What is Skip Gen Cruise? Skip Gen Cruise is an increasingly popular travel trend that many families are embracing these days. Below, we will discuss everything you need to know about Skip Gen cruises and whether it’s something you should consider trying as well.
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What is Skip Gen Cruises?
Skip Gen Cruises is a travel trend in which grandparents take their grandchildren on a cruise without the children’s parents. This gives grandparents an opportunity to bond exclusively with their grandkids and gives the children’s parents a break.
Why Do People Take Skip Gen Vacations?
It’s common for grandparents to go on Skip Gen Vacations to spend quality time with their grandchildren. Vacationing with the grandkids without their parents around is a unique experience, a great way to make lasting memories and have fun together.
People also take Skip Gen Vacations for practical reasons. If the parents are too busy and unable to take time off from work, the retired grandparents step in to take the grandkids on a Skip Gen Vacation.
For example, my parents took my then 9 year old daughter on a month long Mediterranean cruise (they did two back-to-back cruises). I couldn’t have taken a month off from work. It was an incredible experience for my daughter since she got to visit many different countries and cities that we wouldn’t have been able to take her to otherwise.
It also strengthened the bond between my daughter and my parents. Even now, my mom fondly talks about the Skip Gen Cruise they took with my daughter. The experience is truly invaluable. Now that my daughter is a teenager and extremely busy, she no longer has the time to go on a month-long cruise with my parents. I’m grateful I allowed her to go on that Skip Gen Cruise with my parents.
Why Choose Cruising for Skip Gen Vacations?
Cruises are perfect for Skip Gen Travel because they are all-inclusive, making it easy for grandparents to vacation with their grandkids —the food, accommodations, and activities are all taken care of.
Unlike other vacations, a Skip Gen Cruise is less stressful for grandparents since they don’t need to worry about keeping their grandchildren entertained. Cruise ships have a variety of onboard activities for grandchildren, such as kids clubs, arcades, sports courts, pools, aqua parks, bumper cars, go-karts, indoor sky diving, and more.
Aside from onboard activities, cruises are educational, and since they stop at cruise ports in various countries, they give grandchildren exposure to different cultures.
Cruises are also easier for grandparents because the logistics are simpler. Unlike a road trip, there’s minimal planning and no driving involved. Grandparents can simply relax with their grandchildren. With a cruise vacation, they can go to sleep and wake up the next day docked at a new port, ready to explore with their grandchildren. It’s the perfect Skip Gen Vacation.
What is the Best Age to Take a Skip Gen Cruise?
It’s best to go on a Skip Gen Cruise when your grandchildren are a bit older. Ideally, grandchildren in their tween, teen, or early 20s are perfect for Skip Gen Cruises. It’s easier for grandparents to vacation with older grandchildren.
However, if the grandparents are young and have the energy, they can definitely take younger school-aged children. For example, my parents took my 9 year old daughter on a month long Skip Gen Cruise. It wasn’t hard for them since she’s an easygoing and well-behaved kid.
Affordable Vacation
One of the best things about going on a Skip Gen Cruise is that it’s not much more expensive to bring your grandchild along. Often, you can get a great deal on the cruise fare for the 3rd passenger in the cabin.
For example, my mother and father-in-law recently took my 12 year old son on a Skip Gen Cruise to Bermuda. It was a last minute cruise, and we asked my son if he wanted to skip a week of school and go with his grandparents to Bermuda.
Luckily, he agreed, and my in-laws added him to their cruise cabin. They were pleased to find out that the 3rd person in their cabin was free. They ended up only paying a few hundred dollars for taxes and port fees. It was such a great deal.
Often, adding your grandchild to your cabin costs just the port fees and taxes since the third person sails free or the kids sail free. Skip Gen cruises can be a very affordable way to vacation with your grandchildren!
Should You Go on a Skip Gen Cruise?
I definitely think you should try going on a Skip Gen Cruise. It’s such an easy way to vacation with your grandchildren. I think if your grandchildren are old enough and they have the time to go on vacation with you, you should take it.
That’s because the window to vacation with your grandchildren is brief. As they grow older, they’ll become busier and won’t have the time to go on vacation with you. If you have the chance to take a Skip Gen cruise, do it. It’s such a precious time- so worth the memories.
From personal experience, I’ve seen how my children have bonded and grown closer to their grandparents after a Skip Gen Cruise, and wonderful to see. Check out: 15 Random but Useful Things to Pack to Survive Cruising with Kids
Cruise Essentials
Cruise Lanyard
Bring cruise lanyards; to make your life easier so you are not constantly looking for your cruise card!
Towel Bands
Towel bands are great in keeping your beach towels in place! So, they are slipping off the pool lounge chairs!
Power Strip
Definitely bring a cruise-approved power strip so you have more outlets for charging your devices. Cruise cabins never have enough outlets!
Packing Cubes
Make cruise packing easier by using packing cubes. These cubes will help keep your clothes organized. And unpacking is easy because you just need to take them out of your luggage and put them in the drawers and shelves- so easy! Assign a color for each person in your cabin so you are not getting your cubes mixed up.
Luggage Tags
For safety, make sure every luggage and bags are labeled with a luggage tag. I like these custom luggage tags that you can order and personalize with your information.
Magnetic Hooks
Bring magnetic hooks to organize your cabin and keep it clutter-free. These hooks are for hanging baseball caps, cruise lanyards, goggles, bathing suits and towels.
Detergent Travel Packets
These detergent travel packets are great for handwashing bathing suits in the sink.
Anti-Seasickness
This anti-seasickness medicine is a go-to to combat seasickness on a cruise. If you have kids, make sure you bring the chewable version. If you are looking for a natural solution, try these acupressure bands.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Cruise cabin sinks are notoriously small. Get a hanging toiletry bag to make it easier!
Cruise Travel Planner Printable
Get our 25 page cruise travel planner to stay organized before and during your cruise. It includes pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries, a cruise port planner, sea days planner, packing lists, cruise budget tracker and more!
Check out these free cruise printables
30 Unusual Things to Pack for a Cruise: Things You Didn’t Know You Need