Am I worrying too much? Bike rally cruise on Freedom March 2011

[Teamv]

This question came from another thread about large groups on the Freedom sailing on March 13. 2011. There are 1800 spaces being held for the Thunder in the Tropics motorcylcle rally group. After much obsessive research I was all set to book this cruise, but then I saw the price jump and decided to wait a day or so and just be sure. In the mean time I saw the thread about this and now I am wondering whether we should make other vacation plans for our family. Nothing against motorcycle groups but I checked out the website and I'm not sure if this cruise will be as family friendly as we were hoping. (Fun, just not sure if it is for my conservative husband and see-all, hear-all young teens).

 

This would be our family's first cruise and I want us all to love, love, love cruising.

 

Would you have any hesitation about booking this cruise? Am I worrying unnecessarily? Thanks for your thoughts.

[thelion]

I can assure you that if there are any issues, they will be handled onboard. No matter how large the group, RC doesn't let them ruin other folks' vacations.

[bluegirlum]

On my first cruise, there was a group of alumni from a large university. They were everywhere and took up the pool and other areas. The thing about large groups is that they often can reserve bars and other rooms, and take up room in the dining rooms and other restaurants. I think that is more of the problem than them being rude or whatever. I wouldn't cruise with any big group because they take up so much space, but that's just me. I've actually only heard good things about the biker groups, FWIW.

[abhb]

We were on the Explorer last June with HOGS on the High Seas. The only reason we knew about it was the noise we heard the morning we docked in Bermuda. We looked down from our balcony and watched them taking the Harley's off the ship. (They were loud) It was really interesting to watch. At every port after that we watched them put the motor cycles back on. At each port they were met by locals who then spent the day with riding around the islands. We never had any issue with anyone on the ship. You couldn't tell who was a HOG and who wasn't.

[reallyitsmema]

We were on the Explorer last June with HOGS on the High Seas. The only reason we knew about it was the noise we heard the morning we docked in Bermuda. We looked down from our balcony and watched them taking the Harley's off the ship. (They were loud) It was really interesting to watch. At every port after that we watched them put the motor cycles back on. At each port they were met by locals who then spent the day with riding around the islands. We never had any issue with anyone on the ship. You couldn't tell who was a HOG and who wasn't.

I have only heard great things about the hogs on the high seas but I don't think their numbers are as high as 1,800. I wouldn't sail with a large group unless I was booked with them. Too much of a chance of venues being closed to other people on the ship.

[Jo2310]

If it was my family's vacation I would try and book something else, and only because I think that any big group is going to be loud and like previous poster said, take a lot of space....It has happened twice to us - once at a resort in Mexico and once at Windsor Hills in Florida - they overtook the pool, the movie theatre and even though they were nice people they got loud and people kind of let them have the pool, the ping pong tables, the pool tables, basketball courts etc....We did not have the luxury of knowing of these large groups. All that said, it really depends on what you like as a vacation, some people would love the atmosphere but we are more laid back and quiet.

[Benita]

I would make other plans for your cruise. It is too large a group and too many activities will be centered around them for it not to interfere with your enjoyment.

[bionicman97]

No matter who the large party is, with a party that large, I would find a different cruise if I could.

[denamo]

We were on the Explorer last June with HOGS on the High Seas. The only reason we knew about it was the noise we heard the morning we docked in Bermuda. We looked down from our balcony and watched them taking the Harley's off the ship. (They were loud) It was really interesting to watch. At every port after that we watched them put the motor cycles back on. At each port they were met by locals who then spent the day with riding around the islands. We never had any issue with anyone on the ship. You couldn't tell who was a HOG and who wasn't.

 

We too were on this cruise last June. We loved watching them load up at each port after having been out all day. There was an awesomely talented guy who would play dual piano in the Schooner Bar with the regular entertainer there. WOW! That was so fun!

 

We never witnessed any inappropriate behavior. We did notice more than the average number of tatoos, but that seems to be the norm everywhere these days. It's the new piercing! :D Please no flaming. Not meant to be offensive just humorous.

[lady_cruiser]

I have to agree with some of the posters here. Extra large groups tend to take over parts of the ship for several hours every evening for their private functions. I know because I travel with some of them in the past. We've had anywhere from 600 to 999 people in our groups. And if I am on a ship that has a large group that I am not part of I just find myself another place to go to when they have an area reserved for their party.

 

Now back to the original question about bikers. What you might not realize is that today's bikers are doctors, lawyers, directors, bankers and other professionals. I know this because many of my friends and co-workers love to ride Harleys on weekends and the majority of them are professional people. So if you are worried that bikers might give your young children a bad impression you might be surprised to see most of them will have their well-behave children with them.

[Teamv]

Thanks for all of your thoughts and personal experiences. And thanks for not roasting me alive by asking the question! :) I do love this forum!!

 

I do realize that "bikers" come from all walks of life but the website for this event is not advertising it as a family vacation! It looks like it will be lots of fun for those involved. All 1800 of them! Just not sure if it is for us :(

[aggie1]

We were on the EOS in April of 09. There was a large group of bikers on the ship but did not even know it until the afternoon we docked in San Juan and saw them unloading their bikes from the ship. After that did not know they were onboard except when they were unloading their bikes on the different islands. Met wonderful people on the ship and some of them could have been bikers. Just didn't know.

[cb at sea]

That group is only about 1/2 of the passenger capacity....you probably won't even know who is part of the "group"...and neither will they! There's NO WAY a group that large will identify the rest of their group!

Go...have fun!

[MrsPete]

This may not be a popular opinion, but several years ago we realized that we were booked the same week as the HOGS, and we opted to change our dates. We did so for several reasons:

 

1. A little internet snooping showed us that the HOGS group (not individuals, but the group who organizes the group sailing) had "bought up" literally all the balcony cabins for the week in question. That meant that there'd be no chance of a price drop.

