So, to be a group leader

[Cnote]

I would have to pay for my cruise upfront and not just a deposit like everybody else? What about my roomate, does he/she have to pay upfront to or can they do a deposit?

[Litewait]

Are you planning a Cruise Critic Group Cruise? If so,(probably the same everywhere) We pay everything like everyone else as well as our cabinmates. All deposits, pay in full ect. There are no guarantees of any perks, it is dependent on the size of your group and the incentives given by the different cruiselines.

 

Hope that answers your question:D

[Cnote]

So, I would be able to do the $25 deposit just like everybody else? I was confused when I was reading how to become a group leader. At one point it read like I wasn't special, then further down it read I had to pay for my cruise upfront and everybody else got to do the $25 deposit.

[pickpart2]

I am the group leader for Grandma turning 100. We will celebrate on Carnival Pride 10/14/06 with family from around the world.

 

Yes I had to make the same payments as everyone else did. Our TA broke it down for everyone into 3 payments to make it less painful.

 

As I am the group leader I get to decide how to use carnival 'points' that are issued to each cabin in our group. I got a big list to choose from.

Alcohol------photo's-------ship credit-------Casino chips

I choose 100.00 credit per room, free photo and sports bag.

 

It has been over a YEAR in planning and in my opinoin worth the additional .59 per person (over carnival dirrect) to sign up with a group TA She has been wonderful. Not only been on the ship, but gave some great ideas AND took care of billing and collecting money. She even suggested and booked 2 private meeting rooms so family can celebrate together in private.

 

To date I have sent and recived over 2,400 emails dealing with this trip. While it has been fun, the amount of work involved does not even come close to my comp room.

 

Good luck and plan early!

[Cnote]

Is personal group the same as cruisecritic group?

[pickpart2]

Is personal group the same as cruisecritic group?

 

No.

 

My group has nothing to do with Cruisecritic group.

my group is just family and friends.

I choose Carnival, date, location etc..........

Contacted Carnival and a couple of TA's

AS far as I know I am the only one in the group that reads/uses cruisecritic.

[lhall85917]

A personal group is different than CC group in that you can choose your TA, if you go through CC they will set up with their TA. Also, you cannot advertise a personal group on CC. As far as pricing, amenities offered, etc. they will probably be similar depending on the size of the group and the TA.

Group leaders are treated just like other members of the group in every way except for the reimbursement for the free berth which is rebated a few weeks after the cruise.

[Cnote]

Ok, I'm ONLY talking about a CC group. Why was it saying I had to pay for my cruise in full as a leader? Or am I misunderstanding something, and I very well could be, it's midterm week in college lol.

[lhall85917]

The leader does pay in full. If you have enough sign up for your group you will generally get 1 free berth for 8 cabins, 2 for 16 cabins. You pay in full, then receive a rebate a few weeks after the ship returns. The rebate is minus taxes and port charges and based on the highest category of cabins sold.

[LHP]

Personally, if I were a group leader...I would need Valium...lots and lots of Valium!

[Cnote]

So why doesn't the leader get to do a deposit like everybody else?

[N.FL Cruisers]

...To date I have sent and recived over 2,400 emails dealing with this trip...

 

:eek: WOW, that is an incrediable amount of patience. I commend you and your group is especially good to have your organization skills.

 

Oh and LHP, that cracked me up! Can't wait to meet you and the family.

[TennisLover]

Is it a lot of work being a group leader for a CC group cruise? I LOVE organizing and planning and, obviously, cruising. I've done a lot of planning for personal projects and have planned major events as part of my public relations work.Besides the process of pulling it together -- which CC outlines very well on the group cruise page -- how much work do you have to do? Is there someone here who has experience as a group leader who can share any trials and tribulations? How far in advance should you select a cruise to get the best response?

[Litewait]

I am the group leader for Mayhem On The Miracle, April 1-8, 2007.

 

Group leaders deposit the same as everyone else. Your payments are due the same as everyone else. You do not receive any "perk" or reinbursement should your group be large enough until your cruise is way over. They are just meaning you have to pay in full (like everyone else) following all the rules. You don't get any discounts or pay less prior to cruising.

 

Ex: I booked an 8E for mine. I had to make the full $1000 deposit for the 4 of us. My final payment is due in Dec., like everyone else ect.

 

As for the amount of work. I guess thats up to you. I enjoy the organizing and planning. But yes you will put in many, many hours of research for everything from precruise hotel & dinners to excursions, to making sure dinner times are linked. Time spent returning emails is considerable. Checking for price drops daily. I think the more active the leader the bigger and better the group. We are planning group excursions, and group activities on board as well as group tshirts ect. It can go on and on:D But I like it!

 

It's fun, but does require commitment, but then I am addicted to Cruise Critic~:)

 

Happy Cruising!

[TennisLover]

Litewait: Sounds like fun -- How far ahead did you establish your group for April 07?

[lhall85917]

Litewait: Sounds like fun -- How far ahead did you establish your group for April 07?

 

I'm group leader for the June CC group and we started it up in July. Each group is different - many are started a year or so out.

[MuffyKismet]

Gosh I should be a group leader nearly everytime we cruise! I didn't even know ther was such a thing, I love CruiseCritics! I say this because we have 8 kids, so we are a family of 10 and then I have 4 siblings and my husband has 3 siblings all with grown children and families............so you get my picture. I did organize a group of us for a family reunion last year and I booked it directly through a PVP at Carnival but I never got reimbursed for my berth!!! And he knew I was organizing everyone and sent each of their information directly to him............hmmmmmm should I have a talk with my PVP??? I continue to use him and have gone on 2 cruises since then through him (just me and my hubby). don't you think he should have told me I am due a group leader benifit of reimbursement after the cruise is over????? It was alot of work.....everyone called me for everything! But we all had a great time!

