How To Make A Group Cruise Booking

Whether you are looking into a group booking for an upcoming family reunion, a wedding or a corporate event, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to reserve a block of cruise ship staterooms — and save money on your trip in the process.

Wondering how to make Royal Caribbean reservations for a large party and get the best rooms on a cruise ship for groups? Here's a guide to making your group booking experience stress-free and enjoyable so you can create an unforgettable event at sea.

1. Iron Out The Details

Maybe you're getting your extended family together for that big family reunion trip or planning a destination wedding or group vacation. Or perhaps you want to knock it out of the park for your next team meeting or corporate retreat. The possibilities for group travel are endless, and Royal Caribbean can customize your trip to help your make the most of your time together.

When I got married on a Royal Caribbean cruise, we were joined by an intimate group of about 25 friends and family members. Our booking included all of our cruise ship staterooms in addition to a special cocktail reception in a private space following our wedding, where we relaxed with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. My husband and I also celebrated throughout the week — one night we had a special "Just Married" dessert served during dinner. Another day, there were flowers delivered to our stateroom. We also planned ahead so that we could take shore excursions with our loved ones.

2. Plan Ahead For An Unforgettable Event

Interested in hosting a special event during your cruise? Imagine arriving at your dedicated event space with a team of attentive waitstaff ready to serve your special pre-arranged menu. From special dinners and team-building exercises to hosting a private party, custom events for groups of all sizes are easily arranged with Royal Caribbean's expert events team.

Group activities can also be arranged onshore at Royal Caribbean's private destinations, such as Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In my opinion, weddings are even more special at sea because your event includes a vacation everyone can share. Several wedding packages are available that include everything you need to pull off your event stress-free, including packages that allow noncruising guests to celebrate your special day with you.

Even if you don't have a specific event in mind, all of the built-in bonuses of being on a cruise — from elevated dining to showstopping entertainment (and let's not forget daily trivia) — provide dozens of opportunities to gather together with friends or family and create memories.

3. Make A Group Reservation

Making a group booking is quite simple. Though you can book your Royal Caribbean reservations independently, going through a travel agent or a Royal Caribbean vacation planner is highly recommended. These professionals can answer all your questions regarding your specific needs for group travel, help you find the best rooms and manage any special requests and reservations you might have. Contrary to what some might assume, there is no additional cost to you to use these services — so there's really nothing to lose when you go through one of these planners.

You can submit a group travel form online, filling out as much information as you know. For example, if you are committed to a certain number of days, a specific itinerary or if there's a particular cruise ship you have in mind, include that information. If you don't know, no worries. Your Royal Caribbean vacation planner can assist you. For weddings, there's a separate online form.

4. Enjoy A Group Discount

You'll hear back from your travel planner with a follow-up email or phone call to discuss your options so that you can make an informed decision. Then, when it's time to handle the payment arrangements, simply share the contact information for each group in your party. Your travel agent or Royal Caribbean vacation planner will handle collecting payment. It's really simple.

One of the biggest benefits of booking as a group is that you can receive a discount, depending on factors such as how many staterooms are booked. Generally, the more people who are traveling with you, the better the cost savings — just something to keep in mind when planning.

5. Choose The Best Rooms For Your Group

One question that will arise when making your group booking is determining the best staterooms for your group, which will largely depend on your group size and the availability of rooms on the cruise ship you select. Undoubtedly, the best room on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship for groups is the Ultimate Family Suite or the Royal Suite , offering spacious accommodations, luxurious amenities, and exclusive services perfect for creating unforgettable memories together.

Once you determine your cruise ship, it's helpful to look at some of the different cruise suites and staterooms that are available — particularly in the family category — and which ones have connecting stateroom options if that's something you're interested in for your group.

I've taken two Royal Caribbean cruises for small family reunions. On both, we needed a handful of suites and staterooms. Each couple or family group decided which kind of cruise stateroom worked best for their budget and their family's needs, and we worked through with Royal Caribbean vacation planner to book accordingly.

We loved traveling to Alaska with our family on Ovation of the Seas®. Before sailing, we selected a group of staterooms with a special configuration: My husband and kids picked a balcony stateroom connected to an interior stateroom with bunk beds, and our rooms adjoined a junior suite that my aunt chose. We spent the whole vacation sitting on the spacious balcony together and had our private sleeping quarters at the end of the day. It felt like we had a large suite just for our extended family.

These stateroom configuration options differ from ship to ship, so check out what's available on your preferred ship. Family categories are available in interior and balcony staterooms and suites.

Now that you know just how easy it is to arrange group travel with Royal Caribbean, start planning your group vacation today.