Choosing an incentive cruise for a company's corporate incentive travel program can be a very exciting venture. With all inclusive services and many exotic destinations from which to choose, employees will be motivated to earn their place on the cruise ship. Planning an incentive cruise should not be undertaken at the last minutes. While last minute planning will not make a ship charter impossible, advance planning can ensure enough space for all eligible cruise participants. Advance planning can also help companies make certain that they get the best rates. A meeting planner can offer these tips for successful incentive cruise planning:

1. Booking the cruise – the sooner the cruise is planned, the better. In this way, companies may have their choice of things such as cruise lines and ships. They may also have their choice of itinerary as well.

2. Choosing an itinerary – having an idea of preferred destinations will be most helpful. In addition, companies will also need to consider the length of the cruise. Cruise length often helps determine cruise destination.

3. Choosing a ship – companies need to ensure the ship they choose can easily accommodate their employees. Choosing a ship that is not too big or too small will be essential.

An incentive cruise can be an excellent way to reward top performers, motivate employees, and save money on travel costs. With typical land based meetings, companies will incur expenses for things such as accommodations, airfare, meals, entertainment, and meeting services. All of these expenses, when paid for separately, can be quite costly. Because company budgets may be more restricted now than they were in the past, incentive travel may not even be on a company's radar. However, it is very important that companies do not suspend incentive travel du to finances. A meeting planner can help companies plan incentive travel, such as a ship charter, that will be enjoyable and affordable.

There are many services that are typically included on an incentive cruise that make meetings at sea ideal. Inclusive services that make an incentive cruise unique include things such as: complimentary room services and in-room movies, round trip airfare and transfers, all meals including snacks and a midnight buffet, production shows, cocktail receptions, and other types of special shows. Cruise shops also provide things such as basic audio/visual equipment, computer equipment, and choice of meeting rooms that may include theater seating as well as light and sound. Meeting planners can assist companies with incentive travel such as ship charters.

When planning a group cruise for a meeting or corporate event, you may be wondering how to customize the event to make it more memorable. Here is a sampling of ideas for customization whether you are booking for a group, half ship or full ship charter.

Pre-cruise promotion:
• Customized informational booklet detailing what participants need to know before they board
• Descriptions of ports and shore excursions with advance registration forms

Sailing accessories:
• Zippered document pouch with logo
• Neck pouch with logo to hold the ship’s ID card
• Name badges with logo

Day of sailing:
• Private “bon voyage” brunch prior to sailing
• Customized pier décor such as balloons or banner
• Private onboard reception with open bar and live music

Compliments of the ship:
• Private workroom with Internet access
• Welcome letter in each attendee’s room signed by ship’s Captain
• Complimentary group photograph

Program enhancements:
• Gift certificates for spa services
• Exclusive shore events with private transfers

Half-ship charter:
• Negotiate exclusive use of the dining room and show lounge
• Daily newsletter printed on program or company letterhead

Full ship charter:
• Bridge reception hosted by ship’s Captain
• TV channel displaying program agenda or video of the day’s activities
• Daily onboard activities scheduled around meetings

For more ideas about how you can customize your cruise event, visit Seasite.com.

Flying can be a real hassle. Not only can flying be more trouble than it is worth, but it can also be very expensive. When businesses have to factor in the cost of round-trip airfare into their incentive travel budgets, they often find they have few resources available to plan exciting entertainment and dining options for travel participants. Because airfare often requires a large percentage of the travel budget, businesses are often faced with the task of making the remaining funds stretch as much as possible. When planning incentive travel, consider an incentive cruise as a reasonable, affordable, and thrilling option with no flying required.

While participants of an incentive cruise do have to get to port, a number of these ports are located within a five hour drive of many of the major cities. At least 50 percent of the population of the U.S. is within a 5 hour drive of a cruise ship's port. Since a ship charter can cost up to 40 percent less than a land venue, such as a hotel or resort, businesses will not have to worry about making their budgets stretch. Exciting incentive travel can be accomplished without having to pay for expensive airfare or deal with the headache of flying.

Because cruises exude luxury, many businesses mistakenly believe that incentive cruises are beyond their budgets. Many may not even consider a cruise event or ship charter as a business incentive due to the “cost” of the cruise. However, incentive cruises are really no different than other forms of business incentives. For example, the cost to secure accommodations for a group at a hotel can range significantly. Some hotels and resorts are much more expensive than others. This same concept applies to cruise events. When businesses opt for meetings at sea, the business can find a price point that will be right for them.

The type of cruise a businesses chooses should be based on the needs of the company as well as the participants. Businesses rewarding a few employees with a business incentive such as a ship charter may desire a more luxurious cruise, while businesses treated hundreds of employees to a cruise event may opt for a more basic cruise package. Not only can a cruise easily fit in the budget of almost any business, but an incentive cruise can be very motivating for employees. Even when businesses have a price point to meet, they should still consider an incentive cruise as a viable option.

