Home and Family

Since 9/11, there has been a return to family-centric activities in America. Spending time together and planning a family reunion has become more and more popular. In fact, one in five U.S. adults said they took a trip to attend a family reunion within the past year. An estimated 72 million adults have been to a family reunion over the last three years. The travel industry says that more than half of all reunions are held at someone’s house (52%), although city or town parks (12%) and state parks or forests (6%) are also popular. However, nearly a third of all travelers reported going 500 miles or more to attend their family gathering, so travel experts say that family reunion vacations are on-the-rise.

One of the best ways to plan a family reunion is to book an all-inclusive family reunion cruise or a stay at an all-inclusive family reunion resort. This option is best suited for active and far-flung families, many of which have to travel across the country to get together with relatives anyway. This option is also suited for family members who enjoy a convenient, no-fuss vacation that allows for a myriad of fun family reunion activities. The best part about these family reunions is that there are no hidden expenses — generally all meals, sodas, transportation, rooms and entertainment are included. Additionally, no one has to cook, clean or drive anywhere! The one con to booking this way is that extra costs like shore excursions and alcohol expenses can potentially rack up the bill. One can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $600 per person (plus airfare) for a 5-day cruise, assuming that 20 or more people attend. Naturally, the more people that go, the lower the price and often times, the party planner gets to sail or stay for free.

Planning a family reunion aboard a cruise line is now easier than ever, with so many family reunion cruise operators out there now. Mainstream lines like Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Holland American now specialize in bringing large groups together on memorable cruises. Their reunion packages often include activities like scavenger hunts, private receptions, stateroom upgrades, door decorations, special certificates, family photos and special discounts. Activities are seemingly limitless, with spas, golfing, theatre, bars and cafes for adults, as well as arcades, internet centers, pools, shows and youth programs for kids. Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean are all popular destinations. For more information on booking a reunion cruise, visit the following sites; www.carnivalconnections.com, www.royalcaribbean.com, www.ncl.com, www.hollandamerica.com or www.disneycruise.com.

Ancestral travel is another option when planning a family reunion. For instance, Jewish descendents often travel back to their homeland as a rite-of-passage. Many fun family reunions involve a pilgrimage back to mainland China, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Scotland or England. A family of 20 can take an extraordinary cultural exodus like this for about $3,000 per person for a 10-day stay, including airfare and accommodations. All meals and excursions are extra, naturally, but the memories are priceless. While families are visiting overseas, they can rent a home for less than a hotel, visit cemeteries and plan a group activity like a day at the museum or a cooking class. Perhaps old ancestors can even be contacted to make the visit even more meaningful. For more information, these sites will help; www.ancestralrootstravel.com and www.ancestraltravel.homestead.com.

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