Central America Group Cruise:Thanksgiving 2007

[Sailfish]

Thanksgiving 2007 Central America Group Cruise

Cruise Critic will be offering an 8 day group cruise to Central America departing from Fort Lauderdale aboard the Carnival Legend on November 15, 2007. Cruise with family or friends over the Thanksgiving holiday to Costa Rica, Belize and Panama; an 8 day cruise for the price of 7!

As with most Carnival groups, you can book this cruise for $25pp (on standard double occupancy staterooms). You'll get low-season 2006 pricing on a holiday sailing during Thanksgiving 2007. Many schools districts have that week off; chances are you won't even have to take an entire week off from work to go on this cruise. Think about - what a great family gift to give for Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah this year!

Besides being a great value, you'll have four relaxing days at sea. If you've ever dreamed of kayaking the watershed of the Panama Canal, fishing for fresh water bass in GatunLake, or seeing two oceans in one hour by traveling the Isthmian Railroad, the world's first Trans-Continental railroad located in Panama, this is your opportunity. Discover the natural beauty of Costa Rica by zip line through the rain forest, or better yet, visit the sloth sanctuary on kayak. In Belize, go scuba diving, cave tubing on the mainland or check out the Mayan Ruins at Xunantunich. What ever you do, it's bound to be a trip of a lifetime!

For more information, I would encourage you to visit the Group Forum. Please don't hesitate to email the group leader if you have questions (See Signature below for link); please put "Central America Group Cruise" on the subject line.

Pricing:

Single (Cat 1A): $ 939 pp

Inside (Cat 4A): $ 679 pp

Inside (Cat 4B): $ 719 pp

Oceanview (Cat 6A): $ 809 pp

Balcony (Cat 8A): $ 929 pp

Balcony (Cat 8B): $ 979 pp

Mini-Suite (Cat 11): $ 1499 pp

Penthouse Suite (Cat 12): $ 2019 pp

 

Rates are based on double occupancy and include the port charges and gov’t fees.

 

3rd/4th passenger rates are subject to change….currently the rates are as follows:

Inside (Cat 4A and 4B): $ 549 pp

Oceanview (Cat 6A): $ 579 pp

Balcony (Cat 8A and 8B): $ 599 pp

Suites (Cat 11 and 12): $ 629 pp

The Carnival Legend: Ship Info

LEGEND'S FEATURES AND FACILITIES

 

In all, Carnival Legend features twelve passenger decks plus four decks below for machinery and crew spaces. The Atrium stretches over ten decks. The Follies main lounge, which is three decks high, seats 1,170 guests. A new design feature for this 'Spirit-class' ship is the location of the secondary lounge/night club - the Firebird Lounge - underneath the main lounge.

 

The main Truffles Restaurant, is two decks high and seats altogether some 1,300 guests. In order to achieve this, the galley was positioned below the restaurant using escalators for service.

 

The Golden Fleece is a 'steakhouse'-style supper club located at the top of a soaring ten-deck-high atrium and housed under a red-tinted glass dome that forms the forward portion of the Carnival Legend's massive winged funnel. The Unicorn Café behind the main pool area is a casual Lido-area has a variety of special dining areas for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and 24-hour pizza and ice cream.

 

There is the two-level health and fitness centre, the Fountain of Youth Spa, four swimming pools, one featuring a retractable dome, five whirlpools, a large casino and more than ten themed bars, lounges and public areas for activities and entertainment. In addition, there is a shopping area, a wedding chapel and large facilities for children and youngsters. There is also a library, a conference centre and a cascading water slide.

 

Here's What Cruise Critic Says About The Legend:

 

Overview

The central theme of the third in Carnival's "Spirit-class," ships is great legends of the world. The "Legend" theme carries throughout Carnival Legend's 12 passenger decks, 16 lounges, bars and nightspots, four swimming pools, a corkscrew water slide, an Internet cafe, a 14,500-square-foot health spa and salon, indoor and outdoor promenades, a nine-deck-high atrium, an on-board golf program, a duty-free shopping mall, wedding chapel, a video arcade, and an 1,800-square-foot children's play area.

 

Eighty percent of the Carnival Legend's staterooms offer an ocean view with 80 percent of those featuring private balconies. Carnival Cruise Lines currently has five new ships on order or under construction, including a fourth "Spirit-class" ship, Carnival Miracle, and four 110,000-ton "Conquest-class" ships - Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor and an as-yet-unnamed vessel.

 

Dining

Three restaurants, including an expansive poolside eatery featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives and a 24-hour pizzeria, a two-level 1,250-seat full-service dining room with extensive menus and wine lists, and an intimate "steakhouse-style" supper club offering U.S.D.A. prime aged beef, along with crab claws from Miami Beach's world famous Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, are available, as well.

 

Cabins

Eighty percent of the cabins are outside and 80 percent of those staterooms have private balconies. Interesting to note that inside cabins measure the same 185 square feet as outsides without verandahs. Balcony cabins increase to 225 square feet, including the verandah. There are 58 suites in three categories starting at 360 feet and going up to 465 square feet (including a wrap around terrace).

 

All staterooms and suites are tastefully furnished with twin beds that convert to a queen, large closets, plenty of drawer space, televisions and refrigerators, plus the usual amenities found on new vessels (telephones, private safes, tub and shower or shower only, depending on category). Suites (Categories 11 and 12) include separate dressing and sitting areas, refrigerators, double sinks and bathtubs, as well as showers, and large balconies. Good design and soft lighting add to a feeling of spaciousness in interior staterooms (Category 4). Category 5 staterooms are outside and have French doors that open but views are obstructed.

