How to set up a Meet and Greet through Carnival

We just come back from our cruise on the Dream. We had a very active roll call of over 200 people on Cruise Critic with almost 2000 postings. We had two informal meet and greets - just times we planned to show up at a particular place. But we also wanted something a little more formal. So we organized the meet and greet through Carnival.

This is how we did it:

I called Carnival Customer Service and told them what I wanted to do. I just told them the group was my "friends and family". I did not mention Cruise Critic. They gave me the information and tld me to call back when we had a tentative number.

I put a message on our roll call for those interested in spending the $11.44 (or $5.75 for kids) to send me an email telling me the number of people interested. 15 groups totalling 68 people responded. After that, I only communicated about the meet and greet through private email.

I called Carnival and gave them a tentative number - this was about 2 months prior to sailing. I told each CC member to send me a check for their amount. All did -via snail mail. (Obviously there was a little faith here....but after communicting in CC for over 6 months with each other, I think people were willing to risk sending me their checks.) The full cost of the meet and greet would be charged to my sign and sail account.

I set a cut off date 4 weeks before the cruise. I got all the checks by then. I then called carnival and confirmed the number. The sent me an email confirming the number, the cost, the day (first sea day), time (2 PM to 3 PM) and location (Jazz Lounge).

One of our members volunteered to make name badge for each person. (A real good idea! ) That way, we could know each other and use them to keep track of who was there.

When I arrived on board I had a letter from a Carnival rep confirming everything. I also received a call to my stateroom to confirm things as well. The day of the meet and greet, I showed up a little early and set up some mini portable speakers for my ipod so we could hgave some music. The Carnival rep was there to check on things. By five minutes before the event was to start, two servers already had trays of drinks set up....margherittas, strawberry daquiris, rum punch, wine and fruit punch. There was also a bartender behind the bar. On the tables arround the room were bowls of bar nibblies.

People showed up and it was fantastic. The servers circulated with drinks and people went to the bar to get whatever else they wanted - beer, mixed drinks, etc. This continued for the full hour - even until about 10 after. We did pass a hat for an extra gratuity for the servers even though it was included. I think we pulled together an additional $60.

We did not have any problem with crashers. Near the end of the party I was presented a bill for the event which I signed and it was charged to my sign and sail card.

It was a great event and the Carnival staff did a great job setting it up. It took a little work on my part to keep track of everything but it was not too bad. The important thing its to set it up well in advance of the cruise and give people deadlines to sign up and send the money. We did not allow anyone to "pay at the door" ....that would have not worked.

If anyone has any questions, let me know

It sounds like it worked out great! Good for you for organizing everything... I swore off organizing after I did my last high school reunion and nobody else helped. LOL!

(BTW, I grew up in Huntingdon Valley-- the Abington part.)

Excellant post, thank you. Hopefully someone considering this will try it your way (the correct way) and stop bothering John H. with such request.

JPH814 Quote;

I called Carnival Customer Service and told them what I wanted to do. I just told them the group was my "friends and family". I did not mention Cruise Critic.

You did good :D.

it's not a good think to mention cruise critic to any ccl employee.

it's not a good think to mention cruise critic to any ccl employee.

Why not?

it's not a good think to mention cruise critic to any ccl employee.

I was a part of the meet and greet mentioned above by JPH and let me say he did a wonderful job organizing it all for us. I agree that the service was excellent and I assure you everyone got well more than their $11.44 worth of drinks. The staff just kept them coming. The friendships formed on the few months on our roll call were very rewarding and the meet just enhanced the experience. I did print out the CC door sign though and posted it on my door with no ill effect. (really helps find your room after a few double captains in the casino) Service was terrific. I don't really think the sign was an influence though, my steward Einon was just that good. He found out on the last day of our cruise they were transfering him to Italy to join the Carnival Magic. Good for him! I think most CCL employees know persons from CC are just like anyone else. CC member or not, after 18 cruises with Carnival, it has to be obvious to them that we appreciate the product and they treat us with the same appreciation each time we return. I am happy that that I didn't have to hide my involvement with our CC roll call group and still recieved the same service and great experience I always do. This was the best cruise ever!

I was a part of the meet and greet mentioned above by JPH and let me say he did a wonderful job organizing it all for us. I agree that the service was excellent and I assure you everyone got well more than their $11.44 worth of drinks. The staff just kept them coming.

Wait wait wait a minute.

You pay $11.44 per person attending... and the booze flows freely?

Am I reading this right? :D

Why not?

I want to know that, too. :confused:

Wait wait wait a minute.

 

You pay $11.44 per person attending... and the booze flows freely?

 

Am I reading this right? :D

LOL..yes you read it right! Honest, ask JPH

First of all - yes, the drinks did flow! AS O said, they were pre-made so there was no delay waiting for the bartender (unless you wanted something special). My lord, I was toasted at the end of the hour and I am a big guy who can handle a lot of liquior. I easily had 7 of these blue marghetta's. Yummy And then a pair of ladies offered me a shot of something at the bar - called a "milky nipple" - how could I refuse!

