Cruise holidays are very much family affairs, with plenty to keep everyone happy both at sea and ashore. There are nurseries and adventure-filled aqua parks for the tiniest of sailors and cool zones for hard-to-please teens. Meanwhile parents and grandparents can relax knowing children are safe and having fun. With accommodation, food and entertainment included, cruises are excellent value too. Here are ten of the best for 2023 going for under £1,000 per person.
1. Gladiators and volcanoes in the Mediterranean
Marella Cruises, part of package holiday giant Tui, represents fantastic value for families. The 1,830-passenger Marella Discovery 2 has family suites sleeping up to six, and kids’ facilities ranging from a baby centre to a teens’ retreat. On this Mediterranean voyage, youngsters can relive the days of the gladiators at Rome’s Colosseum, catch a glimpse of Stromboli glowing off the Sicilian coastline and wander through Pompeii, preserved by the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in AD79.
Details Seven nights’ all-inclusive from £856pp, including flights, departing on October 24 (tui.co.uk)
2. Fun in the Norwegian fjords
With no hanging around at airports and trying to amuse overexcited children on flights, the fun starts straight away on voyages to and from Southampton. And when you arrive in Norway on Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette, there’s hiking, cycling, kayaking in the fjords and high-speed RIB (rigid inflatable boat) rides to try. The 2,866-passenger Celebrity Silhouette has excellent kids’ clubs and an array of restaurants that will impress adventurous eaters. Don’t miss Le Petit Chef, an enchanting 3D animation in which tiny chef figures race around your plate, chattering and chopping food. Just as they complete your 3D dish, waiters arrive, bearing the real thing.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £825pp, departing on August 18 (celebritycruises.com)
3. Private island in the Bahamas
Norwegian Cruise Line’s informal atmosphere and flexible dining is perfect for families. This Caribbean cruise, on the newly refurbished 2,004-passenger Norwegian Sky, features a day of adventure exploring NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. Once a hideout for pirates, Great Stirrup Cay’s modern-day attractions include an underwater snorkel trail filled with sculptures of mermaids and sea creatures, while thrill-seekers can soar over the beach on zip lines.
Details Eight nights’ full board from £894pp, departing on July 23 (ncl.com). Fly to Miami
4. Rolling down the Rhine
German line A-Rosa revolutionised multigenerational river cruising with the first-ever vessel geared for families. Carrying 280 passengers, the recently launched A-Rosa Sena has 12 family cabins sleeping up to five, each equipped with toys. There’s a children’s pool, swashbuckling pirate-themed playroom and kids’ buffet, while adults can relax in the large spa. Fun, family-focused excursions on this round trip from Cologne include a visit to the Dutch Madurodam theme park, where you can try to lift your own weight in cheese, and Antwerp’s irresistible chocolate museum, the largest in the world.
Details Eight nights’ all-inclusive from £925pp, including flights, departing on October 13 (destination2.co.uk)
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5. No-fly fun for all the family
Newcomer Ambassador Cruise Line usually caters to adults but has multigenerational holidays in summer, which are ideal for larger family groups. The hassle-free, no-fly cruises sail from Tilbury in Essex aboard the 1,400-passenger Ambience, which has a pool, a spa, restaurants including an Indian and a steakhouse, and on these special departures, family-friendly entertainment. Highlights of this sailing include visiting the Unesco-listed Geirangerfjord in Norway, surrounded by mountain peaks, sheer cliffs and tumbling waterfalls.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £749pp (£99 per child), departing on August 5 (ambassadorcruiseline.com)
6. Mini Olympics in the Mediterranean
Who said ancient history was dull? Standing next to the columns of the Acropolis of Athens, youngsters will love hearing tales about Greek gods. P&O Cruises’ round-trip Malta sailing includes a stop at Piraeus for a day visit to the Greek capital. Back on the 3,100-passenger Azura, the Reef children’s club is split into four age groups with activities including a mini Olympics. Parents can treat themselves to time out in the Retreat, the adult-only VIP deck area with spa treatments in cool cabanas.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £699pp (£595 per child), including tips and flights, departing on March 30 (pocruises.com)
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7. Transatlantic thrills
Sail across the Atlantic in style on Queen Mary 2. Cunard’s 2,691-passenger flagship is every bit as glamorous as you’d expect and teens on board tend to love the dress-up nights, all the more so if there’s been some retail fun in New York before the cruise. There are also surprisingly good, and little-publicised children’s facilities to fill the time en route from New York to Southampton, including a full programme of daytime activities, night nursery for babies and toddlers and a teen zone.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £877pp, departing on October 13 (cunard.com). Fly to New York
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8. Greek delights
Families can expect an affordable, authentic taste of Greece with Celestyal Cruises. Super-friendly staff love children and will quickly remember their names and favourite foods. The traditional 1,200-passenger Celestyal Crystal doesn’t need a kids’ club, as included activities include Greek dance classes and Greek lessons and besides, you’re in port most of the time. Youngsters will be intrigued by tales of the mythical Minotaur at Crete’s Palace of Knossos, while evenings ashore in both Santorini and Mykonos allow plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere. There’s a day on Milos to head for gorgeous beaches too.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £699pp (£489 per child), including drinks with meals and tips, departing on August 12 (celestyal.com). Fly to Athens
9. Norway with teens
Two days’ scenic fjord cruising and a day at sea provide time to discover Holland America Line’s newest ship. The music-themed Rotterdam carries 2,668 passengers and is a guaranteed hit for older kids, with live entertainment venues including the Rolling Stone Rock Room. Night owls and sleepy teens can lie-in the next day and not go hungry as there’s free 24-hour room service. Head for the Ice Bar in Oslo, and from Stavanger, the dramatic Pulpit Rock, looming over Lysefjord.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £979pp, departing on May 27 (hollandamerica.com). Fly or take the train to Amsterdam
10. Easter sun in the Caribbean
Prepare to be wowed by the sheer scale of one of the world’s largest cruise ships. Royal Caribbean’s 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas comes with the adrenaline-pumping Ultimate Abyss slide and surf simulators, while younger children can head to Splashaway Bay with its water cannons and a lazy river. This cruise includes a Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s 120-acre action-packed Bahamian island, with the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, biggest wave pool and white-knuckle Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest slide in North America.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £732pp, departing on April 8 (royalcaribbean.com). Fly to Miami
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