Charity Cruise 2010

I just wanted to start a thread about this charity cruise idea for 2010. I think it's an excellent way to raise money and have fun in the process. You have my full support of this idea!

Lily,

Thanks for starting the thread! We're pretty jazzed about the idea ourselves. Obviously it'll be a few months before we'll know what ship or itinerary, but the survey results so far have been overwhelmingly for a 7 night itinerary on Royal Caribbean. And of course, we want it to include Oct 31, 2010 (at the end or beginning of the cruise).

I placed the announcement/sign up in my blog:

http://rcclprojectgenesis.blogspot.com/2008/08/sail-towards-cruise-charity-cruise-2010.html

Let me know what I can do to help!

Now this is an idea and cause I can support. It's brilliant! People are going to cruise anyhow, why not make it a fundraiser and, having it during Halloween week is great. I think it's something you should consider doing on a yearly basis.

I'm willing to volunteer. Let me know what I can do to help.

Steve,

We would like to make it an annual event - starting with the Oasis party benefiting Toys for Tots in 2009. Not sure that all charity cruises will be in October after 2010, but anything is possible.

I'd also be willing to support a sailing/event such as this - beautiful thought/idea.

Excellent idea indeed. Pricing during that time of year is typically low so we should get a very good response!

I just did some quick pricing. I am using Freedom of the Seas, Western Caribbean Itinerary for October 25, 2009. Remember this is just to give everyone a rough idea of pricing during this time of year and it's good!

These prices are including port charges, taxes, fuel charges

Inside Category Q - $1563.10 for 2 people or $781.55 per person

Balcony Category E1 - $2,105.10 for 2 people or $1052.55 per person

Grand Suite - $4,963.10 for 2 people or $2481.55 per person

That's not bad at all, I think most people will be able to afford to go.

So.... now that we all like the idea... Let's come up with some really fun ideas.

Excellent idea. Anyone care to place a bet how long it takes CC to copycat the idea?

Who cares what CC thinks or does! This is site is Cruise Freek Forums. This is an excellent idea so let's not lose focus on the project at hand!

I'd like to know the poll results...

This is a wonderful idea and I love the Halloween theme. This will be a lot of fun!

I emailed Tina for results. So far it stands:

7 Day Cruise (40 votes out of 61)
Royal Caribbean (28 votes out of 46)

With Eastern Caribbean Itinerary and pricing between $700 - $1100 per person having the most votes.

Pricing is the main reason people are citing for reason that they wouldn't book.

I think it's a great idea! We get to cruise AND make a charitable donation at the same time.

Any thoughts for our theme for Halloween? Maybe Pirates?

we'd probably wait until the group actually formed, and let those actually cruising pick the theme.

Susan, what's the next step with all of this - is the voting pretty final at this point? Do we/you call Royal Caribbean (assuming that's who we're going with for this cruise) and alert them of our intentions? I just think it is so great that so many on here are willing to give back. I'm proud of everyone on here who voted in favor of the charity sailings!

Vinnie,

At this point there isn't anything we can do with the cruise line. We have to wait until the Oct 2010 itineraries are announced (should be in March/April 2009) so we can figure out which cruise exactly that we can do. Then we will contact the cruise line to make arrangements for blocking the group space and advise them that this is going to be a charity fundraiser.

And Tina is in contact with the Susan B Komen Foundation already.

Before we block the space we will want people interested in booking to tell us room categories they want, so I know what to block into the group space.

Once things get more firm, let me know and I'll advertise this sailing at work.

I'll do my part too! This is an utterly FANTASTIC idea! If you guys were looking for a way to separate yourselves and us from CC, you just found the way! Not one other board that I am aware of is doing anything like this!