How long do you give family to decide cruising info

[Bella2000]

I am waiting to receive confirmation on which family members are coming on this cruise. I currently have them all booked (last year they were all coming) but I'm starting to get the "when do you need to know" as the total money due date looms closer. It's not the money either - that's actually not the issue it's the length of the trip, school schedule etc.

So when do you tell people they need to give final confirmation. I am more mindful with online booking. I want to book as soon as I have it available to me and since we are in concierge it's a window earlier than total payment due however since you can't book until all paid my date to pay comes earlier than 90 days.

 

[CM_Mom]

If you're the one managing the plans, ressies, etc. then I think you are the one calling the shots. I would just tell them that you plan to make online ressies for Palo, Spa, and excursions at the 120 day mark and you must be fully paid to do that so you need their FINAL decision (and money) at that time.

I think I would just set the DECISION DATE that works for you and see if anyone has a true hissy fit. You could always let it slide by a few days but unless you booked a long time ago, they will have to be fully paid by 90 days so 120 is only 30 days sooner.

 

[musicgirl]

I would tell them that in order to schedule excursions, they need to be paid up in full by the date needed to book as early as possible and be ready with what they want to do.

If they can not do this, they'll be on their own and may not get what they want. And don't feel bad about it either!!! The early bird gets the worm!!!!

 

[Rence]

It depends on the family. With my family, I would not explain any reasoning behind why I had set the date. If I told them that we needed a final decision 120 days out so that we could book Palo, excursions etc., some family members would simply decide that this was not an important enough reason (Palo won't book up, the excursions won't be gone, we don't care if we go to Palo etc. etc. etc).

So with my family I would set the date and say, "Final decisions must be made by X" and leave it at that. You know you're family best. If they would tend to question, contradict etc. than I would just give them the date. If they would accept the date, but want to know why, I would give the date with a brief explanation.