Want to get a group of friends together from college, work, or how about family reunion? Getting a group to cruise together is not as hard as you might think and it is often less costly than the traditional cruise booking route. Best of all, depending upon the cruise line, your cruise group could end up with some terrific onboard perks.

Group cruise basics

The first step is to find a travel agent that understands booking a group and work with them in tandem to find the best possible option and deal for your group cruise vacation. The person who works with the travel agent will become the designated “tour conductor.” Tour conductors work with a travel agency to make all the travel and onboard arrangements; their primary jobs are recruitment and communication.

Off-peak sailings sometimes offer more generous terms, with some cruise lines offering groups a free fare to every 10th or 14th person. Generally, higher-end cruise lines require fewer paid fares to qualify than do the more mainstream cruise lines.

But what if you can’t round up enough friends or family members to get group benefits? There is still a way you can get group benefits. Many large travel agencies hold what is known as “block space” on ships. That means that they have reserved space at group rates, and can at times offer attractive pricing. Sometimes these agencies hold aside several of the group cabins for individual clients who might be able to depart on the group date – it’s called “piggybacking.” It’s a great way for people to take advantage of a group cruise rate without being in a group.

Group cruise perks

Some cruise lines also offer special perks available only to group cruisers. For example, many cruise lines are now awarding “group amenity points” based on the number of people in the group: the more people, the more points, the more perks. Amenities can include such things as private hosted cocktail parties, cabin upgrades and shipboard credits.

The details of group-travel offerings vary widely by cruise line, itinerary, time of year – even the nature of the group. Don’t be daunted. Travel agencies that specialize in group cruises can help find you find the best sailings and negotiate the best possible deal.

Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel for Princess Cruises. Anita is a weekly travel columnist for MSNBC.com, Consumer Traveler, and her blog at http://ExpertCruiser.com. Additionally, she is a contributor to Fodor’s cruise guides.