Family Reunion suggestions wanted

[FlaSusan]

We just finished our biannual family reunion and the suggestion for the next one was a cruise. Some are experienced cruisers and some are newbies. Looking for suggestions/tips on planning for a group of 25. Any Florida port is acceptable. I know that calendars aren't out yet for summer 2017 but would love information about planning for a group.

 

Thank you!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

First, you will find very ships sailing in the Caribbean during the summer months as many of them have gone to Europe, Alaska, Canada/New England.

You all need to decide what ports are important to you according to what activities most of you want to do.

Several of you need to personally see a travel agent in your area where you can talk about Group Cruises -- may even be able to get a deal.

[cb at sea]

I would find a travel agent to handle EVERYTHING about the cruise...especially for the "newbies"! You do NOT want anyone in your family to be the "go to" person. Someone at some time will have an issue..and if you are handling things, it will be your fault, and hard feelings will ensue. You don't want that!

 

Decide on a time, and find a cruise that fits...and then turn EVERYTHING over to a TA...and have everyone make their own arrangements. I would advise getting everyone into the same dinner seating, so that dinner can be the "meet up" time. The rest of the day should be up to each individual as to how they wish to spend their time.

 

When booking excursions or deciding what to do, if some of you are on the same page....great! If not, don't force others into your preferred activities! Don't give up your preferences just because someone else is a joykill!

 

Then, once all that is decided, you can point the rest of the group to Cruise Critic, so they can learn things ON THEIR OWN! If you start printing up "suggestions and hints" and telling the newbies how great the cruise will be, and how much fun they'll have, and how they should do this or that....you are going to RUIN the fun of discovery for them...too much info actually does the opposite of what you intend...let them figure stuff out on their own!

[searoses]

That was well said!!......my mom took 19 to alaska...from 7yo to 77 yrs...our local travel agent took care of all the details....our questions were funneled to her through the sibling who lived with mom...pretty easy as mom paid for flights and cruise....we joined last minute and on a waiting list for a cabin.....scored an aft balcony through her and made me love this trip despite traveling with my family!.....we were expected to meet for dinner and had 3 tables for 8 where we mixed and matched all week...alask a was so worth it!

[Cruisin' Chick]

I would definitely talk to a cruise specialist (get recommendations from the cruising vets in your family, or else friends or co-workers who have found someone they like). Most likely the TA has worked with groups, but ask anyway.

 

One thing as someone mentioned, is that many cruiselines avoid the Caribbean during the summer, especially considering hurricane season (a captain will change the itinerary-- for example from west to east -- if a possible hurricane may pop up, but some cruise lines instead offer European or Alaskan cruises instead). You might have the info about Alaskan cruises handy as maybe some might not have thought about that area.

 

Let the TA deal with the booking of cabins so you won't have to. There's no cost and you might even get a special deal for everyone in your party. And there may be some who want to get an inside while others might want to get a balcony cabin. You can ask about linking your dinner arrangements too, but let everyone know that if they want to try out a specialty restaurant (these usually have a cover charge), they can. Make sure everyone knows that you're not joined at the hip, even in port. That way, there aren't hurt feelings, etc. When you decide on a cruise ship, give everyone the link to the website for that line so that they can read up on the ship, look at deck plans.