Known for its record-breaking cruise ships, breathtaking entertainment and extravagant water parks, Royal Caribbean has been welcoming families to the high seas since 1968. I have sailed on a number of RCL ships, including Symphony of the seas, Navigator of the seas, and more recently Wonder of the seas. With these experiences as a backdrop, I’ve put together this guide on how to get the most out of your Royal Caribbean experience while cruising with kids.
What to Know About Royal Caribbean’s Ships and Ship Classes
Royal Caribbean has several ship classes, with different dining and entertainment options. Icon of the Seas is the largest ship and leader of the Icon Class, home to the largest water park at sea as well as the tallest water slide. The equally huge Oasis class of ships includes Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
On these ships, you can explore neighborhoods like Central Park, where you can stroll outdoors among foliage and restaurants; and Boardwalk, with a carousel, candy store and arcade games. Browser seas is part of the Oasis class and has escape rooms and a blow dry bar which was super fun to marvel at with my girlfriend.
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Many families love these large ships and their range of entertainment options. The cruise line’s smaller ships generally don’t see as many children. So if you’re looking for a vacation where you spend a lot of time with family, choose a smaller ship during the offseason. If you want to meet new people and have your children play in the kids’ clubs, choose a larger ship. Summer, spring and winter holiday periods also tend to have higher numbers of children in the fleet.
Choose from a variety of cruise destinations
The Caribbean is popular for family cruises because it is relatively close and generally sunny and warm. On Royal Caribbean, it’s also popular because you can visit Royal Caribbean’s incredibly cool private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean cruises to the region depart from Miami, Orlando, Texas, New Jersey and other destinations in the United States.
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If you’re considering a multigenerational cruise, consider an Alaska cruise, suggests Erin Stransky, senior director of strategic family operations for Royal Caribbean. “Families can be together all day on excursions like glacier hiking and whale watching,” she says.
Europe cruises are another good option for families. Can you imagine sailing to Italy, Greece, France, Spain or Croatia? It’s a dream!
Things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise
My favorite entertainment on Royal Caribbean cruises are the breathtaking shows at the AquaTheater, which can only be described as energetic and captivating. One example is inTENse, an all-female production in which aerialists swing above the ship, swimmers dive into a small pool, and athletes jump and dance on a slackline to the amazement of the crowd while loud music amplifies the ‘experience.
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Stransky says she never misses an ice show. She finds it astonishing that Royal Caribbean has the ability to install an ice rink on a cruise ship. My family found the costumes and caliber of performances captivating. You can also go ice skating if you book a time slot in advance.
My kids’ favorite activities varied as they grew up, but they were never bored on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. My 15 year old son was fascinated by the rock wall, seeing how many times he could ring the bell on different routes. He also really enjoyed teen activities like dodgeball and touchdown football toss. Our 12 year old daughter was inspired by Family Karaoke and insisted on performing whenever she could, even though she had never sung on stage before, only because the audience was so supportive.
During the day we enjoyed the pools, hot tubs and water slides. You can also play laser tag, zip line, try the surf simulator, play basketball, participate in game shows and much more.
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Royal Caribbean’s kids’ club is called Adventure Ocean, which is inclusive for babies up to 12 years old and was recently redesigned to add new technology like storybook wands for children ages three to five . Children ages six to 12 are grouped in a free-flowing open space where they can choose from games like gaga ball tournaments and crazy tag or spend time with a book or movie. Children can have hands-on fun in a science workshop or art lab, without feeling obligated to participate if they don’t want to.
Because teenagers aged 13 to 17 don’t want to be treated like children, the teen lounge is more of a meeting place where they can play, listen to music or meet new friends.
Choosing the Right Cabin for Your Family
On its newest ships, Royal Caribbean offers unforgettable and luxurious accommodations, like the Ultimate Family Suite, which features an in-room slide, among other extravagant touches. For those of us with more average financial resources, there are also various other types of cabins and locations onboard to suit your budget and vacation style.
An interior cabin is the cheapest solution. Quad cabins have sofa beds and are ideal for families with young children. Connecting rooms are ideal for large families and older children, who want more space and privacy. (If you need multiple connecting rooms, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible.) Rooms across from each room are an option for families with adult children, as passengers must be 21 years or more to have their own room.
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Smaller cabins have showers. Junior or larger suites include bathtubs, often preferred by families with babies and young children. Family suites have at least two bathrooms, making getting ready much quicker. Icon of the seas in particular, it offers great cabins for families, especially the suites. Junior suites are decorated with a different appearance for different age groups.
In terms of location, consider whether you want to be close to certain ship features, like the water slides or teen lounge, or if your group prefers a quieter setting. Families with mobility issues might prefer rooms closest to elevators.
Dining Options for Families on Royal Caribbean
When you think of a cruise, does the seemingly endless food come to mind? With buffets, specialty restaurants, casual pizza, taco and hot dog restaurants, bars and restaurants, there always seems to be something tasty to eat.
On Royal Caribbean, you can choose your own casual dining adventure at the Windjammer Buffet. It serves a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you know even the pickiest eaters will find something to enjoy. I’m a big fan of Royal Caribbean breakfast muesli, which is like daily oatmeal with cinnamon, apple and orange juice. I also highly recommend the Indian food choices on board. You can find tasty curries and warm, soft naan.
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The main dining room is available for more elegant brunches and dinners. It offers themes ranging from Caribbean to Italian and the same service team stays with you, familiarizing themselves with your family’s culinary preferences. You can choose between early or late dinner times (think 5:45 p.m. or 7:45 p.m.). I always recommend the earliest option for families so you can catch the 8pm shows after dinner. As my children got older, I thought this later option might allow for more fun in the sun; but, truth be told, none of us wanted to go see shows at 10 p.m. If you have night owls in your family, the later options might suit you better.
As for drinks, you can choose between a Classic soda package; a refreshments package including coffees, juices and milkshakes; and the Deluxe Drinks Package with wine and cocktails.
On our most recent Royal Caribbean cruise, we enjoyed a specialty dining package at three restaurants and tried Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen Steakhouse, Hooked Seafood, and Chops Grille.
Giovanni’s wood-fired oven cooked up a pizza that my teenager loved. Our meal at Hooked Seafood was particularly memorable because the chef prepared a special gluten-free feast for my daughter. Surrounded by plates piled high with flavorful shrimp and indulgent desserts, I’ve never seen her so delighted in a restaurant. Chops Grille was an exceptional experience from the moment we entered the chic steakhouse. Our waiter spoiled us with juicy steaks, crispy salads, crunchy crab cakes and hot apple pie à la mode.
The food was so good that we vowed to eat only grilled chicken and spinach for at least a week after we returned home.
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