How to find out if there is a large group on your cruise

[lbryant]

Is there a way to find out if there are large groups scheduled on your cruise? I check prices and cabin availability pretty regularly on Princess' site. Last week, there were only 9 or 10 cabins booked on deck 10 forward section (we have 7 of those cabins). All of a sudden, all of the cabins in that section are booked. Is there a way to find out if it's a large tour group?

 

Thanks

[rkmw]

Is there a way to find out if there are large groups scheduled on your cruise? I check prices and cabin availability pretty regularly on Princess' site. Last week, there were only 9 or 10 cabins booked on deck 10 forward section (we have 7 of those cabins). All of a sudden, all of the cabins in that section are booked. Is there a way to find out if it's a large tour group?

 

Thanks

 

i dont think you can

[Cruisin' Chick]

I wouldn't go by which cabins get booked. It could be just many people are booking those cabins, just by coincidence. It could be a TA has those cabins (if this is before final payment) and are booking their clients in those cabins. Plus, there could be a big group that will be on your ship (just about every sailing has family reunions, incentive sailings, special interest groups) but those people are given their choice of category (and are scattered about the ship).

[lbryant]

I just checked again and now those cabins are available. Really strange (or maybe not for those in the know). In the past 2 days 41 cabins went from available, to booked, back to available again. strange.

 

Thanks

[bdjam]

Google?

[Times Prince]

Is there a way to find out if there are large groups scheduled on your cruise? I check prices and cabin availability pretty regularly on Princess' site. Last week, there were only 9 or 10 cabins booked on deck 10 forward section (we have 7 of those cabins). All of a sudden, all of the cabins in that section are booked. Is there a way to find out if it's a large tour group?

 

Thanks

As mentioned, cabin availability varies due to TA/Agency allocation, passenger choice, and Princess upgrades. There is no rhyme or reason. The statistic quoted most is that each cabin is sold an average of five times before the cruise starts.

 

But really, if you have the cabins you wanted, why does it matter if there is a large group onboard?

[RocketMan275]

But really, if you have the cabins you wanted, why does it matter if there is a large group onboard?

 

I've seen several threads about groups who took over certain areas as their group space and aggressively 'defending' that space.

 

One thread was concerned some life sized doll. Normally, one would think that wouldn't be a big deal. What could possibly go wrong with a hundred or so pre-teen girls playing 'dolly'. Then they start hogging seats in the dinning areas, entertainment events, and pool loungers for their dollies. And, of course the mommies thought that was so cute too.

[zahav1]

First do a google search with your cruise ship's name and date of sailing, see if a large group comes up, it should not be a travel agency. Also, I use http://themecruisefinder.com/index.html

 

You can do a search by name like Princess and see what comes up.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I've seen several threads about groups who took over certain areas as their group space and aggressively 'defending' that space.

 

One thread was concerned some life sized doll. Normally, one would think that wouldn't be a big deal. What could possibly go wrong with a hundred or so pre-teen girls playing 'dolly'. Then they start hogging seats in the dinning areas, entertainment events, and pool loungers for their dollies. And, of course the mommies thought that was so cute too.

 

Must be American Girl dolls. Pretty expensive ones. Fortunately my daughter stuck to reading some of the books and watching a copy of the movies. I think it's more of a "tween" thing, rather than "preteen." Preteen girls tended to move on to sparkling vampires.

[mcgratru]

I just checked again and now those cabins are available. Really strange (or maybe not for those in the know). In the past 2 days 41 cabins went from available, to booked, back to available again. strange.

 

Thanks

 

I saw that when checking our cruise too but I think it was just a glitch with the princess website....gone within a few hours and back to good availability.

Edited April 30, 2014 by mcgratru

[Colo Cruiser]

I just checked again and now those cabins are available. Really strange (or maybe not for those in the know). In the past 2 days 41 cabins went from available, to booked, back to available again. strange.

 

Thanks

 

 

It happens quite often.

[4cats4me]

I've seen several threads about groups who took over certain areas as their group space and aggressively 'defending' that space.

 

One thread was concerned some life sized doll. Normally, one would think that wouldn't be a big deal. What could possibly go wrong with a hundred or so pre-teen girls playing 'dolly'. Then they start hogging seats in the dinning areas, entertainment events, and pool loungers for their dollies. And, of course the mommies thought that was so cute too.

 

 

Hmm, this sounds like the infamous American Girl Doll cruise that took place on Celebrity a few years ago. Sounded like a nightmare:eek:

[Brenda8129]

Hmm, this sounds like the infamous American Girl Doll cruise that took place on Celebrity a few years ago. Sounded like a nightmare:eek:

 

Anytime a bunch of pre-teen girls gather is a nightmare! Reminds me of the Cheerleader conventions at WDW. The mothers are actually worse than the kids!

[marco]

As a rule, you can't. But in your instance whereby a lot of the cabins now show "booked" that could be an agent took a bunch of group space but if they aren't sold by a certain date, the are released. We're doing a smallish "group" 30 people, and our agent has 15 cabins on "hold". If they aren't booked by (I don't remember the date) they are released.

[kendon]

Go on your CC roll call. Large groups can often be found discussing their upcoming cruise there.

[Grammyluvs]

As mentioned, cabin availability varies due to TA/Agency allocation, passenger choice, and Princess upgrades. There is no rhyme or reason. The statistic quoted most is that each cabin is sold an average of five times before the cruise starts.

 

But really, if you have the cabins you wanted, why does it matter if there is a large group onboard?

 

We went on a cruise with Carnival one time and there was a Tattoo convention on board. A very large group and they took over everything...loud and boisterous. I would have never booked if I had known.

[OCruisers]

Go on your CC roll call. Large groups can often be found discussing their upcoming cruise there.

 

The above is very true.

Also, you can google the name of your ship with the sailing date. Sometimes, you can get info doing that.

LuLu

~~~

[Cruz-OR]

Large groups aren't necessarily bad. A cruise we were on had an Elvis themed group on board. Image coming out of your cabin and running into Elvis. Most of their events were private but they did invite everyone to an Elvis show which turned out to be a real treat.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Large groups aren't necessarily bad. A cruise we were on had an Elvis themed group on board. Image coming out of your cabin and running into Elvis. Most of their events were private but they did invite everyone to an Elvis show which turned out to be a real treat.

 

This is true. And again, most likely there will be groups on board on any sailing. Wish I had access to the Internet (well, better than dial up :o) back in 1994 when we had booked the Sensation. When we were boarding, we saw a banner that welcomed passengers to the World Tourney of Bingo. With them, unless you wanted a good seat in the casino (which wasn't our idea of fun anyway), the only other venues the players took over was the lounge that was used for their matches. But you certainly wouldn't want to be between the dining door when it opened and this group. Or between the casino gate when it opened and this group. Very addictive types -- usually saw many with cigarettes and/or drinks. I think if we're considering a cruise and see some massive bingo group booking it, we'll pass.

 

On the other hand, we've seen groups on board that aren't obnoxious, just regular people. Groups that you wouldn't know were on board unless you saw a sign some place. A couple of cruises ago there was some law group (don't know if strictly lawyers or what) and we only knew when we were passing one of the dining rooms in the morning that wasn't open for breakfast and there was a sign for this group. The room wouldn't have been used otherwise.

[geoherb]

Google will bring up public groups--ones that are advertising to the public. It may not bring up private groups. For instance, we sailed once with a large group who sold costume jewelry through in-home parties. It was fun to see them around the ship, always dressed to the nines.