Group Booking thru Princess, or have everyone book on their own?

[Mary Ellen1]

Hi there,

 

We're looking at a group cruise for late next summer, with possibly 10-15 cabins. What's your experience with booking a group like this? Where's the best deal? Princess or a TA? Are the group rates better than what a large online TA can offer?

 

And where's the least amount of hassle? Princess or a TA? If we book through either Princess or a TA, do we have to have one designated contact person for the entire group, and funnel all requests/changes/questions through that person? That sounds like a pain in the neck.

 

Basically, what are the advantages of booking as a group, vs. just telling everyone to book the cruise on their own, and linking our booking #'s for dinner seating?

 

Thanks for any advice & experience you can offer.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi there,

 

We're looking at a group cruise for late next summer, with possibly 10-15 cabins. What's your experience with booking a group like this? Where's the best deal? Princess or a TA? Are the group rates better than what a large online TA can offer?

 

And where's the least amount of hassle? Princess or a TA? If we book through either Princess or a TA, do we have to have one designated contact person for the entire group, and funnel all requests/changes/questions through that person? That sounds like a pain in the neck.

 

Basically, what are the advantages of booking as a group, vs. just telling everyone to book the cruise on their own, and linking our booking #'s for dinner seating?

 

Thanks for any advice & experience you can offer.

 

 

IMO........A good TA will save you 8% to 15% and may have additional perks with multiple cabins.

[partybarbie]

My last experience with this was about ten years ago. We went through our normal TA. She was able to do a group booking for us. We had a total of six cabins. At that time, the group rate qualified us for one person to go for free. We split the free fare among the six cabins. It was a seven-day Mexico cruise, so the credit was $100.00 per cabin. The TA took care of linking us all together, dining times, and any special requests. It was pretty easy.

[blambition]

A group booking usually qualifies you for one free person for every 16 people booked. So if you have 32 people going you will have one free cabin, usually in the category that most cabins are booked in. Also when the group is taken out by at TA, there could possibly be additional group amenities. Usually there is one main person that is the contact to the travel agent however that does not mean that each person could not individually talk to the travel agent and give them their own credit cards for payment. Much better to book as a group rather than individual bookings where you will get no perks!

 

 

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[Coral]

Work with a Cruise Travel Agent. Have them setup a group (group amenities plus free berths). You can have each person in the group deal with the Travel Agent. If you get the right TA, you can save an additional 10% off what Princess would offer.

[paul929207]

Definitely work with a TA. They will be able to get you a discount off the Princess fare

[Mary Ellen1]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. For the free cabin (or free berth) it looks like they divide the value of that between all the cabins? As OBC?

[Coral]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. For the free cabin (or free berth) it looks like they divide the value of that between all the cabins? As OBC?

 

I think only the first 2 in the cabin apply (so don't count the 3rd or 4th person per cabin towards this). You can choose to either get a free cabin or divide the money amongst the other cabins. Plus, you do have to pay fees and taxes on the free berths.

 

Not sure about the value. Hopefully someone can answer that.

[MCC retired]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. For the free cabin (or free berth) it looks like they divide the value of that between all the cabins? As OBC?

 

 

 

The free berth $$ is usually paid out after the cruise returns if you choose to split it .

Do contact a Cruise Specialist TA to block your group space and explain the rates and amenities available for you to choose for your group .

Giving the single point of contact to the TA is especially valuable for answering your groups questions and "collecting $$".

Many times everyone is interested in the cruise until it is time to deposit or final payment .

Good luck !

 

 

 

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[RocketMan275]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. For the free cabin (or free berth) it looks like they divide the value of that between all the cabins? As OBC?

I suspect that the person who acts as the intermediary for the TA for this booking should deserve a free booking. I suspect you will be amazed at the work herding 32 cats will require. However, that would only cause more friction so I'm not sure it's worth it. There is no way I would be talked into taking on that task.

 

You will spend a huge amount of time coordinating this. Be very wary.

[Coral]

I suspect that the person who acts as the intermediary for the TA for this booking should deserve a free booking. I suspect you will be amazed at the work herding 32 cats will require. However, that would only cause more friction so I'm not sure it's worth it. There is no way I would be talked into taking on that task.

 

You will spend a huge amount of time coordinating this. Be very wary.

 

That is why to point everyone towards a TA. Let the TA do the work.

[RocketMan275]

That is why to point everyone towards a TA. Let the TA do the work.

There was also at least one reference to a single point of contact for the TA.

[easyboy]

You may want to get quotes from 2 TAs. They might compete to give you better perks.

[Shelly97060]

Another vote to use a TA.

[blambition]

Most TA's will give you the dollar amount after the sailing. It is correct that only the first two in the cabin will count towards the 32 passengers. If you have 16 passengers you will get credit for one free person. It is up to the individual group to decide if the one person gets to go free, or two free people etc. or you can simply divide the money back amongst everyone that went on the trip. It is not used as onboard credit. Of course it is up to the individual travel agent if they wish to do OBC right before you sail to each individual cabin. Definitely work with a Cruise only travel agent.

 

 

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[towhee]

Three years ago I organized a cruise after our convention and we ended up with 10 cabins. I talked to my local TA and she handled everything, including getting the documentation for each of us (one was a non-US citizen). We had two tables in the main dining room with the same wait staff, so people could choose who they wanted to sit with at dinner time. I would definitely advise working with a TA that you know and trust.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Just so you know, the 16th person gets ONLY their CRUISE FARE free, not port charges, insurance, transfers, and not government taxes. It's an averaged fare dependent on the majority of the cabins sold. If most are sold in inside cabins, but you've booked a balcony, you will get the cruise fare only of an inside cabin and will have to pay the difference.

 

Some TAs are not able to book Groups, so ask that up front and also ask what the GAP points are. These are the points for free amenities from the cruise line and you get to choose how you will use them. Your points are dependent on the sailing and are assigned by Princess. You might choose from $15-$37.50pp OBC, a bottle of wine, etc. They aren't that great, but every little bit helps.

[Mary Ellen1]

Great advice here. Thanks, all, for taking the time to respond.

 

RocketMan275, about the single point of contact -- I totally agree that a) it's a lot of work for someone, but b) it would cause trouble if everyone knew that someone sailed for free.

 

My sister is mostly organizing this cruise, but she's about to start her job school-teaching again in a few weeks, so she'll be very busy. So the responsibilities would likely fall to ... ME! I don't want that, so we need to find a TA who will deal with all the group members individually. As Coral said, "Let the TA do the work." Yup.

 

easyboy, good advice about getting competing quotes. Thanks. :)

 

DrivesLikeMario, I just learned a new term -- GAP points. Am googling it. Thanks! I knew cruise lines sometimes did that, but didn't know the term.

 

And yeah, "free cruise" is cruise fare only. Makes sense.

 

Thanks everyone! :)

[MCC retired]

The quantity of Group Amenity Points (GAP) vary by ship/sailing .

Soft sailing dates may have more than normal points while popular sailings , like holiday , may have none .

Your TA can explain the choices that you may use them for .

 

 

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