Group Booking Question

[EggDropErin]

What, if any, are the special perks, amenities, etc. associated with a group booking. I know you have to have at least 8 cabins...but what do they do special for you?

[DiazLoves2Cruise]

It really depends on the cruise line. Sometimes you get onboard credit or in cabins gifts like a bottle of champagne. Some cruise lines, like Princess, you can often get lower deposit requirements. It really does vary, find a good TA and let them do the legwork for you!

[ISABELLA]

What, if any, are the special perks, amenities, etc. associated with a group booking. I know you have to have at least 8 cabins...but what do they do special for you?

 

Here is what you SHOULD get - ONE FREE Fare. So, that $$ either devided between all members of the group or one person, usually group leader gets it.

Some TA will also give a wine package on top it.

[EggDropErin]

Sorry, I had literally less than a minute to type my post. It would be through RCI. I guess I was just wondering if there were any other perks besides the free fare that RCI would give you and how many rooms would require getting such stuff. I'm not talking about 50 rooms...but maybe 15ish or so.

 

I am working on trying to put a group booking together (no, I'm not a TA...she is going to love me though as I intend to do all the legwork and give her the commision). I really don't know where to start. The whole group leader concept is completely new, so any tips would be great. My TA is a busy lady, so I don't want to bother her if I don't have to. I really don't mind doing the work.

 

Ack...am I making any sense? I'm trying to type complete thoughts inbtween answering all these phone calls! LOL

[PaulyWalnuts]

I've organized some group cruises in my day and turned it over to a TA, so, hopefully these tips will help:

 

You need to get VERY organized. You need get the full legal names and dates of birth for each and every passenger. If they are past guests that information also helps.

 

Organize cabin to cabin. For example, cabin one might be a couple in a junior suite and cabin two might be a family of four (two adults, two children) in an inside cabin.

 

I know it's sounds oblivious but, you'll be surprised how much time this can take up.

 

Also, make sure everyone going gets their passports early!

 

Royal Caribbean isn't great when it come to groups. You'll earn one free cabin if you book 15 cabins. You'll be assigned GAP points - if you're lucky enough to get any... And your TA will have to go over what you can apply those GAP points towards. It usually isn't much...maybe $25 onboard credit per person or a bottle of wine.

 

Other than that, there isn't much to it other than making sure everyone gets their payments in on time.

 

Hope that helps a bit more

[willysgrandma]

You should start now with a TA. You would be the group leader and the work with the TA to get the T/C credit and they'll tell any other amenities that might be available. The value of the cruise-only tour conductor credit is determined by the category most sold within the group. If the same number of staterooms has been sold in two or more categories, the value is based on the lowest of those categories.

 

You get the group together and let the TA do the rest of the work. The sooner you can get a roup rate, the better. Sometimes on popular cruises, the cruise line closes the sailing to groups, so the earlier you can get the TA to hold cabins the better.

 

Any additional amenities will depend on the number of paid bookings. Could range from an OBC to a bottle of wine or a dinner in an alternate restaurant, etc. Your TA can answer that.

[EggDropErin]

Thank you. Yes, anything helps. I'm completely clueless about all of this. LOL

[Jeano222]

With 15 cabins, your TA is going to make LOTS of commission, so she should be knocking herself out to help you.

[willysgrandma]

Royal Caribbean isn't great when it come to groups. You'll earn one free cabin if you book 15 cabins.

 

It is a T/C for every sixteen passengers (eight cabins).

 

What RCCL isn't great at is they don't discount the fare for a group - you just get the TC and any GAP points depending on the number of berths sold.

[EggDropErin]

With 15 cabins, your TA is going to make LOTS of commission, so she should be knocking herself out to help you.

 

Yeah, I know. But I really don't mind trying to do a lot of the work. I wouldn't have the patience to be a TA for my career, but I enjoy telling people about them. Perhaps I'm just a glutton for punishment! LOL

 

It is a T/C for every sixteen passengers (eight cabins).

 

What RCCL isn't great at is they don't discount the fare for a group - you just get the TC and any GAP points depending on the number of berths sold.

