In a couple of articles, we’ve discussed the advantages of chartering a cruise ship (whether it’s a full charter or partial charter) for large companies or groups to use for training sessions or meetings. The following chart lists many of the benefits attached to using a cruise ship for your group’s meetings. We hope you’ll find the information helpful.
| Why are So Many Groups Choosing to Meet on a Cruise Ship? |
| |
Land-only venues |
Cruise ship |
| Travel Efficiency |
Much time each day is spent just getting to and from the hotel to the meetings/meals |
Meetings, entertainment, and meals all continue while the ship moves from place to place. |
| Menu Flexibility |
Pre-paid meals at hotels are limited in variety |
Menus are wonderfully varied. Many ships now even offer different types of restaurants. |
| Transportation Needs |
Depending on group size, transfers can be nightmarish to arrange since they can involve different airports and different hotels. |
Airport transfers become much simpler as every attendee is going to the same place - the ship. |
| Pairing Exotic Enticement with Comforts of Home |
Too ofen the enticement of fascinating land-based venues also means added frustration with currency, drinking water, language, unfamiliar customs, and different appliance requirements. |
Cruise passengers can rely on safe water, consistent voltage needs, a crew accustomed to accommodating passengers from various countries, and most ships now have eliminated the nuisance of trying to figure currency exchange rates by setting up one-time-payment and accepting most major credit cards. |
| Luxury of venue already assumed |
Hotels vary in rating-to-actuality status and are often totally unknown to the potential attendee. |
Because cruise ships already have the reputation of luxury, the ship itself becomes a big part of the attraction. |
| Easy adaptation to varying group sizes |
Too often, small hotels often lack facilities that groups want and mammoth hotels are devoid of any sense of community. |
Cruise ships vary in size, to accommodate groups from 20 to 2000 or more. Yet, planning allows comaradie to develop, informal spontaneous discussion groups, easy traffic flow, and a variety of room types to suit varying tastes. |
| Variety of destinations |
Land-based group gatherings are typically single-city, with "extensions" to other nearby areas offered as options at additional cost |
Cruise ships move from port to port, offering built-in variety. |
| Cost control |
Many costs such as airport transfers, inter-venue transportation, and number of meeting rooms are extremely difficult to pre-determine without losing deposits. |
Many of the costs are either set (such as meeting rooms) or eliminated (such as inter-venue transportation! |
If you’d like to discuss the possibility of chartering a ship for your organizations next meeting, please contact Rhonda Sand at 1-800-975-7775 or email her.
Are you planning a convention, large corporate meeting, or event at a waterfront location? If so, why not bring in a cruise ship to offer a unique platform for additional accommodations. Cruise ships large and small are available as dockside hotels and conference centers.
One such example of this successfully being employed is the use of two cruise ships acting as supplemental housing for the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which is taking place this week in Trinidad. With two ships being brought into port for the large scale event, over 3000 additional rooms have been made available to attendees. Another prime example of the use of cruise ships in this capacity was when the Superbowl was held in Jacksonville, Florida in 2005.
Dockside charters such as the ones above have become vital and popular options for booking large-scale conferences and global events in regions where demand for accommodations outstrips what is available in the surrounding area.
In addition to just providing accommodations, dockside charters also offer additional conference space and meeting rooms that can be made available to private, smaller events that may take place in conjunction to the main event.
Please feel free to contact Rhonda Sand about your next event and your need to bring in additional accommodations and meeting space through the creative use of cruise ships. Rhonda and her team have years of charter experience. Whether you’re looking for a small ship charter or you need to bring in several large ships, Rhonda can make it happen seamlessly for you and your event. Call her at 1-800-975-7775 or email her to discuss your needs today.
Did you know that Virtuoso is the leading travel network made up of more than 6,000 by-invitation-only selected travel advisors located all over the world? Listed below are some of the benefits and advantages of choosing to use the services of a Virtuoso advisor:
- Global Connections: With personal contacts at more than 1,000 airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, and premier destinations worldwide, your Virtuoso affiliated travel advisor puts these relationships to work for you.
- Unparalleled Expertise: Virtuoso affiliated travel advisors are among the most well-traveled people on the planet. They draw upon their own first-hand experiences when customizing vacations for you.
- Customized Travel Experiences: From weekend getaways to trips of a lifetime, counting on the expertise of a Virtuoso affiliated advisor ensures your greatest Return on Life™.
- Confidence: When you have a relationship with a Virtuoso affiliated travel advisor, you’ll rest easy knowing your personal preferences are reflected in every aspect of the itinerary, delivering the best value for your time and money.
Rhonda Sand has been a member of the prestigious Virtuoso network since 2004. Her expertise in creating individualized, customized travel experiences is unparalleled. Rhonda and her staff are experts in creating luxurious, memorable vacations for you, your family and friends. Let Rhonda assist you in creating your trip of a lifetime.
In response to the downturn in the economy, many popular cruise lines have revised their schedules and itineraries for the 2009 season. Included in these changes is the addition of many more short cruises. In an effort to fill their ships, cruise lines are offering more cruises with shorter itineraries to attract first timers who otherwise might not be willing to commit the amount of time and money to a cruise vacation.
Aggressive sales and marketing add up to big values for consumers right now. Cruises continue to increase in popularity and projections for 2009 indicate continued growth. Take advantage of the reduced prices and schedule your vacation. Cruise vacations have always provided the highest value for vacations and this summer is a great time to go! Call me today at 1-800-975-7775 to discuss all of the exciting cruise offerings that are available.
Image Courtesy of Billy Alexander
Family cruises create wonderful memories for everyone involved. Whether your family is celebrating an anniversary, getting together for a reunion or just decided to book your vacation together, a cruise is an excellent way to spend time with your loved ones!
A number of cruise lines offer family reunion packages with quite a few perks. For example, one cruise line has a family reunion program with reduced group fares for families booking eight staterooms or more on any cruise. Some of the amenities they include are:
- Reduced group pricing (varies by cruise and cabin category)
- Fountain soda card for every member of the family (soda card is good for 20 glasses of soda and a souvenir cup)
- One family photo per stateroom
- Lunch for the entire family in of the ship’s specialty restaurants
- Head-of-the-Family reward: One stateroom in the group receives a complimentary upgrade from an outside category to verandah
Another well known cruise line is offering their Crystal Family Memories package. The amenities and perks included are:
- One complimentary berth for every 10 full-fare berths
- $500 credit towards a in port adventure of $2,500 or more
- Complimentary family portraits
These are only a couple of examples of what is currently being offered by many of the major cruise lines. Even if a cruise line does not have a pre-planned family reunion package, most of them will offer some type of added value perks or a free cabin for small groups booking together. If you have extended family that desires to vacation together, please contact Rhonda Sand for details about small group cruise deals. Feel free to call her at 1-800-975-7775 or email her for more information.
