In case your family members have not got adjacent seats during automatic seat assignment then make a humble request to other travellers and try for seat exchange so that all of you can sit together.
Bus journey gets more comfortable in large groups because you spend your time in talking to your known ones. Hence if possible try to get people along with you during bus journey.
Take cell number of bus conductor. In case you miss the bus at any stop then it will help you to track him or catch the bus at next stop.