By Sandy Fenton
One of the most popular travel trends continues to be three or more generations from one family taking a big vacation together. It can (and should be) be a meaningful, enriching, fun and wonderful experience for all age groups and every family member. It can also be extremely stressful. From finding the right destination - to all the planning – to all the different family personalities, ages & mobility issues – and of course, to the bottom line. What’s it going to cost – and who’s paying for it? Communication is key – with all family members and your AAA travel advisor.
There are so many travel choices out there – and I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a AAA travel advisor taking care of every detail and literally watching your back along the way.
Is your family adventuresome? Do they want outdoor sporting activities included - maybe golf, kayaking, horseback riding or a combination of fun plus learning activities?
Depending on your budget and interests your multigenerational vacation can be as exotic as you wish – think African safaris or expedition small cruising to the Galapagos or Antarctica – or dude ranches and camping. Of course waterpark resorts, all-inclusive tropical resorts and Disney are always popular choices.
My first multigenerational vacation was actually a “skip-gen” trip, meaning just me – with the grandkids, no parents - and it was a perfect choice for us.
I thought I had sworn off sailing on the super gigantic mega-cruise ships. Back in the day when my own kids were young, my feeling was – the bigger…the better. So many choices , so many kids , so much food , so many activities – and the list goes on and on. Over the years, many ships from Carnival ; Royal Caribbean ; NCL and even Disney have become bigger and yes, in many ways, even better.
So a few years ago, (when my granddaughters were 10 and 12) I treated them on a five day cruise to Bermuda, roundtrip New York City aboard Carnival Cruises’ new “Horizon” and I’ve got to tell you – we had a laugh-out-loud , crazy-busy and very fun sailing – with 5,000 of our new best friends.
Carnival’s “Horizon” was designed for families with young kids, teenagers and everything in between – and above. There is literally something to do (and eat) every hour of the day and night.
We began our travels by taking Amtrak’s Keystone service from Harrisburg to NYC, which was not only comfortable and convenient – it was at a discount with 50% off ages 12 and under. This was also a first time experience for both girls – and they loved it. (I packed treats and drinks as Keystone service does not have any food service.)
When we stepped out of our cab at Pier 88, “Horizon” was docked next to the Intrepid Battleship Museum (clear view of retired British Airways Concorde on the top deck) and there was a sea of people and luggage. Everyone, from every age category, seemed excited and ready to get onboard. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly we went through security and how helpful and nice everyone was.
Because we were only going for five days, we didn’t pack alot and walked right on the ship with our carry-on bags. Our quad balcony stateroom was a good match for us. It was well thought out , comfortable , very clean and our room attendant was a delight and the girls (and me too) were crazy about him.
After unpacking and attending the mandatory life boat drill - we began exploring and this is when my girls were invaluable – I would still be wondering the decks if not for them.
Onboard “Horizon” and at that time, there were a few first-ever at sea experiences - the super popular Dr. Suess WaterWorks Park ; Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse/Brewhouse and SkyCourse, a ropes course over the sea - in addition to the SkyRide, a bike ride in the sky above the ship and ocean ; a massive outdoor fitness area ; 9-hole miniature golf ; IMAX, Thrill Theaters & Dive-In outdoor movies ; 15+ dining venues (including 24/7 pizzeria & soft serve ice-cream and a nightly midnight buffet) ; 10+ bars ; a shopping mall (with Carnival’s first Victoria’s Secret where my girls wanted to buy their souvenirs – that didn’t happen) ; Dodgeball & Basketball tournaments (full court) ; some adult-only areas and one of the most fun and hardest working cruise director I’ve witnessed, “The Flying Scotsman”, hosting everything from morning “Seuss-A-Palooza” parades and story times - to nighttime, high-energy Motown (he becomes Tina Turner) and 80’s Rock & Glow Deck Party (we followed him everywhere) – and so much more.
After being at sea for almost 2-days, “Horizon” pulled up at the Royal Naval Dockyard around 8:00am and we had 7-hours to spend walking around the historic dockyard, writing postcards to the girls’ parents in South Carolina and swimming at the small beach close to the ship before sailing back to NYC. (I’ve been to Bermuda 20+ times and for first-timers, this was a good , albeit quick, visit to this beautiful island.)
To be clear - If you’re an upper-premium or luxury cruiser wanting an intimate, refined, adult-oriented cruise vacation with lots of space, no lines, award-wining dining and highly personalized onboard service and amenities with enrichment lectures - and quiet conversations during dinner and cocktails – this is NOT the ship or cruise line for you. Period.
But if your multigenerational family is looking for a big ship with action-packed, family-friendly, round-the-clock activities with a lot of energy, live music, overflowing buffets and lots of families – check out Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL – and of course Disney Cruise Lines. (These big ships are similar in many ways, but yet each separate cruise line has its own style & onboard atmosphere.) Other popular multigenerational – or “skip-gen” cruise choices include Princess and Holland America, especially to Alaska – a fabulous family cruise destination.
In closing, Carnival’s Horizon short roundtrip cruise to Bermuda was a great match for all three of us, but again, it is not for everyone. I’m still talking about how grateful I am to have had this wonderful experience with my granddaughters and how this vacation was truly a memory we’ll cherish forever.
With that said, it also worked so well because the girls at that time were 10 & 12 and could go off on their own during the afternoons (checking in with me every hour or two) – and I could also go off on my own and find a quiet (good luck with that!) space to read. Because they were a little older, they enjoyed so many of the onboard activities – and I didn’t need to worry about their safety.
As always, before you book any cruise vacation, be sure to take the time and talk to your AAA travel advisor. It’s your money and your time – you need to be certain you are getting exactly what you and your family want. Celebrating your multigenerational family cruise vacation on the right ship and the right itinerary – means everything.
Let’s Talk Travel with AAA, hosted by Sandy Fenton, is syndicated on iHeartRadio and heard locally on WRAW & WHP580 Saturday mornings. For more information, go to whp580.com and click on the link to “Let’s Talk Travel.”
