Advice please - Impact of a large group booking on a ship?

[neverbeenhere]

We have been on with many large groups. Some are fine, others no so much.

 

Bad:

Political - Can't keep their opinions to themselves.

Firefighters - The most bad drunks we have ever seen.

Religious - They believe they need to convert everyone else on the ship. Not just Fishers of men, more like clubbers of heathens.

[Luvcrusn]

A number of years ago the company my husband worked for chartered a large part of two different Carnival ships for its top sales producers and their spouses. We were about half (or more) of the passenger total on those sailings. Although it was great for us, since we were a part of the large group, I felt sorry for those not part of the group. The crew did cater to us, there were many private parties that took over many of the public areas, and a large part of the dining rooms.(Those were the days before specialty dining venues made their appearance.) . The entertainers on board tailored their comedic skits to cater to our audience. Additionally, the pool area was sort of "taken over" by the group on sea days. We were advised by the captain that they had been instructed to give "extra special service" to persuade the company to return on subsequent trips. On the flip side, the usual Carnival clientele did benefit from the service and we benefited because the demographic was skewed from normal.

[emerald6273]

A few weeks ago we booked a West Caribbean cruise on Celebrity for March 2019. At that time virtually all cabins were available to book. This cruise, amongst others around the same date has now disappeared from Celebrity's and other TA web-sites. I have enquired if the ship had been chartered, and was told that it had not been, but on pushing a little further, I was told that the ship was now fully booked and that there had been a large group booking.

 

So that I can consider if I should change my booking to another Celebrity cruise at around that time, please could anyone kindly let me know if they have experienced any negative impact from being on a ship that has a very large group on-board (i.e. the ship being used for a large corporate conference event etc.).

 

Many thanks for any advice - greatly appreciated.

I'm also booked on a Western Carribean sailing in March 2019. Which ship & sailing date does this relate to? Last time this happened I got cancelled.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

[ghstudio]

I'm also booked on a Western Carribean sailing in March 2019. Which ship & sailing date does this relate to? Last time this happened I got cancelled.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

 

One way to find out is to search the web with your ship name and the date.....if there is a group, there's a good chance you'll get a hit on your search.

[Geoff&Louise]

I'm also booked on a Western Carribean sailing in March 2019. Which ship & sailing date does this relate to? Last time this happened I got cancelled.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

 

We have booked the 5 night Western Caribbean departing 25th March 2019 on the Infinity. The same cruise departing 16th March in on their web-site still, but our cruise and the next two after have disappeared. We suspect its a charter, but Celebrity are currently just advising it is fully booked with "a large booking". I suspect it will be cancelled at some point, but would rather know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements and see what other cruises are out there around the same date.

[emerald6273]

We have booked the 5 night Western Caribbean departing 25th March 2019 on the Infinity. The same cruise departing 16th March in on their web-site still, but our cruise and the next two after have disappeared. We suspect its a charter, but Celebrity are currently just advising it is fully booked with "a large booking". I suspect it will be cancelled at some point, but would rather know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements and see what other cruises are out there around the same date.

Yes it definitely sounds like it could be cancelled. This is not the cruise I booked.

 

I previously had a 7 night Summit cancelled from San Juan due to a jazz cruise. I actually learned about the cancellation on the Cruise Critic roll call and contracted Travel Agent who knew nothing about it.

 

Last year Royal Carribean also changed departure date and length of sailing of cruise departing Singapore I'd booked. Already had flights booked. Also learned about that on Cruise Critic. Contacted Royal Carribean customer service (based in Guatemala) who denied all knowledge of the date change for a whole week despite me pointing out the cruise being sold with a different sailing date on their website. $100 OBC compensation wasn't enough in light of the non refundable business class flights I'd booked from UK.

 

That's why I always watch roll calls. You always hear it first on Cruise Critic. Hope you find out what's happening soon.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

[Geoff&Louise]

Yes it definitely sounds like it could be cancelled. This is not the cruise I booked.

 

I previously had a 7 night Summit cancelled from San Juan due to a jazz cruise. I actually learned about the cancellation on the Cruise Critic roll call and contracted Travel Agent who knew nothing about it.

 

Last year Royal Carribean also changed departure date and length of sailing of cruise departing Singapore I'd booked. Already had flights booked. Also learned about that on Cruise Critic. Contacted Royal Carribean customer service (based in Guatemala) who denied all knowledge of the date change for a whole week despite me pointing out the cruise being sold with a different sailing date on their website. $100 OBC compensation wasn't enough in light of the non refundable business class flights I'd booked from UK.

 

That's why I always watch roll calls. You always hear it first on Cruise Critic. Hope you find out what's happening soon.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

 

Many thanks - will certainly keep an eye out on Cruise Critic.

[tbmrt]

We cruised with a group quite a few years ago and came across many upset passengers because at times certain restaurants and bars were used for our group only. That being said, there are many other things to do on a cruise so I wouldn't call that a dealbreaker.

 

I'd be more concerned about the type group who may be hanging out together at bars, etc. causing less seating and more noise than you may like.

