Carnival Cruise Lines calls itself the cruise line with ‘fun ships’ and this certainly extends to cruises for families. The fleet-wide Camp Carnival is a special programme for children aged two to 14 and includes special shore visits for teenagers. There is also a baby-sitting service, although you pay extra for that.

All of this adds up to Carnival Cruise Line being a family friendly cruise line par excellence. And the evidence for this is that more than 100, 000 children travelled with the cruise line in 2008 – an impressive vote of confidence. Staterooms on most Carnival ships tend to be more family friendly too, as they can be more spacious than on other cruise lines. One popular feature, especially for bigger families or intergenerational groups travelling together, is the fact that some ships have adjoining rooms. There is a special children's menu and all Carnival ships have a 114-foot-long, 15-foot-high water slide that kids of all ages love to experience.