Family reunion??

[loveak]

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

[Host Kat]

28 minutes ago, loveak said:

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

 

Howdy @loveak and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

I suggest you find a travel agent/agency specializing in cruises. Perhaps something in the following oldie but goodie Cruise Critic articles will be helpful:

Finding a Cruise Travel Agent

What to Expect on a Cruise: Booking a Cruise With a Travel Agent

 

Also, here is another oldie but goodie Cruise Critic article that may be helpful for you too: Planning a Family Reunion Cruise

 

Hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard the Cruise Critic message boards!

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

 

[boulders]

I disagree that you should find a travel agent. There's more than enough info on these boards to educate yourself.

 

Ships do an excellent job of entertaining kids with their kids and teen clubs. All ships will have a pool. All ships that are not adults only will have organized activities for the kids. 

 

If you want a beach-like vacation, I'd go with Royal Caribbean. They have plenty to do for all ages. If you are more interested in a particular destination, I'd widen the search to other cruise lines. 

 

 

[runner15km]

I suggest using a travel agent to help with the planning and booking for a large group. NCL, Carnival and Royal Caribbean will keep the children busy.

[LHT28]

12 hours ago, loveak said:

 Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

Yes you will have to share the pools with other guests

Go to the beach  areas & rent a large house

JMO

[ldubs]

12 hours ago, loveak said:

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

 

We were on Oasis of the Seas in November.  When I read of your objective, I thought it could be a good option if you are OK with mega cruise ships.   Pool/play areas for adults to kiddies.  A lot of families.   Very vibrant atmosphere.   If not into the mega ships I would still suggest RCI as a good choice for family type activities.   

 

Your objective would seem to include family friendly cruises.  We have been on cruises with hardly any youngsters to the one mentioned above that had a ton of kiddies.   Never felt overrun either with kids or old folks!  Haha.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aquahound]

16 hours ago, loveak said:

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

 

Of the lines that come to my mind offering great water features, Royal Caribbean would be my first recommendation, especially Oasis Class ships.  

[mjkacmom]

We take an annual beach vacation with about 15, my sister and her kids, my family, and some SO’s, love it but it’s a lot of work, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, it is sometimes overwhelming even though we’ve find it for about 10 years. Since it’s just 2 families and we are close, it’s not crazy financially (as in how to split costs), I think a cruise would be so easy. RCL, NCL, Carnival all have ships with fun extras for kids.

[whogo]

17 hours ago, loveak said:

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

Seven kids and eight adults, you're already over run with kids, what's a few hundred more? Is there someone who wants to buy groceries, cook, clean, and do laundry at a rental house? Can you do so and split the bill without starting a family feud? Then go ahead and rent a beach house. Otherwise have each branch of the family book whatever cruise you decide upon. Decide what activities you want to do together. Hint: You do not want a table for fifteen in the dining room.

 

Any cruise line with a kiddie club for three year olds will do. Let us know what you decide and how it all turns out.

 

[Ferry_Watcher]

9 hours ago, whogo said:

Seven kids and eight adults, you're already over run with kids, what's a few hundred more?

 

Exactly!

[ldubs]

9 hours ago, whogo said:

Seven kids and eight adults, you're already over run with kids, what's a few hundred more? Is there someone who wants to buy groceries, cook, clean, and do laundry at a rental house? Can you do so and split the bill without starting a family feud? Then go ahead and rent a beach house. Otherwise have each branch of the family book whatever cruise you decide upon. Decide what activities you want to do together. Hint: You do not want a table for fifteen in the dining room.

 

Any cruise line with a kiddie club for three year olds will do. Let us know what you decide and how it all turns out.

 

 

"Hint: You do not want a table for fifteen in the dining room."

 

My question is, if you could get a table for 15, why would you not want one?   

 

We do quite a few family/friend group cruises.   In the old days they would push a bunch of tables together for our large group (up to a point).  These days, I wish we could get a table for 15.  

[whogo]

5 hours ago, ldubs said:

My question is, if you could get a table for 15, why would you not want one?   

Fifteen is an unmanageable number for the family and for the staff. The kids want to eat early, Gramps needs to eat later because of his medication, Uncle Jem is on a streak in the casino, and Aunt Beatrice is "napping" after attempting to hit the limit on her drinks passage.

 

Ordering takes twenty-five minutes while one couple tries to decide between a red wine and a white wine and what did Shirley want before she took the kid to the bathroom? There is nothing the kids love more than a two hour meal.

 

 

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, whogo said:

Fifteen is an unmanageable number for the family and for the staff. The kids want to eat early, Gramps needs to eat later because of his medication, Uncle Jem is on a streak in the casino, and Aunt Beatrice is "napping" after attempting to hit the limit on her drinks passage.

 

Ordering takes twenty-five minutes while one couple tries to decide between a red wine and a white wine and what did Shirley want before she took the kid to the bathroom? There is nothing the kids love more than a two hour meal.

 

 

Sounds like a Steve Martin movie!   😀

 

We do it all the time with large family groups.    Biggest might have been about 23 -- different tables next to each other.   No biggie if someone can't make it or has to leave early.  I don't understand the issue with wait staff.  It is no different than handling any other groups of 6 or 8 per table.  

[SRQbeachgirl]

On 3/1/2023 at 9:39 PM, loveak said:

Our family of 8 adults, 7 grand-kids ages 3-13 are looking to go on a cruise for a family reunion., Looking for ship that will have swimming/ play pool and activities for that age group. Adults concern is we will be over run with kids daily. vs just going to beach and renting a VRBO for the family. The cruise sounds intriguing, no planning meals.

 

As another poster stated, you're already overrun with kids, but at least they're your kids. Cruise during spring break or summer on any of the big three main lines (Carnival, Royal, NCL) and you're also going to be overrun by everyone else's kids. So choosing a ship with the most activities to keep kids (yours and all the others) occupied will be crucial.

 

As others have suggested, one of Royal's Oasis class would be a good choice if the kids want lots of water-based activities. Depending on when you are planning this, the new Icon might be ready, which is being called a water park at sea.

 

Whatever you do, choose wisely, my friend. 

[SbbquilterUT]

Just had a great time in VRBO in Key West with 6 adults and cute 3 year old GS.  Lots of fun but I got tired of feeling like Mom - shopping, cooking, cleaning up to keep things tidy (not without help but the onus did fall to me or I felt the need to do it as no one else thought about it and I can't abide a mess.  Price wise our cruise with 3 interior cabins was about the same and I did not have to do any of those things.  Next we are trying an AI for the same reason.