 

Entertainment

Carnival Legend offers 16 lounges and bars with a variety of themes to fit any mood or taste. As you enter the ship, you are greeted by the bar in the nine-deck-high Colossus Atrium, which is dominated by a towering mural of the Colossus of Rhodes. Popular for pre-dinner cocktails, the Odyssey and Atlantis lounges offer quiet, intimate venues with live music and the same Greek neoclassical design elements found in the atrium. Club Merlin Casino, the medieval-themed gaming area has a castle-like atmosphere complete with a suit of armor standing sentinel at the bar and shields bearing crossed swords and a knight's helmet mounted on the walls.

 

Catch one of two original productions created especially for Carnival Legend in Follies, the main show lounge on Promenade Deck. Recalling the days of the magnificent movie houses of the 1920s, Follies evokes the feeling of an open courtyard in a Mediterranean villa. Arches, turrets and stained-glass chandeliers create an opulent, expansive space while providing excellent sightlines.Satchmo's Club is a great place to unwind with some soft dance music.

 

Named after legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the club is decorated to resemble an old New Orleans bar with exposed brick, wrought-iron details, ceiling fans, cafe curtains and a false skylight recreating the ambiance of the Big Easy. Adorning the walls are black-and-white photos of Armstrong at different stages of his career. Next door, the Dream Team bar offers plush, overstuffed sofas and comfortable bar stools to provide the perfect vantage points to quaff a brew and catch up on the latest sporting events.

 

Billie's piano bar is an intimate, art deco-styled club where the piano player is the center of attention and everybody is a crooner. A stylish tribute to blues singer Billie Holiday, the centerpiece of the room is the stainless-steel musical bar lined with notes and a faux 1930s-era oversized microphone decorates each table.

 

Late-night comedy acts appear in the Firebird Lounge, taking its theme from the old Russian folktale of a talented seamstress from a small village who is turned into a bird by an evil sorcerer, the Firebird is decorated with replica hand-painted Russian lacquered boxes, accented by lamps with frosted glass globes painted on the inside to create a soft glow.

 

Don't let the giant three-and-a-half foot-high Medusa heads with strands of snake-like hair capped with a snake's head with lighted eyes keep you out of the rocking Medusa's Lair dance club. The wall of closed-circuit televisions flash images from the dance floor mixed with videos and special effects, while the sound system plays the latest dance music and a sophisticated light system makes the Medusa heads appear to move and change expression.

 

Fitness and Recreation

The Fountain of Youth Spa, the 14,500-square-foot two-level health center encompassing the forward area of Lido Deck 9 and Sun Deck 10, providing ocean views to exercisers. The gym is well-equipped with stationary bicycles, treadmills, and rowing, stair-climbing and Keiser pneumatic progressive resistance machines, as well as free weights and dumbbells.

 

Adjacent to the workout area is a mirrored aerobics room, used especially for a series of exercise classes, including low-and high-impact aerobics, yoga, spinning, and stretching and relaxation sessions, some of these classes have an additional fee per person so check prior to sign-up. The Steiner-operated spa offers a variety of "European-style" treatments, including "aroma stone therapy," full body and scalp massages, seaweed wraps, mudpacks, and various slimming and toning therapies.

 

Also housed within the spa are 10 private treatment/massage rooms, complete locker facilities, sauna and steam rooms, and a full-service beauty salon. The ship features four swimming pools and four whirlpools -- one available in the spa itself and three others on Lido Deck 9 - as well as a padded jogging track encircling Sports Deck 11. During the day, Lido Deck provides a medieval theme in the Avalon Bar, located mid-ship and serving a variety of frothy, tropical concoctions. Corresponding to the theme are statues of a medieval castle at the Camelot Pool, an armored knight at the Avalon Pool and the figure of the mythological horned horse at the aft Unicorn Pool. Camelot Pool has a retractable domed ceiling in the event of inclement weather.

 

Family

CampCarnival is centered on a 2,400-square foot enclosed play area on Deck 5, away from adult activities. The Fun House is headquarters to a supervised program, divided by age groups, offering children's activities for ages 2 to 15. with a bottom of the sea theme. Three areas are connected by tunnels: one area for crafts, a second one for computer games and a third one for games and a video wall for movies and cartoons. One deck below is an arcade with both virtual-reality and video games. An outdoor play area offers mini-basketball, jungle gyms and other playground equipment. A children's wading pool and a corkscrew water slide are also available for fun at sea. Teenagers had overnight slumber parties among their menu of activities. Carnival offers a Fountain Fun card, good for unlimited soft drinks during a one-week voyage for $19.95. Baby-sitting for children ages 2 and over from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Fun House ($5 for the first child and $3 for each additional child in the same family).

 

Fellow Passengers

A broad crisscross of (mostly) middle America; according to Carnival, 30% of its passengers are under 35, 40% are between 35-55 and 30% are over 55.

 

Dress Code

Suggested attire for a one week cruise is two "formal" evenings. Most men opt for jackets and ties. "Resort casual" is suggested for the rest of the evenings - you'll frequently see jeans worn to dinner.

 

Gratuity

Carnival recommends $3.50 per person, per day to the waiter; $2 per person per day to the assistant waiter; $3.50 per person, per day to the cabin steward. A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

[Sailfish]

How Do I Go About Booking this Cruise?

