Cruises are the type of holiday that will have your kids begging to go on again and again because they cater so well for families, especially companies like Carnival Cruise Line. Need more convincing? Read our 55 reasons why cruises are fun for kids, and we are sure you’ll soon be booking your berth!
Table of Contents
Why cruises are fun for toddlers
- Many toddlers are fascinated with trains, planes, cars and boats! You can teach your toddler how the ship works and explore its different levels and decks. On some Carnival ships, behind-the-scenes tours are offered where you and your toddler can discover the vessel’s bridge, galley, engine control room and more.
- Does your toddler love Dr Seuss’ books? Carnival offers a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast experience, with characters like The Cat in a Hat making special appearances.
- Memories are often the best souvenirs, but on a Carnival Cruise Line holiday, your toddler can also take home a new, cuddly friend, thanks to their Build-a-Bear Workshops at sea.
- Kids’ Clubs, known as Camp Ocean on Carnival, offer your toddler the opportunity to socialise with peers of similar ages. While they are kept busy and active with arts, crafts, games, music, books, face painting and lots more.
- Carnival Luminosa and Splendor ships feature a pool so you can get your toddler splashing, paddling and improving their swimming abilities. It also means there will be no arguments at nap time – they’ll be out like a light!
- Whether your toddler is a real foodie or a fuss pot, cruise life will suit them. Your toddler has many options and opportunities to try new foods or enjoy old favourites. Whether your toddler wants pancakes with ice cream or eggs benedict with smoked salmon for breakfast, it’s on offer.
- Although a toddler may not remember their cruise holiday in years to come, it will undoubtedly help shape the person they become, especially regarding the cultural experiences they can be exposed to when visiting other countries. Learning to appreciate multiculturalism from a young age can only be beneficial.
- Toddlers are still learning the basics, like the names of all the fauna and flora. When out and about, on shore excursions, there will be plenty more wildlife to spot, especially marine life, which toddlers can see via a glass-bottomed boat ride. On board the ship, you and your toddler may be lucky enough to spot whales, dolphins, seals and a variety of bird and sea life.*
- Toddlers will also love the increased amount of family time. Leave your laptop at home, limit mobile phone use, and enjoy spending time with your youngest family members. You may like to let them choose the agenda of the day and have a “yes” day where you agree to any of their ideas for 24 hours. Even if it’s a midnight snack!
- Enjoy a cosy cabin party with your toddler, cuddle up in robes in bed and watch a movie together while indulging in some (24-hour!) room service.
Why cruises are fun for kids
11. This is the perfect time for kids to try a new activity and discover a new hobby, such as line dancing, family bingo, trivia competitions, a cooking class or one of the hundreds of other options on offer during sea days.
12. The thrill of staying up late – the kids’ club is open in the evenings, allowing parents to enjoy some fine dining or couple time while the kids live it up and enjoy some nighttime fun with other kids in a safe environment.
13. Gaming arcade bliss – Sure, you probably want them to take a break from screens, but if you let them at it wholeheartedly, at least for one day of your cruise, they will love you for it. Even better, challenge them to parents vs kids on the arcade games and watch their admiration grow for you when you crush them at Pacman!
14. Cruises feature an enormous range of daily activities, including a family scavenger hunt. This is an excellent way for your family to work together to solve puzzles and clues and perhaps even win a prize. Let your kids take the lead and watch their confidence grow.
15. Attend a family dance party with Carnival. Teach the kids some of your signature moves (the sprinkler, anyone?), or perhaps learn how to floss like them! How often do you get to shake your tailfeather on the dance floor with your whole family?
16. Invite your kids to vote and decide on what shore excursion you’ll take when visiting a port. They may surprise you with their choice.
17. Encourage your child to take time to experience mindfulness – listen to the sound of the lapping waves, smell the salty sea air, taste the cold and bubbly lemonade etc. It’s an excellent opportunity to relax and tune into your senses, appreciating all the little moments and sensations.
18. Attend a storytime session – on a Carnival cruise, the Seuss-a-palooza Parade & Story Time is guaranteed to bring a smile to their dial. You may like to pack some extra books to enjoy during some daily quiet time.
19. During the day, the team at the kids’ clubs have a fantastic schedule planned – kids can do everything from making slime and goop to karaoke to board games. This is a great place to make new friends.
20. Introduce your kids to the glitz and glamour of the 80s. Pack the neon tights! All Carnival Cruise Line holidays of 3,4 and 5 nights feature an 80s Rock’n’Glow Deck Party. This is one dress-up party your kids won’t forget.
21. Surprise your kids with a visit to the lolly shop, which feels like walking into Willy Wonka’s factory. Give them a budget, watch them deliberately (and) carefully, try to get as much confectionary as their money allows.
22. Teach your child a new skill. On a cruise, you have more free time at your disposal, making it the perfect time to teach your child a new game such as chess or cards.
23. Attend a class together – whether it be pasta making or macrame, doing a class together is a great bonding activity for parents and children* (costs can apply for some activities).
24. Find a comfortable rhythm or routine for your day, like a leisurely breakfast at 8 am, water park fun in the morning, coffee and hot chocolates at 11 am, kids’ club until lunchtime, and an afternoon rest followed by dinner and stargazing. It’s incredible how quickly your kids adjust to “holiday mode”.
25. Kids are often naturally early risers, so get up with them (and the birds) at sparrows and take in a sunrise together. Sunrise at sea is like no other, with endless horizons, a rainbow of colours and a hot barista coffee in your hand as you take it all in.
Why cruises are fun for teens
26. When you’re far out at sea, wifi is not so easy to come by. This can be a welcome and healthy detox for many teens. You may even find them re-discovering hobbies like reading, writing, artistic pursuits, or hanging out with other teens.
