According to Merrill Lynch May  31, 2005, cruise ships continue to provide good value for meetings, generally costing 10% to 45% less than hotels,  and continue to be one of the most attractive options in terms of price and value.

CRUISE SHIPS ARE A PROVEN VENUE

Cruising is a respected and proven venue that offers the meeting planner many proven benefits. The planner can be confident a cruise is the right choice. Few venues are so  affordable. They combine work and play for the meeting participant concurrent with entertainment for other family members in a seamless fashion. The fact  that 9 out of 10 people have never experienced a cruise creates tremendous opportunity for the event planner.

The floating luxury  environment makes the logistics of  meetings manageable, increases attendance, and  reduces outside distractions. There is a great variety of leisure time activities to satisfy diverse interests. All-inclusive pricing eliminates the complications of restaurant bills, rental cars, taxi receipts and the many other extra and often unpredictable expenses of land-based venues.

Meetings aboard ship substantially reduce the management time and effort required to plan and coordinate transportation, activities, meals, accommodations, meeting space & support, equipment needs, and staffing.

To the individual honored guests, a cruise conference becomes an unforgettable, uncomplicated, and completely carefree travel adventure that can be shared by the entire family. The shipboard life-style encourages  a feeling of  relaxed camaraderie not as easily achieved on land. This has consistently  improved meeting results. Whether a meeting involves sales training, a Board of  Directors, a financial presentation, a family or group reunion, a charitable benefit, or a self-improvement seminar,  shipboard meetings and conferences create a stimulating atmosphere that encourages attendees to socialize and share ideas.

We look forward to helping our clients develop a shipboard meeting plan.  Specify your requirements. Then we will provide a written presentation showing how a modern cruise ship can improve meeting results, and reduce costs for any event.

We can demonstrate how to get better results  with a shipboard conference. On approval we’ll plan all your events aboard ship, ashore, and getting there - your choice!

Generous savings are available for groups of any size.  Special  pricing for groups as small as eight couples can enjoy attractive discounts. Conventions for as many as 2600 participants can charter an entire ship. Groups of any size can select customized on-board amenities that shape each cruise experience to individual needs. Charity Groups can earn a monetary donation and matching funds for every stateroom booked. Itineraries from three nights to three weeks can fill every meeting requirement. Flexible resources for family reunions assure each age group their choice of accommodations and pricing. Spacious elegant and ultra modern ships can meet the needs of every budget.

Even if you have never planned a meeting-at-sea, our resources and expertise will make you look like you have been planning them for years. Our planning resources combine the talents, full purchasing power,  and resources of cruise industry leaders and meeting specialists.

To assure  your meeting is completely successful, our  planners coordinate everything. We can arrange for  your group to have its own area of the ship, with identical staterooms. And, depending on the size of your group, you can request a special section of the dining room. Even your own private dining room is possible. Perhaps you want every participant to receive a bottle of wine in their cabin on arrival. The added cost of 'extras' is minimal, and always achieves great results.

We can reserve on-board space for intimate private meetings or breakout sessions in advance. Presentations to groups as large as 1,500 can be made with all  the modern electronic splash of a Broadway spectacular. Our planning staff will make sure you have everything you need - from simple easels and flip charts to rear-screen projectors and state-of-the-art equipment. We’ll take care of the snacks at meetings, the favors, the photo sessions, the special shore excursions. We can get your golfers to their favorite courses, tennis aces to the courts, and everyone else to the beach for a day of sunning, scuba-diving, volleyball, or a barbecue. We can arrange contests, tournaments, black-tie receptions (yes, ships rent tuxedos), come-as-you-are pool parties, even a dance in your own club with your own orchestra.

Sailing with the leaders pays dividends. No need to feel confused by hundreds of ships and thousands of itineraries. We'll help you choose the right cruise line,  ship, and itinerary for your event. We offer the best pricing with Carnival Cruise Lines; Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines; Norwegian Cruise Line; Celebrity Cruises; Princess Cruises; Cunard, Holland America, and Oceania Cruise lines.

