If you like the idea of a cruise but aren’t sure it fits your family, it’s okay. We felt that way too
Huge groups. Lots of noise. Heaps of herded, organized tours. Packed, hectic activities and daily schedules. And did I mention noise and groups? The first time Jodie and I talked about picking cruise lines for an introverted family, the premise sounded ridiculous.
Most cruise ads or media we’d seen focused on lots of activities, being around tons of people, and taking big bus tours on shore days. For our family of self-guided introverts, a cruise sounded like hell on the high seas.
We were wrong.
In 2024, our family went on our first cruise. Not only did we take a cruise vacation with our kids. Oh no. A few days in Caribbean? No. A week on the Mediterranean? Huh-uh. Our family of four spent 14 nights crossing the Pacific Ocean, from Seattle to Tokyo.
“For our family of self-guided introverts, a cruise sounded like hell on the high seas. We were wrong.”
We thought a cruise vacation could be a terrible idea for our family. Why did we take one anyway?
For starters, we simply wanted to try out taking a cruise vacation. We’d never gone on a cruise, and felt we owed it to ourselves to find out.
Cruises can be amazing vacations
The all-inclusive meals, entertainment, and accommodation simply make a cruise an incredible vacation. Plus, we love being on the water. The idea of being surrounded by ocean and relaxing had great appeal.
On the cruise ship, we could attend talks and shows. The kids had dedicated kid and teen spaces they could hang out at. And as much as we like to cook, we didn’t mind the idea of simply showing up to meals.
A cruise can also be point to point transportation
As we learned about cruise vacations for families, we also learned about repositioning cruises. Most cruises are round-trip. Repositioning cruises are one-way.
Typically, a repositioning cruise is when a cruise line seasonally moves ships from one location to another. That could be from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, or from Alaska to South America. Or, in our case, from North America to Asia.
A repositioning cruise especially sounded like something we might enjoy. After all, a repositioning cruise not only becomes accommodation, meals, and entertainment. In getting us from one location to another, a repositioning cruise became transportation as well.
Cruises have space for extraverts and introverts alike
But could we find cruise lines for an introverted family? Would a cruise vacation appeal to our interests and temperament as a traveling family of introverts?
Yes.
The key is finding the right cruise line and route for you (more on that in a bit).
Many cruise lines market big energy atmospheres, and that is what plenty of folks are seeking in their vacation choices. However, other cruise lines cater to different tastes. The more we learned about cruising, the more we understood that we could find a cruise line and route that did indeed fit our personalities as self-guided introverts.
All those shore excursions? They’re optional.
In fact, on port days we stayed on board. From around 4,000 passengers, on port days it seemed like there was maybe a few hundred folks on the ship. We could sit where we wanted, have no wait at lunch, and above all, take advantage of paid activities that on port days were free.
Those packed sea day schedules? Pick and choose what you want.
When an activity interested us, we didn’t. If it didn’t, we skipped it. We also had plenty of times where we simply relaxed with a book or a movie, enjoying a beverage as we watched the ship roll through the waves.
Public spaces give you recharge space while you quietly enjoy the ship.
Even as we boarded, part of my introverted wee heart wondered if the only way I’d get time to myself was in the cabin, or if I’d constantly have to duck behind our own door to recharge.
Throughout the ship though, it was easy both to enjoy the ship, and to feel like I was still in my own introverted space. For example, the pool deck not only had outdoor spaces, but indoor areas with comfy chairs and couches that formed little pockets of personal space. Many of these were arranged by large floor to ceiling windows, so you could relax with ocean views.
3 cruise lines for an introverted family
The world has so many cruise lines. Some focus on particular countries for their market. Others are simply not as known. Lines such as Virgin Atlantic offer cruises only for adults. Other veer toward high luxury.
As we researched cruise lines and itineraries, 3 lines stood out to us as the ones we would consider for their family friendliness and appeal to us self-guided introverts. Here are the 3 cruise lines for an introverted family that we would consider:
Disney Cruise Line
For starters, we are Disney fans. If you’re not into Disney, their cruises might not be your jam. But if you are, a Disney cruise can combine many of the character and magical elements of their parks, only on a ship.
Why would we consider a Disney cruise for our family of introverts?
- Variety of child and teen programming
- Themed spaces and activities for all ages
- While there are lots of activities during the day, nights tend to be quieter, since most families turn in earlier
- Family friendly, high-quality entertainment
- Staterooms are designed for families
- Kids don’t just get their own spaces. There are adult-only spaces too
Princess Cruises
Another line that kept coming up for us was Princess. Here are a few reasons why we would consider a Princess cruise for our introverted family:
- Princess Cruises typically are quieter and more laid-back, with less of a party atmosphere
- There’s a variety of children’s programs, including Princess’s Discovery at Sea educational activities
- We could find lots of reading nooks and quiet spaces throughout the ship
- Dining times have lots of flexibility, as a nod to the fluctuating time needs of families
Royal Caribbean
For cruise lines for an introverted family, the line that came up most of all was Royal Caribbean:
- They’ve been pioneering child and teen centers and programming for decades
- Dedicated, age-appropriate spaces for younger kids, older kids, and teens
- Range of activities for active time, including laser tag, a climbing wall, and indoor sport court
- Quiet nooks with amazing ocean views, and chill library spaces that are more enclosed
- Easy to vary up the amount of schedule, structure, and unscheduled time you want
Where did we take our first cruise, and on which cruise line?