 

When you are ready to make your reservation, please contact our official Cruise Critic group agent, Neal, at CruCon at 1-800-493-6609 . If you do so soon, it will cost you only $25pp to hold a standard double occupancy stateroom.

 

Keep in mind that CruCon is on the East Coast and Neal get's very busy. Please don't hesitate to leave him a message if he's not able to take your call; he's very good about returning phone calls and will take good care of you. I have been doing business with CruCon for years; they are a well established cruise-only agency who still offers a level of personal service you don't find too often from web-based agencies. Please don't hesitate to call Neal if you have any questions or concerns about your booking. I have found him to be extremly helpful and very professional.

 

When you call, make sure you give Neal the following information:

 

Ship: Carnival Legend

Sail Date: November 15, 2007

Group Name: Cruise Critic

Group Leader: Suzi

[Sailfish]

We now have a Group Cruise Brochure in WORD ready to go for the 2007 Thanksgiving Group Cruise aboard the Carnival Legend. If you'd like to share this information with family or friends, I recommend you print out a copy of our brochure.

 

Simply send me an email with CC Group Cruise/Legend Brochure Request on the subject line and I will attach it to my reply. You can access my email address by clicking on the email prompt in my signature.

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

Like many people reading this posting, I have never been aboard the Carnival Legend. For the benefit of people looking for information specific to the ship, we have a one stop review thread at our group forum. I would encourage anyone interested in this group cruise to check this out.

 

Postings include the good along with the bad - isn't that how it is with most ships? Take what you read with a grain of salt, and try to read between the lines. It's definitely worth checking out if you are seriously considering booking this trip.

 

Legend Cruise Reviews

 

Good luck!

[Sailfish]

I got a request to post information about Carnival's kid's program, so here it is.

 

Camp Carnival Information

 

Camp Carnival, the kid's program aboard Carnival ships, will be available to children ages 2-14. The program aboard the Legend is divided into four groups: 2-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds, 9-11 year olds and 12-14 year olds. Kids over 15 years of age will have some evening social activites planned, like Karaoke or the Disco, but this age group does not have many organized activities for obvious reasons.

 

Camp Carnival is in session most evenings and all day on days at sea. There is a staff of people who manage and coordinate all the activities; they are rotated every three or four months. They are sub-contracted through a company that owns and operates day care centers all over the US, I'm told. All staff speaks fluent english; most are from the US. Camp Carnival staff, unlike other employees, work only for Camp Carnival (many of the entertainment staff - dancers, etc. - work in the gift shop or have other duties elswhere). All Camp Carnival staff have at the minimum a two year associate degree in Child Development and under-go mandatory cruise line training (an intership) similar to what most daycare center require.

 

According to one director I spoke with on a previous cruise, over holiday periods (Christmas and spring break), there can be an many as 900 kids under 18 on the Legend! During peak season, May through September, the Legend averages 500 kids a week. Not all kids participate in Camp Carnival, and those that do, attendance is around 50%.

 

After completing the check-in process, your child will be issued a Sail & Sign card (shipboard account) that also doubles as a room key. Most parents request that their young kids NOT be allowed to have credit, while others limit the amount their kids can spend. If you do not closely monitor your child's shipboard account (which you can do via the TV in your room through their automated system), you could find a large tab waiting for you at check-out! One 12 year old on our last cruise bought video game time and goodies for friends! Your child will also be issued a special color-coded bracelet that lets kid's staff know which muster station to take your child in the event of an emergency.

 

A schedule of activities is published every week. Activities four younger kids tend to be seasonal. The following is a brief summary of the program. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

2 to 5 Year Olds

 

On the first day, parents (at least one) must check between 8:15pm- 10pm to register their kids for Camp Carnival. All age groups must attend. There is a "Welcome Aboard Pary" and Ice Cream Social from around 8:15pm to 9:30pm, but you are welcome to skip this and come to Late Registration from 9:30-10:00pm. You can easily manage this the first night and go right after dinner (you might have to leave a little early depending on when you eat) if you don't wish to attend the "Welcome Aboard Party".

 

All parents of 2-5 year old's will be issued a beeper, as diapers or accidents are the responsibility of parents. Staff will not hesitate to beep you if your child has an accident, or becomes ill or distraught. As teacher to child ratios are not "officially" regulated as they are at preschools here in the US, the director told me that they try to have no more than 5 toddlers per adult (2-3 year olds).

 

On the two days we are at sea, the kid's program begins at 9am and continues through 10pm. There is circle time, movement, arts and crafts, movies, manipulatives and science activities, similar to those at pre-schools and day care centers. The "Fun Club" -classroom area - is closed for lunch from 12-2pm and from 5:00-5:45 in the evening. Supervised dinner is from 5:45-6:45 up at buffet followed by activities. There is NO rest time built into the program on days at sea, as kids who need to nap are encouraged to go back to their rooms with parents

 

On days we are in port, there is supervised free play (babysitting) , but few structured activities in the morning AND there is a $6 per hour fee. Afternoon activities include

quiet time (aka nap time) and after 3pm, structured activities. All children must be signed in and out by the same person; Sail & Sign cards must be shown as proof of identification.

 

6-8 Year Olds

 

The kid's program aboard the Legend is very highly rated for elementary school aged kids. Staff do a great job in keeping the kids occupied. A schedule of activities is published weekly and include typical elementary school activities such as arts & crafts, games, "Exerseas" (outdoor Physical Education), language arts activities like word games, story time, videos, filed trips to meet the ship's officers and a talent show to name a few. The student to teacher ratio is around 30 to 1, but I have been told to expect better ratios on our sailing in December.

