7 reasons why you should go on a cruise for your next family holiday

If you like the idea of exploring different destinations in one trip but are put off by complicated logistics, and also love holidays that provide easy access to pools, kids’ clubs, restaurants and entertainment, a family cruise is a best-of-both-worlds solution. 

Waking up to a different backdrop each morning is a novelty that doesn’t wear off and the excitement of visiting new cities, resorts and beaches keeps things interesting for the whole family. Having a cabin to return to means you don’t have to unpack and re-pack suitcases along the way, and the convenience of having travel plans mapped out takes the stress out of hectic transfers with kids in tow.  

And if you book with MSC Cruises you’ll find onboard facilities that bring together all the things that kids love - pools, waterslides, fun activities, kid-friendly shows, as well as features that ensure parents can properly kick back and relax too (kids’ clubs, child-friendly menus, family excursions, 24-hour room service and spa treatments). 

There are boatloads of threads about family cruising on the Mumsnet holidays forum. Here are just some of the reasons why Mumsnet users love setting sail with kids.

1. It’s a great way to see lots of destinations in one trip

We met a lot of families like us who were treating the cruise like a floating taxi between interesting places; equally lots of families just loving the cruise experience and taking part in all of the clubs and activities on board.” RomaineCalm

The biggest pleasure though is visiting different places and not having to keep packing and unpacking!” - ajandjjmum

We did an MSC Cruises [trip] last year and loved it. Really want to book again! We did the Canary Islands cruise and friends have done the Mediterranean and Norwegian fjords and all had a great time.” Brazillio

A cruise holiday is a convenient way to cover a lot of ground in one trip. And there’s no easier way of putting together a multi-destination itinerary than by booking a cabin onboard a ship that drifts into new ports every few days. Often you’ll disembark and be able to wander around the local area on foot, or with companies like MSC Cruises you can join tours that are specifically tailored to families. Family Fun excursions are run by local guides and prices are discounted for kids (children under two are free of charge and you can get up to 30% off tickets for kids aged 3 to 13). 

It’s also a fantastic way to get to grips with a specific region like Greece where you can hop between islands like Rhodes, Santorini, Corfu and Mykonos, or tick off stunning Italian cities (Venice, Rome and Naples) in one go.  

-Mumsnet user, CoolShoeshine

2. It’s excellent value for money

Cruises are amazing value for money, the service is great and so is the food.” - VickyEadieofThigh

Our MSC cruises have been excellent value. The ships are absolutely gorgeous, clean and sparkling. The cabin was the nicest and most comfortable we have ever had. We have booked another cruise with them as their prices are very competitive.” Greenteandchives 

Paying upfront for a cruise holiday means that your cabin accommodation, flights (depending on the itinerary), food, soft drinks (tea, coffee, water) and entertainment are all taken care of and you’ll also get access to kids’ clubs and be able to use sports facilities onboard. All the basics are covered before you’ve even set foot on the ship and a package price can make managing the family finances a little easier. Food isn’t limited to three meals a day either - you’ll be able to take advantage of snack bars and ice cream throughout your trip and on family-friendly ships, there’s typically a children’s dining area and kid-friendly menus. 

On MSC Cruises ships you’ll find kids’ menus that have been created in collaboration with the Osservatorio Chicco Baby Research Center. 

MSC Virtuosa is perfect for families

3. There’s so much for kids to do

We took our 10 and 4 year old on a cruise last year and loved it… there was so much to do. They both loved the evening entertainment, there was ice skating, arcade games, quizzes, pools, hot tubs. It was great.” Newuser75

We’ve gone on several cruises with 2 teenagers, one loved the kids club, the other enjoyed doing quizzes, watching films and just chilling in cabin on sea days. It really covered everyone’s needs for a great holiday.” - Mindymomo

Despite the excitement of dropping anchor in a new port, you might find it hard to drag kids off the ship given the variety of fun things to do onboard. Family-friendly cruise ships feature kids’ clubs with tailored activities for different age groups and you’ll find a daily roster of sports, games, competitions, crafts and more.

On MSC Cruises ships there are five separate kids’ clubs that cater to kids from six months to 17 years. The baby club offers a creche service run by qualified staff and kid-friendly activities include sports tournaments, quizzes and Doremi family discos. 

MSC has partnered with Lego so you’ll find Lego-themed activities and dedicated Lego play areas on all ships. And there’s even a Drone Academy obstacle course onboard MSC Grandiosa.

Other fun amenities include aquaparks, ziplines, MSC Formula Racer simulators, XD cinemas and video games rooms. 

For parental peace of mind, it’s worth knowing that MSC ships feature modern medical centres with 24/7 specialist paediatric telemedicine support, and the baby laundry service collects clothes from cabins and delivers them clean and sterilised.

