We took my 90-year-old grandparents on a cruise. I learned 6 important lessons for traveling with older relatives.

Earlier this year, I cruised aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas with my 90-year-old grandparents, parents, and extended family.

Our four-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida was planned months in advance — long before my grandpa’s unexpected health decline last fall.

We were thrilled when his oncologist gave him the green light to sail on our cruise, which is likely to be one of our last family vacations together.

Although I had traveled with my grandparents many times before, I hadn’t cruised with them recently. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I learned valuable lessons about traveling with elderly family members.

Book a smaller ship if mobility is a concern.

As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Utopia of the Seas presented mobility challenges for my grandparents.

My grandma relies on a walker and my grandpa is still building back his strength. Navigating long hallways, crowded decks, and multi-story venues wasn’t always easy for them.

As a group, we were limited on where we could go and what activities we could comfortably enjoy together. Because of this, we spent a lot of time in the ship’s Central Park neighborhood, which was just steps from my grandparents’ cabin.

In hindsight, a smaller ship would’ve been easier for my grandparents to navigate.

Find quieter spaces away from crowds.

We prioritized quality time together during this cruise, so we always had breakfast and dinner as a family.

Cruise-ship buffets are notoriously busy, especially during peak hours, so it was often difficult to find a table large enough to accommodate our travel group.

Instead, we usually had sit-down meals together. The Park Café in Central Park became our go-to spot, as it was quiet and easy for my grandparents to access.

We also spent many afternoons in the adults-only Solarium — a peaceful spot on the top deck with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning ocean views.

Conveniently located next to the elevators, this was the perfect space for our family to relax together while still being comfortable for my grandparents.

Take advantage of accessibility-friendly services.

Royal Caribbean offers services to help those with mobility concerns, and the ones we used made all the difference during our vacation.

First, we utilized accessibility assistance for my grandma during embarkation. As our family was hauling our own luggage onboard, we were relieved to have a crew member push my grandma in a wheelchair up the long, inclined gangway.

In addition, Royal Caribbean offers complimentary room service for continental breakfast. My grandpa starts every day with a hot cup of coffee, but he wasn’t always wanting to leave his stateroom first thing in the morning.

So, we used this service to have a carafe of coffee delivered to his stateroom each day. He loved it, and we liked that it saved his energy and minimized unnecessary walking.

Choose a balcony cabin.

Utopia of the Seas has many different cabins to book, ranging from low-cost inside staterooms to luxurious suites.

Although my husband and I decided to save money by booking an interior cabin, my grandparents and parents got balcony rooms next to each other.

This was one of the best decisions we made for my grandparents, who didn’t always have the energy to venture far from their cabin.

Their private balcony served as a comfortable space for them to enjoy ocean views and fresh air without feeling like they were missing out.

Don’t be pushy.

Cruise ships are jam-packed with activities, restaurants, entertainment, and endless ways to stay busy. However, I quickly learned not to push my grandparents to partake in too many of them.

For instance, my grandma normally enjoys cruise-ship entertainment, but she said she was too tired after dinner to stay awake for the nightly shows. Instead of pushing her to join us, we listened.

Throughout the cruise, we tried to respect their limits, whether that meant calling it an early night or taking an afternoon break.

Although slowing down wasn’t always easy, it helped keep the trip enjoyable for everyone.

Splurge on special experiences.

This was a very special cruise considering my grandpa’s health scare, and we wanted to celebrate our precious time together.

So, we splurged on specialty dining for two evenings. On each of those nights, we visited an onboard restaurant that was quieter and less crowded than the main dining room. The food was better, too.

My grandparents said these dinners were the highlight of the cruise. During one of them, my grandpa even gave a tear-jerking toast to the family that I’ll always remember.

Even with a few minor hiccups, our cruise together was very special and memorable.

If our family learned anything over the last year, it’s the importance of savoring time with our loved ones. We definitely traveled at a slower pace and had to navigate new layers of logistics throughout the cruise, but the trip was worth it.

A cruise with older relatives may not always be action-packed, but the memories we made were priceless.

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