Yes! It is true that we have been in contact with the different cruise lines and checking into the available destinations for which dates etc.
There are a number of things to consider to plan this event. And after reading all the previous posts on this subject, I feel we are closing in on something that will work for everyone, hopefully.
I had intended on posting a poll or creating a new thread to narrow it even closer but since the topic has reappeared here we might as well take advantage of it.
At this point we are leaning towards a 4day-3night cruise to ??? and most likely leaving on a Thurs. and returning on Sun.
It will most likely be scheduled out of Port Canaveral due to a number of reasons.... one being that it is the most logical Port due to it's centralized location for all the Florida regions.
Another very important reason for this being that after comparing the average cost of flights to the various airports, and due to it's volume of tourism, most flights arriving at Orlando International Airport run considerably cheaper than the alternatives. And like the others, OIA also has the shuttle buses running directly to the port from the terminal.
All this making it more encouraging and affordable for our members living in States other than Florida.
Now for the undecided issues that I will need everyones input on to be able to solidify the final choices...
When? The best deals going right now are for the Fall cruises, and after looking at several calendar of events we have somewhat narrowed the choices to sometime between early Oct. to early Nov., after the heavy raft-up season and before the Major Holidays kick in.
Next would be
where which would greatly depend on When.
Now if we nailed down the When and Where the next decision would be the bookings themselves... the prices vary greatly from day to day for the same cruise depending on the number of available cabins so I can't tell everyone today that it will cost X amount of $$ because it could and probably would change by the time someone decided a week or so later to go. Plus, individual bookings for cabins will reguire a deposit / payment to lock in that price at the time of the booking.
However, we can go through the groups department and get better rates that will remain locked in at the stated price without a required deposit/payment as long as we reserve a minimum number of cabins in advance, the number varies per Cruise Line (average 8-10 cabins based on double occupancy) but that would require a bonified commitment from our members so we are not reserving and ultimately paying for empty cabins.
So you see there are still a number of decisions to make. And knowing that we can't accommodate everyone's desires, we do want to make the this event very encouragable, possible and affordable for all our members.
And now that I have opened up this long winded flood gate, I will appreciate your input.
Never go faster than your Guardian Angels can fly! 
Time is a wasting 
Re: Raft-Up.com cruise??? 
Re: Raft-Up.com cruise??? 
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