Is There a Way To Determine If a Group Is Booked On Your Cruise

[gillianrose]

While on Westerdam this past week to Alaska we learned the Inspiration group would be on the next 2 weeks...

 

rather a large group not too bad unless you have any idea of sitting in the Explorer lounge near a window. They would arrive with bags and hold seats for co-inspirationers all day long. Sometimes they wouldnt know the person and offer it up to a badge wearing "stranger"...we started thinking of them as Starbelly Sneetches. It was like watching a never ending relay race.

 

Otherwise the cruise and weather was awesome, next time we will research the large groups booked....a small thing but can be annoying.

 

That is not a small thing. Most people want to sit next to the window.

Never, ever let chair hogs get away with nonsense like that.

[Skye23]

Way off in advance but there will be a Celtic Music themed group sailing on the 3/3/2012 Eurodam cruise of the Eastern Carribean. I know cause I'm thinking of going on it. Should be around 300 or so fans of 3 Celtic music bands - Albannach which is tribal drums and a bagpipe, Brother which is more Austrialian style Celtic music (didgerdoo and so forth) and another band who's name I can't spell. They're taking over a bunch of the venues for private concerts and the Crows nest for some parties. There's also going to be jam sessions where you're encouraged to bring your own bagpipes and drums etc...

 

So um, if you go on that cruise - do not be surprised if you see drunken men in kilts wandering around the boat with an even heavier then usual accent, or the sound of bagpipes wafting through the air while you're standing out on your verandah. If that doesn't appeal to you - you've been warned! :p

[Boytjie]

It seems that The Nieuw Amsterdam will be a RSVP charter June 29-July 6, 2012.

[innlady1]

Several weeks ago I participated in a thread on this subject and set up a database including all groups I knew about at that time. I added groups mentioned in that thread and now have added groups mentioned in the two most recent threads. It is located at www.wa70.com/hdisplay.php. I will add any groups emailed to me, and any I happen to find. I will also add any other common HAL info anyone feels is would be appropriate.

 

Rich

 

Hi Rich,

Is this website down? I haven't been able to access it to see what groups might be on board our next cruise!

Thanks!

[GeriatricNurse]

Hi Rich,

Is this website down? I haven't been able to access it to see what groups might be on board our next cruise!

Thanks!

 

The website works for me! :)

[Wasasalad]

Hi Rich,

Is this website down? I haven't been able to access it to see what groups might be on board our next cruise!

Thanks!

Not working for me either!

[morgan5]

Does anybody know if this is a huge group or not? We are having a mini-family reunion on the Eurodam on this caribbean sailing March 17, 2012, and I saw somewhere that the Inspiration group "Stand to Reason" also has it booked.

 

Just wondering how large this group might be... how many people are we talking about? I'm guess not a rowdy group, but one never knows :rolleyes:

 

Thanks!

[Dancer Bob]

One group you definitely don't want to be on with is a kosher group. I was on a ship two weeks B2B, the group was the second week, so I had a baseline to make a fair comparison.

Food service was a shambles, the executive chef was clearly cutting corners with the real passengers to meet his cost targets. As well, they demanded huge areas of the ship be blocked off so we would'nt contaminate them, even when they weren't being used.

I know HAL had a couple last year, don't know about this year.

[Mary Ellen]

Food service was a shambles, the executive chef was clearly cutting corners with the real passengers to meet his cost targets.

Sailing with any large group is a PITA. But I've never heard of one with unreal passengers. Could you elaborate? Were they ghosts, poltergeist, gnomes....? Edited October 3, 2011 by Mary Ellen
Spelling counts, even in acronyms.

[trvlcrzy]

The "Out of Service" List -- includes dry docks and charters

I have added group information as I have learned of it...

 

New Information is in red December 3, 2011 update

The information is listed in both alphabetical order by ship… and date order by ship. Scroll down for date order.

In response to a request, I am putting **asterisks by the ones that are sailing as full charters (not selling to regular passengers). These are different than the cruises with ‘groups’ on board.

