Meetings & Conventions July 2005
© Dale Leatherman 2005
Why be content with meeting in one place--even one with several golf courses-- when you can awake almost every day to find a new course at the foot of the gangplank? Even if you've never been on a vessel bigger than a Jetski, you've heard about the advantages of cruising. You unpack one time in a cabin with all the amenities of a hotel room; your ship is a floating resort, with lots of dining and activity choices; you're treated to constantly changing scenery; and every day or so there's a new port to explore—or a new golf course to play.
In addition to providing a memorable experience for individuals, major cruise lines are also quite savvy about the needs of meeting planners. Their facilities and services are often equal or superior to those at upscale resorts, such as permanent theatres with production lighting and sound systems, full-time bands or orchestras, and all the trappings for elaborate themed events. In addition to accommodations, cruise prices usually include all meals (even afternoon coffee breaks and those decadent midnight buffets), entertainment and other "extras" that drive up the cost of land-based meetings.
About the golf. There was a time when cruising and golf were only nodding acquaintances; today they are happily wed and there is seemingly no end to the honeymoon. As a result of fierce competition among cruise lines and land-based golf resorts, golf cruises—and golf options on general cruises--get better every year. Golf outings, once an afterthought, are now carefully orchestrated and escorted by golf professionals. Golfers get preferential tee times, disembark before other passengers, and arrive to find their clubs on carts, ready to go.
On board, pros conduct clinics, group and private lessons, and contests. Some ships have golf simulators and high-tech computer teaching programs. There's no need to take your own gear, not when you have access to the latest in rental equipment, from clubs to gloves and shoes. In some instances there are certified club-makers on board who will fit you with a new set.
According to the National Golf Foundation, golfers in the U.S. spend $26.1 billion a year traveling to play golf. Many are discovering that golf cruises are a moveable feast in more ways than one--offering more golf in a shorter time than land-based excursions, often at a lower price, and surely at a more relaxed pace. The Caribbean, Central America and Mexico--with dozens of convenient courses and ships of all sizes sailing the waters—are among the most popular golf cruise destinations for Americans. Bermuda is great for a quick, one-stop cruise from the East Coast, and Hawaii is a grand golf destination from the West Coast.
But courses throughout the world have now found their way onto cruise itineraries.
When combined with exemplary conference facilities and an abundance of diversions for non-golfers, meeting afloat is a very attractive option. When choosing a cruise, size counts—the size of your group and the size of the ship. A 3,000-passenger ship, with all the attractions of a small city, may be ideal for your 500 conventioneers. A more suitable setting for your board meeting may be a 50- to 100-passenger craft, even if it does not have dedicated meeting facilities. Here's a sampler of cruise offerings, from large to small. . . .
Contact me to read the entire story or to discuss second rights or a rewrite. daleatherman@cs.com