Corporate, Social and
Professional Organizations Are
Always Looking For A New Way To
Get Together, And Lower Costs.
Cruising Works.
A popular and successful way to
lower out-of-office meeting
costs, is with a group cruise
arranged by Travel Direct's
Cruise Direct Online, 10 year
old Group Division. With their
strong negotiating capability to
get very low prices, group
planning assistance and delivery
of a high quality experience,
Travel Direct is the expert in
group travel for business and
leisure.
( Cruise News ) August 4, 2009
-- Travel Direct Corporation and
it's Cruise Direct Online
division, a full-service cruise
travel service provider, has
been working with organizations
for over 10 years to help
achieve their business, social
or professional goals. In these
budget-tight times, group travel
by cruise ship can represent
outstanding value, cost-savings,
and most important, increased
pleasure or productivity,
depending on the purpose of the
trip. There is no better way to
enjoy an exotic destination,
share quality time with others,
launch a product or motivate
hard-working employees.
The most popular, and most
successful way of holding a
quarterly or annual meeting and
keeping costs down has been with
cruises. According to the Cruise
Lines International Association
(CLIA) group travel accounts for
over 25 percent of yearly
passenger volume (some 3.6
million passengers), depending
on the line. Given that over 13
million people took a cruise
last year, the number combining
business with pleasure or
traveling with a group or
like-minded colleagues
represents a significant growth
factor.
Travel Direct's experts in Group
Travel can turn an organizations
event planning into smooth
sailing. Meetings-at-sea offer
both the serious side of
business and all the fun one can
handle. Travel Direct's strong
negotiating ability to negotiate
great pricing with the cruise
lines, provides the organization
the added value of meeting at
sea.
Cruise Ships are spectacular
floating resorts filled with
dozens of unique settings for
swimming, dancing, dining, Vegas
and Broadway style shows,
working out and shopping
duty-free. Many ships offer
excellent meeting space and
set-ups that are comparable to
any land-based resort hotel.
Going on a cruise is like taking
two vacations in one: the
first-class treatment and
facilities of a luxury resort,
combined with the excitement of
travel to exotic destinations.
From cocktail parties to award
ceremonies, a cruise is a great
way to bring colleagues closer
together, while everyone still
has time to themselves. What's
more, we're professionals in the
business of planning group and
incentive travel, so relax:
You're in the hands of experts
here.
No deadlines, no sales calls, no
e-mails, no memos. Is this any
way to conduct business? Well -
actually, yes. Think of a cruise
ship as a floating conference
center complete with video and
overhead sound and light
capabilities, multi-image shows,
theatrical special effects and
more. Many ships have rooms that
accommodate large sessions,
breakout rooms and hospitality
suites of all sizes. And since
your associates can't stray too
far when they're aboard ship,
you can keep attendance higher
and be more productive.
Cruises are an ideal choice for
anyone planning a special group
event for several reasons:
Exceptional value. In addition
to usually complimentary meeting
or event space, a shipboard
group booking can include
accommodations; all meals,
including customized menus;
daily entertainment; shipboard
recreational facilities and
activities; and travel from
destination to destination. In
some cases, drinks, stateroom
gifts and amenities, customized
shore excursions and other
amenities are also included.
Exceptional pricing. Our partner
cruise lines are offering a wide
range of price and value
incentives for groups as well as
individuals. In addition, most
lines offer such additional
incentives as free "tour
conductor" berths based on the
total number of group members or
generous credits that can be
applied to cruise activities
ranging from special meals to
shore excursions.
Exceptional ease in planning.
Combining the resources of our
company and the cruise line:
group sales departments,
dedicated group planners and
shipboard meeting and incentive
staff make planning and
implementing a meeting or group
program at sea an extremely
easy, "one-stop" process. Travel
Direct can facilitate all of a
group travel needs.
Exceptional choice. There are
cruises in every part of the
world, of every length (from two
days to two weeks or more), and
in every price category:
Whatever the group's needs,
expectations or budget, there is
a cruise to match.
"In today's economy you need to
maximize and justify the value
of every spending decision.
Whether you're planning the
perfect seminar, a company
outing or a highly productive
conference, our partner cruise
lines represent a
cost-effective solution.
Cruising offers the simplest,
easiest and most satisfying way
to meet a group's every
expectation." said Marty
Trencher, President of Travel
Direct.
Here are just a few of the types
of groups that have had success
meeting-at-sea:
-
Professional Organizations
-
Educational or business
seminars
-
Corporate Meetings
-
Company Outings
-
Sales Incentives
-
Customer Appreciation Awards
-
Discount Employee Benefits
-
Clubs & Organizations
-
Affinity Organizations
-
Alumni and Club Groups
-
Faith Based Groups
As an example, the
Cameracraftsmen of America
worked with Travel Direct's
Group Division for more than a
year in planning a
Princess Alaska Cruise in May of
2009 that would coincide with
their annual meeting. "Raye and
Marty Trencher from Travel
Direct Corporation did a stellar
job in planning our recent
cruise to Alaska. Not only were
we very pleased, but every other
member of our group was
extremely satisfied. We're
currently working with Raye and
Marty on our next cruise" .said
Monte Nagler, a Cameracraftsmen
of America member. The meeting
was such a success, it spun off
individual member bookings for
future cruises to the Caribbean,
Panama Canal and New England, as
well as a guest on that cruise
organizing another large group
who booked their annual meeting
aboard Spendour of the Seas
sailing a Mediterranean Greek
Isles itinerary in July of 2010.
