Whether you are a cruise line owner or a business owner who uses cruises as company perks or rewards, you need to stay on top of cruise ships news and trends. New ships that have the latest upgrades are being dedicated yearly. If you want to stay ahead of the competition or send your employees on the best cruise ship available, you'll need to keep informed.

Before you book your next employee cruise or consider making upgrades to your fleet of ships, check to see what the latest trends are. Are more cruise ship lines offering business only cruises or are cruise lines increasing their on-board entertainment? Keep your finger on the pulse of what is going on in the cruise ship business, make your line more profitable and make your company sponsored employee cruises more enjoyable by doing the following:

1. Research new ships that are either dedicated or soon to be dedicated.

2. Subscribe to a cruise ship newsletter or website.

3. Compare reviews on existing cruise ships.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a peek at new cruise ships that are in line to be dedicated

Keeping an eye on what cruise lines are dedicating new ships is a good way to see what the latest trends are in small cruise ships, business cruise ships and ocean liners. Having a grasp on new amenities can help you plan upgrades to your own fleet or give you new perspective before booking your next employee getaway.

I recommend: Cruise Critic offers a list of the current year's new ship launches and also the trends for the current and future years in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Cruise News Daily provides a list of new cruise ships by cruise line and inaugural date.

Get a subscription to a cruise ship newsletter or website to keep up on reviews and improvements

If you want to find out the most recent news for cruise ships, take the time to research sites that cover all the cruise line business. These sites can provide reviews, both by professionals and by cruise ship passengers, and overall information about cruise lines.

I recommend: Visit Cruise Addicts and enter your email address to subscribe to their newsletter, or get the latest in headlines for the cruise line business. Cruisemates offers information about cruise ships as it happens.

Look at professional and consumer reviews on cruise lines

You may not like it, but opinion matters. Take the time to check what customers and professional reviewers are saying about your cruise line business or the cruise line you plan to send your employees on. Getting an overall opinion can help you compare options, but you can also gauge any upgrades you were planning on making on the overall customer opinion on other ships with the same features.

I recommend: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer reviews of all cruise lines that are geared toward on-board hygiene. Results of each inspection are posted online. Cruise Reviews Online lets you search by cruise line or cruise ship name to find ratings and reviews.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider joining online forums for cruise line passengers or owners for more information on cruise ship news and trends.

The cruise line business offers many options for business cruises. You can conduct training sessions, conferences or business meetings aboard an ocean liner. Cruise lines will work with you to provide trainers, itineraries and pre-planned programs to suit your needs. Meeting rooms are well-designed, even luxurious, and experienced meeting planners and speakers work hard to keep your group engaged throughout events. Well-planned itineraries provide time for sightseeing and relaxation. This, along with the intimate nature of a ship, help ensure maximum attendance at those business meetings that cover dry topics, sessions that might be skipped when held at other venues.

Cruise lines have created many opportunities for you to travel to exotic locales while you conduct business. Some cruise lines offer special incentives to encourage small businesses to give cruises as bonuses. An abbreviated list of cruise lines that cater to businesses includes such cruise ships as:

1. Carnival Cruise Lines

2. Celebrity Cruises

3. Disney Cruises

4. Holland America Line

5. Norwegian Cruise Line

6. Royal Caribbean International

7. Regents Seven Seas Cruises

8. Windstar Cruises

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offer a cruise ship voyage as a reward to top employees

Nothing stimulates productivity like a reward, especially one that offers a chance for some fun after all the hard work. To assure participation define the reward clearly ahead of time. Will it include a flight or a companion ticket? Be sure staff knows all the perks they will receive such as complimentary meals, spa services or tourist stops.

I recommend: Cruise lines offer many packages suitable for bonuses. The Holland America Line specifically offers incentives to small businesses to make it possible for companies with tight budgets to give cruises as rewards to employees or as prizes to customers. A cruise resource company like Landry & Kling can help you sort through the details and choose the perfect cruise for your needs.

Book a business cruise for your special event

The cruise ship business is constantly looking for new ways to attract passengers, which has given rise to corporate cruises. If your bottom line can support a group cruise, take advantage of this industry that specializes in meeting your needs. With all-inclusive fares, you control costs for meals, meetings and social events whether you're planning a conference for industry partners from across the country, a series of intimate business meetings between you and top clients or a training session for new hires.

