By Amanda Mesa | Published on May 21, 2024
A cruise is always a fun vacation for the whole family. First of all, most family-friendly cruise ships are loaded with fun cruise attractions for kids, cruise activities for teens and experiences that encourage bonding across generations. Getaways at sea are convenient, too, allowing guests to see multiple destinations while only having to unpack once. Many ships also offer childcare options, ensuring a seamless, stress-free experience for if you’re cruising with a baby. But with so many cruise ships out there to choose from, how can you make sure you’re picking the best option for your crew?
One of my favorite cruise ships for family vacations is Grandeur of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. It’s an older ship, but to me that just gives it more charm. I personally love that it doesn’t have crazy water slides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag and some of the other cruise attractions for kids that larger ships are known for. Why? Because the lack of distractions makes it easier for me to spend quality time with my loved ones and for us to disconnect as a family.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to do onboard this Voyager Class ship — on the contrary. Grandeur of the Seas offers plenty of cruise activities for families — they’re just more low-key and traditional (which I love). The ship has a massive rock-climbing wall that I love to challenge my husband to first thing in the morning when we sail together. It’s our way of making our daily workout fun. An arcade that my brother and father can spend hours in together, going head-to-head with newer games and old-school classics. And a great pool deck where we can all come together and unwind as a family, watching as bellyflop competitions and dance contests unfold throughout the afternoon.
On a much larger cruise ship, everybody would be pulled in different directions based on their preferences — my brother making a beeline for the water slides and the glow-in-the-dark laser tag course, my golf-obsessed husband hitting the putt-putt course over and over (and over) again and my parents hunkering down on the pool deck to load up on sunshine, sea breezes and tropical drinks. But this particular cruise ship’s smaller size and classic activities help create a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere that encourages us to slow down and focus on making memories together. Here are just some of my favorite cruise activities for families sailing onboard Grandeur of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean is known for delivering exceptional family-friendly cruise entertainment, and this ship lives up to that reputation. Pencil in time to enjoy one of the wow-worthy productions onboard, including the stunning musical, Broadway Rhythm & Vine, and the dazzling Tango Buenos Aires — a love letter to Argentina’s most iconic dance styles. During your sailing, you can also look forward to impromptu musical performances throughout the ship, flash mobs, themed nights and plenty more. Just check your Cruise Compass daily for details.
These are just some of the many unique activities and experiences onboard Grandeur of the Seas that help set the stage for the best family cruises. I know my loved ones and I have had a blast experiencing all of the above together on past vacations at sea. That said, the cruise ship offers lots more activities, attractions and family-friendly things to do beyond these highlights. To see what else awaits onboard, check out a full run-down or browse itineraries.