Cruising with the whole family
Cruises are also ideal for family holidays. The ships offer plenty of entertainment and activities for young and old alike. Here are five particularly family-friendly cruise lines
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is one of the most popular cruise lines amongst the Swiss. One reason for this is its wide range of family-friendly activities. Among other things, guests can look forward to spectacular water parks, bowling alleys, video game rooms and, depending on the ship, high-rope courses or racing simulators. There is also no shortage of exclusive experiences, such as the ‘Venom Drop @ The Spiral’ dry slide, which spans over eleven decks on the ‘MSC World Europa’. Children and teenagers are also well looked after on board. In five special clubs for passengers aged 0 to 17, they are looked after by a trained, multilingual crew certified in child protection. This also allows parents to take a breather and relax. When it comes to accommodation, families can count on cabins with connecting doors. Children under two years of age travel free of charge in their parents’ cabin. For up to two children aged 2 to 17 sharing a cabin with two adults, fixed children’s rates apply, subject to availability.
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises is also very popular with families. The big advantage of this Italian cruise line is that up to two children under the age of 18 can stay in the cabin with two adults free of charge – apart from ancillary costs such as port charges. Additional costs are incurred for things such as insurance, flights and transfers. The ‘Squok Club’ and the ‘Teens Club’ are available free of charge on all Costa ships. These are divided into age-appropriate groups, are open daily from 9 am to midnight, and offer a range of activities for children and teenagers both indoors and outdoors. The programme also includes special family excursions at various destinations, featuring games, treasure hunts or sporting activities, with the Squok Club team joining in too.
Norwegian Cruise Line
The ‘Aqua Slidecoaster’ on the ‘Norwegian Aqua’, a 420-metre-long go-kart track spanning three decks on the ‘Norwegian Prima’, or freefall slides: when it comes to special attractions at sea, Norwegian Cruise Line is always in the running. Consequently, the ships are a real thrill for families. Depending on the ship, young passengers on board can enjoy climbing walls, zip lines and various age-appropriate programmes such as ‘Guppies’ for the little ones, the ‘Splash Academy’ for children up to the age of twelve, or ‘Entourage’ for teenagers. The latter offers space for games, films and teen discos. NCL is also well catered for families when it comes to cabins. There are special family balcony cabins as well as cabins with connecting doors. Two-bedroom suites are ideal for larger families.
Royal Caribbean
If you’re looking for spectacular entertainment, Royal Caribbean is the place for you. Its ships are among the largest in the world and are like floating theme parks. In July 2026, the cruise line launched the ‘Legend of the Seas’, a cruise ship designed specifically with families in mind. Among other things, it features a water park with six water slides, as well as ‘Crown’s Edge’ – a paid attraction combining a skywalk, a high-rope course and a thrill ride at a height of around 47 metres. But the other ships in the fleet are no less generous when it comes to entertainment: creative studios, science labs and gaming lounges are just a few examples. And with the ‘Late Night Party Zone’ childcare programme (subject to a fee), parents can also enjoy a night off. Furthermore, the ships offer a variety of family cabin types.