27. A break from chores! No one has to unstack the dishwasher, cook dinner, mop the floors or complete other tasks that usually must be done at home and on most holidays. Teens will love the chance to miss a few days of their scheduled jobs.
28. On each cruise, there is a dedicated kids’ club – Club O2 where teens can hang out and play cards, video games, take part in digital scavenger hunts, play basketball, minigolf, and so much more. The teens vs staff challenges are always popular too.
29. Challenge your teen to try something new or something they wouldn’t ordinarily do. It could be a new food, a new hobby or even just reading a book from cover to cover.
30. Dive-In movies are hugely popular with teens. While swimming, floating or kicking back in a deckchair with popcorn and fizzy drinks, they can take in the latest flicks with friends.
31. As a real treat for teens, you may like to include them in your visits to the day spa for a massage, facial, pedicure or manicure. It’s a lovely and relaxing experience to share.
32. Take a friend with you – teens love to bring a friend along on cruises which will keep them happily occupied. By pairing off, they can also safely explore the ship and all its activities together, allowing them some independence.
33. Make a new friend – by participating in the ship’s many activities suited to teenagers, your teen will likely meet new people and lifelong friends!
34. Sometimes teens are worried about things going on at school or on social media – a Carnival cruise offers a complete break from everything because they are sailing away from their troubles. This “reset” can be excellent for improving mental health.
35. Shows, shows, shows – while some of the performances may be suitable for adults only, many will be appropriate for teens. These are very high quality, featuring some of the world’s best singers, dancers, actors, musicians and comedians.
36. You might have trouble filling your teen’s hollow legs at home, but that won’t be a problem when you’re at sea with Carnival. Think all-day dining: all-you-can-eat buffets, free pizza station, 24/7 soft-serve, big breakfasts and every cuisine they could ever want!
37. Teens will also enjoy some of the activities targeted at adults, such as art auctions or art appreciation sessions. It’s worth checking both the kids’ and adults’ activity timetables released daily.
38. When you reach the shores of an exotic island, the Great Barrier Reef or the natural beauty of New Zealand, your teenager will be excited by all the Instagram-worthy shots they can take and share. #cruiselife
39. Carnival Cruise Line holidays – both on the ship and on land – are a great time to hone photography skills. If you have one, take your Go-Pro, underwater camera, or even a disposable camera with old-school film for a fun activity that will appeal to teens.
40. As much as they may hate to admit it, teens still want to spend quality time with their nearest and dearest. With nothing to do on a cruise except filling your leisure time, it’s an excellent opportunity to have some deep and meaningful chats with your teens and plenty of lighthearted and fun moments.
Why cruises are fun for families
41. Family sundowners are a thing! Cocktails for the parents, mocktails for the kids, and a blazing sunset for everyone to enjoy.
42. Cruises offer the opportunity for intergenerational travel – it’s possible to have four generations cruise together, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Grandparents especially love to share their love of cruising with their grandkids.
43. Celebrate a special milestone or birthday with Carnival – whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, a special birthday or the end of school – a cruise is the perfect way to say “cheers to that”.
44. Create family traditions – for some families, an annual cruise has become a much-beloved tradition, as well as making traditions out of onboard activities. Families that play bingo together stay together!
45. Stargazing – when you’re cruising one of the seven seas, you’ll be as far away as possible from the light pollution of the cities. This means that the stargazing opportunities are positively galactic!
46. Family photos – you’ve finally got all your family in one place, and stunning backdrops are everywhere you look. Take this opportunity to snap some family photos you’ll be able to look back on fondly for years to come.
47. Send a postcard – some things are so old they’re new again. It can be fun for kids to send a postcard from one of your ship’s destinations and then see if you, or the postcard, make it home first!
48. Family favourites – try a new dessert every night with Carnival and get each family member to rate it. At the end of the trip, see which dessert won the family favourite award. You can apply this idea to almost anything.
49. Get your dose of Vitamin D and Vitamin Sea – it’s incredible how rejuvenating it is to spend time in the fresh air and sunshine. Cruises can be a great time to kick start a healthier family lifestyle by choosing healthy dining options and enjoying the gym and other fitness facilities onboard.
50. Do nothing. With so many activities on offer, it can be tempting to fill your family’s days and nights with a flurry of workshops, classes and movies. But don’t forget to schedule some downtime too, where your family has to do nothing but stare out at the sea in reflection, or perhaps spend time in meditation, journalling or unhurried chit chat.
51. Depending on your ship, some Carnival Cruise Line ships will have epic waterparks that will keep kids of all ages entertained for hours. When booking, check the unique opportunities for play your ship offers and the myriad of shore excursions to choose from.
52. Cruises are undoubtedly fun for parents because they don’t have to think about what’s for dinner (let alone shop, prepare the food or clean up afterwards!), and no one needs to be a designated driver, so that both parents can enjoy a tipple before, during or after dinner.
53. Get out of a holiday rut – many of us repeatedly go to the same holiday locations. It’s nice, but sometimes you need the novelty of a new experience. Plus, you’ll never know if you like cruising until you’ve tried it yourself!
54. Discover island time (and island food!). Depending on where Carnival takes you, you and your family will suddenly be immersed in another culture. It can be great to discuss afterwards with your children the differences and similarities between the two nations. Take the time to learn from them and experience their culture through food, ceremony and traditions.
55. Switch off – make a pact as a family to switch off all your devices and really live, not through your phone, but, as Bluey would say, “for real life”. Undistracted by screens, you will be able to squeeze every last drop of fun out of your family cruise adventure.
If you’re ready to discover how much fun you can have on a cruise, visit Carnival Cruise Line. They offer a range of family-friendly cruises to both national and international destinations, launching from Brisbane and Sydney.
This article is sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line
Join the conversation