Meet & Greets

[GrumpaTom]

I originally posted this in the Cruise Rituals forum but didnt get any response, so I thought I would ask here.

 

I know that RCCL does a lot of the organizing for Meet & Mingles but it does not look like the other cruise lines help as much in setting them up (I may be wrong on this), so I thought that maybe a discussion for M&G organizer ideas would help the rest of us.

 

So, To start the discussion I know that we have the roll calls available to help get people talking. Someone needs to take the initiative to get the M&G started but where do we go from there?

 

In the RCCL Roll Calls they have a door sign available.

I got a nametag template from another organizer

Door Prizes were suggested

Requesting a Shop Discount was suggested

 

Who would we contact at the cruise lines to set up a M&G (I found a contact at NCL to set up ours but this is something that could help others)

 

Whatever suggestions do you have?

[megr1125]

Probably contact someone at the line who could get you in touch with someone on the CD's staff....Good ideas though!

 

As I side note, just for fun I decided to read your review of that one night cruise......I feel for your pain, but the review was so entertaining that I had to tell you!!! You could write jokes for a living!!

[sandy toes]

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are the only lines that do everything...set up a room, provide food and drinks and even some staff to help keep thngs going. I have sailed Carnival and NCL. With each line, I took the roll call list, called the line, spoke to someone from customer service and they handled getting a room. We did have drinks available but not FREE. There were some snack/finger foods but it was not as nice as the other lines that put forth that extra effort. No matter, we all had a chance to meet and say hello, to make plans for later in the cruise and exchange cabin numbers. One thing we can do as individuals, make up a few "business cards" (ID cards really)that are personal to pass out to the new friends you meet on ship. You can even print them with Print Shop or another like program in your computer. Your name (even if only your first name), an email address plus any additional info you feel comfortable putting out there. They sure make for an easy way to share when you do meet someone you want to get to know better.

[cp556]

PokrTom --

 

If you have a CC nametag template, I'd sure love to have it for use on our forthcoming cruise ....

 

Would you be kind enough to email it to CruisingCP at comcast dot net ??

 

I would very much appreciate it

and thanks

 

Carol

[BruceMuzz]

Most people are not aware of this, but RCCL and Celebrity have a financial arrangement with Cruisecritic that allows them to set up special Cruisecritic functions on their ships. The other cruise lines do not.

Most cruise lines are willing to set up a meet and greet on request, but since they do not have a financial arrangement like RCCL, they are reluctant to get into legal difficulties by "pushing the envelope".

 

But if YOU request the meeting, the other cruise lines are then off the legal hook and can usually accommodate you.

[odblnt]

This last June on the NCL Pearl they had a nice spread (juice, coffee, tea, danish) and a number of the officers showed up (HD, CD, etc). It was great to put faces to names for fellow CCers.

[bbcc]

Most people are not aware of this, but RCCL and Celebrity have a financial arrangement with Cruisecritic that allows them to set up special Cruisecritic functions on their ships. The other cruise lines do not.

Most cruise lines are willing to set up a meet and greet on request, but since they do not have a financial arrangement like RCCL, they are reluctant to get into legal difficulties by "pushing the envelope".

 

But if YOU request the meeting, the other cruise lines are then off the legal hook and can usually accommodate you.

I WAS NOT AWARE IF FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BUT NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. PRINCESS WILL ACCOMODATE IF ONE IN THE GROUP CONTACTS THEM THRU THEIR SHIPS REP IN SANTA CLARITA. EACH REP HAS 2 SHIPS SO CALL PRINCESS AND CONNECT WITH THE RIGHT REP. NO COST FOR M&M. BUT NO FREE DRINKS, CRUISE CARD PURCHASES. LOCATION AND SNACKS ONLY. BEST LOCATION IS SKYWALKERS(AWAY FROM PUBLIC AREAS LIKE HORIZON COURT, OUT SIDE BARS. MORE PRIVACY WE DO GET "LOUD"). PRINCESS KNOWS ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE OTHER LINES AND DOESN'T TRY TO COMPETE SO ALL CRUISE LINES ARE NOT ALIKE AS WE WELL KNOW. THEY ALL TRY TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN IMHO. PAUL IN SAN DIEGO

[CPT Trips]

This last June on the NCL Pearl they had a nice spread (juice, coffee, tea, danish) and a number of the officers showed up (HD, CD, etc). It was great to put faces to names for fellow CCers.