Search for the Ships in this List (in Alphabetical Order)…

**Amsterdam – May 18 -25, 2012 – 7-day Hancock Charter**

**Amsterdam – July 13 – 20, 2012 – 7-day Templeton Tours Charter (Dr. Charles Stanley)**

**Amsterdam – July 20 - 27, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Charter (Gaither Homecoming)**

Eurodam – December 31, 2011 – January 7, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Turning Point Ministries – Dr. David Jeremiah)

Eurodam – February 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Sports Medicine (group)

Eurodam – February 25 – March 3, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

Eurodam – March 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

Eurodam – March 17 – 24, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Stand to Reason – Greg Koukl)

Eurodam – April 27 – May 4, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

Eurodam – May 11 – 21, 2012 – 10-day Rheumatology and Orthopaedics (group)

Eurodam – June 14 – 24, 2012 – 10-day Primary Care Update: Cardiac Health, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity and Related Disorders (group); Emergency Medicine (group)

Eurodam – July 14 – 24, 2012 – 10-day Dermatology for the PCP (group) University of Washington School of Dentistry & American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Cruise (group): Oral Dermatology and Oral Pathology (group)

**Eurodam – July 24 – 31, 2012 – 7-day Baltic Atlantis Charter**

Eurodam – September 24 – October 4, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

**Eurodam – October 27 – November 3, 2012 – Malt Shop Memories Cruise (charter… this is an update… thanks to globaliser); Nephrology (group)… will probably have to change!**

**Maasdam – July 7 – 14, 2012 -- 7-day Canada/New England Inspiration (Michael W. Smith and Friends)**

Maasdam – July 14 – August 18, 2012 – Crafting Group (yes, even on a 35-day sailing!!) craftcruises.com

Nieuw Amsterdam – December 26 – January 2, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

**Nieuw Amsterdam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Legendary RB (Blues Cruise)**

Nieuw Amsterdam – January 29 – February 5, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

Nieuw Amsterdam – February 5 – 12, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration (Intentional Living – Dr. Randy Carlson)

**Nieuw Amsterdam – February 12 – 19, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean RSVP Charter**

**Nieuw Amsterdam – February 26 – March 4, 2012 – 7-day Supervalue Charter**

Nieuw Amsterdam – March 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Pulmonary Medicine (group)

Nieuw Amsterdam – April 30–May 12, 2012 – 12-day Unity Institute (group) http://www.unity.org/education/ui/2012InstituteCruise.html Thanks to Essiesmom for this info

**Nieuw Amsterdam -- June 29 - July 6, 2012 -- 7-day Western Mediterranean RSVP**

Nieuw Amsterdam – December 23 – 30, 2012 Infectious Disease (group)

**Noordam – April 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

**Noordam – April 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

**Noordam – April 25 – May 2, 2012 -- 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

Noordam – May 28 – June 7, 2012 – 7-day Medical Ethics & Legal Medicine (group)

Noordam – June 27 – July 7, 2012 – 10-day Endocrinology: An Update and Refresher for the Primary Care Physician (group)

Noordam – July 7 – 17, 2012 – 10-day Primary Care Update: Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (group)

Noordam – September 5 – 15, 2012 – 10-day Internal Medicine: Cardiology (group)

Oosterdam – January 28 – February 4, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Gospel Music Celebration)

Oosterdam – February 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Oral Dermatology and Oral Pathology (group)

Oosterdam – June 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

Oosterdam – June 17 – 24, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Calvary Chapel Visalia – Pastor Bob Grenier)

Oosterdam – July 1 – 8, 2012 – square dancers group

Oosterdam – July 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (American Association of Christian Counselors)

Oosterdam – October 22 – November 5, 2012 – 14-day Card Players (group) http://www.*****.com/; Good Sam RV Club Tours (group) http://www.goodsamclubrvtours.com/62/ …thanks to dobiemom for these updates

Oosterdam – December 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Card Players http://www.*****.com/

Prinsendam – November 15 – 28, 2012 – 14-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before the 23-day Amazon

Explorer cruise)

Rotterdam – June 2 – 16, 2012 – Crafting Group craftcruises.com

Rotterdam – December 6 – 21, 2012 -- 16-day Dry-Dock in Hamburg, Germany (before the 18-day Holiday Canary Island cruise)

