Group Rate Benefits

[BigCruze]

We are going on our second cruise on the Victory in April. There is 5 other couples going with us. Does Carnival offer a group rate or any incentive. We got 3 Suites and 3 balcony Suites. We are renewing our vows that is the purpose of the trip.

 

TIA

[easyboy]

Aside from cruise line perks, you may also want to check a TA's offer who often give incentives for group booking

 

 

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[GranysT]

I believe a group is only considered an actual "group", when you have booked a minimum of eight cabins.

[SadieN]

I believe a group is only considered an actual "group", when you have booked a minimum of eight cabins.

 

 

 

On occasion a group can have only 5 cabins.

Whether or not you get any perks depends on how many Amenity Points are available for that particular cruise.

[Micahs Grandad]

On occasion a group can have only 5 cabins.

Whether or not you get any perks depends on how many Amenity Points are available for that particular cruise.

 

Are those points ones that a TA will buy for their group?

[winddawn]

We are going on our second cruise on the Victory in April. There is 5 other couples going with us. Does Carnival offer a group rate or any incentive. We got 3 Suites and 3 balcony Suites. We are renewing our vows that is the purpose of the trip.

 

TIA

 

You might find this helpful:

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3770/~/group-travel

 

Hope you have a great cruise!

[SadieN]

Are those points ones that a TA will buy for their group?

 

 

 

Not quite.

Each cruise is given so many 'free' Amenity points for groups to use. These buy the gimmes-- OBC, wine, parties, logo items, charity matching funds etc. Groups can buy a few extra points. Once they're gone, they're gone.

 

We've set up groups thru TAs. Now we are going thru our PVP. Could also book thru Carnival's Group Department.

[Micahs Grandad]

Not quite.

Each cruise is given so many 'free' Amenity points for groups to use. These buy the gimmes-- OBC, wine, parties, logo items, charity matching funds etc. Groups can buy a few extra points. Once they're gone, they're gone.

 

We've set up groups thru TAs. Now we are going thru our PVP. Could also book thru Carnival's Group Department.

 

Gotcha

 

Once sailed with TA and who gave us some amenities such as cocktail party.

[SadieN]

Gotcha

 

 

 

Once sailed with TA and who gave us some amenities such as cocktail party.

 

 

 

Sometimes TAs will have spec groups or will throw others into an established group without their knowledge. The latter doesn't affect the individual, the added numbers can be beneficial to a group i.e. more 'free' stuff.

[BigCruze]

Thank you everyone with good information. We are so excited.

[maryred]

Just to clarify when booking direct with Carnival you need at least 8 cabins (any category) with 16 adults to qualify as a group and receive group amenity perks that you choose as the group leader.

Usually each qualified group starts with 1 amenities perk point, as long as the points are still available. Beyond buying additional points a group can "earn" more by choosing longer cruises, opting for a booking rates without price guarantees, or expanding the group in sets of 8 more cabins can earn additional amenities points until all amenities points have been exhausted for a cruise. The amenities points are then redeemed in for perks like cocktail parties, upgrades, booking discounts, or OBC, the catch is only the first 2 adults in a cabin will receive individual gifts, and some items are only 1 per cabin. Also for each set of 8 double adult occupied cabins, 1 berth is free. Though taxes, auto-gratuities, and port fees must be paid as part of the booking.

One added benefit is even if your group books too late to grab any amenities points, you will still be handled by the group specialist department, granted that is whom you start with at Carnival. Though the amenities points might be gone a group specialist can still help you easily arrange for private event venues with or without extra charges on board. They can also make private group excursion M, again with the 16 adult minimum, that you family/party is the only ones in that tour group, sometimes even when the particular tour does not show enough availability in the online cruise manager.

The bad part of the group booking for amenities is you have to do it very soon after a cruise itinerary is announced. Many because of the structure of the program many larger "incorporated" travel agencies and online reservation website will place a deposit on anywhere from 8-128 interior cabins to lockout other groups from getting the most of the amenities points. The advantage here is these resellers can then repackage the bookings as they see fit offering what they trade the amenities points for as a bonus to their booking price. The advantage to the their customers us they no longer have to have from among their own family and friends the 8 cabins and 16 adults making up the group. But the smaller group does lose any say in what the perks will be. Additional instead of any 1 person getting the free fare that savings will be either spread out as a discount among the larger group or reserved for personnel of the company to enjoy a "training" cruise.

