Cruising with family is a whole different ball game than cruising as a couple. It involves bringing together multiple generations with varying interests and food preferences. It can be challenging to cater to everyone’s needs while keeping them engaged and happy. For example, what might please grandma may not necessarily interest your teenager. Below are family cruise mistakes people make so you don’t make the same mistakes on your next family cruise. I’m also sharing my cruise port and sea days planner as a free printable below.
Family Cruise Mistakes to Avoid
1. Pick the Right Shore Excursion
A mistake families make on a cruise is forcing everyone to one shore excursion. Sometimes, picking the right shore excursion means splitting the family up.
Thinking that a single shore excursion will fit everyone’s needs is a mistake. While some family members prefer an easy and less active excursion, others might be looking for something more exciting.
For example, if you have a grandma with mobility issues, opting for a less active excursion that suits her might be better. At the same time, teens might want to explore something more thrilling. It’s just impossible to make everyone happy with one plan.
I learned this lesson the hard way on a British Isle Cruise in Edinburgh. I picked a shore excursion rated “easy,” which meant it was not very active and was suitable for people with mobility issues. It was perfect for my mother-in-law, but my kids found it extremely boring and slow. We visited a museum and wasted a lot of time waiting for people to use the bathroom, and the group moved a bit too slowly for our liking. My kids would have enjoyed a more active excursion much better, but we went with the easier option and missed out on the fun.
2. Pre-Book Your Shore Excursion
It’s common for families to make the mistake of not pre-booking their shore excursions, which can result in disappointment. Popular shore excursions sell out quickly, so it’s best not to wait until you’re on the ship to book them.
Instead, book them online to ensure you get your first choice and avoid missing out. This is especially important if you’re traveling with a large group.
In addition to booking early, I recommend looking into private tours. This can sometimes result in a cheaper price if you’re traveling in a big group, and it also means you won’t have to share your tour with strangers.
Be sure to compare prices between the cruise shore excursion and independent tour operators like Viator. Based on my experience, independent tour operators tend to offer cheaper prices than the cruise.
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3. Choose the Right Cruise Ports
One common mistake people make when planning a family cruise is choosing an itinerary that does not work for everybody. I learned this the hard way when my family and I went on a British Isle cruise. While the grown-ups were fascinated by the castles and museums, my kids quickly grew bored.
In hindsight, a Caribbean cruise would have been a better fit for us. It would have been cheaper and more convenient since we could have sailed to the Caribbean from our home port in New York. Plus, my kids would have enjoyed spending time at the beach more than touring castles.
4. Picking the Wrong Cruise Ship
It’s common for families to make the mistake of choosing the wrong cruise ship for their vacation. If you’re planning to go on a cruise with many sea days, then it’s important to pick the right one to keep your family entertained.
This is especially true for teenagers who might feel too old or uninterested in the Cruise Ship’s Teen club. So, you want to make sure they have some exciting entertainment on the days at sea.
Luckily, cruise ships these days are equipped with all the bells and whistles, such as bumper cars, go-karts, water slides, and even roller coasters. Finding a cruise ship that fits your family’s needs shouldn’t be difficult.
5. Back to Back Shore Excursions
Families often make the mistake of overscheduling their shore excursions during a cruise. Going on tours every day can be exhausting for everyone, causing kids to complain and grandparents to become too tired to participate.
To avoid this, it’s best to take it easy and not book too many back-to-back shore excursions. You can give your family a break by exploring the port on your own.
If you want to take an excursion without your family, you can have the grandparents stay on the ship when it’s less crowded and leave the kids in the kids club. This way, everyone can enjoy their vacation without feeling overwhelmed or overworked. Check out my article on why I’m skipping port days on my next cruise.
6. Too Many People in One Cabin
One common mistake families often make when planning a trip is squeezing too many people into one cabin when they could have easily spread out. If you’re traveling with a big group, you can optimize your sleeping arrangements to make everyone more comfortable.
For example, instead of having four people cramped up in one cabin, you can split the group up so that three people share one stateroom. This way, everyone gets more space, and fewer people have to share a bathroom, which can be a hassle.
For example, whenever we cruise as a family, I have my son stay in my in-law’s cabin. It’s a more comfortable arrangement and I love that my son gets to spend time with his grandparents.
7. Pre-Book Cruise Transfer
Planning ahead for pre and post-cruise transfers is important. Many families often make the mistake of not pre-booking their cruise transfers, which can cause trouble.
It’s not a good idea to “wing it” and take a taxi or Uber to/from the cruise ship. Sometimes, it can be challenging to find enough transportation for your group.
Call the hotel in advance to see if you can pre-book a large van transfer. Otherwise, you can check with Viator to book port transfers for your group. It eliminates the hassle of waiting for taxis or Ubers and makes your trip less stressful.
8. Book Your Table at the Main Dining Room
One common mistake that many families make is not making dinner reservations in advance. If you’re a big group, walking into the Main Dining Room and getting a table can mean waiting in line for a long time.
Instead, it’s best to make reservations for every night of your cruise right from the first day. This way, you can avoid the frustration of having to deal with cranky kids while waiting for a table.
If you can make the reservations even before you get on the ship, you should do it. Getting a table for a big group is tough. The prime dinner slots tend to fill up quickly, and you don’t want to be stuck with a 9 pm dinner reservation.
By booking your table in advance, you can enjoy dinner without the stress of waiting for a table. You should check out my article on the 10 food I never eat at a cruise buffet.
9. Get the Photo Package
Many families tend to skip the photo package offered on a cruise because it can be quite pricey. However, it could be a great value for those traveling with a large group. To save money, you don’t have to purchase the photo package for everyone in your group.
For example, when my family and I went on a Princess cruise, we got the photo package for only one cabin and had everyone in our group go in the picture. Group photos are included in the package as long as the person who subscribed to it is in the photo.
Keep in mind that some cruise lines might have restrictions on who can be included in the photo package, so it’s best to check with them first since each line has varying photo packages.
Some cruise lines also offer studio packages where, for a fee, you can get 30 minutes of studio time and photos, making it another excellent option for large groups. Having a group photo from your cruise is a great way to remember your vacation, and it’s a nice keepsake to bring home with you.
Get Your Free Cruise Port and Sea Days Planner
Sign up once and you will get access to ALL exclusive content on this website. After unlocking the printable, just save the printable image and then print it. Use it to plan your shore excursions on port day and activities on sea days. I hope you like it!
Check out my cruise packing lists with free printables for your upcoming Caribbean cruise, Alaska cruise, Mexico cruise, Mediterranean Cruise, British Isle Cruise and Bermuda cruise.
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