Multigenerational travel: Why cruising Is the perfect vacation
Multigenerational travel is on the upswing and the cruise industry is stepping up to meet the needs of families traveling together
The facts are staggering: Every day 10,000 baby boomer Americans retire, and one out of five leisure travelers is a grandparent.
According to MMGY Global, a leading marketing firm specializing in travel and leisure, about one-third of these folks have traveled with grandchildren over the past year, which helps explain the explosion in multigenerational travel.
Boomers are eager to celebrate milestone events, enrich family ties through shared experiences and bring far-flung family members together. In addition to children and grandchildren, “family” often includes siblings, cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, ranging in age from toddlers to octogenarians.
It’s no surprise that cruise lines are responding to this lucrative market by ramping up efforts to woo multigenerational travelers, a diverse group characterized by different needs and interests, energy levels, sleep habits, food preferences and budget constraints.
Click the link to read my January 5, 2014 article on the PBS Next Avenue website that explores the growing popularity of multigenerational travel and describes some of the new offerings on various cruise lines.
I would love a leisurely cruise with all my family. It’s a someday dream of mine.
Me too! Hope our dreams come true, Neva~
I’ve been on many cruises with my two daughters and grandson and they’ve always been amazing vacations. In fact, cruising is my favorite way to travel.
No children or grandchildren here, Irene. Yet, I absolutely want to go on a cruise. My bucket list #1 for that is a Windstar cruise in Tahiti. Just waiting for the right date (as in a girl) to head out with me 🙂
You’re too funny, Mike. I’m waiting for the grandchildren for a multigenerational cruise:-)
Best, Irene
Irene, I think a cruise is a great way to travel with multiple generations. We did one to Alaska with a family group of 10 ranging in age from 13 to 90! It worked out really well. Our sons could go white water rafting while the over 75 members of our group went on a bus tour. The only thing for me was that it was a little like herding cats sometimes 😉 I did a guest post for Donna Hull about it on her My Itchy Travel Feet blog.
Sounds like a great experience, Suzanne! Thanks for sharing~
We took our first cruise many years ago. And it was our last. We left Tampa on a Sunday, hit a huge storm in the gulf on Wednesday, and had to ride it out as it was so bad no port would let us in. 1100 people seasick. No entertainment, most people couldn’t hold down food. Elevators shut down.
They finally limped back to port in Tampa on Friday and let us off. It was horrible. They were kind enough to refund our port fees of $10.00. Many seasoned “cruisers” I spoke with on the ship told me it would be their last cruise also. At least if you encounter a storm on land, checked into a hotel, you are comfortable while the storm passes through. On a ship, no such luck. You have to ride it out.
Never again! 🙂
Oh well, chalk it up to travel experience!
Len
So sorry this happened to you! Weather catastrophes happen on land and sea—thankfully, not too often.