Ryndam – January 8 – 15, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

Ryndam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Primary Care: Addressing Issues of Aging Patients (group)

**Ryndam – January 29 – February 5, 2012 – 7-day Western Caribbean Olivia Charter**

Ryndam – March 4 – 11, 2012 – 7-day Women’s Health (group)

**Ryndam – June 2 – 9, 2012 – 7-day Catalana de Occidente Charter**

Ryndam – November 10 – 24, 2012 – 14-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before 7-day Western Caribbean

cruise)

Ryndam – December 2 – 9, 2012 – 7-day Pain Management (group)

Statendam – May 27 – June 3, 2012 – Crafting Group craftcruises.com

Veendam – May 13 – 20, 2012 – 7-day Women’ Health (group)

Volendam – March 13 – 27, 2012 – 14-day Neurology and Pain Management (group)

**Westerdam – January 8 – 15, 2012 – 7-day Delbert Charter**

**Westerdam – January 15 – 22, 2012 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Charter**

**Westerdam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Charter**

**Westerdam – January 29- February 5, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean Jazz Charter**

**Westerdam – February 12 – 19, 2012 – 7-day Gertrude Byrne Charter**

Westerdam – February 19 – 26, 2012—7-day Jonathan Counton (JoCoCrazy) group

**Westerdam – February 26 – March 4, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Charter (Gaither Homecoming)**

Westerdam – April 15 – 24, 2012 – 10-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before 17-day westbound Panama Canal cruise)

Westerdam – May 19 – 26, 2012 – 7-day Comprehensive Dentistry: Use of Technology in your Dental Practice (group)

Westerdam – June 9 – 16, 2012 – 7-day Primary Care: Neurology Update 2012 (group)

Westerdam – June 16 – 23, 2012 – 7-day Family Medicine: Dermatology Review (group)

Westerdam – July 7 – 14, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Denton Bible Church – Tommy Nelson); Infectious Disease Review (group)

Westerdam – July 14 – 21, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Third Day and Max Lucado) – **not yet closed to selling for regular passengers**

Westerdam – July 21 – 28, 2012 – 7-day Geriatric Medicine Review (group)

Westerdam – August 4 – 11, 2012 – 7-day Midwestern Society of Orthodontists (group)

Westerdam – August 25 – September 1, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

Westerdam – November 25 – December 2, 2012 – 7-day Sports Medicine (group)

**Zaandam – April 1 - 15, 2012 – 14-day World Wide Charter**

**Zaandam -- May 7 – 13, 2012 – 7-day “Colonial” – could this be Colonial Life Insurance?**

**Zaandam – September 16 – 23, 2012 – 7-day Olivia Alaska Charter**

Zaandam – October 9 – 23, 2012 – 14-day Dry-Dock in Victoria, British Columbia (before 18-day Pacific Coast and Hawaii cruise)

Zaandam – November 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Critical Care Nursing (group)

Zuiderdam – November 30 – December 9, 2012 – 10-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before the 11-day Caribbean Sunfarer cruise)

Search for the Dates in this list (in date order)…

Nieuw Amsterdam – December 26 – January 2, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

Eurodam – December 31, 2011 – January 7, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Turning Point Ministries – Dr. David Jeremiah)

Ryndam – January 8 – 15, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

**Westerdam – January 8 – 15, 2012 – 7-day Delbert Charter**

**Westerdam – January 15 – 22, 2012 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Charter**

**Nieuw Amsterdam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Legendary RB (Blues Cruise)**

Ryndam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Primary Care: Addressing Issues of Aging Patients (group)

**Westerdam – January 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Charter**

Oosterdam – January 28 – February 4, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Gospel Music Celebration) – group at this point

Nieuw Amsterdam – January 29 – February 5, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

**Ryndam – January 29 – February 5, 2012 – 7-day Western Caribbean Olivia Charter**

**Westerdam – January 29- February 5, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean Jazz Charter**

Nieuw Amsterdam – February 5 – 12, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration (Intentional Living – Dr. Randy Carlson)

