Best Cruise Lines For Families (Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean)
Are you wondering what the best cruise lines for families are? Looking for the best cruise line for kids?
You are in the right spot! I have 4 kids ages 8-16. We love cruising! I am afraid we have become total cruise addicts! I am excited to share with you the best cruise lines for families.
I feel like Disney Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines are the top two best cruise lines for families. (Noriweign and Carnival have some great options but they did not make my top two best cruises for kids list.)
In this post, I am going to list out and compare the best cruise lines for kids. I am going to break this down based on entertainment, activities, and kids clubs. I am also going to list the best cruise ships for families within each cruise line.
There are many cruise lines out there. I am only going to compare the best family cruises associated with Disney vs. Royal Caribbean.
Let’s explore the best cruises for kids!
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Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is one of the best cruises for kids. They cater to families. I would say this is one of the best cruise lines for families in the industry. However, I would like to point out some pros and cons of the Disney Cruise experience.
Our Disney Cruise Experience
We had a fabulous time on the Disney Wish. It was awesome. The food was good, the entertainment was phenomenal, and the activities were fun. We loved the staff and the dining options. The rooms were really nice and overall it was a fantastic experience.
Pros of Disney Cruise Line
- Best Cruise Ship for Toddlers
- Best Cruise Ship for Children
- Best Cruise for Kids based on Kids Club
- Fantastic Staff
- Unbelievable Details in Ship Design
- Top Notch Family Friendly Entertainment
- Variety of Food Choices
Cons of Disney Cruiseline
- Price
- There wasn’t a ton of activities for older kids 12+
There are so many things we loved about the Disney Cruise ship. I feel like I need to explain the cons in a little more detail. We came to the conclusion that the best age for Disney Cruise is around age 7. There are so many character meet-and-greets that are perfect for Disney-loving little kids. (It is heaven for kids ages 5-8.)
By age 9 our daughter was kind of growing out of princesses. She is now 16 and is the one who really wanted to go on a Disney Cruise. We all love Disney. There wasn’t as much on the Disney Cruise for teens as she would have hoped.
Disney Cruise Kids Club
The kids’ club on the Disney ships are amazing! We went on the Disney Wish and were blown away at the details in each room of the Disney’s Oceaneer Kids Club.
There are six themed rooms. Princess, Mickey toddler room, Star Wars, Marvel, art, and virtual reality. They are amazing. In each room, there are interactive activities. You can design your own superhero costume and fight villains in the Marvel room or go on a princess adventure. There is really something for all kids.
In fact, this place is so cool adults would enjoy the activities. On the first day of your cruise, you can go to the kids clubs as a family to check them out. There are also other days were you can come as a family to enjoy these awesome activities.
Best Cruise For Families Kids Club Winner – Disney
Disney wins for the best cruise ship for kids, when it comes to kids clubs. I don’t think any cruise line can beat the detail and fun the Disney Cruise has to offer.
Here is the Negative about our Kids Club Experience
My daughter is 11. They recently changed the rules where the kids club is only for those 10 and under. She was devastated because the Kids Club is amazing.
Her brother is 8 and they play together all the time. He wouldn’t go without her and she just cried because they wouldn’t let her in. It was kind of awful! We did go during family time.
Tween Club
She wasn’t digging the Edge which is the tween club. (It is super lame compared to the kids club) The Edge in our 11 year olds words was designed for boys…..all there is are video games. It is really small.
The one good thing about the tween club is that it will take over certain rooms in the kids’ club during certain times.
Teen Club
There is a teen club as well. What we found was there were not very many teens on the ship. My daughter went to a scheduled event and there was hardly anyone there.
Things to Do for Kids on the Disney Cruise
One of the reasons Disney makes the list as one of the best cruise lines for families is because they offer activities for kids. There are lots of fun things to do on Disney Cruises.
Pool Area
The pool area is fantastic there are lots of pools and on the Disney Wish there is the AquaMouse which is a water slide coaster. It is really fun. Kids can spend hours swimming enjoying the water slides.
