Which cruise line is the best for families?
Here at TPG, we have a new top pick: Royal Caribbean.
The world’s largest cruise line, which TPG just named the Best Cruise Line for Families as part of the 2026 TPG Awards, has — in our opinion, at least — pulled ahead in the race to provide families the ultimate family-friendly vacations on the high seas.
It’s a competitive market, for sure. Family-focused Disney Cruise Line also provides a wonderful experience for families — so much so that we named it the Best Cruise Line for Families just last year. Three other big brands with ships that are loaded with family attractions — Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — also are strong choices for family travelers. The latter two, in particular, are notably good choices for family travelers on a budget.
But Royal Caribbean in the past year has been upping the ante in the battle for family vacationers in a way that our 2026 TPG Awards judges could not ignore.
Here is a closer look at the reasons why we just named Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line for Families.
Its new ships offer the ultimate in family-friendly fun
Royal Caribbean in August unveiled its most family-friendly vessel yet — Star of the Seas — and deployed it to Port Canaveral, Florida, the ultimate family cruise port mecca.
Featuring more family-focused amusements than any other ship, including a stunning water park with six waterslides, Star of the Seas arrived just a year after Royal Caribbean debuted another family-focused vessel, Utopia of the Seas, at the same port.
The arrival of the two ships at Port Canaveral represents a major expansion of Royal Caribbean’s family-focused offerings in Central Florida — long considered the family vacation capital of the world.
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With Star of the Seas operating longer seven-night sailings and Utopia of the Seas operating shorter three- and four-night sailings, families now have a wider range of cruise lengths to choose from at Port Canaveral that can be paired with visits to the nearby Orlando theme parks, creating the perfect family getaway.
Disney also offers a wide array of wonderful family-focused sailings out of Port Canaveral that can be paired with park visits, of course. But when it comes to the sheer range of family-friendly offerings on a cruise, Royal Caribbean’s are now difficult to match — unless, of course, you’re the sort of Disney lover who never wants to stray from one of the company’s many resorts on land and sea.
For more on why Royal Caribbean’s two newest ships are so amazing for families, see our coverage of the arrival of the two ships:
It’s opening the most family-friendly destinations
Royal Caribbean, in recent years, has expanded Perfect Day at CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas, into one of the most activity-packed cruise destinations in the region (on sea or land). It now features the largest water park in the Bahamas and the Caribbean — a true family crowd-pleaser with the tallest waterslide in North America and a giant wave pool, as well as the region’s largest family pool zone, kiddie splash and play areas, and long stretches of pristine white sand beaches for relaxing with family.
But CocoCay is only part of a major rollout of new and expanded family-friendly destinations exclusive to Royal Caribbean guests, and it’s changing the face of family cruising in the Bahamas, the Caribbean and beyond.
Related: The 5 best cruise lines for families
These include the just-opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas and the soon-to-open Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico.
Opened in December, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is home to multiple beach and pool areas, including the family-focused Family Beach area with beach games, a kiddie-focused zero-entry pool and a one-of-a-kind, two-level Ultimate Family Cabana with its own private whirlpool and slide.
Scheduled to open this fall, the Royal Beach Club Cozumel will offer similar beach and pool experiences, along with snorkeling, kayaking and private cabanas. And it’s just the first of two major private destination projects Royal Caribbean is developing along the coast of Mexico — the other being a far bigger resort complex called Perfect Day Mexico that is coming in 2027.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean is building a new family-friendly destination in Santorini, Greece — the Royal Beach Club Santorini — that’s expected to open this summer.
Add it all up, and Royal Caribbean soon will have, by far, the most alluring array of private island and beach destinations of any major cruise line catering to families. On pretty much all the line’s upcoming sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, passengers will visit at least one — sometimes several — of these destinations.
It has multigenerational appeal
In designing its newest family-friendly ships and exclusive beach destinations, Royal Caribbean is not just focusing on kids and teens. It’s thinking about their parents and grandparents traveling together.
The line’s newest vessels and land-based projects are loaded with activities, restaurants, bars and other venues that have a “something for everyone” appeal. This includes a wide range of accommodations, from spacious, family-focused cabins that are great for mom, dad and the kids to swankier, adult-oriented suites where grandma and grandpa can stay.
All the line’s newest and biggest vessels, including its giant family-geared Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, have an array of more than two dozen different categories of cabins and suites, with something for every budget, whether spending a few hundred dollars or more than $1,000 a night.
Related: 5 best Royal Caribbean ships for kids
This also includes areas and features that cater to parents and grandparents just as much as kids. This includes adults-only lounge areas such as the indoor-outdoor solariums found on many of the vessels and higher-end, extra-charge restaurants aimed at an adult crowd. Royal Caribbean’s newest, biggest ships also are packed with some of the best bars at sea.
But what truly sets the brand apart is the incredibly wide array of attractions and venues on its newest and biggest ships that are designed for families to enjoy together.
Each of Royal Caribbean’s new Icon Class vessels, for instance, feature seven separate pools (a new record for cruise ships), most of which are open to passengers of all ages; a water park with six waterslides (also a record), where adults and kids can have a blast together; and other fun-for-all-ages attractions such as surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that’s just what you’ll find on the top decks.
Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries
Inside the vessels, you’ll discover some of the best shows at sea in entertainment venues hosting Broadway-style shows, indoor ice skating rinks and ice skating performances perfect for all ages.
As a result, it may be the ultimate cruise brand for a multigenerational vacation.
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