Ever since my first cruise with kids, it's been my favorite kind of family trip, but there's also been a learning curve to it all.
When my kids were still pre-school age, sharing one cabin and one bathroom made sense. It was a tight fit, but we made it work.
As my kids have gotten older and entered their teenage years, I had to set a new family rule to ensure "survival" for everyone.
There always needs to be more than one bathroom
No matter which cabin category we book, there needs to more than one bathroom for us all.
I probably don't have to tell you that teenagers spend a lot of time in the bathroom getting themselves ready. I'll never cease to be amazed when my oldest daughter does her makeup in the morning before going to the beach, where it's sure to get ruined in the surf.
Even if my kids didn't spend a lot of time pampering themselves in the bathroom, four people sharing one bathroom is a lot.
I implemented this rule years ago when the girls were younger just because getting everyone a shower after a day at the beach was an ordeal with just one bathroom.
Ideally we'll book two cabins
As I write this article, I'm on a Royal Caribbean cruise where we have connecting balcony cabins, and it suits my bathroom rule along with giving everyone more space.
My favorite family cruise hack is to book two rooms, rather than putting everyone in one larger room.
If I book a suite, my wife usually hesitates if there aren't separate bedrooms (and a second bathroom) because practically speaking, having our own rooms just works so well.
Most suites don't have a second bedroom and/or bathroom, so it's really just the massive suites that work.
Not only are two smaller rooms likely cheaper than a suite, it also provides more separation so we don't feel like we're on top of each other.
Having two bathrooms is key to avoiding fights later, and my rule is already paying off
My rule is simple: no matter which cabin we book, there needs to be two full bathrooms, and that prevents problems later.
I hated when we'd be in a taxi heading back to the ship and one of the kids would "call dibs" on showering first, and that would inevitably set off a fight over who should or should not shower first.
No matter who went first, inevitably it wouldn't be fast enough for everyone else's liking.
It might sound selfish, but I think the rule benefits everyone
I'm not going to lie, having a bathroom for my wife and I is as self-serving as it is beneficial to everyone else.
Space on the counter is really limited, so booking my wife and I along with our four kids in the same room means the bathroom would be a giant mess of toiletries.
I almost immediately regret anything less than two bathrooms once the fighting begins about who gets to use the bathroom first.
The best suite for families is only on the Oasis Class ships
If you'd prefer to be in one cabin, but need my rule in place, I'd recommend the two bedroom Aquatheater suite.
These massive suites have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and they're located on the back of the Oasis Class ships.
Besides the bathroom situation, there's also a massive balcony that you could easily live on too. When everyone is blow-drying their hair, I'll head out to the balcony for peace and quiet, along with a great view.
Plus, these suites come with Star Class benefits and regularly the two bedroom Aquatheater suites are the cheapest option in this upper category of stateroom.
