Group Getaways Made Easy: Why Cruises Are Perfect For Traveling Together

Cruises Are The Ideal Group Getaway

The keys to great group trips are easy planning, multiple options and a balance of time together and apart. A Royal Caribbean weekend getaway delivers all three components.

Once the planner selects a date and itinerary, they unlock engaging and unique opportunities both onboard and on shore for everyone in the entourage. No one needs to sacrifice. Choose your activities plus time together and apart.

Onboard Adventure

A cruise is one of the best small or large group vacation ideas because it has something for everyone. If you’re hungry for adventure, try out thrills such as:

● Flying across the deck on a zip line.

● Tackling rock climbing or going skydiving.

● Surfing on FlowRider®, a 30,000-gallon tank that simulates waves.

A group cruise can be relaxing, too. Chill before dinner with your friends or family, take a nap or indulge in a blissful massage. After dinner, watch ice shows, acrobatic feats at the AquaTheater, Broadway-style musicals and comedy performances. The scores of places to dine and drink (no driving required) make getaways like bachelor and bachelorette parties special.

More On Shore

Weekend cruises come with time at the award-winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

This 120-acre playscape is one of the best group travel destinations because it’s like taking a bite out of paradise. Swim or kayak in the sea, grab a drink or soak in a panoramic island view on a tethered hot air balloon. 

The adventure continues at Thill Waterpark, blooming with 13 water slides. That includes the pièce de résistance, Daredevil's Peak, the tallest water slide in North America, which swirls riders around and down for 135 feet.

Kids aren't forgotten. Youngsters love getting soaked at the island's splash pad, while little ones enjoy scampering across Captain Jill's Galleon, a pirate-themed play area. The island also features both lively and quiet beaches.

When it’s time to slow down, base yourself at Chill Island, an oasis of white sand, placid waters and rows of lounge chairs at a distance from the water slide action. You can also snag a spot at the adults-only Hideaway Beach.

Cruises Make Budgeting Easy

Guests in a group inevitably have different amounts of money to spend on a vacation. A cruise solves the problem of choosing a group getaway that fits various budgets.

Budgeting For Bedtime: Stateroom Selection

Twenty-somethings starting out, young families with modest means, comfortable Baby Boomers and your uncle who made a killing in the dot-com bubble can select staterooms that suit their finances while still sharing deckside fun and entertainment with everyone. A four-person stateroom allows parents to stay with their kids or helps girlfriends to cut costs while adding in late-night giggles. Suites appeal to those who prefer more space and added luxury.

Tasty Treats, Affordable Eats

Dining options won’t be budget-busters as the ships feature multiple complimentary dining venues. Part of the fun of a Royal Caribbean group cruise is the food —  indulging as well as trying new dishes. 

Enjoy such complimentary comfort fare as juicy burgers, tasty grilled hot dogs dripping with toppings and Dagwood-style sandwiches, as well as thick burritos and endless pizza. Splurge as a group or individually on the elevated fare at several specialty restaurants that serve steak, pasta, seafood, Japanese fare and tasty barbecue. To save on the cost, select a specialty dining package in advance.

Savvy Planning

On great group trips, no one in the group has to do the work of tallying who drank the top-shelf whiskey, who booked the 90-minute massage or who savored the lobster and steak. Instead, cruise guests sign fees to their own accounts — so the group planner is freed from the responsibilities of being the banker or bookkeeper. That means everyone should plan ahead individually and get savvy about their spending.

Another way to stretch the budget is to browse for deals and to consider last-minute cruises. Hint: This is especially effective if your cruising buddies live near each other.

The Best Weekend Caribbean Cruises

The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico rank among the best group travel destinations. Their white sand beaches and azure seas are conveniently accessed by sailings from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Galveston. The 2, 3, 4 and 5-night cruises enable your group to maximize their weekends by selecting the length that matches their vacation time.

Find Long Weekend Luxury

Long weekend cruises also depart from Miami and Fort Lauderdale as well as Galveston. Miami’s 3-night sailings dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay and in Nassau, The Bahamas. The 4-night cruise adds an extra day at sea. 

Many 4 and 5-night Galveston cruises visit Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, allowing vacationers to enjoy the distinct feel of these ports. The longer sailings add a sea day. 

Try Something New

Star of the Seas is the newest Icon-class grande dame in the Royal Caribbean fleet. She’s decked out with pizzazz and exhilarating possibilities:

● Get splash happy at Category 6, the largest water park at sea (also featured on Icon of the Seas).

● Challenge yourself at Crown’s Edge, a unique and daring combination ropes course and skywalk that protrudes over the ocean.

● Chill out and have a laugh at the comedy club or cheer for your favorite dueling pianos.

Sailing from Orlando (Port Canaveral), the ship offers 3-, 4- and 7-night Caribbean cruises). Both weekend cruises feature time at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. The 3-night sailing adds one sea day and the 4-night gifts you with two — the better to take advantage of the extensive onboard activities.

Make The Most Of Your Group Getaway With A Weekend Cruise

With many budget-friendly itineraries, a wealth of on board and on shore activities, weekend group cruises are dazzling, memorable and easy to plan. Supercharge your group getaway with a budget-friendly weekend cruise that’s packed with fun activities and engaging entertainment.