How interesting, Uncle Roger! It seems TPTB don't know diddly about using a cruise that would not only make money for both a DS venue, but for the cruise line itself. I helped organize a few cruises as a fund-raiser for whatever. What's needed is volume. The more people that participate, the more money is made. The way to do that is negotiate with the cruise line and then establish a lower price for those participating. That will encourage more people to book and fill empty berths. An unused bed or cabin brings in nothing for the line; the ones that are filled at almost half-cost of the normal charge brings in moola. Groups use this method all the time. Are there kickbacks? Why, of course. I and a friend who helped organize these fundraising always got our cabin for free. Granted, it would one of the smallest inside ones, courtesy the cruise line, but so what? Two of us got a free cruise, hundreds booked at a reduced rate, the cruise line made lots of money and donated a portion of it back to whatever organization for which we organized the cruise. The DS PTB don't know about this? Enough money would be made to pay for the celebs without gouging the fans.
Gerard
