Thursday, 25 February 2010

Corporate Boat Cruises Mix Business And Pleasure


By Adriana Noton

Do you want to do something special for your next company picnic? Would you like to show your client list how much you really care? Do you want to give that fifty-year employee a send off he or she will never forget? Consider an up and coming idea that more companies are utilizing, corporate boat cruises.

Corporate boat cruises are plentiful and very easy to find. Use any search engine and there are dozens of them at your fingertips. Don't forget to type your city and state at the end of the search text. This will narrow the search a bit to include only those in your immediate area.

There are many reasons large corporations would book a cruise ship or yacht. Business meeting held on a ship or yacht are sure to impress any client. Many cruise ships have all the amenities of a hotel including a meeting room, telecommunications, fax and presentation equipment, and food service. These can be rented by the day, week, or leased into the companies fleet of transportation.

Many corporations are booking cruises for a wide variety of reasons. Employee recognition is one very popular function that corporate boat cruises play in business today. Special client presentations are another. I have recently heard of a retirement party for a beloved CEO on a cruise ship. These are just a few of the reasons corporations utilize the services small cruise lines offer.

Some cruise lines have an older and quainter fleet of vessels that are like floating museums restored to their original luster. Others sport modern ships over one hundred feet long and use up-to- date technology like GPS and satellite TV. Whether your tastes run from nostalgic or conventional, corporate boat cruises have something to offer everyone.

The cost of a small cruise ship compared to hotel facilities is close. The cruise ship is a few hundred dollars more but many of the extras that you would pay a hotel are included in the cruise package making it the better value. Just like hotels, pricing ranges from cruise company to cruise company. On average, $1.000 to $4.000 is about standard depending on the length of the cruise and the entertainment or dining package included.

Virtually every corporate boat cruise business has an event manager that you will speak with when inquiring. This person will guide you through the entire process from your first contact to the actual experience. These professional salespersons are highly trained and very good at making sure you get the most bang for your buck. They specialize in hospitality and corporate events right down to the details of what food is served, staffing, and destination planning.

Here are a few tips you may need when you book your first corporate boat cruises with business or pleasure in mind. Have all your eggs in one basket as this will limit the time and amount of calls in which you will have to be involved. Know your dates but be ready to be flexible. This may mean you will have to plan your corporate cruise well in advance of the initial call. Being prepared is the hardest part of booking a corporate cruise. Be prepared to have some fun as well.

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