Kevin and my first cruise was also our first international trip together when we got married. We had such a great time that we immediately considered ourselves “cruise people,” despite the fact that our next one wouldn’t be until four years later (and we’ve still only been on four total in 13 years).

But we knew from the onset that cruising was a special way to see the world. And I’ve been trying to get friends and family to consider joining us for one ever since (my mom still refuses). I just had a strong feeling that it would be the easiest way for a group to travel together without driving each other crazy in the process.

There are several aspects of cruising that make it absolutely perfect for groups wanting to travel together, and I finally got my chance to prove that in 2025 when we took two other couples with us on a Celebrity Cruise to Italy, Montenegro, and Croatia.

Why are cruises great for groups? I’m glad you asked!

1. Good for All Traveler Levels and Preferences

We planned this group cruise with Ross and Amber (who we took with us to Ireland two years before) and Katie and Brett. Katie and Brett were passport newbies! Along with Kevin and I, we had a range of travel experience among us.

Katie and Brett were a little unsure about being in a foreign country for the first time, and the cruise ship being a home base helped them ease into it in comfort. Returning each night to familiar food, language, and spaces can be very helpful to newbies as well as anyone trying to cram a lot of experiences into their port stops. It’s a great way to have guaranteed recharging opportunities for those who need it.

Plus, your days can be as adventurous (like taking public transit to a hiking trail) or as guided (like a ship-sponsored shore excursion) as you like!

2. Fewer Group Decisions to Make

Obviously the more people you travel with, the more varied opinions there are. The predetermined cruise itinerary settles any disagreements before they can even happen. No one gets to be the boss over the others. The itinerary you choose from the cruise line is what you get. Everyone can choose their own room type and extras if they want, but the main decisions are baked in.

Amber, Katie, and I came up with Italy as our preferred destination while playing the Venice course on Walkabout Mini Golf on our VRs one night. From there, we just had to choose our cruise line (Kevin and I have been loyal to Celebrity so far), and duration (we agreed one week), which left only a few itinerary options and dates to choose from. It was the easiest planning!

3. Splitting Up is Easy and There’s a Built-in Meeting Point

The fact that you must be back aboard by a certain time already ensures that your group members can’t venture away too far (at least to their risk tolerance). No one in the group has to “police” the meet-ups. If you each have a different plan for what to do in port, you can separate, guilt-free, and meet for dinner onboard each evening. Bonus – the group combos can shuffle it up each day.

For the first several days of our cruise, our group elected to stay together in port, but by the end of it, everyone was feeling confident enough to split up and make their way back independently. For example, Ross and Amber went in search of cats, Katie and Brett did a kayak tour, and Kevin and I enjoyed wandering to take photos.

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Now that I’ve actually done a group trip cruise, I’m even more sure that it’s the perfect way for friends to travel together. It’s the perfect blend of independence and togetherness. We are already talking about where to go on our next one!