Carnival Splendor: Cruise ships leading the boom of ‘multi-generational travel’

Within five minutes of boarding, the penny dropped. There was a clear shift in the way Australians were travelling — and I was late to the party.

It took about five minutes after boarding the Carnival Splendor in Sydney for the penny to drop. I had been holidaying all wrong.

Clawing through weekends away with a toddler in tow (and absolutely needing some kind of holiday after said holiday as a result) — it took a long weekend at sea for me to realise a booming trend in travel was well and truly upon us. And I was very late to the party.

As I sat down with my partner and our toddler and looked around the sun-soaked deck before sailing out of Sydney heads — I noticed that with every young family lingered an older figure in the wings.

A sprinkling of grey hair ready to pounce when M & D needed “just five bloody minutes” all to themselves.

On board the ship, the family holiday — it had appeared — was well and truly dipping into grandparent zone. And for the first time, my very own parents came along for the sail to see how holidaying all together — surrounded by masses of ocean — would go down.

Cruising with the grandparents – what could possibly go wrong? Lucky the old girl knows how to have a good time.

I spent 72 hours on board the Carnival Splendor with my toddler, partner and parents.

As I ushered our party of five on board and towards our staterooms, I knew the next 72 hours would go one of two ways.

I would be installing bunk-beds into our daughter’s room … forcing my parents to live with us forever and ever the end Or, I’d be changing the locks to our house the moment we got home, and telling them we’d moved far, far away.

At first, I put my money on the latter of the two.

Mum and dad were like two overexcited Gold Retrievers on day one, wanting to explore every deck, every restaurant and every bar before we’d even passed the Opera House.

But as we eased out to sea, the calm of the ocean set in.

“Why don’t you two grab a drink, and we will take bub for an hour or so,” mum said as the sun started to dip into witching hour.

The suggestion was music to our ears — and a holidaying concept that has triggered a growing trend among travellers especially on board cruises.

Serenity pool and adults-only bar was the place to be (and accessible given the grandparents were on board!).

There’s plenty of activities on board for young and old.

Good luck dragging the kids away from the on-board ‘Waterworks’ park.

While family getaways are nothing new, then concept of ‘multi-generational’ holidays is consuming more and more bookings amid the cost-of-living crisis — especially when it comes to jumping on board a ship.

“More families are looking for holiday options that offer maximum value without hidden costs,” Kara Glamore, Vice President Australia, Carnival Cruise Line, told news.com.au.

“Carnival Cruise Line provides an all-inclusive style holiday experience that appeals to families looking to control their spending while still enjoying a full and fun range of activities and offerings.”

“We often see multi-generational families choosing to celebrate special occasions with Carnival because everything is in one place and so much is taken care of, which really simplifies travelling with a large group.”

There’s a clear jump in families embarking on ‘multi-generational’ holidays.

Brett Mitchell, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel agreed, saying the rise of intergenerational travel can largely be attributed to the post-pandemic shift in travel, with recent trends indicating a 117 per cent increase in multi-gen trips on years gone past.

“Family tours have the highest growth in intergenerational travel, given the concept of the trips and the demographic we attached to that product,” Mr Mitchell told news.com.au.

“We’ve also seen an increase in grandparents’ and grandchildren’s appetites for travelling together and embracing a different type of adventure. We put this down to a combination of grandparents revelling in the face of retirement and grandchildren eager to embrace experiences and destinations they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.”

I stepped on board the Carnival Splendor Cruise ship in Sydney for a 72-hour cruise to nowhere with my child, husband and parents. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

As someone who typically pulls the short straw when it comes to organising group or family trips, it’s clear to see why more and more bookings are leaning into ‘multi-gen’ reservations.

“Groups can organise private parties through our events team or choose to celebrate at one of our fun dance parties or theme nights such as our 80s Rock and Glow Party or Elegant Night,” Ms Glamore explained.