The Disney Wish has a Toy Story Splash Pad which is perfect for toddlers and babies. It is all enclosed so they are safe and can not run off! This is what makes Disney Cruise Lines one of the best cruises for toddlers.
Character Meet and Greets
If you have a Disney fan the Disney Cruise is the best place to meet Disney Characters. It is better than Disneyland or DisneyWorld because they are everywhere on the ship! Plus, the lines are not too bad! You can meet princesses, the fab five, or even superheroes.
This is one of the best cruise lines for children because it really caters to them.
Hero Zone
In the Hero Zone, there are lots of fun things to do. The Incredi-games are located here. This involves a large inflatable obstacle course. You can also play ping pong, basketball, pool, or other fun games in this area.
Themed Disney Cruise Dinner
Disney is unique with there dinner options. They have a rotational dinner dining plan. Each night you will be assigned a different place to eat. You servers and staff follow you to each location each night.
These locations will be different depending on which ship you are on. On the Disney Wish, we had a fancy 1923 restaurant, a Marvel character dinner, and a Frozen character dinner. The food was pretty good, and the atmosphere was amazing! Our favorite was the Marvel night.
This is probably something you will only find on the Disney Cruise ship. It was pretty cool!
Disney Cruise Shows
The shows are Broadway quality on the Disney Cruise ships. If you are a Disney fan you will really enjoy all of the shows. On each of the Disney cruises, you will see a set sail show. It is pretty short and perfect for kids.
On the Disney Wish, we were able to see The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. On other Disney Cruises, you will have other options.
As far as acting and dancing, Disney knows how to pick them. The actors were outstanding. They were so good that any of them could easily be on Broadway.
Disney Cruise Private Island Castaway Cay
Disney’s private island Castaway Cay is one of the main reasons I wanted to go on the Disney Cruise. Make sure when you book your cruise that it is included in your itinerary.
Castaway Cay is one reason that makes Disney one of the best cruises for families. They designed the island with families in mind.
We did a complete tour of the island. My kids loved playing in the sand and the rope course. I loved running the Castaway Cay 5k. It really is a beautiful island. We had a great time but it was raining and cold when we went.
My Thoughts on Castaway Cay
Unfortunately, having been to both Royal Caribbean and Disney’s private island Royal Wins. The food wasn’t great on Castaway Cay and there wasn’t as much stuff to do as on Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbeans private island. Most of Castaway Cay is undeveloped, it will be cool to see what they add in the future.
But honestly, Castaway Cay is perfect for families who have little kids who just want to play in the sand and have a fun beach day. It does the trick!
Is Disney the Best Cruise Line for Kids?
If you are looking for the best cruise lines for families Disney is a fantastic choice. Here are a few more thoughts I had that will help you decide if Disney is the best choice for your family.
Family Staterooms on Disney Cruises
One of the main reasons we didn’t jump into a Disney Cruise was the fact we would have to book 2 rooms and double the cost. Disney does have staterooms that can accommodate up to 5 guests. It is the best cruise line for families of 5 because it will not cost as much as booking two separate staterooms.
We have a family of 6 and it is cheaper but still pretty expensive to book 2 staterooms compared to a suite that can sleep up to 7. Disney suites are very expensive.
One way to save money, if you have a big family, is to invite grandma and grandpa to come. Adding two extra people will help with the cost!
Best Family Cruise Ship
One of the most important tips I can give you when picking the best cruises for kids is to look at how old the ship is and when it was last refurbished. Typically, you will want to book a cruise on the newer ships.
Disney Cruise Ships
- Disney Wonder
- Disney Magic
- Disney Dream
- Disney Fantasy
- Disney Wish
- Disney Treasure (2024)
- Disney Adventure (2025)
Which is the best cruise ship for families? Honestly, all of these ships cater to families but the newer ships are going to be a little nicer. So if you are thinking about a Disney Cruise book the Disney Wish.
Is Disney the Best Cruise Line for Families?
This is a pretty positive review. We loved going on a Disney Cruise. But is Disney the best cruise ship for families?
