Does my cruise have a large group on it? Group cruises...

[BobNoxious]

Last year we went on Navigator of the Seas, and to our surprise there was a large ZUMBA group on it. It seemed like hundreds of Zumba instructors and fitness folks were on the pool deck each morning doing Zumba. My wife and I really enjoyed it and got into some of the public activities. This was the first time we noticed a large specialty group on a normal sailing. Are there any boards out there to see if an upcoming cruise has any particular theme / groups coming? Thanks.

[soccerdad72]

Others may have more specific boards you can check, but I would start by doing a Google search, something like 'group cruise freedom of the seas november 2018' and see what comes up.

[ONECRUISER]

Agree, Google search your ship/sailing. Over last 30 years I've had multiple groups on my sailings. Never an issue, at times ship was empty when they were in their group meetings. In 1990's Wife and I had our best cruise once with separate group on board. "World's Largest All Soul Cruise". Now they charter whole ship's but then they had about 1/3 the ship. Had great entertainment that cruise, Spinners, Four Tops, Temptation's... Cruise brought back Memories as wife and I did Electric slide...

[setsail]

Google

[BillOh]

Others may have more specific boards you can check, but I would start by doing a Google search, something like 'group cruise freedom of the seas november 2018' and see what comes up.

(Be prepared to wade through 10 million Travel Agency hits. (Everyone is one these days) (put on flame resistant pants)

 

 

I would just add, vary the format of the date a bit, I'd had different results each way. I've had no problems with groups, though I have read many people who have. I did find one of my cruises was an official Autism at Sea cruise. After googling that, I did learn quite a bit about them. I did had a specific group of people in the Insurance Industry one my Oasis cruise, They did reserve a couple of the conference rooms on board, but were otherwise invisible.

 

Thanks for the reminder, going to check my next cruise.

[cb at sea]

Most groups we've had onboard haven't been an issue. And that's true about 99% of "groups"! Aside from meeting rooms (that normal cruisers never use and wouldn't miss) , they really don't affect your good time at all. Considering there are upwards of 4000-6000 on some ships, a group of 100 is a small drop!

[nerak11]

On our Alaska Cruise years ago we realized when boarding that something was up. A very large cosmetics and skin care company had booked over 50% of the ship for that years reward cruise. Late dining was unavailable to everyone else and they booked shows and other events off from other passengers. Not to mention a bunch of people who didn’t actually pay for their cruise seem to have a different attitude about their entitlement while on board. It really affected our enjoyment of the trip and we always double check when booking now.

[BillOh]

In my search mentioned above, I did find Penn State Football fans have chartered Enchantment for March of 2019. When they get to be a big time program like Ohio State they can maybe move up to a Freedom class ship like Ohio State did last year. Now, I'm running out of here! PSU is my 2nd favorite team. Though I would avoid any public showers on this cruise. :evilsmile:

[shirleygr]

Sorry to be a downer, but I was on a sailing with a large corporate group (probably 1/3-1/2 of the passengers) a few years ago and our itinerary was changed because they wanted Playa del Carmen instead of Cozumel. I wasn't thrilled with the change - I love Cozumel. The rock wall was closed for their use every single day of the cruise meaning we could never try it. Quite a few of the clubs/bars were closed each evening for private events so we had fewer places to go for music and a cocktail. Hope to not be on a cruise with a large group like that again.

[CruiseGal999]

I'm going on a cruise October, 22, 2018. There'll be a special group of 300 onboard the Ruby Princess. Out of 3,600 passengers, I don't think it'll be a big issue for anyone else.

[SeaHunt]

Besides googling, I always check:

 

http://themecruisefinder.com/

 

Just went to "Advanced Search" there and typed in Navigator of the Seas with 0 results. Typed in Royal Caribbean and found 28 results - but none on Navigator :D

[John&LaLa]

In my search mentioned above, I did find Penn State Football fans have chartered Enchantment for March of 2019. When they get to be a big time program like Ohio State they can maybe move up to a Freedom class ship like Ohio State did last year. Now, I'm running out of here! PSU is my 2nd favorite team. Though I would avoid any public showers on this cruise. :evilsmile:

I guess that means OS is only recently a big time program. [emoji848]

 

Prior years were on Brilliance, which I think holds less passengers than Enchantment. [emoji6]

 

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[BillOh]

I guess that means OS is only recently a big time program. [emoji848]

 

Prior years were on Brilliance, which I think holds less passengers than Enchantment. [emoji6]

 

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Tounge in check John, just giving you something else to critique.

