Cruising with 50 people - suggestions?

[gatorphin]

I'm cruising with over 50 of our friends at the end of this month! Ages range from 7 - 50+. Anyone out there done this before and do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks!:)

[sailingwithfriends]

Have you selected a ship and itinerary?

[Carol1560]

Lots of alcohol LOL

[snc_cam]

send them on a different cruise... then you can enjoy it... :)

 

hope you have a good time

[Teris50]

I escorted 24 people on a 10 day Alaska cruise a few years ago! We had fun and all the cabins were in the same area. I had a balcony and it was the first cabin when they entered off the Lido deck, and I kept the door propped open most of the time I was in there. I had wine and champagne when we sailed away, I brought cards and dice to play games, and would walk around the buffet at breakfast to makes sure everyone was having a good time.

We all did different excursions, and then the last night we all had dinner at the sterling steal house.

 

Hope this helps

[Athankfulheart]

I have hosted a large group. My biggest suggestions are 1) have everyone book and handle their own finances. 2) Link for dinner and make that the only time that you see the group. Beyond that people can book excursions together if they want to, but the "obligation" is dinner each night. Its a really nice balance.

[riffatsea]

Hi,

My first thought was "stay home".

Seriously though you cannot begin to expect that 50 people will want to do the same things so I agree that they should make their own financial arrangements and arrangements for activities. Even having dinner with 50 people sounds like too big of a group!

IF you are the organizer then I'd get a Travel Agent to help you out or have a committee plan a few group activities that folks can join or not.

 

[gatorphin]

Yes, I organized the cruise. All guests handled their own cruise bookings. I was only in charge of setting up the group # and talking to Carnival about the perks. As for diner: Does anyone know how big the biggest table is that Carnival has in the dining room? 8 or 10 top? Booked on Paradise leaving out of Tampa at the end of next month. Thanks.

[forwardcabin]

You do know that those booked in the free cabin do not get the days counted in their VIFP account.

[Badfinger]

One word...don't.

 

Talk about a logistical nightmare..even going to the Lido. No thanks.

[SadieN]

Yes, I organized the cruise. All guests handled their own cruise bookings. I was only in charge of setting up the group # and talking to Carnival about the perks. As for diner: Does anyone know how big the biggest table is that Carnival has in the dining room? 8 or 10 top? Booked on Paradise leaving out of Tampa at the end of next month. Thanks.

 

Largest table we had on the Paradise was a round top 14, directly behind the hostess podium.

It was horrible, couldn't talk without yelling so everyone could hear.

[Travlin Again]

Any suggestions? 50 people on a Carnival cruise? :cool: Valium...bring plenty of valium!! :p

[SadieN]

I have hosted a large group. My biggest suggestions are 1) have everyone book and handle their own finances. 2) Link for dinner and make that the only time that you see the group. Beyond that people can book excursions together if they want to, but the "obligation" is dinner each night. Its a really nice balance.

 

I agree. A good motto is DON"T HERD CATS!

 

I'm 'in charge' of two groups. One group is doing it for the first time. The second group is doing it's 8th annual next year.

 

One group we are only meeting for dinner every night.

The other group we meet for dinner, a pic on formal night and we do an ice cream social. We bring on our own ice cream toppings.

[Lil_One]

We had a group of 60 people with us on our wedding cruise on the Victory in April.

 

We had everyone linked for assigned dining. They had us at several 8 and 10 top tables grouped together in the back of the aft dining room. It was great to let everyone plan what they wanted during the day and get together at dinner to catch up and make plans for the next day.

 

One thing that everyone thanked me for doing was handing out a cabin listing. We were spread out all over the ship, so I made everyone a list with names and cabin numbers for the group so they could contact each other during the cruise.

 

If I think of anything else, i'll let you know.

[Bookbug53]

I'm cruising with over 50 of our friends at the end of this month! Ages range from 7 - 50+. Anyone out there done this before and do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks!:)

 

Make sure everyone goes with the expectation that THEY are responsible for their own fun. ;)

 

Yes, eat together as much as possible just to compare your days.

Don't expect people to always do what you want.

Keep port activities simple. Let people do their own thing or just all head to a beach.

If you want a group activity for the cruise try a scavenger hunt. You can find a lot of ideas

by doing a search on this forum. Pass out the list at the beginning of the cruise and have

a last day meeting to award a prize. Kids like this.

Once you are on board use the Fun Times to plan a few get togethers.

 

If you could give us the ship and itinerary we might come up with something more specific. :)

[LuckyZ]

My DW is the group coordinator in the family and has organized groups between 26 and 100 people every 2 years since 2001 (family and friends).