I will say that Disney is probably the best cruise line for families that have young children. Disney caters to their needs. As your kids get older, you might want to look into Royal Caribbean.
Let’s explore Royal Caribbean now.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
We have been on several Royal Caribbean ships. We believe it is one of the best cruise lines for families. There are so many fun activities, your kids will not get bored!
Just like I did for Disney, I want to point out some of the positives and some of the negatives.
Our Royal Caribbean Cruise Experiences
We have been on the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas. We have another cruise booked on the Odessey of the Seas. My parents have cruised every cruise line and Royal is their favorite.
My family has loved the Royal Caribbean cruises. The food is great, the entertainment is awesome, and the amount of activities on board will keep you entertained for days. Balcony staterooms are more affordable and overall we have loved Royal Carribean.
Pros of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
- Best Cruise Line for Teenagers
- Best Cruise Line for Families (Family Reunions)
- Best Cruise Line for Kids Based on Activities
- Fantastic Staff
- Wide Variety of Entertainment Options
- Variety of Food Choices
- Activities for all Ages
Cons for Royal Caribbean
- Lower Decks Near the Casino smell like Smoke
We did a family reunion on the Allure of the Seas and we were not the only ones! We had 22 people in our group. Royal Caribbean caters to all ages. It is one of the best cruise lines for families because it has something for everyone!
Royal Caribbean Kids Club
If you are looking for the best cruise ships for kids, Royal Caribbean has some of the best kids’ clubs at sea.
My 8-year-old wasn’t thrilled to go because he is super nervous, however, he did go with his cousin and had a blast. They played games and had so much fun. Even though he was younger than his cousin they let him go in the older group.
Each ship will be different but Royal Carribean kind of sticks to the same pattern on each of its ships. The kids’ club has 3-4 big rooms on the Oasis class ships. They are separated by age. There will be an itinerary of activities taking place throughout the cruise in the kids club.
On the Oasis class ships, there is a puppet show theater in the kids’ club area, where parents and kids can come watch a show.
Best Cruise Line for Teens
I know we are focusing on the best cruise lines for kids but if you are like our family we have kids and teens.
Royal Caribbean does have a teen club. It is pretty small but there are organized activities for teens on each cruise ship. There are dances and fun events.
We had a lot of teens in our family reunion group on our last cruise and they all had a blast! They felt there was plenty to do that catered to their age.
Things To Do on a Royal Carribean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Wins the best cruise for families in the activity category! There are so many amazing and fun things to do on Royal Caribbean ships.
Obviously, each cruise ship will have a few different options. Be sure to look at what each ship offers before you book your cruise.
Best Cruise Line for Families
- Flo Rider
- Zip Line
- Ice Skating
- Bumper Cars
- Slides (top of ship to bottom)
- Pools
- Water Slides
- Hot Tubs
- Splash Pads
- Mini Golf
- Rock Climbing Walls
- Carousels
- Arcade
- Laser Tag
- Athletic Courts
- Escape Rooms
- Trivia Games
- Rope Courses
- Escape Room
- Karaoke
- Roller Skating Rink
- Sky Diving Simulator
There are so many amazing activities on most of the Royal Caribbean Cruise ships. You will want to do your research and see which ships have what. The Oasis Class will have most of these.
Largest Cruise Ship at Sea Icon Class
- Icon of the Seas
The Icon of the Seas is the best cruise ship for families. This cruise ship has a area dedicated for 3-7-year-olds. It has another area that is fantastic for tweens and teens. It is the largest cruise ship on the ocean and has everything you could ever dream up. It is one of the best cruise ships for kids.
Oasis Class Ships
- Oasis of the Seas
- Allure of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
- Utopia of the Seas
The Oasis Class ships are 100% the best family cruise ship option. You will find almost all of the activities listed above on these ships. These are the best cruise ships for families that have both younger and older kids.
