Family cruise in June 2026… any suggestions for a big group?

I have a family of 20 planning a trip for June 2026. The group includes 4 grandkids aged 5-8, 6 grandkids with 4 in high school and 2 under 21, plus 10 adults who enjoy adventure, fun, and a bit of gambling.

We’re looking for a cruise out of Galveston, TX for about 5-10 days. We want something that isn’t old or outdated with good food and service.

Has anyone been on a big family cruise before? Any recommendations for a cruise line that offers something for everyone? The adults would really like a casino too.

Should we work with a travel agent or book directly through the cruise line? Any tips from experienced cruisers would be appreciated!

Here’s the original post as it was written:

Family of 20 planning a trip for June 2026. 4 grandkids (ages 5-8), 6 grandkids (4 high school-aged and 2 under 21), and 10 adults who enjoy adventure, fun, and gambling.

Looking for a 5-10 day cruise out of Galveston, TX. Don’t want an old ship, bad food, or bad service.

Anyone have suggestions for a cruise with a variety of things to do? Adults like the casino too.

Should we go through a travel agent or book directly with the cruise line?

Looking for advice from seasoned cruisers!

With a group that large, it’s a good idea to choose a cruise line that has group booking options. You’ll likely need several cabins unless each family handles their own booking.

Or you could also look into finding a travel agent who specializes in group bookings.

A travel agent could definitely help you with this. They know how to handle large groups and can help get better deals.

As a travel advisor, I’d say you should look into MSC cruises, or options from Carnival or Royal Caribbean. For a group like yours, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas would be a great choice.

Let me know if you need help with details or if you already have a trusted travel agent, you can always reach out to them for help too.

If you’re handling a large group, a travel agent who specializes in group travel can be really helpful.