+leftyfb Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Hey guys, We're looking into this cruiseandcache.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/CruiseAndCache/ caching cruise and wondering if anyone knows more detail about it and can maybe add some validity to the event. We would love to go on a caching cruise and moreso visit Alaska. Though we understand from listening to the Podcachers podcast a bunch of people got burned by a scam pretending to be a geocaching cruise and a lot of people lost the money they invested in it. It's also a little surprising that I wasn't able to find anything else posted on these forums about it. I would assume other cachers would be very excited about such a thing. Any input would be helpful. I waited till the last minute and need to pay $250 per person in advance by Dec 31st. Quote Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I haven't heard of that one, and I'd be a bit wary of it since it's a private group. Why can't I see the posts? OTOH, I've gone on a cruise with this one, and had a great time. There were over 75 cacher on the boat! Quote Link to comment
+Ms.Scrabbler Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 There is one that leaves from FL. I believe they are going again this March. They called themselves the Castaways I think. They have a Facebook page. Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Hey guys, We're looking into this cruiseandcache.com https://www.facebook...CruiseAndCache/ caching cruise and wondering if anyone knows more detail about it and can maybe add some validity to the event. We would love to go on a caching cruise and moreso visit Alaska. Though we understand from listening to the Podcachers podcast a bunch of people got burned by a scam pretending to be a geocaching cruise and a lot of people lost the money they invested in it. It's also a little surprising that I wasn't able to find anything else posted on these forums about it. I would assume other cachers would be very excited about such a thing. Any input would be helpful. I waited till the last minute and need to pay $250 per person in advance by Dec 31st. Personally, I'd be wary of this one. I looked at the profile for the "admin" of that FB group and it indicates that s/he is a travel agent and is associated with something called "Vacation Club Sales" (can you say timeshare?). Although they also indicate that they were author of a book called "Family Geocaching" I'd be worried that you'd get on the boat, and might find some geocaches along the way, but would get pestered about buying a timeshare the whole trip. I know that there was a geocacher that organized an Alaska geocaching cruise a few years ago that took place just before or after the blockparty. I was on the "might be interested" mailing list and I *think* they may have done it more than once. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) I see a kickstarter campaign for a book called Family Geocaching, I don't see an indication it has been published, but I could be wrong. They also own the domain name familygeocaching.com, and that and cruiseandcache.com look totally legitimate to me. Then again, Geocacher magazine had a website and a Facebook page with over 3,600 likes, and scammed people out of money for 6 years. I personally wouldn't be wary though. Why not contact them, and ask for some testimonials? If it's their first "Geocaching" cruise, ask for credentials for some non-Geocaching cruises they may have arranged. Edited December 19, 2013 by Mr.Yuck Quote Link to comment
+MinionBrigade Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I have been a professional travel agent for 11 years, specializing in cruises and family travel. I have explored the idea of promoting a geo-cruise, as well as a group trip to Bermuda to do their GeoTour, but the interest hasn't been there to really put too much effort into it. Airfare is astronomical these days, and that puts an end to the excitement really quick. The market is too small, I think for too many agents to get involved. What I can tell you is that a $250 per person deposit is typical for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, so that to me is a "Check Mark" for "Legit." I also put tried to some $ into the afore-mentioned Kickstarter campaign a few months ago but it didn't meet its goal. Quote Link to comment
+leftyfb Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 I have been a professional travel agent for 11 years, specializing in cruises and family travel. I have explored the idea of promoting a geo-cruise, as well as a group trip to Bermuda to do their GeoTour, but the interest hasn't been there to really put too much effort into it. Airfare is astronomical these days, and that puts an end to the excitement really quick. The market is too small, I think for too many agents to get involved. What I can tell you is that a $250 per person deposit is typical for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, so that to me is a "Check Mark" for "Legit." I also put tried to some $ into the afore-mentioned Kickstarter campaign a few months ago but it didn't meet its goal. The $250 per person is a down payment. The total is $750 per person. Quote Link to comment
