After discussions with Carnival, I have been able to get the initial deposit date extended until 4/30/08.
To secure your space, on what will definitely be "An Event to Remember", please contact me so that you will not miss out.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Ok folks,
There is a post on the cruise critic for a Veterans cruise out of Galveston. Ours is out of Miami. A little background:
As a lot of you may know, I tried to get this going through Cruise Critic some time ago. I was gathering information and was accused of trying to set up a cruise that was not a CC sanctioned cruise. I responded that I was gathering information to see what interest there was. In February I sent an email to CC and said I was ready to go ahead and make it a Cruise Critic sponsored cruise. Three weeks passed and no response. After the 4th week, I contacted Beverly to get this going since she offered to help (never turn down an offer of help). I then started posting it on CC knowing they would not like it, but thought it would get people thinking again. I got banned from the site until Mar 9. Since then, Beverly has been working diligently to get us amenities that she had to negotiate with Carnival on.
The host of the cruise on CC is very sincere in his efforts and I hold no animosity towards him at all. As I said before, a Veteran is a Veteran and we are all Brothers or Sisters. We were together then, we should be together now.
The rest you know.
Anyway, I and Beverly both are hoping that this is going to be a success, but we need to start booking cabins. She is sending emails out to the folks that have said they are interested. Please start booking with her. I will be booking mine this evening.
Remember, this is a group cruise. If you book through Carnival yourself, you will not get the amenities that Beverly has gotten for us, so, please go through her.
Hope to see you all there.
DK
There is a post on the cruise critic for a Veterans cruise out of Galveston. Ours is out of Miami. A little background:
As a lot of you may know, I tried to get this going through Cruise Critic some time ago. I was gathering information and was accused of trying to set up a cruise that was not a CC sanctioned cruise. I responded that I was gathering information to see what interest there was. In February I sent an email to CC and said I was ready to go ahead and make it a Cruise Critic sponsored cruise. Three weeks passed and no response. After the 4th week, I contacted Beverly to get this going since she offered to help (never turn down an offer of help). I then started posting it on CC knowing they would not like it, but thought it would get people thinking again. I got banned from the site until Mar 9. Since then, Beverly has been working diligently to get us amenities that she had to negotiate with Carnival on.
The host of the cruise on CC is very sincere in his efforts and I hold no animosity towards him at all. As I said before, a Veteran is a Veteran and we are all Brothers or Sisters. We were together then, we should be together now.
The rest you know.
Anyway, I and Beverly both are hoping that this is going to be a success, but we need to start booking cabins. She is sending emails out to the folks that have said they are interested. Please start booking with her. I will be booking mine this evening.
Remember, this is a group cruise. If you book through Carnival yourself, you will not get the amenities that Beverly has gotten for us, so, please go through her.
Hope to see you all there.
DK
Call to Action
OK guys, we've talked about this, now lets act on it.
I have sent e-mails to everyone I had an address for, and hopefully the word will get out. Carnival is requiring an initial deposit from people within 2 weeks, to keep this group going. I was planning BIG, and had them hold 190 cabins for me, however, I have not booked one cabin to date. If we do not show some action soon, Carnival will not take us seriously.
If you are interested in sailing with us, please contact me soon, so that I can get the necessary information. I would hate to see this dream go up in smoke.
I can be reached by e-mail at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com or by phone at (386) 575-3595.
I have sent e-mails to everyone I had an address for, and hopefully the word will get out. Carnival is requiring an initial deposit from people within 2 weeks, to keep this group going. I was planning BIG, and had them hold 190 cabins for me, however, I have not booked one cabin to date. If we do not show some action soon, Carnival will not take us seriously.
If you are interested in sailing with us, please contact me soon, so that I can get the necessary information. I would hate to see this dream go up in smoke.
I can be reached by e-mail at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com or by phone at (386) 575-3595.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Pricing and Information
I have finally received pricing from Carnival and I have added it to the main page, under the itinerary, along with the amenities we will receive.
Unfortunately, although the group department will allow suites to be booked, they do not offer a price break from the individual booking rate. Also, they will only allow singles to book the Category 1A's.
If you have already made arrangements in a suite, using any type of discount, I will not be able to incorporate your booking into the group. Additionally, if you booked a Category 1A, and are not a single, I will not be able to incorporate the booking into the group. In both of these instances I will still be able to cross-reference your bookings, with the group booking, for dining purposes, if you wish.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com
I will be unavailable by telephone for the next 10 days, but I will be checking my e-mail frequently.
Unfortunately, although the group department will allow suites to be booked, they do not offer a price break from the individual booking rate. Also, they will only allow singles to book the Category 1A's.
