Fish Extender Group - what am I doing wrong?

[PixarA113]

Hi

Any advice or guidance? I've set up a FE group 22nd July for the Disney Dream 2016 and after many months only have one other interested party - last year on our first cruise we where part of a group of over a dozen which was great fun. On all of the other July dates the other groups appear to be doing really well but for some reason no interest in the 22nd July Cruise.

Any tips or suggestions on how to 'grow' interest and members of the group. With only the two families now thinking we may have to reconsider which would be a disappointment.

Am I getting anything wrong? Even tried on other forum sites to see if I could find any interested individuals but no joy. Could it be that our cruise is not well booked out?

Really not sure. Here's to hoping for a few more friendly fellow cruise families.

Thanks...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi

Any advice or guidance? I've set up a FE group 22nd July for the Disney Dream 2016 and after many months only have one other interested party - last year on our first cruise we where part of a group of over a dozen which was great fun. On all of the other July dates the other groups appear to be doing really well but for some reason no interest in the 22nd July Cruise.

Any tips or suggestions on how to 'grow' interest and members of the group. With only the two families now thinking we may have to reconsider which would be a disappointment.

Am I getting anything wrong? Even tried on other forum sites to see if I could find any interested individuals but no joy. Could it be that our cruise is not well booked out?

Really not sure. Here's to hoping for a few more friendly fellow cruise families.

Thanks...

Well, it's not unusual for the shorter cruises (3 & 4 night) to have a fairly inactive Cruise Meet thread. What follows is that there isn't a lot of action for Fish Extenders then.

Often those short cruises have many first time cruisers who don't know about cruise forums (DIS or otherwise) and don't know what sorts of activities may be set up by using the cruise meet threads.

Also, many people, who aren't first timers and do know about cruising, don't want to waste "precious" time on a short cruise walking around the ship looking for random rooms to drop off gifts. Others don't want to have to carry "all that stuff" TO and FROM the ship.

Many reasons.

I'd say your cruise just hasn't had many interested people show up. I'd suggest you keep the sign ups open until as late as possible (maybe 3 weeks) and then cut it off and go with what you have. No reason the group has to be big. Small groups are nice also.

Or discuss with the other participants at this time whether they want to continue it or not.

 

[hoffman1]

I think a lot of people do a FE group through a social media site. That may be why you have not gotten much response.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think a lot of people do a FE group through a social media site. That may be why you have not gotten much response.

Yes, some other sites also have groups. But there's no reason that DISboards can't have them also. Also no reason that people can't be in two (or more) FE groups on different sites.

 

[hoffman1]

Yes--there is no reason why the DISboards can't have them.
I was just saying that may be why the low response.
I know personally I would not have the time, energy, resources to be involved in two.

 

[PixarA113]

For a number of reasons not a big Facebook fan and last year the FE group on the DIS worked really well so hoping for similar this year as it was a great part of the overall experience. As suggested will keep the group open in the hope that a few others may join in. Maybe we are just being unlucky on this occasion. Fingers crossed as the kids really enjoyed this both planning and during the cruise. Great way to explore the whole ship as well. Thanks for the comments - observations and encouragement

 

[Aby]

I think sometimes it's also just the luck of the draw. I have two upcoming cruises, and the first has a relatively small cruise meet and FE group even though we sail in just over 3 months, while the other is almost a year away but has a much more active group already.

Aby

 

[wcw57]

while I am a disboard rooter, too, the harsh reality for the low turn-out on your FE group probably stems from the increased activity on those sites which must not be named. Heck, there isn't even a meet and FE thread here for our February cruise at all....and we're sailing at PEAK TIME

and, don't forget, people join FE groups last-minute many many times

 

[PixarA113]

Further update- been having a review of Facebook and no sign whatsoever for anything on the Dream sailing July 22nd. For the sailing before earlier in the week the group is already full. Odd that there are only 2 interested families for the 22nd - is our sailing low on bookings or something? Seems a bit odd. Must admit to feeling disappointed.

 

[Aby]

I just send you a PM as I think I managed to track down your group!

Aby

 

[Adreyer]

Our FE came together about 10 days before sailing because that's literally when I found out they existed and I managed to pull together five rooms. It was perfect (4 day on Magic) for a rookie. This time I'm hoping to be in an FE here and in that other place I can't mention. I wonder how many other people are active in both places.

 

[skohrs]

This weekend we will be leaving for our 6th Disney cruise, and we thought we would participate in FE for the first time. We booked late, and there was a FE started that only had 5 other families about 3 weeks out. It seemed like the right size and we signed on. It grew to 14 families before it was finally cut off so we would have time to get our gifts together (another group then started and there are now 5 families in that group). That is a lot of people to buy/make things for. Expensive and time consuming, but lots of fun. I kind of wish the group was smaller, but we are having a blast getting ready. My point is, just wait it out. I'll bet you will get a good sized group together in the last few weeks.