Best for
The luxury cruise lines and itineraries that work for three generations at once, ranked by Blackbury: children's programmes, connecting suites, pacing, accessibility and where to go.
A multigenerational cruise has to pass two tests: does the ship have what the children need, and does it have the calm the grandparents need? Few luxury ships pass both. These do, in our experience, and we have set out where each falls short.
| Criterion | Explora Journeys | The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection | Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Ponant | Regent Seven Seas Cruises |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explora Journeys | Passes both. Connecting suites, children's spaces, adult-calm pool. Not intimate. | ||||
| Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection | Yacht with a children's programme. Very few connecting suites; expensive. | ||||
| Uniworld family sailings | River calm, no tenders, activities for children on dedicated dates. No pool deck to speak of. | ||||
| Ponant summer departures | Small ship, kids' club in summer, adventurous. Smaller cabins. | ||||
| Regent Seven Seas | Elegant and inclusive; youth programme in school holidays. Teenagers, not toddlers. |
Stars are Blackbury's editorial opinion, not independent ratings or customer reviews.
Where to go: the Western Mediterranean for a first family cruise, the Caribbean for Christmas, Alaska for teenagers, the Danube for mobility concerns. When: twelve months ahead for school holidays. How: one specialist who draws the cabins, books the table and arranges the excursions so that the grandparents can stop and the children can run.
Tell us who's travelling and what matters most. We'll say which of these we'd book for you, and why.
The lines
Modern, relaxed, generous with space, and genuinely happy to see children.
Hotel-style luxury on yachts of roughly 300 to 450 guests, with a surprisingly warm welcome for children.
Boutique river ships with lavish interiors and dedicated family sailings in the school holidays.
French small ships and a true polar icebreaker, with a children's programme in the summer holidays.
The most inclusive fare at sea, on all-suite ships that take elegance seriously.
Good to know
A cruise taken by three generations of one family — grandparents, parents and children — usually in several cabins on one ship, often paid for by the grandparents.
Keep reading
Explora and Silversea are both luxury, both largely inclusive, and suit quite different parties. We compare ship size, formality, children, food, destinations and price, then say which we would choose for whom.
Regent and Seabourn both sell small-ship luxury with most things included. Regent includes more and is a little grander; Seabourn is smaller, warmer and more sociable. We say which we would choose for which couple.
Both are relaxed, modern and welcome children — one is a ship of around 900 guests and the other a yacht of 300 to 450. We compare space, price, children's programmes and where each goes.
Tell us who's travelling, where you'd like to go and what matters most. We'll recommend the ships we'd actually consider.