Genesis803

Never using a TA again or not wanting a middle man makes no sense at all. I've had bad meals at a restaurant before and I continue to eat out. Yes I could cook all my meals at home but I like the service and experience of a professional chef. That doesn't mean they never mess up.

I have mechanics make my vehicles worse. I could learn how to fix them myself and do it myself, but I like to trust a professional even though they are human.

I hope the at can make it up to you, but everyone makes mistakes sometimes. You could have easily done the same booking it by yourself. You seem to have a great attitude. Enjoy your cruise!

I have a group wanting to sail in June 2016 too. Carnival told us (travel agent) yesterday that the Vista will open it's US sailings this Thursday and then the other ships would begin opening up over the coming weeks. Seems like last year the Alaska cruises were the last opened. Hopefully it won't be the same this year.

This is why you need a travel agent. You want to put the whole trip cost, minus taxes, if you want the whole thing covered.

The TC credit is based on the average fare paid for the 1st/2nd guests minus taxes/port charges. It is no longer determined by the category sold the most. It will be calculated automatically by Carnival once you reach 8 rooms. You will earn and additional TC credit for every 8 rooms booked in the group. For example, if you have 16 rooms you'll get 2 TC credits. The amount is very difficult to calculate manually, but it is generally $200-$500 depending on the cost of the cruise.

The TC can be applied to a cabin as final payment, spread among all the cabins as onboard credit, or used for onboard activities such as a group private party.

You do have to form a group and book cabins into it. I hope you used a good TA that will guide you through the process and handle all the details. If so, talk with him/her about the TC and how he/she handles it. Open communication is key. It is very difficult to deal directly with Carnival groups yourself. Also with Carnival, you cannot book an individual room and move it into a group as stated above. They are the only cruise line that I know of that does not allow this claiming their booking system can't process that (yea right, lol).

I am a TA that specializes in Carnival groups. I deal with TC's regularly. I hope this clears things up. Enjoy your cruise!

In 2013 Carnival changed their groups policy significantly due to travel agent requests and customer confusion. One of the major changes is that almost any rate code can be booked into a group and still receive the amenities. This includes Early Saver. Therefore, if you can book into a a group with Early Saver, you are getting the price protection and whatever amenities the group has (onboard credit etc.). I'm a TA and I do it all the time. It really is a great deal.

Your travel agent has access to detailed stateroom descriptions on the Carnival TA site. Ask your TA.

Have your travel agent contact the groups event planning department and note on the group reservation that you all want to be seated near each other in the dining room. This will ensure that it happens and you won't have to worry about it on your vacation.

You can now book any rate into a group and still get the amenity points and one free berth for every 8 rooms. Even Early Saver can be booked into groups now. Carnival changed this policy about a year ago. I do it all the time for my clients so they get the amenity points, free berth and whatever sale is currently running.

Another approach...with 20+ people you'll be able to form a group and get reduced group deposits if you're booking far enough in advance. That will help everyone spread out payments as well and you'll get the amenity points for being a group. Use a good travel agent that specializes in groups to have one point of contact for everyone.

:confused: I really don't understand why they can't assign a specific person to deal with a group.....it would seem even more beneficial to have one point of contact. :confused:

 

It would also seem helpful when we send out information or invitations to join us on the cruise if we can just say please contact "Paul or David or John" at this number & email. That way people feel like they have someone who understands; someone they can reach out to specifically.

 

Does anyone planning a group with Carnival have this?

 

I do understand that "other's" can assist when you call the group number....but can't we just MAINLY deal with ONE person?

I think you'll be better off with a good travel agent. The Carnival groups department will give you a different answer every time you call. Good luck!

We have a group booked on the Dream April 14. We got great group rates and onboard credit. We've been looking forward to it for almost a year now! I've heard so many great things about the Dream.

I toured the Jewel in New Orleans in October with a group of travel agents and wasn't that impressed. The décor was just ok and the food they served us in the main dining rooms was just ok too.

I'm going to guess at the answer here.......But, shouldn't my PVP have known this when I told her we were booking seven cabins immediately for a family reunion.......actually my aunt also booked (possible cabin #8) but I'm not sure if she booked with my PVP (I do know that she got my reservation number so that she could connect to our "group" for early dining). These PVPs!!!!! - we count on them to KNOW......

 

Since we are sending out the wedding invitations this week and I already know that there will be another 8-12 cabins being reserved I will talk with my PVP (or try and find SOMEONE knowledgeable) and perhaps start a new GROUP reservation and somehow connect it with the original family reunion group........for early dining, etc.