Our professional staff specializes in meetings aboard ship. Therefore we can offer unique access to huge inventories of competitively priced cabins, ships, and  itineraries. These tremendous capabilities are just not available to most travel agents or meeting planners. We can offer your company numerous options in terms of pricing; venues; and upgrade possibilities. We’ll even plan additional shore excursions and activities to make the shipboard experience seamless in every way.

We can offer you more imaginative and flexible meeting facilities than any hotel. Select a simple meeting with coffee, or plan a fully catered affair. Perhaps you require dual-large screen multimedia presentations. How about  your own theatre-style revue or an elaborate awards ceremony in the Broadway-style theatre. Public rooms can also be electronically connected for simulcasts of audiovisual programs, throughout the ship. If trade show booths are required, space is available for the asking on some ships.

Even the best hotels are often unable to satisfy the simple request of a hungry guest around the clock. But on a cruise ship, guests can pick up the phone and order room service any time they choose, day or night, at no extra charge.  And this is true whether it’s for coffee for two, or a  large order for a group holding an impromptu late-night meeting.

Customized services make your guests the stars of the ship because it doesn’t cost much more to get a lot more. With a little advance notice, we can provide customized banners, matchbooks, individual bon voyage gifts or just about anything you want to showcase your company’s name, products, or message goals. How about  personalized letters from the captain, name plates on stateroom doors, special flower arrangements and pre-selected wines at your tables?

Best of all,  no attendee ever has to reach for a wallet. You can arrange in advance to provide guests with on-board credits which can be used for shore tours, luxurious spa treatments,  beverages and shopping on-board in Galleria type shopping malls.

A cruise meeting with friends or associates can be a most satisfying travel experience. Ships offer fine food, sunshine, entertainment, relaxation and time away from the daily work routine, Cruise passengers return refreshed, relaxed, energized and ready for  new challenges, bringing home lots of wonderful stories to share later with fellow employees.

MEETING SPACE IS ALSO A PALATIAL HOME

A cruise ship is a palatial home going  to beautiful places. She will  take your meeting participants  from port to fascinating port as if by magic. Meeting or seminar schedules can be arranged so as not to conflict with shore excursions and family entertainment.  Before each destination there is a shipboard presentation about the history, topography, recreational facilities, sight-seeing opportunities, and the very best places to shop at each Port of Call.

Ships offer spacious staterooms with  highly personalized room service free - 24 hours a day Staterooms are large and range from 180’ sq. to 250’ sq.. Suite sizes range to palatial. There is a great selection of ocean view staterooms - many with balconies - interior staterooms and luxurious suites.

When you choose a cruise for a meeting you’re offering an exceptional experience that avoids most of the  potential pitfalls of ordinary travel. Your group will appreciate the unique experience of not having a worry in the world while getting business done.

On a  cruise ship, guests live like royalty. They don’t have to cope with traffic, parking, registrations, reservations, theater ticket lines or stuffy Maitres d’.  A cruise meeting package usually includes airfare and transfers. Meals, daily activities, nighttime entertainment, and the pampering service that makes every guest feel like a dignitary is included.

Once in their spacious staterooms, guests unpack once, and the rest is worry-free smooth sailing. You can create a special welcome for your VIP's by arranging for a personalized gift of wine, flowers, fruit, gourmet foods or any other bon voyage surprise you plan for your guests to find on arrival at their cabin.

Cruise ships make it so easy to exercise and stay in shape. Most have three swimming pools, acres of deck space for jogging or calisthenics, a complete health Spa with a wide choice of fitness equipment, saunas and trained experts in the art of massage. You can even arrange for your guests to have on-board credits redeemable for a wide choice of the spa’s health and beauty treatments,  bar charges, and shipboard gratuities, as well as any purchases aboard the ship.

