Going on a cruise for the first time with a pre-teen is a special experience – they are old enough to be really conscious of what’s going on while still young enough to feel the magic of it all. Writer, and great-aunt-extraordinaire, Sherry Spitsnaugle tells us what it’s like cruising with kids, especially when that kiddo is teetering on teenhood.

Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your cruise with kids. Images by Sherry Spitsnaugle. Graphic by Real Food Traveler.

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My 11-year-old great-niece and I snuggled under a blanket on Carnival Liberty’s mid-deck as the ship sliced through dark waves. With a chill in the evening ocean air, a fleecy cover was just enough as we reclined on our shared lounge chair. Aladdin played on the giant screen above the swimming pool for kids’ dive-in movie night. Between bites of popcorn, Sammy whispered, “I love you, Auntie.” I hugged her and said, “I love you, too.”

Then my little angel asked sweetly, “Can I go get more ice cream?” This would be her fifth soft serve that day.

Cruising with Kids

Decisions, decisions: Cruise or hang out on the beach

It was February 2020 when my niece, Kelly, her daughter, Sammy, and I set sail on a four-day Carnival cruise from Orlando. The choice had been between lounging on a Florida beach or boarding a ship. Cruising won hands-down. This would be the first cruise for Kelly and Sammy, and the first big trip for the three of us.

Her mom and I had concerns while we were deciding: Would Sammy live on pizza and jellybeans the entire cruise? Could she get lost on board? Would there be other 11-year-olds for her to pal around with?

Little did we know, Sammy would take to cruising like a late-night snacker takes to the midnight buffet.

Three generations get ready to board the ship.

Cruising—and dining—with kids

My great-niece added a sparkle and fun as only a kid can. We made a game out of finding our muster station–we called it the mustard station–to practice for an emergency. She made pals with a couple of little girls while we talked to their adults. Riding the glass elevator turned into a giggle fest. Sammy wanted to take the elevator up and down, and up and down. We had time. Why not?

Our first night at sea, we skipped the quick and easy pizza by the pool and opted for dinner in the formal dining room. The hostess guided us to our table–the same one where we would sit throughout the cruise–and like a pro, Sammy perused the menu.

Sammy was content hanging out with the adults as her mom and I sipped wine and she swigged a sugary, fruity mocktail. Our server, Florika, lavished attention on her, suggesting items on the menu such as dill lemon comfort soup and tiger shrimp.

The dining room was a mix of families and couples, and while the menu featured choices suitable for an adult palette, it also offered items that could appeal to kids. Sammy quizzed Florika for details about everything from peach soup to baked Alaska. Florika answered her questions and even arranged for the chef to come to our table to say hello.

When we couldn’t decide between Grand Marnier soufflé, key lime mousse, tropical fruit, or the Carnival melting chocolate cake, Florika delivered one of each.  We gushed over the ship’s signature chocolate cake.

I said, “I’m writing in my notes that this dessert gets five stars.” Sammy objected, “No, Auntie! A thousand stars!”

Cabin transforms into cozy digs  

After dinner, Sammy squealed with glee when we opened the door to our cabin to find three cozy beds adorned with towel sculptures.

It was a marvel to see how the tiny cabin had been transformed into an area where we each had our own space. Kelly and I each had a twin bed, and the sofa magically became bunk beds. Sammy slept snug in the top bunk with her “towel dog” as we drifted off to the rocking of the ship.

The next morning, Sammy joined the younger crowd for the Green Eggs and Ham breakfast and met characters from Dr. Seuss, a contrast from our dinner the evening before.

We established a routine where Sammy would have kid-friendly food (mac ‘n cheese, chicken nuggets, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the occasional soft serve) for lunch, and a proper meal with conversation in the evening. Sammy loved trying new foods as well as the formal structure of the dining room. Maybe it was due to all the attention she got from the staff – or the extra servings of melting chocolate cake.

Most cruise lines have created itineraries that cater to kids, dividing them into age groups. The Carnival Youth Program has the penguins (ages 2-5) the stingrays (ages 6-8 ) and the sharks (ages 9-11) and up.

