Large Groups

[nicki dahling]

Does anyone have experience with planning for a family reunion cruise ? I could really use some tips . We are planning to celebrate daughters graduation , my 40th birthday , and wedding anniversary . We have invited family and friends to join us , but they will be making their own arrangements . I will just be providing info . Anyone have web sites with info on large group cruise ? Thanks in advance .

 

[indymom1]

I can totally relate to what you are trying to do!! My entire family went on a cruise in June 2001 on the Magic. In total we had 15 people. I ended up being the organizer for the entire event and gave info to everyone. We even ended up adding two days at DW before the cruise. I really never found a web site that dealt exclusively with large groups but found this website to be invaluable!! If I came across something that I thought was important or something that someone had asked me to find out for them then I would just print it out and pass the info along. Also whenever we were all together for family events or holidays then we would discuss anything new that I had learned. By the time we went we knew exactly how to get our Palo's ressies, and spa ressies, kid's club registry, beer mugs, port excursion info and anything else that I could possibly think of. I would also recommend Barb's website it is full of good info and also Dave's website is full of info also.
On a personal note you will love travelling with your family it was such a great experience for us. Disney was even able to put our two tables together so that we could all eat at one table and not have to split up. In fact we had such a great time that we are doing it again this March for spring break but on the eastern!!
If you have any questions that I can answer I will certainly try.
Good luck on your planning and have a great time
Kathy

 

[nicki dahling]

Thank you so much for the encouragement.

 

[wovenwonder]

Nicki - enjoy this time - as half of the fun is in the planning! Be sure that you ask DCL to link your ressie's together to be certain that you will have dining time/table together.

You will likely find all of the info that you need -- right here on the DIS Boards. For our April group of DIS Board cruisers we ordered lanyards with card cases at a group rate. I then made custom inserts for everyone with a DCL logo, our cruise date and first names and/or DIS Screen names. I also ordered green leis for everyone to wear at the port and during the sailaway party.

You will surely have a terrific vacation sprinkled with lots of pixie dust.

 

[JenniferIsBored]

Im gonna be in a group of about 20 people!!!! We actually dont know what we're gonna do about dinner seating, me being a young'n ill probably end up with all the lil kids!!! nnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

oh well it'll still be fun

 

[jds]

We had a group of 26 (two extended families of 13 people each) on a 7-day cruise in July. My mom and her travel agent handled all the reservations, so I can't really help you there, except to suggest that if you all reserve separately, you ask DCL to "link" your reservations. That way they'll try to put your cabins close together and give you all the same dining time and rotation (unless different families request different times...).

We had 4 tables altogether-- two with 8 each, one 6, and one 4. Even though we were at two different "stations," with different servers, we took turns moving from table to table so everyone had a chance to eat with everyone else. Our servers were very understanding! Also, be sure to let them know on the first night about the events you're celebrating. We had a birthday, one 20th anniversary, and two 50th anniversary's, and they brought cakes for all!

After a number of other family gatherings, I can say in all honesty that a Disney cruise is the PERFECT family reunion! There were plenty of opportunities to get together but also plenty of time for families, kids, couples, etc. to do things on their own. So I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[thatmom]

Hi,
I have been on three cruises with large groups, one of them we had seventysix of us. I would recommend going to the same TA. We always get a big discount for booking as a group. You can do the bookings threw e-mail or by phone if you are in different states. Our cruise in March will have so far thirtythree of us. We have saved over $200.00 on each adult and $100.00 on each child. I always book with the same TA but I do check around and she has always beat anyone else. The only thing we couldn't get was the first time cruiser discount from Disney because of our large group rate. We also always get to have a private cocktail party, or a gift basket. This cruise because of all the small children going we will be getting the gift basket. This is our first cruise on Disney but on our other cruises we got to pick out all of our seating. You need to have one of your party in charge and that person will be pesented a copy of all the tables and names in your party and you get to seat who you think will do best together.At least thats what we did on the other ones. Also you will get a check when the cruise is done for the amount of a full cruise. This can be quite alot if your parties book the higher cabins. we take this money and give it to a charity. We figure if we can afford to cruise then we can afford to give this away. Besides to split it all up only turns out to be about $30.00 dollars a person. Last cruise we gave it to a crack baby house to help pay for the care of those poor babies.....This makes you enjoy the memories of your curise even more!! Sorry this turned out so long...
thanks,
thatmom
.

