In part 1, 6 Factors to Keep Your Event Afloat we covered important issues to keep in mind when planning a corporate event on floating structures. Today, we will cover the floating structures themselves, from cruise ships to barges, consider the following when planning a floating event.
Cruise Ships
“Cruise ships provide a terrific, unique environment for corporate events” Tweet This Quote because almost everyone loves going on a cruise, regardless of the destination. Obviously, the problem is that anybody can book a cruise and get the “cruise” experience. You can’t just let people have a free-for-all at the pool or the bar, or turn them loose on the normal port-of-call tours. You want to create a special feeling, something they can’t get on their own.
A client may hire you to produce cruise-ship events that are unique for their specific group of attendees. The challenge for an event producer is to actively entertain and celebrate the attendees in a unique way—a way they can’t get from any other cruise they can book on their own.
In most floating corporate event productions, the client has chartered the cruise ship for the duration of the cruise. There’s no one else on that ship but their attendees. Believe it or not, cruises for corporate events are quite a cost-effective solution. All the food and amenities are included, and some entertainment is already there. You may choose to upgrade the typical onboard entertainment by replacing it with a different act. Always try to create special events and customized diversions for each particular group, above and beyond what the usual cruise guest would experience.
Potential Issues
As you might imagine, it’s not always smooth sailing when it comes to having events on floating vessels. On cruise ships, realize that space is severely limited. This relates to your gear and everything else you’ll need for the setup. Every square inch is usually already accounted for, so you have to be highly strategic and selective when planning whom and what you’re taking onboard the ship. Figure out how long it will take to set up your equipment, and also how much staff you’ll bring on board to work in collaboration with the crew.
Cruise ships are wonderful venues for the guests, but they present a few challenges for your event production team and the ship’s crew. Remember that space is a highly territorial thing. Be sensitive to your shipmates’ concerns at all times. Don’t invade anyone’s space without permission, and the odds are good that you won’t have to deal with any backlash on your next event at sea.
Yachts
Yachts are also fantastic spaces to host corporate events. They definitely give guests a sense of grandeur, opulence, and elegance. That vibe is hard to recreate on anything but a yacht. In my experience, they are best suited for something like a cocktail cruise that allows for hors d’oeuvres, mixing, and mingling. They are less suited to an event that requires everyone to be in one place on board for any length of time.
Because of the size and choppy configuration of most yachts, your guests will have to be moving around. They will spread out here, there, and everywhere, among various decks, salons, and cabins. As a result, yachts can be very accommodating for guest lists of 20 to 100 people. There are a few multilevel yachts that can carry up to three hundred people in some ports, but they aren’t much more than floating ballrooms.
Still, cruising on the water at night is a wonderful experience in any destination. For a corporate event where the goal is for your clients to interface or mingle with their attendees (whether they’re customers, salespeople, or prospects), face time is of the utmost importance. A yacht is a great setting for meaningful interaction with small groups.
Yacht owners are typically hypersensitive to outside equipment and gear coming onboard. Due to the space limitations, it’s quite difficult to do any type of decorating beyond simple linens, flowers, and LED candles. There are generally strict guidelines for attaching anything to the railings or fixtures on a yacht, and of course, power is fairly limited.
Get a complete cost estimate. When evaluating venues in the planning process, make sure to factor in all costs. Additional elements like fuel, docking fees, and service charges might be easily missed when first determining costs. Keep in mind that entertainers may have additional fees as well. At a land-based facility, entertainers may arrive at a specific time and leave after the performance. On a boat they are usually there for the duration, so they may charge you more.
Barges
Although not traditionally thought of for hosting functions or parties, barges are another interesting venue for large events. You have a blank slate—a huge, multi-tiered, open space on which to create just about anything. You can decorate the barges in exciting ways, bring dignitaries in on helicopters, and land right on top of the barge. There is an endless array of possibilities. Just be aware that the wind can be a big issue on any of these vessels—especially when they’re underway—due to the lack of structure to block the gusts.
These unique floating structures provide for memorable events for both the guests and the client. You, as the event planner, are the captain of the floating event and now have more information on what to keep in mind when navigating event planning on the open water.
For “Real World Floating Event”stories, download your FREE copy of “GOING LIVE: Insider Secrets To Corporate Event Productions”