 

We had a similar experience on the NCL Spirit in Jan . . . CD and Hotel Manager always stopped to chat with us after the meet. There were some perks for those who attended the meet and some additional perks for the organizer. I was glad I made the effort on the roll call to arrange things.

[GrumpaTom]

In an effort to make this something that other people might use and to make it easier to read I have written up the following. I would still like to expand it even further with more ideas and maybe CruiseCritic might want to make a permanent page with it.

 

My Guide to a successful Meet & Mingle

 

Building up to the cruise

1. Start a list of attendees ASAP, Gather the following:

- CC Handle

- First Name

- Last Name (Keep Private)

- Location

- Age

- Cabin if you have it

2. Post a message in the forums stating that you are compiling the roll call list, remind people that you will keep their last name private but it is needed to get info out on the ship.

3. Contact the meeting coordinator for the ship and request the M&M. (Will try to compile a list of email addresses for this)

4. Post a message suggesting that members stop and buy blank business card sheets and create business cards with their name & email address on them to make sharing contact info easier.

5. Post a link to the Door Sign and encourage your members to print them out for their doors.

Official Door Sign, blank line:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/doorsign.pdf

RTF File to print name on sign:

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/CC-MnM-NameSignFiller.rtf

Modified PDF to fill in name (Easiest to use):

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/CC-MnM-DoorSign.pdf

6. Keep an eye out for possible inexpensive door prizes.

7. Start a discussion about possible excursions, the group may want to go out at a port together.

8. Suggest a period for playing games in the game room together.

 

Just before leaving for the cruise

1. Download the Name Tag template and print out nametags

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/CC-MnM-NameTags_754-461.doc

2. Download and print out invitations

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/CC-MnM-Invitation.doc

3. Cut some small index cards down to about business card size for people to use to share contact info.

4. Put each person’s name on a small card, put them in a small bag and put it aside for door prize drawings.

 

After boarding the ship

1. Visit the purser’s desk and give them the M&M Invitations. With the guest names they will be able to get them to the right cabins.

2. While you have their ear, ask if they have anything you can use for door prizes for the M&M (Like a dinner in the specialty restaurant)

3. Grab a few pins in case people need them at the M&M

4. Find the art auction house and inquire about a door prize for the M&M

5. Find the manager for the shops on board and inquire about possible door prizes and/or a discount for your group.

6. Visit the casino manager about possible match bet coupons

 

At the M&M

1. Find a table near the entrance and set the name tags out so people can easily find them.

2. Place the blank cards on the table too

3. On a table further in put all of the door prizes you collected and the bag with everyone’s names

 

Still looking for more to expand and enhance this list.

[cp556]

Wow, Tom, what a great list! I second the motion that it become a sticky.

 

One additional thought in the "After Boarding The Ship" section:

 

7. Visit the Food & Beverage Manager and see if s/he is able to offer a bottle of wine, soda card, etc.

 

 

Great work. I subscribed to the thread so I can keep up to date on it....

 

Best

Carol

[GrumpaTom]

Well, Since Meet & Mingle seems to be a RCL thing I updated the door sign and invitations to Meet & Greet...

 

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/MnG-DoorSign.pdf

http://i4gotit.net/images/CC-MnM/CC-MnG-Invitation.doc

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL - IF the roll call takes off, then someone has to get everyone organized and call HAL with all the information. Very few HAL Roll Calls go anywhere.

[WELSH WIZARDS]

HAL - IF the roll call takes off, then someone has to get everyone organized and call HAL with all the information. Very few HAL Roll Calls go anywhere.

I totally agree.

I am going on two cruises in Dec. One HAL . one Celebrity. We have 90 registered for our Celebrity CC party, 10 to 20 posts a day on our Celebrity Roll Call , and about 1500 posts so far, but only 17 posts on the Hal. Roll Call I am trying to got going , about 10 of which are me. !!

I came back last week from a HAL med. cruise . There had only been about 70 posts on that Roll Call, and about 15 posters.

The week before I went I asked Hal to arrange a meet and mingle,with some cakes and drinks, which they did , even though it was requested at the very last minute. So well done Hal for that.

I also only posted the venue last minute and crossed my fingers, expecting about 6 people. To my surprise about 20 people turned up, and the Cruise Director, one of the Managers, and we all had a nice meeting. {Tea and biscuits only !!}