Step By Step Group Planning Guide For Alaska Cruises And Cruise Tours Alaska Group Cruises. Save and Sail This Summer. Save as much as 70% off brochure rates.

Overview

 

The Benefits Alaska Cruisetours Online Friends & Family Cruises are so much fun. Have a large extended family or just a small group of friends? Are you a member of a golf or tennis club, bridge club, dance club, a member of Rotary, Lions, Elks...Perhaps a member of a condominium or homeowner's association. No matter what,  a cruise is a "time of your life" experience that is even more fun when you travel with a group of people you know. There is such a variety of cruise ships, itineraries and theme cruises available there is a cruise to fit both your interests and your budget!. So, get together with people you know who would love to cruise, give us a call and we'll take care of the rest. Your group will have a great cruise at great prices plus, added amenities will that make your cruise even more special.

Alaska Group Q & A How many guests are required to make a group? As few as eight staterooms, or 16 guests, can qualify as a group. The larger your group is, the greater the savings. What are the advantages of an Alaska group booking? As Alaska cruisetour experts, we often negotiate with the cruise line for extra value, complimentary staterooms or stateroom upgrades, and amenities like a complimentary bottles of wine or shipboard credits.

 

Group Request Form: Click Here

What's a cruise group--the magic is in the numbers Most major cruise lines that sail to and from Alaska, including Princess, Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean,  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. For some off-peak sailings your group may earn a free fare for every eighth, tenth or twelfth person. At Alaska Cruisetours Online you could earn our exclusive " mini-group" rate for as low as 6 people occupying three cabins. If you and your group want to sail during peak sailing seasons, you'll need to book your trip at least 12 to 8 months in advance.   However, cruise lines need less notice (three to six months prior to embarkation) for off-season sailings. Cruise lines are best able to accommodate groups in the beginning and end of the Alaska cruise season  ( May and September ), when they are most flexible (and have the most cabins to fill).

Learn How
Organizing a group for Alaska is easy. As a Group Coordinator, you recruit your guests and act as a liaison between them and us. Once you depart for your cruise or cruisetour, you are on vacation, free to relax with your fellow Guests while you discover all that Alaska has to offer.

Follow our step-by-step planning guide and get started today!

Are you ready?
If you know your preferred travel dates and itinerary – and have found or will have at least 16 people to join you on tour - now is the time to start planning! Please make sure that you’re giving yourself at least nine months to plan before your departure.

1. Contact an Alaska Group Travel Expert
Alaska Group Travel Experts work with Group Coordinators throughout every stage of planning an Alaska Cruise or Alaska Cruisetour tour. Talk to your Alaska Group Travel Expert any time you want to discuss your travel plans.

You can contact one of our Alaska Group Travel Experts this way...

Call 800.3653.1445 to speak to one of our Alaska Group Travel Experts about your tour.

Simply fill out a Group Request Form and one of our Alaska Group Travel Experts will be in touch with you .

Group Coordinator Benefits
When you are a Group Coordinator, we reward you with special benefits, as our appreciation for the time and effort you contribute when you recruit and organize a group to travel to Alaska.

Free Berth
When you organize a group of 16 or more full-paying guests on any Alaska Cruise or Alaska Cruisetour, you will earn one free berth.

Cash Bonuses
Not only can you earn a free berth for yourself, every full-paying guest earns a special cash bonus or a discount!
Consult this step-by-step guide to see how easy it is to be a Group Coordinator. Browse the easy steps below.

2. Select a Cruise or Cruisetour
We offer more than 165 unique cruise and cruisetour itineraries to Alaska. It's up to you to decide what destination and cruise or cruisetour for your group. Let your search begin here.

