Royal Caribbean is up to it again.  What are they up to, you ask?  They are up to building yet another great cruise ship that will be a perfect destination for a family reunion cruise, or any other type of group cruise.  Now, before you say … we’ve been on a dozen cruises - we’ve seen and done it all.  Oasis of the Seas truly is different.  What makes it all that and a bag of chips? 

First off, let’s look at her sheer size.  She weighs in at a whopping gross registered tons (GRTs) with 2,700 staterooms - carrying 5,400 passengers at double capacity.

Here are the new additions, whiz bang features, and just plain “wow” factors  that we thought make this ship a good choice for group trips.  Wait until you see this stuff.  You won’t believe it.

Central Park

Let’s start out with one of the very coolest aspects of the ship — Central Park.  This is one of the “neighborhoods” onboard the ship.  The neighborhood concept is also a new thing Royal Caribbean Cruises has created with this ship.

Central Park is an open area with a wide range of plant types.  There are Calla Lillies, and Giant Elephant Ears.  Four-story high walls feature a wall of green including wines and ferns.  A variety of trees will include ficus, cherry, pine, jasmine, allspice, and bamboo.  Garden spaces throughout the park will include the Pergola Garden - which will feature plants native to the Caribbean.  Species will include coffee bushes and pineapple plants, as well as a sampling of Caribbean spices.  The Sculpture Garden will include olive trees nestled among beautiful statuary created by artists from all over the world.  The Chess Garden will include Bamboo and Laurel trees and feature large-sized chess and checker pieces for guests to enjoy.  The Park’s horticulturist will offer classes on gardening techniques. 

The Central Parkneighborhood will include 334 staterooms overlooking the park (which otherwise would have been interior staterooms) - with 254 of these staterooms having balconies.  So, while you may not want to pay the premium for a traditional balcony stateroom - you can enjoy a view into tranquil Central Park - rather than having that little fake window of the typical inside stateroom.

AquaTheater

Brace yourself for this one!  This outdoor amphitheater in the stern of the ship will have evening lightshows with performers on trapezes over the kidney-shaped pool (hence, the “aqua” in AquaTheater).  This pool is enormous as far as cruise ship pools go measuring  22′ wide by  51′ long and 18 feet deep with fresh water (not salt water, like most cruise ships).  During the day the pool will be open for guests to enjoy - with a very nice tiered deck for lounge chairs (although, no cruise ship ever enough for everyone).  Then, at night, the water and laser light show will begin.  The water will go up and down and performers will be in the water at well.  Cameras under the water will project the images onto large LED screens on either side of the pool.  If you’re into the pool area on cruise ships, you won’t find a better pool than this one.

THE BOARDWALK

With a nod to the nostalic seaport boardwalks (such as Coney Island), the Boardwalk aboard the Oasis of the Seas is reminiscent of these great family destinations.  With a handcarved carousel made from poplar wood providing the focal point for the Boardwalk, this would be a natural meeting place for group cruise members.

There will be plenty of things to keep a multi-generational reunion cruise group happy - especially if there are a lot of children in the group.  There will be retail shops, restaurants, carnival games, the AquaTheater, and overhead zip lines (yeah, that’s right — overhead zip lines on a cruise ship).   If you look really close at the top of the Boardwalk picture you can see a rendering of someone on a zip line.  It looks cool.  There’s bound to be someone in your cruise group who’s interesting in this daredevil activity.

The Boardwalk also offers 221 staterooms with balconies overlooking the Boardwalk and 8 staterooms with windows looking out onto the Boardwalk area.

PROMENADE DECK

If you’ve been on any of the Voyager-class or Freedom-class Royal Caribbean Cruise ships, you already know that the Promenade Deck is really cool.  With the nightly parade and all the cool spots for shopping, coffee, ice cream, and just hanging out.  However, the Promenade Deck on the Oasis of the Seas is like those — only turbo-charged!

If you look at the skylight ceiling (the Crystal Canopies), you can see Central Park which is located just above.  This natural light during the day will create a much more warm atmosphere than artificial lighting.

