Hi everyone. My husband and I are planning our second NCL cruise for next spring. We were on the Crown for our honeymoon and loved it. We are planning on the Spirit for either May 5 or May19th 2007. We are also planning on having my parents travel with us as well as some other family members. (we are celebrating my graduation with my doctorate and my parents' retirements. ) Any advice on the group cruise planning and any advice for us for the Spirit. I know it's 10 months away but i'm already so excited. We are getting a balcony room and everything.
Care.

Try to get connecting cabins so you can open and close the door between the rooms.

I would talk to a travel agent to co-ordinate your group vacation plans. They might even be able to get your a group discount, depending on the number of cabins you get.

Most of the time you need at least 6 cabins to get a group rate, but you might be able to get at least an on board credit if you get lucky.

Just for your information, you will not be able to preschedule dining together as a group, however, as NCL is all "Freestyle" dining. That said, you will have the flexibility of deciding when and where to eat. If you want to dine together with your entire family group, I'd advise making reservations in the reservations-only restaurants (most of which are extra cost) or going to the regular dining rooms early, not at peak dining times. You may have to wait for a while for a large table to clear.

Thanks for your advice everyone. Let me clear up two things. One, we are not going to tell anyone where our cabin is until we get on the ship, My husband and I are only married one year and well, we want our privacy, and as far as dining, the family just wants the option to be together if we want. It will mostlikely be the family breaking into groups of 3-4 for meals and excursions and then maybe meeting up at night on the deck if we want. We want everyone to be relaxed not obligated to create "family time".