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  • AboutBrisbane Kids Creative was created by me! Ngaire Stirling. I wont pretend to talk in the third person about myself, instead let me tell you a bit about me and how 110.232.142.129/~brisba22 came about. At the time the domain name 110.232.142.129/~brisba22 came up for purchase I was a stay at home mum in the middle of a degree centred around journalism and PR. a couple of years earlier I had been contemplating returning to my previous career in marketing management and for a while I even tried. 3 months into a new role and it was clear that I had no passion for my old life and to make the decision to quit easier, my almost 2 year old at the time was not coping with childcare. So, as a family we made the decision for me to return to becoming a stay at home mum. About 1 years later or so.. 110.232.142.129/~brisba22 came up for sale. My friends had often commented on my ability to know exactly what was happening in Brisbane for kids. I had my son enrolled in some awesome activities and we often visited some great destinations. I loved finding fun things for us to doโ€ฆ
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Home > How to cruise as a family of five

How to cruise as a family of five

Last Updated: November 16, 2025
A boy leans on the balcony of a cruise ship, looking out to sea. His parents stand behind him.

Organising holidays for families that don’t fit the mould of two parents and two children can be challenging with many accommodation offerings only allowing a maximum of four people per room/apartment.

Carnival Cruise Line, renowned for its family-friendly cruises, has a solution for those wondering how to cruise as a family of five.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ staterooms

A family run across the beach and away from the camera at sunset.

With Carnival Cruise Line, some of the staterooms accommodate five people without needing to book a connecting room. This is often the most economical and straightforward approach, but it’s important to book early, as these rooms are popular.

Some deluxe ocean-view staterooms even have a second bathroom but don’t forget to request this when booking, as they sell out quickly. Make sure to check the room types available before you book, as they do vary by ship.

Parents will also be pleased to know that every stateroom has a television, plenty of cupboard and drawer space, and a dedicated room steward, should you need anything else. Room service is also available, 24 hours per day, which is perfect if you are hit with an attack of the munchies while your children are having a day nap or after they have gone down for the night.

Cruising with larger families

A grandmother and grandchild walk along the beach, each holding a brightly coloured boogie board

More than five in your family? It’s still doable! The best way to go in this situation is to book any two interconnecting rooms. Each standard cabin accommodates four, so you can now house up to eight people and enjoy two bathrooms by booking two that connect to one another. This option provides more privacy for everyone and works well if you want to bring grandparents, step-children or friends etc.

If you have adult children, adjoining rooms are also a good option. This means you can’t move between rooms internally, but your rooms will be side by side.

Carnival Cruise Line’s family cruises

A mother, father and two children climb out of water and onto jetty steps. They are all wearing snorkels and goggles.

Carnival Cruise Line offers a range of cruises that sail to family-friendly destinations such as New Zealand, the South Pacific (including Fiji), North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea and even the United States!

But it’s not all about the end location. While on board, everyone is spoilt for choice with activity options. The kids will love making new friends at the fully-supervised kids’ club that offers a range of games, crafts and fun challenges for all ages.

There are also dress-up events, sail-away parties, pools, movies and live entertainment. Parents will love the fitness classes, day spa and stage shows.

And then there’s the food! Everyone will want to gorge on the free pizza and 24/7 ice cream, the delicious sushi, a mouth-watering selection at the Deli and marketplace and the dining room that features a detailed kids’ menu. And if you’re feeling a bit fancy, the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse Restaurant or The Chef’s Table will satisfy the most discerning foodie.

Once everyone’s had their fill of food and fun, don’t forget to pause for a moment as a family, gaze at the undiluted starscape, breathe in the salty ocean air and listen to the rhythmic swashing of the ocean’s waves. It’s moments like these you’ll never forget.

For more information, or to book your family cruise, visit the Carnival Cruise Line website.

This article is sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line

 

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About the author, Cath Johnsen

Cath Johnsen has been writing for Brisbane Kids for almost a decade. She loves exploring South East Queensland with her three kids and then sharing her experiences with the wider community. Having lived in Brisbane for almost her entire life, she has watched the city grow from a big country town to a dynamic and family-friendly metropolis. When she's not whipping up a review for Brisbane Kids, Cath is travelling to locations further afield and writing about them for a variety of publications. You can follow her adventures on Instagram at @cath_johnsen.

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