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The Family Vacation Guide

8 of the Best Cruises for a Family of 5

posted by Charmaine Cortes on January 5, 2023 // last updated on January 11, 2023

Cruise vacations are excellent for relaxation and exploring new destinations. They are also very convenient for planning as cruise ships provide transportation, accommodation, and entertainment. 

That said, finding the right cruise vacation can be challenging, especially when trying to cater to a bigger family. If you are searching for a cruise for a family of 5, read our list below and find the one that best fits your family’s needs.

Royal Caribbean

Disney cruise line, princess cruise line, carnival cruise line, norwegian cruise line, msc cruises , costa cruises, celebrity cruises.

The Royal Caribbean cruises are designed for family vacations providing amenities and activities for guests from multiple generations. The ships from Royal Caribbean offer fun and educational activities for kids and teens as well as many evening shows and events for adult cruisers. 

With Royal Caribbean, you don’t need to worry about planning a vacation, as each ship provides dining options, activities for all ages and preferences, and outstanding entertainment.

Activities on board 

Each cruise ship offers so much to do to fill your days with fun while onboard. The cruisers can play on the water slides, participate in laser tag battles, play mini golf, and do much more. There is also a surf simulator and zip lining for adventurers. 

The cruisers can also try rock climbing, go-karts, ice skating, playing an escape room game, and jumping on the trampolines. The activities vary from one ship to another, but each one offers many activities for the cruisers. 

Entertainment 

During the night, the Royal Caribbean cruise provides musicals and shows that you can enjoy with your whole family. From productions from Broadway and ice skating shows to aqua theater shows, such cruises provide a variety of entertainment. 

The full-scale productions happen every night on every cruise and feature award-winning shows.

Dining 

To fuel your body between the adventures and the onboard activities, Royal Caribbean has restaurants providing delicious meals from a variety of cuisines across the world. There are dining and beverage packages, complimentary dining, and specialty dining venues with a broad selection of foods. 

Cruise rooms 

The Royal Caribbean ships have modern cruise rooms designed with every type of guest in mind. The cruise rooms are stylish and offer plenty of room and comfort, making their ships suitable for larger families. 

There are spacious interiors and connecting rooms to accommodate larger families and staterooms for couples. You can also opt for luxury cruise suite accommodations that will elevate your vacation experience to another level.

If you would like to surprise your family with a magical vacation experience, the Disney Cruise Line might be the best option for you. The cruise ships from Disney combine fun and relaxation, providing activities for the whole family.

The Disney Cruise Ships never disappoints when it comes to entertainment, dining venues, and amenities for the guests and this cruise line attracts plenty of travelers every year. 

The Disney Cruise Line is known for meet and greets with Mickey Mouse, Disney princesses, and other popular Disney characters. 

Every day is an adventure on the Disney Cruise Ships, which offers fun activities for the whole family, making the journey very exciting. 

Aside from Disney character experiences, the cruisers can also expect themed deck parties and 3D Disney movies. 

The imaginative youth clubs allow the children to learn and play in large play spaces, while the adults-only areas on the ship include many bars and pubs. 

The Disney Cruise also features pools and recreation activities, including waterslides, a spa and salon, and sports and fitness centers.

Throughout the voyage, the family-friendly cruise ships offer live musicals for the whole family and magnificent firework shows. 

The Disney Cruise Lines have many live shows based on classic Disney movies that are suitable for guests of all ages.

The Disney Cruise Line offers many dining options for the cruisers, including themed restaurants, poolside snacks, and 24-hour room service. 

The food is prepared by renowned chefs who are known to accommodate customers with different dietary restrictions. There are also themed nightclubs and lounges for the adult cruisers

Their spacious cabins can easily accommodate a family of 5, and they typically come with two bathrooms, allowing more people to get ready at the same time. 

The largest Concierge-level suites can accommodate up to 7 people, so you can easily find a stateroom for your needs by providing the number of guests while booking.

Princess offers cruise vacations for every generation. You can choose from popular cruise destinations and participate in fun activities to spend quality time with your family. The Princess Cruise Lines are also known for excellent food and service. 

This American cruise line hosts numerous passengers every year and their family-friendly ships such as the Caribean Princess offer plenty of fun activities for the children including a youth and teen center, a splash zone, HD movies under the stars, and a lot more. 

What differentiates Princess cruise vacations from so many others is that the ships provide destination-themed activities such as traditional live performances, dance lessons, and local dishes served at the restaurants.

Among the fun ship activities are festival celebrations and multimedia presentations provided by local destination experts. 

The adults on the cruise can also learn to prepare gourmet specialties, do wine tasting, participate in world-class gaming, and attend art history lectures. 

During your Princess cruise voyage, you can also take a dip in the sparkling freshwater pools or relax in the hot tubs. The Princess ship cruises also have activities for sports enthusiasts and allow the guests to participate in fun dance classes. 

Princess also offers unique activities such as Discovery and Animal Planet shore excursions. One of their kid-friendly cruises, Caribbean Princess, includes Camp Discovery Youth and Teen Center and HD Movies Under the Stars. 

There is also a Reef Family Splash Zone that features an interactive water playground with a splash pool. 

The Princess Cruise Lines feature plenty of dazzling live shows from performers around the globe. The cruise ships provide plenty of hit production shows.

Apart from the shows, the cruisers can also participate in game shows such as Deal or no Deal, and The Voice of the Ocean, based on the popular singing competition, and attend magician and comedian shows, watch movies at the poolside movie theater, and more. 

The chefs from the Princess Cruise Lines offer many tasty dishes that tell stories of their own. You can opt for a formal dinner or order from casual eateries with your family. 

Moreover, the guests can order their favorite foods and drinks and have them delivered with free delivery.

Room suites 

The room suites from the Princess Cruise Line can easily accommodate large family groups. The cruisers can choose from inside cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins, and suits, depending on the cruise ship and their needs and preferences.

The Carnival Cruise Line is an excellent option for those looking for an affordable cruise for a family of 5. The ship cruises feature spacious cabins for larger families and various onboard attractions. 

The family-friendly ships offer some of the most entertaining voyages for children and adult cruisers and offer affordable prices for the amenities. 

With the Carnival Cruise Line, you can explore great destinations and join popular onboard activities such as ‘Family Feud Live’, Waterworks, and Skyride. 

The adults can also join a Cloud 9 spa and the serenity adult-only retreat. The carnival Cruise ships also include parties, shops, fitness, and more.

The adult cruisers can also have a fun night in the nightclubs, join themed parties or visit the casino. 

On such a cruise, the whole family can have an excellent time during the vacation and enjoy live music and comedy shows. The cruising ships also feature karaoke, a theater, and a piano bar. 

The guests on the cruise have several dining choices, such as a steakhouse, a sea day brunch, a seafood shack, and many restaurants, which makes it a fantastic cruise line afloat. Aside from the various dining choices, the Carnival cruise ships also have themed bars for adult cruisers.

The Carnival Cruise Line caters to all types of passengers. Hence, they have many options when it comes to accommodation. Larger families can choose from flexible staterooms, connecting rooms, and suite rooms with an extra bathroom. 

Aside from the large cabins with enough space for up to five passengers, you can also book a family harbor suite and get a family lounge with Wi-Fi, snacks, movies, games, and other essentials.

If you and your family would like to experience new fun activities on board, you can look into the Norwegian Cruise Line deals. From music mania, ropes course, and laser tag to waterslides, Broadway musicals, and live performances, these cruise ships have something to offer for every passenger.

The Norwegian Cruise Line is known for their fun water parks, slides, and activities for cruisers of different generations. The children can join the splash academy and showcase their artistic skills. 

They can also enjoy themed parties and gaming, burn energy in the dynamic zone or relax in the chill zone; one thing is for sure, the activities make sure that no passenger gets bored during their vacation.

The newer Norwegian Cruise ships also offer VR experiences, bowling, and go-karting. Aside from the thrilling race track, the cruisers can also hang the largest ropes course, do rock climbing, and participate in other fun activities.

The cruisers can also relax on a chaise lounge, rejuvenate at the spa or have an energizing workout at the fitness centers. The Norwegian Cruise line also offers shore excursions for the cruisers. 

The Norwegian Cruise Line provides award-winning entertainment for the guests. During the night, the guests can enjoy watching musicals and shows, attending live music performances, or joining themed parties. 

The cruise ships also provide game and comedy shows as well as a variety of other exclusive entertainment.

The Norwegian Cruise line is very flexible when it comes to the dining system, so many eateries onboard allow families to plan their meals according to their liking and provide them with many food options.

The cruisers can enjoy various complimentary, specialty, and family dining options that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. 

All of the cruising ships offer crafted menus with every guest in mind. The guest can visit the Main Dining Rooms, go to the Buffets, or choose food from casual eateries. Their renewed chefs offer original dishes made with the finest ingredients, ensuring an incredible dining experience.

The Norwegian Cruise line has family mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, and inside staterooms. Also, most of their ships have 2-bedroom family suites near the kids’ area.

The ship’s ocean-view cabins are suitable for larger families, but you also have the option to connect cabins or book a family suite for extra space and access to a private pool and a restaurant. 

MSC Cruises has one of the largest glamorous cruises offering excellent family deals. Given their partnership with LEGO, their cruise ships ensure that the children have a lot of fun on board. 

With MSC Cruises, you can visit amazing destinations and have an exciting vacation with your family. The MSC Cruises are also suitable for families with babies. Many of their ships have baby areas, special baby menus, and push chairs. 

