Tue 07/28/09 03:48 PMOk, having finally found some time to actually do this, we have FOUND OUR CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have final pricing yet, still shopping around for the best deal but it will NOT be more expensive than this.

The cruise will be on the Carnival Valor, leaving out of Miami on September 19, 2010. It goes to Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozumel and Roatan, 4 port days, 3 sea days. Here is the PRELIMINARY pricing:

Inside cabin: $476.00 per person (based on double occupancy)
Oceanview: $556 per person (based on double occupancy)
Balcony: $666.00 per person (based on double occupancy)

If you choose to be in a room by yourself, you can double (or more) the above prices. The above prices include all taxes and port charges (but not tipping for the staff or insurance) (more on insurance later). The deposit (and this is the great news) is $25.00 per person. Yup, $25 is all you need to put a preliminary deposit down on the cruise. An additional $225 will need to be paid by approximately the end of March and the balance to be paid by the end of June (all payment dates are approximate at this time). Also, the "drop dead" date is usually about 75 days before the cruise. You can put your deposit down, it is FULLY REFUNDABLE up until the drop dead date. If something happens between now and approximately the end of June, you get your money back.

Also, in addition to the above prices (which are really damn good), each CABIN (not person) will receive a $100 shipboard credit. The first $100 you and your cabinmate spend is a freebie. How you and your roommate decide to deal with that is up to you (more on shipboard spending in another post).

And, as a group, we get a free 1 hour welcome aboard cocktail party. No details on that yet.

Again, this pricing is preliminary. This is the first travel agent I talked to, I have calls into others. But I won't go above those prices or below the above perks. I'm not sure we'll get a better price but I am going to try to negotiate some additional perks. We will have final details, I'm hoping, within a week.

Happy Sailing!

Suzanne

http://mingle2010cruise.yuku.com/directory

Please note, I believe that Mingle rules won't allow me to post the contact information for the travel agent we choose. If you are interested, you will need to sign up at the group above to find out the details. Please do not ask Pam or I to give you the information, we set up the other page so that everything we need to say can be broadcast to a group quickly and easily. Unfortunately, neither of us have time to individually e-mail everyone. The forums there already have lots of information, including a cabin mate finder forum, in case you need a roomie.

And, if you ARE interested, there will be a drop dead date for when you can get the group rates. I don't know what that date is yet, but the guy I talked to said it's usually about 60 days from whenever we are GO MISSION on this. But, the deposit is only $25, if you think you are even remotely interested, just put that down, you have until around the end of March to pay the balance of the deposit ($225) and around the end of June to cancel altogether.

Ok, we finally got it together. We have it all. Registrations and deposits can be made online. Please note, I cannot post the payment/travel agent website on here. In order to get that information, you MUST sign up at http://mingle2010cruise.yuku.com/directory

Carnival Valor September 19, 2010 to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel

Inside Cabin: $$476.00
Oceanview: $556.00
Balcony: $666.00

$100 shipboard credit, evenly split among cabinmates. One hour Cocktail party reception.

Deposit due by 8/28/09 of $25.00 per person. Balance of deposit ($225.00) due by April 20, 2010 and final balance due by July 6, 2010. If we get 10 people signed up by 8/28/09, we can get the deposit and rate guarantee extended another 30 days, so please sign up early. Please remember, it's just $25 to register, you have plenty of time to make a final decision and anything you pay up until July 5, 2010 is FULLY REFUNDABLE! You can make weekly payments, monthly, pay it in fully when you get your tax refund, however it works in your budget, it's up to you! Also, no worries if you don't have a cabin mate yet. Pick a random person from the above website who is looking for a cabin mate and sign up with them. The first person has to stay in the cabin but the 2nd person can switch at any time at no charge and no increase in price.

This is going to be a great trip and a great time, the more the merrier. Bring your friends and family (no kids, though, please). Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This looks like fun. You have done a great job getting this together so quickly too!

Thank you. I give all credit to Suz for organizing this. I was only the idea person. Everyone is welcomed, the more the merrier. It is an inexpensive way to have fun for 7 days and to get to know some of your fellow minglers. Looking forward to seeing as manny as you that can make it there.

We have 24 minglers signed up for the cruise. I am hoping that more people will join us. This is going to be a great way to meet people who you have chatted with.

The rooms will be spread out over the ship. The only way that they will all be booked in the same area is if we have 50 rooms booked. I don't foresee that happening. So if your hesitant about going because you want to meet your co-minglers but not be obligated to mingle constantly than this is the way to do it.


Everyone is welcomed. Remember all monies that are put down are fully refundable up until July 2010. All people will have until Sept 28th to put down the $25 deposit. I already know that there is 8 people who will be paying the deposit so that we get the good rate until Sept. After that date I believe the rate will go up.

Hoping to sail with you.

Breaking news! If you sign up this week, Carnival is throwing in 2 coupon books worth $200 each!

You get 2 coupon books per cabin!