Has anyone done a cruise for their friends for a special event? I have 15 couples I want to pay for on a 3 or 4 day cruise out of Florida in Nov or Dec. I have never been on the less expensive lines i.e. carnival etc....but have been on 20 other cruises....We are not snobs just party people....we all winter in Miami area during the winter so it is not a problem leaving from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Any suggestions? Hello cat lover...was on Radisson SA with you

I meant petlover

Hi Circleboy. I have not gone on a cruise with a large group (except with LCTers!!) but I have looked into getting our entire family going away for a Christmas cruise. It turned into a nightmare since most of the family is not retired and no date was good for everyone.
If your group can all settle on one date, the rest of it should be easy!

Karen I think friends would be easier than "family" mine can never decide either :rolleyes: so it'll probably never happen. We were on 17 nights with petlover from Manaus to BA - same cruise, CB??

Joanna, you have cruised with a group of friends before, maybe you can give some tips! Your group cruise on MUSH seemed to be lots of fun!

My advice???? I love my friends - DO NOT do it if you are the TA, not really TA, but a friend acting as TA if that makes sense - :eek:

Did Ft. Lauderdal to Manaus

We have done this 3 times, twice with our family of 9 for a week (once on Celebrity and once on Royal Caribbean), and once with friends family over Christmas/New Years on Celebrity. When we went with my family, Alan and I were in a suite and everyone could gather in our room, which worked out well.

These cruises were great fun since we never had to decide about where to eat or where to go at night, although there are a lot of choices at night. We all did our own things in port (Alan and I would tour with my mom.). I think traditional fixed dining is best with a large group since it means that you all know you will meet at the table at the fixed time without having to discuss it, (although smaller ships can arrange this). Also, the waiters can really add to the experience since they get to know you.

I recommend Celebrity over Royal Caribbean, since it is just a bit more upscale, although both are fun, and the Royal Caribbean Jewel class ships are gorgeous.(They are so beautiful, with walls of glass everywhere, that I had a fantasy that Regent would buy one and convert it from 2,600 passengers to just 700 passengers.) We have also been on HAL but did not like it as much as Celebrity.

Of course there are many negatives with large ships but if you plan well it can be fun.

Merril