The cruise ship activities provided by MSC Cruises ensure fun times during the day and at night. From the F1 simulator, bowling, and billiard room to arcade games and 4D cinema, there are plenty of activities to do and spend quality time with your family. 

The MSC Cruise lines also have a kid’s club devoted to LEGO building. Among the activities they offer is a Family Game Show, which is a competition for the whole family to dance and do selfie challenges. The passengers who like dancing can also join the Family Disco for a special disco time. 

For those passengers who enjoy outdoor activities, the Italian cruise line has zip lines, waterparks, swimming pools, and others, such as taking a skywalk on the Himalayan bridge and witnessing breathtaking ocean views.

MSC Cruises offers Broadway shows with international artists to entertain guests. The cruisers can also enjoy watching Carousel Production Sea shows with dance and live music, acrobatics, and innovative technology, offering world-class entertainment.

When it comes to dining, MSC Cruises offers packages from various cuisines, including Mediterranean and Asian. The packages offer many dining options suitable for everyone’s taste. 

You also have the option to book specialty dining packages in advance for a discounted price and enjoy an incredible dining experience. There are also drink packages for everyone, offering cocktails, premium drinks, alcohol-free packages, and minor packages. 

The MSC Cruises have spacious ocean-view cabins for larger family groups. However, you can also choose from the variety of connecting family cabins suitable for accommodation for up to 10 people. There are also duplex suites, grand suites, royal suites, and other cruise accommodations. 

With Costa Cruises , you can explore destinations across the world from a different perspective. With bright and sophisticated rooms, delicious food, and plenty of family-friendly activities, there is something for everyone’s taste on these cruises. 

For the athletic cruisers, there are also equipped gyms, sports activities and tournaments, swimming pools and hot tubs, and massage and beauty treatments. 

With Costa Cruises, your cruise holiday can be filled with a lot of fun. The ships feature slides and waterparks, shows at the theater, game rooms, and more. Their cruising ships feature an Aqua Park dedicated to children where they can safely play water games.

There is also a Rope Garden Adventure Park for adventurers, an Outdoor Peppa Pig Area for family gathering moments, and a mini golf area for exciting challenges. The cruises have activities and games intended for every age group. 

There is also a Squok Club for arts and crafts with their entertainers and a teen zone offering board games, table tennis, and many sports tournaments. 

Certain Costa Cruise ships, such as Costa Esmeralda and Costa Toscana, also have babysitting services for families traveling with babies. 

The cruise lines offer entertainment throughout the day and the night. In the evening, the guests can enjoy watching shows and live performances at the theater, making the holidays an unforgettable experience. 

From comedy shows, musicals, games, acrobats, and more, the shows are designed for passengers of different age groups and preferences. 

The Costa Cruising ships not only provide an exploration of different places but also offer flavors from different regions of the world. 

The renowned chefs make a signature dish every night and offer destination dishes that represent the destination you are about to visit. 

The cruise ships have various themed restaurants. There are also wine bars for adults, ice cream parlors, and chocolate bars the whole family can enjoy.

Each of the suites on the Costa Cruises has its style, but they are all designed with modern touches. You can also book suites featuring a balcony allowing you to enjoy a scenic view while relaxing. Costa Cruises offers different suites, including large ones for families with multiple children. 

Celebrity Cruises boast large and luxurious cruising ships with technology features for an exclusive holiday experience. This is a cruise line designed for people with older children who value comfort and style while traveling.

These cruise lines are also designed for passengers with mobility issues in mind, and their attentive crew is always ready for assistance. The cruise lines provide a unique, comfortable, and fun experience, no matter your destination.

Activities on board

These cruising ships’ activities enable you to create memories and spend quality time with your family. 

Celebrity Cruises offer adventurous excursions on land and plenty of onboard activities, such as Xbox stations for video game tournaments, swimming in pools, archery tournaments, hot glass classes, and more. 

The cruise ships also provide spa and wellness treatments specially designed for teens. Moreover, they have autism-friendly ships with many products, services, and menu options. The ships also offer photography packages and cruise shopping.

Celebrity Cruises don’t disappoint when it comes to unique entertainment. The guests can gather for a movie night under the stars or participate in silent disco parties. There are also live music performances during the day and night and unpredictable parties that will make your voyage even more exciting. 

This cruising line also has an entertainment center and a program for children and teens. The Camp at the Sea program schedules activities based on the interest of the cruisers. The program covers art, recreation, culinary, and S.T.E.M. and has designed more than 500 activities.

The adult guests can also view main-stage productions with music, incredible acrobatics, and acting. On such a cruise ship, you can play Deal and no Deal, inspired by the popular game show, or play Bingo Express.

The delicious food also contributes to an amazing vacation experience. Hence, the renowned chefs from Celebrity Cruises offer appetizing scents and flavors. Here you can find specialty restaurants, various bars and lounges, and exclusive signature dishes. There is also an in-room kid’s menu with many delicious options.

Staterooms and suites

Celebrity Cruises have luxurious accommodations suitable for both solo travelers and bigger families with multiple children. The spacious styling rooms have exquisite bedding and offer picturesque views for the guests. All of their rooms have a modern style.

If you are looking for a cruise for a family of 5, cruise lines such as the ones we have reviewed in this post can be an excellent option for your next holiday. Such cruise ships have spacious cabins for large families and offer various onboard activities for passengers of all age groups. 

The cruises also offer dining specialties from different cuisines and offer entertaining shows during the evenings.

Cruising makes for a unique cruising experience to spend with your family and have quality time together.

More about our TFVG Author

Charmaine Cortes

Cruising With a Family of 5? How to Find Your Best Stateroom Options

• June 19, 2023

Are you planning a cruise with a family of 5 and curious about your stateroom options? The first time I planned a vacation for my family, I quickly learned that most vacation packages and hotels are not designed to accommodate a family of 5. I’m just going to assume that it doesn’t get any easier with families larger than 5, only more expensive.  

I never even considered a cruise when my kids were young, as I couldn’t bear the thought of all five of us crammed into one room, if it was even an option. Cabins onboard cruise ships tend to be very small. They are much smaller than your average hotel room, so if you like to be able to spread out in your room at the end of the day while on vacation, a traditional cabin on a cruise ship is probably not your best option.

If you are travelling on a budget, there are not a lot of alternatives, but there are a few options to consider when selecting your stateroom.

While travel will always be a little more challenging for families of 5, cruise ships actually do have many different cabin options, so it actually is possible to accommodate large families. It just may take a little creativity if you don’t want to break the bank.

Table of Contents

Inside Cabins

Your least expensive option for a stateroom is an inside cabin, although these rooms generally only accommodate a maximum of 4 people.  

Inside cabins are exactly that, inside cabins. They are located on the inside of the ship, so there is no window or view to the outside. If you are the type of person who easily feels claustrophobic, you will probably want to avoid staying in an inside cabin.

This class of cabin is generally configured with 2 twins or one queen bed, and either have pull down bunks above or a pullout sofa. They remind me of a small college dorm room. So probably great for kids, but I’d rather not stay in one if I have a choice.

There are some cruise lines such as Norwegian Cruise Line that offer inside family cabins that can accommodate up to 5 people. However, you should bear in mind that cruise fares are charged per person, not per stateroom. As a result, inside cabins might not always be the best option unless they are offering a substantial discount on additional passengers (i.e. 3rd and 4th passenger sail free promotions etc.).

Oceanview Cabins

Oceanview cabins are very similar to inside cabins with one exception, they have a small window or porthole with a view of the ocean. In addition, some of these cabins are offered at a reduced fare, as they have an obstructed view. This basically just means that there is something outside your window blocking your view of the ocean (like a lifeboat or a large post or something similar).

Recently, there are cruise lines like Royal Caribbean , Norwegian , and Disney that offer virtual portholes or balconies that allow passengers to see the view outside the ship from their inside cabins. Important to note, though, these are still inside cabins, not actual oceanview cabins.

Whether you have a virtual ocean view or just a small window in your cabin, I would still hesitate to book this room unless it is a great deal, as it might feel cramped with a family of 5.  For a party of two, this option is probably fine, as you most likely won’t be spending a lot of time in your room.  

As previously mentioned, fares are charged per passenger by cruise lines, not per cabin, so unless the passenger fare is largely discounted, you will pay a substantial amount to cram your entire family in one room with no option for fresh air (Note: cruise ship windows do not open). 

I have 3 boys so I am familiar with what a room might smell like after a week with no fresh air, and I say “no thank you”.

Balcony or Veranda Cabins

By far, the most popular stateroom on a cruise ship is the balcony or veranda cabin. Balcony cabins are slightly larger than inside or oceanview cabins, and they include a small outdoor seating area. 

For larger families, this room will have a sofa bed and may also have a pull down bunk area. Balcony rooms are still fairly small, and the only separation between the beds is a curtain that can be pulled for a little privacy between the sofa bed and main sleeping area.

If you are travelling on a budget, this is probably your best option for a family. Although depending on the price per passenger, you might want to consider booking more than one room so you have a little more room when you want to unwind.

Suites are the largest and most expensive cabins on a cruise ship. They range from a slightly larger balcony room that includes a sitting area, all the way up to a 2-storey suite that could rival any luxury condo.

Check out the new Ultimate Family Suite on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas for an example of what you can book if money is no object and you are interested in pure overindulgence.

On the other hand, if you are travelling with a large family and want to stay in the same cabin, but would rather not be on top of each other, there are a few less expensive options, such as Princess’s 2-bedroom family suite that can accommodate up to 8 people.

