Cruise vacations give families the opportunity to reconnect and create shared memories. But cruise fares for three or four people can really add up, especially when you consider extras like flights, hotels and excursions. A solution? Share a cabin and save with a ‘child cruise free’ deal.
Many cruise lines – including family favorites like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line – offer free child fares and other cruise deals for kids sporadically throughout the year. Some always let children sail for free. You might have the best luck finding family-friendly discounts during golf season, which falls between January and March, when cruise lines have some of the best prices of the year.
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To make your family getaway more affordable, here’s a list of family-friendly cruise lines where kids can cruise for free (or cheaper) when you time your booking with a short-term offer. These incentives change frequently and the deals can sell out quickly, so you may need to be flexible about where you sail and when you go. Always read the fine print before booking to spot any hidden fees or restrictions.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises regularly offers the “Kids Sail Free” promotion throughout the year in combination with other limited-time offers. Children up to 17 years old sail for free as the third or fourth guest in most cabins. (Yacht Club rooms are excluded.)
Some deals may also include discounted fares, along with cabin upgrades, flexible booking options or freebies (like drinks packs or Wi-Fi), so mum and dad might get a few perks too. The ‘Kids Sail Free’ offer can be combined with MSC Cruises’ discount program for healthcare workers and active or retired military personnel.
Children will love MSC Cruises for the collaboration with the kids club with Lego and the water slides, enhanced by virtual reality. The pizza is among the best in the industry.
Check the MSC Cruises website for children’s cruise-free offers all year round.
Related: The 5 Best Cruise Lines for Families
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Norwegian cruise line
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering free child fares through its ‘Free at Sea’ promotion. The offer gives cruisers free booking benefits including free specialty dinners, free beverage packages, shore excursion credits, free WiFi and discounted rates for additional guests in a stateroom (including children).
With this latest offer, you can access free rates or rates of $99 per person for the third and fourth guests, regardless of age. This special price applies to select sailings and only when the additional passengers share a cabin with the first and second guests.
NCL often offers discounted cruise fares for the first two guests in conjunction with the ‘Free at Sea’ promotion. Additional benefits to support a family’s travel budget can include free airfare for the second guest or reduced deposits, depending on the specific promotion running when you book.
Choose Norwegian’s newest cruise ships for family activities with a wow factor, such as kart racing, laser tag and water slides. The casual atmosphere of the line will appeal to children who don’t like having to dress up for dinner.
Related: Best Kid-Friendly Cruises: The 7 Best Cruise Ships for Kids
Holland America Line
Holland America Line offers promotional prizes throughout the year, including the ‘Kids Cruise Free’ program. The restrictions may change, but the ultimate savings remain the same.
At the time of writing, the cruise line has a deal in place where third and fourth guests under the age of 18 can sail for free on select sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico and the Panama Canal. (Taxes and fees are extra.) Offer is limited to two children per booking.
Parents and caregivers will need to look for additional promotions, such as free balcony upgrades, onboard credit and lower deposits. Some offer a free “Have It All” premium package, which includes special dining, a beverage package, free shore excursions (number depends on the length of the cruise), and Wi-Fi. Otherwise, families can upgrade to the more inclusive package at a reduced price.
Holland America is ideal for multi-generational families traveling together who enjoy exploring the harbor and listening to live music on board.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s “Kids Sail Free” promotion is offered periodically throughout the year. Not every deal is the same, but the line typically offers free cruise fares to children 12 or younger who sail as additional guests with two full-fare passengers. This is in addition to the occasional offers for on-board credit and discounts for a second guest.
Be sure to read the fine print because the free cruises for kids have many restrictions, such as blackout dates during major holidays and school holidays and minimum sailing lengths.
Royal Caribbean also occasionally offers a “Kids Sail for Less” deal, which usually includes a 25% discount on the fare for additional passengers in a cabin. This promotion has no age restriction and is therefore open to additional guests sharing accommodation with two full-fare passengers.
Royal Caribbean is a favorite with families who love the big ship attractions, including ice skating and diving shows, onboard splash parks and water slides, rock climbing walls, mini golf, laser tag, escape rooms and zip lines. The huge kids’ clubs cater to all ages, from babies to teens, and the private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is a top destination for families with its multiple beaches and pumped-up water park.
For family discounts, check Royal Caribbean’s deals page.
Related: 5 Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises does not normally let children cruise for free, but the luxury line does offer reduced fares for children 17 and under on select sailings during the summer and holiday seasons. These rates start at $999 per child (or young adult) sailing as the third or fourth guest in a suite and vary in price depending on the voyage.
At the time of writing, Regent is advertising a ‘Kids Sail Free’ promotion on selected routes. The offer is a per person cruise fare available only to children who are 17 years or younger at the time of sailing. They must sail as the third guest in a suite accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Regent always offers unlimited free shore excursions so kids can explore the city and stay active while sailing in Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal or other destinations included in the promotion.
CroisiEurope
River cruise company CroisiEurope’s Family Club cruises allow children up to 16 years to sail for free or at reduced rates of up to 30% off certain sailings.
Because the line’s ships have few rooms that can accommodate more than two passengers, the line has waived the single supplement for families on these sailings. This means that two parents and one child can book two cabins for the price of one. (Each parent pays for one berth in each cabin and the child travels for free.)
In 2024 you will find child cruise-free deals on CroisiEurope river cruises in Portugal, Spain and Italy, as well as on the Rhine. For Family Club sailings to Croatia, children under 16 receive a 30% discount.
This Family Club cruise deal is limited to two children per paying adult. Additional charges may apply for more luxurious rooms. On these sailings there are optional excursions aimed at children, and a menu for the younger palates is available in the onboard dining options.
On all other sailings, the river cruise line offers a 20% discount for children under 10 years old. Children under 2 years always sail for free.
Star clippers
If you’re planning a multi-generational family trip, consider booking a trip on one of Star Clipper’s large ships. Currently, children aged 3 to 17 can sail free with one or two adults in the same cabin on select three- to nine-night sailings in 2024 and 2025 in the Caribbean, Central America and the Mediterranean. (You must book before April 30, 2024 for this promotion.)
If two children travel with two adults (in specific room categories), the line can accommodate the family in two individual cabins. Additionally, grandparents age 65 and older can join in and receive a 10% discount on cruise fares.
Children can imagine themselves as sailors or pirates with onboard activities such as tying knots and climbing the ship’s mast. Older children in particular will enjoy water sports from the ship.
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