 

Please note that kid's with severe ADD or ADHD have difficulty in these types of programs; as a former elementary school teacher, I would recommend you share your child's needs with staff. Staff will not tolerate behavior problems and will not hesitate to contact you if there is a problem. If all this seems a little harsh, keep in mind staffing is very limited, and high maintenance kids can pose safety problems. On days we are in port, kids can be left on the ship for a $6 per hour babysitting fee. There is minimal staff of days we are in port, and ALL age groups are together (I'm told only a very small number of kids remain on the ship - mainly kids under 4). Afternoon activities, while in port commence around 1pm, but as so few kids are usually there, they put on a video or cartoons for the kids until around 3pm. From 3pm on, activities continue well into the night. Kids 2-5 and 6-8 have a sign-in/sign-out policy, meaning the same person who signs in your child must also sign him or her out.

 

9-11 Year Olds

 

Once enrolled in Camp Carnival, 9-11 year olds are free to come and go on their own from activities; however, they must sign themselves in and out stating their reason for leaving. The Camp Carnival Director aboard the Valor last February said they have a lot of problems with this age group along with the 12-14 year olds at night; kids frequently will roam the ship unsupervised in packs around 9pm through midnight, causing all kinds of problems (riding up and down on elevators, running in the hallway, etc). The staff asks that parents keep track of their kids whereabouts at all time (one way to do this is with a walkie talkie) and to insist they have something to do.

 

Besides the kid's center, there is a game room the kids can go to, they can attend a show, go to movie (which they have set up every night for the kids), hang out at the pizza place, or play volleyball or basketball up at the sports court. There are a few jacuzzi's the kids can use and the pool remains open until 10pm, so they can also go swimming under the stars (no life guard or supervision out by the pool, though)! So, there are places the kids can go to and hang out besides Camp Carnival. Please keep in mind that I am getting this information via email from Carnival. This may not exactly be the case when we sail on the Legend 19 months from now; this information is simply meant to give you some idea of what to expect.

 

Security is out in force at night especially. Kids causing trouble (if caught) are rounded up (after a few warnings) and parents are notified - they leave a message on the telephone in your cabin. The kids remain with security until you come and get them - in the office by the brig (yes, I'm told the Legend does have a brig)! Because Carnival has had a lot of problems in the past with roudy young adults, they have really cracked down on this sort of behavior. You might want to discuss appropriate behavior and consequences in advance of the cruise with your kids. Even the most well behaved kids can be influenced by trouble makers. Remember, kids from all over will be on this cruise - most are well behaved, but there are always a few "bad apples" on every cruise.

 

As far as activities go, there is a lot of arts and crafts and science activities as well as "Exerseas" - volleyball, basketball, aerobics, putting competitions, water balloons, relay races, etc. There are scavenger hunts, pizza and ice cream parties, karaoke, supervised computer and game boy time, brain teasers, board games, "Pride Idol", novel quest, etc. The staff strongly encourages kids who are enrolled in Camp Carnival to remain with the group, and plan fun things for them to do at night.

 

After completing the check-in process at the pier, your 9-11 year old will be issued a Sail & Sign card (shipboard account) that also doubles as a room key and an ID bracelet. As stated earlier, most parents limit their kid's shipboard credit account to a few dollars a day. You can add money to the account anytime, by going to the guest relations desk. This is a good opportunity to teach your kids about saving and budgeting in advance of the cruise; many parents insist their kids use their own money (allowance or birthday money) for this purpose. There are also many parents who would rather their kids NOT have any credit on their shipboard accounts. There isn't much your kids will spend money on while on the cruise (except in the video arcade), especially if you purchase them a soda card, which allows them to get soda anytime. Your kids can obtain milk, fruit punch and lemonade for free anytime, and lots of parents prefer their kids to drink this over soda.

 

The video arcade is very expensive, and kids with credit have been known to purchase game time for friends, racking up huge tabs. The biggest culprits are this age group! If you want to insure this does not happen to your kids, limit the amount of money your offspring have in their accounts. This is a huge problem on all ships, but as parents you can speak to your kids well before the cruise and set strict limits on their spending. And you can monitor your kid's account on the TV in your cabin.

 

Teens

 

Kids over the age 12 are grouped with the teens (for better or for worse). If your child is already 12 but would prefer to be with 9-11 year olds, you can go to the Camp Carnival Orientation the first night of the cruise and ask if this will be possible. But don't get your hopes up. If enrollment is low, they may say yes; however Camp Carnival staff has been known to be inflexible.

 

There is a teen orientation meeting (no parents allowed) at 8:15pm-9:15pm in one of the lounges the first night of the cruise and a welcome aboard party at 9:15pm-10:15pm in the Disco. There are day and evening activities which are loosely planned for

this age group every day that include games, midnight movies, a "tropical" deck party, a pajama party ( many 12-14 year old boys think this is "lame" until they get there - mostly girls attend), dance classes, a talent show, karaoke, ice cream eating contests, board games, ping pong, volleyball, basketball, a late night pool party, etc. A schedule of activities for the week will be given to the kids the first night of the cruise and you can pick up a copy at the Guest Relations desk.

 

12-16 year olds are allowed in the gym when accompanied by an adult. You have to be over 18 to gamble in the casino and over 21 to consume alcohol. Midnight shows are rated "R" and you must be 18 years of age to attend.