Your Best Options

Keeping all of the above stateroom categories in mind, while it is possible to book a single stateroom for your entire family, I don’t recommend it unless you are booking one of the larger family-style suites.

Most standard staterooms on a cruise ship are under 200 square feet, so trust me when I tell you, you will feel cramped with 5 people in one room. And if, like me, you aren’t looking to spend $20,000++ for 7 days in a luxury suite you will want to consider one of these other options:

Adjoining Cabins

It is possible to book adjoining cabins on most cruise ships, so this is a great option if you want to have all of your family together in the same space, but require a little more room. 

Adjoining rooms are two identical rooms that have a door separating them that can be unlocked to convert the rooms into one large room. You can book two balcony cabins or two inside cabins, depending on your preference and budget.  

Booking two adjoining cabins is less expensive than a luxury suite, and in some cases will offer more space and privacy. And let me just point out that having two bathrooms is a game changer when travelling with a large family. For me, that alone makes it worth booking the extra room.

Balcony / Inside Cabin Combination

While booking adjoining rooms is a great option if you have young kids so you are able to have eyes on them at all times, with older kids another option is to book a balcony room with an inside cabin across the hall. 

This way you will get a little privacy from your kids and they will enjoy the freedom of having their own room. It is cheaper than booking two balcony cabins and the family can always hang out together in the balcony room, and the kids can just use their cabin to sleep and shower etc.

Truthfully, this is my favourite option with teenagers. It works best for our family, and I strongly recommend trying it. 

Adjoining Balconies Only

If you prefer to have two connecting balcony cabins, but don’t want to pay the extra fee for adjoining cabins there is another “little known” option.  

Just book side-by-side balcony staterooms that are not adjoining, and when you board the ship you can request that your ship stewards remove the balcony partitions between the two rooms.  Viola!  You now essentially have adjoining cabins that are connected by your balcony at no extra cost.

With this option, the key is to wait until you board the ship to request removal of the partition. This is because if you ask about it at the time of booking you will be advised to book adjoining cabins instead.  

I only recently learned of this option, and have yet to try it, but it sounds like a great alternative to adjoining rooms. The bonus with this option is you end up with a double-sized balcony for the whole family to enjoy.  I can’t wait to try it.

Leave the Kids at Home

The final option worth considering is to just leave one, or all of the kids at home. My husband and I tried both of these options and of the two, I preferred the latter.

Okay, I’m kidding. I actually preferred the cruise when our boys were with us, but there is something to be said for saving a little money and booking a getaway for two .  And as far as leaving one of the kids at home, the one we left at home was 19 at the time, and trust me, that was his preference!

So as you can see, although it is a little more challenging to book a stateroom as a family of 5, it is not impossible. Cruise lines have multiple options to meet your needs both on and off a budget.

Are you aware of any other options that I have neglected to mention? Please share in the comments.  

And if you are thinking about booking a cruise , I’d love to help, no matter the size of your group!

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• MSC Cruises

Ships with cabins for 5 people?

By gkrnjlr , September 1, 2013 in MSC Cruises

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We are a family of 5 and our kids are too young to go into a cabin by themselves. At one time I had a list of three (?) ships that MSC has that have some cabins that hold 5. Does anyone know which ships will accommodate 5 in one cabin without going into a suite?

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We are a family of 5 and our kids are too young to go into a cabin by themselves. At one time I had a list of three (?) ships that MSC has that have some cabins that hold 5. Does anyone know which ships will accommodate 5 in one cabin without going into a suite?   Thanks!   Jennifer

All the LIRICA class MSC ships (Lirica, Opera, Armonia, and Sinfonia) have 2 "Family Cabins" . Cabin Nos 9003 and 9006 (on all four ships). THese cabins are designated as 4 berth cabins, but you may be able to fit a family of 5 if the children are young and as such small. Although it may mean 3 children on pull out sofas

here is the floor plan of a Family Cabin

Hope this helps

Thank you very much! I appreciate your help!

Hi Jennifer,

We sailed on the Opera in April 2013 and had cabins 9003 and 9006 (two adults, two teenagers, one preschooler, and Grandma). The diagram Pete posted gives you a great idea of the layout. The bedroom has two beds that can be made into one two-person bed, plus a fold-down bed on the wall with the door (the opposite wall has a window which faces forward on the ship--outside the window there is a balcony which you can access from the hallway). The sofa in the other room folds out into a bed. I would describe the sofabed as larger than an American twin-size (single) bed, but smaller than a double bed. Two very small people could share it, if they get along well. :-) The room would work for a family with three small kids, if MSC will allow it. As Pete said, it is listed as a four-person cabin and really only has beds for four. I wish MSC would put in a bigger sofa bed and offer it for five, especially since they don't have many connecting oceanview cabins as an alternative.

Contact MSC and see what they say. We loved these cabins and would recommend them highly! Let us know what you learn, and let me know if you have any more questions about the cabin.

dogandchief

I just had a quick look on 2013 brochure (UK version) and it says they have a new type of super-size cabin, called '' SUPER FAMILY CABIN '' currently available on MSC Prezioza and Divina. Basically 2 x inter-connecting 3 berth cabins and it sleeps to upto 6 people and it's at a fixed rate for the whole two cabins (i.e. the same cost for 5 or 6 people).

http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/Ships/MSC-Preziosa/Cabins-Suites.aspx

http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/Ships/MSC-Divina.aspx

(you'll need to click onto 'page 3')

Super Family Cabins plan

Ooh, interesting! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if the price is any different from just booking two cabins. I guess you would be assured the connecting cabins, at least.

I have seen this aswell. Though,looking at the plans, i fail to see any difference to the adloining cabins we have booked on Preziosa at half the cost????

I get the feeling that the cabin numbers which are listed as 'super family cabins' can be only booked as such (i.e. 5 or 6 people for a fixed rate) and can not be split up and booked as 2 separate cabins....

Can anyone tell where on the ship the "super family cabins" are, and how many there are? It's not even listed as a cabin type on MSC's US website...compare dogandchief's link

with the same page on the US site

http://www.msccruisesusa.com/us_en/Ships/MSC-Preziosa/Cabins-Suites.aspx

MSC likes to keep us guessing, don't they?

Can anyone tell where on the ship the "super family cabins" are, and how many there are? It's not even listed as a cabin type on MSC's US website...compare dogandchief's link http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/Ships/MSC-Preziosa/Cabins-Suites.aspx with the same page on the US site http://www.msccruisesusa.com/us_en/Ships/MSC-Preziosa/Cabins-Suites.aspx :confused:   MSC likes to keep us guessing, don't they?

Hi Pluto fan

Just found an 'updated' version of deck plans on MSC Australia's website.

These are new deck plans for NOV 2013 onwards...

Super Family cabins are clearly marked on these now!

http://www.msccruises.com.au/au_en/Images/MSC-Preziosa_DeckPlans_Corporate2013_tcm39-79833.pdf

http://www.msccruises.com.au/au_en/Images/MSC-Divina_DeckPlans_Corporate2013_tcm39-79825.pdf

Hope this helps :)

Wonderful, thank you!

Wow, I'm surprised there are so many of them. I hope the idea catches on and MSC expands it across the fleet (unless the price is the same as two balcony cabins, then it doesn't really matter!).

• 4 years later...

All the LIRICA class MSC ships (Lirica, Opera, Armonia, and Sinfonia) have 2 "Family Cabins" . Cabin Nos 9003 and 9006 (on all four ships). THese cabins are designated as 4 berth cabins, but you may be able to fit a family of 5 if the children are young and as such small. Although it may mean 3 children on pull out sofas   here is the floor plan of a Family Cabin             Hope this helps       pete

So I was looking at an upcoming sailing on the Armonia for 2 guests and was given the option of selecting either 9003 or 9006 for the two of us.... (on the MSC website)... If I book online do you think that they are going to "cancel" our reservation as the room is designed to hold 4 guests?

I also tried the reservation with 3 guests and got the same result - these two cabins showed available for booking. Seems to be a no-brainer if so.

We were in 9003 on Sinfonia in June with 2 adults and 2 kids. It was a great setup for a family. There was a 5th bed that could pull down in the bedroom. I also have photos of the cabin which I could post.

kodesthemoose

Seaside and Seaview both have rooms in the YC that can house 5. I mention YC because the cost is not much more than some of the super family rooms or some of the Aurea suites (some of those also sleep 5).

Wonderful, thank you!   Wow, I'm surprised there are so many of them. I hope the idea catches on and MSC expands it across the fleet (unless the price is the same as two balcony cabins, then it doesn't really matter!).

With MSC the price for two rooms will go up significantly in your case (as in mine) because they usually have a kids sail free or super cheap promotion. With two cabins, that's four people who will be priced as adults instead of two.

• 1 year later...

On 8/27/2018 at 4:28 PM, ADVentive said: We were in 9003 on Sinfonia in June with 2 adults and 2 kids. It was a great setup for a family. There was a 5th bed that could pull down in the bedroom. I also have photos of the cabin which I could post.

I would love to see some photos of this cabin if you still have them? We are in this one in April with two adults and two children x

Does anyone know if these family cabins on the Armonia accomodate 5? We are a family with 3 kids and are booked on the Armonia this June in 2 rooms. I'm not thrilled we have to be split between 2 rooms but the price of the Armonia couldn't be beat so we went with it anyway. It would be ideal if we could put everyone in one room. Those family rooms are likely booked anyway since we are less than 5 months out but I thought I'd ask! TIA.

