Thread: Please tell me more about group bookings

I have a small group of friends looking to take a cruise next year, in total there are 6 of us right now. I've been in touch with a TA already for quotes for the cruise were interested in and she mentioned the possibility of a group booking to lower our price/earn us some amenitites. While we are fine with this idea, I want to make sure I fully understand how the group bookings work. Our biggest fear is that we will responsible for a deposit on all 8 cabins in the group instead of just the 3 we currently require.

So my questions are:

• If we create a group, are we required to book the entire group as soon as the group is created (or at least put a deposit on them all), or can some of the rooms stay unbooked?
• If the entire group wasn't booked, would we lose our special prices/amenities?
• What are the risks involved with creating a group? And would they outweight the benefits for a "group" as small as ours is currently?

I appreciate any answers you have, I'm really just trying to make sure I understand all facets of the group booking before I sign over my first born. Our TA has been very friendly and very helpful already, but I want to make sure there isn't an important part of the puzzle she may not be telling me that I don't know enough to ask about either.
Thanks!

The rules for group booking vary by cruise line. If you will provide the cruise line name, I will help you with your questions.

Originally Posted by KermitClin

So my questions are:

• If we create a group, are we required to book the entire group as soon as the group is created (or at least put a deposit on them all), or can some of the rooms stay unbooked?
• If the entire group wasn't booked, would we lose our special prices/amenities?
• What are the risks involved with creating a group? And would they outweight the benefits for a "group" as small as ours is currently?

Generally you will be responsible for all the cabins that you block for your group. You will have option dates that the cruise line will require you to have deposits. You will get anywhere from 60 to 120 days or even more to come up with the deposit. You will always have time to release space you will not use. That way you will only be responsible for the cabins you have booked and deposited.

To retain your amenities, you would usually need to have at least 5 cabins booked, for the free berth at least 8 cabins. The prices would hold in any case.

You can start with a few and promote the cruise to your friends and co-workers. I don't really think there are any downsides as long as you have an agent that is familiar with groups. An agent may also be able to bring some of their own clients into your group to help reach your minimums. That is usually what I do.

I'd give you more info but I leave in an hour to meet with a group I have sailing on Infinity today. We'll be on Amtrak heading for San Francisco in about 2 hours.

Contact me for more info and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

reggierail@cs.com

Reggie

Originally Posted by CruiseHelper

The rules for group booking vary by cruise line. If you will provide the cruise line name, I will help you with your questions.

We're cruising with NCL.

Thanks for the previous points Reggie, some of what you said is jiving with comments my TA made with me earlier and they're starting to make more sense now.

I hope this helps.

I pulled this infomation directly from NCL.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask.


New Deposit Structure

1. 8-16 staterooms: $0 deposit due till 4 months prior to sailing

• 17-99 staterooms: $0 deposit due for 60 days, then a $25 per stateroom deposit required
• 100+ staterooms: Negotiated time line/deposit

1. Group Rate Integrity: If the group rates are lowered, the new lower rates can be applied to an existing group.***
2. Guest Facing Amenities are now protected to the first stateroom booked.
3. We now have an expanded Amenities List, which includes items like alternative dining options, spa and freestyle bowling.

AMENITY POINTS VARY BY SHIP AND SAIL DATE

1. We have restructured our Group Types. There are now 3-types, which makes booking a group simpler than ever before.
   
   • 1 - 16 staterooms
   • 17 - 99 staterooms
   • 100+ staterooms: Large group contract
   • Final payment for all 3 types is due 75 days prior to sailing. (except Norwegian Sky 60 days)
2. We now have two recall dates, 120 days prior to sailing and 75 days prior to sailing.
3. The recall process is automated to include notification one week prior to recall date.
4. Freestyle dining available to groups.

*New Group Policy applies to all new and existing groups sailing in 2009 and beyond.

Often, agents will already have group space booked for a certain cruise and can place you into that group space, thereby giving you all the benefits without actually having a group yourself.

For example; we pre-book over 30,000 cabins every year into group space. Sometimes, we can get you into a group even though you may only have one cabin.

Bottom line, talk to your agent who will be able to give you all the information concerning group space and how it varies from one cruise line to another.

Sometimes, you can get group pricing without the amenities and sometimes you can't - really depends on the cruise line, dates, itinerary, etc.

Many ins and outs with groups - best to deal with someone who has alot of experience with groups and already has alot of group space reserved.

Pete

Originally Posted by KermitClin

I have a small group of friends looking to take a cruise next year, in total there are 6 of us right now. I've been in touch with a TA already for quotes for the cruise were interested in and she mentioned the possibility of a group booking to lower our price/earn us some amenitites. While we are fine with this idea, I want to make sure I fully understand how the group bookings work. Our biggest fear is that we will responsible for a deposit on all 8 cabins in the group instead of just the 3 we currently require.


So my questions are:

• If we create a group, are we required to book the entire group as soon as the group is created (or at least put a deposit on them all), or can some of the rooms stay unbooked?
• If the entire group wasn't booked, would we lose our special prices/amenities?
• What are the risks involved with creating a group? And would they outweight the benefits for a "group" as small as ours is currently?

I appreciate any answers you have, I'm really just trying to make sure I understand all facets of the group booking before I sign over my first born. Our TA has been very friendly and very helpful already, but I want to make sure there isn't an important part of the puzzle she may not be telling me that I don't know enough to ask about either.
Thanks!

I don't require my clients to fill the whole group space on their own, as I will promote the group to my own clients and help fill the entire space. You only deposit your own cabins/ cabins...
You could lose your amenities, but lately some of the cruise lines have been offering a protection of the amenities.
The only risk is the possibility losing the amenities. Sometimes I will get extra amenities on my own if the group space isn't met. But alot of the cruiselines know will still honor them.

I agree with Pete in getting a travel agent that specializes in groups.

I typically grab a good deal of group space every year for clients and myself to promote.

Good luck with your plans!

Dolores

Thanks for your input everyone! This message board is definitely very helpful!

My TA greated a group booking for us yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it! We got a good price, some onboard credit, and we get to take advantage of a sale on deposits that NCL is running through this month. My friends and I are all really excited about our trip!

Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by KermitClin

Thanks for your input everyone! This message board is definitely very helpful!

My TA greated a group booking for us yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it! We got a good price, some onboard credit, and we get to take advantage of a sale on deposits that NCL is running through this month. My friends and I are all really excited about our trip!

Thanks again!!

Excellent!

Now you can go start a roll call and see if any of our folks here are on the same sailing with you.

Sounds GREAT! As Char stated, start a roll call!

D