Please help me plan a Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle

[tgg]

If you've planned a M&M recently, I'd appreciate your help. We have 24 people (so far) on the Dec. 12 Onward sailing who would like to get together.

 

Who did you contact shoreside?

What time did you choose?  After sailaway, during sailaway, first sea day?

What location were you given? Did you have a choice? (The Library on Onward is gone.)

Of the people who signed up, how many attended?

Was there someone to serve drinks, snacks?

 

I'd appreciate help with any details I've failed to ask about.😃

 

Thanks.

Toni

 

 

[takemewithyou]

1 hour ago, tgg said:

If you've planned a M&M recently, I'd appreciate your help. We have 24 people (so far) on the Dec. 12 Onward sailing who would like to get together.

 

Who did you contact shoreside?

What time did you choose?  After sailaway, during sailaway, first sea day?

What location were you given? Did you have a choice? (The Library on Onward is gone.)

Of the people who signed up, how many attended?

Was there someone to serve drinks, snacks?

 

I'd appreciate help with any details I've failed to ask about.😃

 

Thanks.

Toni

 

 

@tgg

My roll call was very active for Pursuit Ireland Intensive in June.  We had a really good response from everyone.  Probably 40 people were there during the duration of the meet and greet.  I just went with the time that Azamara sets up on embarkation day.  Believe it was 5 pm.  It was in the Living Room opposite from the card area.  That was a good space for us…..better than the card room! 
 

I happened to meet the Beverage Manager that day, by chance.  She was very friendly and I told her we had a meet and greet up there at 5 pm.  She said she would make sure they were ready for us and offered to have special cocktails made up.  When I arrived they were all on trays, along with red and white wine.  She also had extra servers up there to take care of us.

 

It made for a very nice party.  I had brought name tags.  Snacks were the usual appetizers supplied in the LR pre dinner.  So you might seek out the beverage manager that day.  We never had any officers or CD that showed up.

[tgg]

How did you arrange this with Azamara before the cruise? Who did you contact?

[takemewithyou]

5 hours ago, tgg said:

How did you arrange this with Azamara before the cruise? Who did you contact?

I wish you good luck  with that.  Don’t think you can find anyone to handle that.  Azamara is no longer involved in meet and greet.  You are on your own.  Make it what you can on your own. 😀

Edited October 14, 2023 by takemewithyou

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, takemewithyou said:

I wish you good luck  with that.  Don’t think you can find anyone to handle that.  Azamara is no longer involved in meet and greet.  You are on your own.  Make it what you can on your own. 😀

Cruise Critic dropped its assistance during Covid and has never brought it back.  There used to be a back-door way through the Azamara website (pre-RCG split) but I don't think that was coded into the new website [and maybe Seaware doesn't offer the function?]  So it's good to know that @takemewithyou managed to make it work!

[takemewithyou]

22 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Cruise Critic dropped its assistance during Covid and has never brought it back.  There used to be a back-door way through the Azamara website (pre-RCG split) but I don't think that was coded into the new website [and maybe Seaware doesn't offer the function?]  So it's good to know that @takemewithyou managed to make it work!

Yes, at least they still provide a mention in the Insider for a time and a space on embarkation day and that is it.  It’s up to us, as Cruise Critic members to make something of it, or we will probably lose that.  
 

If you have an active roll call, and in my experience that takes some work on at least one members behalf to keep the roll call going, (by keeping track of the people posting on the roll call and updating the list once weekly)  then you can actively promote the current time and space that Azamara is providing and make the best of it. Once you board, if you happen to meet the beverage manager, or seek them out, you may be able to make the experience flow even better….icing on the cake! 

Edited October 14, 2023 by takemewithyou

[Host Jazzbeau]

55 minutes ago, takemewithyou said:

Yes, at least they still provide a mention in the Insider for a time and a space on embarkation day and that is it.  It’s up to us, as Cruise Critic members to make something of it, or we will probably lose that.  
 

If you have an active roll call, and in my experience that takes some work on at least one members behalf to keep the roll call going, (by keeping track of the people posting on the roll call and updating the list once weekly)  then you can actively promote the current time and space that Azamara is providing and make the best of it. Once you board, if you happen to meet the beverage manager, or seek them out, you may be able to make the experience flow even better….icing on the cake! 

So the question remains:  how do you get Azamara to provide the space/time and list it in the Insider?  Is there a website link that still works to get this going?  Or some other way?

 

[Neither of the suggested methods in the old Sticky threads works anymore.  If there is a new way, I will update the Stickies for each ship; if not, I should delete those posts.]

 

[edited to add:  old Stickies deleted and replaced the new ones with this latest info.]

[takemewithyou]

48 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

So the question remains:  how do you get Azamara to provide the space/time and list it in the Insider?  Is there a website link that still works to get this going?  Or some other way?

