Is There Babysitting Available on My Cruise?

By Sarah Bretz

cruise line babysitting kids babies toddlers — Most large cruise lines offer group babysitting sessions. - *Photo by Carnival Cruise Line*

If you’re cruising with kids for the first time, you might be wondering which cruise lines have childcare for your school-age kiddos, toddlers, or baby. Thankfully, most lines have some options which can include daytime or late-night group babysitting with fun games and activities for all age groups. On some lines you can even hire an in-cabin sitter for a few hours. We’ve broken down what each cruise line offers as far as babysitting for toddlers, babies, and older children.

Azamara Club Cruises

Kids are welcome on Azamara, but there are no dedicated kid’s spaces and babysitting services are not available.

Carnival Cruise Line

Group babysitting: For children 6 months to 11 years old, there is Night Owls group babysitting from 10 pm to 1 am. It costs $7.76 per hour, per child.

In-cabin: None

Celebrity Cruises

Group babysitting: Celebrity has afternoon babysitting on port days from 12 to 2 pm for kids ages 3 to 11 for $6 per hour, per child. Then they have late-night Slumber Party babysitting from 10 pm to 1 am for the same cost.

In-cabin: For $19 per hour, parents can arrange for an in-cabin babysitter for up to two kids 1 year and older from the same family. Requests must be made 24 hours in advance.

Costa Cruises

Group babysitting: There is late-night babysitting for kids 3 to 11 years old from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am, held in the kid’s club area. It’s free and requests need to be made 24 hours in advance.

In-cabin: None

Crystal Cruises

Group babysitting: None

In-cabin: Babysitting is available for up to three children ages 1 and up in a cabin. It costs $10 per hour for one child, $15 for two, and $20 for three. Requests should be made at the Reception Desk 24 hours in advance.

Cunard

Group babysitting: A nighttime babysitting service is provided in the nursery for those 6 to 23 months old from 6 pm to 11 pm. It is free of charge and designed as a comfortable place for them to sleep.

In-cabin: None

Disney Cruise Line

Group babysitting: For kids 3 and older, there are scheduled activities in the kid’s clubs until midnight so specific babysitting isn’t available for that age group. For tots 6 months to 3 years there is group babysitting offered in the nursery. Reservations are required and parents are encouraged to reserve online before the cruise. It costs $4.50 per half-hour for one child and $4 per half hour for any additional children in the same family.

In-cabin: None

disney cruise children kids babysitting family — *Photo: Disney Cruise Line*

Holland America Line

Group babysitting: From 10 pm to midnight, babysitting is available for ages 3 and up, called Club HAL After Hours. It costs $5 per hour, per child.

In-cabin: For kids under 5 years old, there is limited in-cabin babysitting on sea days. It costs $10 per hour for the first child, and $7 per hour for each additional child.

MSC Cruises

Group babysitting: For babies and toddlers between 1 and 3 years old, there is complimentary babysitting from 1 to 2 pm and 6 to 7 pm (times can vary depending on the vessel and itinerary) when the ship is at sea as part of the Babycare program. Ask for a registration form once you board the cruise. Kids Around the Clock for kids 3 and older (must be potty-trained) is from 11 pm to to 2 am and costs $6 per child for the first hour or $10 per child for the entire duration.

In-cabin: None

Norwegian Cruise Line

Group babysitting: There are port day supervised mealtimes available for kids who stay onboard, which costs $6 per child, per meal. It might include a combination of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. Late Night Fun Zone is group babysitting for kids 3 to 12 years old inside the Splash Academy space from 10:30 pm to 1:30 am. It costs $24 per session for the first child, and $20 per session for the second child. Parents are encouraged to register in advance.

Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Escape also offer a Guppies nursery service for babies and toddlers 6 months to 3 years old. It costs $20 per 1 hr. 50 min. block session for the first child and $16 for each additional sibling. Late-night fees are $24 per block session per child and $20 for each additional sibling. Reservations are required and hours vary by itinerary.

In-cabin: None

Oceania Cruises

Kids are welcome on Oceania, but there are no dedicated kid’s spaces and babysitting services are not available.

Princess Cruises

Group babysitting: From 10 pm to 1 am, kids ages 3 to 12 can take part in group babysitting for $5 per hour, per child.

In-cabin: None

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Group babysitting: None

In-cabin: When available, there is in-suite babysitting on Regent Seven Seas. It costs around $25 per hour.

Royal Caribbean International

Group babysitting: From 10 pm to 2 am, group babysitting (called Late Night Party Zone) is available for kids ages 3 to 11 for $7 per child, per hour. On ships with nurseries, there’s also a baby drop-off program at various times of day for babies and toddlers 6 months to 3 years old. It costs $6 or $8 per baby per hour, depending on the time of day. Parents are allowed to pre-reserve a certain number of hours on embarkation day, and then more after day one if slots are still available.

In-cabin: None