It is true. Cruise ships have it all! Ever dreamed of planning a relaxing cruise but worried your kids will be bored. Well cruise ships are hiding something amazing for parents right before your eyes! Kids Clubs! Most modern cruise ships offer awesome kids clubs that give us parents some downtime but also provide the kiddos with unforgettable memories. As a travel advisor, parent and cruise specialist here are a few things families need to know about these hidden gems.
What are Kids Clubs?
Cruise Kids Clubs have helped families enjoy cruising more than ever. Offering professionally run programs where children can make friends, participate in themed activities and build memories that are far more memorable than just meeting a friend in the pool. Want or need a more deeper look into these clubs check out my Best Cruise Kids Clubs Comparison Guide.
Real World Input
Personally, my own daughter was completely against the idea of kids clubs on her first cruise. She expected them to be “lame and dumb,” especially as a teen. What happened next is what surprises so many parents: we hardly saw her during the cruise! She made genuine friends from all over the country—friendships that have lasted long after the vacation ended. They danced at teen parties, learned ASL to perform in a show in front of the entire ship, tackled scavenger hunts, and so much more. She couldn’t wait for her next cruise, and neither could we.
Which Cruise Line Should I Choose?
Choosing the right cruise line can be overwhelming but every major cruise lines has their specialty.
Review the full compassion guide.
For our family, most experience has been with the clubs for older children and teens. We tended to cruise with grandparents when our kids were little, so direct use of nursery or toddler clubs wasn’t our routine. However, from observing countless families on board and supporting my travel clients, I’ve seen what matters most.
- Ages: Make sure you align your kids ages to the activities. Young kids will not like a Mocktail class and tweens will not want to play arts and crafts.
- Club Hours: Pay attention to operating hours. Some Cruise lines offer late night hours and pajama parties giving the adults so much needed Adult Arcade time!
- Safety: Make sure you check the safety protocol and policies. If your child has allergies, make sure to let the kids clubs staff know about their condition to eliminate cross contamination or exposure.
- Cost: Does you cruise line consider the kids clubs part of your cruise fare or are they premium add-ons? Make sure to plan accordingly.
Saying all that the number 1 bullet point to take into consideration is safety. All cruise ships have strict policies and staff requirements to ensure your kids are in good hands but you can never be too safe. Cruise lines like Royal and Disney use wristbands or digital tracking devices to ensure your children’s safety.
You definitely want to review the Cruise Line offerings to your children’s needs. With younger children you cannot go wrong with Disney but the teens may not be so occupied and vice versa. It all comes down to the child, the parents comfort on using these services and the age ranges.
Insider Tips
You want to make the most of your vacation for you and your kids so make sure you take advantage of what each kids clubs has to offer. On Day 1 register your kids(s) with the appropriate club and give them the heads up or copiy of the medical records as i mentioned above.
Take advantage of the late night events or babysitting. If you can enroll your children in activities before sailing I suggest you do so to avoid missing out on popular activities when they sell out. Cooking lessons, science labs, etc have limited capacity so keep that in mind.
Sit down with your child or children and have a safety talk. Come up with a meeting point should anything happen, explain that they are not to go anywhere with anyone other than staff and you. Under NO circumstances are they to go to anyone else’s room unless you are with them.
We enforced a check in rule with our daughter when we are on our cruises. Regardless of what is happening she is to check in with us at regular time periods. That can be a simple text message or we have her meet us at a specified location so we can see what they are up to, meet the kids she is hanging around with and just make that parent gutt-check.
Make Those Memories
Kids Clubs are there for kids to have fun, meet new people and maybe even learn a few things. They are an awesome addition to cruising. However don’t forget you are there to make memories with your family, friends and children. Don’t just offload them to the club and expect that they will be all good for the whole day.
Make sure to book those dinners and include your children. Plan those excursions that your children will love and also give yourself a buffer to also experience some child free activities yourself. Take advantage of the photo nights as well where you can capture the moment for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Cruise ships aren’t just amazing for kids—they’re transformational for parents seeking both relaxation and peace of mind. With the right club, you unlock new friendships, safe adventures, and lifelong memories—plus the time to enjoy all the grown-up perks of cruising!