Shipboard conferences encourage better attendance and better results.  Comfortable seating, good lighting and modern audio visual capabilities in a large theatre setting assures clear presentations. While meetings take place, and staff cares for children of all ages,  the family can play and take advantage of a multitude of shipboard amenities,  yet gather together for every meal. High energy presentations are possible using the computer controlled  production lighting, sophisticated sound systems and a wide choice of A/V equipment. Well appointed breakout meeting rooms ranging from small to large are available. Nominal flat charge for hot and cold beverages, fruit and snacks. For those intimate private conversations, ships offer a multitude of out-of-the way seating areas where conversationalists can sit and talk without being disturbed, over a drink if desired.

DINING VARIETY SATISFIES EVERY APPETITE

 Every appetite will be satisfied with up to eight meals and snack options daily. After frantic months ‘on-the-road’, or a year of fast food lunches, or eating at desks, your guests will welcome fine food served elegantly with silver service and crisp white tablecloths to be savored at leisure. They’ll love the full breakfasts, indoors or al fresco. They’ll relish every complete lunch, sumptuous dinner and lavish midnight buffet. Then, of course, there are barbecues, the poolside parties, the pre-breakfast pastries, and -ah yes - the afternoon ‘teas’ or dessert breaks - all at no extra charge.

Aboard ship, every dinner is  a special “themed’ event designed to dazzle the most demanding dinner guests. Every night there will be a different menu that offers a selection of appetizers, soups, salads, a choice of pastas and at least six specialty entrees. Guests may also elect to order from various specialty menus. Perhaps you will choose to add a gift of wine, to every table at mealtime.

And, whatever your guests order, even kosher or diabetic, you can be sure the service and presentation will be as outstanding as the menu. The result is always superb meals served on beautifully set tables, exquisitely prepared, to be  enjoyed in unhurried comfort, right down to the inspired desserts. There will be no ‘check’ at the end of any meal.

Entertainment is king. Cruise ships set the industry standard for after-hours relaxation. They offer a wealth of free entertainment on deck, at the many clubs and lounges aboard, and in the show theatres or on ice skating rinks.  Ships feature a new Broadway style extravaganza almost every night, and while some guests enjoy full-body exercise in lively late-night dance clubs, others will enjoy a cognac, or karaoke, or bingo, or ballroom dancing with  a small band in an intimate quiet bistros.

After the work, there is all kinds of fun for the grown-ups. Art and Wine auctions are popular. The ship’s casino offers light or serious fun for every player. Ships offer blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, and poker, Caribbean stud poker, slots, Wheel of Fortune, Mega Cash - and some pretty big jackpots. Cruise lines take pride in having the largest, friendliest casinos afloat. And every one of them is under the complete control of Lady Luck.

CRUISE INDUSTRY OFFERS 100 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE

Major Cruise ship companies are financially sound, some publicly traded with decades of experience. Staffs receive extensive hospitality training. Small touches - like  24 hour coffee service on deck - add up to immense passenger satisfaction. Guests get to visit several ports of call from the comfort of their own floating resort, without packing and unpacking each time. Guests can explore new cultures in the ports and enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Many ports offer golf, tennis, duty-free shopping and sight-seeing opportunities. There’s a wide choice of fine dining, and guests never get a bill. Even the 24 hour room service is free. There are award-winning Vegas-style productions with no cover, no minimum. A warm, friendly, professional staff pampers every guest. (The staff ratio is usually almost 2 to 1, much higher than a land resort. Modern spas offer complete work-out facilities with the latest equipment, plus full-service salons for men and women. Research has proven that cruising has the highest satisfaction rating of all travel alternatives.

Shipboard meeting prospects are as endless as the imagination. Many companies offer cruises as an incentive to  high performing employees. The meeting facilities are ideal for a Board of Director's meeting. Weddings in combination with pre and post wedding celebration events are a memorable experience for a couple or an entire family or group of friends. Family and school reunions are common aboard ship, where sometimes one sees hundreds of individuals wearing the family or fraternal "T" shirt. Charities offer cruises as an incentive to high contributors, or often offer the cruise to their members, with a portion of the fare being donated to the charity.

REWARD YOUR STAR PERFORMERS WITH SOMETHING NEW