A family silhouetted against sea and sky at sunset

Family cruising

Children are our special guests, and we love welcoming them on board. They'll quickly be at home on our ships and will find plenty of opportunities to make friends. And you’ll be free to enjoy your holiday as you choose, with a blend of family fun and precious alone time.

Our children's clubs

Play room for children aged 8-12 with TV, toys, beanbags and table football

Activities to suit all ages

With four individual clubs for children aged from six months to 17 years, your children will have the time of their lives on board our ships. They’ll soon make friends in the dedicated area for their age group, whilst our expert team ensures that everyone has fun and stays safe.

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Family life on board

For children and their parents, there's so much to enjoy together on a Cunard cruise. From family fine dining to splashy fun in the pool, from a night out at the theatre to unforgettable moments ashore, you'll always be free to do as little or as much as you - and they - like.

Accommodation

Our ships offer comfortable accommodation ranging from cosy inside staterooms to spacious suites. Every grade includes a number of cleverly designed, well appointed family rooms that can accommodate up to four people. Children will usually sleep on a double sofa bed, or a single sofa bed and an upper berth. Your steward will make up the beds each evening and stow them away each morning. Larger families can book adjoining or even interconnecting rooms.

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Food and drink

Children are welcome in all restaurants on board and at Afternoon Tea. The buffets offer delicious options for all tastes and ages, from early morning until late evening, and you'll find great burgers and pizzas at the pool grills during the day.

Your main restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You'll find plenty of child-friendly options for breakfast - buttermilk pancakes are very popular - and a children's menu packed with favourites alongside our delicious set menus for lunch and dinner.

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Family fun around the ship

On warmer days at sea, there's nothing quite like a refreshing dip and all of our ships have at least one family-friendly main swimming pool. You could also try your hand at padel or table tennis, golf putting or pickleball, depending on your ship.

The traditional deck games like quoits, croquet, bowls or shuffleboard are also great fun for all the family. On sea days, your entertainment team will organise regular activities – skittles or table tennis tournaments, scavenger hunts, quizzes, board games and more – which children are encouraged to join.

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Actors on stage in the Royal Court Theatre

Theatre, cinema and Illuminations

Children are welcome in all of our theatres. On Queen Mary 2, the Illuminations theatre has spectacular daily shows, which are a huge hit with guests of all ages. Movies for all ages are screened regularly - consult your Daily Programme for details.

The Royal Court Theatre hosts dazzling musical productions every night. Most are suitable for younger children, who often have their very first theatre experience on board a Cunard Queen. The lights and sounds of a live show, often with a chance to meet some of the cast afterwards, make for a very exciting evening!

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The Carinthia Lounge is an airy, serene space on board Queen Mary 2

Bars and lounges

While you might not usually take your children to a bar, the rules are different on a Cunard cruise. Many of our bars and lounges are all day venues, and children are welcome in most of them until late in the evening. The Queens Room is popular with families in the evening, with children joining their parents on the dance floor. All menus offer alcohol-free drink options.

Alternatively, the children's clubs are usually available until late evening. Note that a small number of venues are only suitable for adults over 18.

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Going ashore

There's little to touch the thrill of stepping ashore in a fascinating new land. Whether you opt for an organised excursion or go it alone, you'll be well set for a day to remember.

Colourful mosaics at Park Guell in Barcelona

Mother and son exploring Puerto de Mogan, Gran Canaria

Shore Experiences

With every detail taken care of, many of our Shore Experiences are great adventures for all the family. From pizza tasting in its spiritual home of Naples, to a waterpark day near Barcelona or volcano exploring in the Canaries, you'll find plenty of options for a wonderful day ashore.

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Family exploration

Exploring at your own pace is a wonderful, stress-free way of discovering a new destination. In larger ports, you'll find complimentary shuttle buses that deposit you in the heart of the action. Your Daily Programme includes a detailed port guide to help you plan your day ashore.

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Frequently asked questions for parents

The minimum age for travel on our ships is 6 months. On Full World Voyages, Transatlantic Crossings and some longer voyages to exotic destinations, the minimum age is 12 months. This is due to remote destinations and the number of consecutive days at sea.

Children pay the applicable adult per person fare when travelling as a first or second guest.