Another new feature is the Rising Tide Bar - which will be a true engineering feat.  This bar will rise and fall between the Promenade Deck and Central Park - sort of like an elevator - but much, much more interesting.

And, in another first for Royal Caribbean, will be an embarkation change.  Instead of having guests board the ship on a lower deck, passengers will board the ship on the Promenade Deck to the welcome of a huge tree sculpture created by international artist, Larry Kirkland.

ITINERARY

The Oasis of the Seas will call Fort Lauderdale it’s home.  Its inaugural sailing will be December 12, 2009 doing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.  Beginning on May 1, 2010 it will begin alternating between an Eastern and Western Caribbean itinerary.  Stops will be St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau, Bahamas on its Eastern Caribbean itinerary and Labadee, Jamaica, and Cozumel on its Western Caribbean itinerary.

CONCLUSION

A ship of this size is perfect for family reunion cruises and other types of group cruises.  Why?  Because they offer a lot of choices.  Choices for accommodations (in every price range), choices for dining (something everyone in the group would like), choices for entertainment (sports, shopping, relaxation, lounges, games, movies, and more), choices for everything.  If this ship is as nice as the ships are in the Voyager and Freedom class ships (which we suspect it will be), this would be an ideal choice for your next group cruise.

Okay - so are you ready to book your next cruise group travel on the Oasis of the Seas?  Well, we wish you could, but it will be a few months before that’s possible.  Royal Caribbean is opening cruise bookings for this ship on September 3, 2008.

If you’re interested in being one of the first ones to do a group cruise or group travel package that will include the Oasis of the Seas, start talking to your travel agent now.  That way, when booking opens in September, your group will be all ready to go.

Group amenity points (also called GAP points) are incentives cruise lines award to encourage groups to reserve a particular cruise sailing.  The popularity of a specific sailing is the determining factor in the number of GAP points a sailing is awarded.  If a cruise line is trying to move inventory for a particular sailing, they will try to entice group clients by offering a large number of points for that sailing.  On the contrary, if a sailing is popular and has been selling well for the cruise line, they will offer few, if any, amenity points.  These points can amount to a large value for your group, so it’s important for you to ask your travel agent to find the cruise sailing that offers the most value for the group.

Typically, most sailings earn between two and eight GAP points.  Occasionally, a cruise line will have a special offer where they’ll give a large number of points (anything over eight points) on a specific sailing if they need to sell a lot of space in a hurry.  Generally, though, groups will earn from two to eight points.  Points are awarded either per person or per stateroom, depending upon the amenity offered.

HOW TO SPEND GAP POINTS?
Group amenity points are the equivalent of cash and can be used to purchase either a single item or activity - or a combination of things.  The cruise line usually wants to know how your group will be spending its GAP points by the time your final payment is owed.

Your group can purchase things like:

A Bottle of Wine Per Stateroom:  If your group has a lot of members who are wine enthusiasts, this is a great benefit to give them.  Each stateroom will receive one bottle of wine in their stateroom at emabarkation.  Some group leaders surprise group members with this benefit — which is a great topic of conversation at dinner the first night.

Complimentary Photo from Ship’s Gallery:  Each stateroom will be able to select one 8×10 photo from the ship’s photo gallery.  The ship has several photographers who take pictures of various things throughout the duration of the cruise.  They take candid photos of shipboard activities, as well as boarding and leaving the ship at the various ports of call.  They often also set up several places on the ship for formal photos.   Your group members would be able to select one complimentary photo from
the gallery.

Specialty Restaurant: Most ships now offer a specialty restaurant with a premium charge of approximately $20. The quality of the food is high end - as it’s easier for the ship to prepare a higher quality of cuisine on a smaller scale. This benefit usually costs groups two points and is a wonderful benefit.

Food Items:  Some groups enjoy being welcomed aboard the ship with a colorful fruit basket waiting for them in their stateroom.  This gives them a chance for a quick, energy-filled snack anytime.  Other people enjoy a sweet tray of chocolate-covered strawberries or some warm canapes after a long day onshore.