With these 3 lines appealing to us as cruise lines for an introverted family, which did we choose?
Our first family cruise vacation was from Seattle, USA, to Yokohama, Japan. We cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, with about 4,000 passengers.
Something we learned on board?
Many people from Asia who now live in North America use this route to go from North America to Tokyo. From there, they fly out to the specific part of Asia they’re visiting.
Why not another cruise line?
A big concern for us was knowing we could have the self-guidance we value, along with quiet time and space as introverts. For example, Carnival’s party atmosphere didn’t sound like a good fit. Our sense of Norwegian Cruise Line is that it was probably too high-energy for our family.
Plus, we were making a pretty specific choice of route. Other cruise lines and route go to and around Asia, but this was a pretty perfect itinerary for us.
Why did we choose Royal Caribbean?
When picking cruise lines for an introverted family, we chose Royal Caribbean in part because of this unique option to sail one way from North America to Asia. The price point was a good fit for us too.
Why we went on a 14-night trans-Pacific cruise with our kids
A fun way to get from point to point while relaxing at sea
Taking the cruise we took was going to be a one-way trip for us.
We spent the first week in full vacation mode, relaxing and recharging. During the latter part of the cruise, the kids did some schoolwork, and Jodie and I tended to some various work and business. Still, while we traveled from Seattle to Tokyo, we also got to do some wonderful vacationing, and were rested and ready to start new adventures in Japan.
Taking this cruise meant:
- We changed the time zone each day for the first 8 days. This could still be a little disorienting, but overall it was nice to arrive in Japan without being jet-lagged
- Instead of sitting in a cramped airplane seat for 14 hours, we could stretch out in the comfort of our cabin, or roam around the ship
- All meals, room, and entertainment were included, we just had to decide what we wanted to do
- After 14 days of being at sea and cruising, we’d arrive in Japan pretty darn certain about whether or not we’d ever take another cruise
8 things we did on board our 14-night cruise
Dinner in Main Dining
We want our kids to feel just as at home at a taco stand in Miami, a night market in Bangkok, and a fine dining restaurant in Bologna. However, most of our dining out is casual.
That’s why, during 2 weeks on a cruise ship, we dined just about every night for the more formal sit-down dinners in Main Dining.
To be clear, we pack light and we don’t travel with formal wear. While we always dressed casual, we loved how the kids got a sense of what a more formal dining experience is like. From the multi-course menu to the white tablecloth, Connor and Aster got a primer on what it’s like to be in a finer dining space, complete with a dedicated waiter and assistant waiter. The kids impressed us with their willingness to try different foods, and how they understood the courtesy that came with the space and experience.
Over two weeks, we also got to know our waiters better. We’d each share stories about our lives, and the waiters would often bring our table extra little sides, dishes, or desserts. And whenever our waiter waiter brought out his crumb brush when clearing the main course dishes, the kids giggled, and he would smile.
Main Dining was a highlight of our day. We enjoyed the food, talking with our waiters, and the overall atmosphere. Plus, our kids now have a much better understanding of finer dining spaces—and how they belong in those, just as much as they do anywhere else.
Teen and kid centers
Royal Caribbean pioneered kid and teen spaces, adding dedicated kid centers and teen centers in the 1990s.
The teen space on our ship, called The Living Room, was open during set morning, afternoon, and evening hours, for kids aged 12–17. With Connor on the cusp of 13, he delighted in this chance to have more independent time with others around his own age. Often he would go to The Living Room every time it was open, and participated in many of their evening events—including dodgeball, a dance party, and even karaoke. He and the others would also converse, play games, and enjoy some X-Box time.
The kid center, called Adventure Ocean, had separate spaces based on age ranges. That way younger kids and older kids could be in spaces and activities that were age appropriate for them. Aster often went to her kid space during the morning, and would often do different science or art activities there.
Not only did these spaces give the kids time on their own or with peers, we enjoyed the confidence that the kids had a mix of independence and supervision. Connor especially demonstrated that he was responsible with his independence. He met us on time for dinner, or, on an occasion when he left his phone in the Living Room, told us his plan for finding it, which he did.
Evening shows
Dance, singing, acrobatics, comedy: The Quantum of the Sea’s evening shows had lots of variety, and we made sure to take the opportunity to go. Usually we went to some sort of show every few nights, including:
- Magic show
- Acrobatics and comedy show
- Starwater, the ship’s signature song and dance show
- Sonic Odyssey Earth Harp concert
Presentations
As we learned about cruises and the different entertainment offered, something that stood out to me was the many informational talks offered during the day. Since the kids would be doing their own activities, Jodie and I had the chance to do some things together, and we could check out things we each personally wanted to do.
