Tim Cahill once stated, ‘A journey is best measured in friends, not miles’. This wonderful adage is fulfilled by group cruising. It transforms a regular vacation into a shared occasion—be it family reunions (multi-generational), milestone birthdays, wedding anniversaries, school reunions, corporate incentive travel or getting together with close friends. Booking as a group (usually 8+ passengers or 4+ cabins) can take advantage of special pricing, exclusive perks, and organization, which makes it easy and cost-effective for everyone to travel together, versus arranging individual trips.
Cruise lines compete aggressively for group business by providing deeper discounts, onboard credits, private events, and dedicated coordinators. This guide will discuss what a group cruise is, the major benefits of going on a group cruise, how to arrange dining and entertainment for a group of people, and the onboard services available to make traveling as a group seamless.
What is a Group Cruise?
A group cruise is defined as a cruise that features 8+ individuals or 4+ cabins who book their cruise together as part of the same reservation/group code. Each cruise line will have its own definition of what constitutes a “group” including:
Minimum Number of People in a Group
Most cruise lines require that there be a minimum of 8(+) adults or 4+ cabins but will often drop to 6 and/or 3 based on family reunions.
Types of Group Cruises
Family reunions, milestone birthdays/anniversaries, weddings/honeymoons, school/college reunions, corporate retreats, sports teams, church groups, friends.
How to Book a Group Cruise
Most cruise lines allow groups to book their cruise through an individual group desk, through travel agents, and/or using the cruise lines’ website. Once the minimum number of people required for a group has booked – all passengers will continue to receive the benefits associated with booking within the group i.e., when booked as an individual they receive group benefits by being linked to a group code.
The biggest advantage to booking a cruise as a group is that you (as the group coordinator) have ONE point of contact, group discount rates, and the ability to obtain access to “perks” that other individuals do not have access to.
Benefits of Booking a Group Cruise
It’s no wonder that being a part of a group cruise can bring benefits. Let’s have a look on some of the major ones:
Group Discounts & Perks
- Reduced Fares — 5%-15% reduction in price per person if you travel as a group, plus the ability to utilize “kids sail free,” or have third/fourth person(s) receive discount that combine with your group rate.
- Credit Issued Onboard — $25-$100* credit (at times per person) for use on excursions, spa, drinks, internet, or special fine dining.
- Free Upgrades — Often group receives priority for cabin upgrades when cabins are available (e.g. Oceanview to balcony).
- Waived Deposit or Reduced Deposits — $50-$100* deposit vs. $250+.
- Free or Reduced Cost Private Events — Cocktail party, private dinner or group photo events.
Dining Together
- Reserved Group Tables — Big tables (for 8-12 guests) in main dining rooms are often reserved well in advance, so ask about having one reserved before your first meal.
- Private Dining Rooms — Many lines offer free or low-cost private dining for groups (e.g. 10+). Children can also eat with their Parent Group and all of them can sit together at the same table(s).
- Buffet Flexibility — Many times, large numbers of guests in buffets can eat at the same time as other guests without having to make reservations.
Flexible Cabin Options
- Directly Connected Cabins — These are rooms that share an interior door. These rooms are perfect for families with children.
- Multi-bedroom Cabins (Suite) — They can accommodate 5-8 people in one cabin. On ships such as Carnival Excel, Royal Caribbean Oasis of the seas, and Norwegian Breakaway Plus, they are available.
- Adjoining Cabins — These are rooms that are located next to each other but do not share an interior door. These rooms provide privacy but also allow for being close to other family members.
- Group Block Cabins — The cruise lines hold a block of cabins located in the same general area. So members of a group will be able to stay together.
Also Read: What are the Best Cruise lines for Group Bookings?
Dedicated Group Event Spaces
- Lounge or Private Bar — Many cruise lines will have some type of lounge or bar that they reserve a group and host a happy hour or meeting for no cost to the group (usually a party of 20 or more).
