Comments, opinion and advice from the founder of Frommer's Travel Guides 
Comments, opinion and advice from the founder of Frommer's Travel Guides
A number of newspapers have reported with apparent glee about the four-lane bowling alley that recently made its appearance on the newest of the cruiseships, the 2,600-passenger Norwegian Pearl of Norwegian Cruise Line. Here, they implied, was a fitting response to the rock-climbing walls, basketball courts and boxing ring that NCL's competitor, Royal Caribbean Cruises, had earlier added to the seagoing experience.
We are seeing a major change in the nature of the cruise experience. With nearly every new ship approaching 3,000-passengers in size (and several 4,000-to-6,000-passenger ships are actually under construction), each one of them crammed with every entertainment of a theme park, the cruiseliner is becoming less of a ship than a giant metallic box containing a Las Vegas-style resort. One wonders why it is even necessary for these gargantuan "sea hotels" to leave the port where they are docked? Who aboard them is even aware that they are at sea?
Sold at low initial prices to attract the mobs that their immense cabin capacity requires, the mega-vessels are nevertheless extremely profitable because of the optional onboard income -- drinks, gambling, shopping, shore excursions -- they also enjoy. In the future, the average-income, cost-conscious cruise passenger will find that only the giant ships offer affordable rates. The smaller, quieter ships with open decks suitable for reading and repose, scholarly guest speakers, and itineraries that feature the lesser and less-developed port cities, are generally the upscale "premium" ships (operated by such lines as Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, SeaDream Yacht Club, Crystal Cruises, Windstar, others) charging forbidding rates of often $600 to $1,000 per person per day.
But the premium lines have occasional vacancies. And in a slowing economy, which many predict will be the case in the last half of 2007, they will periodically discount their unsold cabins through such cruise brokers (some specializing in upscale cruiseships) as www.mustcruise.com and others. If you will carefully scrutinize those sites, you will quite often find an opportunity to book an upscale smaller ship at rates of as little as $300 a day (low season) or $400 a day (high season) per person -- a high price, but perhaps justified by the joy of real seagoing cruise.
Form a Cruise Group and Sail for Free
By rounding up a bunch of your friends to cruise together, you can earn a free cabin for yourself. by Christine W. Koubek | Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Cruising for free is easier than you might think--just ask Carol Schaer of Gaithersburg, Maryland. After Schaer talked with her travel agent about her traveling preferences, she reserved a block of cabins on a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage and sent flyers with her group's information to family and friends. The goal was to entice enough friends and family to earn free passage under NCL's group policy.
The result? Not only did Schaer earn a free cruise but her husband did too, when 18 other people joined their group.
Some groups start as a single booking, like the cruise John Mansy, of Cruise Directors, Inc., planned for an engaged couple. The bride chatted about her upcoming honeymoon cruise to friends and neighbors, and within weeks, 34 other people signed on to set sail, including her sister, the neighbors, and the best man. Result: The newlyweds cruised for free.
Several years ago I worked on the inside (or "shoreside," as our shipboard compatriots referred to us) for a major cruise line. My job was to keep travel agencies up to date on our ships and policies. It was then that I learned about this nifty little way to earn a free cruise.
All you need is a few friends or family willing to travel together on the same sailing, and an excuse to do it--be it for a family reunion, birthday, graduation celebration, club outing, or just for fun. Sometimes a group starts as just two couples and before they know it, they've invited enough people to eliminate their own bill.
Defining a cruise group--the magic of numbers
Most of the major lines, including Princess, Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Disney, generally define a "cruise group" as 16 people occupying eight cabins (third and fourth passengers in a cabin don't count toward the total). The sixteenth person, or the person who organizes the bookings (in "cruise-speak," the group leader or tour conductor), earns the free fare--although port charges, taxes, and airfare must be paid. With some companies, off-peak sailings or large groups earn free fare for every tenth or twelveth person. Agencies specializing in groups can help you find those sailings and negotiate the best possible deal.
If you and your group want to sail during peak sailing seasons, you'll need to book your trip one year in advance. However, cruise lines need little notice (one to two months prior to embarkation) for off-season sailings. Cruise lines are best able to accommodate groups in fall, when they are most flexible (and have the most cabins to fill).
Perks galore for group travelers
Not only are cruise-group rates sometimes lower (on certain lines, substantially lower) than individual rates, but often, the free cruise fare can be applied to the group leader or can be divided evenly among the group, saving everyone money.
Additionally, many of the major lines frequently offer amenities available only to group cruisers. Examples include cabin upgrades, complimentary wine and chocolates in each stateroom, a cocktail party, or a reduction in the number of cabins required to earn the free cruise fare. The quantity and type of amenities vary by cruise line and how full the sailing is.
Other advantages of a group cruise over a regular land-based vacation include:
Potential pitfalls
Because full payments are usually required 60 days before departure (90 days around holiday periods), group cruising is not always for spur-of-the-moment travelers. Plus, to secure the best price and best-located cabin, space must be reserved even further in advance.
If the group falls below the required number of cabins, what happens next depends on your agent's negotiating power and the cruise line's policies. Many cruise agencies (see below) will try to book an unrelated individual on the same sailing to keep a group's number up; in other cases, a cruise line may cut back on part or all of the amenities package. Also, cruise lines have become more focused on customer satisfaction in recent years, and where they once refused to allow name substitions (Uncle Jack takes Uncle Larry's place), they now charge an average of $35 for reservation name changes.
Finding that expert agent
While Carnival Cruise Lines will accept group bookings directly (888/CARNIVAL, or to speak directly with the group bookings department call 800/327-5782), it's best to work with an agent who specializes in cruise groups. Many agencies prebuy discounted cabins and have increased negotiating power for amenities.
Agencies that have specialized group departments and a national clientele include: Anchors Away Cruise Center (888/516-6306, mustcruise.com) based in California. So, as the cruise ads say, get out there. Set sail with friends...and don't worry, there are plenty of hiding spots on those megaships if you need some time alone.