When group cruise planning, a bigger cruise ship is not always better. While larger ships can be extremely advantageous, for some groups a more intimate setting on a smaller charter ship is preferable. Even though some charter ships may be smaller, these ships still feel spacious and very accommodating. By choosing a smaller ship for an incentive cruise, businesses can create a more personalized experience for cruise event participants. Smaller charter ships still offer amenities such as sizable conference rooms, fitness facilities, lounges, panoramic ocean views, and spas. By choosing a smaller ship for an incentive cruise, participants will not miss a thing.

One of the most significant advantages of smaller charter ships is their ability to dock in destinations that are not oft-visited. In many cases, these ships can dock in exotic destinations not available to larger cruise ships. Cruise event participants may be greatly motivated by corporate travel that is out of the ordinary. Visiting exotic destinations on a ship charter that feels intimate but roomy will likely be high on the list of participants' preferences. While this type of cruise may seem like it would be more expensive than a larger cruise ship or land venue, businesses may be surprised at their affordability.

When companies choose a hotel or resort located in an urban area for their incentive travel, there are a variety of places for travel participants to dine, shop, and be entertained. However, the logistics of getting everyone to the locations they desire to be can be quite hectic and expensive. Travel participants may not take full advantage of the incentive travel simple because traveling between locations is simply too perplexing. When companies choose an incentive cruise for their employees, these problems can be avoided. Because shopping, dining, and entertainment is all located on the ship, many of the logistical nightmares associated with land venues can be circumvented.

On board a ship charter, there a number of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. From gourmet to buffet, participants can enjoy a variety of delicious cuisines. Cruise ships even offer pizza on a 24/7 basis. In addition to numerous types of palatable fare, a ship charter offers exceptional shopping adventures. Items found on most cruise ships include things such as clothing and apparel, jewelery and watches, perfumes, and even candy. If cruise event participants think that dining and shopping opportunities are infinite, they will be equally impressed with the number of entertainment options available on-board the ship charter.

Incentive travel can be quite successful for companies if it is used and planned responsibly. One of the greatest misconceptions about incentive travel is that it is used to reward “good” work. Fortunately, most competent and conscientious adults do not require incentives to simply do their job and do it well. Incentives, if used properly, can induce more than good work in employees. It can actually foster new behavior, which can help a company rise above and beyond their current levels of productivity. Of course, travel incentives must be something in which employees will be interested, and that is why companies should consider cruise events as travel incentives.

A ship charter can provide a completely different environment that may be conducive to creative thinking. Instead of mulling over old ideas and rehashing failed plans, an incentive cruise may be just what employees need to get a fresh perspective. A fresh perspective can lead to the new behavior that companies need and cherish. Meetings at sea could open a world of possibilities as employees explore exotic destinations and escape the daily grind. Seeing the world with new eyes on an incentive cruise, employees may gain a sense of understanding they did not have beforehand.

If a business or organization typically plans incentive meetings within the same city in which the business is located or only a few hours a way, employees will probably not be as motivated to earn a spot on these trips. Even meeting venues in cities that are on the opposite coast of the U.S. may not be the enticing motivator businesses hope they will be. While some employees will be intrigued by travel within the states, many ambitious, top-rated employees have their sights set beyond the U.S. The types of employees that will most likely be the top producers in a company typically have dreams of faraway destinations.

While traveling to distant lands can be expensive, there is a way that businesses can offer this travel without overburdening their budget. An incentive cruise is an excellent way to offer this international travel to deserving employees. While incentive cruising, businesses can hold productive and profitable meetings at sea while allowing employees the opportunity to travel the world. A ship charter is often less expensive than land venues, and an incentive cruise helps employees to network and build relationships. A ship charter to a distant land could be the thing a business needs to highly motivate capable, competent, and talented employees.

When companies desire to plan incentive travel for top-performing employees, they often choose meeting venues such as hotels and resorts. While there are many benefits that hotels and resorts can offer, these meeting venues often come with a hefty price tag. For budget conscious companies, this presents a real dilemma. They have to figure out how to reward employees without burdening their budget. Instead of choosing more traditional meeting venues, consider an incentive cruise. An incentive cruise can be more affordable than a hotel or resort because of their all-inclusive amenities. From accommodations to entertainment, everything is included in a ship charter

All-inclusive amenities offered with a cruise event include things such as ocean view suites with butler services and complimentary beverages. Incentive cruises also offer participants a wide variety of dining venues with gourmet cuisine, complimentary transportation, and in-suite dining is complimentary as well. Entertainment and recreational activities such as fitness classes are also complimentary. Compared to land venues, businesses can save as much as 40 percent with meetings at sea. An incentive cruise can be easy on a business' incentive travel budgeting program. When businesses desire to save money, choosing a cruise event with all-inclusive amenities may be the answer for which they have been searching.