Now don't get me wrong not all TAs do this and not every cruise date will be popular enough for these corporations to invest the upfront money in.

 

 

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[Ziggy7]

Just to clarify when booking direct with Carnival you need at least 8 cabins (any category) with 16 adults to qualify as a group and receive group amenity perks that you choose as the group leader.

Yep, have done many cruises and this is the bare minimum for a group!

 

 

 

 

On occasion a group can have only 5 cabins.

Never has an exception been made for us!

[SadieN]

Yep, have done many cruises and this is the bare minimum for a group!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never has an exception been made for us!

 

 

 

The 5 cabin minimum has been on some low season sailings.

[dyin2cruz]

We have 24 people already booked for next month on Victory, any way to change it to a group sailing?

[Ziggy7]

The 5 cabin minimum has been on some low season sailings.

Only way I know of is through a TA, You all can release your cabin to them and they can re-book you in the group, but pricing may change depending on the sail date. Hoping someone will answer who knows more :)

[rtfnl]

We have 24 people already booked for next month on Victory, any way to change it to a group sailing?

 

More than likely not since you are in penalty phase and if some are booked using casino rates - those rates can't be used group bookings.

 

To be sure call Carnival and ask for groups. Their hours are 8/9 till 9 M-F. And until 4 Sat & Sun.

[SadieN]

Only way I know of is through a TA, You all can release your cabin to them and they can re-book you in the group, but pricing may change depending on the sail date. Hoping someone will answer who knows more :)

 

 

 

Carnival's Groups Department or a PVP can also set up groups.

[maryred]

We have 24 people already booked for next month on Victory, any way to change it to a group sailing?

This close to sailing the group amenity points are probably all used by groups that book early. Being less than 75 days from sailing you're in the penalty phase most likely you will lose the deposit if anybody booked early saver or casino rate and the rest of your payments will only be issued as Cruise credit for a different sailing date.

At this point of the game the only reason to change your bookings to a group booking would be if nobody is booked early saver or Casino rate and there is a better price on the cruise right now for the same types of cabins.

 

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[jakesnana]

Yep, have done many cruises and this is the bare minimum for a group!

 

Not true. You can receive some of the amenities with just 5 cabins, you are just not eligible for the "free" berth until you get to 8 cabins.

 

Never has an exception been made for us!

 

Then you have been using an uneducated TA or PVP. This option is available for every sailing, not just during low season. I am not sure if you can get this benefit by booking directly with the Carnival groups dept., but it DEFINITELY is available through a TA.

[jakesnana]

We have 24 people already booked for next month on Victory, any way to change it to a group sailing?

 

Unfortunately, this close to sailing Carnival probably would not allow you to set up a group. The next time you decide to sail and you "think" you may have more than 5 cabins contact a TA who specializes in setting up group cruises. That way you can be sure you're getting the biggest bang for your buck and someone who is experienced in the process.

 

This close to sailing the group amenity points are probably all used by groups that book early. Being less than 75 days from sailing you're in the penalty phase most likely you will lose the deposit if anybody booked early saver or casino rate and the rest of your payments will only be issued as Cruise credit for a different sailing date.

At this point of the game the only reason to change your bookings to a group booking would be if nobody is booked early saver or Casino rate and there is a better price on the cruise right now for the same types of cabins.

 

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I'm not sure where you have gotten your information about amenity points, but it is not as you describe it. Amenity points don't get "used up". Some high season cruises offer 0 amenity points, but other than that I have only seen either 3 or 4 points being offered, never 1. Once a cruise has a large number of groups already booked, it will be closed to new group bookings. Usually the opportunity to start a new group closes about 5 months prior to sailing, as that is when TA's need to return undeposited cabins back to Carnival's inventory. I have never tried to start a group any closer to sailing than that, but maybe if it was a slow season and the sailing was not selling well Carnival would let you do it.

[Ziggy7]

Not true. You can receive some of the amenities with just 5 cabins, you are just not eligible for the "free" berth until you get to 8 cabins.

Awesome!