**Nieuw Amsterdam – February 12 – 19, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean RSVP Charter**

**Westerdam – February 12 – 19, 2012 – 7-day Gertrude Byrne**

Eurodam – February 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Sports Medicine (group)

Oosterdam – February 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Oral Dermatology and Oral Pathology (group)

Westerdam – February 19 – 26, 2012—7-day Jonathan Counton (JoCoCrazy) group

Eurodam – February 25 – March 3, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

**Nieuw Amsterdam – February 26 – March 4, 2012 – 7-day Supervalue Charter**

**Westerdam – February 26 – March 4, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Charter (Gaither Homecoming)**

Eurodam – March 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

Ryndam – March 4 – 11, 2012 – 7-day Women’s Health (group)

Nieuw Amsterdam – March 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Pulmonary Medicine (group)

Volendam – March 13 – 27, 2012 – 14-day Neurology and Pain Management (group)

Eurodam – March 17 – 24, 2011 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Stand to Reason – Greg Koukl)

**Zaandam – April 1 - 15, 2012 – 14-day World Wide Charter**

**Noordam – April 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

**Noordam – April 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

**Noordam – April 25 – May 2, 2012 -- 7-day Caribbean State Farm Charter**

Eurodam – April 27 – May 4, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

Nieuw Amsterdam – April 30–May 12, 2012 – 12-day Unity Institute (group)

**Zaandam -- May 7 – 13, 2012 – 7-day “Colonial” – could this be Colonial Life Insurance?**

 

Eurodam – May 11 – 21, 2012 – 10-day Rheumatology and Orthopaedics (group)

Veendam – May 13 – 20, 2012 – 7-day Women’ Health (group)

**Amsterdam – May 18 – 25, 2012 – 7-day Hancock Charter**

Westerdam – May 19 – 26, 2012 – 7-day Comprehensive Dentistry: Use of Technology in your Dental Practice (group)

Statendam – May 27 – June 3, 2012 – Crafting Group craftcruises.com

Noordam – May 28 – June 7, 2012 – 7-day Medical Ethics & Legal Medicine (group)

Rotterdam – June 2 – 16, 2012 – Crafting Group craftcruises.com

**Ryndam – June 2 – 9, 2012 – 7-day Catalana de Occidente Charter**

Oosterdam – June 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Celtic Music (group)

Westerdam – June 9 – 16, 2012 – 7-day Primary Care: Neurology Update 2012 (group)

Eurodam – June 14 – 24, 2012 – 10-day Primary Care Update: Cardiac Health, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity and Related Disorders (group); Emergency Medicine (group)

Westerdam – June 16 – 23, 2012 – 7-day Family Medicine: Dermatology Review (group)

Oosterdam – June 17 – 24, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Calvary Chapel Visalia – Pastor Bob Grenier)

Noordam – June 27 – July 7, 2012 – 10-day Endocrinology: An Update and Refresher for the Primary Care Physician (group)

**Nieuw Amsterdam -- June 29 - July 6, 2012 -- 7-day Western Mediterranean RSVP**

Oosterdam – July 1 – 8, 2012 – square dancers group

**Maasdam – July 7 – 14, 2012 -- 7-day Canada/New England Inspiration (Michael W. Smith and Friends)**

Westerdam – July 7 – 14, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Denton Bible Church – Tommy Nelson); Infectious Disease Review (group)

Noordam – July 7 – 17, 2012 – 10-day Primary Care Update: Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (group)

**Amsterdam – July 13 – 20, 2012 – 7-day Templeton Tours Charter (Dr. Charles Stanley)**

Maasdam – July 14 – August 18, 2012 – Crafting Group (yes, even on a 35-day sailing!!) craftcruises.com

Eurodam – July 14 – 24, 2012 – 10-day Dermatology for the PCP (group); University of Washington School of Dentistry & American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Cruise (group); Oral Dermatology and Oral Pathology (group)

Westerdam – July 14 – 21, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Third Day and Max Lucado) – not yet closed for selling to regular passengers

**Amsterdam – July 20 - 27, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Charter (Gaither Homecoming)**

Westerdam – July 21 – 28, 2012 – 7-day Geriatric Medicine Review (group)

