Cruise RSVP timeline

[CAKnight]

Hello DW cruise brides!

I am going to be getting married aboard the Carnival Legend. The cruise takes place from April 6-April 13, 2014. My FH and I will be getting married on April 11, 2014.

 

I need some help with trying to figure out when an appropriate RSVP date would be.

 

If you could give me a timeline of what your RSVP date is in relation to your cruise date, I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[CAKnight]

Oh, the other question I thought of is...when are you sending out your invitations in relation to your wedding day? 

I am not doing STDs, only invitations (since I believe so few people will be attending). 

 

Thanks in advance!

[PrincessJanay]

Woohoo you're getting married in my birthday!!

[ucfjennifer]

I am using the final payment date for the cruise as my rsvp deadline, so 60 days out. Hoping that gives me time to follow-up with those that haven't responded and solidify the details with the planner by 30 days out.

[CAKnight]

You don't feel as though that is a long RSVP time frame? I feel like people might forget, then I will have to chase after them. (I'm just reflecting on recent events involved my FMIL.) 

Originally Posted by ucfjennifer 

I am using the final payment date for the cruise as my rsvp deadline, so 60 days out. Hoping that gives me time to follow-up with those that haven't responded and solidify the details with the planner by 30 days out.

[ucfjennifer]

I have a feeling I will be chasing after some, but knowing them, I would have to regardless of what I put as the rsvp deadline. My thought is that most of the group will have already booked by that time and an rsvp isn't really needed since I know they are going. I've asked everyone to send me their booking & cabin numbers and I'm keeping a list. 11 months out and we already have 7 cabins booked! My invites/rsvp will only be sent to those that haven't contacted me at that point. It will have three options...Going and already booked (with space for booking number), Going but waiting for last minute deal (these I will have to follow up on), and Not able to attend.

[dst8]

We were originally booked on the Legend for our wedding and it was canceled (1/19/14) due to the ship going into dry dock; so we are now re-booked on the Breeze January 4, 2014 - our Save the Dates were already sent so we had to resend some additional information with the change.......so sometimes sending out information early is too early

 

We are going to mail our invites in August and then will have the RSVP due by November 15th, so that we have time to remind people to send in their final payment.

 

I love the idea of having three choices on the response card - I have to admit this is where I am struggling the most.

 

I thought taking a cruise wedding would be less stressful; not so far

[ucfjennifer]

Oh my goodness!! I'm so with you on thinking this wasn't going to be stressful! Lol! So many things seem to come so easily, but then I get hung up on silly things. Like picking a dining time or going through a PVP or having everyone book on their own. Surprisingly it's the cruise stuff giving me the biggest headache...right now anyway!

[dst8]

Originally Posted by ucfjennifer 

 

Oh my goodness!! I'm so with you on thinking this wasn't going to be stressful! Lol! So many things seem to come so easily, but then I get hung up on silly things. Like picking a dining time or going through a PVP or having everyone book on their own. Surprisingly it's the cruise stuff giving me the biggest headache...right now anyway!

We are experienced cruisers (Platinum on Carnival) so if you have questions, let me know.  We did a group booking, thinking it was going to be easier for our guests; it wasn't - I would recommend a vacation planner through Carnival, we have one we have used for years; if you want his number, let me know.  He can make sure everyone is located near each other and connect the reservations for dinner and stuff.

 

Personally I would do assigned dining; if you don't want to go to dinner, you don't have to but at least you know you will have the same wait staff and table each night - if you book through Carnival with a vacation planner they can also make sure that you are all at the same table or at least the same area of the dining room if you require more than one table.

 

I have my dress and now I am second guessing it - I have turned into one of those brides

[ucfjennifer]

Thanks! I'm sure I'm going to have lots more questions! It turns out my sister had a PVP and didn't even know it (he called her after she booked this cruise to see if she had any questions). So she gave him my info and he said no problem to taking over for me! We are just going to have everyone book on their own and he will link them. And I think you are right on the dining time, we will probably go with late. I am least looking forward to the dress shopping. My friends keep asking me to go and I keep telling them next month! Guess I can't do that too much longer! Lol!