Disney Cruise Line is the most kid-friendly cruise line, according to Cruise Mates. They offer plenty of activities for children including Disney characters and themed on-board youth clubs. They also have movies, watersides, and Disney musicals performed nightly. All of Disney's cruises have a nursery for infants and toddlers from three months to three years old. The nursery imposes an hourly fee. Disney is the only cruise line with a tub in all cabins for bathing an infant.
Royal Caribbean has plenty of activities and fun for the entire family. They have Adventure Ocean, a program for kids age three to 11 designed to entertain and engage children. They do not have any programs for children under three, but they do have in-room babysitting. For children age one and over, you can arrange for a babysitter from 8 a.m. till 2 a.m. for an hourly fee. Carnival also has mini-golf, ice skating, pools, rock-climbing wall, flow rider surf simulators and movie theaters.
Celebrity Cruise Line has some family friendly programs as well. They offer age-appropriate programs and even have a "toddler time" for children under the age of three. However, to leave your children alone with the youth counselors, they must be potty trained. But, your infant can still participate in the fun as long as a parent is present. Celebrity also has in-room babysitting for children age one and older, for a fee.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers family-friendly activities and does provide on-board babysitting for children age two and older. Norwegian has a kid's program for children aged two to five, which includes arts and crafts, storytelling, games, and developmental activities. On some Norwegian ships, a conference room is set aside with toys for infants where parents can play with their young children. Norwegian also offers "group-sitting" for kids age two to 12, for a fee, during evening hours when the other programs are closed.