 

Although this varies from week to week, participation in structured activities is usually low. Either kids hit it off the first night or they don't. Younger kids tend to participate more than older teens, and of those that do come to the planned activities, the vast majority are girls.

 

The director aboard the Valor mentioned that the biggest problem they face is underage drinking. Older friends buying or giving younger kids alcohol. Kids as young as 12 have been seen getting sick late at night (parents for the most part never know this is happening, unless they catch the kids in the act). Another issue is rowdy behavior. Security has a zero tolerance policy in place when it comes to disruptive behavior, and have gone as far as to ask families with trouble makers to disembark at the next port of call.

 

Security is out in force at night especially. Kids causing trouble (if caught) are rounded up (after a few warnings) and parents are notified - they leave a message on the telephone in your cabin. The kids remain with security until you come and get them - in the office by the brig (yes, the Valor does have a brig)! Because Carnival has had a lot of problems in the past with rowdy young adults, they have really cracked down on this sort of behavior.

 

Most kids have a great time, and although they may not always

participate in group activities, it's nice to know there is a lot for them to do at night. Older teens like to hang out with friends and talk. You'll see them in small groups all over the ship at night in mixed groups. Younger teens frequently are in same sex groups; 12-14 year old girls love to share make-up and beauty products and take turns hosting spa parties in their cabins in the evening, attend shows and go to many of the dances and parties. 12-14 year old boys are often found in the arcade or up at the sports court at night. If you know your kid is into arcade games, set a limit as too how much they can spend there; it can be very expensive!

 

It's going to be very important to speak to your teens concerning

their shipboard account. Most parents I have spoken to require their teen to spend their OWN money - most save their money, give it to their parents who the deposit it onto their shipboard account on a daily basis to insure they have money to spend every day. It's important to note that the arcade is very expensive - your teen may want to establish a limit in advance of the cruise as to how much they will spend there. I am told that $25 won't last very long in the arcade! If your teen drinks a lot of soda, a soda card is the way to go - I'll post the price later.

 

Some items your teen may wish to pack are tropical clothing for the themed party, walkie talkies and a lanyard for their Sail & Sign/room key card (the kind we use at work for our ID's). Girls might want to pack some spa items (masks, lotions, make-up and stuff like that to sahe with friends). And plenty of $$$ for souvenirs and pictures.

 

Please don't hseitate to contact me if you have questions.

[Sailfish]

I got an email yesterday from a person who had concerns about commiting to a cruise this far out. I know some of you are not sure about this cruise yet - 19 months is a long ways away; a lot can change between now and then. Many people reading this information will wait for months before putting down a deposit, and that's okay. Chances are good that our group pricing will remain intact with good inventory for around 8 months, so technically there's no rush. However, remember, you'll have to post a $300pp deposit if you do so after the $25pp deposit promotion expires.

 

The $25 deposit promotion will last only a month or two - this is done to encourage more people to book into the group. It's a great deal, as this too is 100% refundable in the event it turns out you can't go. For $50 you can establish your booking, and have an entire YEAR to decide! You need to do what is in your best interest, and I can't say what that is or will be. It's up to you to make that decision. In the mean time, please don't hesitate to contatc me if you have any other questions.

 

Good luck!

[Sailfish]

Booking Update

 

Although the $25pp booking promotion will be expiring soon, our group inventory looks good for a long time to come. If you have not deposited this cruise yet, but are looking to do so, I would recommend you contact Neal, our agent at CruCon soon as the $25pp deposit will be expiring in the weeks to come. The cruise line initially only gives groups about a month to offer members this reduced deposit incentive, and although we expect to extend it by a few weeks, it probably won't get another extenion.

 

For now, I got it extended until April 21st, but I expect that I should be able to get another (and final) extention to go through mid-May. After that, the full $300pp will be required to reserve this voyage. Group pricing and amenities will remain the same, but you will be asked to put down the full deposit.

 

Remember, all monies paid into your booking up to 70 days prior to our voyage is 100% refundable. I recommend you contact Neal our group agent for more details at 1-800-493-6609.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Please keep those emails coming - I am happy to address your questions. Some inquirries include the following that I thought I would share with you.

 

1. Is this going to be a Family Friendly cruise? Will there be a lot of kids on board?

 

Yes, you will see quite a few families and many children on this voyage, though probably not as many as you would on a seven night Western Caribbean cruise. Since many school districts have the week off for Thanksgiving, you can expect to see multi-generational groups on board, lots of couples and quite a few singles.

 

 

2. I am concerned about having four days at sea; will there be enough to keep me occupied?

 

This question comes up a lot from people who have never taken a cruise before and are concerned about being stuck on a ship at sea for four days. If you have young kids, you have nothing to worry about, as they will have structured activities all day to keep them busy.

 

Adults and older teens are a different story, so it helps to know what you can expect. I recommend you do a little online research to get a feeling of what activities Carnival schedules through out the day. The truth is, not everyone enjoys sitting out on the deck with a good book, or will spend the day at the spa or in the casino. So it's important to come prepared.