+MinionBrigade Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I have been a professional travel agent for 11 years, specializing in cruises and family travel. I have explored the idea of promoting a geo-cruise, as well as a group trip to Bermuda to do their GeoTour, but the interest hasn't been there to really put too much effort into it. Airfare is astronomical these days, and that puts an end to the excitement really quick. The market is too small, I think for too many agents to get involved. What I can tell you is that a $250 per person deposit is typical for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, so that to me is a "Check Mark" for "Legit." I also put tried to some $ into the afore-mentioned Kickstarter campaign a few months ago but it didn't meet its goal. The $250 per person is a down payment. The total is $750 per person. Right, the initial deposit of $250 per person is what you normally pay up front for a RCCL cruise. The final balance will be due closer to the time of the cruise, usually 75 days or so. $750 per person for a RCCL cruise isn't unreasonable. Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I see a kickstarter campaign for a book called Family Geocaching, I don't see an indication it has been published, but I could be wrong. They also own the domain name familygeocaching.com, and that and cruiseandcache.com look totally legitimate to me Just to clarify, I wasn't questioning the legitimacy of the cruiseandcache.com site. After looking at vacationsalesclub.com though (the site affiliated with the admin of the FB group), my reluctance when considering that cruise was more about whether or not it was with a group of people that I'd want to be stuck on a boat with for a week. Maybe I'm jaded, but after spending a week in a very touristy spot a couple of months ago I saw that everywhere I turned there was someone giving way "free stuff", and it was always associated "a brief vacation opportunity presentation", I'm a bit wary of deals associated with the travel industry. From my experience, those that sell time shares (which I assume what vacationsalesclub is) are ruthless and *extremely* persistent, and I would absolutely not want to spend a vacation where someone was continuously trying to sell me something. Quote Link to comment
+Rustynails Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 OTOH, I've gone on a cruise with this one, and had a great time. There were over 75 cacher on the boat! I was one of the over 75 cachers on that cruise. It was a great cruise and the highlight of the year for me. Quote Link to comment
+fuzzybelly Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I remember you rustynails, how could I forget that name love it. You all came up to Alaska. We all got together at a fun diner event at the Sourdough mining company. Northwes was the cacher here in Anchorage who helped organize the caching adventures here. I tell you, you all where the talk of the caching community for months before you arrived and months after. A lot of folks had a great time with you all, we hope you all had fun. Northwes, by the way is up for "Cacher Of The Month" COTM, at Groundspeak. Quote Link to comment
+NeverSummer Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I remember you rustynails, how could I forget that name love it. You all came up to Alaska. We all got together at a fun diner event at the Sourdough mining company. Northwes was the cacher here in Anchorage who helped organize the caching adventures here. I tell you, you all where the talk of the caching community for months before you arrived and months after. A lot of folks had a great time with you all, we hope you all had fun. Northwes, by the way is up for "Cacher Of The Month" COTM, at Groundspeak. What's that? NorthWes is up for Geocacher of the Month? He did a great job coordinating with folks on the Anchorage side of their trip for geocaching opportunities--and all out of the goodness of his heart. No timeshares, no agent fees. By the way, have you all voted in the COTM contest for this month yet? Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I remember you rustynails, how could I forget that name love it. You all came up to Alaska. We all got together at a fun diner event at the Sourdough mining company. Northwes was the cacher here in Anchorage who helped organize the caching adventures here. I tell you, you all where the talk of the caching community for months before you arrived and months after. A lot of folks had a great time with you all, we hope you all had fun. Northwes, by the way is up for "Cacher Of The Month" COTM, at Groundspeak. What's that? NorthWes is up for Geocacher of the Month? He did a great job coordinating with folks on the Anchorage side of their trip for geocaching opportunities--and all out of the goodness of his heart. No timeshares, no agent fees. By the way, have you all voted in the COTM contest for this month yet? No, because I'm generally opposed to any form of competition in geocaching. How many old usenet users remember KOTM (Kook of the Month)? Quote Link to comment