3. Recruit Guests
The next step is finding Guests...

Here are some examples of groups who have taken a cruise:

Friends & Family gatherings
Alumni Groups
Corporations
Church Groups
Clubs & Organizations
School Groups
Weddings or Anniversary parties
Family Reunions
School Reunions
Family members
Friends
Social clubs
Health clubs
Volunteer Organizations
Alumni Organizations
Music clubs
Dance clubs
Aerobic clubs
Bingo players
Fund raising
Professional organizations
Country Clubs
Senior Citizens

Determine who might be interested in traveling and make a list of potential Guests. Remember that even those who don't wish to travel themselves can pass the word on to someone who does.

4. Promote Your Group
Begin the recruitment process well in advance of when you want to cruise—ideally at least six to nine months prior to departure. Leave yourself plenty of time to recruit the largest possible group so you can earn the most travel benefits. Once you've chosen your cruise or cruisetour and date, hold an informational meeting for interested Guests.

The following are just a few of the ways to promote your Alaska cruise or cruisetour.

Put a notice about your trip in your office, church, or other meeting place advertising a time and place that you will hold an informational meeting.

Send the cruise or cruise tour itinerary to friends and family members, along with an invitation to your informational meeting.

Send the URL address ( link ) of the web page for your group cruise or cruisetour

Encourage everyone to spread the word among their friends and associates.

Send out an email advertising your cruise or cruisetour and note the details about the informational meeting, and request that everyone spread the word.

Hang posters or signs on the bulletin boards of libraries, civic organizations, houses of worship, country clubs and sports facilities.

Individually invite potential Guests

5. Hold a Meeting
Once you have begun generating interest, hold a meeting for everyone who is interested in traveling. We will provide you with information about the tour for you to distribute. Even create your group's own web page.

Prepare for your meeting

We will provide day-by-day itineraries and pre-departure information for you to distribute.

Call your Alaska Group Travel Expert just prior to the meeting to review or finalize the details:
Tour itinerary and departure date
Space availability on your chosen tour and/or date
Deadlines for reservations and payments
Questions or concerns you anticipate from Guests
Viewing your personal group cruise or cruisetour web page(s)

Conduct the meeting
Your meeting should generate excitement about going on an Alaska cruise or cruisetour. As guests arrive, ask them to sign in with their name, address, phone number and email address so you can easily keep in touch with them after the meeting.

Share your own passion for travel by telling attendees about trips you've taken in the past, and explain why you chose Alaska as your destination. Prepare yourself ahead of time by thinking about why travel is important to you, and be ready to explain the many advantages of group travel....

Describe the cruise cruisetour , as well as the departure date.
Outline the price and payment deadlines.
Highlight key points, ports of call and features of the cruise or cruisetour.
List all components that the tour price includes.
Mention available optional excursions.
Go over the booking deadlines for deposits and final payments.
Distribute day-by-day itineraries and brochures , flyers or pamphlets, on which you have written your name, and phone number.
Get commitments early
Encourage guests to sign up at the meeting.

6. Follow up
Once you have held your meeting, it is a good idea to send a note of appreciation to the guests who attended. This is an opportunity to remind those people who have not yet booked that the deadline is approaching!

 

 

Service At Sea For Groups of 50 or more, Alaska Cruisetours Online can provide professional escorts, who take care of all your group needs at sea. They make sure your staterooms are in order. They provide coordination with the ship's staff for all meeting facilities, making sure they are set-up and prepared for you. They can arrange special tour excursions and private visits to the Galley and Bridge.

**All promotions/pricing and cabin space is subject to availability at the time of booking and the prices shown or quoted at this web site are for reference purposes only. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. The actual price of your cruise may vary. Prices quoted and availability are NOT GUARANTEED until confirmed by the cruise line AND a deposit or full payment if required is made. Discounted savings off cruise fare only. Port charges (NCF), taxes, airfare, air taxes, transfers and any other costs associated with your cruise are not discounted. Discount limited to select cruises including holiday sailings. Not every ship, not every sailing is discounted. Call us to find out about your cruise selection.  Travel Direct Corporation is not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this web site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply. * shipboard credit and or cabin upgrades as offered by the cruise line for select sailings or departures only. Call us for details.