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Family reunion vacations are picking up momentum now that cruises have started offering group discounts and rock bottom prices. For instance, one family organized a cruise ship family reunion for 20 people that cost just $500 per cabin! In his book about family reunions — Your Family Reunion: How To Plan It, Organize It and Enjoy It — George G. Morgan writes, “There are low-cost cruises available and you can often save money by booking a cruise in the off-season. Your best bet in organizing a family reunion cruise is to work through a reliable travel agent.” Morgan argues that travel agents have better leverage with cruise line operators than individuals and they can help your planning run so much smoother.

If it’s your first time planning a family reunion cruise, then you might feel a little nervous that someone in the family will have a problem with your plan or you may worry that a cruise may fall beyond time and money budgeting for some family members. To stay flexible, try planning your family reunion vacation 18 months in advance or opting for a shorter 3-4 day cruise instead of the full week. Another good idea for including families with kids is to make arrangements over the Christmas holidays when everyone is out of school. Many families also like spending their holidays on a cruise ship because it cuts down on the hassle of cooking, cleaning, bouncing to several different homes and driving in poor weather conditions.

The best way to plan a destination family reunion is to stick to the basics and not over-stress. Focus on the cruise line and family reunion location. Be sure the cruise line knows you’re planning to make this a reunion and travel together. Don’t worry about shore excursions, dining times or other minute details beforehand. It’s best to see what everyone is up for when the time comes, but you could email everyone with updates and details to get them excited, such as which shore excursions are available, which port stops are on the itinerary and when family members must book by to receive the promotional rates. Not surprisingly, a lot of planners go with a travel agent to get the best deals.

When choosing a cruise line for your next family reunion, try to find a ship line that specializes in family reunion vacations. For instance, Royal Caribbean offers VIP room amenities, rock wall climbing sessions, on-board family scavenger hunts, a reunion trivia challenge, door decorations and personalized cakes. Disney Cruise Line’s family package includes personalized t-shirts and commemorative certificates. Carnival offers complimentary champagne and chocolates or private cocktail parties for groups of 8 or more. Holland America’s family reunion program (for five or more rooms) gives guests a family photo, a 20-punch beverage card and one of the following: a choice of dinner in the Pinnacle Grill, free snorkel rental, free swim mat rental, or free banana boat rides on Half Moon Cay. For families booking ten or more rooms, the family patriarch gets an upgrade from a stateroom to a veranda.

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