2025 BMB International Performance Tour

January 6 - 19, 2025

Caribbean

Miami, Florida
Everglades National Park, Florida
Key West, Florida
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Willemstad, Curacao
Oranjestad, Aruba
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

RESERVATION

To reserve a spot please submit your travel request. This form must be completed for each individual traveler in your party. This is also the link for you to update your passport information.

Hint: If your browser rejects the above link as spam, try typing the URL in manually. (CLOSED)

OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

All travelers are required to submit their official participation agreement by June 1, 2024. An agreement must be completed for each individual traveler in your party.

PAYMENTS

BMB makes installment payments to the hotel/cruise lines/etc. automatically each month based on the number of travelers on our roster, so we need to make sure our university account in good standing. Remember that there are four payments (Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov) of approximately $700 each. The final payment (November) may be higher or lower to reflect the total balance due.

Calendar

August 5, 2024 - $700
September 5, 2024 - $700
October 5, 2024 - $700
November 5, 2024 - $700

Credit Card Payments
If you want the convenience of making your monthly payments by credit card you can follow this link to the UWEC eMarket. https://commerce.cashnet.com/UWECBGC

While you may want to use this option for convenience or credit card reward points, please be aware that your credit card will impose a 2.75% convenience fee for the transaction. If you make all of your payments using this method, the fees will add up.

Payment by Check or in Person
You can avoid the credit card fee by making your payments to Blugold Central by mail or in person. Please make checks payable to "UWEC Blugold Marching Band" and mail them to the following address. Make sure to print the attached payment coupon and include it with your payment.

UW- Eau Claire Blugold Central
PO Box 5000
Eau Claire, WI 54702-5000

If you are on campus you can stop by Blugold Central (1108 Vicki Lord Larson Hall) instead of mailing your payment. Please bring a payment coupon. I'm sorry to say that there is no option to do a funds transfer into the trip account as you do for tuition.

INSURANCE (students and guests)

You are highly encouraged to insure your trip to protect against unplanned cancelations or trip interruption. You can obtain travel insurance on your own or you can buy it through the company that provides our cruise arrangements. That information will be provided once payments begin in August.

All students will have the university-required insurance policy through CIE. This provides basic coverage in the event of an accident but it does not provide a refund if you have to cancel your trip.

https://www.travelinsured.com/group.signup?group=143415&guid=779f11a7589441e4bc7f513e978bd390

WHAT IS INCLUDED

All BMB trip packages includes airfare, ground transportation, all cruise costs (unlimited meals), hotel. Your cost also takes care of all of extra expenses such as shipping our equipment, transportation to the airport, taxes, port charges, and gratuities. BMB members may invite guests (parents, etc.) on the trip at a cost comparable to the student cost.

The cost of this year’s International Performance Tour Student Package is $2,800. This price covers a quad room and includes all the amenities above. Although more expensive packages are offered, ninety percent of our students choose this option.

Click HERE to view the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line description of our cruise.

TRIP ITINERARY

Updated December 12, 2024

Sunday, January 5 Rehearsal at Haas Fine Arts

Monday, January 6 Depart MSP; Arrive in Miami
Check into hotel, free time

Tuesday, January 7 Miami Beach
Performances & Free Time

Wednesday, January 8 Miami Beach & Everglades Excursion

Thursday, January 9 Miami Beach & Key West Excursion

Friday, January 10 Board Grandeur of the Seas in Ft. Lauderdale

Saturday, January 11 Day at Sea & Rehearsal

Sunday, January 12 Day at Sea & Performance

Monday, January 13 Kralendijk, Bonaire (10a-6p)