As a family travel specialist, I follow the news and trends in this niche closely. During the past year we have seen a significant increase in the number of families planning multigenerational vacations together. These are not typically large family reunions but more often grandparents traveling with their children and grandchildren. Families are seeking opportunities to capture time together and build lasting memories.
Creating a vacation that everyone in the family will enjoy is the most important part of my job as a travel professional. Cruising has become a very popular choice for these families. Itineraries and ships are so diverse now that there truly is something for everyone. One of the biggest advantages of a cruise for the whole family is the variety of onboard activities. Cruising gives families the flexibility to enjoy their own activities aboard the ship, at their own pace, but also with the peace of mind that they are building memories to last a lifetime. The whole family can participate in activities together, or they can do as they please during the day, knowing that they will sit down together over dinner. With kid’s clubs, spa treatments, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, enrichment seminars, movies and more, the possibilities are endless aboard the ship. Not to mention the destinations!
As more and more families follow this vacation trend, I expect to see cruise lines offer a greater variety of itineraries and activities for all ages. While increased options are always a good thing, it can be confusing and a bit overwhelming to make sure that you have both the right vacation destination for your travel party and making sure that you get the most value for your vacation budget. Working with a professional travel consultant will ensure that all of the details are taken care of and you will have a vacation that exceeds your expectations, but not your budget.