i would be interested in option 1.

We were actually thinking of doing one similar to option 2 this year on Holland America. Would be Princess first-timers, and would vote for option 2, as we like being in Victoria without a car.

Vote for option 1 but interested in both.

generally their TATL cruises happen in April and Sept.

i would like option #2, however #1 is fine too. i just loving cruising so the longer the better.

interestingly, i was already looking at both of those cruises for 2011. a DO trip is even better than just a regular cruise.

I choose option #2. I have 54 days on Princess and am aiming for elite!

It looks to me like we have critical mass for the 4-night cruise, so I'd like to take the next step. (Of course there's nothing stopping people from taking the 2-day cruise either instead of or in addition to this one.) I contacted Princess today, and here's the information they need. Please PM me the information - do not post in the thread. Once I submit this information to Princess, they will generate a quote based on the group and your Captain's Circle status (whichever is lower). I'm not sure when deposits are due, or how much there will be. They did assure me that if rates drop at any time, we'll be able to get the lower rates as they come up.
If you are not a Captain's Circle member, I will submit your name for referral and you will get a $25 referral discount for this cruise.

If you are a solo cruiser, please let me know if you would like to be paired up with another person or book a single. Singles are generally twice the price of staying in a double (except you only pay one set of taxes), so this would save you a substantial amount of money.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should way that I do get benefits from being the group organizer. However, depending on the amount (which depends on how many cabins we end up with and how many first-time cruisers there are), I do plan on sharing in the bounty. I can't commit the amount yet, though I hope we'll be able to help everyone out to some extent. We may also be able to book a private party (on our last cruise, we had a nice Cruise Critic party in the Skywalker Lounge), but that kind of thing will have to wait until much closer to departure.

What level of commitment are we talking about at this point?

I'm very interested in the DO but need to have some sense for the cost before officially signing up and placing a deposit.

They didn't tell me what the deposit requirements are, but you're under no obligation or commitment by signing up. My sense is that they will use your information to quote you a price based on your status and the group, but the quote is free.

PM sent. hope they give you a nice group rate.

Mine sent too and I echo those hopes. ^

Interested and definitely would prefer option #2 so I'm glad that's "winning"

Put me down as asya999+1. However, depending on which +1 I bring it might be two Platinum Princess veterans or one Platinum and one first timer!

BTW, the City of Victoria has a Victoria Day parade, this year on Mon. May 24!

How close are the sample prices for
Pacific Coastal - 4 Days from San Francisco to Vancouver to what the quotes should return?

As I'm not completely comfortable posting the rates I've received out in the open on this thread, I am sending PM to everyone who has expressed interest with rates and other information. It's not a secret, but I don't want search robots finding and publishing this somewhat "exclusive" information.

I just spoke with the agent and he told me two good things.

1. The Mini-suite rate has gone down (I will update the web page when he sends me the new rate), and
2. Princess will hold the group until January 2011, so the posted rates are good at least until then. Of course, since the deposit is full refundable, it's still a good idea to book when you can to ensure availbility.