08/20/2026
The 4 main cruise lines for families are MSC, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney.
Here is a general guide:
🥇 Royal Caribbean-Best overall
Royal Caribbean International is my first choice if the kids are a major priority. On the larger ships you can have waterslides, pools, FlowRider, sports, shows, kids' clubs, teen spaces, specialty restaurants and lots of activities without ever feeling like you've run out of things to do. Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean program is designed around age groups, and its ships are particularly strong for families with older children and teenagers.
🥈 Carnival- Best value + fun
Carnival Cruise Line is probably the best choice if you want a relaxed, fun, less formal family vacation.. Carnival has excellent age-specific programs: Camp Ocean for younger children, Circle "C" for ages 12–14 and Club O2 for 15–17. Depending on the ship, families can also get waterslides, ropes courses, mini-golf, SkyRide, Bolt, movies and other activities.
🥉 MSC — Best for European feel + food
MSC has surprisingly strong children's programming, with dedicated clubs from 0–17, including Baby Club, Mini Club, Junior Club, Young Club and Teen Club.
MSC is great for a family that wants the cruise to feel more like an international vacation. You'll encounter a more European atmosphere, international food and a somewhat more elegant environment. Their ships are Italian and gorgeous.
Downside: If your kids are saying "I want the biggest waterslides, surfing simulator, zip line, crazy activities and nonstop entertainment," I'd choose Royal Caribbean instead.
🎭 Entertainment: Disney is outstanding.
Disney Cruise Line changes the comparison quite a bit. Disney is arguably the best pure family cruise experience, but Royal Caribbean is often the better choice for families with older kids/teens or families who want more physical activities and a bigger ship experience.
Disney is different from the other three. The Disney experience isn't simply "a cruise with kids." The entire cruise is designed around families.
Disney has the Oceaneer Club/Lab for ages 3–10, Edge for tweens 11–14 and Vibe for teens. There are also character experiences, Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars programming and dedicated adult areas.
Disney isn't only about children. There are adult restaurants, lounges, pools and other adult-exclusive spaces, so parents can get time away while the kids are in the clubs.
At Storymakers Travel, we do help you choose the right itinerary, the right ship and the right cabin. Now is the time to plan your holiday cruise as well as Spring Break and Summer cruises for 2027. Reach out to get started!