Kid-Approved Activities + Easy Shore Excursion Tips for Families
Day 1: Embarkation in Barcelona, Spain
Quick Tip: Arrive a day or two early to explore the city and help the whole family adjust to the new time zone.
Kid-Friendly Pick: Even with limited time, there’s a lot to see. Stroll through the city and stop by iconic spots like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Mercat de la Boqueria. Grab some tapas and enjoy the vibrant street life.
Day 2: At Sea
Quick Tip: Use this day to explore everything the ship has to offer.
Kid-Friendly Pick: Walk the decks, check out the pools, entertainment areas, and eateries. Enroll the kids in the youth center and take time to relax while they enjoy supervised crafts and games.
The kids enjoyed checking out the ports early each morning from the balcony, like in Gibraltar.
Day 3: Gibraltar, UK Territory
Quick Tip: You don’t have to book excursions through Princess—we found several local tour guides offering small group tours right at the port for €50-60 per person.
Kid-Friendly Pick: We took a private highlights tour that included entry to The Pillars of Hercules, with amazing views of Morocco, then onto St. Michael’s Cave (huge caverns with easy access), The Rock of Gibraltar Skywalk, Ape’s Den to see the famous monkeys, and wrapped up at the World War II tunnels. It was a packed day, but totally doable. Parent Tip: Skip the cable cars—lines were long and slow-moving. A driving tour covered more in less time and kept everyone happier.
Don’t forget to stop for photos with the Princess bear at each port. In Gibraltar, we loved spotting the native apes on the Rock of Gibraltar.
Day 4: At Sea
Quick Tip: After a full day in Gibraltar, this sea day offered the perfect downtime to recharge.
Kid-Friendly Pick: Let the kids run wild (safely) at the kid’s club, while parents take advantage of onboard spa treatments, wellness classes, or just reading poolside. It’s also a great day to catch a movie, explore shipboard entertainment, or try a new dining spot.
We got a good taste of Provence from our cruise stop in Marseille and would definitely make a family trip back here to enjoy the slow days in the beautiful town of Roussillon.
Day 5: Marseille (Provence), France
Quick Tip: We booked a Princess Cruises excursion for this port, and it was one of the most scenic days of the trip.
Kid-Friendly Pick: Our tour included stops in Lourmarin and Roussillon. We explored narrow village streets, colorful buildings, and enjoyed free time for lunch. Then, we stopped in Coustellet to visit a Lavender Museum.
The La Spezia port was a beautiful preview of what the area had to offer. From La Spezia, it was an easy train ride to the villages of Cinque Terre.
Day 6: La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa), Italy
Quick Tip: Rome is an option, but it would take a lot of time to get there and back to the cruise ship—focus on the nearby gems instead.
Kid-Friendly Pick: We chose an excursion to Cinque Terre, and while it’s not stroller-friendly, we managed just fine without one. If you’re traveling with a baby, a carrier is your best friend. The colorful cliffside villages were absolutely worth it. There are also plenty of places to grab a scoop (or three) of gelato and playgrounds with the most beautiful background.
Day 7: At Sea
Quick Tip: After a few packed port days, enjoy one last sea day to wind down before disembarkation.
Kid-Friendly Pick: Use this day to revisit favorite ship activities, catch a show, or just relax as a family. It’s the perfect time to recap your favorite moments from the trip together.
Sailing into the Port of Naples, our final stop on our family Mediterranean cruise with Princess Cruises. We didn’t explore here since this was our disembarkation day, but it was the perfect gateway to head home after a week of kid-friendly adventures.
Disembarkation in Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii)
Quick Tip: We pre-booked our airport transfer through Princess Cruises to streamline disembarkation.
Parent Note: Naples has a reputation for being chaotic, and we personally didn’t feel the need to explore. We headed straight to the airport—which, fair warning, was hot, disorganized, and one of the most stressful airport experiences we’ve had. Plan ahead, pack lots of snacks, and be prepared for long queues.
Mediterranean Memories Made Easy
This Princess Cruises itinerary review hits the sweet spot for families—enough culture to make it memorable, enough flexibility to keep it manageable. With a little pre-planning and kid-focused picks at each stop, your 7-day Mediterranean cruise with kids can be equal parts relaxing and adventurous.
