Cruise life Ships Partners

Unforgettable family-friendly activities in the Caribbean with P&O Cruises

Parents who’ve never gone on a Caribbean holiday with P&O Cruises before may understandably wonder if they’re suited to families, especially small children. And the answer is: heck yes.

10 min 11 Feb 2026

Time Out

Destination Partner

Incredible kids clubs
Beautiful beaches
Fun swimming pools
Caribbean wildlife
Kid-friendly dining
On-deck adventures

Children aren’t an afterthought with P&O Cruises – they’re as valued as anyone else, with dedicated clubs and pools and a wealth of unforgettable experiences they’ll love. And the industry has taken notice, with P&O Cruises winning Best Cruise Line for Family Holidays in the 2024 British Travel Awards and named Best for Families 2024 by Cruise Critic. Here are six great things to do with kids on a P&O Caribbean cruise holiday that will become treasured lifelong memories.

Incredible kids clubs

First things first. Adults generally like some adult time on cruises. Children probably want some child time too. And P&O Cruises has your back here. There is childcare on board for kids from six months to 17 years, starting with onboard nursery facilities, which include a night nursery so parents can leave the little ones in safe hands while they have an evening out, and going up to its H20 Kids Club, specifically aimed at teens. Children are not an impediment or an afterthought: they’re very much part of the cruise.

Beautiful beaches

P&O Cruises offers a wealth of shore experiences options in the Caribbean to cater to every taste. Pretty much every child of any age will disown you as a parent if you don’t take them to at least one of the Caribbean’s innumerable beautiful beaches, and that’s truly not a problem to arrange. Whether it’s the one-two zipline and paradise beach Antigua excursion, the relaxing Barbados beach break from Bridgetown, or the laid-back Coco Beach trip from Bonaire, there are options galore that are easy to book with P&O Cruises.

Super fun swimming pools

Though exact facilities vary from ship to ship, one aspect of all of them that will undoubtedly fill the wee ones with delight is the ample on-board swimming pools. Most ships have adults only pools (fair enough) but they also have dedicated kids and family pools too: on Arvia – which boasts a walloping five pools – there’s Splash Valley, which features jets, waterfalls and fountains, or over at the Azura the Splash Pool is located right by the kids’ clubs and features a paddling pool.

Wonder at the wildlife of the Caribbean

Rumour has it that some parents are happy to simply spend their cruise relaxing with a cocktail and watching the world drift by. Fortunately, their kids will remind them they need to get a bit more stuck in. To put it mildly, the wildlife of the Caribbean is quite different to that of Britain, and plenty of family friendly excursions give you a chance to get up close and personal: go stingray spotting in Antigua, snorkel near turtles in Curacao, go on a whale and dolphin spotting trip in Dominica and spot flamingos on the Bonaire salt flats.

Delicious kid-friendly dining

Fresh margherita slices from the Poolside Pizzeria (best enjoyed after a splash, of course!). Tasty, nutritious pasta at the earlier Children’s Tea in the buffet area. A ‘Mini Explorers’ menu packed with kid-friendly faves like crispy breaded fish fingers, baked beans and refreshing watermelon wedges. On a P&O Cruises holiday, children’s dining has been thought through with utmost care, with plenty of great options to choose from at convenient times and locations.

Have an action-packed on-deck adventure on Arvia

Every cruise has fun things to do on the ship, but the jewel in the crown in this respect is Altitude, the tropical-themed adventure zone on Arvia. Not all activities are suitable for very little ones, but tweens and teens will have a whale of a time in the sports arena, nine-hole minigolf, and the show-stopping Altitude Skywalk, a high ropes course 54 metres above the ocean with stunning views and a range of challenges to suit all abilities.