Cruises are popular family vacations because they offer a little something for everyone, not just the kids! Not all ships, however, are created equal, and some are more geared towards family-fun than others. When planning a Royal Caribbean cruise with kids, you are probably wondering what the best ship is that will meet your family's needs.
Newer Royal Caribbean ships offer so much to see and do, including skydiving and surfing simulators, zip lines, water slides, and more. Plus, the cruise line has made considerable efforts to consider the different preferences of families and provide a wide range of dining and stateroom accommodations.
There is a Royal Caribbean ship for all families, whether you are traveling with older kids, toddlers, or on a budget. It is why it is one of the best cruise lines for families! Here are our top pics for the best Royal Caribbean cruises for families.
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families of all ages
Wonder of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class ship and currently the largest in the world (until, that is, Icon of the Seas launches in January 2024). Due to her size, she is able to offer something that will appease everyone in your travel party.
She stands out compared to the other four Oasis Class ships in that she is the only ship in the class to feature a neighborhood dedicated exclusively to suite guests, as well as the largest Windjammer Marketplace in the fleet, an enclosed Solarium, Social100 Patio for teens, and an underwater-themed climbing playground.
Of course, you cannot go wrong with any Oasis Class ship, whether it is Oasis, Allure, Harmony, or Symphony of the Seas. They all have surfing simulators, rock walls, carousels, zip lines, ice skating rinks, AquaTheatre shows, and hot tubs. Plus, all ships -- excluding Allure of the Seas -- have water slides and a 10-story dry slide called the Ultimate Abyss.
Read more: Comparing Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas
Since Wonder of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships, you will pay more to cruise on her than, for instance, Allure of the Seas. There are, however, things you can do to get the best possible fare, including planning your cruise in advance, staying in an interior stateroom, sailing during the off season, and limiting onboard spending by sticking to what is included in your cruise fare.
However, for families who want to splurge, there is the Ultimate Family Suite, an 1,100 square foot multi-level suite that features ping pong and air hockey tables, a gaming room, private hot tub, and even an indoor slide! Depending on the demand and when you cruise, this suite will set you back anywhere from $20,000 to $85,000 per week.
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families with older children
Odyssey of the Seas
While even families with older kids will have a great vacation on Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, the newest Quantum Ultra Class ship, offers some activities that might appeal to those a little bit mature.
Read more: All of the fun activities on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas
The SeaPlex is among one of the best. Throughout the day, you will find different activities hosted, including roller skating, basketball, and bumper cars. And with Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade close by, parents can enjoy a bite to eat and beverage without missing out on the fun. Depending on the day, they might even be able to watch a sporting game!
Another great indoor activity onboard Odyssey of the Seas is Zone Zero, a 12-minute immersive virtual reality experience that requires you to fully suit up to be able to participate. Note, though, that this activity does have a cover charge of around $20 per person. Additionally, there are rumors that this experience may be overhauled and turned into something else due to repeated technical issues.
Moving outdoors, there is a rock wall, skydiving simulator, and dedicated sun deck and reserved area of the Caribbean-style pool deck just for teens, offering them places to escape from parents for a little while. Parents will love to grab a drink at one of three Lime & Coconut Bars located on the top decks when the teens inevitably disappear.
A signature Quantum Class offering, North Star, is found on Odyssey of the Seas, too. This glass capsule takes you (and your family) a soaring 300 feet above the ocean to bask in some once-in-a-lifetime views of the ocean's horizon of port of call.
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families with young children
Those with toddler-specific amenities
Sailing with babies and toddlers is different than sailing with older children, as they are limited in what they can do onboard. They cannot, for instance, swim in the pool since swim diapers are prohibited from any swimming pool or hot tub on Royal Caribbean ships. Moreover, children are not eligible for complimentary Adventure Ocean youth programming until they are three-years-old.
You will want to ensure that the Royal Caribbean ship you are planning to sail on has both a nursery and Baby Splash Zone, as these two amenities will guarantee that you have childcare and an area for your toddler to splash around in, even if they are still wearing diapers.
Note that not all ships have the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery or Baby Splash Zone. Below are the ships the nursery can be found on:
- Allure of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Brilliance of the Seas
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Freedom of the Seas
- Grandeur of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Icon of the Seas* (January 2024)
- Independence of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
- Navigator of the Seas
- Oasis of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Radiance of the Seas
- Rhapsody of the Seas
- Serenade of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Vision of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
Likewise, here are the ships with a Baby Splash Zone:
- Adventure of the Seas
- Allure of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Freedom of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Icon of the Seas* (January 2024)
- Independence of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Oasis of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Spectrum of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
While the Baby Splash Zone is included in the cost of your cruise fare, the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery is an additional fee. It will cost you $6 per hour between 9:00am and 6:00pm and $8 per hour from 6:00pm until midnight.
