Royal Caribbean Family Reunion: Our Best Vacation Ever

Aerial view of CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island

Last fall, my sister planned a family cruise that became pure magic. When my family decided to join her aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, it was supposed to be just our two families. Then, my aunt and uncle from Canada made a last-minute decision to try their first-ever cruise—a mere five days before sailing!

As a seasoned traveler, I jumped into action, using every trick I knew to get these nervous first-time cruisers from Canada to Florida in record time. The result? It was an incredible three-generation gathering that completely changed how I think about family travel and ultimately inspired me to become a travel advisor.

Royal Promenade Seating Areas

The “Adding family members” miracle

Try adding relatives to a beach house rental or mountain resort trip at the last minute. Nearly impossible.

But with cruises, coordinating plans becomes surprisingly simple. The itinerary is preset with almost endless daily activity options, while most meals, entertainment, and activities are automatically included. You can often snag cabin availability weeks or even days before sailing, and group perks are easily extended to new additions. Everyone books independently with no impact on existing family members’ plans or costs. Conversely, when someone cancels, it doesn’t affect anyone else’s costs or arrangements.

Try recalculating the expected family contribution for that massive short-term rental house when one family drops out at the last minute. With a cruise, there’s zero family drama!

Allure of the Seas, ship profile

Why cruises solve every family challenge

Our reunion was living proof of cruise flexibility when it comes to different budgets. Our freshly retired aunt and uncle snagged a guaranteed stateroom since they were booking so late, which turned out perfectly for first-timers who didn’t care about specific locations. Conversely, by booking months earlier, my sister had scored an incredible deal on an impressive Aqua Theater Suite for her family of five. My family chose a Junior Suite with Coastal Kitchen dining access, which was worth it for our sensory-sensitive tween who needed less bustle and hustle by dinnertime.

The Coastal Kitchen became our nightly tradition. As Junior Suite guests, we discovered the secret: kindly ask the concierge in the Suite Lounge and be flexible on timing, and they’ll do their best to make it happen for you! We loved the intimate atmosphere where the staff became familiar with our drink and appetizer orders, and even started an evening tradition of folding origami for our son. Everyone stayed within their comfort zone budget-wise, but we all shared the most amazing experiences.

I watched this multi-generational magic play out beautifully on our ship. Our tweens and teenagers were obsessed with rock climbing and mini golf, plus the supervised activities at the Adventure Ocean kids club gave us parents actual breaks. Meanwhile, the adults found our groove at Dazzles, listening to live jazz, where my uncle kept reminiscing about his university days, followed by late-night drinks at Boleros Club. The best moment came when we all crowded onto my sister’s spacious Aqua Theater Suite balcony for our private viewing of the incredible water acrobatics shows, complete with complimentary snacks including sushi and drinks from the spectacular Royal Genie concierge service.

For special needs, cruises handle everything seamlessly. Food allergies and dining restrictions were managed effortlessly by trained dining staff, while family members always had their cabin sanctuaries nearby to take a sensory-friendly break. Cruise vacations offer a treasure trove of advance information for those who need to preview every detail to feel comfortable, from deck plan maps to detailed stateroom tours and food and beverage reviews to full-ship walking video tours. The flexible participation meant each person could join in as much or as little as they wanted without interrupting the flow for others.

Boleros Club

What made this work so well

The cruise format solved problems I didn’t even know we’d have. When someone needed quiet time or the teenagers wanted space, private cabins were always just minutes away. Everyone could retreat and recharge without disrupting group plans.

I loved watching what I started thinking of as “parallel fun” - my uncle enjoyed the adults-only Solarium each morning while teenagers conquered the rock climbing wall and ziplining course. Some relatives preferred the tucked-away smoke-free casino. Others caught late-night comedy shows. Everyone had their ideal vacation simultaneously, then we’d meet for coffee or a meal with stories to share.

We discovered great spots by just exploring. Sorrento's became our late-night hangout. Johnny Rockets has amazing complimentary breakfast items, and Park Cafe offered a quieter alternative to the busy Windjammer. Central Park felt completely different during the day versus at night. The twinkling lights in the trees sparkle at night, and the entire neighborhood feels magical!


The ship naturally accommodated different needs without making anyone feel singled out. Predictable schedules helped everyone feel comfortable, quiet spaces were always available, and no one felt pressured to participate in every single activity.

Vitality Spa

From family vacation to career inspiration

This cruise was so successful that I became a Fora travel advisor in the weeks following our sailing. Watching my aunt and uncle transform from nervous first-time cruisers to eagerly asking about “our next sailing” showed me exactly what happens when you remove logistics stress—families can focus entirely on what reunions are really about: connection, laughter, and making memories that last a lifetime.

Now when I help families plan cruise reunions, I focus on the details that made our trip work: securing group rates that save money, coordinating cabin placement that balances privacy with connection, managing dining reservations and dietary accommodations, and handling all the documentation for international family members. Working with Fora gives me access to robust supplier relationships and ongoing training that helps me navigate the complexities of multi-generational travel planning. The goal is always the same—stress-free planning so families can focus entirely on making memories instead of managing details.

Aerial View, Nassau Cruise Port, Bahamas

Family considerations

• We have [number] people across [age ranges] - which ships work best for multi-generational groups?

• Do any ports require tender boats? We have family members with mobility concerns.

• How does cruise dining handle food allergies across all venues?

Budget and logistics

• Can you mix cabin categories while keeping us close together?

• What group perks can we secure for our reunion size?

• Can you coordinate travel from different cities to the departure port?

Experience planning

• Which ships have the best balance of kids clubs and adult-only spaces?

• What shore excursion options work for different activity levels?

• How do we book specialty dining for large groups?

For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our Cruises page.