Quantum Class Ships
- Quantum of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Spectrum of the Seas
- Odyssey of the Seas
Quantum Class is the best cruise ship for teens and tweens. There are so many fun things to do but not quite as many as the Oasis Class for kids. There are still a ton a fun activities but these are geared to a little older kids. We are going on Odyssey of the Seas soon!
Radiance Class
- Radiance of the Seas
- Brilliance of the Seas
- Serenade of the Seas
- Jewel of the Seas
This class is probably not the best cruise ship for kids. There are not as many fun things to do. I would book these if the itinerary is the focus of your trip,
Freedom Class
- Freedom of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Independence of the Seas
If you want good cruises for families, the Freedom Class is a good option. These ships still have a lot of the staple Royal Caribbean activities like ice skating and flo riders. They are just a little older and a little smaller than the Oasis Class.
Voyager Class
- Voyager of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
- Navigator of the Seas
- Adventure of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
The Voyager Class is a great option for cruises for families because they still have staple attractions like ice skating rinks and rock climbing walls. They are a little older and smaller than other Royal Caribbean classes.
Vision Class
- Grandeur of the Seas
- Rhapsody of the Seas
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Vision of the Seas
Vision Class ships are not great for kids! They are older and do not have all of the attractions and activities other ships will have.
Royal Caribbean Entertainment Options
Royal Caribbean has a variety of shows with incredibly talented individuals. The aqua show, theater, and ice skating shows are popular on Royal Caribbean. We also have seen magic shows and parades on some ships.
Aqua Show
One of the most impressive shows is the aqua show. The performers specialize in diving and synchronized swimming. They come from incredible backgrounds. Some of the performers have been in the Olympic trials, national champions for their countries, Red Bull Extreme diving competitions, and other prestigious events.
It is really impressive. The aqua shows are slightly different on each ship. The stunts are really cool but the storylines of the shows are hard to follow.
Ice Skating Shows
The ice skating shows are very popular in Royal Caribbean. Each show is different depending on which ship you are on. The performers are really good. I wouldn’t say they are Olympians but they are good enough to put on a great show!
A lot of the best family cruises offer the ice skating show. Most kids love it!
Theater
The shows on Royal Caribbean are not all family-friendly. This is where Disney wins because all of the shows will entertain kids. Some of the productions on the Royal Caribbean ship may not be suitable for kids.
We had to cover our kids’ eyes and walk out of Mama Mia on our last cruise because it had explicit content.
Some of the shows are fantastic and some are not really designed with kids in mind. Just be aware before you go to the shows.
Royal Caribbeans Private Island Perfect Day at Cococay
Royal Caribbean wins on private islands. There are a lot of fun things to do on Perfect Day at Cococay.. There is a huge splash pad for the kids, a pool and even a water park.
There are excursions at Cococay that you can go on. Thrill Water Park is an additional cost and great for older kids. The food is amazing!
We paid to do fun things on both islands but I felt like Coco Cay had more options and it feels nice and new!
Is Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line for Families?
Absolutely, Royal Caribbean is one of the best cruise lines for families! There are so many amazing ships that offer and incredible amount of activities that will entertain your kids.
Royal Caribbean Staterooms
Royal Caribbean Wins on the price of staterooms. Balconies are much less expensive compared to Disney as well as suites.
The Royal Caribbean staterooms also have rooms that will fit 5 in some of the staterooms.
Is Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line for Families?
I give Royal Caribbean a very positive review. We have loved the Royal Caribbean Cruises we have been on. We will go on many many more in the future.
I can’t say that about Disney because the price is a little too steep. I am so glad we were able to go on a Disney Cruise but Royal Caribbean typically has lower prices and I feel like you get a lot of value.
Most Important Tip for Choosing the Best Cruise Line for Kids
The most important tip that will make or break your experience when picking the best cruise lines for kids is the ship you choose. That is why I listed out the different classes and if they were good cruises for families.
Best Cruise Lines for Families Disney VS. Royal Caribbean
Let’s break down Disney Vs Royal Caribbean cruises. I have listed out a few categories and which is the best cruise line for kids and families.