Oosterdam – July 22 – 29, 2012 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (American Association of Christian Counselors)

Westerdam – August 4 – 11, 2012 – 7-day Midwestern Society of Orthodontists (group)

Westerdam – August 25 – September 1, 2012 – 7-day Pediatrics Review (group)

Noordam – September 5 – 15, 2012 – 10-day Internal Medicine: Cardiology (group)

**Zaandam – September 16 – 23, 2012 – 7-day Olivia Alaska Charter**

Eurodam – September 24 – October 4, 2012 – 7-day Better Bridge Cruise (Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team)

Zaandam – October 9 – 23, 2012 – 14-day Dry-Dock in Victoria, British Columbia (before 18-day Pacific Coast and

Hawaii cruise)

Oosterdam – October 22 – November 5, 2012 – 14-day Card Players (group) http://www.*****.com/; Good Sam RV Club Tours (group) http://www.goodsamclubrvtours.com/62/ …thanks to dobiemom for these updates

**Eurodam – October 27 – November 3, 2012 – Malt Shop Memories Cruise Charter**… )this is an update… thanks to globaliser); Nephrology (group)… will probably have to change!

Zaandam – November 11 – 18, 2012 – 7-day Critical Care Nursing (group)

Prinsendam – November 15 – 28, 2012 – 14-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before the 23-day Amazon

Explorer cruise)

Westerdam – November 25 – December 2, 2012 – 7-day Sports Medicine (group)

Zuiderdam – November 30 – December 9, 2012 – 10-day Dry-Dock in Freeport, Bahamas (before the 11-day Caribbean Sunfarer cruise)

Ryndam – December 2 – 9, 2012 – 7-day Pain Management (group)

Oosterdam – December 3 – 10, 2012 – 7-day Card Players http://www.*****.com/

Rotterdam – December 6 – 21, 2012 -- 16-day Dry-Dock in Hamburg, Germany (before the 18-day Holiday Canary Island cruise)

Nieuw Amsterdam – December 23 – 30, 2012 Infectious Disease (group)

under discussion??? No specifics yet, but these seem iffy… will update with more information when I have more information… if you have information, please post!

Amsterdam July 27 – Aug 2 rumor of large group

Zaandam -- May 7 – 13, 2012 – 7-day “Colonial” – could this be Colonial Life Insurance?

Zaandam November 24 - December 1 – all I am seeing is still about the second half of a 14-day Hawaii itinerary

I have not yet seen a date/ship for a 2012 National Review Cruise (the 2011 one was in November).

2013 (alphabetical by ship only)

Eurodam – January 19 - 26, 2013 – 7-day Inspiration Cruise (Gospel Music Celebration)

Westerdam – January 13 – 20, 2013 January 2013 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Cruise week 1

Westerdam – January 20 – 27, 2013 – 7-day Smooth Jazz Cruise week 2

Westerdam – January 27 – February 3, 2013 – 7-day Jazz Cruise

Westerdam – February 17-24, 2013 - Soul Train Cruise – expected to be a charter (thanks, Globaliser)

Oosterdam – February 20 – March 3, 2013 – Atlantis Charter (thanks, MDDCFlyer)

Nieuw Amsterdam – January 27 – February 3, 2013 - Olivia charter – week 1 (thanks, Globaliser)

Nieuw Amsterdam – February 3-10, 2013 - Olivia charter -- week 2 (thanks, Globaliser)

The source for the medical conferences onboard: http://www.continuingeducation.net/schedule.php

[Amolin]

I have been researching groups that will be on our cruise. I know there is a sports medicine group but I have also found the Fredlyn Winery wine tasting group and Sandi Patty - an Evangelical Christian group. Is there any way to find out how big a portion of the ship these groups will be? All of the sites list many private parties and I am wondering if portions of the ship will be closed off?

[GeriatricNurse]

I have been researching groups that will be on our cruise. I know there is a sports medicine group but I have also found the Fredlyn Winery wine tasting group and Sandi Patty - an Evangelical Christian group. Is there any way to find out how big a portion of the ship these groups will be? All of the sites list many private parties and I am wondering if portions of the ship will be closed off?