Onboard Spending Money:  A few of the cruise lines even offer an incentive to spend GAP points on shipboard credit (money you can spend on the ship).  This credit can be used in any of the ship’s lounges or stores, in the spa, or in the salon.  This is an expensive amenity and your group will need to have received a large amount of GAP points to purchase this one.

One important thing to remember is that everyone in the group will receive the same benefit.  The points cannot be divided up and used differently by different members of the group.  So, make
sure everyone is in agreement with how to spend the points — or, as the group leader, make an executive decision about how to spend them for the group.

GAP POINT FUNNY BUSINESS
One thing many group leaders don’t realize is that many cruise lines offer a commission upgrade for the travel agent as one of the choices for group amenity points.  So, if you choose an unscrupulous
travel agent, they could spend your group’s points on themselves (to increase their commission) and you’ll be none the wiser about it.  A honest travel agent would never do this — but, as we all know, all travel agents aren’t honest.  So, make sure to use an agent you can trust.

SHOULD YOU GO DIRECT OR USE A TRAVEL AGENT?
After that last part, you might question whether or not to use a travel agent at all.  Well, we’re certainly not trying to dissuade you from using travel agents.  They are the backbone of the travel industry and are certainly needed.  We’re just trying to emphasize that as the group leader, you are responsible for the group and for making decisions that are in the best interest of the group.  As long as you do your homework you should be fine.

Some groups mistakenly believe that they will get a better deal doing directly through the cruise lines than by using a travel agent.  This is false.  You will pay the same whether you use a travel agent or not.  Cruise lines don’t undercut travel agents to give better rates.  For that reason, we advise that your group use the services of a good travel agent experienced in working with groups.

Why do we recommend this?  Simply because a travel agent is going to have access to the best promotions from every cruise line (not just one) and they will be able to find the best deal with the most amenity points for your group.  Some agencies promote one cruise line over another if their agency receives a better commission, but that’s generally not enough of an incentive for an agent to give you something that wouldn’t be right for your group.  Again, this is the time when getting a good travel agent referral from a friend or colleague would be invaluable.

IN CLOSING
Now that you know what group amenity points are, you’ll need to take some time to determine which sailing will be the best value for your group.  Compare the cruise price and the amount of amenity
points between various cruise lines.

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By Mandy Karlik

Cruise lines have long been known for offering great vacation deals and hassle-free travel. Now they are emerging as event planners as well. Many cruise lines are extremely eager to accommodate large and small groups of travelers. If you are in the throes of planning a wedding, an anniversary shindig, a family reunion or even a multi-day business meeting, talk to a cruise line. You may find they can create an unforgettable program for your affair for the same cost of a land-based event.

Special interest groups, which cruise lines often call affinity groups, are those groups that want to cruise for a special occasion. Family reunions, business meetings, even weddings are typical affinity cruise groups.

Being an affinity group can be easy, and many cruise lines are going out of their way to cater to the group cruise. The word “group” does not necessarily mean you need a hundred people to qualify. Even a few people who want to travel together can qualify as a group. For instance, cruises where several female friends travel together are a recognized (and new) affinity group in the industry.

Depending on the cruise and the size of the group, cruise lines may be willing to offer a package deal on staterooms. A cruise line specialist or travel agent can make recommendations, including booking a suite for four people instead of the usual state rooms (this is not always cheaper, but it can be).

Cruise groups can also make arrangements with the cruise ship for special events. On-board weddings, classes, seminars, receptions, and private dinners for a group of old buddies can all be set up. The best way to make these arrangements is to book as early as you can and discuss options with the cruise line. It is a great idea to be flexible, since cruise lines are much more experienced in this area than you are likely to be. Thus, they may know some great ideas you had not thought of and may offer good advice as to what would work well in your situation.

Princess Cruise Lines even has a specialist who works for them to help with on-board weddings. And it is true, the captain of a ship has legal authority to marry people. Re-commitment ceremonies, in which a husband and wife formally renews their vows, are very popular cruise events.