 

First off, let's looks at our itinerary:

 

Thursday - Ft Lauderdale (pt Evrglds), Fl

Friday - Fun Day At Sea

Saturday - Fun Day At Sea

Sunday - Colon, Panama

Monday - Limon, Costa Rica

Tuesday - Fun Day At Sea

Wednesday - Belize

Thursday - Fun Day At Sea

Friday - Ft Lauderdale (pt Evrglds), Fl

 

Right off the bat, we will have two consecutive days at sea before we arrive in Panama, our first port of call. Since many people on the ship will be coming from a cold climate, you can expect a very large percentage of people to spend the first two days at sea by the pool. If this is not your cup of tea, the ship will offer an activity just about once an hour. Like I said, the cruise line knows the #1 thing to do is to soak up some rays by the pool during the day.

 

I for one enjoy doing things - and it's not napkin folding or bingo! Though I also plan to spend time by the pool, I am not the type of person to do so all day. So, I plan my pool time in the morning (with a good book), when I am able to easily locate a lounge chair. Then in the afternoon, I will go to the fitness center and make arrangements to visit the spa one afternoon (not on formal night). Activities like volleyball and basketball are always scheduled for mid-afternoon as are some fitness classes, so I usually set aside some time for this.

 

The second day at sea will be similar to the first. The third and fourth days will be spent busy in port. Then we will have another day at sea before arriving in Belize. Our last day at sea will be Thanksgiving - a nice way to end the voyage.

 

3. What Group Activities can I expect?

 

The Cruise Line will be scheduling a group coctail party early in the evening on a day we are at sea. I will be notified of the date, time and location which I will pass along to you about a month prior to the cruise. This information will posted at our Group Forum. It lasts about an hour with an open bar.

 

As your group leader, I will also be hosting a BYOB Sail Away party immediately following the lifeboat drill. I will provide the appetizers, you will need to come by with your free champagne or buy drinks from the bar - on Spirit class ships like the Legend, I always host this by the bar at the aft pool area. This (optional) albeit casual get together will allow us to meet one another at the start of the voyage.

 

I will be offering one optional group shore excursion, coordinated for us by ShoreTrips.com at one of our ports of call - based on a poll (please vote for you choice of ports).

 

That's it. I try not not to over do it when it comes to activities - this is your vacation! Prior to our departure date I will make available to you our group cruise handbook - in WORD format - similar to our group brochure. In it will have the dates and times for our group events, as well as any optional group activities our members plan. On past group cruises, members planned coctail parties, scavenger hunts, and poker parties. Not everyone participated, but enough people did to make it worthwhile. Having four days at sea allows for members to attend these types of functions. I will begin putting together our group handbook around 16 weeks prior to our cruise - I will be happy to post your activity in the handbook and make recommendations as to where and when to host it.

 

Scuba Diving in Belize

 

We will be offering a private group dive package in Belize for certified scuba divers; a maximum of 12 divers to Ambergris Caye in an all day fly/dive package. If you are interested, please check out the posting entitled Belize Scuba Diving Package information at our group forum.

 

This Month at our Group Forum

 

Please check out this month's new articles at our group forum:

 

Cruise Reviews

 

Camp Carnival's Kid's & Teen Program

 

US Passport Information & Links to Application

 

Conclusion

 

That's it for now. Please don't hesitate to hit the reply button if you have a question or to email me (see my signature for link). I'm off on spring break for the remainder of the week - stuck at home doing home improvement projects and dealing with contractors mostly. Have a great month!

 

Suzi

Your Group Leader

[JacDro]

Am thinking about booking this cruise as a Christmas gift for my family -- could you email the brochure to jacdro@aol.com. Thanks so much. There would be at least 8 of us -- possibly 12.

 

Will keep you posted on my progress with booking.

 

Jacki

[Sailfish]

Am thinking about booking this cruise as a Christmas gift for my family -- could you email the brochure to jacdro@aol.com. Thanks so much. There would be at least 8 of us -- possibly 12.

 

Will keep you posted on my progress with booking.

 

Jacki

 

I just sent it off. Good luck.

[Sailfish]

Separate rooms for the kids?

 

The issue of placing older children into separate cabins was something I looked into for my last group aboard the Pride in February, and thought I would share this information with you. This arrangement worked out well for the parents opting to do this in our group, but I have heard of issues concerning other groups.

 

As you probably already know, the $25pp deposit applies only to double occupancy cabin guarantees. If you want to book a triple or a quad or want two adjacent cabins (with a door inside connecting the two cabins), the cruise line requires you to plunk down a $300pp deposit; only about 25% of cabins allow for triple and quad occupancy and very few cabins have adjoining doors - they too must be confirmed cabin assignments.

 

Since we also had many families coming along, most people with kids opted for two cabins instead of cramming three or four into a stateroom. In our group of 67 people, only one family put four into a room, and by mid-cruise, regretted doing so.

 

First of all, be aware that when initially you put down $25pp to secure your booking, you are not getting an assigned cabin. That means, if you put down $50 for one cabin and another $50 for a cabin for your kids, there is no guarantee that your two cabins will be next to one another. In fact, you and your kids could end up on separate floors!

 

The rules require that one adult over the age of 21 be booked with a minor. If you have, for example, two teens, and you are lucky enough to get rooms next to one another, you can go to the Purser's desk and get keys to the other cabins, which will allow you to have your two kids in one room, and you in the other. On the other hand, if one of your cabins ends up on a different floor, you will be hard pressed to get the Purser to okay the switch.

