All in the family

Family Reunions

You’ve just endured another night of Uncle Al’s snoring, finished last night’s pile of dinner dishes and are in the middle of explaining family values to your teens when suddenly it dawns on you – We could have gone on a cruise and had a lot more fun!

Sure family reunions are a wonderful idea but when held ashore at someone’s home (or even a nearby hotel), someone always get stuck doing the lion’s share of work or planning. And if that person is you, then maybe this year you should choose to cruise.

There is no better place on earth for a family reunion than the high seas. On board a cruise ship virtually all the work involved in running a family reunion cruise is done by someone else – the staff. You can select a ship that offers a multitude of accommodations at varying prices so that the “high rollers” can boast about their suites while the newlyweds can stay within their “just starting out” budget.

Sometimes, a little separation during family events is a good thing. You can get together as often or as little as possible. And each member is free to do their own thing – from a little recreational gaming to just sitting by the pool with a good book. One thing that you will soon realize is it’s surprisingly easy to create your own level of family participation on a cruise ship.

And the kids? There are organized children’s programs most cruise lines that encompass a variety of ages from toddler to Teens. So, the smaller set is free to enjoy a range of activities that is designed to prevent the “B” word – boredom. There is much more to do for them on a ship than at home or in a hotel. Tip! Larger mega ships have more in the way of children’s facilities.

Dishes? There are hundreds to be done on this reunion and the good news is that you won’t have to do a single one. In fact, just get up and leave the table after every meal like the guests did at your house last year. Making beds, cleaning the house and laundry? Leave it to your personal staff to attend to.

A great family reunion starts with your knowledgeable cruise specialist. They can help you identify the right itinerary, budget and amenities to insure that your family reunion gets off on the right step. And everything should go swimmingly on board as cruise ships host groups from 10 to 1,000 guests every week.

And Uncle Al? Just don’t get the cabin next to him!