Don't I get anything for getting 12 bookings?

[smokenmadelia]

I organized a group which is sailing in Dec. Ended up with 12 cabins with over 30 people and still growing. Now we didn't all book at the same time but every one booked by calling my PVP and telling her they were part of my group. This is the second time in three years that I have put together a group cruise and have received nothing but a thanks from my PVP. Is it to much to hope for a fruit basket or something in appreciation of that much business? Is it that I'm doing it wrong I hear of people getting free rooms for booking groups? Maybe I need a new PVP.

[love my grandkids]

I organized a group which is sailing in Dec. Ended up with 12 cabins with over 30 people and still growing. Now we didn't all book at the same time but every one booked by calling my PVP and telling her they were part of my group. This is the second time in three years that I have put together a group cruise and have received nothing but a thanks from my PVP. Is it to much to hope for a fruit basket or something in appreciation of that much business? Is it that I'm doing it wrong I hear of people getting free rooms for booking groups? Maybe I need a new PVP.

 

I thought you get a free cabin with 8 booked. Have you asked her?

[bucks724]

That's our experience too. We do a cruise every other year and the organizer is a family club officer. The money from the free cabins goes to fund our family reunion in the summer. I would call and ask. I believe, as PP said, it's a free cabin for every 8. But there is something about the category of cabins booked too. I know they usually try to get 8 balcony, 8 oceanview, 8 inside, etc., because it is based on that too.

[Vitamin_Sea]

I would have asked the PVP before i booked the 12 cabins

Make em come up with something.

Call the PVP and ask

[smokenmadelia]

I'm going to call her today. You guys are right if I don't ask for it they will not offer it. Like everything else in this world. I'll let you guys know how I make out thanks.

[Vitamin_Sea]

I'm going to call her today. You guys are right if I don't ask for it they will not offer it. Like everything else in this world. I'll let you guys know how I make out thanks.

 

the squeaky wheel always gets the oil :p

[lifeisgoodPat]

Come on back and let us know what the PVP says!

[rolaur]

To get the group benefit, my understanding is that you need to set your group up with a group booking agent. Your PVP can put you in touch with someone there but things may change if you move the booking.

[winddawn]

I organized a group which is sailing in Dec. Ended up with 12 cabins with over 30 people and still growing. Now we didn't all book at the same time but every one booked by calling my PVP and telling her they were part of my group. This is the second time in three years that I have put together a group cruise and have received nothing but a thanks from my PVP. Is it to much to hope for a fruit basket or something in appreciation of that much business? Is it that I'm doing it wrong I hear of people getting free rooms for booking groups? Maybe I need a new PVP.

You would have needed to make arrangements with Carnival's group bookings department in advance (minimum 70 days) to qualify for the group booking benefits. Your PVP likely wouldn't tell you that because he/she probably wouldn't get credit for the bookings because they are handled by Carnival's group bookings department.

 

http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/travel_group.aspx

 

http://www.carnival.com/request-forms/grouprequest.aspx

[katiel53]

You would have needed to book a group booking through the group agent. Having a thousand people call your PVP to book INDIVIDUAL cruises, even though they are all on the same sailing, doesn't mean anything.

 

Most group booking have amenities such as a free berth for a certain number of cabins, OBC, etc. This all needs to be setup BEFORE you start the bookings. Many of us have had people join us for our cruises and have gotten nothing because we didn't set them up as a group booking.

 

The policy is basically the same as a hotel. If you book a hotel for a wedding, as an example, most times the bride will set up a group rate for the hotel. Anyone staying there for the wedding needs to tell the hotel they are part of xyz group and they will get special rates. If you just call the hotel and book for that night, you pay the going rate.

 

I'm sorry you didn't know to ask your PVP about a group booking before you started having people making arrangements. I don't know if now things can be changed as my guess, and it's only a guess, that rates have changed since you started the bookings. It won't hurt to ask, but don't be disappointed if it's too late to change. At least you will know for your next cruise. Good luck.

[Tapi]

As someone said before, you needed to set this up in advance through the groups department. That way they can set up your amenity points that you can use towards a list of things, including OBC, a party, etc. And someone mentioned that you get a free cabin per 8 bookings. It's my understanding that it's one free passenger, not cabin.

 

You may be a bit late now to change to a group status, even though you have enough cabins to qualify. Also having the groups department take over may have an impact on your PVP's compensation for all these cabins, not that it should be any of your business, but it's also something to think about.

[Frank12]

Should have done a little research prior to booking.

[love my grandkids]

Good to know thanks.

[pmoniz]

As others have mentioned - you have to set it up at the beginning as a group booking! Through the Group booking department - not just any PVP. I have done many group cruises and this is how it's always been done! Maybe next time!

[bakersdozen12]

Try calling up the group booking number and see if you can set up the group booking now, and then add the cabins to the group booking once it is set up. They might let you do that if you explain that you simply didn't know to do it first. I find that it you are overly nice to customer service reps, they are very nice to you. Probably because most people are not. Anyway, good luck! Let us know if you are successful!

[bakersdozen12]

And PS-I just wanted to add that they can add group numbers to cabins already booked. My TA had to do that for me when I booked a cabin with her for a group cruise. I ended up wanting to change from her group rate to Early Saver (because it was cheaper), so she canceled my booking, rebooked under Early Saver, and they had her group booking number added to my new booking.

[winddawn]

I will add to this that bookings made under the group booking umbrella can also be made using targeted special rates that you or any of the people in the group qualify for. In the past I booked with a group and was able to get the casino rate I qualified for on that sailing. Sometimes those special rates are lower than the group booking rate.