European holidays offer travellers the opportunity to discover historic cities, experience different cultures and enjoy the Mediterranean’s diverse landscapes. For those hoping to visit several destinations in one trip, however, coordinating flights, accommodation, luggage and transport can add complexity to the journey.
Cruising offers an alternative way to explore the region, combining accommodation, dining, entertainment and travel between destinations in one holiday. According to YouGov research commissioned by Royal Caribbean, 81% of parents with children under 18 find multi-destination European cruising appealing, highlighting the interest in holidays that bring destination discovery and convenience together.
This growing interest coincides with the arrival of Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ship offering Mediterranean holidays from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Combining visits to European destinations with a wide range of onboard experiences, the ship presents another way for travellers to experience the Mediterranean.
Discovering the Mediterranean Aboard Legend of the Seas
Legend of the Seas combines Mediterranean itineraries with Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class experiences. Depending on the itinerary, destinations include Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Provence in France, and Florence/Pisa and Naples/Capri in Italy.
The ship also offers attractions and entertainment for different interests and age groups. Families can explore Surfside and Splashaway Bay, while those seeking more adventurous activities can experience Category 6, the FlowRider surf simulator and Crown’s Edge. Entertainment options include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the Royal Theater, performances at the AquaTheater and ice-skating shows at Absolute Zero.
Dining is another part of the onboard experience. Royal Railway – Legend Station, for example, is an immersive five-course dining experience inspired by the ancient Silk Routes, combining dining, storytelling and immersive technology.
For families travelling with children or across multiple generations, these onboard options provide opportunities to enjoy different activities during the same holiday.
Interview with Ben Bouldin, President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia
How is multi-destination cruising changing the way travellers approach European holidays? What makes a cruise appealing to families travelling with children, and how can a ship cater to different generations while offering opportunities to explore multiple destinations?
To find out more, we speak with Ben Bouldin, President of Greater China and Managing Director of Asia at Royal Caribbean. In the following interview, he discusses the research findings, the practical considerations involved in multi-destination travel, and how Legend of the Seas brings together Mediterranean destinations with family-friendly attractions, dining and entertainment.
Q1. Royal Caribbean’s latest YouGov research found that 81% of parents with children under 18 find multi-destination European cruising appealing. What are your thoughts on this finding, and what do you think is behind the strong interest in this type of holiday, particularly among families?
Ben Bouldin: These results reflect families’ desire to make the most of their time together while discovering more of Europe. From history and culture to food and coastal scenery, the variety is a major part of the appeal. Visiting several destinations in one vacation gives families more opportunities to explore and share new experiences.
For parents, that appeal is also practical. Coordinating transport, accommodation and luggage across multiple destinations can take time away from enjoying the holiday. Cruising simplifies the journey: families can unpack once and explore without planning every transfer or changing hotels along the way. That means less time managing logistics and more time discovering Europe and making memories together.
Q2. The research also highlights challenges that travellers can face when moving between multiple European destinations, including flight delays and cancellations, long layovers and managing luggage between countries. From your perspective, how can cruising help reduce some of these logistical pressures and allow travellers to spend more time enjoying their holiday?
Ben Bouldin: For families exploring multiple destinations, coordinating transport, managing luggage and keeping everyone on schedule can take time and energy away from the holiday itself. A Royal Caribbean vacation simplifies that journey. Families can unpack once and explore multiple destinations without arranging transport and accommodation at every stop. The ship is also a destination in its own right, with thrills, entertainment, dining and space to unwind, so the holiday continues between ports. On Legend of the Seas, families can discover destinations including Palma de Mallorca, Provence in France, and Capri and Florence in Italy, alongside a wealth of experiences on board. It means less time managing logistics and more time enjoying the journey together.
Q3. For families travelling across generations, grandparents, parents and children may all have different interests and expectations from a holiday. What do you think makes cruising particularly well suited to multigenerational travel, and how does Royal Caribbean create opportunities for different generations to enjoy both shared experiences and time of their own?
Ben Bouldin: The beauty of a multigenerational vacation is being able to bring everyone together without expecting everyone to enjoy the same things. Grandparents, parents and children can each have their own idea of the perfect holiday, while sharing moments that make the trip memorable. This is what makes the Royal Caribbean vacation particularly well suited to multigenerational travel. Our ships bring together a wide range of experiences, from high-energy adventures and family-friendly entertainment to dining and spaces where guests can relax at their own pace. Families can come together for a show, a meal or an exciting activity, while still having the freedom to pursue their own interests.
Ultimately, it is about giving every family member the freedom to enjoy the vacation in its own way, without compromising on time together. Whether it is a shared adventure or a memorable moment around the dinner table, these are the experiences that families take home with them.
Q4. Legend of the Seas brings Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class vacation experience to Europe for the first time, with Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona and Rome. What was particularly important to Royal Caribbean when bringing the Icon Class experience to Europe, and what do you believe sets Legend of the Seas apart from other ways of experiencing the Mediterranean?
Ben Bouldin: With Legend of the Seas, we wanted to bring the Icon Class experience to one of the world’s most sought-after travel regions, combining the richness of the Mediterranean with the scale, variety and innovation that define a Royal Caribbean vacation.
