8 Best Family Cruises 2024
03Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas
Royal Caribbean is known for its big ships—with the launch of Ovation of the Seas it now has eight of the biggest in the world— and its emphasis on entertainment. Anthem of the Seas, which accommodates up to 4,905 passengers, has cool features and interior design that creates a true resort at sea.
Best for: Families with active kids seeking fun in the sun.
Coolest itinerary: Seven nights round trip from Cape Liberty, NJ, to the Bahamas (runs October to April), offering three sea days to enjoy Anthem’s amenities—including the two-deck Adventure Ocean kids’ club—while ports provide access to Kennedy Space Center near Port Canaveral, Florida.; sunny Nassau; and the calm waters of CocoCay, Bahamas (Royal Caribbean’s private island). Price: from $838 per person.
Why it's great: There are lots of thrills (from RipCord by iFly’s simulated skydiving to the 300-foot-tall North Star capsule’s panoramic views) and plenty of spots to chill (including three family pools, one with a retractable roof and kid-sized deck chairs for the littles). Anthem also has 18 restaurants, among them Jamie’s Italian by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
