will be more suited to families, and the other passengers will all be in the same boat (literally!). You want to be able to enjoy yourself, not just spend the whole time stressing about the kids’ behaviour.
Where you can join the cruise and where it ends. Sometimes you’re limited by options, other times it’s an excuse for extra travel on either side of the trip! It really depends on your budget and your time limits.

We can’t wait for our family cruise! At this point in our lives, with young kids, we’ll be choosing based on the cruise experience itself, rather than the destination, but I can’t wait to get to the point where we could try something more adventurous. I’ve even seen family cruises to Antarctica are becoming a thing now – I’ll keep dreaming and start with something closer.

Your Turn:

Have you been on a family cruise? Share your best tips with us below – what do you wish you’d known before your cruise?

The Best Age to Take Kids on a Family Cruise