 

 

Well, I suppose that you could 'phone HAL, toll-free, at 1-877-932-4259 (Monday to Friday 0800 to 1900 PST & Saturday to Sunday 0600 to 1700 PST)! ;)

[Wasasalad]

Well, I suppose that you could 'phone HAL, toll-free, at 1-877-932-4259 (Monday to Friday 0800 to 1900 PST & Saturday to Sunday 0600 to 1700 PST)! ;)

 

These ships have so many areas for groups. We have been on ships, then a week into the cruise realize how big the groups are! They kind of just do their own thing.

But, if you were on a ship that some group had a charter on, the left over rooms sometimes get booked out but at a good price!

[Boytjie]

But, if you were on a ship that some group had a charter on, the left over rooms sometimes get booked out but at a good price!

 

Charters take over the whole ship - they are not a group on a regular cruise. You have to book through the charter company.

[THE BUDSYS]

Thanks for the list. I see we'll be sailing on the ryndam jan 22nd with primary care: Dealing with issues of aging parents group. Dh and i are all too familiar with this topic. Look out here we come "caregivers gone wild!!!"

[WriterOnDeck]

I was reading my Macworld magazine and noticed ads for group cruises -- did a little checking and some are on HAL. They are put together by Insight Cruises, which also lists other group cruises on its home page:

 

http://www.insightcruises.com/index.html

 

Eurodam Jan. 14-21. 2012, Scientific American Bright Horizons

Oosterdam, Nov. 7-21, 2012, Sky & Telescope and MacWorld (eclipse)

Veendam, Jan. 30-Feb. 12, 2013, Scientific American Bright Horizons

 

More fodder for the list (which is excellent and great resource, by the way!).

[raindropsalways]

Could someone please enlighten me as to the importance of knowing if there are “groups” on the ship or not?

 

 

To my knowledge, these are people just like us who are cruising together for a purpose. Be it an educational seminar or a bunch of hobbyist, they as a whole have something in common and it does not affect us or our cruise in any way.

 

 

Betty

[WriterOnDeck]

Could someone please enlighten me as to the importance of knowing if there are “groups” on the ship or not?

 

 

To my knowledge, these are people just like us who are cruising together for a purpose. Be it an educational seminar or a bunch of hobbyist, they as a whole have something in common and it does not affect us or our cruise in any way.

 

 

Betty

 

That usually is the case, particularly if it is a smaller group. But I have been on a cruise (back in the days of fixed seating only) when a group took up one entire seating, leaving other passengers with no choice. And if you enjoy the Crow's Nest or other public areas, they may not be available as much if the groups are reserving them.

[sugarcharlie]

I have had groups on almost every cruise I've been on. Sometimes the larger groups will have name tags or some other identifier so you know which group they are with. Often there have been multiple groups on a ship but regardless, I've never really been inconvenienced by a group. Actually some can be quite interesting.

 

A few years back on a Carnival cruise, the ship was loaded with women. They were all age groups, ethnicity's, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what common group they could belong to. Well, at the pool I noticed many were wearing T shirts with the large initials J.U.G.S on them. I finally asked one of them what was the significance of the letters. They told me it was a Just Us Girls Society cruise. No husbands, no boyfriends, "just us girls".

 

They were from all over the US and Canada, and said that if they didn't have a cabin mate, their group site could put together names of people with common interests to correspond and see if they wanted to share cabins. A few said their husbands go on fishing trips or hunting trips with their male friends and were glad to see their wives enjoy a vacation of their liking. (Maybe it made them feel less guilty about leaving their wives for a week while they were off fishing or hunting in the woods!)

 

At any rate, I don't know if they still cruise, but they sure had a great time on Carnival. Conga lines through the Lido deck at 2:00AM!

 

I think most groups realize that they are not the only people on the ship and are very considerate. They have meetings and parties at certain times but the cruise line is careful to limit both the number and size of groups on each sailing. They certainly don't want to alienate their regular cruise customers.

[sugarcharlie]

I have had groups on almost every cruise I've been on. Sometimes the larger groups will have name tags or some other identifier so you know which group they are with. Often there have been multiple groups on a ship but regardless, I've never really been inconvenienced by a group. Actually some can be quite interesting.