Best Price Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Wins has lower prices compared to Disney. You can book a 7 day cruise in a balcony stateroom on Royal Caribbean for the same price as a 3 day cruise in an inside cabin on Disney.
Entertainment Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
Disney Wins for quality of talent and storyline of shows. Royal Caribbean Wins for variety of shows.
Disney has some incredible shows that are geared towards kids. The Broadway quality talent is phenomenal. The plays visual effects are top notch.
Royal Carribean may not compete in the play production but they do when it comes to variety. The aqua show and ice skating shows are fun and have a wide variety of talented performers.
Kids Club Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
Disney Wins for having the best kids club.
I have never seen anything as spectacular as the Disney Cruise Kids Club on the Disney Wish. It is out of this world amazing.
Things to Do on the Cruise Ship Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Wins. There are so many fun activities to choose from.
There are so many things to do. I listed over 20 awesome things you can do on most of the Oasis Class ships. Disney does have fun things but Royal Caribbean has so many more options.
Disney Cruise Vs. Royal Caribean Private Island
Royal Caribbean Wins
Perfect Day at Cococay is new and has better food and more activities. Castaway Cay is awesome but could use an update.
Dining Options Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
Disney Wins. Not only does Disney feed you they entertain you as you eat!
The rotational dining is so cool! Plus, the entertainment during dinner is again of Broadway quality. The food was really good at both Marvel and 1923. We didn’t like the food at the Frozen Arendelle venue.
I think I like the food on Disney a little better than Royal Caribbean but it was pretty similar quality. My parents actually like the food on Royal better. To each his own.
Disney Vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises
We did a pole amongst our kids and besides our 8-year-old the vote was they enjoyed the Royal Carribean better.
I think if you have younger kids Disney Cruise Line is the best cruise line for families. A great option for the best cruise lines for kids that are older, or if you are planning a family reunion is Royal Caribbean.
Whichever cruise line you pick I know you will have an amazing time.
Planning a Cruise
If you need any help with packing for a Disney Cruise or a Royal Caribbean Cruise I have you covered. There are a few cruise gifts you might want to purchase ahead of time to make your cruise extra special.
Excursions
Excursions are also a big part of cruise planning. We have been to the Bahamas, Cozumel, Costa Maya including the ruins, Honduras, to visit Maya Key.
There are lots of fun excursions and guess what you do not have to book them through the cruise lines. Viator is a great option for shorter excursions around 4 hours or less. Booking through Viator can save you so much money.
If the tour is longer I would book through the cruise line because cruise lines hold the boat if the tours booked through them are running late.
Facebook Community
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We took our nephews on two different Disney cruises, and we couldn’t have been happier. The food, entertainment and service were all impeccable. We haven’t been on a Royal Caribbean cruise: your post is making me feel like I need to book one!
Just pick a Oasis class ship if you want an amazing experience with lots of fun things to do!
This is such a great and informative comparison of Disney and Royal Caribbean cruises! I haven’t been on a cruise with my kids, but will definitely have to refer back to this blog if we decide to plan on a cruise trip together! I do wish I had been able to take them on a Disney cruise when they were younger though….I think that would have been a blast!
Disney cruises are so expensive that is what held us back for so many years!
We have done Disney a dozen times, but never a Disney cruise. I think it might be a great option for my grandkids in a few years. Thanks for all the great info.
It is a fun trip!
Thanks for the informative comparison between the two cruise lines for families. It makes it easier to see how the categories and activities suits the different age range of kids.
I like that royal has something for everyone.
This is such a thorough and authentic review on comparing the best cruise lines for families. Both Disney and Royal Caribbean offer so much!
We really loved both!
Thank you for this information. I have never thought of going on a cruise. My kids are adults and taking the grandkids on a cruise is not an option. I’m amazed at all the activities available on a ship!
Disney is a fun cruise line for kids!
I haven’t done a cruise yet, but I hope to one day! And yes, a Disney cruise is on my radar, but I’m open to other experiences as well. Someday!
Cruising is so fun! If you do one you might become addicted!