Joanna - you have done a great job bringing your friends onboard. If they think they can book float planes when they get off the ship, let them do it/or try. I don't know the answer - but you should not worry what your friends want to do. Book what you and Tony want, and let them know what you have booked and hopefully, you and your friends don't have to be joined at the hip for the entire cruise - you know, different excursions for different folks, etc.

I'm sure that you feel responsible for your friends and I understand that, since we also have two friend couples joining us, but as a TA, this is what I do. Invite them for dinner the first night and ask everyone to join you for cocktails before. Then during dinner, just say, "look, since we may not all agree on the same things everyday, lets all feel free to book our own excursions, and if you meet someone you want to have dinner with, or if you want to have a romantic dinner for just two of you, please feel free to do so" you can also add, "we will be in dada bar at say 7:00 every night, and you are free to meet us there and then join us/and or some of our friends for dinner".

You shouldn't feel like a lousy TA, you aren't a TA! You just happen to have some friends who want to come on this and everyone should feel free to do whatever they want, whenever they want!

I know these are close friends, but I bet after a day or two, when they get comfortable, they will be fine with doing whatever they each want to do and you won't have to worry.

OK went on way too long - sorry.