I recommend: You may not expect large, well-lit meetings rooms aboard a boat, but the cruise ship business has designed their space with your needs in mind; see your options for meeting services at the Cruise Lines International Association directory of business cruise ships. Programs such as Carnival Corporate University offer thematic meetings, event planners and special speakers. Get an instant quote.

Charter an entire cruise ship for your business adventure

To really impress, charter a small cruise ship for the sole use of your group. The intimate environment aboard small cruise ships develops a sense of community that encourages participation. Such a grand gesture assures clients or staff that your company is profitable and demonstrates that you value your guests as partners in your success.

I recommend: Regents Seven Seas Cruises charters small cruise ships to businesses for private events and offers personalized thematic or enrichment programs. Windstar Cruises will add your company logo to menus and programs and fly your company flag or banner when you charter one of their ships. Larger vessels also offer full-ship charters. Royal Caribbean International can support groups of up to 4,200. Norwegian Cruise Line will even rename the ship for your charter adventure.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Investigate passport requirements before planning a business cruise. Be aware of changes in passport laws, and make sure all attendees are informed early enough to order a passport if needed. The cruise line business often makes this information easily accessible online.

Vacations aboard cruise ships have always held a special attraction for travel consumers, but for those in the travel business cruise ships can be a tough sell in uncertain economic times. You can get the edge on your competitors by pursuing cruise ships education and training opportunities that offer specialized cruise sales tips along with professional certification, bonus commissions and other perks.

Cruise ships education and training aren't just for travel professionals, however. A growing number of community colleges, especially those located near major cruise ship ports of call, are offering entry-level and continuing education and advancement opportunities for cruise line employees themselves, often partnering with trade groups and cruise lines. To get the most out of cruise ships education and training:

1. Seek travel industry trade group certification as a cruise ship booking specialist.

2. Get information about cruise lines that offer their own specialized training programs and benefits.

3. Advance your shipboard career with continuing cruise ships education and training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get cruise ship business certification for travel professionals

Whether you're talking a luxury ocean liner or a small cruise ship, it takes special skill to sell cruise lines vacations. Take advantage of resources offered by travel industry trade associations to move your cruise ship bookings to the next level.

I recommend: The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) offers a wealth of classroom and online programs and resources for travel agents interested in boosting their business. Cruise lines education and training opportunities include Cruise Counsellor Certification at Accredited, Master and Elite levels. CLIA also offers Cruising: A Guide to the Cruise Line Industry, the leading cruise ship business textbook. Visit the e-Learning Center of The Travel Institute for travel certification programs from entry-level to executive, as well as resources like a webinar on increasing your share of luxury cruise ship bookings.

Partner with cruise lines to get specialized sales training and benefits

When it comes to boosting bookings through your travel business, cruise lines can be a great partner. Many cruise lines, especially the top luxury programs, offer specialized cruise ship education and training programs for travel professionals. Completion of these programs may pay off in terms of access to inside information about cruise lines and special discount programs for your customers.

I recommend: Costa, Europe's leading cruise line, offers a 7-course Sales Training Academy. Completion provides benefits including CLIA certification credits, bonus commissions and the chance to win promotional prizes. Holland America Cruise Lines, a division of Carnival, runs the HAL Academy, a free 6-course online curriculum that provides certification credits for several North American programs and discounts upon successful completion. Advanced courses are also available to graduates.

Seek training to become a cruise line employee

While many jobs aboard cruise ships, be they luxury liners or small cruise ships, are seasonal and don't require specialized education or training beyond the skills needed for the specific task, you can take advantage of a growing number of community college programs intended to prepare professionals for full-time employment in the industry. If you're already employed by a cruise line, your employer may welcome your interest in continuing education and career advancement.

I recommend: Kapi'olani Community College in Honolulu, HI, offers a 4-course preparation for cruise line industry employment, resulting in a Certificate of Competence. Oregon's Chemeketa Community College, in partnership with the Cruise Institute International and Oceania Cruise Lines, offers certified cruise training and continuing education at four levels: Cruise Professional, Foundations of Cruise Leadership, Cruise Management and Certified Cruise Administration.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of cruise ships education and training opportunities offered in several convenient formats, including classroom, onsite workshops and online e-learning and webinars.