Celebrating Family Milestones on a Multi-Gen Cruise
Sara, left, and her family in front of Sabatini's aboard Island Princess. From left to right: Sara, J.R., Robert, Phyllis, Brennan and Joe.
June 19, 2012
by Sara Santaniello
My family and I don’t vacation often—it’s not that we don’t want to go to exotic countries and stay in fancy hotels, we absolutely do—but life has a funny way of flying by, especially with kids, and then we realized we hadn’t treated ourselves to a true getaway.
In 2010, as three generations of our family assembled at my parents’ annual Christmas Eve dinner, we noted we had three major family milestones coming up: My parents’ 50th, anniversary; our 25th and my oldest son, J.R.’s college graduation. We all agreed we should do something special together before it was too late. My sons pushed taking a cruise; then my mother piped in with seeing the Panama Canal.
We agreed, “Let’s do it!” But in the back of my mind I thought,
“Nah, it’ll never happen. This is all hoopla and talk, and we’ll be back at my parents next Christmas Eve.”
The next day, as the family regrouped for the traditional opening of the presents at our house, I noted we were still talking about it. This could actually happen. So we agreed, no Christmas presents next year. Instead we’d take the Island Princess for a 10-day Panama Canal cruise.
Christmas of 2011 found grandparents, parents and children doing a very unusual thing…flying to Fort Lauderdale and boarding a glistening, white cruise ship headed for the Caribbean and beyond. Years of habit and duty evaporated. We were going on a fantastic, family vacation devoted to fun and adventure.
Okay, I had a few small worries about how our multi-generational group (spanning 15 to 79) would handle all this luxury and freedom. Would there be enough for my youngest, Brennan, to do? I shouldn’t have worried! His brother checked him into the teen center and from that point on we had to beg him to spend time with us.
Brennan had so much fun playing games, meeting kids from all over the world, including some from Italy that he keeps up with on Facebook. He kept his word to meet us for the daily regroup in the dining room.
As for J.R., a Princess bartender was responsible for introducing our 22-year-old to whom he considers will be some life-long friends. He even met up with one young lady in Arizona during a road trip with his baseball team. J.R. played first base for Johns Hopkins.
My husband, Joe, and I had a blast rekindling our 25-year marriage. Looking back, it was probably the most relaxed we had been in 25 years. You see, we typically spent school breaks driving J.R. to baseball tournaments, so this was a major break from our typical driving to games and staying in economy hotels by the ball parks.
As for my parents, they loved the dining choices and the shows. There was something going on everyday for them to enjoy.
Excursions were another way our group could pursue their interests. J.R. and Brennan teamed up for active days of snorkeling, swimming with dolphins and hiking along a waterfall. They balanced all that physical activity with an excursion to a sloth sanctuary.
Joe and I are shoppers so we did a lot of shopping tours, including one to a great Jamaican pottery place. An excursion my parents particularly enjoyed was a horse and buggy ride through a plantation in Jamaica. Truly, this was a vacation for all ages!
While J.R. is moving to Connecticut for his new job and my father is turning 80, I’m so happy that we made this cruise happen. Now that we’ve finally taken a pleasure trip, we are determined to break with family tradition and do it again.
Sara resides in Kingston, New Hampshire and this was her first Princess cruise.
Sara, we agree that celebrating with three generations is perfect on a cruise! We’re so glad you were able to make this happen. Here’s to doing it again!
Thanks! We have already talked about doing another cruise. Can”t wait! Does anyone have any itinerary suggestions??
ALASKA! If you haven’t visited our last frontier, it’s a have to do thing. Visiting Denali is #1 and seeing glaciers in motion is a thrill.