- Custom Private Shore Excursions — This is where the group can book a custom private tour (like a private catamaran or a group snorkeling tour) for their group instead of purchasing a regular excursion from the cruise line.
- Group Photo Package — Discounted professional photo packages for family reunions and weddings.
Group Planning Assistance
- Dedicated Group Coordinator — The cruise line provides a single point of contact for questions, payment, cabin allocation and special requests through a dedicated group coordinator.
- Group Portal — The group coordinator can monitor bookings and collect deposits via online tools in addition to providing communication for the group.
- Travel Agent Support — Agents who specialize in groups can negotiate additional benefits and assist with planning and coordinating logistics.
Also Read: 5 Perks of Booking Your Cruises Early
Included Dining & Group Dining Options
The fare includes meals from the main dining room, buffets, casual venues (such as pizza, burgers, etc.), and room service (basic items) of all of the major cruise lines. For Groups:
- Main Dining Room — Groups can reserve large tables upon booking.
- Buffet — Lots of seating available for large groups; no reservations are necessary.
- Specialty Dining — Group discounts or private rooms with an extra charge available for groups of ten or more.
- Private Dining — Groups (e.g. Royal Caribbean’s Chops Grille private room, Carnival’s Chef’s Table for Groups) will receive complimentary or low-cost private rooms for groups.
- Kids’ Menus — Main dining room and buffet menus include free kids’ menus.
Also Read: How can you Book a Cruise for a Large group?
Entertainment & Activities for All Ages
You can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment without breaking the bank; much of it is kid-friendly as well:
- Theater — Broadway-style shows, comedy shows, and game shows are all part of the equestrian experience.
- Live Music — Live music venues offer a variety of lounge, piano bar, and dance options.
- Kids and Teen Clubs — Free supervised programs for children and teenagers (ages three through seventeen) that include games, crafts, and parties.
- Pools, Water Parks, and Sports Courts — All of these activities are free to use.
- Organized Play Activities — Lines can help you set up private trivia nights, dance classes, or game nights for your group (many are free with 20+ participants).
Onboard Services & Amenities for Large Groups
Large groups get the perks of being important for many cruise lines, and they love to roll a red carpet of welcome and goodbye:
- Priority Boarding & Disembarkation — This is available for groups of eight or more who may board early or have priority with boarding.
- Group Check-in — Group check-in allows the entire group, in one line, for boarding purposes.
- Concierge/Group Desk — There are dedicated staff members at the Group or Concierge desk that assist with group requests.
- Cabin Assignments — A Group Coordinator may ensure the two cabins are next door to each other or are connecting.
- Onboard Credit — Onboard credit is applied to a group account for group expenses, i.e., excursions and diners.
Also Read: Why you should avail of group rate on cruises?
FAQs
1. Are there group discounts available to large family groups?
Yes. Most cruise lines offer discounted programs (5-15% off) along with "kids sail free" for large family groups of 8 or more passengers or 4 or more cabins booked by a group. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC and Princess are especially generous in this regard.
2. Are cabins that accommodate large family groups available?
Yes, family suites located on various ships accommodate 5 to 8 persons, connecting cabins and adjoining rooms are also available to accommodate large family groups. Carnival's Excel Class and Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships provide many family group accommodations.
3. Do cruise lines provide private venues for family events?
Yes, lines typically offer various spaces (lounges, bars, restaurants) they reserve for private use, sometimes at no cost or a nominal fee. They also sometimes arrange private cocktail parties or allow you to take family photos in a private venue.
4. Does the cruise line offer family onboard credits?
Yes, typically in the range of $50 to $500 per cabin based on various promotions, commissions and/or travel agent bookings. You can utilize onboard credits to cover some of the cost associated with excursions, specialty dining or Wi-Fi.
5. What are some additional options for saving money on family cruise cabins?
Reserve your cabin early (6–12 months) and opt for interior/oceanview cabins, utilize "kids sail free" promotions, book third and fourth guests into your cabin and pre-pay gratuities/packages, and cruise during "shoulder seasons" (January to March and September to November).
