Kyoceans

Road scholars, quilters, knitters, inspiration, lifeway, amway, jazzdagen, etc. Just the "usual" groups that are listed on charters and groups threads. Quest to figure out what groups comprise the "3 groups booked" on our pending cruise was so we could get an idea of the numbers involved. 30 group members quite different "share the ship" experience versus 500 group members...

dfish, please share your experience asking your PCC for information regarding groups on your cruise. I have been unable to get any info from my PCC or ships services regarding groups booked on our upcoming cruise other than ships services telling me it is "pretty full with 3 groups booked." I started another thread about this a while back. Not intending to rehash here, just curious if others are able to get good info from HAL. Thanks!

OP here. Thank you all for your input and information. Just to update you - the other folks we are travelling with can't change travel dates due to school and work obligations so we are sticking with the May 31st sailing. PCC was able to "confirm" early dining for us all even though it is still not offered as an option online or though ships services. I don't know if this is due to our suite bookings, Mariner status, or just to keep me quiet. I spoke to ships services again today. They confirmed there are currently 3 groups booked on this cruise. As usual, no information will be provided as to size and composition of the groups or if they will have exclusive use of public spaces. They "can't discriminate against groups" to quote ships services. If the groups do turn out to be just the travel agency bookings as some of you have indicated, I look forward to meeting some of them and getting the agent's info so I can book some of his great deals in the future. I WILL enjoy my trip regardless. I'll be cruising and I'm sure at least one bar will be open to all! Cheers!

PCC would not (could not?) answer any questions about the group. Not who they are, not how many they are, if they will exclusively use areas of the ship other than dining room, and so on. PCC was quite cagey during our lengthy phone conversation about the topic. Only tried to convince me not to cancel our bookings, and that we should wait to see what happens at final payment date. That is not a good option for obvious reasons.

I have sailed with some groups that didn't disrupt the normal flow of the cruise for non members as much as others. Excluding other passengers from an entire dining is pretty disruptive. I am hoping if someone knows what particular group is booked on this cruise, we can better predict their impact. For example, medical seminars meeting in the theater versus a group that takes the whole crows nest during glacier bay...

We planned this cruise to celebrate parent's 50th anniversary. Currently have booked 8 people, aged from 8 to 80, in 3 staterooms, with plans to add more. It was difficult to coordinate schedules, etc. so I would hate to cancel and start over, but I am seriously considering it.

We are unable to confirm early dining on May 31st Zaandam Alaska sailing. Per PCC, this is due to space being held for a group, thus ship is not confirming anyone for early dining. It may or may not become available closer to cruise date.

I am less concerned about dining times than I am about cruising with a group large enough to hold an entire dining room. PCC will not tell me anything about the group. I searched for all the usual suspects in all the usual places and can't find any information about said group. I plan to call HAL group booking department and will post any info I get from them. Does anyone else have any info about this?