Picking your cruise group can be essential to ensuring your holiday is everything it’s cracked up to be. No one wants to spend hundreds of pounds and a trip to discover they’ve landed with the wrong combination of people. Travel groups need to bring out the best in each other, complementing what their fellow adventurers bring to the table. However, the exact goal of a cruise group can vary depending on the event or destination.
This blog is your guide to properly planning group cruises, whether you want to capture a cultural experience or simply want to party with your friends. Either way, you’ll be better equipped to share those all-important memories with the people you love.
What’s the right cruise group size?
You need to consider what the point of your trip is and what sort of sized travel groups you tend to see on those trips.
- Smaller groups of 2-4 close friends will generally be more flexible on agreeing to activities, great for more experience-focused group travels.
- Medium groups of between 4-8 people allow for more widespread socialising, while also offering enough room for flexibility, making for balanced trips.
- Larger groups of 8 or more people will generally beset by a more party-focused vibe, however, as long as the trip isn’t too specific (hen dos, etc) it does leave some room for people to do their own thing.
At the end of the day, the cruise group size needs to align with what you’re planning on doing while away. Smaller groups are better for longer expeditions, while cruises for large groups can be more enjoyable as shorter weekend festivities.
Consider your cruise group dynamics
Group travel isn’t only defined by the number of people on a trip – the dynamic of your squad plays a huge part in how you’ll experience the trip. For example, younger groups might be keener for exploration or late-night drinking, while older parties might be keener to relax and soak up some sea air.
Dynamics also encompass interests and travel styles. If you know that you’re looking to absorb local customs on your cruise, try to build a group of similarly curious travellers. If you’re looking for a chance to relax, pick some easygoing friends who are happy to lounge by the pool. These conversations are important when building a cruise group.
Budget considerations
The cost of living is hitting everyone, there’s no shame in that. That’s why it’s necessary to have budgetary chats with your group before you hit the seven seas. Some travellers might want to have a more luxurious experience while others might want to make the most of on-board amenities, and these conversations are always more uncomfortable if landed on in the moment.
Ensure to discuss things like the potential for group cruise deals, splitting expenses, planning for specific day’s spending and cabin options in advance to make sure everyone feels comfortable.
Finding the right cruise group
Group travel can start in various places and with so many different people. Finding the perfect group for your dream trip could be from:
- Friends and family
- Checking online groups and forums for likeminded cruise enthusiasts
- Guided tours from the cruise are great for meeting people with similar interests
- Why not book a solo-specifc cruise? They’re designed for meeting people!
At the end of the day, the perfect cruise group is whatever you make of it. Put together your dream cruise crew and start searching the seas today!
