Jeff13

On 9/11/2019 at 5:22 PM, barbarapga said:

This is coming from a senior.....

in 2 years you may not want to travel with them.. In 2 years they might not want to travel with each other.. Watch your $$ let them do their own planning.

I understand what you are saying!  We have 3 other couples we hang around with a lot.  We travel as a group a lot camping already.  We are all stable life long married couples with at least 35 years of marriage each, yes to the same spouse.  ;-)  But ... I get what you are saying!

I have been trying to get the others to go on a cruise with us for like 4 years now.  They all said last year they were saving up for a 2021 cruise.  It is not 2 years out now.  It is only 15-16 months if we do January.  Although, our last discussion was more like April.  Either way, in my mind it is time to get serious and keep them thinking about it so they don't act surprised when I say put your money where your mouth is!

I have paid down for many camp sites and gotten tickets for events we go to as a group for many years.  They are all great about paying me back.  However, a couple thousand dollars is a different level.  That is why I would like to know all of my options and try to find one where they pay their own downpayment.  Yet, we need to book at the same time.  Getting rooms at least on the same floor and side would be best.  Next door would be perfect!

Now ... all of that said ... I have to admit ... there is one couple that has been known to back out after downpayments were made.  I want them to pay up front the most!  :-)

Maybe I can get cash from each couple and still use my card to book.

On 9/11/2019 at 5:07 PM, LeeW said:

If they would be going on the same cruise as you then you could book two rooms, one person from each couple in each room.  This would give you balcony discounts for both rooms.  Then switch people around either after final payment or onboard (one person in each cabin must stay on the booking).  Balcony discounts are not always worth much with other sales, though.

 

Prices will likely increase between now and January - onboard price then may be more than just booking now.  

That is pretty much what I wondered.  As a new cruiser, they can not be C&A members until they are booked already.  So, no balcony discount for them.  I also wonder if they are not members yet, then I wonder about the on board discount too.  Unless we put the rooms in our names.  Which, as is pointed out by others is a risk.  I get that.  Looking at better options so we don't get stuck with extra rooms!

I always wonder about price increases.  What we have seen over the past 7 years is that they do increase, but the discounts stay about the same.  We can almost always get the buy one get second person half off.  That has been around for the past year or more almost every time I look.

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Do not book the stateroom in your name, book the stateroom in the correct name.

That makes sense.  I assume we would still have to put the downpayment for them at the time of booking.  I guess I could trust them to pay me back.  ;-)

8 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

You can book for two additional couples.

 

http://www.royalonboardsales.com

I see a "book later" option.  Didn't know about that.  I like that idea.  We can go back and then talk about where they want to go.

Thanks for the link!

We have some friends who are thinking about going with us in 2021.  They would be new to RC.

We are going on another cruise in Jan.  We know they give us better deals, like cash on board, if we book during a cruise.  We usually book our next cruise while on board.

Can we book a cabin for another couple and then somehow transfer that to their name so they can start their own Crown and Anchor membership?

I figure we would have to pay the down payment.   Not sure how the rest would work, if at all.  Maybe we can not get any kind of discount if they are going to be the ones actually using the room?  I am not sure what the options would be.  Any ideas?

I am a get a pina colada and walk into the water neck deep while drinking it kind of person.  When it is gone, walk out and put the glass on a beach chair.  Then walk back out neck deep again.  Just relax and watch people for a while.  Lay back and float while staring at the sky letting the gentle waves move me around.  Head back to shore and get another pina colada.  Get back in the water and drink it.

I will do that for hours on end.  My kind of fun.

However, if there is something like the grass described in this thread touching my feet, I will freak out!

My wife will lay on a beach chair most if the day drinking frozen drinks.

Which beach has the least grass? 

How deep is the water?

Any recommendations for what I would find the most relaxing?

Of course a couple shrimp tacos would make it all better!