Family Reunion Cruise Questions

[DG2007]

I'm trying to plan a family reunion cruise for next year sometime and have a few questions. We're thinking about a 5 or 7 day Caribbean cruise.

 

Would I benefit more from going through a TA or directly through the cruise line? This is my biggest question right now - I'm stalled in planning because I don't know which route to take!!!!

 

We're thinking RC or Carnival - which one has the best programs for kids? I will have two toddlers by the time we cruise (one will be about 2.5 and the other about 15+ months).

 

Summer rates are the most expensive correct? What time of year has the cheapest rates? I want this cruise to affordable for the most family members possible and I assume scheduling it for summer will be too pricey.

 

Thanks!!!!

[CruiserBruce]

Very few cruise lines in Caribbean during summer, but one happens to be RCCL, so you are OK. Don't know about summer rates, but usually cheapest Caribbean time is Nov 1 to about Dec 20, excluding the Thanksgiving week.

 

I would use a TA.

[sail7seas]

Smmer rates in the Caribbean are not the highest. The highest cruise fares are Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Years and Spring Break/Easter.

 

I strongly adivse you work with a cruise oriented TA. His/her help will be invaluable to you. Ask your friends or co-workers or folks you know who they use and try to get some recommendations.

 

Have fun planning. :)

[sail7seas]

Summer rates in the Caribbean are not the highest. The highest cruise fares are Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Years and Spring Break/Easter.

 

I strongly adivse you work with a cruise oriented TA. His/her help will be invaluable to you. Ask your friends or co-workers or folks you know who they use and try to get some recommendations.

 

Have fun planning. :)

[eh2zed]

I suggest a TA as well. Let them do the leg work.

[firefly333]

Carnival does not support groups very well if at all. The only person who benefits is the group leader, but the rest usually have to pay higher rates if they want the perks for groups. Yes, you can book ES .. but then have to pay to buy up to the perks.

 

Some TAs will throw in extra perks or OBC .. but they would also if you booked on your own instead of as a group.

 

If it was me, Id use my own PVP because I know she would handle everything perfectly. A bad TA can cause problems more than they fix. Some want a TA who will remind everyone when payment is due.

 

You usually need 8 cabins booked to get a free berth, which is the cruisefare, minus the NCF (usually most of it is port fees hidden in the cruisefare), so its not as much as people think they will get for setting up a group.

 

Heading up a group can be great or you can wind up in the middle of problems. Sometimes its better to let people book on their own. How big is this group going to be? Good place to start.

 

Iv had some of my best fares during Thanksgiving and Easter which to me are stay at home times .. for sure not the most expensive .. though I do agree summer and xmas/new year is the most expensive.

 

sept and january are often the cheapest for my cruise rates.

[DG2007]

Ok, good to know that Christmas, Spring Break, and Thanksgiving are higher! I'll try to stay away from those dates.

 

So far we have about 8 families interested, maybe a few more but they are still maybes.

 

What is a PVP? I'm still really new to the lingo around here! :)

 

My aunt has taken several cruises with RC so I'll ask her how she books, if she has a TA or not. I'm not sure.

 

Thanks everyone!

[cb at sea]

PVP= personal vacation planner....a cruiseline rep.

 

Definitely use a TA....you don't want to be responsible for everyone else...someone is sure to be unhappy with something, and you don't want or need the blame. Pick the date and ship, and let everyone deal with a TA....that way, you're out of it!

[MCC retired]

This OP needs a TA for sure.

A PCP is concerned with his/her cruise line only . A good TA will be able to

qualify your group towards the ideal cruise line & ship .

Setting up your group and rate , collecting $$ , handling questions , is their job (and a good TA costs you $0) .

Remember , everyone thinks a Family Reunion Cruise is a great idea , until it comes time to pay up .

 

Finding that good TA may require asking friends/relatives and coworkers for recommendations.

Be sure to interview your TA before you ever deposit. His/her experience & certifications . If they charge fees for booking ,cancelations, changes , ect., move on .

[janetz]

You will find good rates in the first couple of weeks in December too. I agree with Firefly that having people book their own cabins once you decide on a date and ship. It can become a real hassle to try and make everyone happy. Find a good cruise TA and let them guide you. :)

[cherylandtk]

One more that says use a TA.

 

More suggestions:

-If the families will be buying one cabin each, and putting three or four in each cabin, be sure to book as early as possible so the kid capacity is not reached before everyone books.

-Make sure everyone understand the payment in full date, and the cancellation policy.

-Kid programs have different minimum ages depending on cruiseline. I think Carnival is 24 months, Carnival allows babies into the kids area if you stay with them. RCI is 36 months although RCI does have special babies and tots programs, you must stay with them in the program.

[firefly333]

Iv had at least 6 TAs, and my PVP beats them all to heck. It is true she only books for Carnival. I tell her all the time I wish she could book RCL as well.

 

I still disagree that Easter and Thanksgiving are more expensive, but probably people will want to be home with families.

 

Maybe start getting a consensus from people which cruiseline they think they would prefer? Find a starting point. I dont trust most TAs, not to sell me on what they prefer, not which is the best deal for me.