[Clarea]

I guess that means OS is only recently a big time program. [emoji848]

 

Prior years were on Brilliance, which I think holds less passengers than Enchantment. [emoji6]

Laura is bumped from the avatar.

[John&LaLa]

Laura is bumped from the avatar.

Only because someone told me not to.

 

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[John&LaLa]

Tounge in check John, just giving you something else to critique.

It was to easy

 

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[2chiefs]

Last year we went on Navigator of the Seas, and to our surprise there was a large ZUMBA group on it. It seemed like hundreds of Zumba instructors and fitness folks were on the pool deck each morning doing Zumba. My wife and I really enjoyed it and got into some of the public activities. This was the first time we noticed a large specialty group on a normal sailing. Are there any boards out there to see if an upcoming cruise has any particular theme / groups coming? Thanks.

We were on a cruise recently where we had a large group of quilters. It was crazy! Drunken elderly women partying to the wee hours of the morning keeping the rest of the cruisers awake. It must have been string break! Odd, but I heard they brought their brothers with them but I never saw them. The music was loud too as it was said they brought singers with them. They were so funny that they kept me in stitches. :')

[2chiefs]

Sallie & I are sailing on Oasis on January 27, 2019. I am with a group of banjo players that are having a workshop on board. Not a large group, just 12-17 of us. Workshops are on sea days at an area specified by the Oasis staff. Sallie is already calling herself a "banjo widow" but is looking forward to doing things without me anyway.

[Peak city]

We were on a cruise recently where we had a large group of quilters. It was crazy! Drunken elderly women partying to the wee hours of the morning keeping the rest of the cruisers awake. It must have been string break! Odd, but I heard they brought their brothers with them but I never saw them. The music was loud too as it was said they brought singers with them. They were so funny that they kept me in stitches. :'):'):')

 

 

I'm a quilter an your description is sew funny.:')

 

Sue

[Pellaz]

Sorry to be a downer, but I was on a sailing with a large corporate group (probably 1/3-1/2 of the passengers) a few years ago and our itinerary was changed because they wanted Playa del Carmen instead of Cozumel. I wasn't thrilled with the change - I love Cozumel.

 

Wait, did your ship dock at Playa del Carmen? That's an unusual port for a cruise. Cozumel is right across the strait from there.

[shirleygr]

Wait, did your ship dock at Playa del Carmen? That's an unusual port for a cruise. Cozumel is right across the strait from there.

 

We tendered. Was not much to do unless you got a pass for one of AI resorts. We had lunch and shopped a bit then headed back to the ship. We were travelling with 5 kids from 4 to 18, so it was challenging to find something affordable for everyone and the ferry seemed like too much work logistically. Our original plan had been to go to Paradise Beach in Cozumel, but the port change tanked that idea.

[CUontheC]

On our Alaska Cruise years ago we realized when boarding that something was up. A very large cosmetics and skin care company had booked over 50% of the ship for that years reward cruise. Late dining was unavailable to everyone else and they booked shows and other events off from other passengers. Not to mention a bunch of people who didn’t actually pay for their cruise seem to have a different attitude about their entitlement while on board. It really affected our enjoyment of the trip and we always double check when booking now.

 

I wondered about this because something is up on our cruise. My friend and her husband and my husband and I booked and received confirmation for 730 shows for Jersey Boys and Havana for our September cruise on the Bliss. That was in May. Then a week or so ago we received emails saying our showtimes are no longer there and to wait til the ship to sign up for the show. So I called NCL and was told they still showed my 730 show and this must have been sent in error. But then a few days later the shows were removed from my online itinerary. So I sent an email to Casinos at Sea and they said there is a scheduling change with the cast and that is why the 730 show is not showing up. So i thought that was odd since it is a sea day. I mean what is the cast going to do jump ship? So i called today When I called I was told this is only for our September 9th sailing. And the rep even said it was very odd. So I thought this makes no sense unless a large group just booked and they are giving them that time slot. This makes me very disappointed in NCL because we like them and sail with them often. But if this is the case and times are taken away from those already booked then that is a shame. I can't see anyone other reason that this time slot would be gone and only on our sailing. And I certainly hope it doesn't turn out the way yours did. There is a cool observation loung on the ship and there have been quite a few complaints of it being crowded. If a large group is on board i can only imagine how bad it will be. Thank you for the info....much appreciated