Are Cruise Photo Packages Worth It for a Multi-Generational Family?
You're planning this milestone multi-generational cruise and all you want is one perfect photo of the entire family together. You see the cruise line's photo packages, but the high price tag makes you pause. Are cruise photo packages worth it? Or are they an overpriced gimmick?
As the “Family C.E.O.,” you are the designated photographer. You're the one capturing the grandkids splashing in the pool, the family laughing at dinner, and the group exploring a new port. But this leads to one major problem: you are never in the photos.
Let's break down the true value for a multi-generational family.
The Solution: A Pro/Con Breakdown for the “Family C.E.O.”
A cruise photo package (like Royal Caribbean's “All Digital Package”) gives you the rights to all the digital photos taken of your stateroom guests by the ship's professional photographers. This includes photos at embarkation, on formal nights, at dinner, and with various backdrops around the ship.
Here's the honest pros and cons list, from one planner to another.
THE PROS (Why It's a Great Idea):
- You Are Finally in the Photos: This is the #1 reason. It liberates you from being the photographer and allows you to be part of the memory.
- The “Impossible” Group Shot: Trying to get a good photo of 10+ people (including toddlers and teens) with a selfie stick or by flagging down a stranger is a nightmare. The ship's photographers are pros at this. They will take 10-15 shots on formal night, guaranteeing at least one where everyone's eyes are open.
- Professional Lighting & Backdrops: Let's be honest: your smartphone struggles in the dim lighting of the main dining room. The photographers' shots from formal night or on the grand staircase will be high-quality, well-lit, and perfect for printing and framing.
- Total Convenience: You don't have to plan anything. The photographers are just there. You simply stop for 5 minutes on your way to dinner, and the work is done. No stress, no herding cats.
THE CONS (Why You Might Hesitate):
- The Price: This is the biggest hurdle. The packages can cost several hundred dollars. When you see the price, it's easy to think, “My phone takes great pictures!”
- The “Cheesy” Factor: Some of the backdrops can be a bit dated or cheesy (like posing with a ship's life ring). You have to be okay with skipping those and focusing on the classic, elegant shots.
- It Doesn't Cover Everything: The package doesn't include your candid shots on the beach, during your excursion, or laughing at the pool. You will (and should) still be taking hundreds of your own photos.
THE VERDICT: For a Milestone Trip, It Is 100% Worth It.
As a Group Cruise Specialist, here is my final verdict:
If this is a milestone multi-generational trip (a 50th anniversary, a 70th birthday, a family reunion), a pre-purchased photo package is one of the best investments you can make.
The value is not in the quantity of photos. The value is in the one single, perfect, stress-free photo of your entire family, happy and together, that will hang on your wall and your parents' wall for the next 20 years. You are not buying 100 digital files; you are buying a priceless, professionally captured core memory.
How to Get the Best Value:
DO NOT wait to buy the package on the ship. The on-board price is always the highest. The best value comes from pre-purchasing the package online before you sail.
Better yet, as your Travel Advisor, this is a service I handle for my clients. I can add the photo package directly to your reservation, often at a promotional rate you can't find on your own, ensuring it's locked in and ready to go the moment you step on board.
While a photo package is a gift for your whole group, what about a “bon voyage” present for someone in another cabin? Learn how to gift On-Board Cruise Credit in our simple guide.
Are cruise photo packages worth it?
Don't let your milestone vacation end with the regret of, “We never got one good picture of all of us.” For a “Family C.E.O.,” the high cost of a cruise photo package is a small price to pay for the priceless, guaranteed, and stress-free photo of your entire family that you will cherish for decades.
A photo package is one of the best gifts you can give your family. For a complete list of other amazing gift ideas to build excitement and ensure a smooth voyage, be sure to read our Ultimate ‘Family C.E.O.'s' Guide to Multi-Generational Cruise Gifts.
