Kids sail free on these 8 cruise lines in 2026, including river cruises

Many family-friendly cruise lines offer free-to-sail promotions for kids on new bookings, making planning an affordable family vacation easier than ever. Whether it’s your first cruise or your fiftieth, free cruise fares for kids add great value. I’ve compiled a list of major shipping companies that offer this deal. Note that taxes, fees, port charges, registration, insurance, flights and transfers are usually not included even when children sail free, but you will still enjoy significant savings on the overall price of a cruise vacation.

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1. Royal Caribbean – Kids screen-free promotion

Royal Caribbean is a family favorite with kid-friendly amenities like a kids’ club, family entertainment, swimming pools, water play areas, kid-focused menus, and Perfect Day on the private island of CocoCay. At certain times, children 12 and under sail free when sharing a cabin with a paying adult. Offers are updated frequently, so if you don’t see a kids screen-free promotion on their current offers page, check back often. These offerings tend to sell out quickly but are reintroduced regularly for families to enjoy.

2. Norwegian Cruise Line – ‘Free at Sea’ Offer

Another kid-friendly cruise line, Norwegian offers some great deals to entice traveling families, including a number of “Free at Sea” perks that include kids’ sail-free deals (and some great deals on cruises for couples too). You can find the latest Norway cruise deals here. Norwegian typically offers up to five freebies with its “Free at Sea” promotion: free open bar, free specialty dining, free excursion and port fees, free Wi-Fi, and free sailing for kids (or at just $99 for the third and fourth guests).

3. MSC Cruises – Free kids cruises and all-in-one pricing

Children 18 and under staying in the same cabin as their parents can sail free on MSC Cruises. The line’s “kids sail free” deal (found here on its website) often comes with other perks too, like free drinks and Wi-Fi and up to $500 in-flight credit. Although not running a free sailing promotion, MSC Cruises also has an “all-in-one” discount option for single parents or guardians traveling with up to three children: Adult guests pay full price, while a second guest (under 18) pays 60% and other children are subject to a further reduced fare.

4. Holland America Line – Kids sail free on select sailings

Holland America offers a kids’ cruise-free promotion on select sailings each year, usually allowing children as young as 18 to sail free with a paying adult. Although Holland America warns that “this offer won’t last long,” it’s a safe bet that when one promotion ends, another will start soon after. For more information, visit the kids cruise free page on the Holland America website. Other line discounts typically include balcony cabin upgrades and onboard credits.

5. Costa Cruises – Kids cruise free when traveling as a third or fourth guest

Costa Cruises, which sails to South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, often offers deals where the third and fourth guests sail for free. The Waves to Summer deal, available until March 16 2026, includes cruises in all of these areas, making it a great choice for a family holiday in this exciting destination. Costa’s family-friendly ships have a water park, mini golf, go-karts, a kids’ club (ages three to 11), and a teen zone (ages 12 to 17).

6. CroisiEurope – Kids sail free on a European river cruise

River cruise lines aren’t known for being the most family-friendly, but it’s a different story with CroisiEurope, which makes it easy for families to experience a European river cruise. You can find kid-screen-free deals on several itineraries: France, Portugal, Spain, the Rhine and Italy. The free cruise deal (see full details here) is available for children up to 16 years old. Additionally, families can get adjacent cabins when booking multiple cabins, customized kid-friendly menus at meal times, and no single surcharge.

7. A-Rosa – Kids sail free on river cruises, when booked on select decks

Families are the main focus of A-Rosa, a European river cruise company that designed a ship for children called the A-Rosa Sena, with larger cabins, a dedicated youth club and its own swimming pool. Across its fleet, you’ll find features like family cabin categories, kids’ menus, kids’ activities, and even child care—all of which are rare in the industry. As if that weren’t enough, this line offers free sailing incentives for children aged 15 and under.

To take advantage, families must book a cabin on Deck 1 of select ships and be accompanied by at least one adult (two in a Category G room). Discounts are given to children up to and including the age of 15, who receive a 30% discount on their cruise fare when staying on Deck 2. A full list of A-Rosa offerings can be found here, while you can learn more about the kids’ sail-free program here.

8. Explora Journeys – Kids cruise for free or at a discount

The opportunity to experience a luxury cruise is more affordable on Explora Journeys, where children aged two to 17 years enjoy a generous 50% discount and babies and toddlers aged six to 23 months (at the time of sailing) sail free. Children must be registered as third and fourth guests.

Without water slides, rock climbing walls, or high-energy pool decks, Explora Journeys ships may not look like your average family cruise. But they still cater to those with kids, with elaborate kids’ clubs and programs, separate dining menus, family-focused shore excursions, in-room toys for little travelers, and even luxury details like teen-sized robes and slippers. Get a quick overview of every deal offered by Explora Journeys here.

Does Disney Cruise Line offer free cruise deals for kids?

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) sometimes offers promotions where kids can cruise for free, but these offers are rare. Often, DCL provides special offers for cruise discounts and onboard credits, which are usually limited to certain cruises and dates.

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