 

Geez....this should be easier than it is - - thank goodness for Cruise Critic where I learn everything.........Although on the other hand if I didn't read it here I'd just be entirely ignorant and not know what I was missing........

I would have thought your PVP would have created a group when you told her you had that many cabins too. Maybe you can create a group for the other cabins you'll be booking. You'll have 60 days to get a reduced deposit to hold them rooms. Not sure how far out the wedding is, but that could help encourage more people to book if they can pay it off over a longer period of time.

I haven't heard many good things about dealing directly with Carnival when it comes to groups. I'd suggest you find a good travel agent that can help you with the rest of the cabins if you're wanting to create a group. I'm sure everyone will have a great time on the cruise!

I just asked my PVP about group rates (my daughter will now make our "family cruise" her wedding cruise) so the 7 cabins we have now should be growing by at least another 8-12 cabins.

 

My PVP said that group rates were typically "more than" the Early Saver we'd booked under......she makes it sound like it would cost us MORE over-all to change our bookings to a group without a lot of benefit (OR is this simply a lot of work she doesn't want to get into??)

 

IF we can change to a group rate and get money back (in the form of a free cabin) AND keep our Early Saver rates (where we can look for price drops) We would LOVE it since WE are personally paying for 5 of the rooms ourselves (too many kids:))

 

Please advise.......how can I get accurate information if not my PVP??

To the best of my knowledge, individual reservations cannot be rolled into a group once they're created as individuals. I don't think Carnival allows individual reservations to be changed to group reservations. Ask your PVP to clarify.

There may be a rare instance where the group rate would be higher than Early Saver, but you could have booked the Early Savers into a group from the beginning and gotten the free berth as well as Early Saver price drops.

It use to be that Early Saver was always the lowest. However, this provided no incentive to book groups and created confusion for guests. Travel agents complained about it last year and Carnival, trying to lure travel agents back after the Triumph incident, revamped their groups program so that now group rates are almost always lower. They also changed to allow Early Saver to receive group amenities whereas before, they could not.

Good luck!

You should definitely book that many cabins as a group. You will receive amenity points that you can use for onboard credits and more. You will receive the average per person rate minus taxes/port charges for every eight double occupancy or higher rooms booked into the group. This money can be applied to your balance before final payment to save you money, spread among the group as onboard credit, or used for private parties, etc.

Carnival recently revamped their group program. Now group rates are almost always lower or equal to the lowest individual rates available. You can also book special rates such as Early Saver into the group and still receive the amenities. You'll also be able to pay a reduced deposit by booking as a group.

Find a good travel agent that specializes in groups and let him/her do all the work. I always set up a website where my groups can get info and book online. I also set up a private facebook group so all the members can discuss plans, ask questions, etc. Your travel agent should make it as easy as possible for everyone to book into the group.

If by chance the Early Saver, or any other rate, is higher than the group rate, you can book that into the group and still get the amenities. Prior to October, you could not get amenities with Early Saver. Carnival revamped their group program and it is much better than before. I book several groups per year, almost always on Carnival, and I do it all the time! They have a good group program.

There is no reason to book them individually. You can get any rate available through a group. With Carnival's newly revised group program, the group rate is always the lowest rate unless you have added lots of amenity points. Booking as a group will allow you to get amenity points you can use for onboard credit, parties, etc. You'll also get one free berth for every 8 rooms. You'll also have a reduced deposit.

With that being said, find a good travel agent to handle all of the details for you. When you call Carnival, you get a different answer from each person you speak to. I always set up a website for my groups so they can get prices, info, and book online. I also create a Facebook group so members can connect with me and each other to ask questions, plan activities, etc. I create a "Bon Voyage" book for each guest full of tips and information to make the cruise as fun as possible. YOU should not be responsible for any more than spreading the word to your friends/family to get them to book. The TA should handle everything else. These are some things you should look for in a travel agent to handle your group.

You definitely need a good TA for a group so you don't have to deal with the details yourself. The group program has recently been enhanced so that group rates are the lowest available, even lower than Early Saver. More amenity points are being offered on more cruises so you don't have to "buy" as many points as in the past. Carnival is really trying to improve their group program.

A good TA should be able to make dining arrangements for your group as we (TAs) have an email contact specifically for group dining. You should also find a TA that will make the booking process as easy as possible for everyone. I always set a website for the group will all of the cruise info, prices, etc. and a secure online booking form. This way each person can be referred to the website to see the info and make their booking. I book several Carnival groups each year and find this make it easier for me and my clients.

