Three Things We Learned from Our Recent Group Cruise
In June 2024, we celebrated our parents' 50th wedding anniversary on the newly renovated Carnival Firenze, an Italian Fun Ship at Sea. Four generations of our family traveled to Long Beach for a five-day Mexican Riviera cruise. This cruise ship was family-friendly, with several gathering spaces for our large family to get together, and activities that appealed to all generations. If you’re thinking about a group cruise, here are three things to remember.
Cruise ship fit is important.
Before your cruise, consider what kind of group you are bringing. In our case, our group consisted of four generations aged 4-91. Some of us are active, outdoorsy people, some are foodies, and some love to join every shipboard activity. Given our group's varied ages and interests, our cruise ship needed to offer a diverse array of activities. Thankfully, the Firenze had something for everyone! Arts and crafts included Venetian mask-making and towel folding. There were meet-ups and karaoke for the young adults in the group. There was space for people who wanted to get food or sit and play cards in their downtime. There was great wifi for the nephew who wanted to work on his pet project on the sea days. And there was a semi-private space in the dining room for our family to get together for dinner every night, without getting in the way of anyone else. This dining room experience was one of the most important factors for the group leader, as it allowed everyone to go their separate way, but come back together at the end of the day. Another important factor for our group was that there were plenty of tables and spaces on the Lido Deck to have impromptu get-togethers to play cards, eat breakfast, or even just listen to the activities and entertainment together. We couldn’t have asked for a better fit for our group.
It’s important to set expectations for group togetherness… and apartness.
When you’re planning your cruise, make sure that your group talks about expectations for time spent together. This keeps everyone on the same page and helps to ensure that feelings are not hurt because of unmet expectations. Some items that you should consider talking about are group meals, port excursions, and expectations for sea days.
For example, when discussing meals, you might need to discuss the following. Will you eat every meal together? Will you eat just dinner together nightly? Will some people go off on their own to specialty dining? Having clear expectations around these plans will give people the freedom to make their plans outside of those designated togetherness times.
When talking about port excursions, you should consider the following. Will everyone go on one excursion together? If not, will you all spend time together on shore? Will there be a designated meeting point? What if someone wants to return to the ship early? Having these discussions before you leave will help the group plan their days within the context of the larger group.
The last thing that you should discuss is expectations for sea days. Is there a designated time to meet for breakfast, or are people going at their own pace? If you want to find someone, how will you do it? Is there a cruise lead who goes to activities all day, and everyone is welcome to join them? Are there a variety of activities that people want to participate in? Having those discussions upfront allows for everyone to have fun - whether they are together or apart.
One last thing - no matter what the plans are when you're traveling with a group, it is super important to be flexible and to advocate for yourself. People are not robots, so make space for someone who needs a break from the group or to go to bed early. Even the best-laid plans are not perfect for every person 100% of the time. If you need a break, or there is an activity that you really want to do but no one else does, speak up and make sure that you prioritize your needs. Because your group is flexible, others will understand.
Make space for connections with people outside of your immediate group.
Traveling with your group is awesome, and leads to deeper attachments. Your shared experiences can lead to meaningful conversations, deeper understanding, or just plain ol’ fun! A cruise ship also allows for ways to get to know people outside of the group you are traveling with. Don’t be afraid to go to an activity that you are interested in - even if you go on your own! Don’t worry about grabbing a meal by yourself, or joining the shore excursion that no one in your group is interested in. Cruise ships are full of ways to share experiences - and bond over those experiences - with people who were strangers when you boarded the ship. You just never know where your next friend might come from!
Our family cruise on the Carnival Firenze was a blast! We explored the Mexican Riviera, made new friends, and created memories that will last a lifetime. When you're looking for a fun and adventurous vacation, we can help you plan a multi-generational cruise. Just remember to plan ahead, be flexible, and enjoy the cruise!