+1Husky Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 If the OP has some doubts, why not just book the cruise with a travel agent near them or they could just do it online and b on the same ship as the tour planner. Quote Link to comment
+leftyfb Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 I have confirmed that this caching cruise is completely legitimate. There's not many people going so far so there's plenty of room. The deadline to get the down payment is the 31st so anyone interested only has a few more days to get on it. Hope to see lots of other geocachers there! Quote Link to comment
+MinionBrigade Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 If the OP has some doubts, why not just book the cruise with a travel agent near them or they could just do it online and b on the same ship as the tour planner. From another agent's perspective: When you have an event group such as this, it is possible for the client to book the same cruise through another agency. However, being outside of the 'official group' the client would not be permitted access to any special group functions or events/tours. Depending on how it's organized there are likely capacity controlled events and premiums that they would miss out on. Depending on how generous the tour planner is, they may let you participate, they may not. Quote Link to comment
+DavetecsGirl Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hi All I live in Bermuda and I can help you out if you want to know about Geocaching and Cruising with a group of Geocachers. I work with a cruise planner who has a cruise planned for Bermuda in September. my email is bermudaislandgeocachers@gmail.com or darlene4141@gmail.com We have had two successful geocaching cruises to Bermuda, and 1 so far to Alaska Happy Caching Davetecsgirl President Bermuda Island Geocachers Quote Link to comment
+DavetecsGirl Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I remember you rustynails, how could I forget that name love it. You all came up to Alaska. We all got together at a fun diner event at the Sourdough mining company. Northwes was the cacher here in Anchorage who helped organize the caching adventures here. I tell you, you all where the talk of the caching community for months before you arrived and months after. A lot of folks had a great time with you all, we hope you all had fun. Northwes, by the way is up for "Cacher Of The Month" COTM, at Groundspeak. What's that? NorthWes is up for Geocacher of the Month? He did a great job coordinating with folks on the Anchorage side of their trip for geocaching opportunities--and all out of the goodness of his heart. No timeshares, no agent fees. By the way, have you all voted in the COTM contest for this month yet? No, because I'm generally opposed to any form of competition in geocaching. How many old usenet users remember KOTM (Kook of the Month)? I was the one that nominated NorthWes for Geoacher of the month. He is an amazing guy. I met him when he and his wife came to Bermuda, a year and a half ago, the I met up with him again when he help my friend and I put together a Geocaching cruise to Alaska... He is amazing Quote Link to comment
+Landsharkz Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Hey guys, We're looking into this cruiseandcache.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/CruiseAndCache/ caching cruise and wondering if anyone knows more detail about it and can maybe add some validity to the event. ...... I haven't heard of that one, and I'd be a bit wary of it since it's a private group. Why can't I see the posts? OTOH, I've gone on a cruise with this one, and had a great time. There were over 75 cacher on the boat! Sounds like fun, but they both look like private groups that you have to ask to join. Do most advertised escorted geocaching cruises go ahead as planned? Are these becoming popular ways to go cruising and caching? We've cached and cruised twice, once on the Pacific side and once in the Caribbean but we were doing it solo. Our favourite stop was Antigua where most of the caches were hidden (back 5 yrs ago) by the Antigua Search & Rescue. Edited February 27, 2014 by Landsharkz Quote Link to comment
+Monkey Man & Lulu Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Hi All I live in Bermuda and I can help you out if you want to know about Geocaching and Cruising with a group of Geocachers. I work with a cruise planner who has a cruise planned for Bermuda in September. my email is bermudaislandgeocachers@gmail.com or darlene4141@gmail.com We have had two successful geocaching cruises to Bermuda, and 1 so far to Alaska Happy Caching Davetecsgirl President Bermuda Island Geocachers Quote Link to comment
+Monkey Man & Lulu Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Davetecsgirl, we have signed up for the Sept 2014 Geocaching cruise. This will be our first time working with the person organizing this adventure. Have seen posts on some of the caches from last year from people who went on this cruise to Bermuda. Many positive comments. Hope to have a great time! Quote Link to comment
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