Charters and Groups

[trubey]

I've started a list of charters and groups that I found while Googling. If other people post here, we can get a fairly comprehensive list. BTW, there is no intent in this list to discriminate against any group.

 

IMHO, however, any group on your ship will affect you as individual cruiser.

 

I plan on looking for more and adding them later. If you find any typos that I've made, please include them in a post.

 

Susan.

 

 

07/02/05 Oosterdam Christian Singles

07/10/05 Amsterdam Templeton Tours

08/13/05 Oosterdam God of Israel

08/21/05 Amsterdam Living the New Life Ministries

09/03/05 Oosterdam RSVP

10/29/05 Oosterdam Olivia

11/27/05 Ryndam Leisure World

12/11/05 Westerdam Single Seniors

01/29/06 Westerdam Olivia

02/05/06 Westerdam CCN

02/26/06 Westerdam RSVP

03/04/06 Westerdam RSVP

04/12/06 Westerdam RSVP

[csg99]

Thanks, Trubey! this is a great idea!:D

[trubey]

I just got an e-mail about a typo. Susan.

 

Delete: 04/12/06 Westerdam RSVP

Make that: 3/12/06 Westerdam RSVP

[Odd Ball]

There are some Vulkons and Trekkies on the Zuiderdam. There is a Seatrek cruise taking place this week. I wonder if there are any Klingons?:eek:

 

I think their 2006 cruise might be on Carnival.

[Odd Ball]

Blues Cruise Jan 8-15,2006 Westerdam.

[DFD1]

Good idea, Susan, and a real service for those who come here for information and help.

[Oceanwench]

Good idea, Susan, and a real service for those who come here for information and help.

 

I agree! Thanks for starting this.

[Time2sail]

It would be nice to know which are charters and which are groups--the cruise afters ours on June 5 was a charter so it was not on HAL's website.

 

The cruises that might be a surprise would be those with groups (especially large groups).

[arzz]

It has been posted on the Roll Call that about 100 fans of oldies radio 95 in Kansas City will be on the Zuiderdam along with a pair of DJ's on June 25. Could be a lot of fun for those of us in the appropriate age group if the DJ's do some of the music on board......

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the information.

 

There have been times when we booked cruises and didn't know that there were going to be large groups on the ship.

For example - May 7 - we had 592 Watson Realty people on board the Zuiderdam - rarely ever saw them as they had their get togethers in areas that didn't affect the regular passengers.

But on May 14 we had the Spiritual Cinema group who on the first sea day had the Vista Lounge to themselves while they showed movies and on the last sea day they had the Vista Lounge all afternoon. This meant that all the port and shopping and shore excursions talks had to be held in the Queen's Lounge with along with other activities and Bingo was held in the Crow's Nest.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I took down the list.

 

 

Hope tat if anyone else knows about and groups or charters, they will add to the list.

Looking over the list, those of who like to do back-to-back cruises would have a hard time in Feb and Mar on the Westerdam trying to avoid some of those groups.

 

 

Thanks again.

[peaches from georgia]

[quote name=Krazy Kruizers

Looking over the list, those of who like to do back-to-back cruises would have a hard time in Feb and Mar on the Westerdam trying to avoid some of those groups.[/quote]

 

 

Just another reason we like to book 10 or more day cruises rather than b2b 7 dayers. Most, if not all, large groups are going to be on a 7 day cruise for obvious reasons.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Agree with you peaches.

That is why we booked the Volendam this past winter for back-to-back cruises and the Ryndam for November - back-to-back cruises.

In looking over HAL's 2006 planner, we can't find any ship that will be doing 2 different 10 day cruises.

 

[Roz]

Susan,

 

I respectfully disagree with your statement that any group affects an individual cruiser. My first exposure to cruising was a group cruise with my walking club on the Statendam to Alaska. Most of us didn't know each other prior to the cruise (different chapters from all over the country), and didn't socialize with one another except for one complimentary get together and shoe raffle in the Crow's Nest.

 

In each port, we did a 10K walk that didn't interfere with the port's activities. In fact, our walks took us away from the touristy areas.

 

The reason that a lot of people go on a group cruise is, quite frankly, to take advantage of the group rate. I have to do a walk in all 50 states to get an award, and a group cruise to Alaska was the least expensive way to accomplish it. I'll probably do the same thing for Hawaii.

 

All groups are not created equal. We were less noticeable and less obnoxious than some of the rowdy family reunions onboard. ;)

 

A little while back, some posters on this board got their undergarments in a knot over HAL chartering some of their ships. Their contention was that groups don't result in any repeat business. After my group cruise, I was hooked on cruising. Same for my sister who I took on another group cruise. Ditto for my girlfriend who won a cruise as a sales award. The cruise lines know what they're doing. For a lot of us, a cruise wasn't our first choice of vacation, but once we were exposed to it, the rest was history. :)

 

Roz

[blackbird71]

I was going to start a new thread after the other thread got locked because it got too politicial but I then saw this one. :)

 

Just before it got locked, one poster, posted they were on a NCL cruise with 600 Spring Breakers... YIPES....

 

Now my question is: At what percentage of passengers on a cruise, Should/Shouldn't the cruiseline tell the TA about the group and the nature of the group..

 

Myself, I think anytime a group gets to be 20% of the total, TA should be informed. If I heard 25% of the cruise was a "walking club" then I could care less, but 25% are Spring Breakers,,, time for a new cruise date....

[ekerr19]

Great post Susan!