 

[Neither of the suggested methods in the old Sticky threads works anymore.  If there is a new way, I will update the Stickies for each ship; if not, I should delete those posts.]

No, there is no way that I know of to coordinate this!

As I have said, Azamara always provides a space and a time.

It is on embarkation day and it is 5 pm generally.

It IS listed in the insider.  
Tell your roll call members to keep an eye on the Insider and show up for the time listed in the Insider on embarkation day.

It is what it is……!

 

Edited to add:  @ GrandmaCruising ‘s info, that you show, is outdated.  there is no way to register anymore since Azamara updated its web site.  And since you can’t register anymore, there is no invitation to the Cruise Critic party or social anymore!  You just have to show up at the time listed in the Insider on embarkation day.

 

Edited October 14, 2023 by Host Jazzbeau
edited quote to match post edit

[Grandma Cruising]

2 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

No, there is no way that I know of to coordinate this!

As I have said, Azamara always provides a space and a time.

It is on embarkation day and it is 5 pm generally.

It IS listed in the insider.  
Tell your roll call members to keep an eye on the Insider and show up for the time listed in the Insider on embarkation day.

It is what it is……!

 

Edited to add:  @ GrandmaCruising ‘s info, that you show, is outdated.  there is no way to register anymore since Azamara updated its web site.  And since you can’t register anymore, there is no invitation to the Cruise Critic party or social anymore!  You just have to show up at the time listed in the Insider on embarkation day.

 

Thanks for pointing this out. I’ve edited the Tips spreadsheet accordingly and will add a post in the Tips topic.
On our last two cruises the time and place was advertised  in Insider, both times it was  in the Drawing Room at 5 or 6 pm on embarkation day. Drinks were available at one of them but not provided at the other one. I think the idea of talking to the F & B manager is a good one.

[tgg]

8 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

No, there is no way that I know of to coordinate this!

As I have said, Azamara always provides a space and a time.

It is on embarkation day and it is 5 pm generally.

It IS listed in the insider.  
Tell your roll call members to keep an eye on the Insider and show up for the time listed in the Insider on embarkation day.

It is what it is……!

 

I find it so odd that the time and place for the get together will be listed in the Insider - even if the ship has no idea that someone has organized one. As you said:  It is what it is.😉

 

Thanks for your suggestion to seek out the F & B Manager. I'll be sure to do that.

I'll make name tags as you did last December.

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mackdogmolly]

1 hour ago, tgg said:

 

I find it so odd that the time and place for the get together will be listed in the Insider - even if the ship has no idea that someone has organized one. As you said:  It is what it is.😉

 

Thanks for your suggestion to seek out the F & B Manager. I'll be sure to do that.

I'll make name tags as you did last December.

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, at least they reserve a space!

[takemewithyou]

6 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

Well, at least they reserve a space!

It’s sort of like how they provide a time and space for other get togethers, like singles, Friends of Bill, LBGTQ+, etc.  These are unhosted passenger led groups that are given a place and time to meet.  

[tyler6597]

20 hours ago, tgg said:

If you've planned a M&M recently, I'd appreciate your help. We have 24 people (so far) on the Dec. 12 Onward sailing who would like to get together.

 

Who did you contact shoreside?

What time did you choose?  After sailaway, during sailaway, first sea day?

What location were you given? Did you have a choice? (The Library on Onward is gone.)

Of the people who signed up, how many attended?

Was there someone to serve drinks, snacks?

 

I'd appreciate help with any details I've failed to ask about.😃

 

Thanks.

Toni

 

 

Toni, you're doing an excellent job and since I've organized so many of these, I would be glad to help you out in any way. When the ship was handling this the only thing, I had to do was put a list of attendees together. The ship did the rest. I will help any way I can.

Tyler

[tgg]

28 minutes ago, tyler6597 said:

Toni, you're doing an excellent job and since I've organized so many of these, I would be glad to help you out in any way. When the ship was handling this the only thing, I had to do was put a list of attendees together. The ship did the rest. I will help any way I can.

Tyler

Thanks for the offer of help Tyler. 

 

Those of us who are Azamara veterans remember the great parties the ship hosted; many senior officers were there.  There were invitations in your cabin when you boarded. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served by waiters.

 

On last December's cruise, we had a great group of people who came. Lots of dinner plans were made. Conversations were lively rather than awkward. And it was then nice to see people around the ship that we had met that first night.

 

 

[wjfan417]

15 minutes ago, tgg said:

Thanks for the offer of help Tyler. 

 

Those of us who are Azamara veterans remember the great parties the ship hosted; many senior officers were there.  There were invitations in your cabin when you boarded. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served by waiters.

 

On last December's cruise, we had a great group of people who came. Lots of dinner plans were made. Conversations were lively rather than awkward. And it was then nice to see people around the ship that we had met that first night.

