Cruise Ships

Discover how cruise ships can mix business with a little adventure
By D. Simon 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

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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.

• 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.