When I was a kid, we didn't need a cross-country plane ticket or cruise ship to be together, much less a year to plan. Family times were part of the rubric of our lives. We gathered regularly in back yards and for the holidays, houses overflowing with relatives. That's why so many families, mine included, increasingly use vacation as extended-family time. One in five vacation trips now span three generations, The Travel Industry Association reports, and nearly a third of summer trips include a family reunion.
Cruise ships seem to provide a nearly ideal venue.
They're not only affordable but can be a bargain even a bona fide bargain with sumptuous meals, organized childcare and more than enough activities to amuse everyone. Opt for a weekend or a week and get sufficient time together to strengthen those all-important bonds, but enough space to get away from the family, too. Even better, no one will bicker over what to do, where to eat and most important, who is paying for what. The best part was that nobody had to cook, do dishes or plan anything. We could just focus on being together.