We too have done our share of cruising (but on another cruise line) and have gone at all different times of the year and have never had a problem. The cruise lines are pretty good about rerouting and the majority of the time you are not even aware of it (unless they take you to a different location which has only happened to us once but it was just as nice and we had a great time regardless). I do not know too much about the pricing with Carnival but this seems to be a great price compared to other cruise lines and a great way to get a big group together like this. Nice work on putting the numbers together

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