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families trying to cruise on a budget
Freedom of the Seas or Mariner of the Seas
Establishing a budget for your cruise vacation is important. You want to have the best time, but you also do not want to break the bank. While some of Royal Caribbean's newest ships -- including Wonder and Odyssey of the Seas -- tend to skew more on the expensive side, they also have some older ships that have been extensively refurbished to bring newer offerings onboard.
While neither Freedom of the Seas nor Mariner of the Seas are as large as Oasis Class ships, there is still plenty to do onboard both! Plus, these ships usually offer shorter sailings, meaning that you will not have to pay for a weeklong cruise to experience some of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer, such as a surf simulator, water slides, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, mini-golf and more.
Freedom of the Seas stands out in that she received the new Caribbean-style pool deck; however, Mariner of the Seas is only one of two ships in the fleet that has the Bamboo Room, a Polynesian-themed bar that serves up signature cocktails.
Read more: Cruise budget: How to plan an affordable cruise ship vacation
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families visiting Europe
Symphony of the Seas (2023) and Oasis of the Seas (2024)
European cruises are unlike any other. You will not spend your days island hopping in the Caribbean and relaxing on different beaches. Instead, you will be able to visit historic places, experience diverse cultures, and try delicious food. Plus, you will not have to worry about the hassle of lugging your suitcases through an airport or train station-- simply unpack once and you are good to go!
During the summer, Royal Caribbean deploys numerous ships to Europe, sailing to places like the Norwegian Fjords, Greece, and throughout the Mediterranean. If you and your family are looking for the ultimate summer vacation in Europe, consider taking a Mediterranean cruise onboard an Oasis Class ship. You will get to experience all of the fun that the ship has to offer, while visiting some once-in-a-lifetime destinations.
In 2023, Symphony of the Seas will be making roundtrip cruises from Rome and Barcelona, while Oasis will take her place in 2024.
Read more: Best time to cruise the Mediterranean
Best Royal Caribbean ship for families visiting Alaska
Ovation of the Seas
Like with cruising to Europe, sailing through Alaska is a bucket list trip for many. Each year, Royal Caribbeans sends a few different ships to the region, some of which sail one-way from Seward to/from Vancouver. Ovation of the Seas is a good option for families not just because of the offerings onboard, but because she sails round-trip from Seattle.
Seattle is among one of the most popular cruise ports for sailings to Alaska, and it one of the most convenient! The airport is located about thirty-minutes from the cruise terminal, and you will not have to worry about the logistics of planning two one-way flights. Moreover, Seward is located about 120 miles, or about two-and-a-half hours, from Anchorage. Overall, planning a family cruise to Alaska is much easier if you depart and return to Seattle.
As discussed earlier, Quantum Class ships have a lot to offer guests, such as a FlowRider surf simulator, SeaPlex, and North Star observation capsule, meaning that your time onboard will be just as exciting as your time ashore.
Read more: 7 Best Alaska cruises from Seattle
Why are Royal Caribbean ships good for kids?
If you are trying decide on the best family vacation, look no further than a Royal Caribbean cruise. There is a reason that they have been voted the best cruise line overall for twenty years running by Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards.
Regardless of which ship you decide to sail on, every single one has a complimentary supervised youth club called Adventure Ocean, meaning that you can drop off your children and go catch up on some needed adults-only time.
You never know, they might end up having a better time than you! The staff will host different activities and events that your children can participate in, such as art and crafts, board and video games, and more. Plus, teens have their own dedicated spaces, too.
In addition to the youth and teen programming, the majority of Royal Caribbean ships are outfitted with fun amenities that everyone in the family will enjoy, from surf simulators to rock walls, ice skating rinks, water slides, theatrical performances, and more.
As mentioned earlier, some ships do have facilities for babies and toddlers between the ages of 6 and 36 months. If you are sailing with younger children, it would behoove you to sail on one of these ships!
How to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
Affording your dream cruise vacation is easier than you think, so long as you plan ahead and manage your expectations.
First, you will want to ensure that you pack more baby supplies than you think you will need, such as diapers, formula, baby wipes, and other items that you think your child will need.
You will want to avoid the specialty restaurants, too. They make for a great adults-only night; however, the children might not appreciate the meal as much. There are plenty of other complimentary dining venues located throughout the ship -- like Sorrento's, the Windjammer Marketplace, etc. -- that will make them just as happy! You can opt to feed them prior to going to the restaurant and have them tag along for free, or you can drop them off at Adventure Ocean.
With that, you can also skip purchasing other add-ons for your kids, including drink packages. There are enough beverages included in your cruise fare to keep them happy. If, however, you are worried about the options, the Classic Soda Package is the cheapest package available. Online, it is advertised as costing $12.99 onboard, but if you purchase it in advance via the Cruise Planner, you can often score it for less than $9.00 per day.
And while it might be a little bit more cramped, having everyone in one stateroom is sure to save money, as the rate for the third and fourth guests are less than the first and second. Sometimes, however, you might be able to find a deal during the "Kids Sail Free" promotion, in which the rate of the third and fourth passengers are included in the fare.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
