Fab four: The best family-friendly cruises

From water parks to zip-lines, these ships will keep the young ones entertained - and the adults too.

Days at sea onboard Pride of America can be spent playing ping-pong, putt-putt golf, shuffleboard, outdoor chess, checkers, watching movies and comedy shows, or creating arts and crafts. The ship has a family-friendly culture which you will see being played out when the sky is steeped in blue, and there are multiple games of Marco Polo underway in the Miami-inspired pool. Although there are three kids clubs onboard and a dedicated club for teens, there is something to keep everyone in the family entertained on a seven-day round-trip cruise from Honolulu, Hawaii's capital on the island of Oahu. This is the only cruise line that sails four Hawaiian Islands and visits five ports year-round, allowing for immersive excursions that celebrate the rich culture and rugged landscapes. ncl.com

Quantum of the Seas is a magical kingdom for families. As well as being the lead ship of her class operated by Royal Caribbean, it has the only skydiving simulator at sea and, of course, the FlowRider, where you can practise your airs, bottom turns and cutbacks on the artificial wave. Keep it simple if you have younger children by booking a sampler cruise that hugs the east coast of Australia and leaves from Brisbane or Sydney. Families with older children should consider a seven-night cruise to the South Pacific which loops in Port Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu. Swim or dive in the turquoise seas surrounded by towering palms and tangled vines, and then enjoy your downtime back on deck as the sun paints the sky in bands of rose and gold. royalcaribbean.com

Nobody's going to quibble over the fact Carnival Cruise Line has some of the most family-friendly ships on offer. Think splashy water parks, colourful water-slides and adventure parks designed to keep everyone from toddlers to teens happy. There's also a range of games such as mini golf, quoits, laser tag, basketball and tennis. In addition to its family-friendly cabin configurations, the ships have dedicated kids' clubs for every age group. Adults can also find their happy place at comedy shows, the onboard jazz club and swanky restaurant Fahrenheit 555. The white beaches and turquoise waters of the South Pacific beckon for multigenerational getaways year-round. Sail from Sydney onboard Carnival Splendor for a nine-day cruise and embrace the slow rhythm of the tropics. carnival.com.au