07 May 10 Simplify Incentive Travel with Group Cruise Deals and Convenient Planning Tools
No matter if you are a corporate conference and event planner, a wedding planner or a corporate travel planner, a detailed knowledge of group cruise packages and how they can help you and your clients is essential to successfully incorporating cruise ship venues and destinations into your planning services. It is one thing to have experience with sourcing cruises for executive retreats or incentive travel packages, but understanding the convenience and cost savings of taking full advantage of group cruise packages opens the door to noteworthy budgetary benefits, as well as developing alternatives for the types of events you may think about hosting on a cruise ship. From weddings with fewer than 10 guests to meetings at sea with a entire ship charter, meeting, event and incentive travel planners will find that cruise ships can be a cost-effective option that offers noteworthy advantages and enhancements when compared to land-based events.
Opting for a group cruise event can result in up to 40 percent cost savings over selecting a land-based venue and provides the added advantage of being perceived as a luxury option, even while costing far less than a typical luxury resort on land. Beyond the noteworthy cost savings to be enjoyed with group cruise deals, planners will also find that organizing meetings at sea can be far easier than making arrangements for their land-based counterparts. While events on land require planners to organize most components independently, including venue, catering, decor, entertainment and equipment, planning events on cruise ships is much simpler and more convenient. Cruise lines are well-versed in hosting events on-board and are well-equipped to provide everything you need for a successful event. From themed decor to audio-visual equipment, cruise ships already have all of the components you want, as well as built-in dining and entertainment options at no additional charge.
After you have determined that group cruise packages are well-suited for your event and travel planning needs, the next step is determining the tools you need to make group cruise sourcing easy and convenient. It is essential that you are able to simply get your hands on the information you need, such as which cruise lines are a good fit for groups, the meeting facilities, accommodations and other pertinent ship data for particular cruise ships, and which cruise lines have options for the dates and destinations you require. It is also extremely advantageous to be able to compare cruise lines and ships side by side and to have the ability to create a single RFP that can be sent to each potential provider. These tools will make your group cruise planning even easier and will assist you in finding the best group cruise deals available.
Taking advantage of group cruise deals for your incentive travel or corporate event needs is an excellent way to stay within your travel budget, while providing participants with a rewarding, luxury travel experience and a topnotch meeting or event.
Seasite.com offers the first online group cruise planner that allows event planners to source cruise events conveniently with a single RFP.
Tags: Added Advantage, Audio Visual Equipment, Corporate Travel, Cruise Deals, Cruise Lines, Cruise Packages, Cruise Planners, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruise Weddings, Entertainment Options, Event Planner, Executive Retreats, Group Cruise, Incentive Travel Packages, Luxury Option, Luxury Resort, Ship Charter, Travel Planner, Travel Planners
07 Apr 10 All-Inclusive Weddings Cruises
Many people want a special wedding but break out in a rash at the thought of all the planning that goes into it. Booking your wedding on a cruise ship can keep the joy and help eliminate the stress.
All the major cruise lines offer weddings at sea. Couples must book a cruise before they are able to go forward and plan the wedding. An on-board wedding planner will be right there to help the couple select music, cake, flowers, location on the ship, and other details pertaining to the ceremony. Photographers and/or videographers are available to memorialize the ceremony.
A license is necessary and the wedding planner will advise the couple about where and how to apply for a license. Photo IDs will be necessary and birth certificates or blood tests may be needed as well. In addition, if one or both parties have been previously married, a copy of the divorce decree or annulment may be needed. If either or both parties were widowed, death certificates may need to be made available.
If you have the budget, friends and family can be booked as part of the package for all or a portion of the cruise. An all-inclusive wedding cruise can be an intimate ceremony or all out party for the wedding group. Either way, it will be more memorable at sea!
Tags: All Inclusive Weddings, Birth Certificates, Blood Tests, Cake Flowers, Cruise Lines, Cruise Ship, Cruise Wedding, Cruise Weddings, Death Certificates, Divorce Decree, Intimate Ceremony, License Photo, Music Cake, Photo Ids, Photographers, Rash, Select Music, Wedding Cruise, Wedding Group, Wedding Planner
17 Feb 10 Planning Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies on a Cruise Ship
Much like planning meetings and corporate events on cruise ships, planning onboard weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewal ceremonies can actually be easier and more cost-effective than their land-based counterparts. Whether your clients opt for a very affordable one- or two-night cruise, or a luxurious two-week cruise for both their nuptials and their honeymoon, cruise ship weddings are sure to be a memorable, fun event for all who attend.