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Hi i just booked for december 2013 on the new Royal Princess . Ship is being built now..you should look into it great prices . will surprise my son it will be his 25th bday present:-)
I agree, Alaska is the best. I am on the Star Princess as we speak traveling back to Seattle at the end of the most wonderful cruise I have taken yet. The scenery is to die for. The pictures you see don’t do anything for actually seeing it in person. I will be back to Alaska in the near future you can bet on it. The guides say July is the best time to see the salmon swimming up river to spawn & that’s when you have a better chance of seeing the bears. We took a whale watching trip in Juneau that was the best. We saw a mama & baby humpback whale just playing in the water. The baby was breaching(jumping out of the water) & just having a blast. So much fun.Try it. I am from Maryland & had no problems with flying into Seattle the catch the ship. They also have great whale watching tours from Seattle to the San Juan Islands to see the orcas ( killer whales). We did that 2 summers ago & saw at least 50 or 60 whales. What an experience.. Hope this helps.. Tina
Sara, enjoyed reading about your family celebration. What a fabulous experience. I recommend the Princess trip to Alaska. Your entire family would enjoy it. Princess does it up right also.
Hi Sara,
We are coming up on our 29th cruise, 11 on Princess. Would highly recommend: LA to Hawaii round trip. Try to take the Sept or Oct sailings…gets chiilly after that. Or one of our most memorable: Sydney to Auckland. Absolutely gorgeous.
Happy sailing. Joya and Tom
Yes we agree, I brought my parents and in laws and my own young family to the South Pacific Islands in January this year. It was wonderful and everyone had a great time. It was the first cruise for us and we did not know what to expect and was rather concern if the older folks and kids were going to enjoy themselves, we had nothing to worry about . My husband has since booked another cruise to the Mediteranean this September for our family and I can’t wait. We don’t have to worry about the language or food, in Europe!
I couldn’t agree more that taking a family cruise is a wonderful experience. In April 2007 my wife and I “treated” my parents to a family cruise in the Caribbean along with two of our sons. There was plenty to keep us busy, but there is ample opportunity to just relax and reconnect. We have now been on 15 cruises (7 with Princess) and number 16 is coming up in two weeks aboard the Diamond Princess. To avoid the inevitable let down we feel at the end of a cruise, we always make it a practice to have another already booked before we leave. So next June will find us aboard the brand new Royal Princess on her maiden voyage from Southhampton, UK to Venice, IT. I love having that “carrot on a stick” out there waiting for us!
We nearly made a family cruise this year but fate intervened — you’ve inspired me to start planning again with lots of our large family involved
Our first cruise was also a three generation cruise for my in-law’s 50th anniversary and our 25th wedding anniversary in 2004. We were a party of 14 from 8 to 75 . I was not sure how our 3 boys, all active, athletic late teens would do on a ship for 10 days over Christmas, but within 2 days they had found a crowd their age and stayed busy the whole trip. It was such a wonderful trip that we are planning another family trip this Christmas on Princess – so glad Princess is sailing again from our home port of Galveston!
We are planning a cruise for our 50th anniversary and will include children and grandchildren. Our last cruise in 2002 we had a problem with little kids sleeping. Our daughter has 4 kids ages 10 to 3. Do they have a family room for 6 on a cruise? Would Alaska work out?
Marian, we just did a cruise to Alaska for our parents’ 50th. While the ship and the scenery were awesome, your daughter will likely be fairly stressed with her kids on board, having to constantly be aware of their location. For the Alaska trip, there’s not much time spent at the pool because it’s too cold. The daycare is a great option, though. I do recommend a large room for the family. We split ours between two interior rooms.
Marian—
Take it from an oldtime cruiser–(35 with Princess–1 family cruise to Alaska)–Alaska will be wonderful with your family, depending on the time of the year,> Don’t worry about fitting your whole gang in one cabin—if this is your 50th anniversary you and your husband need a little space. Our secrets of success for family cruising in Alaska: Inside Passage only; July or August only; no organized family activities onboard except for dinner ( a MUST); walkie talkiies for kids, parents, grandparents; adjoining balcony cabins (not cabins but balconies adjoining) would be wonderful for all to share the activities of the day while having a before dinner cocktail; I am sure that with the ages of your grandkids that the shipboard activities will keep them more than pleased and happy!!
Then when it is all over, you and your husband can go on a cruise alone and celebrate your 50 years!! What an achievement! Good luck.
Bill & Hope
Sara, you should see Alaska! Our cruise there was wonderful, as we are outdoor people. If you can spare the time, spend a few days in Vancouver, BC, which is such an interesting city.
Our ship left from there on a Saturday, and we flew in Thursday morning. Lots to do there.
