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by Shirley Linde

If you are planning a meeting for your company or your association or even for a big family reunion, consider chartering a ship. It is a growing trend and gives the group a meeting to remember

What kinds of groups are chartering these ships? Companies and associations of all sizes. Corporations charter ships for meetings at sea or as incentive travel to award employees, while clubs and associations usually charter for specific locations. A nature association might charter a small ship to go up the Amazon, a wine club might charter a river boat for a week at harvest time in France. Many private individuals are booking charters for wedding, birthday or anniversary celebration with family and friends. Non-profit organizations are booking charters for fund-raising opportunities.

Also there are more and more requests from companies to charter ships for housing employees and guests at special events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, Mardi Gras or World Cricket Match.

Whatever the purpose, the ship is totally yours, you can arrange whatever you want, tailoring programs for any interest.

You can charter vessels of any size – from a luxury superyacht for your family and friends or the QE2, and anything in between.

In the U.S. a popular charters is to see wildlife in Alaska or you can charter a riverboat to go on the Mississippi; do wine cruises along the California coast, cruise the Great Lakes, New England islands, Chesapeake Bay, or cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida. Singles groups sometimes charter one of the tall sailing ships of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. Sea Dream Yachts, carrying 100 passengers, charters out to private groups for more than half their cruises on their calendar.

Is chartering a boat right for you?

Advantages: Where you meet can be as important as why you meet. On a boat you have complete control over all the public areas, activities and entertainment, and sometimes even the itinerary. When you charter the ship, the boat is yours, without any conflicts from other passengers or other activities. You have a memorable meeting plus the bonding that comes with a cruise experience. For company cruises, you have no distractions, just bonding with company companions, being inspired by the sea, and being able to think with a clear head. You get out of suits, ties, and a sterile hotel atmosphere and have your leadership and team development retreats on the deck of a ship. You can combine executive retreats, meetings, workshops, and incentive cruises with wine seminars, golf excursions, scuba diving, or other special interests.

Disadvantages: Once a charter has been negotiated and a deposit made, there is no refund. Almost all ships require a substantial deposit up front so be certain of your intent before you sign a contract. Even though you may not fill the ship to its full capacity, the price will be based on the entire capacity of the vessel.

Tips: Try to charter a ship that is already in the area where you want to be and with an itinerary that you like. If you ask for a customized itinerary there may be additional port charges, or the ship may have to "dead head" from its home port to a new port of embarkation or disembarkation and you will have to pay for those days of operation even if there is no one on board. Make arrangements as early as possible, preferably a year ahead.