The Best Time for a Family Cruise
Working with the school calendar, not against it.
Get Family Cruise QuotesThe Best Time for a Family Cruise
Most family cruises are booked around the school calendar, which is why those weeks sell out and cost the most. Here is how the year looks for families, and how to make peak dates work if they are your only option.
| Period | For families | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Spring break | Short Caribbean and Bahamas sailings are a family favorite | Spring-break crowds and high demand; book early |
| Summer | The longest school holiday; Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean are all in season | Highest family demand; Caribbean is in hurricane season from June |
| Thanksgiving | A short holiday cruise from a U.S. port | Sells early |
| Christmas and New Year | Festive decorations and special events on board | Usually the most in-demand weeks of the year |
| Shoulder weeks | Quieter ships and wider choice | Need flexibility with school |
How Far Ahead to Book
Family cabins, such as those sleeping four or five and connecting rooms, are limited on every ship and go first. For school holidays, booking a year or more ahead is common; for summer Alaska and Europe, many families book 12 to 18 months out.
If you are holding out for a kids sail free offer, know which sailing you want before the promotion launches. Holiday cruises for groups of families are covered on our sister site Holiday Cruise Groups.
Length of Cruise by Age
- Under five: three to five nights is plenty for a first cruise.
- Five to twelve: a week works well, especially with a mix of sea and port days.
- Teens: longer or more adventurous itineraries, such as Alaska or Europe, start to make sense.
Whatever you choose, start from a port that is easy to reach; flying with children adds cost and stress. Our network’s Family Group Cruises can help if several families are traveling together.
Making Peak Dates Work
If school holidays are your only option, you can still make them work. Book as early as possible for the widest choice of family cabins; consider a slightly less in-demand ship or departure port; or sail at the start or end of the holiday rather than the middle. Prices for the same week can differ widely between lines, so compare more than one.
Another approach is a short sailing over a long weekend, such as Presidents’ Day or Memorial Day, when many families do not think of cruising. A three- or four-night trip can give the children their first taste of life at sea without using a whole school holiday. Sign up for the Mister Cruise special-offers newsletter to hear about family promotions as they launch.
Find the Right Dates for Your Family
Tell us your school holidays. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will find family cruises in those weeks, or nearby quieter ones, and send free quotes.
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