I recently took my first cruise, a 10 day trip, sailing from San Francisco to Alaska and back. It was the start of a 8 month world trip for me travelling on my own and a wonderful way to start my adventure. I had always wanted to visit Alaska and was not disappointed. The scenery was amazing. I had a wonderful time on the Sea Princess, made new friends and had plenty of memorable experiences both on the ship and at the ports we stopped at on the way. Now that I’ve had a taste of cruising, I look forward to future trips.
You’ll love Alaska. I’ve been there twice and look forward to a third hopefully in 2013. I recommend a Cruise Tour to you. You can choose different land tours and the number of land days before or after the cruise. For many, Alaska is a once in a lifetime event. Do it,you’ll be glad you did. Also,book your room with a balcony!! Seeing this magnificent place is absolutely special. Princess does it right.
We are taking our 2nd Alaska cruise in Sept. to celebrate our 60th anniversary. We are going with neighbor friends. Our children (adults, of course) aren’t interested in cruising.
I know my daughter would love it once she tried it. She is afraid she would get sea sick.
I hope to talk them into going before we are much older and unable to go.
The Panama Canal cruise is a very interesting cruise and of course you then see the islands. I prefer the South Pacific to the Carabean. Have not been on an Australian
Cruise but think that would be fun also. So many places to see and not much time left to see them!!!
We recently took our first cruise to Alaska onboard the Diamond Princess. Having no experience with cruising I had no idea what to expect. We sailed out of Vancouver which is my home town. Cant explain how fantastic a feeling floating away from the city I was born in and under the Lions Gate Bridge. Absolutely breathtaking. Our cruise was one of the best trips of my lifetime. My father spent 10 years as a youngster in Valdez, so going to Alaska was very important to me. The scenery was amazing, cant explain in words. We departed the ship in Whittier and did a 6 day road trip to Fairbanks back thru Denali and ending up in Anchorage. Flew home. The Princess Cruise employees are absolutely wonderful.
Ron Walker.
Regarding Email address. It says required but never shared. Well there it is, still in print for all to share or misuse !!
Hey!! Idid the Alaskan cruise with Jen as you know .It was wonderful!! since I am also family –can I go with you guys on your next venture??? I PROMISE TO BE FUN!!! Aunt Jeanne
OK, as long as you pay for all, HA HA!!!
We completed a Trans Atlantic/Med cruise in late May on the Ruby Princess. It was 26 days of pure heaven. We were ready for rough seas with Bonine packed only to see it still packed upon our return. The weather was sunny for 25 days and finally it rained as we were departing from Venice. The excursions we took with Princess were wonderful and the logisitcs hard to believe. The entire staff was terrific. We booked another cruise to be determined but are sure that it may be a return to the Greek Isles/Croatia and Venice as our port of debarcation…What a beautiful city! Our trip of a lifetime lived up to all expectations with the help of Princess Cruises…Thank you!
In five years my husband and I want to treat the family to a cruise to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We’re saving now!
Good for you, it’s well worth the cost!
Congrats on getting such a wonderful experience. We too were planning a milestone celebration for my 30th, mom’s 50th and grandma’s 70th when fate took hold. My only advice don’t wait for the big milestones…. Take the time to make memories now.
For suggestions. Alaska was beautiful but my bucket list has the Greek Isles.
We sailed out of Seattle on the Star Princess on June 3, 2012 for the Alaskan Inside Passage cruise. This was our first cruise and I was so nervous of being sea sick because I have vertigo. Thankfully I never got sea sick. This was the best vacation I have ever had. The cruise it self was fantastic with all the wonderful staff on board. The scenery in Alaska was amazing. All the pictures I took did not do it justice. The White Pass train ride in Skagway was fantastic. The most beautiful ride up to the 3000 ft. summit. This was a trip of a lifetime. I highly recommend it!
Looks like Alaska is our next destination, thanks for all the great comments.
Aloah!
Just finished the LA to Hawaii trip. This was my dream vacation. The islands were ok until we got to waikii beach. That was the highlight of the day. The weather was hot and wonderful! I wished we had a whole day there. Princess could skip Nawilliwili. Nothing to do there.
Correction to above post. Wished we had an overnight there.