Notes from a recent article by Allie Hubers in Business Insider, who outlined important lessons for traveling with older relatives…

“We took my 90-year-old grandparents on a cruise. I learned six important lessons,” writes Hubers.

The extended family took a four-night cruise, which was planned well before Huber’s grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. She was grateful his oncologist gave him the green light to take the cruise, as it is likely the last family vacation together that involves the entire family.

Her tips for traveling on a cruise ship with older relatives:

Book a smaller ship if mobility is an issue. Huber’s grandmother relies on a walker and navigating long hallways and crowded decks on multi-story venues would have been problematic.

Find quieter spaces away from crowds. The family prioritized quality time together and always had breakfast and dinner together as a family. Since cruise buffets are notoriously busy, instead, they arranged sit-down meals in a smaller venue on the ship.

Take advantage of accessibility-friendly services. Communicate in advance of the trip to learn of any special services for people that need accessibility assistance. For example, Hubers’ grandmother had a crew member push her in her wheelchair up the gangway. Some cruises may offer room service for guests who find it difficult to get to the cafe. Her grandfather took advantage of this perk by having a carafe of coffee delivered to his stateroom each morning.

Choose a balcony cabin for the special guests of honor. Hubers and her husband saved money by booking an interior cabin so that her parents and grandparents could get 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.”

Respect the energy limit of your older relative. While cruise ships typically offer practically non-stop activities and entertainment, leave it up to your older relative as to what activities they may want to try, and it’s A-Okay to call it an early night and to take afternoon breaks or naps.

Splurge on special experiences. The Hubers’ decided to splurge specialty dining in quieter, less crowded and smaller dining rooms. Her grandparents told her that those family dinners were the highlight of the cruise. She writes: “During one of them, my grandpa even gave a tear-jerking toast to the family that I’ll always remember.”

Savor time with your loved ones. “A cruise with older relatives may not always be action-packed, but the memories we made were priceless.”

To read the full story and see a photo of the author’s grandmother, visit the following link: Traveling with Older Relatives