The best family cabins revealed
Family cruises are big business. It’s no wonder then that so much is spent on making families onboard as comfortable as they possibly can be. But what’s on offer?
Below is our guide to some of the purpose-built accommodation that has been developed purely for the enjoyment of families onboard.
You’ll be surprised by what’s on offer.
Royal Family Suite
Royal’s family accommodation covers a range of tiers to suit families of all sizes.
Families can book anything from interior staterooms right up to suites. The entry level room cabins include a sofa bed for families of four with options for interconnecting staterooms for those with larger broods.
There are some options for huge balconies too.
For the upper end of the market, all suites and deluxe staterooms contain baths, while most also go on to offer a private balconies, your own bar and a central area to relax together.
There is also priority check-in, complimentary luggage-valet and a concierge service.
Price of a seven-night, July Mediterranean cruise for a family of four: £3,516
Interior room size: 152sq ft (Liberty of the Seas)
Carnival’s Quint cabins
Carnival Dream saw a host of innovative stateroom options brought onboard, including cove cabins, with balconies closer to the water line; and ‘Quint Cabins’ capable of housing five guests at a time.
The rooms are fitted with two bathrooms – the second featuring a junior tub as well as shower and sink – with ample storage for the five berths.
Perfect for Carnival families!
Price of a seven-night, July Caribbean cruise for family of four: £1,750
Interior size ( Carnival Legend – not quint cabin): 185 sq ft
Family staterooms
All of Norwegian’s Family Staterooms are located near the line’s famed Splash Academy kids’ club as well as its teen club, Entourage.
Kids clubs are filled with Nickelodeon characters including Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.
Staterooms include two lower beds, as well as either one or two pull down berths. These rooms also include cots and can have sofa beds put in too.
The line expands on its family offering by having a connecting stateroom option – which allows for connections to be made between staterooms in different categories. For instance give the parents the balcony and put the kids in the inside stateroom!
See a round up of our Norwegian Getaway kids’ clubs here.
Price of a seven-night, July Mediterranean cruise for family of four: £1,516
Interior size: 129 sq ft (Norwegian Epic)
Family Rooms
Disney Cruise Line
All of Disney’s Staterooms are designed with families in mind.
Bed frames are elevated to provide more storage and bathrooms also include a split-bath feature that Disney introduced to the cruise industry.
The line’s interior rooms have a computer generated ‘window’ with various Disney characters stopping by from time to time which is a feature that Royal Caribbean International is taking on to its next generation of ships.
Price of a seven-night, July Mediterranean cruise for family of four: £4,500
Interior room size: 184sq ft (Disney Magic)
Family Apartment
Hapag Lloyd’s newest ship, the Europa 2, features specially designed Family Apartments. The cabins come with a 2×20 metre squared living area plus a large veranda.
There are also separate WCs and a free mini bar.
Children up to and including the age of eleven, will cruise for free when staying in a suite with two full paying passengers.
There are also a host of kids’ clubs and family shore excursions available too.
Price of a seven-night July Mediterranean cruise for family of four: Upon request
Suite size: 2x 215 square feet rooms + veranda (Europa 2)
Interconnecting family cabins
Mediterranean Cruise Line MSC prides itself on its family offering – with children below the age of 18 all cruising for free when holidaying with two full paying adults.
The line offers adjacent inter-connecting family accommodation on both the MSC Preziosa and MSC Divina; ‘family cabins’ on the Lirica-class ships and ‘family suites’ on the MSC Magnifica.
Price of a seven-night, July Mediterranean cruise for family of four: £1,800
Interior room size: 172sq ft (MSC Splendida)