Disney Cruise Line excels at welcoming families. With its reputation for magical and innovative entertainment, they may be at the top, but prices also hover at the highest.

Disney’s newest ship, Disney Wish, debuts this summer which will include rotational dining where guests can try different restaurants, but the waitstaff follows you each location. Disney Wish will offer Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure as well as Nordic-inspired cuisine.

Hungry for more? See why Disney’s new ship is great for adults too.

Princess Cruises offers an exceptional youth program with its Camp Discovery, the Treehouse, the Lodge and the even offer teen lounges, a kids’ only dinner, and kid-sitting, when staff watch the little ones. It’s hard to say if this is more for fun the parents or the kids, but Princess does an outstanding job with creative programming. They also serve items like fettucine in a cheese cup and Princess love boat dream, aka chocolate mousse on a brownie which are crowd-pleasers for any age.

With its commitment to sustainability UnCruise Adventures, a company that operates small boats, uses local sources to have the freshest ingredients and to support communities. And kids have it pretty good, too with adventures like “tide pool treasure hunts” and “storytelling and s’mores around a beach bonfire.” Menus include items such as a family-style antipasto board and Alaskan Halibut mini-cakes on their Alaskan voyages.

Adorable towel animals welcome guests back to their rooms on Carnival Cruise Lines.

Cruising with Kids and giving more sophisticated flavors a try

Our next evening, the hostess greeted us by name and directed us to “our” table. Florika was just as attentive and answered all of Sammy’s questions about what might be good before she decided on peach soup as an appetizer and lobster mac ‘n cheese – a perfect combination of kid/adult cuisine.

While she loved the chance to eat sandwiches and frozen yogurt at leisure during the day, she also relished the opportunity to be more grown-up in the dining room in the evening.

Sammy asked Florika for the recipe for the ship’s chocolate cake, which she managed to find, but the recipe called for proportions to serve the masses. Together, we had fun trying to calculate the ingredients to make the cake for four so that we could recreate it back home in Colorado.

Hungry for more? Get the recipe for Carnival’s famous Melting Chocolate Cake.

Port of call and glam for $15 

In our port of call, Nassau, we explored town and spent an hour in a five-dollar store. Selecting a bracelet suitable for formal night on the ship couldn’t be rushed, and we each finally settled on a bangle.

Sammy was itching to spend the money her grandma Karen had given her for the trip and settled on getting what a local stylist called “Rihanna braids.” The woman fussed over her for 45 minutes, then held up a mirror so she could admire the cornrows and beads. The price was $15. Sammy beamed and hugged the woman.

With cash still burning a hole in her pocket, she ponied up for a horse-drawn carriage tour. As our ride happily plodded through the streets, our driver shared the history of the capital of the Bahamas, with its pastel-colored British colonial buildings and pink-hued library. We ordered fresh coconut juice—and watched while a staff person sliced open a coconut—-lounged on the beach, and headed back to the ship, laden with shells and sand.

The moment we got back to the cabin Sammy secured our five-dollar bracelets in the safe.

Sammy admires her new hairdo while her stylist looks on from the doorway.

Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow when cruising with kids

For formal dinner the final night, we decked out in our best sundresses and new gems. After an appetizer of frog legs in herb butter, and ricotta ravioli, prime rib, and cornmeal crusted chicken breast, Florika and Sammy took a twirl on the floor as waitstaff performed their traditional parting show.

We said farewell to our hostess Maria, who had escorted us to our table each night; Chef, who worked his magic with cuisine; and our darling Florika.

Sammy invited them all to visit her school in Colorado. Then, she and Florika embraced in a tearful sendoff.

The author, left, her niece, and great niece enjoy a formal dinner aboard the ship.

Cruising with Kids: Planning our next family voyage

 Our first voyage together rated a thousand stars.

The homemade thank-you card Sammy wrote reads,” Dear Auntie, Thank you for taking us on a CRUISE. It was so fun. My fav part was the ICE CREAM! I had SOOO much fun with you! Love Sammy”

 We can’t wait to cruise again. Bring on the ice cream.

Bring on the beach, and also the ice cream, when cruising with kids.