Cruise Freek Forums Blogcast

LIVE CHAT TONIGHT!  MARCH 15 @ 6PM EASTERN AND AGAIN 6PM PACIFIC FEATURING THE BRAND NEW CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

CAN’T MAKE THE CHAT? 

Are you spending this weekend planning your cruise vacations? Have you ever consider booking a group cruise?

Cruise Freek Forum groups are formed for pricing and amenities purposes, and, forced socialization and forced dining together are never part of our group cruises. Your reservation is handled as an individual. It’s your vacation, it’s your time attitude! Why not take advantage of one of our groups today?

Explorer of the Seas - 9 Night Canada Cruise from Bayonne, NJ departing on August 28, 2008. Travel Agent: Bob DeAgazio of Worldview Travel. Bob can be reached at: 800-869-0674 or by email at bobd@worldviewtravel.com This sailing is open for booking, deposits are $500 per cabin and a dedicated website for this sailing can be found at the following web address: http://www.explorercanadacruise08.makeswebsites.com/

Grand Princess - 14 Night Caribbean Cruise f rom Fort Lauderdale, FL departing on December 19, 2008. Travel Agent: Bob DeAgazio of Worldview Travel. Bob can be reached at: 800-869-0674 or by email at bobd@worldviewtravel.com This sailing is open for booking, deposits are $600 per person ($1200 per cabin) and a dedicated website for this sailing can be found at the following web address: http://grandprincessdecember192008.makeswebsites.com/

Ruby Princess - 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale, FL departing on February 14, 2009. Travel Agent: Susan Schaefer of Ships N Trips Travel. Susan can be reached at: 888-221-1209 or by email at susan@shipsntripstravel.com This sailing is open for booking, deposits THIS WEEK ONLY ARE JUST $100 PER PERSON. After January 19, 2008 deposits go back up to $250 per person. A website for this sailing is currently under construction. Visit: http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

Europe, 2009 - While this group is still forming, it does appear this group will traveling in May, 2009 aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Travel Agent: Bob DeAgazio of Worldview Travel. Bob can be reached at: 800-869-0674 or by email at bobd@worldviewtravel.com for questions or comments about this forming group. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

Alaska, 2009 - While this group is still forming, it does appear this group will traveling in July, 2009 aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Travel Agent: Bob DeAgazio of Worldview Travel. Bob can be reached at: 800-869-0674 or by email at bobd@worldviewtravel.com for questions or comments about this forming group. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

July 4th, 2009 on Queen Mary 2 - While this group is still forming, this group will be traveling during July 4th week in 2009, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group and availability from Cunard. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

Bermuda, 2009 - While this group is still forming, it does appear this group will traveling in June, 2009, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

Genesis of the Seas, Fall, 2009 - Our opt-in list for Genesis of the Seas Inaugural sailing is rapidly approaching the 100 interested persons mark, and, as I’m sure you know there is great interest on the Cruise Freeks board about this ship and sailing. While Royal Caribbean hasn’t released much information, as the months roll along the list is certain to grow. Our assigned travel agent for this event is Susan Schaefer of Ships N Trips Travel. Susan can be reached at: 888-221-1209 or by email at susan@shipsntripstravel.com to receive information and updates on Genesis please be sure to put your email in the opt-in list which can be found at this webpage location: http://cruisefreekforums.forumfreek.com/Genesis-Inaugural-Cruise-Join-Us-h7.htm

Holiday Cruise, 2009 Aboard Cunard Cruise Lines - While this remains unofficial we have information that Queen Mary 2 is returning to New York City for the Christmas and New Year’s sailing in December, 2009. We have a lot of interest on the boards and via our opt-in list for this sailing. If you are interested in learning more about Cunard during the holidays please be sure to check out the Christmas threads on the Cunard board on Cruise Freeks. Not sure Cunard is right for you? Check out my short article titled Is Cunard Right For You. You can also read and see photos of the 2007 Christmas cruise on Cunard as written by our own Marina (Curvy Gal Cruises) in the LIVE FROM QM2 thread. Our assigned travel agent for this event is Nina Van Harn of Ambiance Travel. Nina can be reached at: 616-405-6950 or by email at Nina@ambiancetc.com A website (including sign up to receive updates on this sailing) is located at the following web address: http://www.cunardholiday2009.makeswebsites.com/

