Is an Alaskan Cruise an Amazing, Affordable Family Reunion Idea?

Dear Maia:  

Thanks for your questions!  In our report below, we tackle the two potential obstacles to the trip idea before addressing the family reunion idea.  

1.  Can You Really Manage Seasickness?

Based on our research, there is no difference between motion sickness and seasickness.  If your husband has motion sickness in cars/planes or on amusement park rides, he will probably have problems with boat rides.  You might be able to prevent or manage the symptoms with medications, including the prescription Scopolamine patch, which is placed behind the ear before travel.  

You also might be able to minimize the potential for seasickness when you choose the size of your cruise ship, your cabin location, and the choppiness of the water.  To feel less ocean movement, he may be better off with a larger ship and a low mid-ship stateroom. The good news is that the Inside Passage to Alaska has relatively calm cruising water.  To test drive a short overnight cruise from Los Angeles, we found three-night cruises to Vancouver (but then you’d need to fly back home) or Baha Mexico.  

2.  Are Cruises an Affordable Vacation Option?

Although the sticker price of a cruise could be double that of a vacation rental, the two experiences aren’t really comparable.  Using the Vrbo website for vacation rentals, we found that a 7 night rental of a nice house (for 12 people) on Cape Cod or in Colorado would probably cost around $400 to $500 per person in August while 7-day Alaskan cruises could cost $550 to $1500 per person for the last week in May 2020 (except for luxury cruises that cost around $4500+):

https://www.cruisedirect.com
https://www.cruisecritic.com
https://www.cruisewatch.com
https://cruiseweb.com
https://cruiseline.com

Other than the cruise fare, there may also be added costs for shore excursions, some drinks, and tips.  While the cost and preparation of meals would be covered by the cruise fare, the house rental costs would not cover any meals.  

Depending on where you decide to go for a reunion, airfare costs should be factored into any decision.  Based on Google Flights for May 2020, the flights to Seattle are generally more reasonable: 

• • RT airfare from LA to Vancouver:  $275-375
  • RT airfare from LA to Seattle:  $150-250
  • RT airfare from DFW to Vancouver:  $450-500
  • RT airfare from DFW to Seattle: $250-350
  • RT airfare from Boston to Vancouver:  $455-655
  • RT airfare from Boston to Seattle:  $280-350

That said, the water might be a little choppier when departing from Seattle until you get to Alaska.  See this article for a terrific overview:  Alaska Cruise Tips  To spread airline travel costs to the reunion destination fairly (because someone will always live closer to the destination than others), you could have one family member or a travel agent book all of the flights and then divide the total cost by the number of people on your family reunion.  Unless you go to an all-inclusive resort, some or all of the families might also need to rent cars for a non-cruise trip.

For comparison purposes, check out these articles on other ideas for family reunions and their price tags:  Great Places to Go for Family Reunions and Family Reunion Vacations.

3.  Why Would a Cruise Be An Amazing Family Reunion Idea?

A cruise to Alaska or elsewhere could be an amazing family reunion idea because the concept (1) minimizes the number of decisions (and potential for disagreement) that have to be made and negotiated before and during the trip, and (2) maximizes the amount of free time travelers will have to enjoy the experience with their family.  

After picking the type of cruise and the ship as a group, individual members pick their own cabins based on their preferences as well as their excursions.  After that, there are no debates over when, where, and what to eat, what to do, who wants to do it, and how to get there. Every night there is an opportunity to get together over dinner to visit with each other and enjoy the ship’s amenities without arranging transportation, entertainment, or meals for a large group.  In other words, the added cost of a once in a lifetime cruise might be well worth it depending on everyone’s travel preferences and budget.

For a non-cruise reunion, the group has to agree on the destination, lodging, excursions, entertainment, food, and then arrange each item.  For a discussion of the various pros and cons from someone who has done both, see Family Reunion? Pros and Cons of a Cruise vs. a Vacation Rental.

If your family decides to try a family reunion cruise, check out this article for planning tips:  How to Plan a Group Cruise.

Conclusion

In short, there are effective medications to prevent seasickness.  Whether your husband is highly likely to become seasick or is a good candidate for those medications would be good questions for his physician before you purchased tickets.  If not for the potential seasickness, a cruise could be an amazing family reunion idea that could be easier (but will probably cost more) than other options like renting a house together.  We hope that our research has helped you decide whether you’re interested, and your husband is able, to take an Alaskan Cruise for your family reunion.