Tips for Cruising with a Group??

[InSearchofMagic]

Hi Everyone!

I'm organizing a group cruise on a 7 night sailing on the Fantasy (eastern caribbean). We think the group will probably end up being about 10-15 people (depending on RSVPs) but could be as many as 20. We are going to be celebrating our wedding on board and want to plan some fun things for our group to do on the other days of the cruise. Does anyone have any tips for planning fun things with a group? It will most likely be all adults. This is the first time I'm planning a group gathering like this -- so ideas and cautionary tales welcome!! =)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi Everyone!

I'm organizing a group cruise on a 7 night sailing on the Fantasy (eastern caribbean). We think the group will probably end up being about 10-15 people (depending on RSVPs) but could be as many as 20. We are going to be celebrating our wedding on board and want to plan some fun things for our group to do on the other days of the cruise. Does anyone have any tips for planning fun things with a group? It will most likely be all adults. This is the first time I'm planning a group gathering like this -- so ideas and cautionary tales welcome!! =)

If they are all adults - have you thought about booking a private tasting/mixology? Or Palo brunch/dinner?

 

[InSearchofMagic]

If they are all adults - have you thought about booking a private tasting/mixology? Or Palo brunch/dinner?

I didn't even know that was something you could do! A private tasting/mixology sounds great! Have you set one up before? I am hoping to book the whole group for dinner at Palo one night for sure!

 

[wilkeliza]

I sent you a message about some stuff.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I didn't even know that was something you could do! A private tasting/mixology sounds great! Have you set one up before? I am hoping to book the whole group for dinner at Palo one night for sure!

No, I haven't booked one. I participated in one, however.

 

[chik1987]

Congrats! We are planning on booking our wedding cruise for October 2017 if they ever get around to releasing dates that is. From our perspective we are trying to really avoid planning on doing too much a whole group. But we have several people who will have children as well. Other than trying to all get on the same dining time we are kind of leaving it up to them if they want to hang out as a group or not. Your group may all want to be together a lot which would work out great. I just know for my group for the majority of people this will be their yearly vacation and I'm really trying to let them plan and do things on their own and let them make their own vacation experience as much as possible. I know with some of our friends we will probably spend the majority of the cruise together though so who knows. But we are also only planning on doing 4 nights so maybe doing more together would be better if your doing a longer cruise. Congrats and have a great wedding.

 

[chik1987]

And I don't know if you've seen it or not there are a couple cruise wedding threads in the disney wedding dis boards. There are a lot of great planning tips there
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-cruise-brides-part-deux.2916225/

 

[InSearchofMagic]

Congrats! We are planning on booking our wedding cruise for October 2017 if they ever get around to releasing dates that is. From our perspective we are trying to really avoid planning on doing too much a whole group. But we have several people who will have children as well. Other than trying to all get on the same dining time we are kind of leaving it up to them if they want to hang out as a group or not. Your group may all want to be together a lot which would work out great. I just know for my group for the majority of people this will be their yearly vacation and I'm really trying to let them plan and do things on their own and let them make their own vacation experience as much as possible. I know with some of our friends we will probably spend the majority of the cruise together though so who knows. But we are also only planning on doing 4 nights so maybe doing more together would be better if your doing a longer cruise. Congrats and have a great wedding.

Thanks!! Most of our group will be family who doesn't see each other very often, so I think people are going to want to do things together and they are pretty social "do stuff together" people - but I totally agree with you about making sure people get to make it their vacation. We are going to give them a schedule of where we will be and what we'll be doing and invite anyone who wants to, to join or not.. so it's low pressure.

I'm looking at October too!! =) Congratulations to you too!!! =)

 

[chik1987]

Thanks!! Most of our group will be family who doesn't see each other very often, so I think people are going to want to do things together and they are pretty social "do stuff together" people - but I totally agree with you about making sure people get to make it their vacation. We are going to give them a schedule of where we will be and what we'll be doing and invite anyone who wants to, to join or not.. so it's low pressure.

I'm looking at October too!! =) Congratulations to you too!!! =)

Awesome. Yea I'm sure with a lot of our family they will really be ready to spend time apart after a few hours lol. But we don't plan on doing a whole lot it general

 

[Gilland18]

We cruised with a family, multi-generation group. Six cabins linked for dining. 18 people at 3 tables with one serving team. Dinner in the MDR was the one time we all committed to being together. My advice, mix up who you eat with. For some reason, we ALWAYS sat at the same table with the same people all week. We really should have moved around.

 

[Justacruiser]

We cruised with a family, multi-generation group. Six cabins linked for dining. 18 people at 3 tables with one serving team. Dinner in the MDR was the one time we all committed to being together. My advice, mix up who you eat with. For some reason, we ALWAYS sat at the same table with the same people all week. We really should have moved around.

that's a great idea. you can assign groups numbers and rotate them with a seating chart. People can really get upset if they feel they didn't get as much attention from you as others. It's crazy but true. Servers will get over it, lol.

 

[InSearchofMagic]

We cruised with a family, multi-generation group. Six cabins linked for dining. 18 people at 3 tables with one serving team. Dinner in the MDR was the one time we all committed to being together. My advice, mix up who you eat with. For some reason, we ALWAYS sat at the same table with the same people all week. We really should have moved around.

That's a really good idea - Thanks Kim!!

 

[cedricandsophie]

You might consider a private group excursion to a beach for a day.

Have the adults meet in the Cove cafe for coffee or drinks at a certain time for adult time only

Host a private wine tasting. Or a private cooking demonstration.

Ask the ship to put together a private ship tour or behind the scenes tour of the Disney theater.

I'm sure they can do anything you want. If yu have the money, it can be done.