What sets Legend apart is that the ship is a destination in its own right. Sailing from Barcelona or Rome, guests can explore the culture and scenery of the Mediterranean while also enjoying an extraordinary range of experiences throughout their vacation. From record-breaking thrills and family adventures to immersive entertainment, dining and ways to unwind, there is something for everyone to look forward to. It is about reimagining what a European vacation can look like. Rather than choosing between exploring the destination and enjoying an incredible holiday experience, guests can have both. Every part of the vacation, from the destinations they discover to the experiences they enjoy on the ship, becomes part of the adventure.
Q5. Legend of the Seas has been designed with families in mind, including dedicated spaces and experiences such as Surfside and Splashaway Bay, as well as a wide range of entertainment and activities. Which aspects of the ship do you think will resonate most with Singapore families, particularly those travelling with children, and why?
Ben Bouldin: I think the variety will be a major draw for Singapore families, especially those travelling with children of different ages. Having plenty of choice means everyone can find something they enjoy, with opportunities to try new things together.
Surfside is designed for families with younger children, with water slides and interactive play at Splashaway Bay. For bigger thrills, there is Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, along with the FlowRider surf simulator and Crown’s Edge. Families can also come together for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the Royal Theater, performances at the AquaTheater and ice-skating shows at Absolute Zero.
What matters is that families do not have to choose between keeping the children entertained and enjoying the holiday themselves. From high-energy adventures to world-class entertainment, dining and opportunities to unwind, Legend of the Seas offers something for different ages and interests. Combined with the opportunity to explore multiple Mediterranean destinations, it makes for a vacation that offers something well beyond a traditional sightseeing itinerary.
Q6. Beyond the destinations themselves, Legend of the Seas offers a wide range of onboard entertainment and dining experiences, including Royal Railway – Legend Station, an immersive five-course dining experience inspired by the ancient Silk Routes. How important is the onboard experience in shaping the overall holiday for guests, and what role does it play alongside the destinations they visit?
Ben Bouldin: The onboard experience is an essential part of a Royal Caribbean vacation. The ship is more than a way to travel between destinations; it offers experiences that make the journey just as memorable as the places guests visit.
On Legend of the Seas, that comes to life through the breadth of experiences available. Royal Railway – Legend Station, for example, combines dining, storytelling and immersive technology to create an experience that goes beyond a traditional meal. Across the ship, entertainment, activities and dining give guests plenty of ways to follow their interests or try something new.
These experiences complement the discoveries guests make ashore. A day exploring the culture and history of a Mediterranean city can lead into an evening of immersive dining or a spectacular show. For families and multigenerational groups, this variety means there is something for everyone at every stage of the vacation, with opportunities to explore, recharge and reconnect.
Q7. Looking ahead, how do you see the way travellers from Singapore and other Asian markets approaching European holidays evolving? What role do you see cruising playing as travellers look for ways to experience multiple destinations while making the most of their time together?
Ben Bouldin: For travellers from Singapore and across Asia, a European holiday is a significant investment of time and planning. Making the most of that journey matters, whether through discovering different cultures, visiting iconic destinations or sharing new experiences with family.
I see multi-destination cruising playing an important role by making it easier to explore more of Europe in one holiday. Bringing accommodation, dining, entertainment and travel between destinations together reduces the need to plan each stop separately. And with so much to discover on board, the journey becomes part of the experience, not just a way to reach the next destination.
For families and multigenerational groups, that balance of convenience, choice and time together is especially appealing. With Legend of the Seas, we see an opportunity to offer Asian travellers a different way to discover Europe, combining the destinations they want to explore with experiences the whole family can enjoy along the way.
Q8. For Singapore families who may be considering a European cruise for the first time, what would you say to them about the experience that Legend of the Seas offers and the kind of holiday they can expect?
Ben Bouldin: I would encourage families to look beyond the traditional idea of a cruise. A Royal Caribbean vacation combines the excitement of discovering new destinations with experiences that make the journey just as memorable.
On Legend of the Seas, families can explore the Mediterranean, discover different cultures and landscapes, and return to a ship filled with opportunities for adventure, entertainment, dining and relaxation. Children can find their own adventure, parents can enjoy time together as a family, and different generations can create memories that are uniquely their own.
The convenience makes a difference, too. Families can unpack once and explore multiple destinations without arranging transport and accommodation at every stop. For first-time cruisers, Legend brings together the discovery of Europe and the variety of a Royal Caribbean vacation, with less time spent managing logistics and more time enjoying the holiday together.
Plan Your Mediterranean Cruise
Interested in discovering the Mediterranean aboard Legend of the Seas? Visit the official Royal Caribbean website at www.RoyalCaribbean.com to explore the ship, browse available itineraries and find out more about its European cruise holidays.
With its combination of Mediterranean destinations, onboard entertainment, dining and attractions, Legend of the Seas offers travellers another way to approach a European holiday. For families considering a multi-destination trip, the choice of itinerary and the range of experiences available on board are worth exploring when planning their next adventure.
We also welcome our readers to share their thoughts on European cruising and the destinations they would love to explore on a cruise holiday. Have you experienced a Royal Caribbean cruise, or would you consider discovering multiple European destinations aboard Legend of the Seas?
We would love to hear your stories! Email us at [email protected].
Stay tuned to Our Parenting World (OPW Media) for more travel inspiration, cruise highlights, holiday ideas and exciting travel features!