[FINTUCKYFARMS]

We went on a family cruise sept 2009 to the caribbean. There were 21 of us on the FOS and we definitely used a TA with so many different needs and wants that each family requested. Some needed special accommodations for handicaps and medical issues. Some had beer budgets and some had champagne budgets. We ranged in age from teens to seventies.

[fleckle]

I agree with those who say to use a PVP or TA, some person other than yourself who handles all the arrangements. Talk to the person you pick in advance to find out how they handle groups and if they are agreeable with the way you want things done. Find out what days and hours they are available and who takes care of their customers when they are not there.

 

(The idea is to avoid getting locked into the type of situation where a problem may come up on a Friday night and you can't get hold of anyone who can do anything about it until Monday.)

 

If you book directly through the cruise line, you may be transferred to their special department for groups, depending on the size of your family reunion.

 

Find out in advance just what they will do and won't do for your group and what benefits you get by booking with them so that there are no surprises.

 

If you use a TA, find out if they charge a fee for changes, price drops or cancellations.

 

Then give everyone in your group that person's name and phone number and tell them that they need to contact that person directly for everything about the cruise, all payments, questions, and requests.

 

Otherwise, your beloved family members can drive you crazy by bugging you personally the entire time with all their questions, complaints and excuses pertaining to every slightest little detail.

[SadieN]

I've found the weeks before and after Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years are the cheapest. They are pricey over the holidays.

 

Traveling with kids I've always used the laundry at least once per trip.. Carnival has self serve laundry rooms with irons. Good if the kids are still need a particualr brand of detergent.

RCI does not have self-serve laundry rooms.

 

Carnival allows children at 2 in diapers in the kids club.

 

Check out the Family board for info on cruising with small kids.

 

***

Get a TA to field questions from your relatives. If you are forming an official group you will get 'points' for gimmes. The off peak times might have more points available than other times. Also a free 'berth' for so many berths sold.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I would definite go find a cruise specialist who deals with booking groups. First survey your group to find out what dates are okay (if some have school aged kids, they might want to go only when school is out. Find out what everyone's total budget is (besides cruise, the flights and pre-cruise hotel). Then go see the TA and see what they could come up with. Then give each family the TA's email and other contact info, and the info about the cruise. Each family needs to be responsible for contacting the TA (and that way you're not going crazy trying to remind everyone to pay, etc.).

[Nebr.cruiser]

I'd use a TA; it's trying to find the one that goes the extra mile that is hard.

 

Cheapest times to cruise are when most kids are in school, such as Sept-Nov., which is also hurricane season, (but ships do a good job, normally, of avoiding hurricanes) another reason it's cheaper. Also early December, before Christmas break, and January, after most kids are back in school.

 

Carnival and RCI are both kid friendly, but if it is important to you, Carnival will take 2 year olds in the kids club, even if they are not potty-trained. Both lines have a variety of things for all ages to do.

 

Don't put yourself in the position of having to do all the planning and especially of being on the hot spot if (when) things go wrong. I've planned a couple of family cruises and it is a lot of work! And we only had 9 and 13 people on them.

[Colorado Kat]

Plan on everyone having dinner together, but don't try to organize activities all day. It's tough to make everyone happy when there is a large age range. If you like, research excursions possibilities (Ports of Call board), but only book your immediate family. Let others know of choices, but have them make their own decisions.

[Mama24]

We're cruising with RCL in December -- a family reunion (sort of) cruise. Two members of the family researched the options, and decided on the cruise line and the sailing date. All other family members were given the name and phone number of the TA and we all made our own arrangements. So far it's worked very well. My only complaint is they chose a 5 night cruise instead of a 7 night one. I love cruising and I want to be on that ship as long as possible!

[fleckle]

.... My only complaint is they chose a 5 night cruise instead of a 7 night one. I love cruising and I want to be on that ship as long as possible!

An easy solution is to build yourself a back-to-back by tacking on another cruise either before or after that one.

 

We love to do that, sometimes on the same ship and other times by transferring to a different ship, depending on the itineraries.

 

It is easiest of all to do that in the Miami - Ft. Lauderdale area where there are so many cruises from which to choose.

[DG2007]

Thanks everyone! I've already told everyone it will be a very laid back, no scheduling cruise (except for maybe dinner each night). My plan is to set up everything with a TA (or through the cruise line but I'm thinking TA now) and give everyone the contact info like you all suggested. I definitely don't want to babysit my family members.

 

You guys are awesome. Thanks!

[griffy116]

Our TA is a cruise specialist. While anyone can call and get arrangements for the same cruise through RCI direct, a group creates it's own unique problems. Our TA handled everyone's cabin selection, which varied depending on the number per cabin, everyone's credit card information, advised them on travel insurance, and sent everyone their information to their address...free of charge. Since you'll probably have elderly as well as children, a cruise specialist can advise about Travel Insurance for the elderly, since Medicare doesn't pay if you're out of the country. He/She can advise the family members about the requirements regarding birth certificate, passport; advise about transfers, etc. All without getting you in the middle of things and the travel agent will have the ability to explain it without making it confrontational if they disagree with something. If you have school children or teachers, keep in mind that while cruising will have to be when they aren't in school, etc. If you value your relationship with your family, get a travel agent to handle all arrangements.