Top Reasons Why Grandeur Of The Seas Delivers Epic Family Cruises

The best family cruises happen naturally onboard this longstanding Vision Class favorite

By Amanda Mesa | Published on May 21, 2024

A cruise is always a fun vacation for the whole family. First of all, most family-friendly cruise ships are loaded with fun cruise attractions for kids, cruise activities for teens and experiences that encourage bonding across generations. Getaways at sea are convenient, too, allowing guests to see multiple destinations while only having to unpack once. Many ships also offer childcare options, ensuring a seamless, stress-free experience for if you’re cruising with a baby. But with so many cruise ships out there to choose from, how can you make sure you’re picking the best option for your crew?

One of my favorite cruise ships for family vacations is Grandeur of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. It’s an older ship, but to me that just gives it more charm. I personally love that it doesn’t have crazy water slides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag and some of the other cruise attractions for kids that larger ships are known for. Why? Because the lack of distractions makes it easier for me to spend quality time with my loved ones and for us to disconnect as a family.

That’s not to say there’s nothing to do onboard this Voyager Class ship — on the contrary. Grandeur of the Seas offers plenty of cruise activities for families — they’re just more low-key and traditional (which I love). The ship has a massive rock-climbing wall that I love to challenge my husband to first thing in the morning when we sail together. It’s our way of making our daily workout fun. An arcade that my brother and father can spend hours in together, going head-to-head with newer games and old-school classics. And a great pool deck where we can all come together and unwind as a family, watching as bellyflop competitions and dance contests unfold throughout the afternoon.

On a much larger cruise ship, everybody would be pulled in different directions based on their preferences — my brother making a beeline for the water slides and the glow-in-the-dark laser tag course, my golf-obsessed husband hitting the putt-putt course over and over (and over) again and my parents hunkering down on the pool deck to load up on sunshine, sea breezes and tropical drinks. But this particular cruise ship’s smaller size and classic activities help create a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere that encourages us to slow down and focus on making memories together. Here are just some of my favorite cruise activities for families sailing onboard Grandeur of the Seas.

1. Hit The Rock-Climbing Wall

As I mentioned earlier, the rock-climbing wall is one of my favorite attractions onboard Grandeur of the Seas. Towering 40-feet tall, it’s a great way to get in a workout without the humdrum of the elliptical or the weight room. I like to hit it first thing in the morning with either my husband, brother or dad, when the air is crisp and the sun hasn’t yet fully ascended into the sky — though the hours just before and just after sunset yield the prettiest light. Making it to the top is always a bit of a challenge (especially if you’re slightly afraid of heights, like me), but I remind myself that the reward — the most incredible views from the ship — are well worth the ache in my arms and the butterflies in my belly. If your family is competitive, up the ante by racing a relative to the summit.

2.Spend A Few Hours In The Arcade

Arcade games aren’t totally my jam, but the guys in my family grew up on them. Whenever we sail together on a ship with an arcade, they like to spend a few hours challenging each other at games like Skee-Ball and Sega’s Daytona Racer. I’m partial to Dance Dance Revolution, and my mom is always game to join me (she says the more rounds she completes, the more piña coladas she can indulge in poolside). The games inside the arcade onboard Grandeur of the Seas aren’t included in your cruise fare, but the cost for each is pretty low — from $0.75 to $2.50, depending on the game. The memories you’ll make with your loved ones (not to mention the video of me and my mom trying to time our DDR dance moves just right)? Priceless.

3. Bond Over Memorable Family Meals

Food is a big deal in my family — we’re Cuban, after all — which is yet another reason why I think Grandeur of the Seas has delivered some of our best family vacations. The cruise dining options onboard are awesome, and there are enough of them that we can dine somewhere new every day on a seven-night sailing. My favorite options onboard include the buffet-style Windjammer, a casual, complimentary restaurant that serves rotating global fare during breakfast, lunch and dinner. I also love the sushi rolls and izakaya-style options at Izumi, one of the ship’s most popular specialty restaurants. My brother and dad are steak lovers, so their go-to is Chops Grille^SM, the ship’s upscale steakhouse. It’s a great place for special-occasion dinners, and there are seafood options on the menu for those who prefer lighter entrees to prime cuts of meat. For my husband, it’s all about the hearty Tuscan-inspired entrees at Giovanni’s^SMTable, a lovely trattoria-style restaurant that will transport you straight to Italy, no matter where in the world you happen to be sailing.

4. Level Up Your Poolside Bonding

I love the pool decks on smaller, more well-traveled ships — and Grandeur of the Seas has one of my favorite pool areas of all time. The intimate pool deck on this cruise ship makes it easy to get to know your fellow cruisers during an afternoon spent lounging. This is especially helpful if you’re looking to connect with other grown-ups or hoping your little ones will make friends with others their own age. One of the things I love about this particular pool scene is that it’s tranquil during the early morning hours, but gradually comes to life throughout the day with impromptu musical performances, fun activities led by the cruise director, and more. Whether you’re looking to disconnect or live it up, penciling in some pool time during any getaway at sea is a key ingredient for great family-friendly cruises.

5. Drop The Kiddos Off At Adventure Ocean®

Cruising with a baby, toddler or tween? Grandeur of the Seas is home to Adventure Ocean, an award-winning youth program by Royal Caribbean. This complimentary childcare service welcomes guests aged 3-11 and fills their days with all kinds of fun, supervised activities based on their age group. Think science experiments, scavenger hunts, theatrical plays, arts and crafts and so much more. All you have to do is drop your little ones off, then go enjoy a bit of grown-up time with the other adults in your group. It’s that simple. If you have a newborn in tow, ask about the ship’s Royal Babies & Tots program, available for an additional fee.

6. Get Together For The Perfect Movie Night

Sometimes, all you want to do is Netflix and chill with your fam. And when you sail onboard a cruise ship like Grandeur of the Seas, you can take the cozy late-night ritual to the next level. The ship hosts regular movie nights outdoors on the pool deck using a giant projector screen. All you have to do is grab a towel or blanket, claim some lounge chairs and settle in for a classic or present-day blockbuster flick. Check your Cruise Compass for a lineup of movies and showtimes.

7. Plan A Night At The Theater

Royal Caribbean is known for delivering exceptional family-friendly cruise entertainment, and this ship lives up to that reputation. Pencil in time to enjoy one of the wow-worthy productions onboard, including the stunning musical, Broadway Rhythm & Vine, and the dazzling Tango Buenos Aires — a love letter to Argentina’s most iconic dance styles. During your sailing, you can also look forward to impromptu musical performances throughout the ship, flash mobs, themed nights and plenty more. Just check your Cruise Compass daily for details.

These are just some of the many unique activities and experiences onboard Grandeur of the Seas that help set the stage for the best family cruises. I know my loved ones and I have had a blast experiencing all of the above together on past vacations at sea. That said, the cruise ship offers lots more activities, attractions and family-friendly things to do beyond these highlights. To see what else awaits onboard, check out a full run-down or browse itineraries.