What Are Multi-Generational Cruises?
Multi-generational cruises bring together several generations of the same family on one holiday - usually grandparents, parents, and children. Some trips even include great-grandparents or extended relatives. What makes these cruise holidays so effective for families is the balance between togetherness and personal space. Everyone can spend time doing what they enjoy, while still coming together for meals, shows, or shore excursions.
Modern cruise ships are designed to cater for a wide range of ages and interests. Children have their clubs and activities, teenagers have dedicated spaces, adults can enjoy quiet lounges and entertainment, and older travellers can relax with comfortable facilities, dining, and stress-free travel between destinations. This range of options makes family cruise holidays ideal for groups with different needs and routines.
Why Are Generational Cruises Growing in Popularity?
1. Cruises offer something for everyone
Unlike traditional holidays, which may involve a lot of planning and compromises, a cruise gives each family member the freedom to choose how they spend their day. From swimming pools and kids’ clubs to live entertainment, fine dining, and relaxing lounges, the variety on board means each generation can enjoy their own version of the perfect holiday. This flexibility is a major reason why more families are moving towards generational cruises.
2. Travelling together is easier on a cruise
When travelling with grandparents or older relatives, logistics can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when considering hotels, transport, or accessibility needs. On a cruise, everything is in one place: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, and medical support. There’s no need to navigate busy streets, repack, or transfer between cities. This simplicity makes cruise holidays particularly attractive to families who want to keep things stress-free.
3. Families want to create shared memories
For many, a multi-generational holiday is a chance to celebrate milestones, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or once-in-a-lifetime family gatherings. Cruises provide the perfect backdrop for meaningful experiences, all while keeping everyone close together. From watching sunsets at sea to discovering new destinations as a family, these moments become lasting memories for every generation.
4. Support for older travellers has improved
More families are choosing cruise holidays because it is easier than ever to travel with older relatives who may have mobility needs. Cruise lines now offer spacious cabins, accessible public areas, and simpler boarding processes. This has encouraged parents to bring grandparents along, and in many families, grandparents are delighted to be part of the adventure
More Options for Larger Families with P&O Cruises
Cruise lines continue to adapt to the growing demand for multi-generational travel, and P&O Cruises has recently announced new options aimed at supporting larger family groups. These updates reflect a wider industry shift towards making it easier for families of different sizes and ages to travel together on one cruise.
As part of these changes, P&O Cruises has confirmed the introduction of a limited number of five-berth cabins on selected ships, subject to availability. This gives families of five more flexibility when booking, allowing them to stay together in a single cabin rather than splitting across multiple rooms.
In addition, P&O Cruises has announced that selected sailings on Arcadia and Aurora will welcome guests of all ages at certain times of the year. This opens up more choices for families who prefer a smaller ship or a more traditional cruise experience.
Because these cabin options and family-friendly sailings are limited, families planning a multi-generational cruise are encouraged to book early, particularly if travelling together or if additional accommodation considerations are required.
How Mobility Support Makes Multi-Generational Cruising Possible
One of the biggest reasons multi-generational cruises have grown in popularity is the improved support available for older travellers. Many grandparents want to join family holidays but may have concerns about getting around a large ship or managing long days in port. With the right mobility support in place, these worries are greatly reduced, allowing every generation to enjoy the holiday together.
Mobility at Sea helps make this possible by providing reliable mobility scooters, wheelchairs, powerchairs, and other mobility aids directly to the cabin. Families do not need to transport heavy equipment themselves or worry about storage, as everything is ready to use as soon as they board the ship. This convenience gives older travellers the independence and confidence they need to enjoy the full cruise experience.
With suitable mobility support, older cruisers can move comfortably around the ship, join family meals, enjoy entertainment, and explore ports at their own pace. It also makes the holiday easier for parents, who can relax knowing everyone can get around safely and without difficulty.
For many families, this support turns a cruise into a truly inclusive experience. Children get to spend valuable time with grandparents, parents enjoy stress-free planning, and older relatives can remain active and involved throughout the trip. This level of accessibility is one of the key reasons multi-generational cruising continues to grow, helping families create shared memories without barriers.
Why Multi-Generational Cruises Are Here to Stay
As families look for meaningful ways to spend time together, multi-generational cruises offer a simple and memorable solution. With activities for every age and flexible travel arrangements, it’s easy to see why more families are choosing to explore the world by sea.
And with reliable support from our services, older family members can join in with confidence and independence, helping make the holiday unforgettable for everyone.
Contact Mobility at Sea today to hire our mobility equipment for your next multi-generational cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the best time to book a multi-generational cruise?
Ideally, as soon as they are released, especially if any one of your party requires mobility equipment, or the cruise line stipulates that an evacuation chair needs to be allocated as a condition of the booking. Cabins sell very quickly, so it is best to book well in advance.
2. Do cruise ships offer cabins suitable for larger family groups?
Yes. Many ships offer interconnecting cabins or family suites designed for multi-generational groups. Some cruise lines are also introducing five-berth cabin options on selected ships. You can read more about recent family cabin updates on this P&O Cruises blog.
3. Do multi-generational cruises require a lot of planning?
Not usually, however, this will depend on the medical needs of the group, so it would be prudent to talk through certain aspects, e.g. excursions with your travel agent or cruise provider. Once the ship is chosen, most details, dining, entertainment, and activities are handled onboard. Families mainly need to arrange travel documents and any mobility support in advance.