For me, that was the presentations and lectures. Topics and presenters vary, so once we got on board I immediately checked out what the presentations would be. On our ship, a forensic psychologist shared insights on her long career working with the criminal justice system. A relative of classic comedic actor Don Knotts, probably best known for his role as Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show, discussed Don’s life and career, as well as the culture relevant The Andy Griffith Show had when it aired, and how that’s persisted over the years.
My interest, though, was aviation. On many a morning or afternoon of our cruise though, you’d find me at talks about different aspects of aviation, on everything from debunking common flying fears, to what happens behind the scenes at an investigation of an aircraft incident.
These free talks were a highlight of the cruise for my nerdy self. I loved the insights into an industry I know little about, not to mention sipping coffee and nibbling a cookie during the talk.
Skydiving tunnel
What if you could skydive without having to jump out of a plane and falling a death-defying distance? What if you just needed a vertical wind tunnel and a fan? The RipCord iFLY experience is the everyperson’s skydiving.
Divers wear a coverall, helmet and goggles, and get a guided “flight” inside a vertical wind tunnel. You can go high if you want, or you can stay just a few feet off the ground.
Normally this activity is an additional charge. On port days though, iFLY is free! Aster and I each went for a dive, and Aster especially quickly got the hang of feeling like she was flying.
Meet the crew events
Most mornings from 11 to 11:30 a.m., officers and crew members were available to chat with guests and answer questions. There was no formal presentation, just folks around the Harp & Horn pub on Deck 4.
I popped in now and again to check this out. The food and beverage manager talked with me about how crew reduce food waste, or the captain shared with me and other guests changes he’s seen during his decades in the industry—mainly the size of the ships and the scope of available activities.
Crew talent show
Jodie and I have no illusions about how hard people work to make something like a cruise go smoothly. It’s also something we point out to the kids. We remind them not only of the humanity of each person on board, but the work happening around us and behind the scenes.
Maybe that’s why I thought it was so touching that not only was there a talent show put on by the crew, but that the house was completely packed. Every seat was filled, and it was standing room only five people deep.
Crew members come from all over the world, including the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Zimbabwe, India, and South Africa. And their performances, often rehearsed in the middle of the night after the end of busy shifts, brought in dance, music, and more that reflected their cultures and interests.
Singing in the ship’s guest choir
Music is so integral to Jodie, and we try to make it so she can take advantage of any opportunity to play. When it turned out the ship had a choir for guests, Jodie joined up in the alto section. Dozens of guests, from sopranos to baritones, came together, and rehearsed daily for about a week.
One afternoon, they assembled in 270º, a performance space at the aft end of the ship (and my personal favorite space on the ship, with its giant floor-to-ceiling windows). My personal highlight? Jodie singing her solo in “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”
BONUS: And one serendipitous sunrise
I did not intend to wake up at 5:15 in the morning. Especially not on one of the last days of my family’s first cruise vacation. It must have been the sunlight coming in through our balcony’s glass door.
The entire trans-Pacific crossing had been cloudy—until now. Leaving my family to sleep, I got out of bed, dressed, grabbed my GoPro and a few supplies, and raced to the east-facing aft end of the top deck.
And watched the sun rise, orange and red through a bit of cloud, over the vast blue of the Pacific.
I teared up. Like the dozen or so people who also had come up, we took photos and videos, but overall we took in this precious moment. After ten cloudy days, a sunny morning—on the same day we would first dock at a port in Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun itself.
3 things we skipped (and why)
Trivia, games, and bingo
Throughout the day, you could have your pick of trivia, bingo, and game sessions, from chess to board games. While cool, we weren’t really interested, so we skipped these.
Parties and most live music
At night, you could be spoiled for choice in live music throughout venues on Decks 4 and 5. Sometimes the kids and I went for a pre-bedtime walk , and we might linger outside one of the venues, taking in a few beats or watching people dance. There were some great shows and parties on the ship, no doubt. But we were seeking a more chill experience.
Sports, workouts, and spa events
While Jodie did get a much-needed massage, we weren’t interested in the organized workouts or classes (plus, many of them had an additional charge). I usually do some sort of yoga and a small workout during the week, so many a morning I’d head to the fitness center.
Later in the cruise though, I realized that people were using the empty aft space at 270, with its amazing viewing windows, to do simple stretch workouts, tai chi, or yoga. I started bringing my mat down there instead, and loved starting my day not only with some fitness, but views of the Pacific from my favorite spot on the ship.
For a cruise vacation, there are cruise lines for an introverted family like ours
14 nights on a cruise ship from Seattle to Yokohama led our family to a simple conclusion
We were anxious about picking cruise lines for an introverted family. What if we we wrong? Were we going to be miserable for 2 weeks?
But with excellent dining, kind crew, fun entertainment and, above all, plenty of time to relax and recharge? Our 14-night cruise from Seattle to Yokohama was a big chance, and a big change, for our family of four.
Sure, we love to travel. But since we’d never taken a cruise before, we knew there was a chance we’d disembark in Japan determined never to get on a cruise ship again.
But quite the opposite happened.
From the kid and teen centers to their independence on board, the children loved being on a cruise. Jodie and I enjoyed the activities we could take part in, along with the time we could spend together.
The cruise itself was a joy—and we landed in Japan not only cruise converts, but ready to pick our next cruise.