If you have already made arrangements in a suite, using any type of discount, I will not be able to incorporate your booking into the group. Additionally, if you booked a Category 1A, and are not a single, I will not be able to incorporate the booking into the group. In both of these instances I will still be able to cross-reference your bookings, with the group booking, for dining purposes, if you wish.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com
I will be unavailable by telephone for the next 10 days, but I will be checking my e-mail frequently.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Some clarification
The group has not officially been set up yet. I'm am waiting on the final word from Ms. Steuart, the Business Development Director, as to what Carnival will do for us, above and beyond the regular group pricing. As soon as I have all the details (pricing, amenities, special activities, etc.) ironed out, and in a contract, I will post here all the details.
In the meantime, if there is a special cabin that you wish to have, please feel free to go ahead and book it. Once the group has been formed, I will be able to integrate the individual bookings into the group.
I have drafted a flyer, that can be posted. It was done in Microsoft Publisher, so if you do not have that software, I will have to print and mail it to you. Again, it is a rough draft, and will be finalized once I have the final pricing, etc. If anyone would like to have one/some of these flyers to post, please e-mail me at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com so that I can get them out to you.
In the meantime, if there is a special cabin that you wish to have, please feel free to go ahead and book it. Once the group has been formed, I will be able to integrate the individual bookings into the group.
I have drafted a flyer, that can be posted. It was done in Microsoft Publisher, so if you do not have that software, I will have to print and mail it to you. Again, it is a rough draft, and will be finalized once I have the final pricing, etc. If anyone would like to have one/some of these flyers to post, please e-mail me at Beverly@cruisingsmart.com so that I can get them out to you.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Info on pricing
I have just checked Carnival's pricing, and military rates are now available for the 11/8/09 sailing of the Valor.
However, the rates are only $12 per person less expensive for the inside and oceanview cabins and $42 per person less expensive for the balcony cabins. In addition, if you go with the military rates, you will not get any of the extra amenities (onboard credit, cocktail party). Even at the most extreme, you would only save $84 for a couple, if booking a balcony cabin, and would lose $100 onboard credit plus the cocktail party.
Also, I think I know the reason that Namvet did not receive a response from any of the "CC approved TA's". They did not want to give up the money they would have earned on Tour Conductors (free berths). I just looked at a group that was formed for 9/20/09 and the pricing that was stated is the same group pricing that all TA's can get, plus the passengers will get $100 onboard credit (not sure what the TA is using the extra GAP point for), but no mention about what will happen to the TC's that are earned, if they go over 8 cabins. My guess, it is pure profit for the TA, but I could be wrong.
I am still waiting on word from the Business Development Director, with Carnival's best pricing offer, and will be posting as soon as I hear from her.
However, the rates are only $12 per person less expensive for the inside and oceanview cabins and $42 per person less expensive for the balcony cabins. In addition, if you go with the military rates, you will not get any of the extra amenities (onboard credit, cocktail party). Even at the most extreme, you would only save $84 for a couple, if booking a balcony cabin, and would lose $100 onboard credit plus the cocktail party.
Also, I think I know the reason that Namvet did not receive a response from any of the "CC approved TA's". They did not want to give up the money they would have earned on Tour Conductors (free berths). I just looked at a group that was formed for 9/20/09 and the pricing that was stated is the same group pricing that all TA's can get, plus the passengers will get $100 onboard credit (not sure what the TA is using the extra GAP point for), but no mention about what will happen to the TC's that are earned, if they go over 8 cabins. My guess, it is pure profit for the TA, but I could be wrong.
I am still waiting on word from the Business Development Director, with Carnival's best pricing offer, and will be posting as soon as I hear from her.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Information will be coming
I just wanted to make you all aware that we should have definite pricing within a week. At this point, we have the standard pricing that was given to us by the group dept., but I am working with the Business Development Director, to see if we can do better.
Just as a point of reference, I wanted to let you know that the Valor sailing over Veterans' Day this year (2008) is only about $10 per person less than I was quoted for 2009, PLUS that sailing is not offering any amenities to groups. At the very least, our group will get $100 onboard credit for each cabin and a 1 hour open-bar cocktail party. I am reaching for the stars and hoping for more, but I just wanted to point out the reality to everyone.
As always, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to post here or send me an e-mail.
Just as a point of reference, I wanted to let you know that the Valor sailing over Veterans' Day this year (2008) is only about $10 per person less than I was quoted for 2009, PLUS that sailing is not offering any amenities to groups. At the very least, our group will get $100 onboard credit for each cabin and a 1 hour open-bar cocktail party. I am reaching for the stars and hoping for more, but I just wanted to point out the reality to everyone.
As always, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to post here or send me an e-mail.
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