If you are an avid cruiser, you have probably already cruised with some special interest groups and never known it. Most ships are large enough that multiple special events, seminars, and receptions can take place almost unnoticed by the majority of passengers.

Planning an affinity group cruise involves booking a cruise as early as possible. Consulting with a travel expert is always a good idea since there are lots of cruise options today and even the most avid cruise shopper cannot keep up with everything.

Affinity group cruises should be fairly short since getting time off from work and school is tough for most people. Plan ahead, not just so you can get the rooms you want, but to allow people to put in for time away from the job. Keep an eye on the pocketbook of the participants; some folks who would gladly attend a family reunion may not have the financial clout to pay for a transatlantic cruise.

When booking an affinity group cruise, consider the port of embarkation and debarkation, that is, the place where you get on and off the ship. Cruise passengers not only have to pay for their cruise, they also have to pay for travel back and forth from this port. While many cruise lines can offer attractive package deals to combine cruise fares with airline tickets, there is still an incremental expense.

There are a surprising number of ports for cruise ships today, including Tampa and Galveston (on the Gulf of Mexico), Los Angeles and Vancouver (West Coast), and New York and Fort Lauderdale (East Coast). The ports may limit the cruise options for your particular group (for instance, you can’t sail from Vancouver and go to Bermuda on any established route). However, for an affinity group cruise, the journey is more important than the destination.

On-board ship, affinity groups should take advantage of having hassle-free meals and entertainment. This leaves plenty of time for photos and videos. Those with blogging skills can commemorate the activities online; more traditional cruise passengers may be inspired to create a scrap book or other record of event memorabilia.

So if you want to get away from that tired old family reunion in the park, have the greatest graduation party ever, or renew your wedding vows with a few family and friends, visit some cruise websites and talk to your travel agent.

Mandy Karlik is a travel writer who has endured enough land-based events and would love to get invited to a cruise wedding or party. If you would like to learn more about planning cruise events or just booking a cruise, check out thecruise-shopper.com.

If your group is considering going on a cruise together, NCL is one of the best choices.  Why?  The answer is easy and will make sense once I tell you.  It’s all about their freestyle dining.  Almost every other cruise line requires you to eat at a set time, in the same dining room, with the same people every night of your cruise.  Does that sound like fun?  Well, enough people said it didn’t that NCL became the first cruise line to offer alternative dining choices.

Now, their entire fleet offers freestyle dining for all their guests. How does that benefit groups?  People within your group can split up into smaller (more manageable) groups and eat together wherever they choose.  That makes it especially nice for family reunion groups with kids.

No other cruise line offers 13 different restaurants on board a single ship.  Heck, no other cruise line even comes close.  Steak, sushi, Teppanyaki, tapas, French, Mediterranean, Asian Fusion, Italian, Tex-Mex, buffets, and pizza.  Your choices are endless.

NCL is a good, mass market cruise line and most people give their food a good rating.  The plate presentations are nice and the ambience of each of the individual restaurants reflects the cuisine — as opposed to the neutral decor of most ship’s main dining room.

People who are accustomed to traditional dining might find it a little different at first, as you don’t have the same wait staff the entire time.  Some experienced cruisers like becoming familiar with their waiter - and having them remember their name and what they like to drink.    With freestyle dining, it’s just like going out to a restaurant.  You will generally receive good service from a friendly and polite wait staff.  You might not get the same waiter twice, but for most people it’s not a problem at all — as long as they feel they get good service.

Groups can present dining problems for some cruise lines.  Even a small group spread out over three or four tables can be problematic for some cruise lines.  With traditional dining, the wait staff might be irritated if you try to play musical chairs.  They pride themselves on remembering everyone’s name and part of the way they remember that is by where everyone is sitting.  If you mess with their system, they don’t like it.  With freestyle cruising, there are none of those worries.

Like most people, the food is a big part of the cruising experience.  Making the choice to go with NCL and their freestyle dining is a great choice for most cruise groups.