WHICH CRUISE LINE FITS YOUR FAMILY?
Which cruise lines are best for traveling with children?
Cruising with a baby or young child requires careful planning. What is the minimum age to sail? Does the ship have a nursery or childcare? Are private babysitting services offered so parents can enjoy a night out? One of the best ways to ensure flexibility is to cruise with family/friends who can help watch your baby, allowing parents some couple time while keeping nap and feeding routines on track.
If you plan to use the ship’s childcare, we help research baby-friendly cruise lines and verify their minimum age requirements before you book - these policies can change at any time. To help you choose the right ship, here’s a summary of mainstream cruise lines, combining CruiseCompete.com data with our own research. Already have a cruise line in mind? Check below to see if it’s a good fit:
Cruise Lines At-A-Glance
AMA WATERWAYS
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Primarily adult-focused; no kids’ programs or childcare.
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Minimum age: 2 years.
AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES
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Attracts couples and mature guests; no children’s programs or facilities.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months for Transatlantic, Transpacific, and select cruises).
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
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Programs: Camp Carnival (2–11), Circle C (12–14), Club O2 (15–17).
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Limited babysitting for under-twos during designated times.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months on Transatlantic, Hawaii, and South America cruises).
CELEBRITY CRUISES
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Private in-cabin babysitting for 12+ months; up to 2 kids per sitter.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months on longer crossings and select itineraries).
COSTA CRUISES
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No organized activities for under-3s; access to kids’ areas during off-peak times.
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Group babysitting available; cribs, high chairs, bottle warmers on request.
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Minimum age: 6 months.
CRYSTAL CRUISES
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Babysitting available through concierge (24-hour notice required).
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Minimum age: 6 months.
CUNARD LINE
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Nursery staffed by British nannies; children 1+ can participate without parents.
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Complimentary evening group child-sitting.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months on Transatlantic, Transpacific, and select cruises).
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
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Flounder’s Reef Nursery for 12 weeks–36 months; low counselor-to-child ratio.
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Amenities include cribs, toys, books; nominal hourly charge.
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Minimum age: 12 weeks.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
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No programs or babysitting for under-threes; cribs/high chairs available on request.
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Minimum age: 12 months.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE (NCL)
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Youth programs and group babysitting start at age 2.
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No programs or babysitting for under-twos.
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Minimum age: 6 months.
OCEANIA CRUISES
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Adult-focused; no childcare or kids’ activities.
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Minimum age: 6 months.
PRINCESS CRUISES
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Youth programs for ages 3–12; teen centers available.
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Complimentary until 10 p.m.; late-night babysitting for a fee.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months on select exotic itineraries).
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
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No formal children’s activities; in-suite babysitting available for a fee.
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Minimum age: 6 months.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
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Royal Babies program (6–18 months) with parent participation.
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Nurseries with daytime/nighttime child watch available for a fee.
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Minimum age: 6 months (12 months on Transatlantic, Transpacific, Hawaii, and some other cruises).
SEABOURN
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No children’s facilities or programs; adult-oriented cruises.
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Minimum age: 1 year on Transatlantic/World cruises; 6 months on other sailings.
SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
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No children’s activities or amenities.
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Minimum age: 12 months.
SILVERSEA
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No children’s programs; no childcare offered.
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Minimum age: 6 months.
VIRGIN VOYAGES
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Adults-only (18+); designed for curated adult experiences.
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Minimum age: 18 years.
WINDSTAR CRUISES
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Primarily attracts couples; no childcare or kids’ activities.
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Minimum age: 2 years.
Not Sure Which Line is Best? Contact us today - we’re here to help you choose the perfect cruise for your family!
