April 6, 2026
When it comes to the big family holiday, families are choosing to head to a port rather than an airport. Booking a cruise over an all-inclusive resort is becoming increasingly popular. Those who have never experienced a cruise may wonder why. I too was one who used to wonder about the appeal until a recent trip onboard the Regal Princess.
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Cruises can offer stress-free flexibility which is at the top of any family holiday criteria, and easy to plan compared to land holidays. From onboard activities to offshore excursions, family cruises have something for everyone. So, why not book a cruise for your next 2022/2023 family holiday. Here are 6 reasons why Princess Cruises are great for families:
Family-Friendly cruise
Spacious Family accommodation
There are some great options for comfortable family sailing. The Deluxe Balcony, Mini-Suite, Club Class, and Suite offer accommodation for four people and comes with a sofabed. On a recent stay, I experienced a luxurious Mini-Suite which is considerably larger than a Balcony stateroom. They offer a separate sitting area with a sofabed, two flat-panel TVs, and a large balcony with seating.
The comfortable queen bed can also be made up as a twin and I love how the sofabed area can also be curtained off for more privacy. Spacious family accommodation makes it easy and comfortable to sail together as a family or large multigenerational groups.
Read Next: The Regal Princess Cruise Review
Complimentary Kids Clubs
There is no need to feel guilty as you sunbathe on a lounger, relax in a hot tub or enjoy another cocktail, as your kids will be having the best time in the clubs and fun activities on offer. The three age-specific kids clubs are in partnership with the Discovery Channel and staffed by an experienced team:
The Treehouse (aged 3 – 7 ) the soft play area is forest-themed with plenty of hands-on activities to keep mini cruisers entertained.
The Lodge (aged 8 – 12) inspired by the great outdoors it’s filled with sports activities, arcade games and cool hang out areas for kids to lounge. There are also sports tournaments, dance parties, scavenger hunts and more to keep them busy.
The Beach House (13 – 17) is a grown-up space for teens to hang out. The contemporary beach-themed lounge has plenty of books, video games and a TV. They have their own outdoor space complete with a jacuzzi and cruise teens also have a party night with their own disco and mocktails.
The best part is all the kid’s clubs are complimentary, there are no hidden extra costs to worry about. Babysitting can also be arranged at an extra cost if parents are looking for a night out without the kids to enjoy a romantic meal or have fun at the Vegas-style casino or bars.
Always Stay connected on board
One of the best concepts onboard a Princess Cruise ship is the OceanMedallion. The small disc is presented to all cruisers and replaces the traditional key card. The cutting-edge technology really helps to make family cruising so easy.
If your kids are at the stage where they need a little bit more freedom, it’s possible onboard a Princess Cruise with the MedallionClass app. It provides parents with complete peace of mind, knowing their children are safe. Family members can find and message each other anywhere on the ship via the app. With GPS technology, you can see exactly whereabouts the kids are on the ship and stay in touch. Along with the unlimited Wifi and being able to order food and drink wherever you are at the touch of a button it helps to make family cruising so easy.
Children also love the fun features that are part of the OceanMedallion experience. Interactive games are available on the app but can also be played on the digital wall portals dotted around the ship. On the app, players can compete against other cruisers on board with multiplayer games such as Ocean Treks Adventure. Cruisers can create their own OceanTagalong too. It’s a digital companion that can be customised by body shape, colour, and pattern and appears on the portals around the ship. Boundless fun for children and adults.
Endless Dining Options
The choice of dining options on board is endless and the main problem guests face is choosing between them all. When it comes to kids even the fussiest eaters are well catered for. Nearly every sit down restaurant has a children’s menu filled with all the favourites like pasta, burgers, fish fingers, ice cream sundaes and more.
Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro are buffet restaurants with a wide range of food options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are a great way to introduce kids to foods from around the world in a casual and relaxed atmosphere, as some of the dishes on the menu are usually inspired by the ports of call the ship makes on the trip. Alfredo’s Pizzeria is a firm favourite with families too, with the best hand-tossed pizzas at sea.
The Lido deck is great for a quick burger, hot dog, pizza slice or ice cream fix. And the International Cafe in the Piazza is open 24 hours for snacks and delicious cake cravings. There is also the option of room service too if little ones are too exhausted from a day of fun.
For families, the Princess Plus package is a great upgrade to consider for a trip. For £30 per person per day, it includes 15 premium alcoholic drinks, bottomless speciality coffees and soft drinks, unlimited MedallionNet wifi and onboard gratuities.
Great ENtertainment
There is so much to do onboard Princess Cruises, the question is will you get round to actually trying everything out. On a hot sea day families will no doubt be making use of the swimming pool. There are a number of sporting pursuits available like basketball ball court, ping pong and golf driving range. Kids can also join a variety of sports competitions such as basketball and dodgeball tournaments, table football, air hockey, ping pong and video game competitions.
On the upper deck, guests can enjoy Movies Under the Stars. Many films shown are family-friendly and can be enjoyed with blankets, popcorn and chocolate chip cookies. The most unique and special film experience as a family.
Just before an evening movie, cruisers can also catch the Watercolour Fantasy show. A wonderful spectacle of brightly illuminated dancing water all choreographed to music.
The deluxe Princess Theatre also hosts a range of high-standard shows from top comedians and live music to musical stage performances. This is all in addition to the different destinations to explore each day the ship docks where you will have different attractions, museums and beaches to keep the family entertained. There is no chance anyone will ever be bored.
Great Value for Money
The appeal of family cruises isn’t hard to understand. Why move from various hotels, and destinations and deal with the logistics of transportation when you can check into a huge floating resort that travels with you?
Add in the all-inclusive elements to cruising and the cost of a cruise can also be a lot lower than if you were paying for all of those things on land. When travelling with a family it really helps in terms of budgeting to know that your fare includes nearly everything like your room, meals, snacks, childcare, entertainment costs and transportation. It’s guaranteed to be a family holiday to remember.
Have you been on a family cruise? Would you choose a cruise for your next holiday?
Let me know in the comments box below.
For more information on Princess Cruises and to book your own cruise click here.
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