6 Tips for a Stress-Free Cruise Vacation With Kids

There’s no denying that traveling with your kids is exciting and a perfect opportunity for them to bond with you, and, concurrently, have fun while traveling the world. After all, who doesn’t need a vacation that provides ultimate experiences?

Generally speaking, this is a spectacular way for all of you to create unforgettable and lasting memories, that will stay in your minds forever. No matter how thrilling this is, the truth is that traveling with children, especially when they are very young, isn’t always simple.

Even though a cruise holiday is an excellent solution, there are still a couple of things that you must take into consideration, if you want to be sure everything goes perfectly. Want to uncover the ones that are most essential? Stay tuned then!

Are They Even Allowed To Travel?

There are lots of cruise lines that are generally flexible as far as this is concerned, but that’s definitely not the case with all of them. That’s precisely why you shouldn’t make any reservations before you check this out.

Remember that if you fail to do so, and yet it turns out that your kiddo isn’t allowed on the cruise, then your entire vacation is going to be ruined. Speaking of this, there are different age requirements, that can vary, depending on the place you’re traveling to and the number of days you’ll be staying.

A general rule of thumb when it comes to this is that your child should be at least six months for a cruise, that’s if you’re going to Alaska, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and other places. On the flip side, if these are not the places you’ll be visiting but the ones that weren’t mentioned above, then there’s a chance your children must be at least one year old.

Additionally, if you have an older kid who isn’t 21 yet, then they need to have at least one person with them who’s older than 21, which definitely isn’t a problem, since, at the end of the day, you are planning on having a family holiday.

What Do Your Kids Want?

Although you may think that your children aren’t particularly interested in this venture, you’d be surprised how invested they can be, especially if they already have a certain place in mind. According to the online surveys, kids are often interested in small boat Kimberley cruises (and Australia, in general), the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, etc. All these regions are beautiful and authentic in their own way, which is one of the biggest reasons why children of all ages adore them.

The point is that you should include them in your decision-making process too, because they have a say in it as well. After all, if you choose something that they do not find particularly appealing and interesting, then they won't be in the mood to do anything that's even remotely fun.

Don’t Forget A “Distraction” Kit

If you haven’t made one yet, then this is a reminder to do this pronto! This is a massive life-saver for every parent who has younger children who tend to easily get bored or who are consistently seeking attention.

If that’s the case with your little ones, then they are going to love this one for sure. What you’ll put inside depends on the preferences of your children. Favorite toys, books, puzzles, or anything else that they genuinely love should be placed inside.

Aside from these things, you should also pack their favorite snacks just in case they get hungry before you arrive at the cruise.

Stating The Obvious – It Needs To Be A Kid-Friendly Cruise Line

Even though this is a no-brainer, you wouldn't believe how many parents fail to consider this when they are planning their vacation with their kids. Bear in mind that there are many cruise lines that aren’t kid-friendly, but luckily, there are still a plethora of those who gladly welcome children with open arms. Every single one of them is great, however, the ones that are truly worth every penny include the following:

• Royal Caribbean 
• Celebrity Cruises 
• Disney Cruise Line 
• MSC Cruises 
• Carnival Cruises 
• Norwegian Cruise Line 

Packing, Packing, Packing

There are several aspects of this whole process that are a bit stressful, and one of them is undoubtedly this one. As a parent, you need to plan everything accordingly when it comes to this, if you want to be sure your overall vacation is hassle-free.

If you have older children (teens), then they can pack themselves. In contrast, if your kids are still very young, then you’ll need to do this for them. For starters, you need to create a list of all the things that your child will need during this holiday, and then tick off all of these things as you go.

Making a list of essentials is important because only then you can rest assured that nothing crucial is forgotten. As previously mentioned, it’s always advisable to bring some toys too because they serve as an excellent distraction in these situations.

Of course, this doesn’t instantly mean that they should bring every single toy that’s in their possession, but a few of them that can fit into a small backpack. Another thing that’s pivotal, particularly if your children are very young, are wipes and nappies.

It’s safe to say that you can never have too much of them, because, at the end of the day, you can never predict when you’ll need them, and the more you have, the better.

Onboard Activities Are Highly Recommended!

Although traveling itself is very entertaining, there’ll probably be times when your children will get bored, even with all the toys they brought. In these instances, one of the best things that you can do is to engage in some enticing onboard activities.

Fortunately, most cruises today, provide a bunch of different activities that aren't perfect only for children, but also for adults. You can play mini-golf, and basketball, organize a scavenger hunt, etc.


Most children adore cruises, which means that you’ve made an excellent choice as far as your upcoming vacation is concerned. But before you embark on this journey, first make sure to implement at least one of these tips.