Cruising is the perfect family reunion...

Cruises are the perfect family getaway which works for a single family as well as large extended family reunions.  Cruises are all about making memories which last a lifetime and are as much fun to plan as they are to experience and to reminisce about for years to come.   

When bringing multiple generations together it can be difficult to keep everyone happy and entertained but that is not the case on a cruise.  You can be super active and athletic or enjoy total relaxation with a good book, a wide array of spa treatments or just hanging around the pool.  Let’s look at an average day at sea and what the choices are for everyone to do.  I am using a Cruise Compass (a newsletter delivered to your stateroom with daily activities) from Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas for Day 4 day at sea for this example.   http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/CruiseCompass.pdf

For the active family member who wants to be doing something and does not want to miss a thing:

                7 am – Breakfast in the dining room meeting new friends.   (Eggs Benedict)

                9 am – Baggo Tournament (sign-up 8:45 am) – Country Club          Deck 12

                10 am – Napkin Folding Class – Colony Club                                          Deck  6

                11 am – Cash Bingo – Colony Club                                                           Deck  6

                Noon – quick lunch at the Windjammer Café                                       Deck 11

                1 pm – Slot Tournament – Casino Royale                                              Deck  6

                2:15 – Beginner’s Salsa Dance Class – Colony Club                             Deck  6

                3:30 – Service Clubs Meeting (Rotary makeup), Schooner Bar         Deck  6

                4:30 – Trivia Challenge – Hollywood Odyssey                                        Deck 13

                5:30 – Black and White and Saloon Costume Portraits, Centrum      Deck  5

                6 – 7 Get a shower and dress for dinner

                7:30 – Headliner Showtime (pre-dinner)  Aurora Theatre                  Decks 5, 6

                8:30 – Dinner with the family (late seating) - Cascades                      Decks 4,5

                10 pm – Dance the Night Away – Starquest                                          Deck 13

                Midnight – sleeps well to the rocking of the ship (fun day)

For the Athlete –

                7 am walk-a-mile, 7:30 Sunrise Stretch, 8 Wheels in Motion, 9 Shape Up, Step Up, 10 intro to Pilates,  10:30 Secrets to a Flat Stomach ,  11:30 Salad bar lunch, 1 pm Adult Basketball Knockout,  2 pm Rock Climbing Wall, 4 Core Motion, 5 Pathway to Yoga,  6 hit the steam room and hot tub before getting ready to meet family for dinner,  10:45 Radiance Quest,  Midnight – stop by the casino on the way to bed

For those who want to relax –

                8 am coffee delivered to stateroom,  9 am breakfast in the Windjammer, 10 spa treatment, 11:30 a little shopping or read a bit before lunch,  12:30 lunch in the dining room,  1:15 Diamond and Gemstone Seminar, 2 movie – Bruce Almighty,  5:30 Big Band Dance Music,  7:30 Port and Shopping tips, Dinner with family, 10 listen to piano music in the schooner bar before bed. 

Sun lovers  -

                9 am breakfast in the Windjammer on the way to the pool.  10:30 laying out with a fruity umbrella drink,  12 grab a burger and bring it back to the pool,  bucket of ice cold beer, 1 pm Belly flop Competition,   1:30 Horse Racing and Horse auction, poolside, 3 Ice carving Demo, pool side,  4 walk a mile (maybe),  5 get out of the sun for a while and have a snack before getting ready for dinner,  8:15 Singles Mix ‘n Mingle,  Dinner with family,  10 Wild West Dance Party with new friends

Teens and kids-friendly activities

Teen-only lounge area, Scratch DJ Academy, Airbrush tattoos, Internet Café, Generation Y spa Treatments for kids and teens, Theme parties, Nintendo Wii gaming, Sports Court, Rock climbing wall, miniature golf, pools, Kids program – Aquanauts 3-5, Explorers 6-8, Voyagers 9-11, Teens 12-14, Teens 15-17 include age-appropriate facilities and activities experienced and certified Adventure ocean staff

As you can see from just this one day of activities there is something for everyone.  You can see as much of each other as possible or only get together for dinners.  This is life onboard the ship and when you are in port there are any number of activities which will match your style of vacation desires.   https://secure.shoretrips.com/default.asp  Some guests even decide to spend a quite day onboard the ship during port days. 

Cruising also offers the widest range of pricing in a single vacation.   There are interior staterooms which can hold up to 4 guests for as low as $200 per person for short cruises and go all the way up to lavish suites which have butler or concierge service on the same ship and they all include meals and entertainment. 

Cruise vacations allow you to unpack once and see the world.   What better way to do this with your extended family with everyone doing the things that make them happy.   Call your travel agent and start dreaming about the premiere vacation of a lifetime.