Ready to swap the school run for the soothing waves of the sea? You’ve come to the right place. Pack your sun hats and your sense of adventure and book a family holiday with Carnival Cruise Line. 

We’ve put together a complete guide to planning your dream family cruise, from choosing the right stateroom to the onboard activities and shore excursions on offer – and, of course, our destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. 

Planning ahead means once you’re aboard, the only thing anyone will need to worry about is whether to hit the waterslide before or after Seaday Brunch. So, let’s get into it! 

How to plan an epic family cruise holiday 

There’s a reason why cruises are so popular for family holidays – they offer something for everyone, from adventure-lovers who want to pack their days full of activities, creative types who want to get crafty and come home with some handmade souvenirs, to those who just want some rest and relaxation in the sun.

How do you plan a family cruise holiday that everyone will remember? Start by choosing a destination (or two or three…) the whole family wants to visit and everyone’s must-do activities while onboard – Dive-in Movies, waterslides – and then find a cruise itinerary that ticks everything off the list. Easy! 

On our ships, you’ll find clubs for kids and teens, Broadway-style shows and even a luxurious day spa for parents looking for a bit of zen. And that’s without mentioning the incredible destinations – we’re talking places like the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Vanuatu – plus epic shore excursions, from kayaking to behind-the-scenes tours.  

Choose a cruise line that checks all the boxes

Once you’ve decided where everyone wants to go and what everyone wants to do, it’s time to pick a cruise line. First of all, it’s important to start by looking at cruise lines that are designed for families, like Carnival. 

It’s also important to look at which itineraries fit your dates and budget. Many dining, activities and entertainment options onboard are included as part of your fare, but there are some specialty dining experiences and onshore excursions that will cost extra, so make sure to factor those into your budget.  

If you’ve got little ones, you’ll also need to make sure they can come along for the ride – most cruise lines don’t allow babies under six months for domestic cruises and under 12 months for international cruises. 

Explore Carnival’s ships. 

Select the best stateroom configuration to keep everyone comfy at sea

Whether you’re travelling with toddlers, kids or teens – or even the grandparents – choosing the right stateroom will ensure everyone has the best experience at sea. Our flexible staterooms are available in loads of room configurations and can sleep up to four guests. If there’s more than four of you or you want to give the older kids (and yourselves) some extra space, our inter-connecting staterooms are a great option. And if you want an extra bathroom (and, let’s face it, who doesn’t?), our Deluxe Ocean View staterooms sleep up to five and come with an extra half-bath.

When you’re choosing your stateroom, think about where on the ship you’d like to stay. Interior rooms and rooms on the lower decks offer the best value. Midship staterooms are right at the centre of the action (and have extra elevators to get you where you’re going fast). A lot of aft and forward rooms offer expansive balconies and great views, while the upper decks give you easy access to the pools and entertainment.

No matter which stateroom you choose, they all come with great perks, including a dedicated stateroom attendant to take care of all the family’s cruising needs while you’re at sea, climate control to keep you all comfy, an in-room TV, safe, a charging port, plus loads of closet and drawer space so the whole family can settle in and unpack. 

Check out all family-friendly Staterooms 

Plan your cruise around the school holidays

Make the most of your kids’ time off by booking a cruise over the school holidays. From long weekends to the summer break, there are plenty of itineraries that you can fit around your family’s schedule. 

Our 10+ day cruises let you maximise the holiday break and spend the whole time at sea, so you and the kids can make the most of our onboard activities and entertainment, visit multiple destinations, and relax into cruise life.

If you’re after a shorter trip, choose one of our 6 to 9-day cruise itineraries, which give everyone plenty of time to explore all our ships have to offer, as well as ticking one or two must-do destinations off the bucket list. 

And if you’re new to cruising or just after a quick getaway to rest and refresh, a 2 to 4-day getaway cruise could be just the ticket.

Book in early to score the best family cruise deals

Once you’ve decided which cruise is right for you, it’s time to book! Lock in your trip as soon as you’ve decided on your cruise to snag the best deals on family cruises. 

We recommend booking nine months in advance – or more if you’re planning a cruise for the school holidays. It pays to make reservations for special dining experiences like Farenheit 555 or The Chef’s Table in advance, and book in your shore excursions early, so no one misses out on their must-dos. 

While we always recommend making your booking early, don’t panic if you’ve made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take the family on a cruise – we offer loads of great last-minute deals, too. 

