Cruise Buzz

A cruise vacation provides the best setting for a reunion with all travel, accommodations, meals and entertainment.  The onboard arrangements could not be easier for the planner.   Here are some tips for planning the perfect reunion at sea. 

Step 1. Decide where to go.  The most difficult part of planning a family reunion cruise may be deciding where to go. With hundreds of itineraries and dozens of ships to choose from try to select a cruise that is convenient for most of the group. 

Step 2. Pick a stateroom.  With a variety of comfortable accommodations, every cruise offers a range of prices that can suit any family member’s budget.

Step 3. Review the onboard activities.  During the cruise, family members can spend time together: swimming and sunning at the pool, playing games on the sports deck, enjoying a shore excursion or taking in a show in the ship’s theater.   In addition, everyone can pursue some individual activities. For kids, most cruise lines have activity programs that are specially designed for various age groups and supervised by trained counselors. These programs use fun activities like crafts, pool parties, scavenger hunts and science experiments to keep kids busy and entertained. Some cruise ships also feature special “teen-only” lounges and dance clubs.   The adults won’t lack for things to do, either. They can work up a healthy sweat in the health club, relax with an indulgent spa treatment, enter a bridge tournament or curl up in a corner with a book from the ship’s library. Many cruise lines have adult enrichment programs that offer lectures and classes on topics that vary from the latest computer technology to the world’s finest wines.  

Step 4. Know the food options.  Organizing meals for the family reunion is a breeze on a cruise ship. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snack in between will be deliciously prepared by a galley crew that knows how to please even the fussiest diners. On most ships, meals and snacks are available 24 hours a day.

Step 5. Arrive a day in advance.  If the group is traveling far distances to meet the ship, plan to arrive a day in advance for a pre-reunion kick off.

These five steps will help family reunion organizers maximize the fun and minimize the stress.  Consider an all-inclusive cruise option for the best value for everyone.