Best cruises for kids – tips for a fun family cruise holiday in Australia
No one does fun like Carnival. So when you’re thinking about your next family holiday, cruising should be top of mind. From the bucket list destinations and shore excursions to all the fun onboard, Carnival offers the best cruises for kids hands-down.
Why Carnival is the ultimate cruise line for kids
Waterslides, pools, outdoor play and activities for kids of all ages. Your choice of dozens of restaurants, dishing up delicious meals even the pickiest eaters will
love. Age-specific kids clubs included in your cruise fare. A specialised cruise program for kids un
der two. Fun, enriching experiences you can’t find anywhere else like Seuss at Sea, Conga for Kids and Build-A-Bear. Spacious staterooms for everyone to enjoy a bit of quiet time. As you can see, Carnival has all the ingredients for an epic family holiday.
No matter which ship you step onto, the crew will make sure you and your band of travellers have the best time. That means making recommendations based on your interests, helping you pick out the best shore excursions and giving you inside tips on how to have the most fun on the ship.
Top cruise ships for kids
A Carnival cruise is all about fun. But fun can look different for everyone. That’s why our ships are carefully designed to feature amenities, entertainment and restaurants to suit every type of traveller – kids especially. For kids as young as two and teens up to 17 years old, there’s plenty to love about our iconic FunShips.
Carnival Luminosa
A true gem in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Luminosa has something for every traveller, no matter their age or interests. Kids can catch a movie in the pool (yes, in the pool too if they want to), hit the arcade, flex their creativity with arts and craft sessions and spend some time in the kids’ club, leaving parents free to holiday their way.
Carnival Splendor
Waterslides, splash parks, outdoor games, kids’ clubs and all the treats a kid could want – Carnival Splendor is 14 decks worth of pure, family-friendly fun. Choose from dozens of room types and configurations to suit your crew, set the kids free with age-appropriate kids’ club options and enjoy all the live entertainment and daily activities on offer.
Carnival Adventure & Carnival Encounter
Each with two waterslides, kids’ clubs and a huge range of Edge adventure activities like Walk The Plank and Flying Fox, the young (and the young-at-heart) will feel right at home onboard Carnival Adventure, sailing from Sydney, and Carnival Encounter, sailing from Brisbane.
Kids’ clubs and teen hangouts
Ever wonder why cruising is so popular among families? For one, it’s hard for kids to get up to too much mischief when they’re surrounded by, well, the ocean. Another reason is that there are stacks of onboard activities and entertainment to make sure they have just as much fun as the adults.
And Carnival cruise ships are no exception. Beyond the epic waterslides, movies and outdoor games, there are dedicated kids-only spaces where young travellers can hang out and have some safe, supervised, age-appropriate fun. Our epic kids’ clubs are what make us one of the best cruise lines for kids.
Camp Ocean
Camp Ocean is Carnival’s kids’ club for travellers aged 2-11 years. It’s an ocean-themed space where kids can choose from a range of daily activities, from designing their own aquarium to creating a huge ocean mural as a group. Camp Ocean is run by experienced counsellors with a background in education or childcare. Children are grouped by age and supervised at all times.
Circle “C”
Circle “C” is the go-to spot for teens aged 12-14. The lounge area is perfect for hanging out, listening to music and playing games. There are dance parties, games, outdoor movies and more. The Circle “C” space is supervised by trained counsellors who keep an eye on kids at all times.
Club O2
The coolest spot on the ship for older teens, Club O2 gives travellers aged 15-17 a place to hang out away from the adults. Experienced counsellors will always keep an eye on things, but Club O2 gives parents and teens some much-needed space. Here, teens can play sports, video games and even sing karaoke in a laid-back environment.
Best rooms for travelling with kids
Choosing your home base is critical to planning a successful family cruise holiday. From the room configuration to the location on the ship, there’s plenty to consider. But it’s helpful to start with your priorities. Here’s what we mean.
