Cruising is the Best Vacation for Family Reunions and Group Trips

10.10.2023 - 19:47 / travelpulse.com / Holly Johnson

Vacationing with one of the major cruise lines means meeting passengers from all ages groups and walks of life, and this often includes friends groups, work groups and family members who opt to plan a reunion at sea. I was reminded of this recently as I boarded the new MSC Seascape out of Miami, Florida. Several groups wore matching shirts with their family name and reunion details emblazoned on the front, not only for fun but also to help them easily locate each other at the port.

This got me thinking about just how easy cruising is for groups who want to travel together but not necessarily share space or expenses along the way. Alternatively, booking a huge vacation rental that sleeps 20+ people (or any group size) means figuring out who sleeps where a fair amount for different "groups within the group" to pay. This kind of trip also requires someone to cook and clean up, negotiations on where to dine out and when and potentially even both.

The same is often true for group trips at traditional hotels, although everyone in the group can theoretically book and pay for their own room. The only option for groups close to cruising in terms of convenience comes in the form of all-inclusive resorts where food and drinks are included, yet cruising is still better for groups due to the reasons I outline below.

One of the main reasons so many friends groups and family reunions choose cruising is the fact that room sizes and options with affordable fares abound. As an example, the MSC Seascape offers interior staterooms without any outdoor space for those who want to pay as little as they can, ocean view staterooms, balcony staterooms and spacious suites for family or group members who may want to splurge on the trip.

My stay on the MSC Seascape was in the luxurious "ship within a ship" Yacht Club part of the vessel, and I spoke to a woman on my cruise who was staying in the Yacht Club as part of a reunion with more than 30 people on board. She told me she was the only family member staying in the Yacht Club, and that she chose to upgrade herself due to the premium drink package that came with the booking — and the fact the Yacht Club gave her a place to escape other family members if she needed a break.

Not only can group members choose a cabin on the ship that suits their budget and family size, but cruising makes it possible for everyone to pay for their own trip separately and on their own time. This is a lot more convenient than having one family member gather funds from everyone to pay for a vacation rental, and it makes it so late payers don't hold everyone back. Having separate bookings for each cabin on a group cruise also means that additional family or group members can be added to the trip up until the