“Additionally, the ability to visit multiple destinations in one trip is a major draw for families. This takes the hassle out of planning logistics and removes the stress of co-ordinating multiple hotel stays, flights and other transport arrangements, making it an ideal choice for families looking to experience a variety of destinations together in one single trip.”

I was a little nervous about what dining options would be like, but our whole group was beyond satisfied by the array of options.

The poolside Pizzeria was a passenger favourite.

While we were on a ‘cruise to nowhere’, meaning our ship left and returned to Sydney within a 72-hour period, larger groups are gravitating towards certain routes more than others.

“Certain routes stand out when it comes to attracting multi-generational reservations,” Ms Glamore said.

“Our sailings that include destinations like Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu are particularly popular among multi-generational bookings.

“These destinations offer exotic experiences and natural beauty that appeal across generations, from the younger members who enjoy the beaches, water activities and adventure sports to the older generations who appreciate the scenic landscapes and cultural excursions.

Carnival Splendor’s decor is bright and loud, leaning in to the fun of the ship.

There are plenty of spots to relax with a drink or grab a book to read.

“These routes allow families to experience a diverse range of destinations in one trip without the hassle of multiple bookings and logistic planning, making them ideal for multi-generational groups looking to make the most of their time together.

“Additionally, our cruises that visit local Australian treasures like Airlie Beach and Tangalooma on Moreton Island are favourites due to their accessibility and the variety of activities available, which cater to different ages and interests.”

A few hours baby free calls for cocktails. Many cocktails.

With the grandparents on board, we got a chance to kick back in the sun and relax.

But the real appeal of these cruise-to-nowhere voyages is the need to not leave the ship at all — with several swimming pools, multiple restaurants, games rooms, stage shows, minigolf, day spas and a casino all within footsteps of each other.

“We offer fun for guests of all ages, so it’s the perfect opportunity to create special memories and share new experiences as a family,” Ms Glamore explained.

“With over 45 on-board activities to choose from, there’s something for everyone, from kids to grandparents and everyone in between.

We did a 'multi-gen' cruise and finally felt like I was on holiday.

“Some of our activities suitable for the whole family include our fan-favourite Sail Away parties that celebrate the start of each cruise, where our guests and team gather on the main deck to dance and party! Our Dive-In-Movies are another activity designed for the whole family to enjoy together, where you can enjoy blockbuster movies and fresh popcorn under the stars, from your lounge chair or while you swim. We also offer family friendly comedy, karaoke, trivia and games.”

Having mum and dad around was not only a highlight for me, it made our daughter’s trip all the more enjoyable. And for us all, it will be a memory thrown around the dinner table for years to come.

So what else was the highlight?

For me, you cannot go past a reservation at Fahrenheit 555. The ship’s fine dining steakhouse has some of the most incredible meals on offer.

The menu features premium cuts of beef cooked to your exact specification, as well as a huge selection of seafood, vegetarian dishes and an extensive wine list.

Carnival Splendor. Fahrenheit 555 Photo supplied ESCAPE 23 Oct Cruise

The restaurant has an elegant-yet-modern atmosphere (a perfect spot to dine on the more formal night of your cruise) and has incredible views over the ocean.

For a bit of pampering, make sure to book a treatment or two at the adults-only Cloud 9 Spa.

A complete oasis of relaxation away from the kids, you will not want to leave.

Make sure to spend an hour or two at Cloud 9 day spa.

The one-hour relaxation massage will send you straight to sleep — and be sure to book an hour or two at the thermal pool afterwards to complete your experience.

One for the whole family to enjoy (whether you’re a fan of the books or not) Carnival has partnered with Dr. Seuss and offer a great range of ‘Seuss at Sea’ experiences.

Carnival Cruise Line partnered with Dr. Seuss for some fun-filled activities on board. Picture: Carnival Cruises

Some of the highlights include a Seuss-a-palooza (an interactive parade with your favourite characters led by Cat In The Hat) and even a special Thing 1 and Thing 2 themed breakfast (you can’t go past the green pancakes).

This journalist travelled on board the Carnival Splendor as a guest of Carnival Cruises.