1.  For every 16 guest (plus or minus, depending on the cruise line) one guest can go free.  So the Family Financial Committee can discount the cruise cost for each family member based upon this factor.  The single most important factor about cruising, is that ALL meals and entertainment aboard ship is included in the cost. 

2.  Have financially able family members pay $50 to $100 a month into the family travel trust fund.  Require each family member to pay an annual fee.  $75.00 for adults and $30 for each child.  Put these monies, as well, into the family travel trust fund.

3.  Have dinner sales once a month.  Take orders and deliver the dinners to local businesses. (Be careful on this idea - you could end up in the business of cooking and delivering meals to hungry customers)  Also, don't forget candy sales, or first of the month parties where you sale wine for $1.00 and hard drinks for more)

4.  Select a cruise that departs from a central location (Ft Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York) If other family members must travel a long distance, do not eliminate the possibility of 10 to 15 family members loading onto Greyhound.  Greyhound is inexpensive and (usually) on time.  Coordinate the Greyhound schedule so that family members are picked up across the country and arrive in the departure city together.

5.  Raise money by holding yard sales and garage sales.  E-bay is full of junk and "it" sells and so can your junk.  In fact send family members out to purchase low cost junk for resale at your family yard sales.

Once you have selected your destination, contact www.travel360degrees.com  to book your cruise.  Travel 360 specializes in Family Reunions at Sea and Weddings at Sea.  Special booking procedures for children to lower the overall cost is part of the T360 specialty.

This short article was written by Cassandra Ingraham, webmaster for www.travel360degrees.com and publisher for purple monkey e-publication.