10 hours ago, acacathome said: I would love to see some photos of this cabin if you still have them? We are in this one in April with two adults and two children x

Here are some photos of Sinfonia 9003 from June 2018.

IMG_1342.heic IMG_1343.heic IMG_1345.heic IMG_1346.heic IMG_1347.heic IMG_1704.heic IMG_1716.heic

56 minutes ago, ADVentive said: Here are some photos of Sinfonia 9003 from June 2018. IMG_1342.heic 1.21 MB · 1 download IMG_1343.heic 1.06 MB · 0 downloads IMG_1345.heic 851.66 kB · 0 downloads IMG_1346.heic 1020.55 kB · 0 downloads IMG_1347.heic 1.03 MB · 0 downloads IMG_1704.heic 1.33 MB · 0 downloads IMG_1716.heic 1.29 MB · 0 downloads

Thank you so much x

I was in part of a "super family suite" on Meraviglia a few months ago.   It consisted of three connecting rooms.  Mine was a balcony with a king bed and an alcove for two bunk beds, and next to that was a studio interior, and next to that was a mirror image of my room with a bunk bed alcove.  The two bunk bed alcoves backed up to each other, which is why the studio in the middle is just an inside room -- the bunk beds cut off its access to the balcony area.   I was the only one in my room, and each room has its own bathroom and door to the hallway, so they can be purchased in different combinations.  My room could hold four people (two in the king, and one in each bunk bed) as could the room at the far end, and I'm guessing that the inside could hold up to two people, preferably children, because there wouldn't be much room for walking around since that room is so much shorter.  

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Liberty Of The Seas cabins and suites

Liberty of the seas staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Liberty Of The Seas cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Royal Caribbean en-suite amenities and services.

The Liberty Of The Seas cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Family Villa 4-Bedroom Vista Suite

Layout (floor plan).

old categorization (PS) 4-Bedroom Presidential Suite

1-Bedroom Royal Suite

1-bedroom owners suite, 2-bedroom family grand suite.

old categorization (FS) Two-Bedroom Royal Family Suite

Categories OT-GT (Two-Bedroom Grand Suite) cabins have each 2 bedrooms with all 4 (2 sets of) single twin beds (convertible to 2 King-size double beds), 1 double sofabed, 2 Pullman beds, 1 walk-in closet, 2 bathrooms (both with glass-door showers, 1 with bathtub).

1-Bedroom Grand Suite

Junior suite, balcony cabin, 2-bedroom oceanview family cabin.

old categorization (FO) 2-Bedroom Family Oceanview Cabin

Panoramic Oceanview Suite

Category VP-Panoramic Suite has 2x lower single beds (convertible to a Royal King-size double bed), double sofabed, separate sleeping area (divided by curtains, with upper-lower bunk beds), 2x bathrooms (1x full, 1x half), floor-ceiling wraparound windows (bow-facing).

Panoramic Oceanview Cabin

Oceanview cabin, promenade view interior cabin.

Category 2T-Promenade cabins as amenities offer 2 twin beds (convertible to Queen-size double bed), sitting area (double sofabed), bay window views (bow window overlooking the Royal Promenade / ship's interior).

Interior Family Cabin

Interior cabin, liberty of the seas cabins review.

Liberty Of The Seas staterooms (1839 total) include 122 Suites, 724 Balcony, 262 Oceanviews, 168 Promenade View, 563 Inside. Most cabins are sized 150-190 ft2 (14-18 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 65 ft2 (6 m2). The largest is Vista Suite (1210 ft2 / 112 m2 plus 805 ft2 / 75 m2 terrace).

The cruise ship has a total of 32 handicap staterooms (ADA-certified, wheelchair-accessible cabins) in the types/categories Junior Suite (2), Balcony (8), Oceanview (6), Promenade (3), Inside (13). The total number of cabin categories is 38, including the "Guaranteed" categories (W-Suite, X-Balcony, Y-Oceanview, Z-Inside).

Follows the review of RCI Liberty of the Seas staterooms as amenities, furniture and services.

Liberty OTS' largest accommodation is the PS-Presidential Suite (aft on deck 6). Now categorized as VS-Vista Suite, this is a 4-Bedroom Suite with 2 master bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds /convertible), walk-in closet, large bathroom (bathtub, shower) 2 guest bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds /convertible, and 2 upper/bunk beds), dresser, bathroom (shower), large living area (sofa bed, dining area), floor-ceiling sliding doors lead to large verandah (loungers, dining table, whirlpool, bar).

All Suites have a King-size bed, large-size bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, separate shower), vanity area, walk-in closet, large living area (queen-size sofabed, dining area/pantry, wet bar, kitchen, dining table), private balcony (sliding floor-ceiling doors, whirlpool bathtub, sun loungers). Passengers in all Suites (excluding Junior Suites and Oceanview Suites) enjoy the following bonus amenities: Concierge Service (24-hour Concierge Lounge access /continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, CD/DVD library, private parties arrangements, priority services (Salon/Spa reservations, booking RCI cruise tours/excursions, dining reservations).

RCI Royal Suite accommodations have 2 separate bedrooms (each has 2 twin beds /convertible to queen), plus another room with bunk beds (for 3rd/4th person). Additional amenities in Royal Suites are media center (surround sound, large HDTV, stereo, CD/DVD player), baby grand piano.

Family Suites have 2 separate bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds /to queen), another room with 3rd/4th bunk beds, living room (vanity, double sofa bed, dining table), 2 separate bathrooms (both with shower, one has a bathtub).

All balcony staterooms have floor-ceiling sliding doors opening to a private step-out verandah.

VP-Panoramic Suites (bow-facing, on Spa Deck 12) have each 2x lower single beds (convertible to a Royal King-size double bed), double sofabed, separate sleeping area (divided by curtains, with upper-lower bunk beds), 2x bathrooms (1x full, 1x half), floor-ceiling wraparound windows (bow-facing, sized in inches 76 high x 100-320 wide / in meters 1,9 height x 2,5-8 width). That is one huge window. These are premium accommodations overlooking the ship's bow. These staterooms offer unobstructed top-deck views and are cheaper than balcony cabins.

1K-Family Oceanview (former FO/deck 12) are bow-facing cabins perfect for families with more kids. They accommodate up to 6 passengers making them a cheaper alternative to booking connecting cabins. Each stateroom has 2 large picture windows (round-shaped), a separate bedroom (with Pullman beds / upper-lower bunk beds), a large living area (1 double sofabed, 2 twin beds /convertible), minibar, more seating and closet space, bathroom (WC/shower).

All Oceanview cabins have a Picture Window (round-shaped window, size is 24-inch / 61 cm).

Atrium Promenade staterooms (category PR-Promenade View) are a unique type of inside cabins with bowed windows overlooking the Atrium's Royal Promenade. The room's bowed window gives more interior space and is also a great vantage point to watch the Royal Promenade's "street" activities - including the parade each evening. Remember to keep the curtains closed at night as there are Promenade cabins across the street too.

All Liberty OTS cabins as amenities offer 2 twin beds (convertible to Queen or Royal King/in Suites), ample closet/drawer space, private bathroom (shower, hairdryer, bath products), sitting area (desk, drawers, vanity, sofa/convertible), smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies), individual air-conditioning, direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), radio, minibar, Internet access, 24-hour room service (5-12 am /complimentary).

Some staterooms have either sofabed or upper/bunk beds (Pullman beds) for 3rd/4th person. The twin bed size is 36 x 82 inches (90 x 210 cm).

In-cabin babysitting is available at an hourly fee (US$19 per kid) for 4 kids per stateroom max. For in-cabin use can be borrowed movies, toys and games suitable for kids with autism.

RCI's new Wi-Fi costs US$15 per device per day (50% discount on a second device). The Wi-Fi is always on (shipwide coverage) and super fast (even for streaming movies).

Liberty Of The Seas cabin and suite plans are property of Royal Caribbean . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Cruise Ships That Accommodate 5 Passengers

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Camp at Sea is the Celebrity Edges kids club. There are three different sections

• Shipmates 3-5 Celebrity
• Captains 10-12 year olds
• Admirals the teen club for 13-17 year olds.

The Camp at Sea program on Celebrity is a new innovation. The schedule of activities changes on every sailing based on the interests the junior cruisers. Celebrity have partnered with world-renowned companies such as Anturus, Lonely PlanetTM, Xbox, Fat Brain Toys and Budsies.

The categories of activities are Art, Recreation, Culinary, and S.T.E.M. The Youth daily programme promises to be engaging and exciting.

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Medium Ship Line #: Oceania Cruises

Its all about the food on Oceania Cruises . Its 1,250-passenger MS Marina and MS Riviera offer restaurants by Jaques Pepin, a six-course Dom Perignon dinner with a pairing of three vintages, a cooking center where passengers of all cooking skill levels can take classes, and culinary-themed excursions, like a visit to the market in Nice with a chef. Its four smaller Regatta-class ships, each accommodating 684 passengers, also have excellent dining options, like the Polo Grill and the Italian eatery Toscana. Two new 1,200-passenger ships are on the way for Oceania, set for delivery in 2023 and 2025.

Medium Ship Line #: Hurtigruten

What started as a coastal ferry company in Norway in 1893 has expanded its operations to include expeditions to such destinations as Antarctica, Cape Verde, and Greenland. Of Hurtigruten’s 14-ship fleet, there are seven expedition vessels, five of which fit 500 to 1,000 passengers. The cruise line’s two newest ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, are hybrid-powered ships, demonstrating Hurtigruten’s dedication to sailing as cleanly as possible to protect the environment.

