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February 2008 Article

A Planner’s Dream Program

Whether you are planning a board meeting for 10 or a conference of 3,000, you can find a cruise ship and a sailing that is absolutely right for you with many advantages you may never have thought of. The first being cost.

Because just about everything on a cruise is included, you know all of your costs up front. Krisam partner CruiseOne of Chevy Chase promises “ a bottom line that will satisfy even the toughest financial officer ...with food, facilities, and amenities that will make people think you spent a fortune.”

Worried about meeting space? “Most ships now have dedicated meeting space and most of the equipment you would need,” says Ellen Lafferty, sales manager of CruiseOne of Chevy Chase.

Would guests bother with meetings since a cruise is so much fun? “Think of it like a conference in Las Vegas but on a cruise ship,” says Jim Pollin, franchise owner of CruiseOne of Chevy Chase. “There are distractions as with any resort on land but there also are reasons why meetings are more effective at sea. Guests aren’t worrying about what restaurant to go to for dinner or what entertainment to plan. It’s all there for them. So they can concentrate more in meetings, giving the program full attention.”

Cruise meetings, Ellen and Jim emphasize, enhance camaraderie as your guests spend more time together having a good time. You don’t need a private ship, although that is doable. Your group can have its own meeting rooms and sit together at every meal. They can have personalized shore excursions and even team-building activities like scavenger hunts on board or on shore.

Some planners are concerned about taking their group on a large ship for fear the cruise won’t seem truly special, Jim says. “We can help recommend private events and customization to accomplish that, just the way you do in a hotel where other guests are coming and going along with yours. There are a lot of unique solutions. You don’t have to have a private charter to make sure your attendees won’t get lost in a sea of other passengers. Cabins are arranged as close as possible, all group functions are private, your group dines together for dinner."

Here are some basics on cruise meetings to warm any planner’s heart…

Dining Advantages for the Guests. Guests eat in the ships’ restaurants and can select anything they want from the gourmet menu, including spa choices that keep the health-conscious happy. The menu changes every day so it’s like going to a new restaurant each meal. And, of course, if they chose, guests can take advantage of late night buffets, 24-hour room service, and more.

Dining Advantage for the Planner. No need to plans several days’ worth of menus and arrange for diners with special dietary needs. (Kosher meals are available if arranged ahead of time.) All the meals are included in the price of the cruise…even if the guest chooses to have both the steak and the lobster at one sitting.

Entertainment for the Guests. At night the ships come alive with music, dancing, shows, casinos…providing choices for every taste. Guests can enjoy a different entertainment every night, or just get together with colleagues in a lounge or do both. There are no fees. They also can use the gym and spa, the library, or shop on board.

Entertainment for the Planner. No need to do multiple site inspections and find a place for a party or a show. No need to book tickets to the best shows in town. It’s all at your fingertips and included in one price. Best of all, no need to arrange transportation. Guests can walk to all the wonderful choices.

Family Activities for the Guests. From tots to teens, youngsters take part in so many on board activities, they stay happily occupied while their parents attend meetings and enjoy the other aspects of the ship.

Children’s Activities for the Planner. You can readily encourage guests to bring their families and you don’t have to plan extra activities for them. Spouses and children can have a grand time, without any direction from you.

Departure Points. East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Hawaii…you can choose a cruise that is most convenient to your audience. New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Florida, New Orleans, Long Beach, San Diego, Houston, Seattle, Honolulu, the list goes on.

Alaska presents a totally different cruise experience where the scenery is the star and meetings are carefully planned not to interfere with the more awesome sights.

Europe also offers memorable cruises in the Mediterranean or on some of the continent’s scenic and historic rivers. These tend to be more expensive and are good for especially high-end rewards. South America and Asia also can be explored by sea.

Keep in mind you can tier your event by placing the top producers in suites with balconies.

Length. The usual cruise is between three and seven nights. Eight to fourteen nights are offered and would most likely be for an incentive. With a cruise, a planner might have to deviate from a usual Thursday-Monday pattern to meet the sailing schedule, which might actually make other transportation more reasonable.

What does CruiseOne do?

In 1991, Jim Pollin took his first cruise and knew then that he had found his calling. He worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines while attending Cruise Line Management at Florida International University in Miami. A veteran of more than 50 cruises, Jim is an independent CruiseOne owner with the buying power to deliver great value on over 3000 cabins on 200 ships cruising throughout the world. His staff has completed over 200 passages and 84 ship site inspections.

CruiseOne can handle arrangements from selecting the ship that’s best for you to pre-and post cruise hotels if needed. Here is just a partial list of the areas they cover

• Contracts
• Budgets
• Registration
• Activities
• Meeting space reservations and all AV needs
• Cabin gifts
• Shore tours
• Golf programs
• Dedicated escort

Amenities included in a cruise package

• All Taxes & Port Fees
• Airport Meet & Greet Service With Purchased Transfers
• Hospitality Table
• Room Accommodations
• Meeting Facilities
• Basic Audio & Visual Equipment
• Morning & Afternoon Meeting Refreshments at nominal fee
• A Private Cocktail Party
• All On-Board Meals
• 24 Hour Complimentary Room Service
• Housekeeping/Turndown Service - Twice Daily
• Gratuities
• Recreational Activities
• Variety of On-Board Entertainment
• Exotic Ports of Call
• Groups larger than 20 cabins will be escorted by a CruiseOne Group Coordinator

Jim’s e-mail sign-off invites, “Let's have fun planning your next meeting or incentive at sea!”

To get started, contact your Krisam representative or e-mail newsletter@theeventinsider.com