 

 

We had drinks and hors d’oeuvres served at our Cruise Critic get together on our Best of the Med cruise on Pursuit sailing on 9/25. Unfortunately, even though I reminded everyone to check The Insider as soon as they boarded, there were only 4 of us at the event. Lots of food and drinks wasted! 

[Mackdogmolly]

3 minutes ago, wjfan417 said:

We had drinks and hors d’oeuvres served at our Cruise Critic get together on our Best of the Med cruise on Pursuit sailing on 9/25. Unfortunately, even though I reminded everyone to check The Insider as soon as they boarded, there were only 4 of us at the event. Lots of food and drinks wasted! 

They seem to schedule it at sail away, which is the worst possible time, IMO. 

[wjfan417]

1 minute ago, Mackdogmolly said:

They seem to schedule it at sail away, which is the worst possible time, IMO. 

Ours was actually about 1/2 hour after Sailaway.

[Mackdogmolly]

Oh, that would be perfect.

[takemewithyou]

On my Pursuit cruise in June,  Ireland Intensive, we didn’t sail the first night.  We overnighted in Dublin.  I wasn’t sure how that would impact attendance.  I think it did affect it somewhat, but we still had a good crowd.

 

I do agree that if the weather is good and you are sailing out of a scenic port, the meet and greet being held at that time of sailaway, is not good.  People want to be out on deck.

 

At this point, Azamara is just doing the perfunctory gesture of putting out a time and offering a place to meet in the newsletter.  That is it.  Many other cruise lines don’t even do that.  So, that’s why I say…it is what it is.  
 

And yes, I remember those earlier meet and greets where officers were there and the Hotel Manager or Cruise Director used to lead the event, but those days are gone.

[takemewithyou]

I suppose, if someone had a big suite and wanted to offer up their suite for a party, you could host a Cruise Critic gathering there and the butler would help supply appetizers, etc.  It would have to be planned with the butler and done on some other day, rather than on embarkation.  Individual invitations could be sent to cabins if participants were willing to give out their cabin numbers.  It’s a lot of work and effort to organize.

Edited October 14, 2023 by takemewithyou

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, takemewithyou said:

I suppose, if someone had a big suite and wanted to offer up their suite for a party, you could host a Cruise Critic gathering there and the butler would help supply appetizers, etc.  It would have to be planned with the butler and done on some other day, rather than on embarkation.  Individual invitations could be sent to cabins if participants were willing to give out their cabin numbers.  It’s a lot of work and effort to organize.

We did that when we got a CW with a surprisingly small upgrade — but not on the first day. Only after we had gotten to know people through roll call shore excursions. The butler said there was a limit on how many people, but he brought more food than we all could eat and between our Champagne and other contributions we had more than enough to drink too!

[tyler6597]

The Meet & Greets on RCCL were always held the first day at sea which worked out fine. I organized one on the Independence of the seas out of Puerto Rica that was held at 10 am on the first day at sea and there were at least 80 or more people who attended. After the M & G, 40 participants including their spouses and friends went down to the casino where I held a slot pull and 2 of the people hit the slot for $400.00 and $600.00 so it was a very good day and a great cruise. 

Tyler

[uktog]

Azamara is a destination intensive line.  Therefore the first sea day may not even happen - some itineraries have no sea days or alternatively the day is very late.  There is also a view that whereas on mega ships a get together was needed, on Azamara it is very easy to connect with guests and a structured event is not needed.  Add to that the range of venues available on a smaller vessel is not high - the cabaret lounge can be needed for rehearsals, there can be other groups that have formal arrangements with Azamara (eg Music at Sea) and now there is no library on one ship.  

I guess Azamara now believe people can sort themselves out but they do offer one slot albeit usually at or just after sailaway.  It has the same status as a Friends of Bill - space but no officers

[wjfan417]

I did organize several group tours on a Quest cruise last year-Southampton to Lisbon. There were about 25 people total among all the excursions. The HD referred me to the concierge who booked a time and venue for me so that we could put a face to the name of the people going on excursions with us. They also asked if it was ok for officers to attend, so I said sure. We ended up with about 1/2 dozen officers.

 

[tgg]

10 minutes ago, wjfan417 said:

I did organize several group tours on a Quest cruise last year-Southampton to Lisbon. There were about 25 people total among all the excursions. The HD referred me to the concierge who booked a time and venue for me so that we could put a face to the name of the people going on excursions with us. They also asked if it was ok for officers to attend, so I said sure. We ended up with about 1/2 dozen officers.

 

 

Sounds like it worked out perfectly for you. On our cruise, people have huge amounts of OBC so nobody has organized private tours. That said, it will be fun to put names with faces and meet the people who've been posting on the roll call.