Cruising with Grandma: Multigenerational Tips We Learned the Fun Way
When we told Grandma we were planning a Royal Caribbean cruise and wanted her to come, she didn’t even blink.
“I’ve been on more ships than all of you combined,” she said.
And she wasn’t wrong.
But this cruise was different—it was her first in years, and a lot had changed. Her knees weren’t what they used to be, she used a cane most days, and getting around took a bit more planning. Oh, and did I mention there were 18 of us on this trip? From toddlers to teenagers to tired parents—plus one unstoppable Grandma ready to hit the seas again.
Here’s how it went, what we learned, and the best multigenerational cruise tips we picked up along the way.
💡 Tip #1: Choose the Right Ship (and Neighborhood)
We went with Harmony of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship with wide promenades, tons of elevators, and surprisingly smooth flow even with big crowds. It turned out to be the perfect choice for Grandma. Royal Caribbean’s newer, larger ships have better accessibility features built-in—and on sea days, she could people-watch from the Boardwalk, sip coffee on the Central Park bench, and still feel part of the action without trekking a mile.
What worked:
Booking her a cabin near the elevators (midship, deck 8) so she could get around without long hallways.
Scouting out her favorite “base camps”—like the Park Café and Schooner Bar—so she had comfy spots to recharge.
Downloading the Royal Caribbean app to keep everyone loosely coordinated without needing a group chat that exploded every 3 minutes.
Grandma at the Disco
😂 Favorite Moment: Grandma’s Silent Disco Showdown
No one saw it coming. Not even us.
But somehow, Grandma ended up dominating the Silent Disco. She figured out the headphones, found the Motown channel, and that was it—full-on chair dancing, hands in the air, living her best life while the teens just stared, impressed and mildly horrified.
Moral of the story? Never underestimate the woman who taught you how to do the Electric Slide at family weddings.
💡 Tip #2: Plan for Accessibility—but Don't Overplan the Day
We rented a mobility scooter through Special Needs at Sea (you can have it delivered to your stateroom pre-cruise). That scooter was a game-changer. She still used her cane in tighter spots like dining rooms, but for getting around the ship? Absolute freedom.
But here’s the real secret: we didn’t cram her schedule.
Some mornings, she skipped breakfast to sit on the balcony in her robe. Some evenings, she watched old movies on the stateroom TV while the rest of us hit the Aqua Theater. And that was okay. We learned fast that just having her there, in whatever capacity she felt comfortable, was the win.
🍽️ Tip #3: Dining Together Takes Strategy
With a group of 18, we didn’t always eat together. But for our big family dinners in the Main Dining Room, we did two smart things:
Linked all reservations through the Cruise Planner and requested side-by-side tables in advance.
Chose My Time Dining with a consistent time—7:15 p.m.—and showed up early to avoid a seating scramble.
And yes, the staff absolutely fell in love with Grandma. She had a different story for them every night, and by day three, she had her own secret dessert (hint: warm apple pie and crème brûlée).
😂 Favorite Moment: Grandma’s Escape Room Attempt
We signed up for the onboard escape room. Big mistake.
She came in, looked around at all the buttons and flashing lights, and said,
“I’m just here to supervise.”
She sat in the corner with a Diet Coke, heckled our progress, and still somehow solved half the puzzle just by watching us.
Choose Excursions… or don’t.
💡 Tip #4: Shore Excursions? Pick Your Battles
We learned to split the group and plan port days around who wanted what—and who needed what. For Grandma, we booked an accessible city tour in San Juan (air-conditioned van, no stairs, and slow pace). Meanwhile, the teens zip-lined in the rainforest.
Pro tip:
Royal Caribbean’s Shore Excursions desk can help you sort mobility-friendly options if you reach out in advance—or visit them on embarkation day. Also, consider just staying on the ship in certain ports. Grandma loved the empty Solarium in Nassau.
💡 Tip #5: Let Each Generation Have Their Moment
The best part of a cruise with Grandma wasn’t just the shared dinners or the Bingo marathons (which she won, by the way). It was watching her bond with the younger cousins during slow mornings, seeing her dance at sailaway, and having quiet chats on the balcony with her oldest granddaughter.
Cruises give everyone their space—but also just enough togetherness to make it count.
🛟 Final Thoughts: She’s Already Asking About Next Year
Despite our planning (and mild chaos), this trip reminded us what cruising’s really about: shared joy, flexibility, and finding laughter in unexpected places. Grandma may move a little slower now, but she still moves the whole family—one sea day at a time.
If you're planning a cruise with grandparents, don’t be afraid to go for it. The cruise community welcomesmultigenerational travel, and with the right prep, it can be smoother (and funnier) than you expect.
Let us know if you’ve done a trip like this—send your stories, your best Grandma-at-sea moments, or just come hang out with our cruise-loving crew at hereforthebadge.com. We’re all about celebrating cruise life, one family sailing at a time.
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