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Large Ship #: Msc Cruises

Nearly half of MSCs fleetnamely those ships in the Musica and Fantasia classesfalls into the large cruise category, with most of its newer builds firmly taking a bigger is better stance. The eight large vessels primarily sail in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, though they do offer itineraries in North and South America, Asia, and Northern Europe, too. The family-friendly ships skew toward the upscale side, and theyre known for their incredibly international crowds.

Inside Cabins On Royal Caribbean Ships

These are the cabins you stay in when youre on a tight budget. On any Royal Caribbean ship, they almost always are the least-expensive option when youre booking a cabin, and you often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What youll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world .

Youll also be in a very small room. Inside cabins on Symphony of the Seas measure just 149 square feet, quite a bit less than the typical ocean view cabin on the vessel . The typical balcony cabin on Symphony of the Seas is 182 square feet, not including a 50-square-foot balcony.

As I hinted at above, there is one way to get a glimpse of the outside world from an inside cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship. In one of the great cruising innovations, Royal Caribbean has created some inside cabins which have a virtual balcony that offers a view of the outside.

Related: The upside of booking an inside cabin

The virtual balcony is a high-definition screen built into one end of the windowless room that projects a real-time view of the ocean outside. Its designed to make you think youre actually in a balcony cabin with a view, and it is quite realistic-looking.

Just dont try to walk through the faux balcony opening.

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Prefabricated Cruise Ship Cabin

On May 24, 2016, a new “Lightweight Composite Cabin” design was unveiled in Southampton, England. The innovation was funded by the UK Government. Involved in the cabin’s designing, engineering, manufacturing and furbishing were the companies Carnival UK , Gurit Ltd , Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd , PE Composites Ltd , Trimline Ltd and the University of Southampton.

The new modular cabin prototype is half the weight of a typical cruise room. It also fully complies with the FTP Code’s requirements . Reducing the ship’s topdecks weight is an important issue for naval architects as the trend for building large-capacity cruise vessels continues. The new module’s halved weight opens up opportunities for adding more passenger rooms to newbuild ships, without adding to the ship’s DWT weight.

Note: The following list of cruise lines cabins includes only CruiseMapper’s largest companies’ fleets and only ocean-going vessels. For all other vessels use the search box at page top .

Small Ship Line #: Seabourn

Seabourns six ships feature fewer than 300 suites eachbut they leverage that small size into access at some of the worlds most beloved yacht ports: St. Tropez in the south of France the Greek island of Kos and popular large ports like Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller designs specialty menus on the ships, and a partnership with UNESCO ensures shore excursions and sustainable tourism practices at some of the wildest and most wonderful destinations around the world. Later this year, the line will debut its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, with a sister ship to follow.

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How Many Passengers Can A Cruise Ship Hold

Modern-day cruise ships are like floating cities that accommodate passengers who want to relax and have fun. These ships must be able to provide all the necessary amenities and luxuries their passengers require. To provide everything these passengers want, cruise ships must be able to hold the right amount of people.

How many passengers can a cruise ship hold? The average number of passengers that a cruise ship can hold ranges from 3,000 to more than 5,000 at double capacity. The largest ship in the world, the Symphony of the Seas, can accommodate as many as 6,680 passengers.

In this article, I list 21 popular cruise ships that hold the most passengers. I list the number of passengers each can hold as well as other specs and features.

Disney Magical Moments For The Whole Family On A Disney Cruise

When looking at best cruise lines for families most people consider Disney. With Disney theres something fun to do every day on a Disney Cruise ship. The itinerary has a touch of disney magic wherever you sail. Disney are known for Deck Parties and themed days such as legendary saga in Star Wars Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea.

Disney cruise ships have Splashtacular pools, fun slides and splash zones for little ones. There theatre shows are magical and of broadway standard meaning the whole family can sit back and enjoy the magic of Disney.

Read Also: The Biggest Cruise Ships In The World

Small Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sailing with only 490 guests, the Seven Seas Navigator takes its all-inclusive promise seriously, offering unlimited shore excursions, open bars with premium wines , unlimited Wi-Fi, and dining in specialty restaurants. The ship sails all over the world, from New Zealand to Dubai, on week-long to three-month-long itineraries.

Mega Ship Line #: Royal Caribbean International

If you truly want to feel like youre living in a floating city, Royal Caribbean is the cruise line for you, given that it has the four largest cruise ships in the world. Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas top the lists in terms of passenger count , length , and gross tonnage . Given their size, these ships provide every amenity you can think ofand plenty you cant even imaginefrom waterparks to world-class musical productions to autonomous bars staffed by robots to double-decker suites with slides for the kids. Youll find these behemoths sailing the Caribbean and Mediterranean throughout the year, but with so many activities on board, you might not even want to leave the ship.

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Medium Ship Line #1: Royal Caribbean International

While it’s true that Royal Caribbean is better known for its large and mega-ships, the cruise line also has a fair number of medium-size ships whose maximum capacities are just shy of 2,500 guests. Each of these ships belongs to the Vision class or Radiance class, two families of older vessels whose smaller sizes allow them to explore more adventurous destinations, such as Alaska and Cyprus. But they also sail the Caribbean, offering Royal Caribbean loyalists a more intimate experience than the fleet’s larger ships.

Mega Ship Line #: Msc Cruises

Though MSC is headquartered in landlocked Switzerland, this cruise line has mastered the art of mega-ships, building five of the 15 largest in the world: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore. Each can hold between 5,300 and 6,300 passengers at maximum capacity. MSC Seashore, a New York Citythemed ship, is the newest of the five, setting sail in November 2021. It’s the longest vessel in the fleet at 1,100 feet, allowing for more than 140,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus 7,500 square feet of dedicated space for kids, including the Pirates Cove Aquapark. MSC has some plans for mega-growth, too: it has four World -class mega-ships in the pipeline, each with a capacity between 5,800 and 6,850 passengers.

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Large Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line

Things escalated quickly for Norwegian: the cruise line jumped from medium-size ships to mega-ships practically overnight , with just three ships in its current fleet sized somewhere in between. But thats soon about to change. Norwegian currently has six ships on order as part of Project Leonardo, each of which will hold about 3,300 passengers. Its interesting to see a cruise line scale back from its mega-ships and opt for a more manageable size for such a large order. The first, Norwegian Prima, is expected to launch in 2022 some of its highlights include the fastest slides at sea , a three-level go-kart racetrack, and a three-story theater that transforms into a nightclub after the evening’s show.

What Is The Largest Cruise Ship In The World

The oasis-class Wonder of the Seas is the worlds biggest cruise ship. It is owned by Royal Caribbean International. Delivered in January 2022, it is 1,188 feet long and started operations in March 2022. It can accommodate 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew members. It has four bow thrusters, with 7500 Horsepower each. It can attain a cruising speed of up to 22 knots.

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Cruise & Maritime Voyages

Cruise & Maritime offers single cabins across all of its ships, as well as a number of benefits for those cruising solo. Not only do solo travellers have their own cabins, ranging from Inner Single to Standard Ocean View. The number of these cabins varies on each ship, between eight to 14, so you will need to be quick when booking a solo cruise with this cruise line.

Inner Single

This stateroom has a bathroom with shower & WC, wardrobes, drawer space, dressing table, TV, hairdryer, music console and stretch to an average size of 100 sq ft.

Standard Single Ocean View

As well as the same facilties as the Inner Single, the Ocean View also boasts a window where you can watch the passing seascapes. These rooms are slightly larger, measuring an average size of 129 sq ft.

Standard Plus Single Ocean View

This stateroom is even larger than the standard Ocean View, measuring an average of 188 sq ft. It also comes with ample hanging and storage space fridge flat-screen television and a picture window. There is also a Superior Ocean View on-board selected ships.

Superior Plus Single Balcony

This room is only available on-board Vasco da Gama. Located midship on deck 9, the Superior Plus Single Balcony Stateroom offers the benefit of a private balcony to solo travellers. This is alongside en suite facilities, whirlpool bath with shower plus ample storage space.

Small Ship Line #: Paul Gauguin Cruises

The single ship Paul Gauguin focuses solely on the Pacific, treating its 332 guests to picture-perfect beaches and dramatic scenery in Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Fiji year-round. On Mota Mahana, the lines private island in French Polynesia, passengers sip cocktails from the floating bar or paddle out over coral reefs on kayaks and paddleboards, straight from the ships water sports marina. For those wanting to get under the waves, an onboard PADI scuba program certifies divers in some of the clearest waters on the planet. Best of all? The ships rates are all-inclusive. In 2019, Ponant acquired the cruise line.

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Best Royal Caribbean Family Cabins And Suites

Royal Caribbeans Ultimate Family Suite is its most famous kid-focused cabin. The two-story suite sleeps up to eight guests and is a wonderland of games, slides, climbing walls, and Legos. Theres also only one of these, and its insanely expensive, so not practical for most vacationing families.

Unfortunately, the line has removed the term family from several cabin categories, so families need to look a bit harder to find cabins to accommodate their clan. Look for cabins dubbed spacious interior or ultra spacious ocean view for rooms that can sleep up to six with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, a double sofa bed, and two pull-down bunks.

Related: Why an inside cabin is the best choice for a cruise

Many of the lines suites, from junior suites on up to the Royal Loft Suite, can sleep four to six people we found a two-bedroom Grand Suite that can sleep eight. One- and two-bedroom AquaTheater suites can sleep four to eight, and have private box seat viewing of all the AquaTheater shows, a major plus for kids.