Check out our best cruise deals.

Explore all-ages activities and kids clubs onboard

Waterslides at sea? The kids will never want to return to dry land. From watching the latest blockbusters under the stars – and in the pool – at our Dive-in Movies to the Green Lightning Waterslide with its thrilling 11m drop, you’ll find a host of all-ages activities onboard, all-day, everyday.

Our kids club, Camp Ocean, is like a summer camp at sea. Our Penguin colony (for ages 2 to 5), plays Musical Icebergs, while our Stingrays (6 to 8), have fun designing their own aquariums. The Sharks (9 to 11) can play sea-themed soccer or paint the day away creating a giant ocean mural. Young teens (12 to 14) can hang out at Circle C for dance parties and movies, while 15 to 17 year olds can join Club O2 for video games or karaoke.

Of course, there’s plenty for adults to enjoy onboard as well. Get away from it all at our Cloud 9 Spa or the Adult-Only Serenity Retreat, enjoy a standup show just for grown-ups at the Punchliner Comedy Club, indulge in a mouth-watering meal at Fahrenheit 555^ or The Chef’s Table^ or sip on a crafted cocktail at Alchemy Bar. Plus, you can relax knowing the kids will be having a ball at Night Owls^ while you enjoy the onboard entertainment. 

There’s plenty to enjoy together, too, from Family Feud Live and full-scale stage shows to digging into the best burgers you’ll find at sea with a meal at Guy’s Burger Joint. 

Check out all onboard activities.

Plan exciting excursions everyone will enjoy

No matter what your family’s into, there’s a boatload of shore excursions to suit all ages and all interests. 

Get up close and personal with local wildlife at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane – Australia’s biggest koala sanctuary – or snorkel with the turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Learn more about the local culture of our destinations with shore excursions like our Melanisian Encounter in Lifou, where you’ll visit historic sites and try bougna, New Caledonia’s traditional dish. In Auckland, watch a performance of the Maori haka, made famous by the All Blacks.  

For active adventurers, you could go zip lining in Fiji, explore the Tangalooma Shipwrecks by kayak, or race the family on Rotorua’s luge.

Sports fanatics will be racing down the gangplank for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while Lord of the Rings fans will be making a bee-line for the Weta Workshop experience in Auckland.  

No matter what shore excursion you want to do, we can’t say it enough – make sure you book in early so you don’t miss out! 

Check out all shore excursions.

Choose family-friendly cruise itineraries that everyone will love

2- to 4-day getaway cruises 

Our shorter cruise itineraries are perfect if you have a limited amount of time, or just want to give cruising a try for the first time. On our 3-Day Getaway Cruises, you’ll stay onboard throughout the cruise, so you can soak up everything our ships have to offer. On a four day getaway, you’ll stop at a destination like beautiful Airlie Beach or Moreton Island. 

 6- to 9-day cruise itineraries 

Head into international waters on one of our 6- to 9-day cruises. Our 8-Day South Pacific Cruise is the perfect way to tick off the best of the Pacific Islands. Closer to home, explore one of Australia’s crown jewels on a 6-Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise. 

10+ with day cruise itineraries 

If you’re dreaming of a longer holiday, why not try one of our 10+ day cruise itineraries? Sail to New Zealand on a 10 day cruise and enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park. Or take an epic 12-Day South Pacific Cruise and visit New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji – with plenty of time to enjoy everything onboard, too. 

Check out all family-friendly cruise itineraries.

Why families love sailing with Carnival Cruise Line

What don’t families love about Carnival is the real question. And the answer is: nothing. A Carnival holiday is all about fun for everyone – that’s why we have bucket loads of onboard activities and entertainment options for both kids and adults, delicious dining, exciting destinations and on-shore excursions. No matter whether you’re hanging out together or apart, everyone will be having the time of their lives. In fact, there’s so much to do, you can be sure the whole family will want to go cruising again and again. 

Book the family holiday of a lifetime

Ready to book a holiday that offers new experiences and adventures for the whole family every single day? From catching a show and exploring the shores of the Pacific Islands to sipping poolside cocktails and slip ‘n’ sliding down the Green Lighting Waterslide, a cruise is the ultimate way for families to holiday – and you’ll never have to hear “Are we there yet?”. 

Please note: onboard offering varies by ship and is subject to change. Charges apply to some items.