Cruises With Kids: Top Things To Do on Board

If you’ve considered a cruise as a family vacation option, then you’ve probably heard how fun it is for the entire family. It’s true; one of the most common questions I get is, “How great is it for kids?”

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are giant playgrounds with so much to see and do. From an award-winning kids club, designed for all ages, and family-friendly aerial, ice, stage and aqua entertainment, to racing water slides and even spa programs for the youngsters, you may find it hard to head back home once the trip’s over.

It’s entirely up to you and your family to define your adventure, however busy or relaxing you want it to be. The complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program is where the excitement usually starts for kids. Ranging from babies to teens — each with their dedicated areas on board — the program hosts plenty of entertainment and adventures that will expand imaginations and even foster new friendships.

Continue reading for a breakdown of the program’s experiences, grouped by age, including care from expert team members with backgrounds in education, recreation or a related field.

Key Takeaways

●  Royal Babies and Tots offers safe, professional nursery care and convenient baby essentials for stress-free travel.

●  Aquanauts, Explorers and Voyagers deliver age-specific activities that mix learning, creativity and high-energy fun.

●  Teens can take part in the action in flexible, teen-focused spaces, where social events, games and spa options are designed just for them.

●  Enjoy fun for the whole family with thrill rides, water parks and shore excursions everyone can enjoy together.

●  Say yes to unforgettable family fun by exploring Royal Caribbean cruises today.

1. Babies And Tots (6 To 36 Months)

The Royal Babies & Tots Nursery is a colorful place staffed with trained professionals who oversee specially designed programs for daytime and evening drop-off. This means moms and dads can leave their little ones with skilled caregivers and enjoy a relaxing spa day or dinner at a specialty restaurant. Interactive playgroup sessions are also offered, and can include parents. (Please note: on select ships only; fees may apply.)

If you need a hand preparing to cruise with your baby, you can pre-order diapers, wipes and baby food to your stateroom before you set sail. There are also diapers for sale in shops as another backup, so Royal Caribbean has you covered.

2. Aquanauts, Explorers And Voyagers (3 To 11 Years)

Royal Caribbean offers a long lineup of sure-to-please activities for its younger guests ages three to 12 years. Each of the following three age groups has its own dedicated activity space with events and experiences tailored to them:

●  Aquanauts, for those three to five years old, focuses on age-appropriate lessons that incorporate music, creative arts and crafts, dinosaurs and even a pirate party parade (“arrrgh”). They’ll rule Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting them to other Adventure Ocean Youth Program areas and themed play places.

●  Explorers is designed for kids six to eight years old, and will encourage the curiosity of young minds with areas like the Adventure Science Lab. Little Einsteins will dive into hands-on science activities, from studying fossils to meteorology and, of course, a few (controlled) test tube eruptions.

●  Voyagers, ages nine to 12, can kick things off with a scavenger hunt, which offers a fun and exciting opportunity to bond with their group, before jumping into sports tournaments and video game competitions. These older kids will surely make use of the Adventure Ocean Theater, where they can catch a performance designed just for them, and then take to the stage themselves to show off their skills in talent competitions. Other perks include Adventure Science, featuring hands-on science experiments, cultural arts and crafts and late-night pizza parties (who wouldn’t love that?).

3. Teens (12-17 years)

Teens, meanwhile, flourish in an open format, so these “almost adults” enjoy a vacation tailored to their interests. They can opt for pre-planned activities — like rock-climbing competitions, organized dances and movie nights — or choose to hang out in their own personal spaces, such as the teen lounge or teen-only nightclub, mocktails included.

If your teen needs a little relaxation, there’s a spa program just for them. The YSpa menu features a variety of pampering services like the Sole Mate pedicure, Beach Babe deep conditioning treatment and more.

4. For The Entire Family

While Royal Caribbean offers cruises with kids’ clubs and special programming designed with young travelers in mind, there are countless engaging experiences for the whole family. Your crew can splash on over to Splashaway Bay℠ for fire water cannons, whirlpools and a giant drench bucket, then hit the video arcade — where adults can play classics like Pac-Man, and everyone can rock out together on Guitar Hero.

Are you cruising with an active bunch? Have your pick of adventures. Race down the Ultimate Abyss℠, the tallest slide at sea (available on select ships), ride the waves of the FlowRider®, head over to SeaPlex® to ride bumper cars or try one of our other can’t-miss onboard activities like laser tag and ice skating. The adventure continues on land with a special category of shore excursions designed for families, such as scavenger hunts in Alaska and gladiator lessons in Rome.

Taking Family Cruises With Kids Is Easier With Royal Caribbean

Whether you have little ones who want to run around and learn at Aquanauts or older teenagers who want to hang out with other people their age, Royal Caribbean has cruises for families with kids packed with excursions and onboard entertainment to ward off boredom and ensure the fun never ends.

Secure your spot and turn school breaks into sea days packed with wow moments across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or any of the 300 destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Explore cruises to find the perfect vacation spot your whole family will adore.