Quantum-class ships have a unique configuration, which combines a junior suite, studio, and balcony cabin into a multi-room suite that sleeps up to 10 passengers with three bathrooms. Though the rooms can be booked separately, they share a vestibule with a door on the cabin corridor, so when combined, they merge into a multi-room suite thats perfect for large family groups.

Small Ship Line #: Quasar Expeditions

The first luxury line to sail the Galápagos, Quasar Expeditions is best known for its in-depth trips aboard its two intimate ships that carry fewer than 32 passengers each. Yet note the street cred of said ships: One of the two, the Grace , is the former yacht of Princess Grace of Monaco. The other, the Evolution , will allow you to retrace Darwin’s footsteps in the Galápagos. Book the Baltra Island itinerary, where you’ll work your way from San Cristóbal Island to Baltra, and explore all the central and southern islands of the archipelago in between.

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Is Saving Money The Priority

Norwegians studio cabins are budget-friendly, especially for solo travelers. Photo by Norwegian Cruise Line

Inside cabins have no views and are therefore cheaper than outside cabins, which have portholes, windows, or balconies. There are times when saving money with an inside cabin makes sense. They can be good for quick vacations two- or three-day sailings when you wont be in your cabin much, says Dave Change, a vice president at Carnival Cruise Line .

If youre never in your cabin, then natural light and views might not be so important. And families often book them, with the parents in the outside cabin and their kids in the cabin across the hall, Change says. There are also inside spa staterooms that include amenities and features that a guest wouldnt have access to in a lower-deck, ocean view cabin.

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Small Ship Line #1: Star Clippers

Star Clippers has a fleet of three ships, with its flagship Royal Clipper holding the record as the worlds largest full-rigged sailing ship. All three are sailing yachts, unfurling their sails for itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia, with classic exteriors and interiors featuring several bars, a swimming pool, library, and formal dining room.

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Cruise Lines Where Kids Sail Free

Families, we hear you: Its expensive to book a cruise for a family of three or four people for a week, not to mention the associated extras like flights, hotels, excursions and souvenirs. Inflation isnt helping.

Vacations together are worth the investment for the shared memories and chance to reconnect. But wouldnt it be nice if they didnt cost so much?

Meet the kids cruise free deal. Many cruise lines including family favorites like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer free kids fares and other discounts for kids throughout the year. These deals are not consistent and come and go based on the time of year and availability.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter .

Some of the specials are advertised during wave season , which falls between January and March, when cruise lines have some of the best pricing of the year. Sometimes promotions are available only for select sailings. Others are valid for any age of guest who sails as a third or fourth passenger, sleeping in a bunk bed or pullout sofa.

To make your family trip more affordable and less stressful, heres a list of family-friendly cruise lines where kids cruise free when you time your booking to coincide with a short-term promotion. These incentives change frequently, and the deals can sell out fast, so you may need to be flexible on where you sail and when you go. Always read the fine print before booking to catch any hidden costs or restrictions.

Incredible Cruise Ship Cabins For Families

Ever since Disney Cruise Line first introduced family staterooms in the 90s, other cruise lines have been looking for ways to entice families with spacious, comfortable accommodation.

As a result, newer cruise ships boast a choice of cleverly designed family suites and connecting rooms that could comfortably house the Brady Bunch. So after a fun-packed day at the waterpark, kids club, or exploring on shore, theres plenty of space for everyone to kick back and recharge.

Here are seven cruise lines getting the thumbs up from families however, some of these staterooms can be booked through the cruise line only and are not available through cruise agencies.

Celebrity Cruises

When it comes to catering for families, Celebritys family ocean view staterooms are spot on. The main room features two beds that can convert to queen-size, plus theres a second bedroom with a twin bed and Pullman berth beds, which pull down easily to form a bed. And for extra space, floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead to a balcony where everyone can sit and enjoy the view. Find out more about Celebrity Cruises.

Holland America Line

P& o cruises, princess cruises.

Let the whole family spread out in a Princess family suite. There are two bedrooms, which can be configured with a queen or two twin beds, plus two bathrooms and a sitting area with two sofa beds. Enjoy some quality family time out on the balcony decked with tables and chairs for four and two loungers. Find out more about Princess Cruises.

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What is the best cruise ship for kids.

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

What is the best location for a cabin on a cruise ship?

As a cruise writer for more than 20 years , I've heard that question a lot, and it's not an easy one to answer. On any given cruise vessel, the best cabin location for one person might not be the best choice for another.

The ideal cabin for a light sleeper on a particular ship, for instance, might be a room tucked away in the quietest corner of the vessel. But another passenger on the same ship who cares more about the view might be happiest with a completely different spot.

For more cruise guides, news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

On a typical cruise ship, cabins are spread out all over the place — high and low, and to the front, middle and back. Not that that's always the case.

Some cruise vessels — particularly river ships — have cabins clustered at their backs with public areas at their fronts. Other vessels, such as most of the ocean ships operated by luxury lines Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises , have cabins clustered at their fronts with public areas at their backs.

Cruise cabins also come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of amenities and benefits. Some lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , offer a huge range of room options , from tiny, windowless "inside" cabins to palatial suites, in all sorts of locations on their vessels.

Indeed, there's such a wide variety of not only cabin locations but also types of cabins on ships that the best way to narrow down the choices of accommodations on any given vessel might be to assemble a list of cabins you definitely don't want to choose.

Related: Inside Regent's $11,000-a-night super suite

As it happens, we've already done that here at TPG in our guide to cabin locations you definitely should avoid .

Still, there are some broad categories of cabin locations on cruise ships that always are in high demand due to their prime locations.

Related: 6 reasons why you want to pay up for a balcony cabin

Midship cabins

These are the cabins that you should seek if you're particularly prone to seasickness.

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

If you are in the center of a ship, you are at the equivalent of the center of a teeter-totter. Even in very rough seas, you're not going to move nearly as much when the ship goes up and down in the waves as someone located at either of the far ends of the ship.

Note that it also helps to be low to the water if you're worried about seasickness.

On very large ships, where activity areas are spread far apart, midship cabins also offer the advantage of being at the center of everything. The main pool deck, for instance, is likely right above you when you are in a midship cabin — not a long walk away. Ditto for central interior areas.

Related: 22 cruise ship cabin hacks that will transform your voyage

Cabins at the back

There's something mesmerizing about being at the back of a ship overlooking its wake. When you are in the open ocean, you can see the long trail of churned-up water behind you, stretching seemingly forever like a road in the sea. It is tangible evidence of your journey. When you are pulling away from a port, you have the best view in the house.

I admit I could stand at the back of a ship for hours looking out over the water, and I'm a big fan of rear-facing cabins — as long as they have a balcony. I'm firmly in the camp that says rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship.

Often, the balconies on rear-facing cabins are bigger than the balconies on side-facing cabins, and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.

If your cabin is at the rear corner of a ship, you might even have a balcony that wraps around two sides of the vessel. Those sorts of balconies are the ultimate in cool.

Note that on some ships, all or most of the rear-facing cabins are large, pricey suites, but this isn't always the case. Carnival Cruise Line ships, for instance, typically have quite a few non-suite accommodations at their backs.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Cabins at the front

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of forward-facing cabins. For starters, there is nowhere on a ship more prone to movement than the front of a ship. Forward-facing cabins also often lack balconies, for reasons I will explain in a moment.

All that said, many cruisers just love forward-facing cabins. They love them because the view can be spectacular, particularly as you arrive at a new port. Also, some people love the idea of being at the very front of a ship and being able to see where they're going.

Related: Why it pays to upgrade your cruise cabin

Forward-facing cabins also sometimes come with extra space. This is because they sometimes incorporate the oddly angled interior spaces that exist at the front of ships, which often have slanted fronts. As mentioned above, forward-facing cabins often will not have balconies, as the wind over the bow of a ship that's underway is such that a balcony isn't practical. Instead, they'll have large windows — sometimes floor-to-ceiling windows — that offer stellar views.

Cabins surrounded by other cabins

Light sleepers, take note: The best place to be if you want the best chance of not being bothered by noise is a cabin that is surrounded by other cabins. This means a cabin that has a cabin directly above it and a cabin directly below it, as well as cabins on both sides.

To find such a cabin is harder than you might think. On the typical ship, the top deck of cabins is directly below the pool and activity decks, which can be noisy during the day and even into the night (yes, the noise sometimes will waft through your ceiling). The cabin deck just below that top deck of cabins can be a good choice.

But go a couple more decks down, and you're often right on top of interior entertainment decks that are home to music lounges, theaters and other noisy venues.

Related: 15 ways cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

If the ultimate in quietude is your goal, you'll also want to avoid cabins anywhere near elevators, passenger launderettes and other areas that draw foot traffic. It can take some studying of deck plans, but as seasoned cruisers know, it's worth holding out for a cabin that is far away from anything that could keep you up at night.

Cabins near the spa

If you're a big spa fan — the kind who can spend hours on vacation getting treatments — you'll want to get a cabin right near your ship's spa. Trust us. Walking long distances across a bustling ship in your robe and slippers for a spa appointment can be a bit, well, weird.

Cruise lines cater to spa lovers with special spa cabins that are close to the spa and come with special spa amenities. These might include plush bathrobes and slippers to wear on your way to the spa, upgraded toiletries, scrub kits, aromatherapy diffusers and even yoga mats. The cabins sometimes also come with spa discounts, unlimited spa lounge access and other spa-related perks.

