My husband, Trent, and I are seasoned travelers.
We’ve hiked, kayaked, biked, and even snorkeled in roughly half the national parks, and we’ve taken monthlong trips to countries such as Italy and Germany. We’ve camped, we’ve traveled with friends, we’ve done theme parks and all-inclusive resorts — we even got engaged while traveling.
However, there were two things we hadn’t done together: travel with family and go on a cruise.
Last year, we tackled both simultaneously on a seven-night Holland America Alaskan cruise with Trent’s mom, sister, aunt, uncle, and his uncle’s girlfriend.
Overall, our group had a wonderful time despite our very different travel styles.
Our family set aside time for individual preferences
Timothy Moore
Before setting sail, we all agreed that everyone deserved the vacation they wanted, and that’s what made a cruise so great. There was so much to do on and off the ship, and each of us found something we enjoyed.
Trent’s mom, sister, and aunt spent time shopping while Trent’s uncle and his girlfriend relaxed by the pool bar.
Despite the cold, Trent and I spent a lot of time on the outside decks, taking in the Alaskan landscape. We also took art classes and found cozy spots on board where we could read and sip coffee.
We even found an LGBTQ+ group on board that met every night in the same bar — and we ended up leaving the ship with new friends.
To make sure Trent and I still felt like we were getting some dedicated alone time on this big family trip, we also booked time at the spa during one of the sea days.
This meant we could spend the morning in the thermal suite, hang out with family in the afternoon, and return to the spa in the evening for our massages.
Doing our own excursions let us embrace our passion for adventure
Timothy Moore
Trent and I are very active on vacations. We like to be on the go, whether we’re touring a museum, climbing a mountain, or white-water rafting down a river.
Naturally, we wanted to do all the active excursions, like canoeing to a glacier, off-roading in a Jeep, and biking down a mountainside. The rest of the family was much more interested in laid-back excursions, like walking tours and salmon bakes.
So, we split up, which actually worked really well. It was important for everyone to take some alone time so we didn’t get on each other’s nerves across the eight days together.
Plus, this gave us all a lot to talk about when we got back on the ship.
No matter what, we always had meals as a family
Timothy Moore
Meals were a great way for our group to come together and talk about our days.
We’d always start our mornings discussing our plans over breakfast. Sometimes, we’d arrange to meet up for certain activities.
As long as plans aligned, we’d come back together for lunch. Most importantly, though, we always sat together for dinner.
Because we booked Holland America’s Have It All package, we even got a complimentary dinner at one of the premium restaurants. We all got dressed up (it was Independence Day, so some of the family embraced the red, white, and blue), and sat together for a big group meal.
This was extra special, as in years past, most of us would meet at my mother-in-law’s for a Fourth of July cookout. Coming together for a formal dinner felt like we were honoring our tradition in a new way.
Plus, we had lots of fun playing cards and doing trivia together
Timothy Moore
One of the on-board activities we all seemed to enjoy was trivia. Each afternoon, we’d come together for music trivia, themed to a different decade each time. It was fun to see which family members knew more answers as we progressed from the 1960s to the 2000s.
We also found a way to spend time together outside the scheduled cruise activities.
Our ship had a massive game room with stunning views and a café and bar nearby. In the evenings, we’d come here for some competitive games of Uno or euchre.
Trent’s aunt lives on the other side of the country, so this was only my second time actually hanging out with her. Bonding with her over my favorite card game was a lovely way to grow closer.
Ultimately, cruising felt like a great way to tackle a family vacation
Timothy Moore
Trent and I had a great time on the cruise, but when we booked it, we already knew we’d want to be more active than even the excursions allowed.
When we debarked the ship, we bid farewell to our family, who were all flying home. Then Trent and I spent another week visiting Anchorage and Denali National Park, where we hiked, visited sled dogs, and white-water rafted.
It was much needed after a week on a cruise ship.
As much as I absolutely loved getting to spend so much time with my in-laws, Trent and I also enjoyed the moments with just the two of us.
In my opinion, a cruise is the best way to do a multigenerational family vacation. There’s something for everyone, including several ways for families to spend time together and apart.