[lhall85917]

Gosh I should be a group leader nearly everytime we cruise! I didn't even know ther was such a thing, I love CruiseCritics! I say this because we have 8 kids, so we are a family of 10 and then I have 4 siblings and my husband has 3 siblings all with grown children and families............so you get my picture. I did organize a group of us for a family reunion last year and I booked it directly through a PVP at Carnival but I never got reimbursed for my berth!!! And he knew I was organizing everyone and sent each of their information directly to him............hmmmmmm should I have a talk with my PVP??? I continue to use him and have gone on 2 cruises since then through him (just me and my hubby). don't you think he should have told me I am due a group leader benifit of reimbursement after the cruise is over????? It was alot of work.....everyone called me for everything! But we all had a great time!

 

 

Wow - definitely sounds like you have a head start on a group each time!! When you book, ask your PVP about a group rate - he should be able to connect you with the right people. I don't know if they do group bookings or if they send you to a different department - either way if you have 8 or more cabins you should be able to work it out.

[serene56]

What I like the most about CC groups is I am a go between for the people and the agent. ALL people will deal directly with our agent. I dont collect money.

Another thing with groups is final payment is due 90 days out instead of 70 so thats almost an extra month that people gotta come up with money,

 

Not all bookings take the cheap deposit of 25.00pp- depends on when you are sailing and with what line.

 

Also not all cruiselines offer great amenities. (for our liberty group we only got a free coctail party and a bottle of wine- but the price was phenomenal)

 

Our Princess group is getting a free lanyard but we got the price almost 300pp cheaper then what is going for now. We booked this Nov 2005 for Feb 2007.

I prefer a cheaper price across the board compared to other amenities.

 

Cheap deposits are only available for 3 -4 weeks so its a must that everyone have their money--they can always change their mind later and get all their money back - up til final payment.

So for those 3-4 weeks you will have to heavily advertise to get people interested. so they can get in on the 25.00 deposits.

 

(outside agencies msot times do not give you the 25.00 deposits.

[Litewait]

I started the :

 

Hot Leis & Lava (Ensenada to Hawaii) Aug. 05 for April 07

Mayhem On the Miracle (Western Caribbean) July 06 for April 07.

 

I Think the farther out probably the better. People are now booking cruises a year or more out. I am right now waiting on spring break dates for 08 to set up my next one.:D

 

I think Cruise Critic is an excellent forum for groups (a ready audience) and they give you help and step by step directions almost. If you go thru CArnival or a TA you will need to tell them up front you want to be booked as an organized group and deal with group sales for that. I don't think they offer up the info.:confused:

 

Also, CC will limit (I believe) the number of groups in a given time frame so we aren't overlapping or going the same places ect.

 

 

Happy Cruising!

[Randy & Carmen]

The rebate is minus taxes and port charges and based on the highest category of cabins sold.

Just to clear this up, since someone brought this to my attention, it means the rebate is based on the category with the most cabins sold....i.e. if you have 20 - 8A...19 - 6A....and 24 - 4A....the rebate would be based on the 4A cabin price less port charges and taxes.

 

hmmmmmm should I have a talk with my PVP??? I continue to use him and have gone on 2 cruises since then through him (just me and my hubby). don't you think he should have told me I am due a group leader benifit of reimbursement after the cruise is over????? !

You would just need to talk to your PVP......because the "reimbursement after the cruise" is something CruiseCritic does and not necessarily all other TAs or PVPs.

[Cnote]

Is Carnival the only company that does $25 deposit or does the other cruiselines offer it too?

[lhall85917]

I haven't seen it with any other lines on the CC groups. Last June I led a group with NCL and they didn't offer any extra amenities other than a group price. Based only on what I've seen on CC, Carnival offers the best amenities and the special low deposit.

[arf2005]

 

I am currently the "group leader" for some friends and family for a cruise in March (not through CC). I too, went through a PVP at first. The PVP had me put the deposit down on each of the cabins and then said the deposits would be refunded to me when the group members booked. Then........, I asked about the amenities and was told there weren't any.!? I began asking a lot of questions, and soon realized that the PVP should have given me the option at the very beginning, of booking through the groups department. You only get benefits, including the free berth, if you book through groups. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time working it out. We are now booked through groups with ammentities based on the length of the cruise and number of cabins booked. Our rates are also better than what you can get booking individually and, we are all receiving $100 shipboard credit, a photo coupon, 1 hour free cocktail party and champagne and chocolates (and one free berth for me). I've learned so much on these boards and probably would not have asked the right questions if not for what I had learned on here. Now if I can just get my last few cabins booked things will be good! The moral of this story is, I guess, not all PVP's are looking out for what is best for you. Always ask lots of questions!

[depotma]

I have organized 4 group cruises in the past. I work with the same TA each time. We have a good working relationship, usually 50-50 for the work load. The way we do it is, we find out our amount of points and decide how to use them. Then we split everything into 3 payments. I make the first two, just like everyone else. When final payment is due, we find out based on the cabin category booked, how many berths are free. The TA takes this amount off of my final payment, (I am booking for 4 or 5 myself) and I either just pay the balance, or receive OBC. I have never had to pre-pay and get a rebate.

Another thing to consider with your points is if you want to take the suite upgrade.