The Ultimate Caribbean All-Inclusive Family Vacation Guide

Have you ever needed a vacation from planning your vacation? Sometimes the act of planning becomes a full-time job. Enter all-inclusive family vacations, where all the essentials — accommodations, food, fun and more — are included with your stay. Designed for those who would rather be transported to a beach than worry about the logistics of travel, all-inclusive vacations are a one-stop shop to make the process easy.

While all-inclusive vacations certainly alleviate the pre-departure headache, especially for families, there are still a few things you should know before booking. In this guide, we’ll cover some essential tips to keep in mind when planning a Royal Caribbean all-inclusive family vacation.

Key Takeaways

● Consider the whole family, making sure every member of the group has something they’re excited about.

● Maximize your cruise by taking advantage of onboard amenities and activities that will ensure every minute of your trip is relaxed and enjoyable.

● Visit many different destinations on your cruise, like Labadee, Haiti and Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

● Plan ahead, while keeping free time on your schedule for spontaneity — especially with experiences like our climbing wall, water slides, and couples’ massages available.

● Pay attention to what’s included in your all-inclusive vacation, so your group has everything they need.

● Identify the best kids' clubs so your children can take advantage of programs and activities.

● Make the most of your budget by booking an all-inclusive package.

● Explore Caribbean cruises for an all-inclusive experience.

What’s the Best Caribbean Island To Visit for Families?

When it comes to planning all-inclusive Caribbean vacations for families, Barbados stands out as one of the best islands to visit thanks to its reputation for safety, accessibility and abundance of family-friendly activities. Families looking for budget-friendly options may find the Dominican Republic to be one of the least expensive Caribbean destinations, offering plenty of affordable all-inclusive packages.

For peace of mind, Barbados and the Cayman Islands are often ranked among the safest islands in the region for travelers with kids. And if you’re chasing postcard-perfect scenery, Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos is frequently named the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean, with its calm turquoise waters and powdery white sand perfect for both parents and children to enjoy.

The best time to visit the Caribbean is generally from December to April during the dry season. This is when the weather is beautiful and the crowds are smaller. Outside of that time frame, fall is great for getting good deals, and winter gives you a wonderful chance to go whale watching.

Here are seven tips to keep in mind when planning a family Caribbean all-inclusive vacation.

1. Consider The Whole Family

There's nothing more frustrating than trying to please everyone. Oftentimes, a family vacation requires compromise and negotiation, and it still leaves some people unsatisfied. Sit down with your family and discuss what kind of vacation each member wants and consider what all-inclusives to decide between. With all-inclusive family trips on a cruise ship, there's something for everyone.

All-inclusives usually offer spa treatments, cocktail hours, dancing, and swim-up bars for adults, while also providing swimming pools, arcades, playscapes, and even babysitting services to keep the kids entertained. All-inclusive experiences make it easy to get the family together under one roof, while also providing enough freedom for individual exploration.

2. Maximize The Value Of Your All-Inclusive

Planning a traditional vacation means spending hours looking at hotel options, local restaurants, nightclubs, entertainment, and fun activities for kids nearby. It requires booking multiple venues and juggling logistics for those venues. Alternatively, all-inclusives erase those complex logistics from the equation and give you a one-stop shop for all your vacation needs.

With a host of convenient activities at your fingertips, make sure you take advantage of what an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise has to offer. While it can be easy to simply lounge by the pool every day and sunbathe, you'd be missing out on spa treatments, golf, and yoga classes. On a cruise, climbing walls, magic shows, ice rinks, and a wide range of fun shore excursions are included as well.

3. Choose The Best Family Destination

The best thing about all-inclusive cruises is that you can visit many different destinations, but you only have to unpack once. Take advantage of all the onboard offerings that will excite the whole family, and enjoy the convenience of arriving in an exciting new destination each day. Family-friendly cruises pack so much fun into one vacation. Destinations like Labadee, Haiti, and Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas are like paradise for families.

While renowned for their convenience, all-inclusive resorts aren't exactly known for cultural offerings. You'll certainly experience a sprinkling of local culture at hotel resorts, but unless you venture outside the property, you won't really feel immersed in your destination. That's why the best all-inclusive for families might be a cruise. Cruises take you right to port cities, with a full day or more to explore on your own. This can not only whet your cultural appetite but also give the kids a much-needed change of scenery.

4. Plan Ahead While Staying Flexible

Cruises are a departure from the traditional all-inclusive resort experience, but one well worth taking. On a cruise, the kids can take advantage of the climbing wall, water slides, shuffleboard, mini golf or surf simulator while you enjoy a couple's massage or a stand-up comedy show in the theater. In port, you'll hit the beaches, water parks, local restaurants, and more. Because there's so much to do, you'll need to plan ahead a little to make sure you have time for everything while keeping your schedule open enough for spontaneity. Start by making sure you take advantage of the all-inclusive meal package, and then factor in the few specialty restaurants you want to try.

Once you figure out how to plan an all-inclusive vacation, you can fill in the rest of your itinerary with whatever your family wants to do. A typical Royal Caribbean cruise for a four-day trip would include one day of departure and travel from the port. Days two and three would be spent at the destination, while the fourth and final day would be for on-board travel time. For example, a four-day cruise to Mexico could look like this:

● Day 1: Departure from LA.

● Day 2: Check out Catalina Island.

● Day 3: Explore Ensenada.

● Day 4: Return to port.

5. Pay Attention To What's Included

When you start researching how to book an all-inclusive vacation that satisfies your family's needs, be sure your vacation package has what you're looking for. A good all-inclusive trip should have the basics: food options, accommodations, and some entertainment. Some packages might also include flights, airport transfer, and alcoholic beverages, while others may require you to pay for these things on your own. Activities like onsite workout classes might be included, while spa treatments might not be. Make sure the included offerings are consistent with your family's dream vacation.

6. Identify The Best Kids Clubs

Trying to find the best all-inclusive for kids? Start by looking at the kids’ clubs available. Many cruises have programs and activities designed specifically to keep kids entertained while parents get a little alone time.The Royal Caribbean Adventure Ocean® Youth Program club lets kids play, do arts and crafts and more. Programs for teenagers are also offered on many cruises, such as movie nights and teen-oriented dance nights.

7. Make The Most Of Your Budget

Before booking, make sure an all-inclusive makes sense for your budget. If you're a backpacker looking to travel through hostels on the cheap and eat ramen every day, an all-inclusive probably doesn't make sense for you. However, if you're looking for a comfortable family getaway that doesn't break the bank, all-inclusive family vacations are a great option. You'll likely be saving money on food, drinks, kids' activities and entertainment, and since your cruise ship is your lodging and transportation, you'll save on costs — and headaches — as well.

All-inclusive vacations may seem expensive at first, but when you break it down by category, it just makes sense. This can be a lifesaver compared to a traditional vacation, where small expenses are tougher to track and add up until you've accidentally gone way over budget.

Plan Perfect Family Vacations in Caribbean All Inclusives

After you’ve asked your family what they’d like out of your all-inclusive Caribbean cruise and have determined the best islands to visit, the dreaming and scheming can begin. Get excited about the countless activities and experiences for your whole group available on board, and plan an itinerary that maximizes the ship to the fullest.

Ready to make this trip a reality? Book the ultimate all-inclusive vacation on a Royal Caribbean cruise.