Princess Cruise group discount for 10 people?
I went on a cruise last year with the just the misses, we were looking to go back and 8 of our friends and family want to join. We are planning for October 19' (off peak?) Can anyone share the best cruise group discount they received? We will need 5 staterooms for each couple.
Wondering what the per person $ would look like.
Posted Apr 1, 2019, 5:47 PM UTC
15
For group planning you absolutely want to work with a good travel agent.
For one, you don't want to be the "point person", facilitating everyone's questions, special requests, etc - that's one way in which a good agent can be worth their weight in gold.
Further, while most lines (including princess) requiring ~16 lower berths to be a group, there is always a chance that the agency can get some other guests (unrelated to your traveling party) booked onto the same sailing, which could allow for some group benefits. These benefits can vary a lot. For one, you'll earn Group Amenity Points which can be used for OBC, cocktail parties, etc. Additionally, there are Tour-Conductor Credits (TC's) to consider, where some credit for a berth can be attained. If a sailing isn't filling, and you have a group, a line may offer additional pricing incentives as well - it just depends.
No matter how you slice it, groups can get complicated. Find a *good* travel agent. I've got other reasons to do so as well as things to consider when looking for an agent in the article below.
https://www.cruisehabit.com/should-i-use-travel-agent-or-book-directly-cruise-line
Thank you for the insightful response, that's really a good tactic that other agencies can use when including other unrelated guests to book the same sailing for the group discount.
In your experience which have been the best travel agents you found and where did you seek them out?
I've been using the same agent for almost a decade, and I found him through a number of friends and acquaintances that do business with the agency he's affiliated with. I think word of mouth and a brief "interview" of sorts is the best way to go. IN a chat you can get a feel for that person's experience with the type of cruise you're looking for, but also how they communicate - sometimes's it's about how two people "click". I'd also avoid any agent that isn't accustomed to working with groups, as well as those pushing a particular line or experience without getting to know anything about you or the type of experience you're looking for.
I'm happy to share information for the agency I've long used if you send me a PM. I don't post it here just b/c it becomes a slippery slope if people start advertising agents on the subreddit.