[mermaidIamNOT]

Curious as our Equinox sailing Jan 20th supposedly has TWO groups (guessing not huge as we could book as not being a part of them) "Cruise of Irish Stars" and a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Tribute band group sites are showing embarkation at Port Everglades but the ship is actually going from Miami. Recently looked up both groups and Tribute band sites are now blank, so I'm wondering did it get cancelled or is it sold out. Called Celebrity and all the rep said is "yes we have groups booked" won't confirm what they are. Heck for all I know something else is booked too. Called the TA for the Irish group an they confirmed it's under half the ship but wouldn't give an exact number.

Edited October 30, 2017 by mermaidIamNOT

[teltrainer]

We prefer to avoid large groups and some more than others. This website has been great for checking which groups are on cruises. Not all may appear but larger ones for sure.

 

http://themecruisefinder.com/

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[hcat]

We cruised with a group quite a few years ago and came across many upset passengers because at times certain restaurants and bars were used for our group only. That being said, there are many other things to do on a cruise so I wouldn't call that a dealbreaker.

 

I'd be more concerned about the type group who may be hanging out together at bars, etc. causing less seating and more noise than you may like.

 

We had a fairly large size group from an electrical manufacturing company onboard Century one time They were treated to the cruise by their employer..

 

The group basically took over wherever they went..one large herd. A subgroup of them were dressed very scruffy ( tee shirts ) for every event, were very loud & spent every minute they were on board buying alcohol..causing disruptions everywhere.

 

Final straw was dropping glass beer bottles into the main pool..requiring it to be closed and drained. It was a nightmare that Security could not or would not control!

[hcat]

We also were on S class with a religious group...mostly a non issue. Had their own dining rm area etc

 

However 1 elevator on each side of the mid ship elev bank was off limits to everyone but them for a few days. Elevs on S class are maddening at times..this made it worse.

 

Another time, there was a large group of deaf cruisers...everything was signed.,It was very intetesting but changed the nature of some events.

 

Other groups no issues..but it is the luck of the draw.......wish they disclose the groups ahead of time.

[PBC29]

Curious as our Equinox sailing Jan 20th supposedly has TWO groups (guessing not huge as we could book as not being a part of them) "Cruise of Irish Stars" and a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Tribute band group sites are showing embarkation at Port Everglades but the ship is actually going from Miami. Recently looked up both groups and Tribute band sites are now blank, so I'm wondering did it get cancelled or is it sold out. Called Celebrity and all the rep said is "yes we have groups booked" won't confirm what they are. Heck for all I know something else is booked too. Called the TA for the Irish group an they confirmed it's under half the ship but wouldn't give an exact number.

 

The Fleetwood Mac group cancelled. Our Irish group is still on board, final payments were due today so TA couldn't give numbers.

[Geoff&Louise]

Just a quick update on from my original posting, and to say thanks again for everyone's great advice and comments - the "infamous American Girl Doll cruise" certainly brought a smile to my face.

 

Anyway, after checking various web sites as suggested, I could not find any information about my booked Cruise on Infinity on 25th March 2019 or any indication that it had been chartered, and both myself and TA could get no joy from Celebrity's reservation teams (both UK and Miami) and each time were told slightly conflicting stories (mainly that it was just a Group booking and they could not confirm how many).

 

I therefore contacted Celebrity's On-Shore Concierge in Miami, who had been very helpful with respect to our previous Eclipse cruise, to see if he could shed any light. Very promptly he kindly made internal enquiries and confirmed that yes, the cruise I had been booked on had been chartered.

 

After considering all of your good advice, rather than wait for this information to get back to reservations, and at some point advise me that I was going to be bumped due to the charter, to save any future hassle / concern, I have just re-booked another cruise with the same itinerary a couple of weeks earlier to ensure the cabin of our choice. I know I may have been offered some small compensation, but at least I now know that I have a booked cruise to look forward to.

 

Thanks again to everyone who kindly replied to my thread.

[AnOnymously]

It's also chartered for April 8th - 13th 2019 by Bliss Adult Cruise, I think the advertising on this one says it all

http://castawaystravel.com/mail/Bliss-Mailing-2017-03-10-newcruiseannouncement.htm

[monctonguy]

I haven't cruised with Celebrity yet, but with Royal many times. The only time a large group affected a sailing was a large religious group...around 800 of them on Brilliance of the Seas out of Tampa.

 

First off it affected the bars as they were WAY less busy which wasn't always a bad thing...lol. But it affected the nightlife for sure as the bars, clubs and casino were way less busy than normal.

 

Biggest effect was eating...these people(assuming as they didn't drink or gamble or swim or lie in the sun, so why they booked a cruise is kinda weird) would spend hours and hours in the buffet and any other eating area and take over. First cruise that I had to walk around pretty much every meal, every day looking for a seat or standing with my food till a table became available.

 

Needless to say, I always check just in case now...

[Loracpin2]

If we new about it ahead of time, we would never book a cruise with a large group again. We were on a 7 night Celebrity Caribbean sailing a few years ago with a large group of 500 (not going to say who) that also included their children. Apparently none of the ship's rules applied to them whether it was shows, disembarking in ports, babies in the hot tubs with no diapers.....I could go on and on.

[neverbeenhere]

When I was in college, the guys all got together to go on a cruise. We picked the 14 night cruise because we heard there was a Strippers:hearteyes::hearteyes: Group on the cruise...

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Let me tell you, 14 nights of Male Strippers was not a good time.:evilsmile: