Why Princess ships are a big hit with kids

Babies and toddlers (aged from six months to 2 years) are welcome to join us with a parent in Camp Discovery, a dedicated space filled with plenty to keep their senses and inquisitive minds occupied. Children aged 3 to 7 years can join in the fun at The Treehouse, a bright, forest-themed space built for hands-on play and learning, while those aged 8 to 12 years are welcome at The Lodge, which is also inspired by the great outdoors and is home to sports facilities and plenty of comfy lounge areas for tweens to hang out. In terms of activities, scavenger hunts, dance classes, gaming competitions, board games, mini golf, yoga, talent shows, themed nights, Lego building contests, cake decorating, arts and crafts, and jewellery and puppet making will be on offer, depending on your itinerary.

Tearing themselves away from their screens won’t be a problem when onboard. The contemporary-styled Beach House is a retreat for 13-17 year olds, and is the perfect environment for making friends, chilling out and having some parent-free fun, including playing air hockey, foosball and ping-pong, and taking part in video game tournaments and dance classes. Our evening Rock the Boat Party is a chance for teens to dress up, dance and enjoy a mocktail or two with newfound friends. Guests aged 18-20 years will be granted access to Club 1820, which includes invites to secret and exclusive events with no parents and no little siblings.

All of our ships boast outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs and space for various open-air sports tournaments, but there are some ships that offer even more outside fun for the whole family. Exclusive to Caribbean Princess is the Reef Family Splash Zone, an interactive splash pad with showers, sprays and jets coming straight from a whale’s spout. There are also oversized garden games and a child-friendly bar, along with shaded loungers when some downtime is needed. On Sun Princess, both kids and adults will go wild for Park19, an outdoor family fun zone featuring nine different activities. The innovative space includes Sea Breeze, the first-ever Rollglider on a cruise ship; Coastal Climb, enabling guests to ascend from decks 19 to 20 through a series of obstacles; and The Lookout open-air observation deck, where you can take in 360-degree views across the ocean. There’ll also be a relaxing hammock area, waterjets and a jogging track, alongside much, much more.

As well as meeting lots of new, human friends while onboard, kids can also make fluffy or feathered pals with our Animal Planet programme. Selected Alaska itineraries feature Puppies in the Piazza, when Skagway’s newest sled dogs come aboard, while selected Caribbean itineraries showcase Parrots in the Piazza, where guests can meet some of the islands’ most colourful birds. As part of our Discovery at SEA programme (available on selected itineraries), kids can also try stargazing and learn about the solar system; take part in games, crafts and trivia for Shark Week; and solve an onboard heist whodunnit – and that’s all just for starters.

After a busy day of splashing at the pool or exploring brilliant port stops, there’s nothing better than settling in for some exciting entertainment. The Princess Theatre and Princess Arena are home to an array of productions, including pop music dance acts, virtual reality musical shows, magic, opera and The Voice of the Ocean, our very own singing competition at sea. Movies Under the Stars enables the whole family to watch old favourites and modern classics out on deck, snuggled under a cosy blanket, with popcorn, cookies and milk.

Even if your brood are fussy eaters, there’ll be something onboard to fill their stomachs and put a smile on their faces. For babies, we offer complimentary jarred food, as well as fresh, pureed food in selected dining venues. For older children, we’ve got handmade pizzas at Slice, our pizzeria out on deck; succulent burgers and tasty tacos at the Salty Dog Grill; delicious gelato; and food from all over the globe in our World Fresh Marketplace. And that’s without even mentioning our traditional dining rooms, where guests can feast on pasta, steak, fresh fish and a range of classic dishes. With our all-inclusive packages, it’s easy for kids to try new things as well as fill up on their favourites. We even host kids-only dinners, teens-only dinners and ice cream and pizza parties on selected voyages. While the kids eat with their friends, you can enjoy a relaxing, child-free meal – it’s a win-win!

On the subject of mealtimes, you can use the Princess Cruises app to customise your dining preferences, including letting us know your preferred pace and alerting us to any dietary requirements, thus resulting in fewer meltdowns! Our MedallionClass experience offers contactless boarding, keyless stateroom entry, onboard navigation and location tracking, plus the ability to order food, drinks and boutique items directly to wherever you are on the ship. In addition, our fast and reliable MedallionNet Wi-Fi will keep the gang entertained throughout the holiday, too, allowing them to stream TV services, message, video call and access social media. Now, that will keep them sweet!