 

[slindamood]

We went as a family group of 19 on the Magic last Christmas. It was my mother's gift to her family to celebrate her 80th birthday.

We did all of the reservations at one time so we were all linked. This made it clear that we were a single group. For dinner, we had 3 tables and 2 servers just for us, and rotated seating each night so we always got to sit with new people - no formal rotation, just would sit at a different place.

While we made the reservations for 8 rooms 14 months in advance, we could not get all the rooms together. We had two groups of 3 cabins that were together and two separated rooms.

My mother had a category 3, and that gave her concierge service so we could book a special brunch at Palo's a few weeks before cruising for those of us of age. They also let all of us board early with concierge boarding.

One brother and his family made special designed t-shirts with embroidered logos that even had a hidden Mickey. We wore them the first day and it made it easy to locate our group for the sail away and other events.
here we are:

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

During beach days we would agree on a beach, then each family would get there by cab when we could. The early ones there would rent chairs and umbrellas and set them up for everyone. That way we did not have to group together before heading out, but spent a fun day on the beach together.

It was a great family vacation!!!! Have fun!!
-Suzanne

 

[4nana]

Hi nicki dahling...
You are in the right place to get any info you might need. There are lots of Dis boards, but this one is the absolute best! Rest assured, these friendly people can help you plan anything.

We have been planning our first Dis cruise family reunion for over 2 yrs. It works best to have one organizer. Our family has had many meetings, calls, emails and pooled everyone's ideas & info.

First, we voted on a date that was convenient to everyone's
schedule. I gathered several quotes and went with a reputable company that offered the best discount and felt most comfortable with. Some have had very good luck w/the sponsors of this board http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/index.htm
Disney offers a family reunion pkg. for appx $25-30pp if you book 8 cabins or more that includes a tshirt, grp pix and party. Most TA's will give you a grp discount as they buy cabins by the block. We chose something affordable to all, Cat 9 - deck 2 w/connect
rooms as we have plans to help with the DGchildren. Each of our cabins qualifed for Disney's $50 first time cruiser credit. Some grps decide they want to be in different categories on ship, but we chose to be linked travel, tranpso, hotel, cabins and dining.

We plan to fly in the day before cruise and will be staying at the Radisson, FALL $59 promo which offers free shuttle to the port. Considered renting vans, but after getting some quotes, decide it was more convenient, less expensive and hassle to go w/Rabbit @ 'yourride' who does not have problems picking grps up arriving at different times, provides car seats and makes a stop.

Needless to say with less than 4 mos out we are all very excited!!
Having the last items taken care of now...the flight tickets (usually give grps 10% discount), passports/BC, matching tshirts, we can breath a sign of relief and just sit back and wait to make some special family memories w/MM. I wish you luck and know you will have wonderful time. Planning is very much a big part of the excitement.

2 sites highly recommended that offer much excellent info are:
Barb & Tony's
:http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/brigham/612/dclindex.htm
Dave's:
http://www.dcltribute.com/

 

[slindamood]

4nana-

Your plans sound like our trip! We also arrived the day before the cruise and stayed at the Radisson. Rabbit did two different pickups at the airport for us, and a few arrived by rental car after a WDW stay. We had one large van for 12 of us to go back to the airport, with some having a rental car for the day to go to the space center. Rabbit brought a trailer so there was plenty of space for luggage.

The first of us to the Radisson were allowed to book the limo for everyone for the next morning so we could go over early and together and in just two trips.

It is important with a large group to either go to the port together or to have a meeting point at a certain time. By starting out together at the Radisson, you can stay together - which may not be that easy otherwise. I read an article in the NYTimes of a family reunion on the Magic where each family group arrived at the port separately and did not find each other until dinner! They missed sailaway together - one of the most fun times.

This year 8 of us are returning, with two more relatives added. Ten will seem like a small group, but I am sure we will have a great time!!

See you on Dec. 14!!!!
(Thanks, 4nana, for the countdown code! We borrowed yours because it works so well )
--Suzanne

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