I was hooked after my first family cruise. My three children were all under the age of 10, and typically, they’d run off to the kids’ club at 9am. I’d pick them up at noon and by 1pm, they were clamouring to return to their clubs.
This meant lots of “me time” to read, attend Zumba classes, sip poolside piña coladas and enjoy an actual holiday. Better still, we docked at a new destination every day without needing to drive or take a plane – it is an unbeatable, stress-free way to travel as a family.
Of course, the kids eventually outgrow mini clubs, but there are cruises to suit all ages and tastes, with ample dining choices for even the fussiest of eaters. If you’re already thinking ahead to your next family holiday, here are my top picks of the best cruises to book now.
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Best for kids of all ages
Mediterranean – Spain and France
P&O Cruises
Key stops: Vigo, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona and Cadiz (Spain); Toulon (France)
Departure port: Southampton
Duration: 14 nights
Ship: Arvia
Even children who don’t normally take to kids’ clubs seem to enjoy those on P&O Cruises’ ships. The clubs are led by a friendly, energetic and enthusiastic team, and, because fellow attendees are British, there are no language barriers.
Age-banded clubs cater for children from six months to 17 years (the teen hangout clubs are seriously cool), and activities (which are constantly evolving) range from pool games and sports to learning how to DJ.
The line’s newest 5,200-passenger ship, Arvia, is great for all ages, with a splash park, mini golf and a scary high ropes course where you can walk the plank. Everyone will enjoy the swim-up bar, impromptu acrobatic shows in the atrium, diner (complete with jukebox) and Sunday roasts dished up in a Yorkshire pudding served at The Quays.
Conservatory mini-suites sleep four and are a great option for families, with a separate conservatory, oversized balcony and curtains separating a small living area and bedroom.
How to do it
A 14-night Mediterranean – Spain and France cruise, departing July 18, 2027, costs from £4,536 for a family of four. Includes full-board dining, entertainment and gratuities.
Best for thrills and spills
Caribbean: Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica
Norwegian Cruise Line
Key stops: Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel and NCL’s private Bahamas island, Great Stirrup Cay
Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Norwegian Aqua
The Caribbean’s white-sand beaches, turquoise water and island paradises make it a winner for cruisers. Sail on Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Aqua and you’re in for an extra thrill because this £1 billion, 3,500-passenger ship is home to the world’s first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide. On the Aqua Slidecoaster, families of four can race each other in two-person rafts.
As well as age-banded kids’ clubs, youngsters will enjoy “The Drop” (a 10-storey “trapdoor” slide) and the interactive LED games at the Glow Court.
For parents, there are infinity pools and a spa – I found the yellow ochre clay-infused sauna great for the skin. There are even sustainable tipples; Aqua’s Mai Tai cocktail, for example, uses syrup made from leftover croissants.
How to do it
A seven-night Caribbean: Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica cruise, departing January 16, 2028, costs from £1,123pp for an ocean-view cabin. Includes meals in the non-speciality restaurants, selected soft drinks, and most entertainment. Excludes flights.
Best for teens
Japan Explorer
Princess Cruises
Key stops: Toba, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Shimizu for Mt Fuji (Japan); Busan (South Korea)
Departure port: Tokyo (Yokohama)
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Diamond Princess
Offering an exciting change of culture and cuisine, Japan is a great destination for teens, and the beauty of this cruise is that you visit a whopping eight ports in 10 hassle-free days.
Diamond Princess sails here year-round and offers an immersive cultural experience. There are chopsticks and cutlery, green tea alongside Tetley’s, and ramen as well as steak and chips. On-board activities include an introduction to Japanese and learning how to wear the yukata.
Itineraries visit places you’ll have heard of – Shimizu (for Mt Fuji) and Nagasaki – as well as lesser-known gems. Tokyo’s cruise port Yokohama, for example, has enough museums, shops and attractions to keep kids occupied but feels practically deserted in comparison to its better-known neighbour.
Sail in May and you might witness Japan’s famed cherry blossom; travel in winter and you can warm up in a spring-fed onsen – hot springs where locals traditionally bathe naked. There’s even an onsen on board the ship.
How to do it
A 10-night Japan Explorer cruise, departing August 26, 2027, costs from £1,187pp for an inside cabin sleeping four. Includes meals and entertainment. Excludes flights.
Best for value
Tropical Isles
Marella Cruises
Key stops: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
Departure port: La Romana, Dominican Republic
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Marella Discovery
Flights, transfers, drinks and gratuities are all included in the fare with Marella Cruises, the British cruise line that’s part of German tour operator, Tui. Sailing on the 1,800-passenger Marella Discovery, families will find plenty to keep children entertained on this itinerary, from its two pools and climbing wall to its mini golf course and escape room.
