When it comes to family cabins on a cruise ship, efficiency of space matters. You’re carrying along extra essentials, so the sprawl is real. But there are a few other tips we help families consider when choosing a cabin. For instance:
- Interconnected cabins—that is, cabins with adjoining interior doors—can be key for properly attending to an active family as many cabins only allow for double occupancy.
- Consider a cabin with doors that open into an interior hallway versus an outside deck if you’re traveling with younger kids.
- Consider total costs and configurations. Many child discounts are in the terms of the trip, not listed rates. Triple and quad occupancies can help save too.
- Bathroom space counts too. Consider cabins with double vanities, tubs and even half-baths in the suite.
Keeping all this in mind, here are our top small ship cabin picks for families:
Santa Cruz II – Darwin Suite (Galapagos Islands)
The 325 square foot Darwin Suites (pictured below) aboard the Santa Cruz II have two large picture windows, a sitting area with couch, and can be interconnected with a neighboring Explorer cabin to increase space by 163 square feet! This would be the perfect spacious setup for a family of four.
Plus, Darwin Suites come with elevated service and carefully refined extras such as a take-home Galápagos coffee table book, a tablet loan during the cruise, complimentary drinks and VIP lounge access at the Galápagos Islands airport.
The Santa Cruz II accommodates 90 guests on its Galapagos Islands itineraries (see all Santa Cruz II itineraries) so you can really bring a large group on this ship. 36 of its 50 cabins can be interconnected, making it even more family friendly.
For equally spacious/interconnecting suite options on a smaller yacht, try the Galapagos Infinity. One of our experts aboard this ship had fellow passengers in this cabin that were a family (35 to 75 years old) all sharing the space. A bonus is that even the balcony interconnects on this ship.
Origin, Theory & Evolve – Stateroom (Galapagos Islands)
All cabins are created equal on the luxury 20-guest Galapagos vessels Origin, Theory & Evolve, which is great for groups to avoid in-fighting on who gets the best cabin! Each yacht’s 10 double staterooms all measure 140 square feet, feature large panoramic view windows, satellite TV/DVD, iPod docking station and private baths, and can be arranged with twin or king beds. Two cabins can accommodate triples, making this a great cruise cabin for a family of five.
Furthermore, two cabins can be interconnected (pictured below), a further bonus for families traveling with children. See all Origin, Theory & Evolve itineraries to get aboard. Or look to a larger ship like the 100-guest Galapagos Legend for some creative cabin configurations, including rare quad capacity. View all Galapagos family cruises for even more cruise ships with family cabins in this destination.
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Nat Geo Resolution/Endurance – Category 7 (Global)
Kids love the extra touches on 138-guest sister ships National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution, including the in-suite balcony’s fun hammock hangout and the chance to spend the night in one of the shared deck igloos. Parents appreciate the Category 7 suite’s privacy wall with TVs on either side, separate vanity area and walk-in closet that’s a rarity on small ships.
The bathrooms take it a notch further with even more room for families including an extra half-bath, double vanity in the main bathroom and a rare bathtub (in addition to the rain shower). Triple accommodation on a sleeper sofa makes this suite great for a family of three. For larger families aboard, note that none of the suites or cabins interconnect, but interior access makes going room to room easy.
Additional perks for booking Category 7 may be advantageous for families as well, including priority booking for the igloos, spa and complimentary laundry.
Itineraries on these ships are everywhere from Antarctica to the Arctic, with the Pacific Islands and Japan in between. View the linked ship pages for access to all the itineraries on each ship, or view all National Geographic-Lindblad cruises worldwide.
Nat Geo Quest/Venture – Category 5 (Alaska & Central America)
While not the most spacious among the cabins on this page, Category 5 cabins aboard the 100-guest sister ships National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture are among the most popular for families cruising Alaska. Small expedition ships here tend to have less frills, so these really stand out for a few reasons. Large view windows keep out the cold but don’t skimp on views.
Triple configuration is available via the convertible sofa bed, in addition to the twin beds that can convert into a queen. Plus, these ships also feature 22 cabins with private step-out balconies plus six sets of convenient adjoining cabins in a variety of categories.
These purpose-built expedition vessels, USA-made in Washington by Nichols Brothers, extend such thoughtfulness into every inch of their design. This translates into a more seamless experience for families thanks to added features like a mudroom for expedition gear, tiered bow-viewing platforms (a bonus for your shorter sailors when whale watching!) and a Sun Deck bar for taller sailors who need a sunset sip.
Itineraries on these ships are everywhere from Baja, Costa Rica and Panama to Alaska and British Columbia. View the linked ship pages for access to all the itineraries, or view all National Geographic-Lindblad cruises worldwide.
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See more family cruise cabins & itineraries by destination,
or contact us to find the best cruise ships with family cabins for your group.
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Fantastic article. Thanks. I’d love to hear more about family cruises!
Hello Kass,
Traveling with children, parents and grandparents by small ship is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the world! Many of our Adventure Specialists know first-hand the ins and outs of traveling with kids; in fact, our owner and founder is traveling with his family right now! Whether you have a particular destination in mind or are ready to go anywhere, we can help select your dream family cabin! One of our Adventure Specialists will contact you soon.