4. The food is fab (and plentiful)

The food is like a good 5* hotel and there’s a selection of restaurants.” Zipps 

We love it! Been on several. The food is fab, it’s multiple courses at dinner. So you order a starter, a salad, a pasta or risotto, a main then a desert.” picklemepopcorn

I'm going on my third MSC cruise next month and I loved the two I've been on already. The food is lovely, plenty of variety” honeyrider 

One of the many highlights of a cruise holiday is the variety of food on offer. From buffet breakfasts to alfresco lunches to speciality evening meals, you won’t go hungry onboard. And because there’s so much choice, you can keep every member of the family happy at mealtimes. 

Families can take advantage of early dinner times - a great way to cater to hangry kids and to avoid the crowds.  

On MSC Cruises ships there’s a kids’ corner at each buffet restaurant featuring fun and healthy dishes, and there’s also a dedicated children’s area for family dining. Speciality restaurants feature kids’ menus and you can arrange for the kids’ club staff to dine with your kids if you fancy an adult-only meal elsewhere. You can even get meals delivered straight to your cabin if you fancy a quiet meal in. 

5. You can set sail straight from the UK

We’ve done 2 cruises out of Southampton. We did the parking at the port where you park, the porter takes your luggage from the boot straight to the cabin and you just check in and walk onto the ship with just your handbag. Honesty the easiest holiday we’ve ever had by a mile!" worldwandering

Skip lengthy airport queues and start your holiday from UK shores with a no-fly cruise. Being able to board a ship in the UK really does set you up for a hassle-free holiday as you don't have to worry about strict luggage restrictions or think about how to entertain the kids when navigating through a busy airport or contend with flight delays and cancellations. 

Most cruise lines have a generous luggage allowance, particularly when boarding from the UK, making it easy for families to ensure that they don't have to sacrifice favourite toys or essential kids' gadgets in order to comply with airline restrictions. 

MSC Cruises for example has a maximum limit of eight pieces of luggage (not exceeding 100kg) for all passengers in the same cabin, giving you plenty of freedom and flexibility. 

MSC Virtuosa departs from Southampton and is a fabulous family-friendly ship. It features five pools and a fun waterpark as well as a sports complex, an arcade, kids' clubs, a luxury spa and a stunning indoor promenade lined with boutiques and restaurants. Itineraries that depart from Southampton include the Norwegian Fjords, the Iberian Coast and the Caribbean. 

6. The evening entertainment is excellent

We saw a few shows and they were good - the two paid shows were amazing! The evening entertainment was fantastic 🤩” Brazillio

MSC is considerably cheaper, the new ships are absolutely stunning and the entertainment amazing. We hardly saw our teens during the 2 weeks, except for dinner and port days!” - CruiseOver

Swap screen time for stage time onboard a cruise where you can expect to see a dazzling array of live theatre, musicals and Broadway-style productions. And on family-friendly ships there are often early shows for kids allowing you to stick to some kind of routine. 

Some paid-for shows take things up a notch in terms of quality and production and wouldn’t feel out of place in the West End. MSC’s Carousel Productions at Sea show brings together acrobatics, dance and live music for an immersive experience and is perfect for older kids and teens. 

Away from the stage, you’ll find fun evening activities like bowling alleys, driving simulators, arcades and cinemas so there’s plenty to squeeze in before bedtime. 

There are typically evening kids’ club sessions on offer too if you wanted to snatch a couple of hours of child-free wining and dining. 

7. It’s a floating hotel!

We did two connecting rooms, overlooking promenade, so no balcony. It worked out fine. We had the connecting door open most of the time, but nice to have the option for privacy, the extra bathroom and the extra space.” - 80sgirly 

A lot of families get a nice roomy balcony cabin with an inside cabin opposite to cut the cost. Once you are on board you may be able to mix & match who sleeps where.” Numbersaremything

Whether you’re in an inside cabin or a balcony suite, your kids will no doubt love the novelty of being lulled to sleep by the waves and waking up in a different destination every day. 

And with a huge range of cabin configurations on offer, there are options for families of all sizes. When your kids are small, you can bundle into the same cabin (cots are available but need to be pre-booked) and when they (you) need extra space, there are interconnecting rooms available - great for teens looking for a bit of privacy and families needing extra bathroom space.

Mumsnetters are split on whether to opt for an inside or external cabin with many stating that because there are so many things to do onboard and when docked, the cabin is literally just for sleeping in and not worth the added cost. Others believe fresh air, natural light and ocean views are well worth paying extra for. 

On MSC Cruises you can book interconnecting cabins that can sleep up to 10 people. 

About MSC Cruises

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe, South America, the Middle East and Southern Africa, with a strong and growing presence in North America and the Far East.

The MSC Cruises fleet consists of 22 modern ships with three new vessels due to be launched in 2025, 2026, and 2027.

The company operates in more than 100 countries around the world, offering cruises across five continents, calling at more than 300 destinations and welcoming more than 180 different nationalities on board.

MSC Cruises is firmly committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its marine operations by 2050.

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel. She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London, and worked as an Editor at Cruise Critic. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far.