Meetings & Conventions: Incentive News
CRYSTAL CRUISES, RESIDENSEA LAUNCH INCENTIVE DIVISIONS
Cruise Lines Woo Groups
Two cruise operators, Los Angeles-based Crystal
Cruises and Miami-based ResidenSea, have launched incentive sales
divisions in an effort to attract groups.
For Crystal Cruises, the move marks the line’s first aggressive
push for group business. “We now have enough ships, and for the
first time we’re offering short itineraries,” said Mike von
Wittenau, director of groups, charters and incentive sales. The
cruise line’s fleet comprises the Crystal Symphony, the Crystal
Harmony (each accommodating 940 passengers) and the new 1,080-berth
Crystal Serenity.
For 2004, Crystal is offering special weeklong itineraries to
the Caribbean, Florida/Cozumel/Nassau, the Mediterranean and New
England/Canada, in addition to its traditional 10-days-or-more
sailings.
Group sizes can range from 10 passengers to full-ship charters,
added von Wittenau.
ResidenSea’s single vessel, The World, is part floating luxury
condo and part cruise ship: About 75 percent of its 198 upscale
“apartment units” are privately owned by individuals. Some of those
units, which range from studios to three-bedrooms, as well as the
unsold apartments, are now being offered to small groups and
high-end corporate meetings of up to 50 participants.
Group programs can be any length, since incentives are priced by
the day rather than per cruise, said a ResidenSea spokesperson. The
World is scheduled to sail in many different areas in 2004.
Itineraries include Africa, Antarctica, the Caribbean, Central
America, Europe, the Middle East and South America.
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