first of all have you got the brothers wives take on all this? how do they feel in contributing that amt to 1. a party and 2. a cruise?

first of all i have cruised Royal cribberian and my parents just got back from a 2 week alaskan cruise on the same liner and there not great by any means anymore

If there so well off i would say they can afford it themselves ...i agree the $1000 of your own part in the party is well enough of an amt to go towards a gift