How to build a cruise incentive with a tight budget
A CRUISE incentive is the
perfect solution when
working with a limited
budget, says Johan Venter,
Uwin Iwin’s executive head
of incentive travel. “A cruise
provides exceptional value for
money and allows for little to
no opportunity to over-extend
on the budget.”
Uwin Iwin was recently asked
by a client on a tight budget to
arrange a cruise incentive for
top performers. “Our choice
was Azamara Club Cruises,
as it offers an all-inclusive
package allowing for a drinks
supplement. The only costs
to add on are port charges
and gratuities. Therefore all
expenses were covered.”
Another bonus is the cruise
line’s AzAmazingEvenings
programme, which offers
cruise guests a complimentary
evening’s entertainment and
an opportunity to experience
the best of the destination’s
local culture in a unique way,
says Johan. This could be
a live performance by three
tenors in an Italian monastery,
receiving red carpet treatment
at a ballet at the Mikhailovsky
Theatre in St Petersburg, or an
evening of opera in a French
chateau.
Uwin Iwin’s clients visited
the Roman city of Ephesus in
Turkey, where they were treated
to a private performance by a
12-piece orchestra playing the
music of Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart
and others. To keep within
budget, the 10-day Greek
Isles and Turkey cruise, which
visited Kusadasi and Marmaris
in Turkey, as well as Athens,
Mykonos, Rhodes and Kos
in Greece, primarily featured
days and evenings at leisure
in each destination, enabling
travellers to explore the
destinations on their own with
a variety of land excursions,
nightlife and entertainment
options from which to choose
through Azamara’s Land
Discoveries programme.
Uwin Iwin’s client gave its
incentive travellers US$150
(R1 595) each to spend on
excursions, shopping and
entertainment.
Going over the top!
For corporates with a
budget that can offer their
outstanding achievers a
once-in-a-lifetime experience,
Windstar’s Tahiti is a perfect
way to say ‘Thank you’.
The intimate scale of
Windstar’s luxury yachts
make them ideal for a full
ship charter, says George
Agyropoulos, md of Cruises
International.
“Every day is yours by
design as the Windstar
yacht becomes an exclusive
extension of your company.
You can create unique
experiences for your group
with customised itineraries
and shore excursions,
all included to provide
uncompromising value.
With engines off and sails
up, sailing amidst sandy
beaches with coconut trees
just inches from warm
waters, there’s nothing
quite like Windstar’s Tahiti
experience,” he says.
The yacht sails from
Papeete (roundtrip), to
Moorea (mooring overnight),
Tahaa, Raiatea (overnight),
Bora Bora (overnight) and
Huahine. Nothing compares
with the clear lagoons and
lush rainforests of these
Polynesian islands, says
George.
“Travellers will experience
Papeete’s ‘le truck’; hike
the Three Coconut Trail on
Morea island; swim with
dolphins in Tahaa; explore
the coral reefs of Raiatea;
and explore Huahine, known
as Polynesia’s ‘Garden
of Eden’. In Bora Bora,
enjoy a beach dinner on a
private motu (tiny islet) with
acrobatic dancers and flame
throwers for entertainment;
and sail, swim and kayak
from the yacht’s water
sports platform.”
Windstar’s corporate and
incentive facilities cater for
groups of 20 to 150 while
exclusive full-ship charters
cater for 148 to 310
guests, with a ratio of two
crew members per guest.
Fares start from
US$3 599pps (R38 310),
with full charter rates
available on request.
“This is one of our most
exotic cruises,” says
George. “It is most people’s
dream to visit islands
such as Tahiti and Bora
Bora and it is the ultimate
achievement to qualify for
an incentive trip like this.”
Cruises with a meeting component are great for ROI
THE combination of a
cruise experience and
conference is a powerful
tool to inspire and motivate
a company’s employees,
says Kathy Nel, national
manager of LimeX, Rennies
Travel’s incentive division.
“Days at sea can be
used for conferencing
while delegates can enjoy
spectacular incentive
experiences while docked
at port. There are also
fantastic team-building
activities available on
board and ashore. With
the cruise fare including
all food and drink (when
a drinks package is opted
for), there are no surprise
costs, and delegates have
access to loads of on-board
entertainment. Some
cruises include on-board
conferencing in the cruise
fare, while others do not.
Team building is generally
not included.”
Depending on the ship
selected, on-board teambuilding
options could
include an amazing race or
treasure hunt that explores
the ship’s facilities; golf;
climbing wall; dance,
aerobic or cooking
challenges; gambling
activities and motivational
speakers. The conference
can also include some of
the ship’s entertainers
to add sparkle to the
conference proceedings.
Onshore team-building
activities are also very
popular, says Kathy, offering
unique experiences. “For
example, with a small
cruise ship such as Le
Soléal, which operates
cruise itineraries in the
Mediterranean, the cruise
itself is a huge attraction.”
Here are a few examples
of excursions offered by
Le Soléal on its Turkey to
Greece cruise:
In Santorini, you can hike
to the crater of an active
volcano with its lava
fragments and volcanic
rock formations and
then swim in 37C green
sulphur waters on your
way to the thermal springs
of Palea Kameni.
Go jet skiing or take a
quad-bike tour complete
with donkey ride; wine
tasting; visit a castle
and Santorini’s ‘black’
beaches; and enjoy a
cable car ride.
In Mykonos, enjoy a
4x4 off-the-beaten
track safari offering
spectacular views; swim
at deserted beaches; visit
a monastery; and sample
the local cuisine.
Enjoy a four-hour speed
boat adventure that
takes your travellers to
several of Mykonos’s
famous beaches; or an
exhilarating helicopter
ride that flies over Naxos,
Paros and Koufonisia.
The ship can cater for
conferences of up to 110
delegates.
The estimated cost of
such a seven-night cruise is
R56 900 excluding flights
and any additional activities
or enhancements. But,
says Kathy, there are a
wide range of cruise liners
available and their costs
vary significantly depending
on what they offer. “There
are certainly more costeffective
cruises available
where needed.”
