Kids Sail Free Cruises Explained + 6 Options

If you’ve ever priced out a family cruise, you know the costs add up quickly once you add kids into the mix. The good news is that many cruise lines offer a kids sail free deal, helping you cruise on a budget. AAA has helped millions of families plan trips like this and our Travel Agents know which promotions are worth booking and how to make the most of your AAA Member benefits onboard. 

Here’s a closer look at five kids sail free cruises and the benefits they offer AAA members.

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A kids sail free deal waives your child’s cruise fare when you book a cabin with at least two paying adults. It only covers the base fare, so you’ll still pay port fees, taxes, gratuities and any onboard extras. Deals also vary by sailing date, ship and age limits, so check the details before booking.

Common kids cruise free benefits include:

Knowing which cruise lines offer this deal and how each one works helps you find the best kid-friendly cruise for your family.

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The easiest way to find and book a kids sail free deal is through a AAA Travel Agent, who can track current promotions across multiple cruise lines and make sure you’re getting the best available rate. You can also check cruise line websites directly, but deals tend to be time-sensitive and sell out fast. 

Before you book, keep a few things in mind:

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Consider booking one of the following cruises if you’re looking for options with child discounts. 

Royal Caribbean is known for its big ships packed with adventure activities like rock-climbing walls, surf simulators and waterslides. It also offers thrills ashore at its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Royal Caribbean’s kids sail free deal lets guests 12 and younger cruise at no extra cost, as long as you book a triple, quad or family occupancy stateroom with at least two other paying guests. The offer only runs on select sail dates and you’ll need to provide names and dates of birth for everyone in the cabin at booking to lock in the rate. 

Keep in mind that taxes, fees and port expenses still apply to every guest, including kids. 

Carnival offers sailings from dozens of ports across the US, Europe and Australia. Onboard, kids and adults alike can enjoy rock climbing walls, waterslides, an IMAX theater, mini golf and even a roller coaster at sea. If parents want some time for themselves, Carnival’s youth program, Camp Ocean, keeps kids busy with age-appropriate activities.  

While Carnival doesn’t offer a traditional kids sail free deal, families do get a break on the bottom line: when two full-fare guests book a stateroom, additional guests in the same cabin pay a discounted cruise fare. 

Celebrity Cruises is known for premium dining and a more polished onboard atmosphere. But it also offers child-friendly activities to accommodate families cruising with kids. Kids can explore science, technology, culinary arts and creative expression at Camp at Sea, Celebrity’s fully customizable camp program for kids and teens. 

While Celebrity doesn’t run a traditional kids sail free promotion, their 3rd/4th/5th Guest Cruise Fare Offer provides $0 cruise fares for additional guests sharing an eligible stateroom with the first two full-fare paying guests on select sailings of three nights or longer, with taxes, fees and port expenses still applying to all guests. 

Princess Cruises offers sailings to destinations ranging from Alaska and the Caribbean to Europe, Hawai’i and beyond. Onboard, families can enjoy deck-side movie screenings, culinary experiences, spa services and the line’s signature MedallionClass technology, which personalizes everything from dining preferences to onboard service. 

Princess periodically runs its “Come Aboard Sale,” which includes free third- and fourth-guest fares on select sailings. Taxes, fees and port expenses still apply to all guests and it pays to check current promotions before booking since availability varies by sailing.

Cunard is known for its British elegance, white-glove service and storied ships like the Queen Mary 2. Onboard, guests enjoy daily afternoon tea, a 10,000-book library, live theatre and transatlantic crossings that feel like a genuine step back in time.

It’s a more refined experience than most family cruise lines, but Cunard does accommodate younger travelers. Infants between 6 months and 2 years sail free as third or fourth guests in the same stateroom. Children ages 2 to 17 traveling as third or fourth guests pay the full fare, minus the applicable third- or fourth-guest discount.

Regent Seven Seas is one of the most all-inclusive cruise lines on the water, with every sailing covering gourmet dining, premium beverages, unlimited shore excursions and butler service in every suite. 

On select summer and holiday voyages, kids ages 5 to 17 can join the Club Mariner Youth Program. With activities like mini-putt tournaments, karaoke and movie nights, the Club Mariner helps you plan a stress-free family adventure knowing there’s plenty for your kids to do onboard. 

Regent periodically offers discounted or free fares for kids 17 and under sailing as third or fourth guests in a suite, so it’s worth checking current promotions when you’re ready to book.

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Finding good deals like cruises where kids sail free can be a big task, so below we detail some of the most commonly asked questions.

Age limits vary by cruise line. Royal Caribbean covers kids 12 and under, while Princess, Celebrity and MSC extend their deals to guests 17 and under. Cunard’s free fare applies only to infants between 6 months and 2 years. Because the cutoff varies by line and sometimes by sailing, it’s worth confirming the age requirement before you book. 

Kids sail free deals waive the base cruise fare for eligible children, but taxes, port fees and gratuities still apply to every guest in the cabin, including kids. Some lines also exclude onboard extras like specialty dining, beverage packages and shore excursions from the deal. 

It depends on the cruise line, itinerary and cabin type, but the savings can be significant. On a week-long Caribbean sailing, a child’s base fare can run anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, so a free fare for one or two kids adds up quickly. Longer sailings and premium cabin categories tend to yield the biggest savings since the base fares are higher. 

Kids sail free promotions are limited-time offers tied to specific booking windows, sailing dates and cabin availability. Cruise lines typically run them during wave season (January through March) or around the holidays to fill cabins during slower booking periods. 

Peak travel dates like spring break and summer often come with blackout restrictions and once eligible cabins fill up, the deal disappears. 

The cruise lines above each handle kids sail free deals a little differently, so comparing age limits, blackout dates and cabin requirements before you book will save you headaches later. A AAA Travel Agent can do that legwork for you and make sure you’re not leaving any savings on the table.

If you’re ready to start planning a cruise where kids sail free or for a discount, explore AAA’s Travel Services to compare sailings, itineraries and current deals. For additional travel perks, consider an AAA membership. AAA Members have access to added perks to help make their vacation more affordable and enjoyable.