Meetings, Incentives, & Fundraising At Sea

Meetings - Part I

Is your company looking for that perfect meeting venue that’s a fresh, new experience, conducive to networking? What about gourmet dining and great entertainment at no additional cost?

Meetings can be held at a resort, hotel or at sea. A cruise ship is a floating resort that combines the best of all and can accommodate groups of 20 to 4000. Holding a ship meeting is very cost-effective as compared to a land option and enjoyed by all. On any given sailing, 10 - 40 % of passengers are involved in meetings or incentives. A cruise ship meeting is a highly perceived value by attendees.

                  With a variety of activities for every age group and interest, it’s a perfect time to bring your family! And you get to visit several destinations with unpacking only once. Cruise ships typically sail 3 - 7 days and more or can be combined with a land event.  Seasonally there may be some 2 day coastal sailings. Cruises sail from ports worldwide including at least 20 in the U.S. alone. Many ships have separate conference rooms, not to mention the theatres and lounges that can be used during the day.

Besides the lure of luxury, a cruise meeting is pure convenience. One vendor handles everything. The service provided exceeds most luxury resorts. Group gifts can even be delivered to your attendees cabins.  Many Fortune 500 companies and others know the value of a meeting at sea. Besides the amenities and free berths your group can get, the budget is fixed with few out of pocket expenses. One price includes:

• Accommodations
• Airfare and transfers
• All meals (a variety of food), most beverages and 24-hour room service
• Meeting facilities – including podiums, monitors, LCD projectors, screens, microphones, PA  systems and more
• Entertainment including Vegas-style shows and 1st run movies
• Sports and Health Club facilities
• Dedicated onboard coordinator

Optional arrangements can be made for cocktail parties and group tours. Spa services, laundry & dry cleaning services, and even a Golf Pro are also available. Internet access allows you to stay connected at sea.

Carnival Corporate University (Carnival Cruise Lines) can provide training, coaching and teamwork classes at a competitive rate in the relaxed environment at sea.  Who wouldn’t love learning on this campus? Continuing education credit programs are scheduled on a regular basis for Physicians, Dentists, Attorneys, Pharmacists, Accountants, Nursing, and others. These are open to those wishing to attend.

Fun & Active – New Destinations – Relaxed Learning – Great Food & Entertainment – Set Cost 

A meeting at sea is requesting the presence of Your company!

Put the FUN in FUNdraising and Incentives

Meetings, Incentives, & Fundraising at Sea – Part II

In the April 2008 issue, the advantages of holding a group meeting at sea were discussed. Any company or organization can benefit from using a venue that’s fun, new, exciting, and with a high perceived value.  These same benefits would apply to fundraising and incentive groups plus some additional perks!

Advantages of groups can vary between land and sea options. However, for a cruise, this benefit includes one person free (excluding taxes and fees) once a certain number of passengers sail. For example, most cruise lines offer a “free berth discount” for every 16 passengers. That would only be 8 cabins.  This “free berth” can be given to the group leader, speaker, as an award, divided among the group passengers, auctioned off for the fundraiser or the dollars can go back to the charity. Even lower ratios to receive the “free berth” are available on some cruise lines. When traveling as a group, additional amenities may be available. These can include onboard spending credit, wine, photos, and/or other gifts.

An organization must be classified as an IRS 501(c) non-profit to qualify for receiving funds.  Examples of organizations that could benefit from a fundraising cruise are: churches, schools, labor unions, credit unions, fraternal societies, recreational clubs, chambers of commerce, plus the typical associations, charities and foundations, just to name a few.  The best part is that the cruise lines will match the dollars over the cruise fare (up to a certain amount). For example let’s say the base cruise fare is $500 and it’s sold for $550.  8 cabins are sold.  The charity would net $750 plus the $500 for the “free person”, that’s $1250.    Free money just for going on a vacation!

Incentive awards can be for a single individual or a group of selected individuals. However group travel creates a great opportunity for companies to build relationships with their top achievers. This relaxed environment is conducive to valuable business solutions and achieving goals. It sets YOUR company apart from competitors which improves employee or client retention.  While money talks – travel incentives inspire and motivate! Surveys have shown that travel as an award is considered more glamorous and memorable than cash that is spent on bills and quickly forgotten. Memories last a lifetime, merchandise doesn’t.

Cruising offers the highest satisfaction rating of all travel alternatives and is an incredible value when compared to land-based resorts. Another great tool that CruiseOne offers is a free website for companies and membership organizations.

All-inclusive – gourmet dining – fabulous entertainment – new destinations – one cost – fun for everyone – matching charity funds – motivated award winners

Travel Incentives and Non-profit Fundraising are requesting the presence of Your company!