Infants aged between 6 months and 2 years accommodated as a third or fourth guest in a stateroom travel free. A nominal fee may be charged for infants between the ages of 6 months and 2 years travelling where transfers, hotel stays and air travel are involved, which we will discuss with you at the time of booking.

Guests aged 2 to 17 years of age travelling as a third or fourth guest in a stateroom pay the full fare less the relevant third or fourth person discount.

Please note that children under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel in a stateroom without an accompanying passenger who is aged 16 or over.

Children aged six months (or 12 months as detailed above) to 23 months are classed as infants.

Children aged two years to 17 years are classed as children.

Those aged 18 years or over at time of travel are classed as adults.

There is no maximum age to travel.

We encourage all children to use our fantastic children's facilities, but we are unable to provide one-on-one support or care. If your child requires such assistance, a parent or carer will need to be present with them at all times.

If your child has a disability and would like to take part in our activity programme, please ensure you provide a full account of your child’s needs when registering your child via My Cunard. You will receive an email containing a link to the registration form around 15 days before departure.

Once you are on board, please speak with our Youth Team to arrange a chat with our Youth Manager. We can then do our best to make sure your child has a fun and safe holiday.

Children are welcome to dine in any of the dining venues on board. A children's menu is also available in each of the main dining rooms.

Meals are not provided in the children's clubs, but snacks are provided in the playrooms.

If you are travelling with a child who has any food intolerances or allergies please inform us by calling our Customer Contact Centre when booking your voyage or as soon as possible afterwards.

For more information on dining on board as a family, please see our family hub.

Theatre - Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in the Theatre during Productions Shows. Unescorted children will not be permitted to enter the Theatre.

Casino - Entry into the Casino is limited to guests over the age of 18, regardless of whether or not they are accompanied by a parent/guardian. (21 years whilst in US waters).

Swimming pools - On some ships there will be designated pools for use by adults only. All children must be toilet trained before using any of the pools. Swim nappies or pull up nappies are not accepted. This is due to health and safety reasons. All pools are unsupervised and children under 16 years are to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

Whirlpools - The whirlpools on board are not to be used by children aged 7 and under, and children aged 8-16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Gym, saunas and steam rooms - The minimum age for use of gym facilities including sauna and steam rooms, is 16 years of age with parental supervision or 18 years of age without supervision. Those under the age of 18 years of age should not use the weights section at all.

Nightclub - When in operation, children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the venues designated for the adult night club.

The Yacht Club (Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth) - No children are allowed entrance to this venue after the hours of 11.00pm.

G32 (Queen Mary 2) - No children are allowed entrance to this venue at all. (21 years whilst in US waters).

Other - Children may be required to have adult supervision whilst using certain rooms, further information on this can be provided when on board.

There may be time restrictions when children are no longer allowed in certain areas such as bars after midnight. These times and locations will be notified to you once on board.

For more information on sailing with Cunard as a family, please see our family hub.

We ask parents and guardians to note that children under the age of 16 must not be left unaccompanied on the ship whilst the ship is in port. There is no facility offered on board to look after your children if you go ashore.

All children under the age of 16 must have an adult, 18 or above, accompanying them whilst on board.

For more information on sailing with Cunard as a family, please see our family hub.

Any passenger under the age of 18 years at the time of sailing must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over.

Children aged 12 years or under must be booked into a stateroom with a guest who is 18 years or over. They should never be left alone in any stateroom and must be supervised by a parent/guardian aged 18 years or over.

Children aged 13 years or over must be booked in a stateroom with a guest who is 16 years or over.

For more information on sailing with Cunard as a family, please see our family hub.

Cruise fares apply to children from the age of 2 to 17 years old at the time of travel.

The first two people in each cabin will be charged an adult fare, regardless of their age.

Guests aged 2 to 17 years who are travelling as a third or fourth guest in a stateroom will receive the relevant third- or fourth-person discount on the full fare stateroom price.

For details on any of our voyages, please check our find a voyage page.

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Visit our frequently asked questions section for more details.

Planning your voyage

Couple enjoying view from their stateroom balcony on board a Cunard cruise ship

New to cruising

Whether you are new to Cunard, or new to cruising in general, this handy guide will explain what to expect when you set sail on a Cunard Queen for the first time.

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