The NEW Queen Elizabeth, Inaugural Sailing, 2010 - As some of you might already know Cunard has sold QE2 after 40 years of service in the fleet. In 2010, Cunard is unveiling the NEW Queen Elizabeth and Cruise Freek Forums will be there for the inaugural sailing. Very little information about this new ship is currently available but, if you’d care to join us please be sure to visit the opt in page to sign up for updates on the ship and inaugural sailing: http://cruisefreekforums.forumfreek.com/Cunard-Queen-Elizabeth-Inaugural-2010-h29.htm Our assigned travel agent for this event is Nina Van Harn of Ambiance Travel. Nina can be reached at: 616-405-6950 or by email at Nina@ambiancetc.com

Caribbean, 2010 - While this group is still forming, it does appear this group will traveling in February, 2010, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

Easter Cruise - April, 2010 - While this group is still forming, it does appear this group will traveling in April, 2010, however, this is still subject to change according to the wishes of the group. To make your point of view known and have a voice in this sailing please visit the Group Proposals section of the Cruise Freek Forums board. Visit http://www.cruisefreakforums.com

“While I was in Ft Lauderdale last week for the cruise3sixty convention, I had a chance to talk to a couple of the sales managers for area hotels. They are all eager to work with pre-cruise groups, but of course we cannot set up anything without dates from RCCL. Each hotel has a limit as to how many rooms can be set aside for groups, so depending on our group size and the hotel limitations we may have to use more than one hotel.

I also spoke with a local bus company (that can provide transportation to group events). At the very least I’m thinking they will be the way to go for transportation to the cruise terminal the morning of the cruise … otherwise we’ll overwhelm the hotels (the ones that offer shuttles that is) or go nuts trying to arrange for a multitude of taxi cabs.

I also spoke with someone at the Seminole Hard Rock which works with groups of 25 or larger … they’ll provide free transportation to their property and give everyone a gaming voucher, in return you need to spend about 4 hours on property (of course they hope you are spending that time gambling).

As for finding out anything about the cruise itself … noting, nada, zip … maybe late May or early June they’ll start releasing tidbits of information … they won’t even commit at this point to whether or not group space will be available (although it’s been available on previous inaugural cruises, they are qualifying themselves by saying “Genesis is different….” “Genesis is unique….”)”

Join Cruise Freek Forums on Genesis for the Inaugural sailing in Fall, 2009!

had a great time at my cruise conference and toured the Zuiderdam, Westerdam and Caribbean Princess. (more on that once I get a chance to organize my pictures)

At the private club that Cunard had set up for their top agents at the conference I talked to Carol a bit, wonderful lady, very gracious and down to earth. I was treated like the darling of the Club which was fun and got the emails of almost every VP in the company with an invitation to contact them if I needed anything. (Still wondering if that was because of my record with Cunard or thanks to my dress but we’ll see!) Although, I had met many of them at the QV event it was nice to build the relationships more. I will be working with them on some new marketing ideas which will be fun. Hopefully, I will be able to gain more insider knowledge for our groups here through these firmer relationships.

I think I posted this before but I will post it again, pricing is scheduled to come out April 20th or close to that although it won’t formally be announced until the beginning of April. Hopefully, they will get ahead of schedule and come out with it sooner since Princess is coming out March 21st and the two companies work very closely together. I’ll keep you posted on that. Also, 4th of July is certainly out of NYC and I got another nod from the top to the positive for NYC for Christmas in 2009 although they haven’t finished scheduling so couldn’t give me a firm yes just yet. I also found out that they will be watching these groups! Good things to come if they are successful That’s it in a nutshell.

The chat will be featuring the May, 2009 European cruise on the brand new Celebrity Solstice and any other updates Bob has to share with us. Everyone is invited and you’re encouraged to attended even if you’re just curious or thinking about this sailing. An additional reminder will be sent out later in the week with times the Live Chat will be taking place. For more information about the European cruise CLICK HERE to be taken to the dedicated page that lists the itinerary, allows you to sign up for email updates regarding this sailing, and see a Sneak Preview Slide Show of Meditteranean.

CAN’T MAKE THE CHAT? MAKE YOU SIGN UP FOR OPT-IN EMAIL LIST FOR UPDATES ON THE MAY 25, 2009 SAILING ON CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

Can’t make it to Europe with us in May, 2009? We are also organizing a group cruise on Celebrity Solstice for President’s week in February, 2010 in the Caribbean. Click Here for more details!

VISIT http://www.cruisefreakforums.com to learn more about this new and fast growing Cruise Message Board Community!