 

Our group agent (not the same one) did an awesome job with our cabin assignments; he was able to get everyone in the group with kids who had two cabins booked into side by side rooms, but it took a lot of extra effort on his behalf. I don't know how Neal, our group TA deals with such issues, so make sure you discuss this with him if you are looking to book two cabins. On our last group cruise, there was one adult booked into each cabin, and immediately after embarkation, a quick visit to the Purser got the kids into one room, the parents into the other. Our members were happy with this arrangement; it worked great for kids ages 10 and up and the parents got some privacy. The families also didn't have to contend with cramped accommodations.

 

So how much more will you end up paying to have your kids in their own cabin? Well, a lot depends on the type of cabin you book for yourself.

 

By far, the best deals are for people willing to book two inside cabins or a balcony and an inside for their kids.

 

I will be referring to our group's prices as I give examples:

 

Inside (Cat 4A): $ 679 pp

Inside (Cat 4B): $ 719 pp

Oceanview (Cat 6A): $ 809 pp

Balcony (Cat 8A): $ 929 pp

Balcony (Cat 8B): $ 979 pp

Mini-Suite (Cat 11): $ 1499 pp

Penthouse Suite (Cat 12): $ 2019 pp

 

3rd/4th passenger rates:

 

Inside (Cat 4A and 4B): $ 549 pp

Oceanview (Cat 6A): $ 579 pp

Balcony (Cat 8A and 8B): $ 599 pp

Suites (Cat 11 and 12): $ 629 pp

 

1. Inside Cabins

 

Two category 4A inside cabins vs. one category 4A cabin with four people:

 

Total cost for two double occupancy cabins: $2716.00

Total cost for 1 quad cabin w/4 passengers: $2456.00

 

The difference in priceis $260. But since you get $200 in shipboard credit ($100 for each cabin), the real total difference is only $60!

 

2. Outside Cabins

 

Two category 6A outside cabins vs. one category 6A cabin with four people:

 

Total cost for two double occupancy cabins: $3236.00

Total cost for 1 quad cabin w/4 passengers: $2776.00

 

The difference in price is $460. But since you get $200 in shipboard credit ($100 for each cabin), the real total difference is $260. This isn't such a good deal, but some people can't live with inside accommodations.

 

3. Balcony & Inside Cabins

 

In our last group, many families opted for an inside cabin for their older teens while the parents booked a balcony. Because the parents had to book balconies at a higher level to accomodate having an inside room across from their balcony (it wasn't possible with 8A's), most found this to be the most cost effective choice.

 

The total cost for one inside 4A room is only $1358.00.

The additional cost to add two people to a balcony is $1198.00

 

The difference in price is $160. But since you get $200 in shipboard credit ($100 for each cabin), you end up saving $40 if you put your kids into a separate room!

[Sailfish]

Since posting information pertaining to this group cruise, I have received several questions concerning passports, so here is the rule concerning this:

US Passport Requirements

This posting will provide you with US Passport information; to assist those who need to either obtain a new passport or wish to renew an expired one. The following information is from the State department's website (see links below).

 

US Passports will be required for ALL voyages after December 31, 2006.

 

New Requirements for Travelers

 

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

 

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

• December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

• December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

 

Here is information pertaining to obtaining a US Passport:

 

General Passport Information from US Department of State

 

Applying for a US Passport for the First Time

 

How to Renew a Passport

 

You can renew an expired passport by mail - simply download the appropriate PDF file and send it along with your check and picture to one of the US Passport Processing Centers.

 

If you have never had a Passport, you will have to visit a US Post Office or a US Passport office. Having the forms filled out and ready to go will speed up the process.

 

Link to US Passport Applications

[Sailfish]

Attention:

Carnival has extended our $25pp deposit promotion until Friday, May 19, 2006.

[Sailfish]

May 2006 Group Update

 

This group cruise is booking up like gangbusters; not a day goes by that I don't respond to email inquiries! With competative pricing, $100 per cabin in shipboard credit and an awesome holiday itinerary, I think a lot of people are deciding to spend Thanksgiving aboard the Legend!

 

The following are some important deadlines to remember:

 

1. The $25pp deposit promotion on double occupancy, non-suite staterooms ends on May 19, 2006. I am hoping to extend this by a another week or so, but I wouldn't wait too long to put down that deposit. Remember, the normal deposit is $300pp on eight night cruises.

 

2. All bookings held with $25pp are required to make a second deposit of $275pp no later than 5/18/07. Once your booking has posted the full deposit, you can request a cabin assignment or remain a "guarantee".

 

3. The final payment due date is August 4, 2007. All monies paid into your booking are 100% refundable up through 8/4/07.

 

Group Shore Excursion

 

We will be offering one private group shore excursion in Costa Rica for our members; the Jungle Canopy & Beach Tour through Shore Trips.

 

This tour is a great combination of physical activity and relaxation. There is a 60-70 minute ride from the cruise ship pier to the starting point of the canopy tour. Please note that this is an all day tour.

 

Once you arrive, you receive your equipment and a safety briefing to make sure you're comfortable. Your tree-top adventure begins as you zip via sturdy cables from platform to platform, beginning in the tree tops and gliding your way down to the beach.

 

Your guide will help you identify the wildlife you are likely to see from your unique tree top perspective. Another view you might not expect is the viewing of the Bri-Bri Indian Village, home of an aboriginal family, who still lives in the traditional thatched home.

 

After the zip line, you've earned some time to relax again, with a break for a snack of tropical fruit, soft drink or coffee at a local lodge and some time to relax at their beach. You may even see a monkey or two!

