Incentives Program

RiverBoat · 03-08-2008, 03:18 PM

I was just reading a little and trying to find more information about the Star Clipper incentive program. It would appear to be for companies to send high flying employees on as a reward-is that correct? The information online was a little scarce.

My question is-does the company sending employees get a discount for doing so-what exactly is the incentive, or is it suggesting simply that you send your employees there as an incentive to work harder?

**middy** · 03-08-2008, 03:36 PM

Had a quick peek. Looks more like an incentive for the employee to do well, send em on a cruise. Won't have one of those schemes at my works

wavesandrays · 03-09-2008, 01:42 AM

Definitely looks like an incentive to get your employees to stay in line. I wonder what their requirements though, as many people are self-employed. I'm not sure if they would allow you to use the incentive to convince yourself to work harder though. Seems like a nice program if your office offered it.

Karee · 03-09-2008, 03:42 PM

I worked at a loan firm a few years ago that used to do something similar to this. The top managers had to meet their goals/expectations throughout the year, and the best group would be sent off on a cruise. I couldn't find the exact info you were looking for, but I'm guessing that the company 'would' get a discount, even if it were simply set up as a "group discount" type pricing system. The incentive goes both ways.....your workers work harder so they can get the cruise, and you offer them a cruise to get their best work. Everybody wins.

filleduroi · 04-01-2008, 10:37 AM

While I can't answer your question as to whether companies get a discount, there was a corporate group of approx. 50 UK auto salesmen (with wives & girlfriends) on board the Royal Clipper during the March 15-22 cruise. Other cruisers were a bit put off by the obvious extra attention to the group's every wish and the inability of the staff to keep them from running the show in the bar every evening (i.e., plugging their own ipod into the entertainer's player), effectively sending the remaining 170 passengers off to their cabins, as if it was an exclusive party to which only 50 had really been invited. The company's wish to encourage more such incentive trips by corporations was plain. It would be nice, though, if they could take over the entire ship at one time!

**Ally** · 04-01-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filleduroi

While I can't answer your question as to whether companies get a discount, there was a corporate group of approx. 50 UK auto salesmen (with wives & girlfriends) on board the Royal Clipper during the March 15-22 cruise. Other cruisers were a bit put off by the obvious extra attention to the group's every wish and the inability of the staff to keep them from running the show in the bar every evening (i.e., plugging their own ipod into the entertainer's player), effectively sending the remaining 170 passengers off to their cabins, as if it was an exclusive party to which only 50 had really been invited. The company's wish to encourage more such incentive trips by corporations was plain. It would be nice, though, if they could take over the entire ship at one time!

Partial chartering has been a bone of contention for a very long time. RCI got into deep water a couple years back over a mixed public booked/gay charter on Mariner of the Seas.

Unfortunately the cruise lines are not duty bound to divulge if a sailing has a partial charter aboard when you are sailing...personally I think it would serve a purpose and most would appreciate the advance warning at time of booking.

filleduroi · 04-01-2008, 10:56 AM

I agree and that was the feeling of many of the people on this particular cruise -- some included the complaint in their "comments" at the end of the trip and I know of at least one person who is writing a letter. A complaint about the taking over of the bar area in the evening was made to a crew member and he brought it up at the next morning meeting with the officers. Thereafter, the group was less visible and probably compensated for it somehow and possibly encouraged to gather in one of the private areas so as not to discourage their corporation from booking more such incentive trips.

**Ally** · 04-01-2008, 11:05 AM

Partial chartering of a ship is getting more common lately...mainly due to the corporate incentive idea more than a group of people who would otherwise not meet up that much, if at all.

It seems to be a very affordable way of having get togethers and team building type events. I can see why the cruise lines encourage them, its a good source of income, especially if booked at a leaner part of the year. However, the group and the cruise line have got to remember there are full fare paying members of the public on board...and its those passengers that will ultimately return again and again if they get a pleasant experience. Having large swathes of the ship cordoned off or activities disrupted will inevitably leave a very sour taste in the mouth and those much cherished repeat cruisers just won't happen.

They need to get the balance better if partial chartering is to succeed for everyone from cruise line, to crewmember, to 'joe public' and corporate passenger alike.

filleduroi · 04-01-2008, 11:48 AM

There was talk that many, if not most, of the public passengers were repeat guests while those in the corporate group are unlikely to book such an expensive cruise on their own. This was my dad's 4th time sailing this line and we met a couple who've done 6 cruises with them.

**Ally** · 04-01-2008, 12:01 PM

The trouble is that a corporate client is as valuable as the 'joe public' one in the fact that the corporate will spend more in one go as a group than a couple or small family travelling. You can pretty much guarantee that although the corporates had perks, they probably paid more in total into the coffers.

I think the partial charter is here to stay and as the economy pinches, I think they will become alot more common. Hence why I think it is time (not to mention a courtesy) to divulge such partial chartering at the time of initial booking interest from both first timers and repeat cruisers...that way they can make an educated choice and not end up on a ship with a group that monopolises everything.