Lines that have designated spa cabins on some or all ships include Celebrity Cruises , Carnival, Holland America , Azamara and MSC Cruises .

On Celebrity, the spa cabins — called AquaClass cabins — come with exclusive access to a special spa restaurant called Blu.

If you're interested in a spa cabin, you'll want to book far in advance. They often sell out early.

Bottom line

There is no right answer to the question of what is the best cabin location on a cruise ship. The perfect location for a cabin for one passenger might not be the perfect location for another.

That said, there are certain places on cruise ships that are better than others when it comes to cabin location, including the front and back of vessels. There's nothing quite like being able to look forward from your room when on a ship approaching a port or to watch the wake of the ship from a rear-facing cabin.

Planning a cruise for the coming year? These stories will help:

• The most spectacular waterslides and watery fun zones at sea
• Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 9 best meals at sea
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

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Cruise ship passengers left terrified after fire breaks out on £850million Queen Mary 2

• Stephen Moyes , Associate News Editor
• Published : 16:00 ET, Apr 5 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

PANIC-struck cruise ship passengers were confined to their cabins when a fire broke out on the £850million Queen Mary 2.

They were woken by alarms at 6am as crew tackled the blaze below their accommodation.

Travellers were ordered to stay in their cabins but could still smell smoke — sparking fears of an inferno at sea.

Although crew dealt with the blaze quickly, a source said: “Fire at sea is about the worst scenario for holidaymakers. It has left everyone freaked out.

“Passengers could smell smoke in their cabins so the panic felt by some was totally understandable.”

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 — the world’s longest, tallest and most expensive cruise ship — was heading to Mauritius when the fire broke out on Thursday morning.

It had been at sea for four days since leaving Colombo in Sri Lanka on April 1.

The Sun understands the fire started when a compressor overheated in an area containing the ship’s engines, pumps, compressors, sewage and electrical tanks.

Our source said: “At first, everyone thought it was a practice drill. But it was far from that. The blaze was beneath the accommodation areas and the alarm was raised at 6am. It was chaos.”

But they added: “Emergency protocol kicked in and worked a treat with the crew behaving calmly and professionally.”

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Queen Mary 2, which can take up to 2,600 passengers, docked in Port Louis, Mauritius, yesterday ahead of its voyage to Southampton on April 28 via South Africa, Spain and Portugal .

 It is mandatory for staff to contact the authorities about such incidents on board.

Cunard yesterday confirmed to The Sun that there was a small fire that was extinguished immediately.

It insisted no guest services on board were affected.

The 150,000-tonne, 1,132ft ship was built in 2004.

Two nights in its luxury suites cost £549 a person.

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British expats have ‘worst cruise experience’ in 20 years after police board ship at Barcelona port

Exclusive: police officers on speedboat ‘circled the cruise ship’ as passengers quizzed over incorrect visas, article bookmarked.

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A British expat and her husband had one of their worst cruise experiences in 20 years after the ship they were sailing on was held at Barcelona port and more than 60 passengers with incorrect visas were marched off the boat.

Marina Carter, 69, and Richard Carter, 71, were looking forward to the Mediterranean cruise they booked with their local travel agent, which was due to take them to Barcelona, Corsica, Rome, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Sicily and eventually Venice.

The retired couple, who moved from Britain to Malaga in 2020, set sail on 31 March and were given a cabin aboard the MSC Armonia . They were enjoying the pre-paid drinks package they had purchased, and exploring the activities on the boat when their trip suddenly took a turn for the worse.

Ms Carter told The Independent : “We docked at Barcelona and had the day there, but when we came back there was a big group of people standing by the entrance to the ship all crying. I said to my husband: ‘I don’t like the look of this, I don’t know what’s going on but I don’t like it’.”

The couple heard on the boat’s tannoy there was a problem with immigration, but no further updates were given.

“The boat didn’t embark when it should have done, it did not sail away, but we were told it would in the next few hours, then midnight, then we thought to ourselves this boat is going nowhere is it,” Ms Carter said.

The couple went to dinner but when they returned they found that one of the hallways they would usually access to get back to their cabin was blocked off by a police officer and a speedboat with police officers was circling the cruise ship.

Ms Carter added: “The national police were everywhere. They had what I would call their riot vehicles with them ... they were just everywhere in the pool area ... some of the passengers got put in these cabins along by us with the door shut and they were just guarded 24/7.

“People started getting quite upset as now this boat was not moving. We are starting to miss ports of call. When the boat did finally start to move off we watched them take some passengers off four at a time. We could see as our cabin overlooked the dock.”

Authorities said that 69 Bolivians on the ship lacked valid documents to enter the European Union’s border-free Schengen area. They were marched off and held on another boat for interrogation.

The Spanish government’s office in Barcelona said that 65 of the 69 Bolivians who arrived in the city would be flown out to the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz because they had false visas.

The incorrect entry requirements meant that the Carters, along with more than 1,000 other passengers were stuck for two days and not able to proceed with the cruise.

MSC Cruises said last week the Bolivian passengers’ documentation appeared correct upon boarding in Brazil. They also told The Independent that passengers were given regular updates about the incident and told how to claim compensation.

Spain ’s national police were looking into the possibility of a fake visa scam, Solange Duarte, a Bolivian diplomat in Barcelona, told the Associated Press.

Ms Carter said it was one of the worst cruise experiences they’d had and left them disappointed with the lack of communication from MSC Cruises.

She said: “Everybody was irate because nobody knew what was going on and though we are pretty laid back it was making us irate.”

The couple described having so many police on board as “intimidating”. The cruise vessel eventually set sail after two days, but Corsica, Rome, Corfu and Dubrovnik, were missed out on the trip.

MSC Cruises said in a statement Wednesday the Bolivian “passengers appeared to have proper documentation upon boarding in Brazil ” but Spanish authorities later said the visas were not valid for entry into the Schengen area.

MSC Cruises added: “The guests were given daily written updates in the form of letters that were left in their cabins. Additionally, there were onboard announcements and they were written to detailing the compensation they were going to receive for the disruption to their cruise.”

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Cruise ship carrying 1,500 passengers stuck in Spain port due to Bolivian passengers’ visa problems

A view of the cruise ship MSC Armony moored in the port of Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Authorities said Wednesday that a group of 69 Bolivians are not being allowed to disembark from a cruise ship in the Spanish northeastern port of Barcelona because they lack valid documents to enter the European Union’s Schengen area. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A passenger is photographed on the cruise ship MSC Armony, moored in the port of Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Authorities said Wednesday that a group of 69 Bolivians are not being allowed to disembark from a cruise ship in the Spanish northeastern port of Barcelona because they lack valid documents to enter the European Union’s Schengen area. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Passengers are photographed on the cruise ship MSC Armony, moored in the port of Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Authorities said Wednesday that a group of 69 Bolivians are not being allowed to disembark from a cruise ship in the Spanish northeastern port of Barcelona because they lack valid documents to enter the European Union’s Schengen area. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — A cruise ship reportedly carrying 1,500 passengers was stuck Wednesday in the Spanish northeastern port of Barcelona due to the visa problems of a group of Bolivian passengers who were due to disembark there, officials said.

Authorities say 69 Bolivians were not being allowed to leave the ship because they lacked valid documents to enter the European border-free Schengen area. Solange Duarte, a Bolivian diplomat in Barcelona, told The Associated Press she received reports some of the stranded Bolivians had been duped into obtaining fake visas but had no further information.

“We have asked the families to indicate who has processed this visa and we have not gotten answers,” she said, adding she heard it was possible the Bolivians would be transferred to a different ship.

Spain’s national police was looking into the possibility of a fake visa scam, Duarte said.

Spanish state news agency Efe and other media said some 1,500 passengers were on board the MSC Armony hoping to continue the cruise to Croatia.

Bolivia’s deputy foreign affairs minister, Fernando Pérez, said the country was waiting “to see what the Spanish authorities decide what to do.”

A statement from the Bolivian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the Bolivian Embassy in Spain and the country’s Consulate General in Barcelona “are carrying out the pertinent steps to address this case,” coordinating with Spanish authorities, as well as with the MSC Cruises Company.

MSC Cruises said in a statement the Bolivians included families and children.

It said the “passengers appeared to have proper documentation upon boarding in Brazil. We have been informed by the authorities that the visas are not valid for entry into the Schengen area. As a result, passengers have not been able to disembark in Barcelona, which was their final destination.”

The company said the ship remained in port while it works with authorities to facilitate the process.

The Schengen area is an ID-check-free travel zone comprising 29 European countries, most from the European Union.

This story was corrected to show that the Schengen zone is a European rather than European Union creation and comprises 29 countries.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Top lawyer died after falling from balcony on luxury cruise ship

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A lawyer who disappeared from a Mediterranean cruise ship died after falling from his cabin’s balcony, a judge has found.

Nigel Blythe-Tinker, 72, went missing while on board the Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship last July 21.

The alarm was raised when Nigel, who had previously worked as the head of legal at William Hill, didn’t depart the ship in Barcelona, Spain , having been on board when the ship left Marseilles in France the day before.

Ship staff found his cabin empty with his clothes ‘neatly folded’ on the bed after his family’s ‘desperate attempts’ to contact him failed.

Now a High Court judge has declared that Nigel met his death after falling from his cabin’s balcony in the early hours of the morning.

Analysis of ship CCTV later found footage of an object – which appeared to be a person ‘feet first’ – falling from the ship near to Mr Blythe-Tinker’s cabin balcony and hitting the water.

