BOOKING my CRUISE Wedding

[Teemojo]

Hello everyone, I think I am in sort of a pickle. Can anyone tell me about there booking experience for groups? I have called Carnival several times and each time I get a different story. 1st Story: In order to book the group I had to put a deposit down on the min amount of rooms which is 8 and my total was $2400 and that would only hold the price for 2weeks. 2nd Story: I could put the group on hold by putting a deposit down on my room which was $300 and that would only hold the rooms for 2weeks.

Anyone that has done this please tell me how you did it. We sent out emails telling our guests that we were in the final stages of planning our destination wedding and informed them that after they recived the formal invite they would be required to put down a deposit. The next issue is that we are doing the passport invitations and they take 2-3weeks to arrive after you order them .

Someone please help me. My next option is to call a travel agent but all of the ones that I've spoken to seem to be intimidated by the amount of knowledge that I have in this area becuase I'm a coordinator by trade.

Hopefully someone has some advice

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[boscobel]

I would def contact a TA.  You have so much on your plate while planning a wedding, do you really want to be responsible for everyone's travel plans as well?

 

Looking for a Travel Agent: You might want to try one of the BDW Travel Agents.  They Specialize in Destination weddings.  You can contact them HERE!

 

If you do not know what TA you want to work with, just fill out the form Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE and I will direct you to the best agent that fits your needs.

 

You can read some of our reviews here: Wright Travel Agency ~ Destination Wedding Specialist Reviews HERE

[Teemojo]

Thanks for the advice. I decided to let everyone book seperately to save money for them and a headache for me. So far it's worked out. I booked my cabin and have now provided my booking number and pincode so they can link the rooms. Believe it or not I got this advice from a Carnival Specialist.

[doopie1221]

I was going to recommend the same thing to you. That's how we did it. We booked out room and the wedding. Then we sent out save the date's with our wedding website that has all of the information about booking. We also sent out a full packet in the mail to everyone. Our packet included an intro letter, a complete print out of pricing for every catagory and what they need to do if they are cruising and if they will just be attending. It definitely saved me a lot of time and stress. I've already had people book and then cancel as well as 4 people who still have to book.

 

What's your wedding date and ship?

 

We're getting married on the Miracle in NYC on July 1st (this year)

[doopie1221]

I was going to recommend the same thing to you. That's how we did it. We booked out room and the wedding. Then we sent out save the date's with our wedding website that has all of the information about booking. We also sent out a full packet in the mail to everyone. Our packet included an intro letter, a complete print out of pricing for every catagory and what they need to do if they are cruising and if they will just be attending. It definitely saved me a lot of time and stress. I've already had people book and then cancel as well as 4 people who still have to book.

 

What's your wedding date and ship?

 

We're getting married on the Miracle in NYC on July 1st (this year)

[Teemojo]

@doopie1221 I know exactly what you mean. So far I've had people that I thought were definates back out on me already. Good idea withe packet. We sent out e-vite announcements and STDs which directed them to the website. We are trying to finalize our shoreside wedding with a local planner and then we can send our formal invitations.

We will be on the Carnival Destiny on Oct 6, leaving from Miami. The cermony will be in Ocho Rios at the Shaw Park Hotel. We haven't decided on a reception shoreside or on the ship. Since I didn't do my wedding through Carnival I wonder if they will still give me the reception package.

[doopie1221]

I don't think they would because they only do one wedding per cruise and if there is another bridal party on the ship then they would take priority. But, you can see if the events department would be able to arrange a private event for you and your guests.

 

That sounds so nice getting married shoreside. We were originally planning on a May wedding in Bermuda. We had the place booked, the wedding planner scheduled and we were working on the menu with the venue. Then.....the worst news EVER, we were told that Carnival will not be going to Bermuda in 2012. I thought I was going to die! So our May wedding was cancelled and we decided to book it thru Carnival on July 1st with a Caribbean destination. Don't get me wrong, we love the Caribbean, we've been there so many times already. We just wish we could have done it in Bermuda. We had it planned that our wedding day in Bermuda would have been exactly 10 years to the day that we were first there. So my plan is to go back there for our 1 year wedding anniversary.