Here are some suggestions to consider:

1. Group T shirts so you can spot each other (esp on 1st day). We usually get $10 shirts with a logo that people can also keep as a momento

2. We always were able to get tables near each other at dinner (Travel agent can coordinate this directly with Carnival)

3. Negotiate the group cruise rate up front, but set it up that everyone take care of booking their own cruise with the TA

4. Set up a private group cocktail party during your cruise through your TA (always fun)

5. Don't try to micro manage the group when you're on the ship. Let people have their space during the day

6. As for when you're in port, it may be difficult organizing excursions for a group of 50. The only time we were able to book excursions was when we had 26 people. What you might do is book 2 excursions and let people decide which one they want to do.

7. When on board, set up a group photo (maybe during one of the formal dinner nights)

8. Try not to stress about people during the cruise. They can usually figure out how to solve their own issues (don't put yourself in the position of having to deal with everyone's little problems). Enjoy yourself

Edited June 25, 2014 by LuckyZ

[cruisnpat]

Make sure everyone goes with the expectation that THEY are responsible for their own fun. ;)

 

Yes, eat together as much as possible just to compare your days.

Don't expect people to always do what you want.

Keep port activities simple. Let people do their own thing or just all head to a beach.

If you want a group activity for the cruise try a scavenger hunt. You can find a lot of ideas

by doing a search on this forum. Pass out the list at the beginning of the cruise and have

a last day meeting to award a prize. Kids like this.

Once you are on board use the Fun Times to plan a few get togethers.

 

If you could give us the ship and itinerary we might come up with something more specific. :)

 

 

 

They are on the Paradise end of next month.

[ConshyCrock]

Call me crazy but as someone who has never cruised in a group larger than 4, the idea of going with a large group like that sounds very cool.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Sea Viewer]

I was part of a group of 48 who cruised together (ages 9 months to 94 years). it was a great cruise, we left things during the day flexible and all agreed to meet at dinner. We had late seating and several tables next to each other. We did switch tables as we felt like but the servers were really cool about who sat where each evening.

I have many great memories of that cruise, my number one tip is get the ship's photographer to take group photo!!

 

Mary

[skittl1321]

Arrange one thing to do together.

The rest of the time let everyone be in their own. Groups with similar interest will run into each other and change over time.

 

You're all on the same ship, so you'll run into each other.

[Mary Ellen1]

I've never had a group as large as yours, but have "herded the cats" a few times for groups of about 10-20.

 

Is everybody active on social media? You could set up a Facebook group page to share pre-cruise information, ask questions, plan excursions, etc. That's what I've done. (Hint: make the group a "Secret Group," so it doesn't show up on the members' FB news feeds. This way your group members can keep their cruise discussions private from all of their other FB contacts.)

 

I love the t-shirt idea! And the scavenger hunt. Have a BLAST on your cruise! :D

[OCruisers]

I'm cruising with over 50 of our friends at the end of this month! Ages range from 7 - 50+. Anyone out there done this before and do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks!:)

 

As long as you aren't the one in charge, you can do what you please and not feel obligated to do everything as part of the group. :)

LuLu

[Boozebabe]

You could have your own informal meet & greet. Some of the bars or night clubs or even the casino are empty on boarding day. That way you could all get a list of rooms.

 

The casino might even set up a slot tournament for your group if there is enough interest. I would suggest not trying to get the whole group to do much together. Its just too many people. But DO get that group picture taken. A photographer will take it anywhere you want it. Dinner every night together sounds like the most structure you'll be able to get away with.

 

Lastly...DO NOT worry about how others are doing. You'll ruin your cruise if you do too much.

[cathyoo]

Some fun things I have done or experienced when cruising with a large group

 

Slot pull

decided an amount of money for each person (I particpated in from $5-20)

Pick a machine

have everyone put their money

cover up the credit amount

Depending on the money and machine decide how many spins each person gets

After the last person spins split what is left.

Most I've ever gotten back was $34 for $20 and the least was $6.90 on $15

 

Crazy hat party. Tell everyone there will be a hat parade. On the night of the Lido party have everyone wear their hats. Have some funny categories (the largest, the most likely to worn by a politican (****) depending on your crowd, the ugliest, the fanciest, etc)

Ask some fellow passengers to be the judge (people always love this)

Give out some silly prized (whistles, blue ribbons, a box of cookies, etc) We always buy the grand winner a drink.

 

Glowing home party- last night the entire group meets in a club with glowing necklaces, bracelets etc. Vote for the best glower. Give them a crown or some light up prop.

 

Pick a dress up night (not formal) where everyone dresses to a theme. The fifites, Pirates and wenches, cowboys and cowgirls, senors and senoritas. Something to represent their home port, etc

 

Tee shirts are really a great idea as they become excellent souveniers.

 

have fun

[luddite]

Largest table we had on the Paradise was a round top 14, directly behind the hostess podium.

It was horrible, couldn't talk without yelling so everyone could hear.

 

A table for more than eight means people cannot all converse at dinner.