The Seven Seas Mariner was the first cruise liner to boast ‘all suite, all balcony’ cabins, with every cabin featuring its own private balcony.

Nigel, originally from Worksop in Nottinghamshire, had been married three times and had two adult daughters. He was in the process of moving back to England following a period of living in Australia when he vanished.

During the cruise his family became concerned when he started displaying unusual behaviour and sending messages in which he ‘wasn’t himself’.

His daughter Sophie Blythe-Tinker told judge Chief Master Karen Shuman that Nigel had told his cousin he’d had ‘a suicidal thought’ and also seemed confused in messages with other family members.

A ship doctor was dispatched to check on him, but he told the doctor he’d had ‘no suicidal thoughts’ and was physically well apart from back pain.

Sophie, who brought the case to court looking for clarity over her dad’s death, told the judge that he had seemed ‘strange’ in his responses to messages and emails shortly before his disappearance. 

Giving judgment in the case and declaring the missing lawyer officially dead, the judge said Mr Blythe-Tinker had been ‘an active 72-year-old’ who ‘travelled extensively’.

However, he ‘wasn’t himself’ and had became ‘increasingly abnormal’ during his time on the ship, she said.

Chief Master Karen Shuman concluded: ‘I have viewed the video evidence. Something descends from the ship at 4.28am.

‘I’m prepared to accept that was a body and the direction is consistent with it coming from the suite Mr Blythe-Tinker was in.

Need support?

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123 , email [email protected] , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website .

If you're a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141 , text  07860039967 or email:  [email protected] between the hours of 9am and midnight.

‘The ship was miles from any port or land at the time.

‘I’m satisfied on the evidence before me that Mr Blythe-Tinker died at 4.28am central European time by falling to his death from the ship that he was on.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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5 secrets to getting a luxury cruise for less

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Luxury cruises range in price from expensive to outrageously expensive. But the value of high-end ships is clear: For the money, you get more fare inclusions, nicer accommodations, upscale dining and higher space-to-passenger and crew-to-passenger ratios than on big, mass-market ships.

Still, sometimes you want the luxe for less.

You’ll never find a cheap luxury cruise, but you can find sailings that are less expensive than others (either when sorting by the total cost or the per-night rate). You might have to compromise on sail dates or take a risk with the weather, but you can get great value by choosing the cruise less traveled.

Here are the five most affordable luxury cruises we could find, so you can save a little bit when you sail in style.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Fall Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises might be the bread and butter of mass-market cruise lines, but they don’t have the same prominence among the itineraries of the luxury lines. Tropical cruises on luxury lines tend to be shorter sailings, taking place in the fall and winter (rather than year-round) and often targeting younger professionals who might not have the time to take two-week vacations.

Combine those factors with a shoulder-season fall travel date (between mid-September and the week before Christmas) and you’ve got yourself a more affordable luxury cruise.

For example, Regent Seven Seas Cruises ‘ 2024-2025 Caribbean season runs from November through March. The least expensive sailing for the season takes place in early December in the travel lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fares start at $3,899 per person for a weeklong round-trip cruise from Miami. A similar seven-night sailing costs $4,799 ($900 more) in February.

Shoulder-season Alaska cruises

No matter which cruise line you sail, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that the first and last Alaska sailings of the season are the most affordable. Why? Timing and weather.

The Alaska cruise season begins in late April or May and runs through September and occasionally October. These travel dates are often nonstarters for families, who wait for the summer school break to take their vacations. Even travelers not bound by school schedules sometimes shy away from these cruises because of the imperfect weather conditions.

In May, temperatures can still be chilly in Alaska, waterways in glacier areas can be clogged with ice, Alaska’s famous salmon haven’t started to run and bus service at Alaska’s famed Denali National Park hasn’t yet begun. In September and October, the temperatures start dropping — and the rain keeps falling — and attractions such as Denali begin to close.

All that said, if you’re willing to take a risk on the weather and aren’t planning a land tour up to Denali, you can score a deal on a high-end Alaska sailing during these off-peak times.

In 2025, a mid-May Alaska cruise on Silversea starts at $2,950 per person on Silver Moon (for port-to-port service — door-to-door is $4,900). The same cruise in July is priced from $4,550 for the cruise-only (or $6,400 door-to-door with transfers), making the shoulder-season cruise $1,600 less expensive. Even better, May is not as rainy as July, so you could experience sunnier days on the more affordable sailing.

Transatlantic crossings

Many travelers choose their cruise for the ports of call. Cruisers are drawn to the destinations, whether they’re checking exotic ports off their bucket list or love spending time on the beach. It’s no surprise then that longer-than-average itineraries with few to no port calls are not warmly embraced by many cruise fans (except for devoted sea-day lovers).

Because many cruise ships regularly reposition between Europe (where they spend the summer) and the Caribbean (where they spend the winter), transatlantic crossings are inevitable. To attract guests, the cruise lines add interesting onboard activities and guest lecturers to the voyage, and they lower prices. If you love relaxing sea days and would revel in spending day after day in the middle of the ocean, an ocean crossing is a surefire way to get a luxury cruise experience for less.

Small, all-inclusive line SeaDream is a solid example of how affordable transatlantic sailings can get. In 2025, SeaDream 1 will sail its last Mediterranean cruise of the season from Barcelona to Malaga, Spain, with cruise prices starting at $6,499 for an eight-night cruise. The ship then sails from Malaga across the Atlantic to San Juan, Puerto Rico. That 13-night sailing is five nights longer than the preceding cruise, but its starting price is $3,799 — a $2,700 difference.

Entry-level cabins

As a traveler chasing luxury, you’re all about the upgrade. But to get a great price on a high-end cruise ship, you might want to reconsider your aversion to booking the cheapest rooms.

Entry-level suites on the nicest ships are not the windowless closets you’ll find on some of the mass-market ships. They’re spacious cabins with either windows or private balconies and separate sleeping and sitting areas, as well as nicely appointed, reasonably sized bathrooms and often walk-in or large closets. You’ll get the same personal service, have access to the same gourmet dining and can enjoy the same ship amenities (a spa, a serene pool deck, social lounges and more) as folks in the top suites.

And you’ll pay less. For example, an entry-level suite on luxury line Seabourn ‘s Seabourn Encore is a veranda suite, measuring 246 to 302 square feet with a 68- to 83-square-foot private balcony. On a seven-night Greece and Turkey cruise departing in June 2025, prices for these rooms start at $4,299 per person. Opt for the next suite level up — a 450-square-foot penthouse suite with a 93- to 103-square-foot balcony — and you’ll pay from $7,999. That’s an increase of $3,700, all for a suite you won’t be spending much time in on this port-intensive itinerary.

Suite enclaves on big ships

Several big-ship cruise lines have entered the luxury travel space with suite enclaves that come with extra amenities, and the options can be affordable by luxury standards. These cruises are ideal for families looking for upscale accommodations combined with robust children’s programming or luxury travelers who prefer a more casual vibe or a wealth of entertainment and activity options on board.

Options include Norwegian Cruise Line ‘s The Haven, Royal Caribbean ‘s Royal Suite Class and MSC Cruises ‘ Yacht Club. Travelers who book these suites get VIP treatment compared to their shipmates. They have access to exclusive restaurants, lounges and sun decks; get priority boarding and theater seating; and might even receive more fare inclusions such as drink packages, internet access, gratuities and butler service (depending on the category booked).

Cruise fares in these top suites aren’t cheap, but they can be comparatively affordable in two ways. First, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Norwegian cruise ships typically sail shorter itineraries than true luxury lines, so you could book a short cruise to spend less on your total vacation cost. Second, while prices are comparable to the luxury lines and can skyrocket when ships start to sell out, you can sail in the ship’s top suites for what you’d pay for mid-level on a luxury ship.

For example, you can book an aft-facing penthouse (619 to 668 square feet with a 199- to 248-square-foot balcony) on a seven-night Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Encore for $4,149 per person on a Feb. 2, 2025, sailing. It comes with all of NCL’s Free at Sea inclusions (drinks, dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credit), as well as the services of a butler and concierge, and access to The Haven’s private lounge, restaurant and sun deck.

A weeklong Regent Seven Seas cruise to the Caribbean also in early February costs $14,049 per person for a 655-square-foot Grandeur Suite (with a 166- to 263-square-foot balcony). The cheapest veranda suite on that sailing starts at $6,599 per person — more than $2,000 over the price for a suite in Norwegian’s The Haven.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Spain to deport dozens of Bolivians whose false visas held up cruise ship in Barcelona

MADRID — Spain will on Thursday deport more than 60 Bolivians who arrived last week by cruise ship in the northeastern port of Barcelona but were not allowed to disembark because their visas were false.

The Spanish government’s office in Barcelona said 65 of the 69 Bolivians who arrived will be flown to the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz. The plane will be paid for by MSC Cruises, which owns the ship in which they arrived from Brazil.

Four members of a family with Spanish relatives will be allowed to enter Spain.

Spanish authorities said the Bolivian passengers had false visas to enter the European border-free Schengen area, an ID-check-free travel zone comprising 29 European countries.

The Bolivians’ visa problems meant that the cruise ship with more than 1,000 passengers was stuck for two days in Barcelona and unable to continue on its route in the Mediterranean Sea until the situation was resolved.

The cruise ship set sail after the Bolivians were temporarily accommodated in another boat while police interviewed them.

MSC Cruises said last week the Bolivian passengers’ documentation appeared correct upon boarding in Brazil.