Organised entertainment includes daily dance classes and Broadway-style shows, while age-banded kids’ clubs for children up to 11 offer parents some downtime – best spent at the adults-only Veranda sunbathing area.
With only one day at sea, this action-packed cruise is ideal for families who like to get out and explore. Wander colourful old town streets in Puerto Rico’s two ports (San Juan and Ponce); learn about 18th-century pirates in the US Virgin Islands; and snorkel alongside turtles off the sugar-white beaches of Isla Catalina in the Dominican Republic. The ship also offers cycling excursions using its own fleet of e-bikes.
How to do it
A seven-night Tropical Islands cruise, departing February 23, 2027, costs from £1,492pp in an inside cabin. Includes flights, transfers, all meals and all gratuities.
Best for entertainment
Western Mediterranean from Rome
Royal Caribbean
Key stops: Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca (Spain); Naples and La Spezia, for Florence (Italy)
Departure port:
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Legend of the Seas
Launched in August 2026, Legend of the Seas is the most recent ship to join the Royal Caribbean fleet and it’s the first of its class to sail in Europe. The 7,600-passenger behemoth is a smidgen bigger (by a foot) than its sister ships Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas – which previously held the title of being the biggest cruise ship in the world.
Your family would probably need a fortnight to enjoy everything on offer. Activities include a climbing wall, an ice-skating rink, a surf simulator and the world’s largest water park at sea (stick to the rafts if the trapdoor and free-fall slides look too terrifying). There’s even a train on board.
For the ultimate thrill, try Crown’s Edge – part sky-walk, part high ropes, part zip line – which whizzes you 154ft above the waves. It’s unlike anything else you’ll experience at sea.
Beyond the ship, this itinerary covers some of Western Europe’s best cities, calling at Naples, Barcelona and Florence.
How to do it
A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise, departing August 19, 2027, costs from £4,436 for a family of four in an interior room. Includes meals, entertainment and activities. Excludes flights and gratuities.
Best for expedition-style cruising
Coastal Express North
Hurtigruten
Key stops: Ålesund, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø, Kirkenes
Departure port: Bergen
Duration: Six nights
Cruise ship: MS Nordnorge
For those who prefer being active on holiday, Norwegian line Hurtigruten offers a more adventurous style of cruising. This flagship voyage operates year-round and stops in 34 ports as it hugs the Norwegian coast from Bergen to Kirkenes, close to the Russian border.
Although it sells cruise packages, Hurtigruten has a dual purpose in that it also ferries locals to remote coastal towns, stopping several times daily at small “commuter” ports.
Excursions cost extra, but deepen the experience. From the port of Ålesund, you can hike from a farm to Hjorundfjord and there is kayaking or cycling from Trondheim. Other ports offer RIB rides, ice fishing and winter dog sledging or cross-country skiing. My favourite was snowmobiling from Kjollefjord to Mehamn and trying to beat the ship to it (driving licence is required; kids ride pillion).
On board, you’ll find superb Scandinavian cuisine, a sauna and hot tubs, plus educational lectures. My children loved this cruise because it’s so different.
How to do it
A six-night Coastal Express North cruise, departing on September 23, 2027, costs from £1,972pp for an inside twin cabin. Includes full-board dining and Wi-Fi. Excludes flights.
Best for luxury
Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure
Tauck
Key stops: Budapest (Hungary); Bratislava (Slovakia); Passau (Germany); Vienna, Durnstein and Salzburg (Austria)
Departure port: Vilshofen (Germany)
Duration: Seven nights
Cruise ship: MS Savor
The slow pace of river cruising isn’t something you’d normally associate with children, but do it the right way and trust me: they’ll have a blast. This family-friendly sailing along the Danube visits Austria, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary, and the fare includes guided excursions that offer the perfect mix of sightseeing, cultural immersion and fun activities. Hike to a castle, cycle along the Danube and learn to make marzipan – and then eat it.
Vienna has something for every family member, from an exclusive after-hours banquet in an Imperial Viennese palace (normally closed to the public) to a trip to a historical funfair.
Suites on the 130-passenger river ship (many sleep four) have plush bedding, goose down pillows and Molten Brown toiletries. Facilities on board include a putting green and top-deck hot tub. There’s no pool, but there are stops at safe, clean swimming places on the Danube. The minimum recommended age is eight years.
How to do it
A seven-night Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure, departing on July 1, 2027, costs from £3,890pp for a four-bed suite. Includes excursions, premium drinks and gratuities. Excludes flights.
This article was first published in August 2025, and has been revised and updated.