How To Have the Most Relaxing Vacations at Sea With Family

Expert Travel Tips for a Relaxing Family Getaway

By Cynthia Drake | Published: May 30, 2023 | Updated: March 26, 2026

If you're a parent, you may be skeptical of relaxing family getaways. Sometimes, typical family vacations are some of the least relaxing events. Between packing, shuttling everyone to the airport, dealing with upended sleep schedules and fielding arguments between siblings, you may not have a chance to kick back and soak it all in.

Is it even possible to plan a truly stress-free family getaway? I'm here to say that it is, especially if you're open to taking your crew on a cruise. In fact, cruises have been some of the most relaxing family vacations I've had — that's why we keep returning to them again and again. Here are some of my tips for making relaxation a priority on your next family cruise.

Key Takeaways: Planning a Relaxing Family Cruise

● When you really want to relax with your family, a cruise vacation is an ideal option.

● There are destinations all over the world where you can relax in beautiful surroundings, including some private, exclusive locales.

● Cruise ships themselves are also home to luxurious, relaxing venues for the whole family, so it's worth booking some activities while at sea.

● Relaxing cruise vacations are departing all year round, so you can book your next trip anytime.

At a Glance: 10 of the Most Relaxing Family Cruise Vacations

If you're stressed just thinking about where you might want to travel for your next vacation, that's understandable — but you don't have to worry. There are a whole variety of destinations that can bring you a little closer to paradise. Here are 10 to get you started:

1. Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island in The Bahamas that's filled with fun.

2. The Amalfi Coast, with Europe's most unique and beautiful beaches.

3. Cozumel, a Mexican destination where you can snorkel in crystal-clear water.

4. New England, featuring charming sights from Massachusetts to Maine.

5. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, a stunning new island resort in Nassau.

6. San Juan, the historic heart of Puerto Rico and gateway to idyllic beaches.

7. The Mexican Riviera, dotted with beaches and launching points for whale watching trips.

8. Puerto Plata, the oldest city in the Dominican Republic and a stunning place to explore.

9. Labadee, a private destination tucked under the mountains on Haiti's northern coast.

10. Barbados, whether in historic Bridgetown or on the pink- or white-sand beaches.

Planning for Your Family: Easygoing Starts With Easy

Especially when traveling with babies or smaller children, I always recommend living by the motto: "Go with what's easy." Sure, you will have times in your life when you want to push the envelope on your family vacation and challenge your kids to camp in the woods or take daylong hikes or bike treks, but when you're parenting young children, easy is usually best for everyone. "Easy" is what gets you going.

This starts with booking your vacation. Do you want to have to make a decision for every single aspect of your vacation, from where you're sleeping to where you're eating, or would you prefer to click the button on your one-stop-shop vacation and spend your remaining mental energy dreaming up all the fun things you'll get to see and do on your cruise? I know what works best for my family — and family cruises are as easy and as fun as they sound.

Like me, you might also grapple with wanting to save as much money as possible to be a good steward of the family budget. Here again, the "easy" choice of a cruise tends to make the most sense, rolling all of your vacation costs into one price, often with added discounts for your kids (plus included child care services, which you probably won't get on that traditional vacation).

What Do You Do To Relax As A Family?

When traveling with family on vacation, keep in mind that relaxation can mean something different to each family member. If you're traveling with extended family, each person will likely have their own preferences and priorities as well. This is another reason why cruises are some of the most relaxing vacations. There is room to tailor your vacation to each person's needs, without making the rest of the family sacrifice what makes them happy. Raise your hand if you've ever waited in a hot, sweaty, hour-long line at a theme park just because it was your kid's all-time favorite ride. On a cruise vacation, there's no need for that!

"Relaxation" for mom might mean heading to the spa to indulge in a seaweed wrap or facial, while grandma and grandpa might want to play Bingo. Dad may want to unwind with a pint of IPA and watch the game at a sports bar. One of your kids might be really into video games while your more adventure-oriented kiddo wants to surf, rock climb, or play a pickup basketball game. There are very few vacations where all four of those scenarios can happen at the same time — but they can on a cruise. And that's what makes it such an ideal family getaway.

Some people in your family might want to do a whole lot of activities, while others just want to decompress and read a book by the pool. You can imagine why a traditional vacation doesn't always work out for families with such diverse needs and interests, but a cruise can be the something-for-everyone accommodation. That doesn't mean you won't get a lot of quality time together. On days when your group splits up, make a game plan to meet up at night for a family dinner.

Create Your Best Vacation Days

The perfect vacation day will vary from one family to another, and over the years, the schedule will change as kids start sleeping in more (hooray for that!) and their interests change. The great thing about a cruise is that you can customize your itinerary from day to day and trip to trip.

For example, your family might be filled with early risers who want to hit the breakfast buffet first thing and then head off to their individual activities. Or, you might be more likely to linger over a late breakfast while your kids splash away in the pool. My personal favorite ultimate cruise indulgence? Room service breakfast is delivered to my stateroom balcony while I sip coffee and watch the ocean and my kids watch cartoons in their pajamas. This is a vacation, after all. There's no need to rush anywhere.

During the day, fill your itinerary with activities on board the ship or in port, depending on your schedule. If it's a sea day, there will be plenty of planned activities throughout the ship, from trivia to family games, dance lessons, wine tastings and more. Or, create your own itinerary filled with the individual activities you know will allow your family to really relax.

If you're in port, you might pick an adventure that's new for your whole family to try, from all-terrain-vehicle adventures to ziplining or swimming with dolphins. Or, you might choose to break off into smaller groups depending on interest and energy level. The great thing is that everyone comes back to the same place at the end, allowing you to swap tales over a shared meal together.

Throughout the day, make sure to plan some time when you can be together as a family, laughing and creating new memories, whether that's meal times, shore excursions, or onboard family games.

Seek Out Self-Care at Sea

One thing to remember about taking a cruise vacation is that the facilities on board the ship are just about as luxurious as any on land. This means that when you want to make sure you have the most relaxing vacation possible, you can get truly indulgent about looking after your own comfort on sea days. An incomplete list of spots to check out includes:

● Vitality℠ Spa & Fitness Center: Spa time, massages, facials and body wraps are just a few of the offerings at these state-of-the-art venues. You and a significant other can have a romantic spa date for two, or you can indulge in some personal time. Your teen or tween kids can even have their own relaxing spa days as part of the YSPA program for younger travelers.

● Solarium: This indoor-outdoor space is only for the 18-and-older crowd. It's the perfect place to dip into a whirlpool, soak up some sunrays or be cooled by a gentle water mist.

● Suite and Concierge Lounges: If you book a Suite other than a Junior Suite or are a Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club member of the Crown & Anchor Society, you have special places all your own to have breakfast and hors d'oeuvres or request assistance with everything from spa booking to show tickets.

● Private Balcony Staterooms: Sometimes, the most relaxing and luxurious spot on the ship is your own room. That's especially true if you book a private balcony stateroom with your own personal ocean views.