Group Bookings

[tarababy18]

hi everyone! i was trying to find the information on carnivals website and couldn't so i'm asking all of you. ;) does anyone know how many people you have to book in order to get a group rate on the booking? are there other advantages to booking a group in addition to the group rate? (is there that big of a difference?)

 

thanks :)

[Mary&Jim]

Hi,

 

I booked a family & friends group cruise on the Glory for November 12th -19th. For every eight cabins booked, with two passengers per cabin, you receive a free berth. You still must pay gov't tax and port charges, but it's a pretty good deal. We also got great rates (under $400pp). In addition to the perks: $100 shipboard credit and $50 casino chips per cabin. We have 18 cabins with 35 people booked. Oh, they threw in an upgrade for my dh & myself because I planned the trip!

 

Good luck.

 

Mary

[tarababy18]

so a group booking is 8 cabins or more? what's a free berth?

[amenuensis]

so a group booking is 8 cabins or more? what's a free berth?

 

Free berth, meaning if you have 8 double occupancy staterooms booked, you get the equivalent of one person's fare (i.e., half the cost of one doublebooked stateroom). They have to be double occupancy, no singles.

 

My experience was with HAL but my TA said -- because I had 8 staterooms in different price categories -- that they would calculate the total sum paid, divide that by the number of passengers in the group, and that is the $ amount I would be credited.

[tarababy18]

Free berth, meaning if you have 8 double occupancy staterooms booked, you get the equivalent of one person's fare (i.e., half the cost of one doublebooked stateroom). They have to be double occupancy, no singles.

 

My experience was with HAL but my TA said -- because I had 8 staterooms in different price categories -- that they would calculate the total sum paid, divide that by the number of passengers in the group, and that is the $ amount I would be credited.

 

this is good to know, however, i'm not sure if i'm going to be able to find 14 other friend (my bf and i make 2) that can afford to cruise.

 

we were thinking about cruises that leave from ny to avoid having to fly ($$) but it looks as tho it's going to be the same price either way from ny or a different place with air. any suggestions on cheaper crusies or any ideas on a way to convince people that it's worth it?

[Randy & Carmen]

any suggestions on cheaper crusies or any ideas on a way to convince people that it's worth it?

 

Yes.....come join one of our fun CC groups.....I remember a post you had the other day which speaks volumes about you and we'd love to have you and BF join us!;)

[cali-croozer]

so a group booking is 8 cabins or more? what's a free berth?

 

We booked a group cruise and were able to get discounted fare, shipboard credit, photo coupons, champagne and chocolates even though we ended up with only 6 cabins. IF we had been able to get 8 cabins, we would have received the free berth (one person's fare, based on the lowest category booked in the group). But, we didn't have to get 8 cabins to keep the other group perks. Talk to a local TA who specializes in cruises and they should be able to get some information for you.

[SNB]

Is the berth divided amongst everyone in the group to make their fare cheaper or is it credited to the TA or group leader? I have done a group cruise before and the only thing we received was a shipboard credit for about $60. This may have been the berth divided amongst all persons in the group. I am also doing another group cruise in November and have not been told about anyone receiving any perks, i.e. casino coupons, photo coupons or shipboard credits. Is this something that carnival always does for groups? Should I ask my TA about it?

[tarababy18]

Yes.....come join one of our fun CC groups.....I remember a post you had the other day which speaks volumes about you and we'd love to have you and BF join us!;)

 

thank you very much :) are there any cc group cruises after may 22nd? i am in school then... i'm also not sure when my break from school is (probably in april). thanks again :D

[Snowball]

thank you very much :) are there any cc group cruises after may 22nd? i am in school then... i'm also not sure when my break from school is (probably in april). thanks again :D

If you want to sail the Destiny again (like I am because of the great itinerary ;)), we have a group that is sailing the Destiny on 6/18/06. We have very competitive pricing and amenities for our group - just click on the links in my signature for all the nitty gritty details.

[tarababy18]

If you want to sail the Destiny again (like I am because of the great itinerary ;)), we have a group that is sailing the Destiny on 6/18/06. We have very competitive pricing and amenities for our group - just click on the links in my signature for all the nitty gritty details.

 

thanks for the info/offer.. i'll have to look at the info a little later tho... and i have to ask my bf what he wants to do :)

[cruiseco]

Is the berth divided amongst everyone in the group to make their fare cheaper or is it credited to the TA or group leader? I have done a group cruise before and the only thing we received was a shipboard credit for about $60. This may have been the berth divided amongst all persons in the group. I am also doing another group cruise in November and have not been told about anyone receiving any perks, i.e. casino coupons, photo coupons or shipboard credits. Is this something that carnival always does for groups? Should I ask my TA about it?

 

Every group is different and the amount and value of the extra perks and even the number of passengers needed to get the free TC berth depends on how badly the cruise line needs to fill a particular ship/sailing. The more they need to promote a particular sailing the better the perks will be. And if you're booking on a sailing that will sell out at a good price anyway there's no incentive for the cruise line to give away the house. For your November sailing those extras may not be being offered. Or your TA is being quiet about then so he/she can surprise you. Or maybe when the group was set up the TA had the option of getting extra perks for you or a bonus commission. It will all be spelled out in the group contract which you may or may not be able to see.

 

I always recommend that a group organizer try to negotiate with the TA to have access to the actual contract (or at least the part deailing with perks and TC's -- the commission set-up is none of your business) so you can see if there's any hanky-panky going on. Maybe instead of the 1 for 16 TC program you assume you have it's really 1 for 10 and you don't know it. If you end up with 35 group members you've earned 3 TC berths but you may only be getting 2 with the TA keeping the 3rd.

[Randy & Carmen]

thank you very much :) are there any cc group cruises after may 22nd? i am in school then... i'm also not sure when my break from school is (probably in april). thanks again :D

 

Well...we have an awesome 8 day Eastern on April 1st ....If your break works out the first week.....come join us!:D

[Randy & Carmen]

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