Here is a sampling of how some
cruise lines cater to groups:
AZAMARA CRUISES
With ships carrying less than
700 passengers, Azamara focuses
on discovering the hidden
corners of the world in style.
Plus, 93 percent of staterooms
offer ocean views and 68 percent
have private verandahs. With
personalized service a priority,
groups are treated to
complimentary butler service for
each stateroom as well as such
amenities as fresh cut flowers,
afternoon canapés, fresh fruit
and more. Guests also receive
complimentary specialty dining,
enrichment programs such as
digital camera and computer
classes, and onboard
entertainment, including wine
and champagne tastings.
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Dedicated conference facilities
are complimentary on Celebrity
and such programs as Corporate
Amenities Selection (CAS) as
well as onboard group
coordinators and Assigned Group
Partner Advocates ensure
one-stop planning. In addition
to free staterooms through the
company's Tour Conductor Credits
program, Celebrity offers a
variety of packages that can
include group beverages, even
prepaid gratuities. The
Individual Incentive Travel Gift
Certificate program is a means
for companies to reward
individual employees.
CRYSTAL CRUISES
In addition to spacious ships
and a guest-to-crew ratio of
1.65:1, Crystal offers groups a
variety of incentives, including
special savings rates, onboard
credits, prepaid dining and
gratuities and other perks. The
line's ships feature a choice of
venues for meetings, including
the Hollywood Theatre, which
accommodates up to 202 guests.
In addition, Crystal's Creative
Learning Institute features
experts in a variety of fields
who offer their insights into
everything from global economics
to local culture and ecology.
Guests may also complement their
meeting activities by learning
to play the keyboard or to speak
foreign languages.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Groups of ten people or more can
qualify for Princess Cruises
group rates and we can put
together attractive packages
with a variety of special
extras. Working with the onboard
services department, groups can
plan a wide variety of
customized cruise experiences to
fit individual needs by taking
advantage of up to five main
dining rooms and alternative
restaurants, entertainment
venues and other facilities for
special receptions, parties and
other activities. A number of
Princess ships also offer
specialized meeting facilities.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
Reaching out to corporate group
travelers with the message, "To
mix business with pleasure, just
add water," Royal Caribbean
emphasizes the unique value of
an at sea group program. In
contrast to land-based programs,
a Royal Caribbean cruise for
groups of all sizes includes
accommodations and stateroom
amenities, flexible dining
options and amenities,
entertainment and recreational
activities, use of fitness
facilities and a full range of
meeting services, including
complimentary meeting space and
A/V equipment, onboard group
coordinators and a dedicated
corporate meetings sales team.
SEABOURN CRUISE LINE
Seabourn Cruise Line is a
popular option for companies,
organizations or social groups
desiring an exclusive full-yacht
charter. Accommodating between
208 and 450 guests, the ships
offer the ability to custom
design itineraries, and
shipboard and shoreside
activities to suit the group's
wishes. Other features of a
Seabourn charter include
security, mobility,
all-inclusive fixed pricing and
single-source contracting of
transportation, accommodation,
entertainment and top-quality
food and beverage service. Short
of a full charter, groups can be
accommodated aboard regular
scheduled sailings at
advantageous prices.
SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
Accommodating 110 guests in 54
identical Yacht Club staterooms
(plus one Owner's Suite),
SeaDream offers special
opportunities for groups,
whether they are businesses
celebrating an important sales
event, companies seeking a
memorable incentive for top
employees or those looking for a
full ship charter. A crew of 95
ensures attentive service and a
SeaDream yacht charter
coordinator assists in arranging
every aspect of the charter
group program, from onboard
activities to special dining
requirements. Smaller groups -
from six to 18 staterooms - are
also assisted in creating a
personalized yachting adventure.
WINDSTAR CRUISES
Windstar has hosted more than
400 full-ship charters and
hundreds of groups and incentive
programs on its luxury small
ships. Groups experience deluxe
ocean-view staterooms, five-star
dining, exceptional
destinations, watersports
program and personalized
touches.
For additional information
about a group cruise and how to
make a meeting-at-sea work for
your organization, contact
Travel Direct's Group Division
at 800-365.1445, or email:
groups@cruisedirectonline.com
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INFORMATION ABOUT GROUPS |
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only. Port charges (NCF), taxes, airfare, air
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with your cruise are not discounted. Discount
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