 

As you make your way back to the pier, you'll stop for about an hour at a beautiful, tropical beach with calm clear waters for swimming, shops for browsing and restaurants if you're hungry or thirsty. A final stop at a banana plantation, including a tour of the packing house, rounds out the tour and leaves you with wonderful memories of your visit to Costa Rica.

 

If you are interested in this all day tour, you must sign-up at our group forum. Space will be limited and on a first come first served basis. You are not confirmed for the tour until you pay (which you can do at our group tour webpage at ShoreTrips.com when it's established). It's way too early to be talking about pre-paying for this tour. But I would like to ask that you sign-up so we can keep track of our numbers. Joann, my Shore Trips rep will let me know the maximum number of people the tour operator can accommdate; I'm guessing no more than 24.

 

For more information about signing up for this fun excursion, please visit the sign-up forum.

 

I Am Booked...Now What?

 

First off, let me begin by saying you are not crazy to book a vacation this far out! You are smart, as you locked in a low price and it only cost you $25pp to hold a double occupancy cabin. You can also enjoy looking forward to an awesome vacation. Between now and then, you should do the following:

 

1. US Passports will be required for this cruise. If you don't already have one, you should plan to apply for one soon, as the cost to obtain a passport is espected to go up. For more information and links to forms, please check out our posting on US Passport Information.

 

2. Research the ports of call. Establish a folder on each port of call and begin collecting information. This makes for a great summer project if you have kids - you'll have a reseident expert on each port of call by the time you cruise!

 

3. Paying for the Cruise. Did you know you can make "payments" to pay off your cruise? It's very easy - simply divide the cost of our cruise by the number of months you will need to pay it off. Then call Neal, our TA at CruCon with your credit or debit card every month, and before you know it, your cacation is paid off! Or better yet, deposit that amount into a savings account!

 

4. Hotel and airfare. Did you know if you are planning to use frequent flyer miles that it's important to book your flights as soon as they are posted - 11 months in advance? Reserving your hotel room may also save you some money, just make sure you don't pre-pay for your accommmodations too far in advance.

 

5. Dieting? It's a thought...I had a friend lose 80 lbs prior to her cruise which she booked 16 months in advance. The cruise was her best motivator!

[vesw01]

Would you please drop me an email to vesw01@charter.net

 

We actually have 5 kids- we can't do 3 cabins - so if I put 4 in one cabin then I would have to put down a $300 pp deposit?

[vesw01]

One more question - would there be a military rate if we called?

[Sailfish]

Would you please drop me an email to vesw01@charter.net

 

We actually have 5 kids- we can't do 3 cabins - so if I put 4 in one cabin then I would have to put down a $300 pp deposit?

 

That is correct...if you book a triple or a quad stateroom, the group rules set forth by Carnival states you MUST put down $300pp. Actually, if you want your cabins to be next to one another (meaning you have young kids), you will want to pay the full $300pp deposit for both cabins to insure you get confirmed cabin assignments.

 

When you pay only $25pp on a double occupancy reservation, you are only guaranteeing your reservation in a particular category. You won't be assigned a cabin assignment like you would were you to pay the full deposit.

 

When it comes to triples and quads, it's a supply and demand issue. There are so few cabins in each category that will accommdate three or four people that the cruise line must confirm the actual cabin for you. To do so, requires the full deposit. On the other hand, people who put down only the $25pp deposit are guaranteed a cabin in that category (or better) until the 2nd $275 deposit posts to the booking a year from now.

 

Last February, we had a family put down $25pp on two cabins. They ended up with cabins next to one another, but this was not guaranteed, and they would have been okay with two rooms elsewehre. As it turned out, they paid their 2nd deposit early, and got lucky. With little kids, I'm not sure I would take that chance.

 

One final thing - Carnival is going to require one adult over the age of 21 in a cabin with a minor. I know some TA's will book two kids in a room when fully deposited confirmed cabins are reserved, but if Carnival does an audit (which they do often at 60 days out) they will require one adult in a room with a minor. This happened to my Group in February, where we had two 20 year olds in a room - same sex cousins. The cruise line made us split up the kids, add adults and get a notarized authorization from parents who were not going on the cruise. All this about 2 months prior to the cruise!

 

I recommend you talk to Neal, our TA about all this. I would trust his judgement and recommendations. Hope this helps.

 

Good luck!

[Sailfish]

One more question - would there be a military rate if we called?

 

Due to group rules, no other discounts can be applied. Sometimes the discounts you get as a past guest or through a military discount are a better deal, sometimes they are not. Just make sure you factor in the $100 per cabin shipboard credit in the cost of the cruise, and you do so after taxes and port charges. More often than not, the discounted price you pay is about the same as our rate with the shipboard credit. I would recommend you contact Neal, our group agent and ask.

 

Only people booked into the group, paying the group rate are able to garner Cruise Critic's group perks. I will be sending you an email and attach our group brochure and price list. Please don't hesitate to reply if you have any other questions.

[Sailfish]

I just got off the phone with our travel agent; I called to ask for another $25pp deposit deadline extention. Although we are expected to have good inventory well into 2007, it's not likely the cruise line will extend the May 19, 2006 due date.

 

If you are still interested in this cruise, I recommend you put down your deposit this week. Even if the cruise line extends the deadline a little (which I hope they do), you are getting a great deal by putting only $25pp down on a double occupancy cabin which normally would cost you $300pp.

[Sailfish]

Attention:

 

Carnival has extended our $25pp deposit promotion until:

 

Friday, June 2, 2006.

 

 

 

Please note that this will be the last extension our group will get. Good luck!