Group cruises are so much fun! Hope you have a great one!

We booked our September 2014 cruise in June 2013; I think that is pretty far enough ahead. And he made a point to remind us that he had to have the full $300 per person to get a cabin assignment.

Yes, you have to pay full deposit to get a specific cabin at that time. If you pay the reduced deposit, it just holds a cabin type for you, ex. balcony. You will pick your cabin at full deposit. There is usually lots of availability left by then, but if you are wanting a specific cabin, its best to pay the full deposit.

Make sure your sailing offers amenity points; some don't. But you would still get the free berth. I'm assuming you're doing the group booking to get the added perk of OBC' date=' wine and/or strawberries in the room, photo credit, etc. If that is the case, again, make sure your sailing offers them.

 

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Just FYI, amenities can be bought by adding them into the cruise fare. They are usually about $5 per point per 1st and 2nd guest ($10 per cabin) depending on the sailing. You can also reduce amenities being offered to lower the cruise price if you'd rather do that.

This is interesting:mad: DH and I cruise with a group and have never had a reduced deposit. NEVER, which would have been nice considering our 8-day cruise deposits are $300 each! We do get a cocktail gathering, but have never received wine or strawberries. Should I be raising an eyebrow at our TA?

As long as the booking is far enough ahead of the sailing, you should always be allowed to get reduced initial deposits. The dates will depend on the length of the cruise. The longer the cruise, the further ahead depsotis are due.

Your TA has 60 days from creating the group to get the $25 per person deposits ($50 per room). After the 60 days, he/she has to give back any undeposited rooms on hold. The next full deposit, $250 per person for 7 day cruise or $200 per person for short cruises, is due 150 days before sailing for 6+ day cruises or 120 days prior for short cruises. At this time you are actually booked into a specific room. Finally, final payment is due 75 days prior to sailing for 6+ day cruises or 60 days prior for short cruises.

Don't assume your TA is being dishonest with you about the deposits, but you may want to ask. There may be certain conditions on your particular sailing. Also, many as for a higher initial deposit to make sure people are really serious about sailing. A lot of people will deposit at $25 and then back out when the big money is due, thus wasting everyone's time and rooms on hold. Also, 3rd and 4th person rates are subject to change until the full deposit is made.

Another thing you might want to ask a TA is how he/she will go about getting booking info from everyone in your group. For example, with the groups I book, I create a webpage for them with all the cruise info, pictures, prices, etc. and even a secure online booking form. This way all you, the group leader, has to do it refer people to the webpage and you're not out collecting names, birthdays, credit card numbers, etc. I also create a private facebook group for my groups so they can get to know each other, dicuss activities, etc. and they have access to me for any questions they may have. If they group is local, I also host a "cruise party" to get to know everyone. Make sure the TA is not expecting you to do anything more than spread the word. Everything else is his/her job.

Find a good travel agent to set up your group. We are allowed to start deposits at $25 per person ($50 per room). Some TAs may ask for a slightly higher deposit, like $50 or $100 per person, to weed out those that aren't really serious about going on the cruise.

You can use amenity points to add a variety of items, such as onboard credit, for your group. You will also earn one free berth for every 8 rooms of double occupancy or more. This can be applied to one room to reduce the cost for the group leader, spread among all the rooms for onboard credit, or used for private parties or meeting for your group onboard.

Carnival's new group policy is suppose to keep group rates lower than any other sale offered including Early Saver. So far, this has been my experience with the groups I am servicing.

It can be very complicated and overwhelming to handle on your own. You will want to make it as easy and "fun" for your guests and yourself. A TA can help with travel arrangements to/from the port, travel insurance, group shore excurions, and more. Let a travel agent do all the work for you! Happy to answer any questions you have. Best of luck!

Someone posted here that there would be a delay in the Dr Seuss roll out until the wardrobe malfunction for Thing 1 and Thing 2 was corrected.

 

That is horrible! LOL

They allowed travel agents to stay onboard overnight tonight to experience the ship and see the new features.

Interesting. Hope the media doesn't get wind of this. They'll be making up headlines like "stuck on a broke down Carnival ship with a serial killer" or "Could a serial killer be on your next Carnival cruise?" Because, you know, Carnival is the cruise line of choice for serial killers. The would never cruise with Royal. :-/