 

Here is what I found about the 7/2/05 Oosterdam cruise which is showing "waitlisted" for those wanting to join on their website:

 

Here is a glimpse of what to expect on this very special cruise:

• 2 Worship Concerts with Recording Artist, Babbie Mason

• Walk Thru the Bible Ministries Powerful Seminar, • Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships

• Private singles games, mixers, & get-togethers...FUN, FUN, FUN!

• Morning devotionals

• Praise and worship prior to each teaching

• Group walks on the deck overlooking 360 degrees of incredible scenery

• Welcome reception

• Optional group shore excursions

• Evening gatherings at the midnight buffet including the famous dessert extravaganza!

• Group photo in front of Six Mile Wide Hubbard Glacier

 

 

Looks like they are planning more than a few activities!!!

 

I am glad we have cancelled our 8/21/05 Amsterdam cruise, I had no idea is was going to be a part of a group cruise - It is our preferance to avoid cruising with any group if at all possible...

[trubey]

. . . TA should be informed . . .

 

We all agree on that. To debate the topic is not the intent of this thread.

 

HAL will not release this information, so instead of arguing about the group, let's just share any information we have, on one thread. That will make it easier for others when booking a cruise.

 

And if you post something here, it would be useful to mention the group size, if known, or whether the whole ship will be chartered.

[Bucky3]

This is information I would definitely like to know. We've been on 15+ cruises on several lines but only once on HA and have never found huge groups onboard and have never had a cruise canceled because it was chartered. Is this group charter business and big group problem more prone to be found on HA than on other cruise lines? Have we just lucked out? Spring break and holiday cruises don't concern me. We've been on both and never have had problems there, but the big groups and charters at other times of the year really concerns me particularly now as we plan for Alaska next year. I appreciate anyone posting information here. Thank you.

[Oceanwench]

This is information I would definitely like to know. We've been on 15+ cruises on several lines but only once on HA and have never found huge groups onboard and have never had a cruise canceled because it was chartered. Is this group charter business and big group problem more prone to be found on HA than on other cruise lines? Have we just lucked out? Spring break and holiday cruises don't concern me. We've been on both and never have had problems there, but the big groups and charters at other times of the year really concerns me particularly now as we plan for Alaska next year. I appreciate anyone posting information here. Thank you.

 

I know a large group of Parrotheads is booking a Carnival Cruise! I believe another group of PHs is booking a Windjammer. [Parrotheads = Jimmy Buffett fans]

So I don't think HAL is the only one with large groups booking cruises.

 

KK: I didn't find the spiritual film people to be in the way at all, but then again, I wouldn't be going to those shopping/port talks or bingo. So I guess it goes to show how some people are bothered by large groups and some aren't. It depends on what venues you frequent, as well as which venues they take over.

Now if they had taken over the casino ... :eek:

[uncialman]

In the next 6 months, I have 3 large groups that will be aboard HAL ships (one that will be in excess of 500 passengers) and several others that will be on differing cruiselines.

 

What must be stressed here is that every sailing, whether individual cruisers like it or not, will have at least a few good sized groups aboard at one time. In fact, this year HAL is really pushing agents to sell their group product more so than in years past to help sell empty ships (As are both RCI and Celebrity).

 

Whenever you go to a great hotel in Vegas, Miami, Orlando or where ever - you will find those hotels and resorts rolling out the red carpet for group and convention business. The cruise market is just trying to 'keep up' and sell the enormous amounts of cabins that they now possess. In fact, groups accounted for about 30% of the overall cabin sales of HAL in 2004 with this number only increasing in 2005.

[elmorejj]

Uncialman, will you post the ships and dates that you have large groups sailing please............jean :cool:

[peaches from georgia]

In the next 6 months, I have 3 large groups that will be aboard HAL ships (one that will be in excess of 500 passengers) and several others that will be on differing cruiselines.

Uncialman- Would you elaborate, please, as to what type of groups you have and on what HAL ships/dates they are cruising. I believe you were asked this previously. You are a regular poster here and you know this would be information of interest to many other posters. Some may even want to join one of your groups. ;) Thank you in advance.

[uncialman]

Uncialman- Would you elaborate, please, as to what type of groups you have and on what HAL ships/dates they are cruising. I believe you were asked this previously. You are a regular poster here and you know this would be information of interest to many other posters. Some may even want to join one of your groups. ;) Thank you in advance.

 

To all:

 

I fully understand your wanting to know what groups are sailing and when, but this would definetly give my identity away and I'm not prepared to do that for reasons that really can't be explained. Revneal and a few others know what the circumstances are and rest assured that I really wish I could say...

[peaches from georgia]

To all:

 

I fully understand your wanting to know what groups are sailing and when, but this would definetly give my identity away and I'm not prepared to do that for reasons that really can't be explained. Revneal and a few others know what the circumstances are and rest assured that I really wish I could say...

 

Well, uncialman, you previously did post your group name- I just found it quickly searching your posts, so it is there for anyone to read. How unfair for you to fill HAL ships with large groups, post here on the HAL board about your success in doing so, yet refuse to identify your affiliation knowing fellow posters might not find it so pleasant if your groups are on their cruise.

[lindacat]

For anyone who is interested the 6/30 Westerdam sailing has two groups on board. A Star Trek Group "CruiseTrek" and Geek Cruises. I have cruised many times with the Cruise Trek Group. I believe that there is some type of link with the two groups because we were offered the ability to attend some of their conferences, therefore I believe they were also offered the ability to attend some Cruise Trek events. This would be a different group than Sea Trek which someone referred to earlier.

 

Linda