I told many people, including Carnival staffers, that I am on Cruise Critic and most were not impressed one way or another. I mentioned it specifically to the staff at the party and the Carnival customer service person I talked to on board about the party. I did not mention it when booking the party initially because of stories on this board that Carnival did not like booking CC groups to these kind of parties due to difficulty in controlling who was attending and payment. I really do not know if this is 100% true or not, but I did not want to take a chance. Of course, the way we did it eliminated that problem.

JPH814 Quote ;

First of all - yes, the drinks did flow! AS O said, they were pre-made so there was no delay waiting for the bartender (unless you wanted something special). My lord, I was toasted at the end of the hour and I am a big guy who can handle a lot of liquior. I easily had 7 of these blue marghetta's. Yummy And then a pair of ladies offered me a shot of something at the bar - called a "milky nipple" - how could I refuse!

I told many people, including Carnival staffers, that I am on Cruise Critic and most were not impressed one way or another. I mentioned it specifically to the staff at the party and the Carnival customer service person I talked to on board about the party. I did not mention it when booking the party initially because of stories on this board that Carnival did not like booking CC groups to these kind of parties due to difficulty in controlling who was attending and payment. I really do not know if this is 100% true or not, but I did not want to take a chance. Of course, the way we did it eliminated that problem.

Confirmed 100% true , There is more to be said here on this topic.

I'll leave it at that .:rolleyes:

question????

does everyone have to pay.... why i ask .... if we had people with lets say had special name tags for those who paid for the cocktail party and the others who come to this event and their name tags would be very different from those who paid. Would this couse a problem,,,,

We are setting this up for our cruise but we are doing it for an hour and half for 16.88 a person.

Is there a particular number to call to arrange this?

question????

 

why does everyone have to pay........

not sure. meet and greets are free on ncl and rccl.

It sounds like it worked out great! Good for you for organizing everything... I swore off organizing after I did my last high school reunion and nobody else helped. LOL!

 

(BTW, I grew up in Huntingdon Valley-- the Abington part.)

SO are we- Rydal - behind the Genuardis

is there a particular number to call to arrange this?

1-888-227-6483

not sure. meet and greets are free on ncl and rccl.

They are not free on Carnival

They are not free on Carnival

Well, that's not totally correct. If you wanted to put together a Meet & Greet in a private room, you can on CCL, for free....but no open bar. What you are paying for is the open bar service. Same on NCL and RCCL....they are not giving out free booze for a M&G.

Great original post by the way! I did this exact same thing for our group last October...on the Dream....in the Jazz lounge. lol. Perfect room for that! And I also didn't mention CC. Getting ready to set up the same for the Miracle....it's such a perfect way to do it!

For the archives...

The number to call is (800) 438-6744 X70006

There's a minimum of 20 people. For one hour with open bar and snacks, it's $9.95 per person + 15% gratuity. For two hours, $17 pp + 15% They recommended setting this up no later than a month before the sail date.

We had a M&G arranged on the Legend April 10 sailing. It was pay as you go for the drinks, however we had Satchmo's Lounge reserved. CD Wee Jimmy was there with several department heads, (Hotel, Food & Service, etc.) They all knew we were from cruise critic and actually welcomed us with open arms. We had a wonderful time.:D

I am getting ready for my first Carnival Cruise although I have been on 15 cruises in the past. I have been looking at how Meet and Greets are arranged with Carnival. I have the impression that Carnival does not help to set up these events??? Other cruise lines including RC have given away many door prizes, served food and even had officers attend their Meet and Greets. Am I wrong to assume that Carnival does not do this?????

I have the impression that Carnival does not help to set up these events???

Carnival is more than willing to have these events. A lot of people are just not interested and over time there has been less and less turnout. It is up to you to organize it, Carnival doesn't know what you want or who to invite. For an open bar get together there is a required minimum of 20 guests.

Other cruise lines including RC have given away many door prizes, served food and even had officers attend their Meet and Greets. Am I wrong to assume that Carnival does not do this?????

To get the ball rolling you need to contact groupeventplanning@carnival.com to get the latest information.

Here is a party price list for Carnival Private Parties that was accurate as of late December: http://www.*****/Carnival/docs/partypricelist.pdf

Check out the links in my signature to get you up to speed with everything Carnival.

Well, that's not totally correct. If you wanted to put together a Meet & Greet in a private room, you can on CCL, for free....but no open bar. What you are paying for is the open bar service. Same on NCL and RCCL....they are not giving out free booze for a M&G.

 

Great original post by the way! I did this exact same thing for our group last October...on the Dream....in the Jazz lounge. lol. Perfect room for that! And I also didn't mention CC. Getting ready to set up the same for the Miracle....it's such a perfect way to do it!

I have been on many CCL cruises as well as RCL.

I did a party like this with my CC group and had a great time. In fact, the party was set up for 1 or 2 hours, if you choose to do an hour you left after the first hour.

A M&G has been discussed with John H. and last summer he stated that one will be done when requested and put in the caper. One was scheduled for the 1st day of the cruise before I had boarded.

Also on my last RCCL cruise last Nov (transatlantic 14 day cruise) the meet & mingle was set up in the morning. It was set up in one of the lounges, a few hundred signed up and it looked like everyone attended. They was serving morning cocktails and danish. This was the first time I saw real drinks being served.

not sure. meet and greets are free on ncl and rccl.

Adult beverages are free?