 

I was thinking it was 8 cabins. Thank you for the info about the non-group discounting.

[PaulyWalnuts]

It is a T/C for every sixteen passengers (eight cabins).

 

What RCCL isn't great at is they don't discount the fare for a group - you just get the TC and any GAP points depending on the number of berths sold.

 

True, I stand corrected

[pmshirl]

I have run many group cruise as the tour conductor. You earn ammenity points also, which can get you free robes, casino credit of $25.00, bottle of wine, etc., on top of the free fare. Also if you have 35 or more in your group you can have your own private cocktail party for your group. Just remember things have changed over the years for group, such as RC only allows you to hold group space for 90 days without a deposit on the cabin. You may want to solicite(sp) people who you think may be interested in the cruise your planning, or get some input as to the itinerary people would be interested in, before blocking out the group space. The inital start of getting it organized is what takes time, to try to sell it, after that it is basically them making their deposits. Just remember to tell everyone before you cruise, that its a vacation for you and if their sink breaks, or the air don't work, you are not the maintainance dept for the cruiseline. They need to use their phone and call the staff not YOU!

Good Luck and Enjoy your Cruise!

[willysgrandma]

BTW - if you are the group leader, you should consider taking the T/C credit for doing all the work.

[EggDropErin]

I have run many group cruise as the tour conductor. You earn ammenity points also, which can get you free robes, casino credit of $25.00, bottle of wine, etc., on top of the free fare. Also if you have 35 or more in your group you can have your own private cocktail party for your group. Just remember things have changed over the years for group, such as RC only allows you to hold group space for 90 days without a deposit on the cabin. You may want to solicite(sp) people who you think may be interested in the cruise your planning, or get some input as to the itinerary people would be interested in, before blocking out the group space. The inital start of getting it organized is what takes time, to try to sell it, after that it is basically them making their deposits. Just remember to tell everyone before you cruise, that its a vacation for you and if their sink breaks, or the air don't work, you are not the maintainance dept for the cruiseline. They need to use their phone and call the staff not YOU!

Good Luck and Enjoy your Cruise!

 

Excellent points! Well put. I pretty much have the proposal written...but due to the timing of the meeting, my husband might have to be the one pitching this idea. :eek: :rolleyes:

[yosh12]

Thank you. Yes, anything helps. I'm completely clueless about all of this. LOL

 

Exactly why you need your TA to handle this, not you. Let him/her tell you what they want you to do.

 

If you give out wrong info to your group because someone on this board told you something, or you overheard something at the water cooler that someone else got on their cruise, it's all going to come back on your TA. Doesn't matter how busy they are, that's their job, let them do it. Not everyone may be as patient or understanding as you should a little slip up occur. Then all heck breaks loose. And you don't want that.

 

And as far as amenities, you don't HAVE to get anything. That's completely up to the TA what they offer you. I've been on sailings that offered no amenities, so all we got was a great cruise. But since noone was expecting anything, noonse was disappointed. Talk directly to your TA before sharing info with anyone in the group.

[EggDropErin]

Exactly why you need your TA to handle this, not you. Let him/her tell you what they want you to do.

 

If you give out wrong info to your group because someone on this board told you something, or you overheard something at the water cooler that someone else got on their cruise, it's all going to come back on your TA. Doesn't matter how busy they are, that's their job, let them do it. Not everyone may be as patient or understanding as you should a little slip up occur. Then all heck breaks loose. And you don't want that.

 

And as far as amenities, you don't HAVE to get anything. That's completely up to the TA what they offer you. I've been on sailings that offered no amenities, so all we got was a great cruise. But since noone was expecting anything, noonse was disappointed. Talk directly to your TA before sharing info with anyone in the group.

 

I understand completely. Have no fear, all of the stuff I am going to tell them about is pricing and information that comes directly from the RCCL website. I'm not making any claims as to anything else. Next month, I am hoping to get the group together at our home along with our TA to go over some more specifics.

 

I was just looking for people who had done this before to give me some hints and tips, and I sincerely appreciate all info that has been given.

 

Wish me luck, I'm gonna speak to the board members tonight!