When couples choose a cruise, they no longer have to worry about entertaining out-of-town guests during their entire stay, whether or not there will be enough alcohol at the bar during their reception and whether or not the DJ will show up. They will have the benefit of onboard entertainment, meals and some drinks throughout the cruise being included in the price, utilizing the music and bar services available through the cruise line and having the option of hanging out with their guests or hiding away on their own in the days before and after the ceremony.
As the wedding planner, you will enjoy a simple, convenient planning experience working with a cruise line that is sure to have substantial experience in having weddings onboard. Between your professional services and their well-established protocols, planning your clients’ onboard wedding or ceremony will be a breeze.
Tags: Alcohol, Commitment Ceremonies, Counterparts, Couples, Cruise Line, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Ships, Cruise Weddings, Drinks, Fun Event, Honeymoon Cruise, Night Cruise, Nuptials, Planning Weddings, Professional Services, Protocols, Substantial Experience, Town Guests, Vow Renewal Ceremonies, Wedding Planner
15 Feb 10 Should You Add Wedding Planning to Your Event Planning Business?
Some meeting and event planners focus solely on working for corporate clients, some have found a niche in planning SMERF events and some focus primarily on more personal occasions, such as weddings, commitment ceremonies, anniversaries and retirement parties. While there are some planners who attempt be a Jack or Jill of all trades and provide every type of event planning service to every type of client, most find that specializing in a particular area is the best way to make a name for themselves and make their jobs easier. This is what is recommended by most professionals and is what works best for most meeting and event planners.
So, when is it a good idea to add wedding planning to your menu of services if you are not specifically a wedding planner? There are some occasions when going against the logic of sticking to a limited selection of events is a good idea. For example, when planners are first starting out in the field of event planning, they may be happy to take on any event that comes their way. In these beginning stages, this also allows for the opportunity to see how you feel about planning weddings and to determine if this might be the right fit for you and your future as a planner.
WEDDINGS AT SEA
Something else to consider is planning weddings at sea. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise lines are reporting a huge jump in cruise weddings – up to 60% during the last decade. It’s no wonder – cruise ship weddings make planning easy and offer an unforgettable wedding destination and honeymoon in one. The ceremony takes place while the ship is in port, either onboard or at a romantic setting ashore – and the celebration continues as family and friends enjoy the fabulous dining and entertainment options onboard their ship.
But, even seasoned planners who have never planned a wedding may suddenly have one of their best corporate clients ask them if they could plan their daughter’s wedding. If you have the time and think that you can do a good job planning the event, this would be one of those times when stepping outside of your normal event range might be in order.
Tags: Anniversaries, Clia, Commitment Ceremonies, Corporate Clients, Cruise Lines International, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Weddings, Entertainment Options, Event Planners, Event Planning, Family And Friends, Jill Of All Trades, Last Decade, Meeting Planners, Niche, Personal Occasions, Planning Service, Retirement Parties, Wedding Destination, Wedding Planner
Advertisement
Corporate Meeting Planner Resources
- Cruise line Expansion in Chinese Market Good News for Meeting PlannersChina is becoming a popular destination for MICE events due to its rich cultural heritage, beautiful natural landscapes and most of all - its high economic growth. Everyone wants to do business in China right now. Naturally, that translates into lots of meetings, trade shows, conferences and other events. According to The China Incentive, Business […]
- Time to step out of the ZoneSo often we find ourselves repeating the same patterns both professionally and personally because it feels “safe”. While that perceived safety may or may not be real, it explains why so many people feel their lives are in a rut. It is that comfort zone that so many long for that ultimately is their worst enemy. In order […]
- Stimulating Your Attendees in a Positive WayAfter reading the article Boost the Brain Computer, Don’t Crash It, I got to thinking about how foods definitely have an effect on mood and concentration. Anyone who has ever seen a child at a birthday party, loaded with candy, snow cones, cake and soda can attest to the fact that while the sugar will […]