KK and EVERYONE ELSE......

[sail7seas]

While you were cruising, KK, we began organizing a group cruise which, after voting, has been decided to be October 29, 2006, seven days on Westerdam. (Some of us are thinking of doing back-to-backs if we want to cruise for longer.)

Just wanted to point this out to you and to everyone/anyone else who may have missed all this and were unaware.

I hope you (and anyone else who is interested) will think about joining us.

Heather and ekerr are group leaders and are doing a wonderful job. Prices and additional info is to be forthcoming very soon.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thanks for posting this, Sail!!! What a great Marketing group we have going! Sinbad posted a link to our thread. I'm going to post one here as well:

Cruise Critic Message Boards - HAL CC Group Caribbean Cruise ~ Final Poll (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=3330440#post3330440)

It's not a poll anymore, but we're continuing to use the thread for now for anyone who wants to sign up! We want to have as many of our friends as possible for this great cruise:D .

[Krazy Kruizers]

Funny you should mention the Westerdam for the fall of 2006.

While on the Volendam we got a 2006 planner and were looking at some cruises which included the Westerdam. We were looking at Nov 5 and 12.

We had thought about the Oct 29th cruise but decided against it because that would mean trying to find hotels for the 27th and 28th.

The International Boat Show begins on the 27th and runs the entire weekend.

We got caught in that mess in 2003 and had to stay in Deerfield Beach.

[sail7seas]

Many of us will be doing pre-cruise stays in FLL. We have stayed a number of times during Boat Show and during Air/Sea Show.


We will be sure to book our hotel very early.

Seeing as you are thinking of going so close to the date of the group cruise, perhaps you will reconsider the October 29 date? If we book our hotels early, we should be okay.

Actually, what we are thinking of doing is to book October 22 for the first part of a b-to-b. Then we won't have a hotel problem at all.

[iluvcruzin]

One thing to note for hotels in the FLL area, try to get early flights. Hotels have a tendancy to overbook when there are conventions in town. The Marriott Marina was overbooked by 70 rooms in February and they were shuttling people to Boca Rotan. It was over booked at the Amerisutes as well and they were turning people away. Those who check in earliest are more secured a room. (sorry to jump in your post - just an fyi)

[HeatherInFlorida]

With regard to hotels in Fort Lauderdale during the Boat Show, I can't imagine anyone not being able to get a room when we're planning so far in advance.

But forewarned is forearmed so I'd better post this info on our thread so everyone keeps it in mind. Thanks, KK! You really should come with us!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We will keep the Oct 22 and Oct 29 dates in mind.

When we booked our cruises for 2003, we tried getting hotels 6 months in advance and were surprised to find nearly everything booked up.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Well, this time you would have 21 months!!!!:D There's bound to be something!