 

A few years back on a Carnival cruise, the ship was loaded with women. They were all age groups, ethnicity's, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what common group they could belong to. Well, at the pool I noticed many were wearing T shirts with the large initials J.U.G.S on them. I finally asked one of them what was the significance of the letters. They told me it was a Just Us Girls Society cruise. No husbands, no boyfriends, "just us girls".

 

They were from all over the US and Canada, and said that if they didn't have a cabin mate, their group site could put together names of people with common interests to correspond and see if they wanted to share cabins. A few said their husbands go on fishing trips or hunting trips with their male friends and were glad to see their wives enjoy a vacation of their liking. (Maybe it made them feel less guilty about leaving their wives for a week while they were off fishing or hunting in the woods!)

 

At any rate, I don't know if they still cruise, but they sure had a great time on Carnival. Conga lines through the Lido deck at 2:00AM!

 

I think most groups realize that they are not the only people on the ship and are very considerate. They have meetings and parties at certain times but the cruise line is careful to limit both the number and size of groups on each sailing. They certainly don't want to alienate their regular cruise customers.

[trvlcrzy]

and sometimes entertainment venues will be closed for the evening (with entertainment specially scheduled by the group), so the remaining passengers are left with limited options for the evening.

 

Some people prefer to know before they go if a larger group (but less than charter) will close those venues (the show lounge, the Crow's Nest...) before final payment date... so an informed decision can be made.

 

Also, some people are learning about charters a bit later than posters have shared in these threads... and it softens the blow a bit, I guess. I know it did for me when my scheduled cruise was chartered... there were hints about it on Cruise Critic... so I knew it was coming.

[raindropsalways]

Thank you all.

 

 

It appears that we must be fortunate in that the many cruises we have shared with groups has not deprived us of anything or inconvenienced us in any way. If anything, their presence has enhanced our cruise. As far as the daily forum or entertainment being limited to a specific group, I have not ever heard of such a thing. However, if that group was the majority of the people on the ship, I could certainly understand it.

 

 

We normally book our cruise way out in the future and as a result, get the early dining. In the event there is some unique program or show that requires reservations, we make the reservations before the cruise. In the event that something special cannot be reserved in advance, we try to reserve it shortly after we board the ship. More than once, we have asked before there was even a source to take our reservations.

 

 

In the event we book our cruise later, we normally just go with the flow. We still get the early dining because of medical reasons. Nothing to be proud of, however it is nice to know that the cruise lines does accommodate medical issues.

 

 

It sounds like groups are more of an individual concern or priority, which I certainly respect. To sum it up for us, our biggest priority is how to get from point A to point B.

 

 

Betty

[ccmg]

I am actually booked on the Maasdam charter cruise, July 7-14, 2012, Michael W Smith & Friends. Have been on 3 other cruises with this same group, 2 of which were 1/2 the ship, once on HAL and the other Carnival. Inspiration always did a great job making sure that our group did not infringed on the rest of the cruisers. Our concert were always held early and we had the late seating for dinner and the cruise line shows were still held twice each night. Sometimes we had an additional concert after the second show. Inspiration and HAL in particular worked together to make sure everybody on board would enjoy their cruise. The biggest complaint I heard was from people who found out that MWS was performing and that they could not attend any of his concerts unless they were part of the Inspiration group.

The response to these cruises has been so great that they have had to turn people away because they were selling out the half ship within a few months after announcing it. That's why they went to a charter in July 2010 and again for the cruise this year.

Hope all of you who find yourselves on a cruise with a big group have the kind of experience I have had!

[Watson's aunt]

On some ships like one Alaska 14 the ship has been charted but a christian group. No gambling, no alcohol, christian based shows's of wine with dinner so I would not like this cruise

[memassey]

...Insight Cruises: Oosterdam, 07-21NOV12, Sky & Telescope and MacWorld (eclipse)...

We're on this cruise!

 

I also happen to know that some Square Dancers will be on the Volendam 04-11JUL12...

Edited February 3, 2012 by memassey