Ever cruised with a med-large group?

[tmfranlk]

I am planning a family reunion that is going to be part land part cruise. For the cruise portion we will have 10-40 people.

Any suggestions for planning for a group?
Any tips for cruising with a group?


I've never cruised before so I'm a little unsure as to how to go about this. The reunion will be in 2004 or 2005 so I'm thinking I may need to cruise next spring for "training."

I know I'm planning early, but most of my family will need that much time to save for the trip. For now, I'm just trying to get preliminary information together for a reunion newsletter about our plans.

Any help would be GREAT!!!!
Thanks!
Tia

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We'll be cruising with 10 of us next Feb. We've done WDW with 10-11 3 times. What works for us is, try to do some things together, but don't sweat it in between. When you have fairly firm numbers, get 1 person from each family to sit down and hash stuff out. What excursions, whatever, have one rep from each group, what they say, goes. We found this easier than having 10 strong-willed people providing input at the same time! Maybe you can break, have each rep go back to their family to check stuff, then come back. (Is this making any sense?). Do this enough in advance that if, say, 15 of you want to do the same excursion, you'll have time to book such a large group. Good luck! Definitely try to all have one meal (dinner?) together, so you can catch up and compare notes!

 

[diznynut]

We generally travel in a moderate to large group about 8-15 people. We all live in different areas of the country so it takes alot to coordinate. I would suggest either using a travel agent or having one person in your group arrange for everything. Disney does have gruop rates if you book more than 8 cabins on the cruise. Good luck.

 

[glindamood]

We cruised last Christmas on the Magic with 19 people. My SIL handled all the reservations - booked originally with DCL direct and then switched to Costco after everything was arranged. Our dinner reservations were all linked and we got to sit together in one section (actually we made up a section) and had our own servers. We did switch seats in our sections but after about the second day they know which person to bill for the drinks etc. Our rooms were a bit scattered but the family groups were together. The earlier you book the better luck you will have with that - we only booked about 14 months out for the Christmas week cruise so we had problems all being together as far as the cabins went.

We had a BLAST. Our ages ranged from 12 to 80 and I think everyone would go again.

 

[gbanshee]

we are doing the 4 night Wonder this summer with 32 people. we were booked as a group, since we had 8 cabins and therefor got the group rate and the free gift. our agent also tossed in a bunch of extra's like t-shirts, bubbles, adult advanced reservations at Palo's.

I highly recommend the girls at www.yourmagicaljourneys.com since they were great to deal with. After initial contact, everyone then contacted them to do payments, cabin requests and such. It was really easy.

gb

 

[4nana]

Tia,
I agree with what everyone has said and hope you will find some of my info helpful also.

We are a family of 16 and Dec. is our first Dis cruise. This is our second grp. trip w/the first being cross country that went great!

We started planning our cruise 26 mos in advance, with monthly family meets or emails to get everyones input. I was voted the co-ordinator and had my work cut out as our family is from different areas.

I gathered prices from a dozen TA's, web sites and went with the one who was most helpful and gave best price. We were not cut any deals with our group as we have just 5 cabins. Booking early allows you to pick your cabin and we chose adjoining Cat 9 so 4nana n pop pop can help w/the little ones.

Our orginal contract quote has since been reduced as Disney has made fall cuts across the board which our T/A honored.

We will fly in the night before and stay at the Radisson. Our hotel rooms, cruise cabins/dining are linked together.

Considered renting vans, but are now thinking of using 'yourride' as it seems less expensive, more convenient and less hassle.

Each family made a cookie jar and has saved all pocket change for spending money. Nana alone has saved over $500 in change in just 18 mos!

I wish you the best of luck...planning, learning w/everyones input is half the fun!! This board is the best and has much invaluable advise and can answer any question you might have. Enjoy!

 

[Shercara]

We were a group of 11 on our 7/28/01 Magic 7 day - 8 from NJ and 3 from NC.

We all wore Red Coca~Cola T-shirts (DH works for them)! It was great -- we got lots of smiles and comments - and it helped to keep track of each other in the airport, at the port (Tommy the CM there was great, and loved our shirts!), and on deck during the sail away! )especially the kids!

Our NJ group arrived first, and we alerted the CM's that were greeting us as we boarded to expect 3 more, and tell them the rest of their group had arrived and would meet them at Topsiders!
We checked back with the CM's as we toured the ship, and they kept us posted as to their arrival!

Matching shirts - no matter what color were a fun addition to our great trip -- Hope you have a great time!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I like your matching shirt idea! I always make matching sweatchirts for Buzz and Belle, and matchign shirts for all 4 of us for travel. I was thinking I could go to a craft/fabric store--they put T-shirts on sale for $2.49. Get 10 in the same color, all the sizes I need, and decorate them all the same. Inexpensive and fun, everyone will know those rowdy people are all together! P.S. My kids will probably have a blast helping decorate the shirts.

 

[slindamood]

I was with Gail (above) on the Christmas sailing of the Magic - 19 of us.

The t-shirt idea is great. A brother and SIL used their embroidery machine to put a great, original design on t-shirts. It even had a hidden mickey.

see photos here:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/parents/fam/teeshirts.jpg

http://home.columbus.rr.com/parents/fam/formal1.jpg

 

[4nana]

Lindamood Family...

Thanks so much for sharing your pictures with us.
What a nice looking family! The Tshirt idea is really cool!
For anyone interested, Disney also offers a 'family reunion' pkg for appx. $20-30 pp if you have 8 cabins. It includes Tshirts, photo, album and reception.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

slindamood--those T-shirts looks AWESOME!!! I was just thinking fabric paints... The problem with the Disney package is, $29 pp is peicey for a t-shirt--the other items are "1 per stateroom" and the reception is only if you book 8 or more cabins. I'd rather buy the el-cheapo T-shirts, decorate them myself, and put the money where it really belongs--in my personal "spa treatment" fund!

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We have 9 staterooms booked - when is the "party" if you have this many booked? Do you happen to know the time and day? We are on the 4 night Wonder. Any input would be greatly appreciated since I am the coordinator of our large family group going. I really like the t-shirt idea (we also used this before in WDW)

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[bakmmo]

Last year we sailed with 42 people with ages from 6 years old to 53 years old.
Most families had the kids in separate rooms. Loved the 2 bathrooms.
Well all ate dinner together. 1st night was by family. We made it clear to the waiters that all would be tipped the same and after that we rotated so we could eat with different people in our group each night. Pretty much the kids were on there own tables and the adults rotated. Some nights we even did girls and boys in separate tables.
We had a blast. Next year we are doing it again but now we are up to 62 people.

Make sure everone does their own excursions during the day or it can become a night mare.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by bakmmo

Make sure everone does their own excursions during the day or it can become a night mare.

We found <i>that</i> to be the case with our group of only 9!