- Affordability – If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly option, interior staterooms are the way to go. They sleep up to four people with connecting rooms available, and they’re the most affordable stateroom option on the ship.
- Location – Do you want to be close to the action or tucked away? If the kids are planning on waking up and hitting the waterslides every morning, choosing a room close to the waterpark means you won’t have to trudge too far in your slippers to watch them.
- Pace – If you’re looking forward to getting in some solid reading time, opting for a room with a balcony is a great idea. Sea views, fresh air and a good book? It doesn’t get much better than that!
- Space – Depending on the size of your family, Inter-Connecting rooms can be a great option. You’ll have two separate rooms joined by an interior door giving you double the space, two bathrooms and beds for up to eight people.
Thrills and fun all day long
If there’s one thing Carnival holidays have in spades, it’s FUN. We’re talking 45+ activities every day, so there’s something for every type of fun-seeker. For splashy, outdoor fun, Carnival Splendour has two epic water slides – Green Lightning Waterslide and Twister Waterslide – plus, the Carnival WaterWorks water park. Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter each offer two waterslides and the choice of four pools. On Carnival Luminosa, staying cool is a bit more laid back with a few pools to choose from, including one with a giant outdoor movie screen!
Kids can also burn off some energy at the outdoor basketball court – you won’t find a court on land with a better view! Or you can challenge them to a game of mini golf on Carnival Splendor’s upper deck.
Fans of Dr Seuss are spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly fun. There’s the Seuss-a-palooza Parade, Seuss-a-palooza Story Time and two unforgettable Seuss-themed feasts for the family – the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast.
There are plenty more family-friendly activities to check out onboard.
Top tips for planning a cruise with kids
A little bit of preparation goes a long way – especially when you’re travelling with kids. Here are a few things to consider before setting sail on your next cruise as a family.
Look up the onboard activities in advance
With so many kid-friendly activities, events and amenities onboard, it’s almost impossible to squeeze them all in. So, sit down with the family before you depart and pick out a few activities you want to do. Many of our additional activities require a reservation, so it’s a good idea to have your list ready in advance so you don’t miss out.
Pick an itinerary with family-friendly shore excursions
There’s plenty of fun to be had on the ship, but it’s always nice to visit new destionations and see the sights. While most of our itineraries visit locations that offer fun for the whole family, it’s worth checking out the shore excursions in advance.
Opt for a family-friendly room
Depending on the size of your crew, you’ll have plenty of room types and configurations to choose from. Most Carnival staterooms sleep up to four people, but for families of more than four (or those who want a bit of extra space), we recommend choosing interconnecting rooms.
Get to know the kid-friendly dining options
One of the best parts of a Carnival cruise is the food! The sheer variety will have you counting down the clock to mealtimes every day. Kids will love the cheesy goodness served up at the pizzeria and Lido Marketplace of The Pantry is the perfect place to sample a bit of everything. The dining rooms all feature kids menus, ensuring mealtimes are always smooth sailing.
Check out Carnival’s childminding services
Body: Why shouldn’t parents get a few moments to indulge on their own? For a small fee, the Night Owls team will look after your little ones (aged 11 and under) while you wine, dine, dance and relax.
Pack strategically
As with any family holiday, nailing the packing list is crucial. Sunscreen, hats, toiletries, swimmers, undies… you know the drill. A good tip is to pack enough clothes to last the trip and organise them into outfits, so they’re easy to throw on as you’re heading out the door. That said, we offer a Laundry Service on all ships and there are self-service launderettes onboard Carnival Splendor.
Prepare for safety
A safe holiday is a successful one. So, we always encourage families to keep safety top of mind. Pay attention to the safety briefing video when you board the ship, always keep an eye on kids in the pool and waterpark, and encourage safe, sensible play with others.
Get ready to set sail
All this talk of family holidays, we think it’s high time you booked one. Check out the extensive range of itineraries and departure dates, and prepare for an adventure the whole family will love.
