Multi-generational Family Holidays with Royal Caribbean

While there are a whole host of cruise lines where fun and family are the focus, it’s Royal Caribbean that really stands out from the crowd, with over 50 years of experience and recently being voted the Best Cruise Line for Families at the 2021 Cruise Adviser Awards.

Make up for two years of missed travels with a family holiday where you can do it all. Send the kids off to cloud nine as they fly from sky diving to laser tagging or drop them off at award-winning kids’ clubs while you enjoy a deserved bit of downtime. Whether you’re watching the children learn to surf, cheering at a roof-raising West End show or seeing the sun set across a quaint cityscape, one thing’s for sure: memories are going to be made.

On a Royal Caribbean holiday there’s something for all the family. So while you’re sunning yourself with a cocktail in hand or trying (and failing) at surfing the FlowRider, gran and grandad are haggling over souvenirs at a local market, and the kids are flying from zipline to waterslide. Then, come dinner time, everyone gets together to share their day’s adventures over a delicious meal at one of the many top restaurants. Got fussy eaters in tow? No problem. There are restaurants onboard for every palette; think juicy burgers, piping pizzas, mouth-watering milkshakes and more. We know that family time is as important as me-time, and with Royal Caribbean you get the very best of both.

Ships of many sizes

Royal Caribbean features one of the world’s largest fleet of cruise ships. There are 25 action-packed ships that range in size from the Empress Class, with 796 staterooms, to the Oasis Class vessels – including the largest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas. You can opt for state-of-the-art and innovative technology on the Quantum Class ships, a relatively more intimate experience on a Vision, Empress or Sovereign Class ship, or something in between.

Something for everyone

Yes, we know it’s a bit of a cliché, but we can’t think of describing Royal Caribbean and the sheer amount of facilities and activities that they provide in any other way than ‘there’s something for everyone’. From rock climbing and skydiving sessions, dance lessons, fitness classes and pool games to quizzes, headline acts and teen discos, the list is seemingly endless. And this is why they are our go-to cruise line for fun multi-generational family holidays.

Taking a look at your cruise Compass – the newsletter placed in your stateroom or suite that lists absolutely everything that’s going to be happening on the following day – might be a little overwhelming at first. However, give it a day or two and you will discover those activities and spots around the ship that suit you – and it’s quite likely that they won’t be the same as the rest of your tribe. Meeting at the end of the day to swap stories is a highlight in itself.

Innovative Activities

There are no other cruise lines that offer the chance to skydive, surf, rock climb, ice skate or go ziplining while you’re at sea. Depending on the ship you choose, there’ll be a whole host of incredibly innovative facilities on board, particularly on the newest Quantum and Oasis Class ships, as well as the much-loved Freedom Class. There’s a real sense of ‘why not?’ when it comes to adding innovations – the newest ship, the Harmony of the Seas, adds the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest waterslide at sea, to the cruise line’s catalogue of superlative features. And the best thing about the at-sea activities mentioned above is that they’re all included in the cost of your holiday.

Entertain me

You’ll be surprised at how many ‘wow’ moments you’ll experience on a Royal Caribbean cruise and it’s likely that many of these will be while you’re enjoying the incredible entertainment on board. Cruise performances have changed beyond recognition in recent years, and it seems Royal Caribbean has been one of the cruise lines at the forefront of this evolution.

The ice shows will take your breath away, as will the awe-inspiring shows at the Aqua Theatre, and the headline shows which are not all just West End style – some of them are actual West End musicals. At present Cats, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Saturday Night Fever and We Will Rock you are now showing on select ships.

Spacious Family Suites

As well as a number of interconnecting staterooms, Royal Caribbean feature a wide selection of spacious suites, many of which – such as the Family Connected Junior Suite and the Royal Family Suite with Balcony – are the perfect option for those travelling as part of a multi-generational family.

At Kuoni we love a duplex suite, whether we’re on land or at sea. Royal Caribbean’s ships feature a range of two-storey loft suites but it’s the Royal Loft Suites, which can be found on the world’s largest cruise ships - Wonder, Symphony, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, Quantum, Anthem, Ovation and Spectrum of the Seas® – that really stand out. Royal Caribbean has the most fun, sociable and facility-filled ships at sea, and the opportunity to retire to one of these spacious, open-plan retreats is very welcome. Symphony and Spectrum of the Seas is most definitely a game changer - two storeys of amazing thrills on every level. Like your very own in-suite slide where there’s never a queue, an air hockey table and table tennis on your balcony. Not to mention your own Royal Genie who’s always ready to arrange exclusive access to the best of everything onboard. It’s the ultimate collection of memory making opportunities plus plenty of space for everyone in the family.