Many of the multigenerational cruises we plan are a grandparent's idea, and often a grandparent's gift. It is a generous thing to do and, handled well, it is the holiday the grandchildren talk about for years. Handled badly, money becomes the subject of the trip. A few decisions made early keep it a gift rather than a negotiation.
Decide what the gift is
The simplest arrangement is that the grandparents pay for the cruise fare for everyone, and each household pays for its own flights and spending. It is clear, it scales to any number of households, and nobody feels watched at the bar. The alternative, where grandparents pay for everything, is wonderful but works best on a ship where nearly everything is included, so that there is no bill to argue about at the end.
Choose the ship to match
Regent Seven Seas includes flights from the UK on many sailings, excursions, drinks and gratuities, so the fare is close to the final cost. Silversea and Seabourn include drinks and gratuities. Explora Journeys and Oceania include less, which gives households control over what they spend but means more separate accounts. If the grandparents are paying for the whole trip, we lean towards the more inclusive lines.
Cabins and fairness
Where two households are travelling, give them equivalent cabins. Nothing sours a family holiday faster than one set of grandchildren in a larger suite than the other. If the grandparents want something special for themselves, that is theirs to choose; the grown-up children usually want parity rather than luxury.
Talk about the extras
Private excursions, spa treatments and speciality restaurants are the usual grey areas. We suggest the paying grandparent decides in advance which of these are part of the gift and we arrange them as part of the plan. Everything else is signed to each household's own account. Most lines let us set this up before you board.
The practicalities of a gift
A cruise fare for a large party is a significant sum. Deposits are typically due at booking, with the balance several months before departure; we will tell you the exact dates for the sailing you choose. Travel insurance should be arranged by each household at the time of booking, so that a cancellation by one family does not fall on the grandparent who paid.
Our view
Pay for the cruise, choose an inclusive ship, give equivalent cabins, and settle the extras before anyone boards. Then let the ship do what it does best, which is to give a family a week in the same place with none of the work. If you would like us to build a plan and a planning figure for the whole party, that is where we start.