 

2. This was just about the time that RC had had a Bears group onboard, and this board was full of negative posts about that group monopolizing the pool area and bars. If memory serves, they even had some areas (I'm thinking it was the Solarium pool, which I love) closed off for large periods of time. Groups do, just by being groups, change the dynamics of things.

 

3. Although most of the reviews of groups like this one were either neutral or positive, I did read enough negative reviews to concern me. I specifically remember reading something about a joke-apron that didn't sound very funny to me, and it was something that I wouldn't want to explain to my daughters.

[Son of a Cruiser]

We are booked on this cruise (have been for almost a year) and first heard of the group last week. Think they changed dates recently. Should have known something was up whe several balcony categories suddenly sold out several weeks ago. As of now we are staying put. Any more info, especially about ETA groups would be appreciated. We are looking at other cruises, but nothing fits our time and budget (price drop about 2 months ago :D) as well as this cruise. Anyone here sailed with an ETA group? I know to expect certain areas to be closed at various times. Does this mean for the entire day, evening or just an hour or two? Anymore info on what to expect?

 

Thanks

[clochette]

I would not got go on a cruise with a large group no matter who the group is, I think that it would change the dynamics of the ship, and that some venues might be closed at times.

[Puffinater]

Large groups have been known to take over venues. There will be events where they will require a bunch of space. When that occurs the other passengers will not have access to that venue. Tough call as to how visible the group will be to non group members.

[CP3o]

This question came from another thread about large groups on the Freedom sailing on March 13. 2011. There are 1800 spaces being held for the Thunder in the Tropics motorcylcle rally group. After much obsessive research I was all set to book this cruise, but then I saw the price jump and decided to wait a day or so and just be sure. In the mean time I saw the thread about this and now I am wondering whether we should make other vacation plans for our family. Nothing against motorcycle groups but I checked out the website and I'm not sure if this cruise will be as family friendly as we were hoping. (Fun, just not sure if it is for my conservative husband and see-all, hear-all young teens).

 

This would be our family's first cruise and I want us all to love, love, love cruising.

 

Would you have any hesitation about booking this cruise? Am I worrying unnecessarily? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

 

Are you married to 7 nights and the departure port? You could sail on Liberty out of Miami that weekend for 6 nights on a very similar ship, Liberty.

[Mary1951]

We were on the Freedom last year and there were 10 bikers and it was a thrill to see them . Every port they would come out of the ship in formation and drive down the pier escorted by either the police or locAL bikers . I used to hurry to the side just so I could see them coming back . They were very nice people , not the idea we have sometimes at all about bikers , Don't forget that the bikers of today are the baby boomers , Enjoy your cruise and enjoy the thrill of seeing them coming and going .

[tneah]

Last May I went on a cruise that had a large group. There were only two places that I really noticed. One place was at the pool. They took over. Very loud and splashing all over the place.

 

Then the kicker was at dinner. This group showed up for second seating at 9:30pm-9:45pm.....every night. So, hoards of people coming in all at once. The servers said that they couldn't do anything about it, because this was a large group of people. So, that made me feel that they had more pull on the ship than the rest of us.:mad:

Our servers mentioned that the group would stay and eat until about midnight-1:00am. Some of the servers worked until 2:00 am and then needed to get up early for breakfast crowd.

[Jo2310]

Last May I went on a cruise that had a large group. There were only two places that I really noticed. One place was at the pool. They took over. Very loud and splashing all over the place.

 

Then the kicker was at dinner. This group showed up for second seating at 9:30pm-9:45pm.....every night. So, hoards of people coming in all at once. The servers said that they couldn't do anything about it, because this was a large group of people. So, that made me feel that they had more pull on the ship than the rest of us.:mad:

Our servers mentioned that the group would stay and eat until about midnight-1:00am. Some of the servers worked until 2:00 am and then needed to get up early for breakfast crowd.

See, this is what would worry me - they take over, are loud and I would be mad as hell if they closed venues to myself and others to accomate them - especially after paying that amount of money! I would not do it - been there, done that and I had no advance notice (it happened twice to us - at resorts)

[blonde375]

My husband and I sailed March 2009 on Navigator of the Seas as part of my company's annual reward/incentive trip. There were about 800 of us total (including our guests), so about 400 of the balcony cabins were reserved for us.

 

We only had one evening cocktail party that was held in the Solarium that lasted no more than 90 minutes. Other than that, we were on our own and had no other corporate events that closed any venues throughout the 5 days.

 

On a ship that large, I do not feel that we "took over the ship". There were people on the trip from my company that I never saw all week!

 

Whatever you decide, whichever ship, there will always be all walks of life represented. People watching is one of the best things about vacationing!

 

 

P.S......my husband is a business owner, youth director at our church, and oh yeah, a Biker!:cool:

[kleo30]

How do you know if there is a large group schedule for a cruise?

[kelzer]

My family is going on the Freedom of the Seas, March 13, 2011. I too am concerned about sailing with such a large group (not that they are bikers, just that they are a large group). I checked the website for the Thunder of the Tropics Cruise and it says the cruise is on the Liberty, March 5-13, 2011. See link below. Does anyone know which cruise it is for sure?

 

http://www.thunderinthetropics.com/vendor.pdf

 

Thanks.

[HorrorFan]

We're booked on this one as well. I was aprehensive when I first heard about the large group a week or so ago, but the more I read and think about it, the less concerned I am. Freedom is a big ship. As for taking over the pool area, etc, well, show me a pool area on any ship that isn't a 'zoo' on sea days. Group or no group, its impossible to find seats. :)

Besides, we have a corner aft cabin. Don't wanna give it up. ;)